Please check this thread.
Here's a possible collab between me and @The Madness
We'd love to hear what you guys think.

Alternative G1- Style heads for Studio Series Bumblebee movie.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> G1 head concepts.

 

Sorry to derail, but I think we all desperately want a new head for SS 86 Kup!

 

These look so amazing! Bravo @TheMadness I'll be getting your Kingdom head stls from cults tonight and attempt a print on my mars tomorrow. Definitely interested in the damaged head as well if you're making it available? What violet are you using for painting the helmet?

 

Kup's been at about 85-90% complete for months now. It just needs to be refined for easier painting.

Thanks mate, I appreciate it! Initially it was Jacquard airbrush violet mixed with Vallejo fluro Magenta. I tried replacing it with a range of violets or close approximations in other brands including Vallejo and Citadel, but none of them were pure enough. They would darken and muddy the mix even with small applications and a white base. In the end, Jacquard Opaque blue was the best replacement I found, as it just needs to cool the magenta without loss of vibrancy.

The damaged head was never given a replaceable face, given the complexity of the geometry. But there has been some interest in it, so I might release it soon with some tweaks.

 

I painted mine with a blend of Mr Color Fluorescent Pink and Cobalt Blue with a drop or two of black for shading. It's not a 100% match but I'm not sure I could get it much closer. The plastic shade reacts to lighting more so than the paint mix does.

Spoiler

I also re-engineered how the parts fit together so the brow isn't so fragile, the screw is gone, and the neck can collapse down a bit for looks and transformation. Marvel versions are next and I'll pass them on to Madness whenever I'm done so he can do whatever with them.

 

That's wicked man! I love seeing different approaches and I completely understand the notorious purple issue. Because of the different properties between paint and polished plastic, something can look great in one light temperature and then out as soon as you move into another room. Even the time of day in sunlight can change it significantly. Still a gorgeous job. Thanks for sharing.

The top of the eye cavity is supported firmly by the head. I understand it redlines in places in a Shapeways thickness test, but none have broken on me and I've printed and fit quite a few. Still, making adjustments must have been a chore as I decimate STLs at 33.33% to reduce file sizes. Let me know if you want to try an STL without the optimisation applied.

 

My head just cleared U.S. customs, eta of 12/24. C'mon Christmas Eve surprise!!!

 

I'm checking for mine every day as well   Having ordered from Australia before, I know I shouldn't be doing this, because it usually takes an ass long time to get here and looking everyday won't make it come faster   But I'm so excited for them. But I'm also still waiting for my second pair of foot extensions for my GS Selects Galvatron, so, both parts are needed in order to complete the figure.

I fear it might still be weeks until I hear about it.

Correction:
I noticed I'm checking multiple times a day if something new is visible in tracking history  

 

Tis the season for package neurosis.

 

Since Corona and working from home this seems to be my usual day. Working and checking for packages in between.

 

Mine came two days early and its even better in hand. Amazing work Mr. Madness, in your debt.

 

Niiiiice

 

Ha, you'd think that flight would have landed by now! Still, I don't think anyone here is more anxious to see all orders delivered than I am.  

Awesome! Talk about a menacing pose.   I'm really glad you enjoy it mate. Thanks again for your encouragement and support, it does mean a lot!


Update ==========

As I've sent everything out now, (with only a couple of exceptions), I'll probably have some time to get a bit of modeling done here and there. For those of you looking for a toy head, what aspects of it do you consider to be most important? Looking at StrifeZ's example of Don's cover, there's some great interpretation to make it more aesthetically pleasing, but it may lack some features people are nostalgic for.

 

If you made a kup head I think it would have to have an idw style option with a pipe in mouth, it’s just how I imagine kup now lol. If rodimus got one just anything would be awesome for him cause he looks a lil old and just sorta ‘off’? His age on the face sorta doesnt suit the body or something? I would 100% support any future projects by you.

 

  Don't worry, I've already been told in no uncertain terms that Kup needs to have a cy-gar face! The head itself is more G1 movie inspired, as the IDW design is flatter at the top, rounder, with a more robust look, but smoking will definitely be an option for Kup.

 

I never really had an issue with Hasbro’s Galvatron head. But your designs looked so incredible I got all 3. That says something about your work.

As for other heads I fall into that same category as my one with Galvatron - I can live with what Hasbro gave me but your designs will tempt me to get whatever you end up making!

This may be a niche one but Hasbro somehow messed up their Jackpot head. It’s misshapen and misaligned. There’s no easy fix from what I’ve seen. Mine is on its way so I’ll see what it looks like in hand, but it’s a shame the head looks so bad in pix. It may be one to look into….

 

I mean. You can’t go wrong with the real thing. Maybe using interchangeable faces?

 

God Bless Us Every One.

just fantastic. I’ll put the Wildman head on later.

 

Mine landed at customs today, hopefully in the next days they'll be here.

 

Thanks man, I appreciate the thought. But, as much as Jackpot is my favourite AM and I'd love to help, I missed the boat on his recent figure locally. The head itself looks great, (ignoring the alignment problem), so I don't think I could really add much anyway.

It's probably easier to show, rather than tell. These are no where near final, just roughs to give me an indication. I did an edit on a n1 head to block out the stylised DW shape (left). But looking at it, while I can see that it suits the generations style better, it misses a few cues of the toy head that people may be nostalgic for. A change to the crown gives it a more familiar silhouette (right), but it all comes down to whether there are more important elements that need to be retained or not.


I can so a straight replica of the toy head, which avoids losing what makes the original unique. It may need some work to get it to look in place on the figure, though.

Cheers man. Those are some amazing macro shots! So happy that it found you safe, with impressive too!

Merry Christmas everyone.