Heavy/Scratch: POTP Predaking DNA wings mod

Discussion in 'Radicons Customs' started by Gutts, Jan 19, 2020.

  1. Gutts

    Gutts Autobot

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2010
    Posts:
    1,469
    News Credits:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    232
    Likes:
    +295
    Facebook:
    Flickr:
    POTP Predaking is great (for Hasbro) and DNA kit makes him even better. But one thing especially bothered me - those for no reason super long wings that looked ackward. I decided to cut them shorter so there would be no ugly narrow extension in the middle. It was quite destructive mod, but it worked out perfectly.

    First of all I was disappointed with the wings design. There are no locks, screws are too short, the halves of the wings are just glued together and the joint which connects wings to the yellow part is split in half with nothing holding it together. Frustrating.

    Following photos show how the wings look inside, how I cut them and where I made a brand new hole. I dont think there is any precise way how to make the hole just right. Start small, cut a little bit more and test it if it fits and lines up well. Photos with one long and one modded wing really show the difference.

    Im very happy with the result, it looks awesome. Just the way it should have been from the start.

    1.jpg
    2 IMG_20191216_102700.jpg
    3 IMG_20191216_101855.jpg
    4 IMG_20191215_173744.jpg
    5 IMG_20191215_173955.jpg
    6 IMG_1891 x2.JPG
    7 IMG_1895 x2.JPG
     
    • Like Like x 14
  2. POSSESSED_DIGIT

    POSSESSED_DIGIT WE ARE NUBBY THUMB!!

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2005
    Posts:
    2,995
    News Credits:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    312
    Likes:
    +3,077
    Nice work. How do the wings look on divebomb? The DNA wings do look a bit ridiculous on him. Your work probably fixed that.
     
    • Like Like x 3
  3. Gutts

    Gutts Autobot

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2010
    Posts:
    1,469
    News Credits:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    232
    Likes:
    +295
    Facebook:
    Flickr:
    Thank you. I havent had him in beastmode yet. But here is their prototype photo which didnt yet have those stupid extensions so long.

    download(229).jpg
     
    • Like Like x 4
  4. Dachande

    Dachande Suffer not the fool. Super Mod

    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2008
    Posts:
    54,749
    News Credits:
    22
    Trophy Points:
    467
    Location:
    South Central PA
    Likes:
    +151,702
    I like how the prototype didn't show that there was only one wing mold, but flipped, so the screws ended up showing on one side. It's why I won't ever buy another of their kits.

    Still, your work to salvage the wings is commendable and nicely done.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  5. Scott_XIII

    Scott_XIII Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2011
    Posts:
    2,155
    News Credits:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    262
    Location:
    Derby, England, UK
    Likes:
    +4,711
    Nice work.

    The prototype looked better than what we got, I completely agree that they are too long.

    Any functionality lost after cutting?
     
  6. toynut

    toynut Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2003
    Posts:
    52
    Trophy Points:
    167
    Likes:
    +101
    I have the DNA kit, mainly for the hands. The wings look ok on predaking but they are too big for my liking and on divebomb they are laughable and alsoheavy and do not stay where I put them. I use the factory wings on mine most of the time.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  7. hotwhilz

    hotwhilz Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2004
    Posts:
    447
    Trophy Points:
    232
    Likes:
    +309
    Ebay:
    I think this was an awesome mod. Looking at the prototype, I believe the wings were meant to retract inward and pulled out for full wing mode. But obviously got scrapped probably to cut costs.
     
  8. Gutts

    Gutts Autobot

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2010
    Posts:
    1,469
    News Credits:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    232
    Likes:
    +295
    Facebook:
    Flickr:
    Thank you. Dont be too hard on them for the screws. They are not very obtrusive imho, they are hidden behind his shoulder at least in combined mode and it is already expensive kit, so if they would have to make another mold for the extra big parts it would get even more expensive.
    But it is ironic these screws are totally useless, too short and dont do pretty much anything usefull. I didnt find them holding the wing halves together at all, at least on my copy. They just glued them together anyway, so there might as well be no screws and you would be happy. Though I would prefer no glue and rather working screws. Glue and pins make it harder to disassemble figures and I do like to disassemble them for various mods and joint fixes.

    Thank you. It still works the same and can rotate all the way down. The plastic is still pretty thick where the new hole needs to be, so that should last well too.
    The first wing I did worked out absolutely perfectly. Everything lined up and the hole was ideal size so the joint is tight and couldnt be any better. The other new wing hole ended up a bit too big and I had to fix that, so keep evaluating the hole fit after pretty much every cut, every scrape you make to compensate as needed.

