So I just finished putting this guy together and giving him some paint (still needs more cleanup), but I'm pretty happy with how he turned out.





I created the design in tinkercad, that took about a week. Then I printed it on a reprap clone using ABS.
He has around 160 parts that took up 5 build plates and about a week solid of printing. It actually took longer than that because I messed up the prints a few times and had to restart, but got there in the end.

I wanted the arcade machine to be scaled so that deluxe size bots could use it and I reckon I got that about right. I wasn't really paying much attention to the size of his bot mode but he turned out roughly MP scale (a little taller than MP Soundwave) which I'm pretty happy with.

This was my first attempt at designing a TF (I did make a Boba Fett/Delorean custom but that used a fett figure and a delorean kit, so not totally mine).

What do you guys think? (sorry my camera sucks)

P.S. Soundwave wants to know is his alt mode is relevant yet  

Edit: Added more pics (showing laserbeak)

Edit: Added more pics (showing stickers)

Edit: Laserbeak pics and main pic

 

I'm loving the idea of Soundwave turning into an Arcade Machine. It feels delightfully retro.

 

i need more of this in my life! imagine if you could put decals of actual arcade games on the side! pacman could work for soundwave, and mortal kombat for soundblaster. not sure on autobot blaster though...

getting ahead of myself. this is awesome! great job!

 

Retro Soundwave! Loving it!

 

Wow   

 

Thanks for all the positive comments  

I was actually thinking of making up some stickers to add some arcade art, but I was gonna make up a game and use some TF art.

My first thought was to make it a parody of an existing fighting game like Mortal Kombat or Street Fighter, just with TF characters. I'll have to look for some pics of some machines for inspiration. I'm not much of an artist though so I will probably just comp something together from google images.

I did want to add surface details, but the printer I'm using is not really up to the task, fine details come out poorly.

I'm also thinking of redesigning his blaster. It was one of the last parts I made and I was a little burnt out, so I was kinda lazy with its transformation. I reckon I may be able to squeeze a ravage or laserbeak out of it and still have the gun. I'll have to fiddle with it in tinkercad and see what I can come up with. It bugs me that soundwave has no minion  

After reading these comments it occurred to me that a big part of Soundwaves charm comes from him having such a retro alt mode. Most other TFs have alt modes that are still in use today, but Soundwave is a box-like 80's robot with a box-like 80's alt mode.
He really embodies the retro elements Transformers.

 

Decals would be great. You could even go so far as to use custom, TF inspired ones, such as "Kreemzeek!" ones, or the NES Transformers game.

If you want to make future changes, if possible, you could find space to include something like a Raspberry Pi board/Android board, a small screen, power supply, etc and get it to run MAME!

Failing that, perhaps a clear screen, some LEDs and clear printed video game decals? You could even grab one of those video game keyrings/doohickeys from somewhere like Hot Topic, rip out the sound chip/button, and incorporate it into the figure to make arcade sounds!

 

Technicolor Kremzeek Fest

 

Aaand...

- transformers pixel - Google Search

 

Thanks for the suggestion images, I especially like the "mystery of convoy" one. Its got that low saturation slightly grainy 80's box art look.

I did find this one online, I rather like it.


I reckon I'd cut it in half and have Blaster on one side and Soundwave on the other, I may have to try to remove the backdrop though. Total props to the artist, its a really cool pic (no idea who drew it though).

As far as making him into a working arcade machine goes there is very little space to do it. Really only where the screen is so if the electronics fit into 67mm x 66mm x 11mm then its doable. You could probably get away with putting the batteries in his legs, there would be some external wires but they would be under the hip skirt.
Realistically a light-up fake display would be more doable.

I posted some pics showing his internals a bit. The ab section is a 3 piece telescopic slider, and once its collapsed for alt mode there is very little room left, most of which gets taken up by his arms. I had to modify the shoulder joint supports to allow the ab sections slide posts room to fully collapse as its a pretty close fit.

@primalxconvoy I haven't seen the video game key chains you mentioned, Ill have to look online for them I'm in a small town in the land of Oz, no Hot Topic here   but less chance of vampire attack so it kinda evens out  

I just had a thought, what about space invaders, but with loads of Kremzeek's
Yay neon pixel art!  

 

Great ideas!

Kremzeek pacman would be great. The good yellow colour compliments Soundwave's blue.

Anyway, what type of design would you pop on the cabinet parts? Ultra-detailed comic art, as some cabinets had, cheat, cheap-o, 5-colour simplified prints, it a bit of both? For example, the bit under the joysticks tended to be simplified, I think. Here are some ideas for a more busted-up design, from a cabinet that's been left in a dingy, smokey bar or arcade for many years.

 

Pretty fu $#,ng awsome

 

Love it.

 

That. Is. Incredible!

 

Those look really nice, not sure about the scratches, but the faded/aged look is great.
As far as what art where, I was thinking high quality comic art on the sides, going up to just below his shoulders.
Something like this but Season 1 characters instead of post movie characters


Then some kind of banner/logo on the top front part since that's where the game's name would normally go.

I really hadn't though about putting anything on the button panels. I want to retain the blue and silver coloring to match with the G1 version.

I'm not sure how I'd go putting a sticker onto the display area since its curved to emulate the look of an old CRT display. I may need to use some 3D software to make a flat texture template. Or just put minimal detail in the corners so its not really noticeable where its cut.

Edit:
Just found some pics that are what I'm looking for, now I need to get some printable sticker sheets and hope my printer still has ink  


Edit 2:
Here's an example of the layout I'm thinking of

I may change the background color to blue so its a bit more soundwave but this is pretty close.

 

DUDE! Please tell me you'll make this available in some way shape or form to the public!? I'd kill to have this guy on my shelf with my Playstation and Genesis Prime and Megs.

 

Man this is SO awesome and well-done, and the alt-mode is nice and tight with no gaping holes! Does the gun and cannon implement into the arcade-mode somehow or do they come off separate?

 

I thought I would post some transformation pics for folks wondering whats going on between bot and arcade mode.

@primalxconvoy That's getting pretty close (I feel bad that I'm being picky) but the blue background should be fairly light to match the color of the plastic, since his shoulder section will basically blank plastic. Thankyou for your efforts, its great to have folks getting so involved and interested  

I keep pondering painting the square slider on his shoulder red, not sure, I reckon it would . The other thing that I realized is that I need to print the side labels without the internal lines. Just like Tomiku did with Tablet Soundwave, stick it on then trim around the parts. Come to think of it I only really need the template to get the size correct for printing, If I print the whole pic at the correct size I can just slap it on the side then trim the overhang.


Megatron: Prime! Let us settle this war once and for all by playing against each other on this totally fair and impartial video game.



I have thought about making it available, but I'm not really sure how. The design would need a little refinement (some joints could be better), and its rather large (160+ parts 344grams). I reckon he would be very expensive through shapeways. If you have a printer i could probably send you the print files, but he is fairly complex/fiddly to assemble.