General Upgrade Kits Thread

Discussion in 'Transformers 3rd Party Discussion' started by ziltama, Nov 30, 2020.

  1. Ottertron

    Ottertron Moon-faced assassin of joy

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    I'm in for it as with a bit of paint I can make Wreck-Gar look like a different Junkion :D 

    VERY nice indeed!!!!

    Smokescreen's. Easy. That coppery colour is perfect for him.
     
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  2. ziltama

    ziltama Mods, molds, and casts. Also full of hot gas.

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    Repainted and smoothed out the silicone mold line and tail ends from the KO Roller. May not seem all that different in pics, but in person, I'm not worrying about silver paint coming off anymore.

    [​IMG]

    Front view:
    [​IMG]

    Also fixed various QC issues and repainted the rotating van feet for SG Ratchet by ? group. Heard much of the QC was fixed in later production runs.

    The feet pieces do have enough friction to stay in place with the screws removed. To separate, use a Philips #0 screwdriver to hold the screw still while rotating the toe part counterclockwise. Rotating the other way will likely strip the screw hole.

    Yeah, this looked really bad. Used a razor to cut off all the support nubs, precision file to remove the pooled paint areas from the shoddy hand paint job, and a crafting saw to create a new bumper panel line.
    [​IMG]

    After repainting, looks better now. Decided to leave the windows white as the rear window portions on the figure aren't painted. I used vinyl tape for the black rectangles. I'll probably add more details later as it looks quite plain in alt mode.
    [​IMG]

    Bot mode looks better now too. However, the feet always looked 'reverse' to me. With the screws out, one could do optional partsforming...
    [​IMG]

    Now the feet look correct to me.
    [​IMG]
     
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  3. ziltama

    ziltama Mods, molds, and casts. Also full of hot gas.

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  4. Kilowog

    Kilowog ORA ORA ORA

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    Anyone order this kit? Seems like the best overall solution for Kingdom Mirage. Just got my shipping notice so I guess I'll update people when I get it.

    DIY For Mirage transformer Upgrade Kit Shoulder Weapon & Back Fix Nylon Kit | eBay

    To get ready I removed the pin holding the original piece in. Honestly the easiest pin removal I've ever done despite it being a flat end pin. Just held a soldering iron to it for like a minute then used a regular pin pusher to loosen in when used a flathead screwdriver to fully pry it out. Took less than a minute. Was so surprised.

    s-l1600 (1).jpg

    s-l1600 (2).jpg
     
    Last edited: Sep 26, 2021
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  5. Fenrys

    Fenrys Formerly Tigatron2002

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    The jrcdesignstore.com mirage kit is significantly cheaper and works just as well, if not better considering there's fewer parts which means less room for failure
     
  6. ziltama

    ziltama Mods, molds, and casts. Also full of hot gas.

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    Continuation of above...

    3rd party rotating van feet, Ironhide version, by ? with the screws removed. Toe parts then swapped to look 'correct'. To remove screws, use #0 Phillips screwdriver to hold screw still while other hand rotates toe part counterclockwise to remove; then pop screw out.
    vana.jpg

    KO Trailbreaker dish repainted and silicone mold lines smoothed out:

    It only looks spotty here due to the radar dish now being highly reflective. It's quite buttery smooth IRL. Silicone mold lines are now gone and the paint won't rub off easily.
    [​IMG]

    Another angle:
    [​IMG]
     
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  7. Kilowog

    Kilowog ORA ORA ORA

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    hmm, I just held is still and unscrewed it. Wonder if mine's just a different revision where they printed it different?
    Okay?
     
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  8. ziltama

    ziltama Mods, molds, and casts. Also full of hot gas.

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    If the screw itself is jammed after removing the foot, you can apply pressure from the tip end and then unscrew the screw to get it out.
     
  9. Max Tower

    Max Tower Well-Known Member

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    I recall a long time ago they made a whole bunch of Asian market 3 packs of various Generations Deluxes - sometimes with some sort of metallic finish. I think that would be a nice way to get some things out there again like Earth Mode Ironhide and Ratchet or The various jets.
    As well as do new repaints like say Earthmode Red Wing.

    I wonder if they might consider doing that - heck even dumping straight reissues in the Buzzworthy Bumblebee line is better than nothing.
    -----------

    I Have one of those Core class Megatron cannons in the mail - I Hope buying the nylon one wasn't a mistake on my part.
    But I suspect that Megatron will get repainted again sometime so It might give me an excuse to buy both versions perhaps.

    ------------

    I had to chuckle at the thought that it's cheaper to buy a G2 white/green Megatron and pinch the head off it for a silver Megatron than it is to buy JUST the repro head. It's strange it's so expensive - perhaps someone will do an unpainted one cheaper sometime. Making a Miner Megs out of a spare Megatron is very much on my "to do" list.
     
  10. Dachande

    Dachande MULTI-QUOTE- USE IT. Super Mod

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    They're... okay. I got them this weekend, and am not sure how to feel.
    I respect the engineering, but I have issues with the overall package.
    1. Quite flimsy. I worry about the longevity of these.
    2. They don't stay connected well. Move the gun and the pieces twist off very easily.
    3. (Subjective) Too obvious in bot mode. They look like shoulder armor, and I never thought of Mirage as the armor type.

    I'll probably end up flipping for the articulated piece (ugh, that price).
    20210927_070709.jpg

    Galvatron's new shoes:
    20210927_071037.jpg 20210927_071222.jpg

    I like these a lot now. Wasn't positive at first, but after posing him with them they are definitely worth it.
     
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  11. Fenrys

    Fenrys Formerly Tigatron2002

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    fair criticisms on the jrc kit, I just don't think that articulated piece is worth the price of a deluxe figure, especially with how rough/grainy the print looks to be.
     
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  12. Dachande

    Dachande MULTI-QUOTE- USE IT. Super Mod

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    Total agreement on the price/print quality. I just think it's the most effective solution, and unfortunately the Nylon always seems to cost more (Megatron's ankle pieces) but is definitely stronger. I may get it, but may also lose interest.
     
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  13. Fenrys

    Fenrys Formerly Tigatron2002

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    Nylon and parts forming are the 2 quickest ways to kill my interest in an upgrade kit, part of why I ended up moving away from ordering parts through shapeways
     
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  14. jamarmiller

    jamarmiller S.K.A.R. LEADER

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    its a shame it makes it a parts former with the waiste piece, other than that i do love it but the waiste piece being a part you must remove makes it a no buy for me
     
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  15. Rakzo

    Rakzo Peruvian Transformers Fan

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    I was expecting the crotch piece to be removable since I don't see any way it could be integrated into the transformation (although I would love to be proven wrong) so this doesn't bother me that much.

    What does bother me is that the claws can't close with the new missiles which makes quite a bit of the set worthless for me.
     
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  16. Vale

    Vale Well-Known Member

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    anyone know where i can get a mr bucket ut lockdown weapons kit for a reasonable price?
     
  17. Hooper_X

    Hooper_X hit dogs holler

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    uh oh do we have Maiden Japan 2.0 coming down the line?
     
  18. Optimus1138

    Optimus1138 Well-Known Member

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    The shoes are growing on me too, can he still transform with them on? I don't have the figure yet so I'm not familiar with how he transforms.
     
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  19. Hooper_X

    Hooper_X hit dogs holler

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    Aw man! I just put in an order from you last week, lol.

    These look great.
     
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  20. Dachande

    Dachande MULTI-QUOTE- USE IT. Super Mod

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    20210927_113034.jpg
     
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