    Thank you. Maybe, but I didnt see any remnants of that. I cant see why they wanted to add these long, thin and so very ugly extensions. The wings are perfect size without them. They made the rotating joint nicely, robust with notches. Its a pity they didnt put as much effort in the red halves that are just glued together and have worthless connection to the body.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  9. jbwkkl

    jbwkkl Wrecker for life

    Joined:
    May 17, 2010
    Posts:
    3,152
    Trophy Points:
    262
    Location:
    Cape Cod
    Likes:
    +7,617
    Thanks again @Gutts for the tutorial. Mine looks much better with the "feathered" look. Just need to repaint some spots DNA missed, and add Decepticon decals to the wings

    20200719_113810-1.jpg

    20200719_122211-1-1.jpg

    They look much better, and in bot mode, the non-articulated feather just kisses the ground when they're closed. A big difference.
     
    Last edited: Jul 20, 2020
    • Like Like x 3
  10. Scott_XIII

    Scott_XIII Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2011
    Posts:
    2,155
    News Credits:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    262
    Location:
    Derby, England, UK
    Likes:
    +4,711
    Last edited: Jul 20, 2020
  11. Scott_XIII

    Scott_XIII Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2011
    Posts:
    2,155
    News Credits:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    262
    Location:
    Derby, England, UK
    Likes:
    +4,711
    I'm getting on this very shortly - any tips?
     
  12. Gutts

    Gutts Autobot

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2010
    Posts:
    1,469
    News Credits:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    232
    Likes:
    +295
    Facebook:
    Flickr:
    If you mean the original hole and the stuff around it, it was supposed to make the wings lock better and in several angles, but it didnt work well anyway.

    Just go slow in making the new hole so it fits well. When its right it is strong enough to hold the wings better than the original joint with those trinkets around it.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  13. Scott_XIII

    Scott_XIII Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2011
    Posts:
    2,155
    News Credits:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    262
    Location:
    Derby, England, UK
    Likes:
    +4,711
    Thanks for the info. Could you show a rear shot with the wings in the folded down position?
     
  14. jbwkkl

    jbwkkl Wrecker for life

    Joined:
    May 17, 2010
    Posts:
    3,152
    Trophy Points:
    262
    Location:
    Cape Cod
    Likes:
    +7,617
    Just be careful with the orange wing panels, on mine, one was glued along the top better than the other.

    I also happened to have longer screws from a doll house sized hinge set. The longer screws are a big help after taking the wings apart
     
    • Like Like x 1
  15. Scott_XIII

    Scott_XIII Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2011
    Posts:
    2,155
    News Credits:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    262
    Location:
    Derby, England, UK
    Likes:
    +4,711
    Does it need the glue?
     
  16. jbwkkl

    jbwkkl Wrecker for life

    Joined:
    May 17, 2010
    Posts:
    3,152
    Trophy Points:
    262
    Location:
    Cape Cod
    Likes:
    +7,617
    It will help with keeping the orange panels together, but not really required if you have replacement screws. I think DNA just used the glue because they knew their screws were useless. Barely reach the back panel
     
    • Like Like x 1
  17. Scott_XIII

    Scott_XIII Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2011
    Posts:
    2,155
    News Credits:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    262
    Location:
    Derby, England, UK
    Likes:
    +4,711
    I don't suppose I could trouble you for a picture of dive bomb? I'd like to see his much ground clearance they have when folded down.
    I'm just marking up where I want my cuts - only got one shot.
    15957099203415295605744447993739.jpg
     
  18. jbwkkl

    jbwkkl Wrecker for life

    Joined:
    May 17, 2010
    Posts:
    3,152
    Trophy Points:
    262
    Location:
    Cape Cod
    Likes:
    +7,617
    I'll take a photo in the morning. Too tired to take the King apart right now. ;) 

    On mine, I cut along the red line (used your photo)

    15957099203415295605744447993739~2.jpg

    I still need to touch up some paint apps, so I'll take a photo of my cut wing too
     
    Last edited: Jul 25, 2020
    • Like Like x 1
  19. Scott_XIII

    Scott_XIII Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2011
    Posts:
    2,155
    News Credits:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    262
    Location:
    Derby, England, UK
    Likes:
    +4,711
    So I completely stripped the last screw, drilled it out in the end, and then after prying apart the two orange half's the screw chose to come out of the bottom piece anyway, waste if time grinding the head off!
    Definitely going to need a a slightly larger screw now.
    ...or some decent glue.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  20. jbwkkl

    jbwkkl Wrecker for life

    Joined:
    May 17, 2010
    Posts:
    3,152
    Trophy Points:
    262
    Location:
    Cape Cod
    Likes:
    +7,617
    Well, as promised. Your mark for the swivel point is perfect, it's hard to tell from my photo (I had to patch mine after accidently using a larger drill bit) but it's right about where you marked yours. I also test fit the wings so I could dremel points that might prevent full folding.
    20200726_072801.jpg

    The wings are great now. If you bring them forward, they don't touch the ground at all

    20200726_075054-1.jpg

    ...but if you have them folded back, it makes him very back heavy. The top most feather will keep him upright.

    20200726_074650-1.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jul 26, 2020
    • Like Like x 1