Hello all, I tried looking through the forums and came up empty. If this has been asked before I apologize in advance. Without going through the cartoons myself (again), I was wondering if there is some guide that shows the placement of Autobot / Discepticon insignia placements? I would like to keep my 3P TFs insignia placement as accurately to the G1 cartoon (preference) as possible. Issue that I am currently having is that Silverbolt's insignias are coming up 2 different ways (at least in my searches). His plane mode shows 3 Autobot symbols but the direction shows up facing toward the front and facing the back of his plane mode as well. Tell me to stifle it if this has been asked before (with possible direction to find it please). Thank you for taking the time to read this. -imest
I just google images (I look through a few and choose the spots that are most consistent) and place the stickers there. If you’re wondering where to place FT Silverbolt’s Autobot symbols (them being “backwards” or “forwards”) — look at the other aerialbots — and follow their symbol placement.
That backwards forwards thing on the seekers has bugged me ever since I realized it was a thing. I was trying to figure out why everybody has Starscream with them upside down in robot mode when they're clearly supposed to be right side up. Then I happen to see a few old episodes, and what do you know - they ARE upside down. Have I been misremembering all these years? Then a trip to google photos later, nope, I was right. The G1 seeker toys all had their insignias right side up in bot mode. Good ole Sunbow, creating confusion since 1984!
When in doubt, just Google "Transformers X G1 cartoon model" where X is the name of the TF you want to check. E.g. "Transformers Onslaught G1 cartoon model." One of the results will be a link to a reference sheet the animators were "supposed" to use (which means, they didn't use it all the time). It's at least a standardized reference, and hasn't failed me yet I am by no means a military expert but I think the whole sigil thing on planes is designed so that if you (in your plane) approach another plane, and you are facing the exhaust of the plane ahead of you (meaning, both planes are traveling in the same direction, as opposed to traveling towards each other from opposite directions), then the sigils on the wings on the plane ahead of you will be in the correct orientation. if you approach the plane from the opposite direction (meaning you're both heading towards each other), the sigils will look upside down, since at that point, the need for identification is already moot and the situation is hostile. The seekers all have upside down sigils in robot mode since the wings are flipped.
The most accurately coloured G1 animation models online! - Allspark Pictures - The Allspark Forums I’d suggest just using these.
This is always something I give careful consideration. Most of the time I go with the cartoon as reference. But, occasionally I’ll use the G1 toy as a reference. Like in the position of the Autobot symbols for the Aerialbots in vehicle mode. There is a another Transformer fan site that I use to look at every cartoon image for certain characters. It’s gives me almost every appearance in the cartoon to decide.
Thank you all for your comments. I like @Mobb One explanation and might fore go the G1 as it isn't consistent. Love the pics @Destructimis Prime!
No. I refuse to let logic or military strategy interfere with my childhood memories lol. Back to the subject, I usually check out tfwiki and google images. As you've noticed, the cartoon and toy often had different placements - Motormaster, Kickback, Kup, and the Seekers immediately come to mind, but there are tons of others. Tfwiki lets you see both toy and cartoon, and even newer toy releases - those can give good ideas on alternate placements. In google image search, you can look for toy, cartoon, or g1 to get other images that aren't in tfwiki.
I've used a couple of sources Tman Youtube videos because his usually have the labels before his review and concept art (also see here) and sometimes just to be sure find an animation still shot. Edited to add: I use Toyhax labels and an exacto knife to ever so carefully place them before applying pressure, still kind of tricky to center them using the eyes.
