this is going to be basically turning rts windcharger into classics tailgate. the cost will be one original g1 tailgate fig and a rts windcharger. start by dissassembling the g1 windcharger.(just a couple small phillips screws and he falls right apart). next up,use side cutters and buck up his green front bot body half to gain a new face plate. kapow!!! remove the stock head from windcharger.you have to remove the screw at the back of his head in order to allow enough play in the socket to release the head. grind/sand down the front of his face,copying the same angle on the rear of the g1 face plate.the face plate ends up being really thin in the end because of the way his hood flips down in transformation.(more clearance is always good.) reattach the head and screw,then glue the face plate onto the front of the head. transform him a few times to check for any clearance issues. so to recap,he just went from windcharger head to tailgate head. to be continued.....
so after taking a hot soldering iron to each pin wheel for roughly 30-40 seconds,the stock wheels were popped off with a 3 pronged fork.(allows equal pulling pressure so you don't make the axle hole crooked when you remove the wheel/pin assembly) now he looks like he parked over night in the wrong spot in jersey. on his front lower spoiler,a section has been cut out of the center portion to help differentiate him from a stock windcharger. in the rear,his stock nipple sized exhaust tips were clipped off with a toe nail clipper,then replaced with a twin set courtesy of rotf sideswipe. a set of mismatched hotwheels rims were salvaged.the reason for the mismatch is because windcharger is one of those bots/cars where the front wheels are smaller that the rear in overall diameter.you can find a set of 4 matching wheels the same diameter easily,but try finding a set that matches with two different diameters paint and putty will fix the mismatch later on. this is where he stands now. rear before after to be continued.......
this is what he looked like right after sanding all over with grey scotchbrite pads.notice how he barely has camera flash anymore? the next step was to pop him all apart again,and give him some 400 grit sanding in areas where the seams meet up and rub. then he went and got all primed with white primer. after a half day,he received a gloss white base coat over everything....and i do mean everything. a day later,he's been gently reassembled and transformed back into car mode,which he'll now stay in for the next week as the enamel fully hardens.then it'll be onto actual hand painted details and other colors etc and finally the clearcoat. to be continued....again...
thanks fellas!!! thanks!!,but unfotunately no,because of how much his hood covers his upper chest, the radio theme may not fit too well where you can't see it second post updated with more minor mods done.
Looking good. There's really something to be said about seeing a figure primed and ready to be painted... looks soooo good. As for the mods I like em. He'll come out looking a good deal different from his mold brother with just a few simple changes. Can't wait to see him a week or so from now.
That's awesome. I was debating a simple repaint into white but what you're doing gives an entirely new feel to the mold.
Completed project here: http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/radicons-customs/481100-classics-tailgate-finished.html
