If anyone has not been following my creative discussion thread then allow me to inform of why I am releasing these customs at present. In short, retail distribution has failed me and a number of the Combiner Wars figures I am need of are not obtainable. This has resorted me to online markets for the time being. Even so this combiner and the female Decepticon group will be slow to create as they too follow in my additional two members like with every other combiner I have. All that being said I will release the names of the cast but keep details (vehicle mode, personality, function, etc.) off until their debut. The same applies to the combined form. Lieutenant Judex Covert Integra Dustoff Shockpulse Dioptra Hot Trail Parole Name: Lieutenant Judex Alternate Mode: Heavy Police Rig Function: Squad Leader Quote: "We are the chosen few to deliver Justice. We swear to punish those of wrongdoing. Yet who decides what 'Justice' is?" Profile: Raised in the faith of the Disciples of the Thirteen, Judex was given the duty to bring justice to Cybertron like her brothers and sisters. To better her responsibilities she became an officer of the law and eventually acquired her own team. It's through her experience as an officer that she learned what it really means to bring justice, sometimes abandoning what her faith once taught her for the greater good. Good - Bad Points: Cautious (G), Strict (B) Likes - Dislikes: Smooth Jazz (L), Keeping Secrets (D) Notes (Judex): * Judex went through two name changes as they resembled too close to characters Pyra Magna and Nova Prime. * Judex's religion is mentioned due to other followers becoming criminals despite following their scripture of the Chosen Thirteen. This causes internal conflict between her faith and her duty as an officer. * If I ever get around to drawing these characters without mold limitations Judex would take designs from TF: Prime Optimus. Aside from being one of his best designs - in my opinion - there is one reason. DEM HIPS. (⌐■_■) * Judex and Advocatus took some cues from G1 Tracks and Warforward game character Patty Wagon. * Judex's possible real-world vehicle concept would be inspired by this vehicle if given liberty. Name: Covert Alternate Mode: Undercover Tracker Function: Infiltrator Quote: "I’m the bot with a thousand faces. But which one is real?" Profile: If there is ever a lead that needs investigating then Covert is your best choice. With her unique reflective armor she can mimic the appearance of any bot with her size. When in disguise she gives it her all to make criminals believe she's one of them, going so far that she even convinces herself half the time. This has led her to perform acts that would be frowned upon if revealed to public attention. She is fortunate that Judex has not reprimanded her out of good faith. Only time will tell if her faith is misplaced. Good - Bad Points: Cunning (G), Poor discipline (B) Likes - Dislikes: Mind games (L), Lectures (D) Name: Integra Alternate Mode: Armored Investigation Jeep Function: Interrogator Quote: "To show emotion is to show concern. Show weakness. An interrogation officer has no need for such emotional sentiment." Profile: A quiet bot to say the least. No one knows Integra's past or personality, not that it matters to Integra herself as it's the job that matters to her. Her cold exterior and no nonsense attitude is what led her to become a great interrogator. With time she can have any bot sharing their secrets so long as they never have to see her again. Good - Bad Points: Hardworking (G), Anti-social (B) Likes - Dislikes: Smoking Cy-Gars (L), Abusive Bots (D) Notes (Integra): * Integra's inspiration was the Hellsing character of the same name. A cold but leveled woman who knows how to fight and enjoys smoking. * Knowledge private to her fellow teammates is that Integra has a conjunx endura who works as a dancer at the nightclub named Wire Tappers. Her mate's name is Carmina. They met when her former "manager" tried to threaten the girl into giving a private showing. Name: Dustoff Alternate Mode: Aerial Reconnaissance Chopper Function: Aerial Assistant, Sniper Quote: "Yes, ma’am. I’ll do better next time.” Profile: Once an eager recruit ready to enlist Dustoff has become silent and obedient to her orders. Her training imbedded a cold vision of reality that an officer protects the people at all costs and follows orders without question. This has made her become almost mute unless being addressed. Her squad leader is aware of Dustoff’s history and is taking steps towards undoing the effects of her training in hopes of restoring her once bright and optimistic personality. Good - Bad Points: Helpful (G), Nervous (B) Likes - Dislikes: Soap Operas (L), Drinking (D) Notes (Dustoff): * Dustoff's quote is a line derived from Warrior in the TUGS legendary episode Munitions. * Although hard to spot Dustoff does support the navigation lights seen on air and naval craft. Red on the right, Green on the left. * Dustoff wears her visor and mask even off duty as it has been rumored her face is adorably lethal. * She enjoys Platinum Pepperoni and Aluminum Anchovies on her pizzas. Name: Shockpulse Alternate Mode: Medical Speeder Function: Life Support Quote: "A lost spark is a loss of promise. Every death has consequences and I will prevent them no matter how bleak." Profile: Shockpulse considers herself a professional and strives towards being a perfectionist. She goes to great lengths to save lives but despite her best efforts she sometimes fails. This has led her to emotional breakdowns to which she is seeing a professional to correct. It is because of both her over-emotional attachment to her patients and clinic appointments that Shockpulse has earned hostility from Dioptra. Good - Bad Points: Dedicated (G), Insecure (B) Likes - Dislikes: Reading (L), Seclusion (D) Notes (Shockpulse): * Her robot mode has minor inspiration from Binaltech/Alternators Wheeljack. Her