I have my Volcanicus sword all ready to go! I based the design on the one from Earth Wars, which was pretty clearly based on Fall of Cybertron Grimlock's sword. I simplified it a little. For the bladI used a sheet of clear styrene- sold in art stores as replacement glass for picture frames, and I sprayed it with Testors clear red spray paint (Testors 1605 gloss custom red) It worked well. Very deep color but nice and translucent. I've used Tamiya's clear red spray before, but I have to say the Testors worked extremely well, even on the first coat. The Tamiya gives more of a blood red, while the Testors is closer to the red of translucent plastic toys, which I think is exactly what was called for here. I made the body of the sword by layering pieces of sheet styrene. By sandwiching layers and then adding a thin sliver on one side, I was able to make a groove for the clear blade, so that I could paint the two parts separately. (The blade is still just in there with friction) The round bit on the hilt was traced and cut out with a pair of scissors. I have a lot more control on curved when I use scissors, as opposed to a knife. The hub cap bits are some machine parts that I had printed via Shapeways. I did a whole set of greeblies for future custom work. (I have a strip of bolts too) Please take note of the Lego Technic connector peg sticking off of the hilt that plugs into the hole in the combiner hand. It really keeps in in place. It doesn't quite have the clearance for Grimlock to hold in his regular bot hands though. In painting the metal bits, I based the whole thing in flat black (cheap spray paint). I then hand painted glossy black (Tamiya acrylic), and dry-brushed Testors silver over top. When all of that was dry, I went back in with thinned Tamiya flat black and outlined some of the parts that I wanted to pop. I had WIP pics for this, but I can't find the cord that gets the pictures out of my camera. I have Grim here modeling the sword in what I like to call his "Murder Hands" mode- Combiner hands and feet clicked together and mounted to his wrists. You may note that I've also painted some of the hand and foot details with gold to give them a little pop. Let me know what you think. Thanks!
Thanks everybody! Maybe if they ever do a box set. It could definitely take out an eye. I did sharpen the edge a little with sandpaper. Thanks. It's all just flat layers. It's one of the easiest ways to build something impressive looking. Right back at you. I thought of that, but Beast Hunters Predaking will need something to defend himself.
THANKS! I can't wait to get some legs on this boy, so he can fight my Leader class Beast Hunters Predaking. (Then POTP Predaking!)
