I won't lie to you fellas. This is going to hurt. A lot.
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After much deliberation and input from forum members, I settled on using Transformers Prime Shadow Strike Bumblebee (left) as the base figure for a custom TFP Lockdown to add to my collection.

I'll be removing his yellow paint and body parts, and replacing them with regular Bumblebee's light gray parts. For robot mode I will be creating a new head, neck, feet, hook hand, chainsaw hand and EMP blaster. For vehicle mode I'll be adding new front & rear spoilers, headlights, taillights, side-pipes, and spiked wheels for the vehicle mode. To finish him off, he'll get a paint job heavily inspired by his appearance in Transformers Animated.

I'll be using this thread to document the process along the way.

 

This sounds like a really good idea!

 

I'll be watching this

 

Tools I'm using for disassembly:

• A scrap hunk of wood with a small hole drilled in (for driving pins through), with the top covered by foam and polyurethane to protect pieces.
• Two manual pin punches
• Auto pin punch
• Small screwdriver
• Leatherman multi-tool for pliers
• Small hammer

Today I was able to disassemble the legs to start sanding imperfections and stripping them for painting. The yellow Bumblebee's gray limb parts are slightly lighter than the gray Bumblebee's limb parts, so it's a nice little bit of contrast between the two.

 

Already love the idea of this. Bee's body is surprisingly versatile for different characters.

 

How did you build those stands?

 

Lego:

 

Good looking start!

 

Are....are you serious?

 

I know you're popular with the kids, but don't let it go to your head.​

Well, ran into a slight snag last night while working on this. Removing the pin that secures the car doors cracked the bottom of the door, making it unusable. I wouldn't have been that disappointed had I not already spent a good bit of time removing its paint with some isopropyl alcohol and paper towels.



I took advantage of the opportunity to test what damage the 91% alcohol might do to this clear plastic. There was no damage or brittleness after an hour of submersion. I don't believe it made the plastic weaker either, as even today I'm unable to snap any of it off with my hands.

I didn't want to risk further breakage, and needing to procure more figures for this project, so today I ventured out to Lowe's and picked up a woodburning and hobby iron kit that comes with a number of fine-tipped attachments, as well as a small pair of vice grips since my leatherman isn't best suited for this kind of work.



Using the small, fine tip that's attached in that photo, I was able to easily remove the pins. Just 10 seconds of contact to the pin loosens it from the plastic enough to pull it out without any damage. Without this thing I would not have been able to successfully remove the door pins, or the shoulder pins. The only pins I couldn't remove that I would've liked to are the ones that secure the geared pieces in the chest that the shoulders attach to, so those will be the only yellow pieces I'll need to paint then.



Disassembly in itself probably took a total of two hours. One thing of note for anyone else that might consider doing this: The main chest piece that the neck part of the hood is hinged on and has two screws on the underside is secured with only the screws and internal pegs on the Shadow Strike Bumblebee. On the regular Deluxe it is additionally secured with glue at the rear where the internal pegs are, that melts the top and bottom pieces together. Separating them will take a steady hand and a sharp X-Acto knife.

Now onto painting prep...

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this is looking super good so far! excited to see results

 

Thanks!

It was pretty disheartening losing that door because I couldn't immediately think of how better to get it detached. Getting those pins out with ease today really turned things around.

 

I had meant a basic part count; major points.

 

Those pics show enough for ya?

Today I was able to complete all of the sanding to clean up spru remnants, flashing and moulding seams, as well as removal of the tailpipes:

Today's tools were files, spru cutters, an X-acto knife and a Dremel.

I also made the necessary modifications to the chest and shoulder assemblies to allow for the shoulders to fold out to be nearly straight, getting rid of Bumblebee's slouchy ones. Arrows indicate the areas removed:

And here is the modified assembly compared to the stock:

I probably won't get to work on this again until Sunday, when I plan to do my planned hand modifications.

 

After a busy week I had some time to work on this today.

I removed the right hand and drilled a 3mm hole for attaching his hook, or Legends weapons:

Then I designed his hook attachment in Fusion360, as super-intuitive 3d modelling program:

Hopefully tomorrow I can crank out his EMP gun.

 

Loving that hook!.

 

That painting prep photo is awesome. Looking forward to seeing more.

 

Thanks for the feedback, everyone. I completed the design for his EMP Blower today as planned.



Tomorrow I hope to tackle the side pipes and maybe his feet.

 

Cool beans man. Looking good.

 

Looks good!