vehicle mode decal comes from this toy. * The choice of the Wheeljack mold came from having no use for the character and provide a female character using Wheeljack's face design. The latter was more difficult. * The clinic Shockpulse visits is the main reason Dioptra dislikes her. * You have no idea how hard it was to insert the yellow on her. Name: Dioptra Alternate Mode: Armored Medical Van Function: Analytics, Forensics Officer Quote: "Death is Death. I’m not the Necrobot so I don’t have to mourn the lost. My job is just to figure out how some poor bot died.” Profile: Years of work has desensitized Dioptra in regards to understanding a bot’s death. She has had tendencies of becoming too enthusiastic with her work, becoming somewhat disturbing to her team. This disregard on the subject of death has earned much hostility from her teammate Shockpulse who hold contrary opinions. This would only be the start of the divide between the two until Dioptra learned of her associate’s secret. Now she can’t tell if she should feel pity or contempt for her comrade. Good - Bad Points: Well Informed (G), Realist (B) Likes - Dislikes: Horror Stories (L), Riddles (D) Notes (Dioptra): * If given creative liberties Dipotra's head would better resemble Prime Ratchet's but with a detachable scope over one eye. * To balance the team's color palette Dioptra was colored white instead of blue as her primary color. * Dioptra's real-world vehicle is this. Name: Hot Trail Alternate Mode: High-Speed Pursuit Vehicle Function: High-Speed Pursuit Unit Quote: "Sometimes bots do need second chances. That’s what my boss says." Profile: Not an officer by choice, Hot Trail has been appointed as a cop to pay her dues after a string of misconduct. While she isn't pleased with her position she is making the most of it as her team's main pursuit vehicle. The only issue with this idea is that her driving is what landed her in this position in the first place. Good - Bad Points: Focused (G), Hazardous Driving (B) Likes - Dislikes: Customizing (L), Uniforms (D) Notes (Hot Trail): * Hot Trail's name comes from the phrase "hot on the trail" meaning being in pursuit. * Judex was the one who caught Hot Trail and defended her to prevent being incarcerated. The other Detectibots do not hesitate to remind Hot Trail of this fact. Name: Parole Alternate Mode: Police Interceptor (Miniature Model) Function: Investigator Quote: "Best thing about being small is surprising those who underestimate you." Profile: Considered too young for her line of work yet one of the best detectives in her district. Parole has a keen eye for details in her investigations often finding clues where others fail to notice. Her skill at solving cases gave her one of two reputations, the second having to do with her appearance. Good - Bad Points: Quick thinking (G), Short stature (B) Likes - Dislikes: Energon Treats (L), Being mistreated (D) Name: Advocatus Quote: "*I* am the law!" Profile: Advocatus is ferocious in her efforts to eliminate any and all opposition with extreme prejudice. Her pro-aggressive attitude commonly lands her in bleak situations but she can escape from them just the same as she got into them. The Detectibots have some hesitation to combining on select circumstances but they won't hold back should Advocatus be their last hope. Good - Bad Points: Unwavering (G), Over-Aggressive (B) Likes - Dislikes: "Justice" (L), Separation (D) Notes (General): * The entire team's color palate was inspired by a G.U.N Hunter mech from Sonic Adventure 2. If possible I would have used E-123 Omega's palatte out of tribute. My reason: He is hilarious. Evidence: Here and here. * I have chosen two song pieces as possible themes for the group for musical flair. Option A. Option B. * This song is my select theme for the group. And now for story time. I didn't have time to write a full story about the Detectibots so I'm afraid a summary will have to do. The story takes place in the IDW Universe post-Combiner Wars.
Yeah thinner paint has always been my issue. Probably because I'm using acrylics and that's not friendly to use with moving parts. That or I get impatient.
Ah...that's the problem. Try experimenting with different paints. I hear Tamiya works well. The spray easily paints the undercoat and they have a bunch of different colours too. Warhammer paint also works well but it looks a lot more like paint, rather than actual plastic in the way Hasbro does it. Try out a few at your local hobby store, but definitely get Tamiya Spray.
Also, most of the time plastic does not need a base coat before spraying. Double check, but usually just cleaning it first does the trick. You've got the colour placement down pat. With these it'd be epic.
Great idea! I have a g1 team of swat inspired Autobots who a team that specialise it seige warfare Braeburn- New York swat truck. Modified Hot Spot Meat- police van.modified First Aid Crowsnest- police helicopter. Modified Blades Fludd- water cannon. Modified Brawl Bacon- humvee- modified Swindle Combined form Aresstus
Thread Update: Integra custom and profile uploaded. Lifeline renamed Recharge. I'm somewhat tempted to write an origin story for this group. Not focused on how they became a combiner but just who they were before becoming Autobots.
I like it! I also dig how it looks like you're giving them a unified paint scheme. Looks cool to start. Bring on the rest!
come on dude, put on some comfy music and it's not so bad. I would really love to see your work look the best it can, you have amazing ideas. what sped things up for me was metallizer lacquer in the spray cans that hobby shops are guaranteed to have, then i just drybrush with citadel paints and wash with ink. Takes no time at all and makes you want to really show it off.
Update: Shockpulse (Recharge, Lifeline) is completed. I'm considering two themes for the group as musical flair. Objection from Ace Attorney: Duel Destinies. With Me from All Ends
