And unveiled for the first time at TFCon 2011 is my custom entry.
I present you: Transformers Animated Galaxy Optimus Prime!
Note that, for those who attended TFCon 2011 and saw this in person, the info and pics that follow are the same as the accompanying photo-album.
This idea was initially conceived in early 2009, and was originally supposed to be a custom entry for TFCon09. Lack of time for planning caused the project to be pushed back 2 years.
Interestingly enough, the original plan was for the final product to be Transformers Animated G1 Powermaster Optimus Prime, complete with Powermaster partner (unlike the recently announced 3rd-party TFA Powermaster Prime add-on, which is based on the design in the Allspark Almanac). This was changed to Galaxy Convoy in the prototype stage, as the first test-fitting version looked more like the latter than the former. (
Which works out well, since my favorite Prime/Convoy is Galaxy Convoy)
The power-up adds-on to an unmodified stock Transformers Animated Voyager Optimus Prime; all parts connect to already existing hardpoints used during the stock transformation process. Casting and parts replication was never part of the design phases, though most of the parts do separate by color for ease of painting.
All connections between parts were done with simple pegs and holes (without the use of magnets) to simulate a regular Transformer; the handles for the guns are standard 5mm rods that will fit the majority of other Transformers toys.
The color-scheme was chosen to match the Hasbro release of Animated Voyager Prime; a non-shaded, non-weathered look with minimal metallic paint applications was chosen to mimic a real production toy. (
Didn't feel like cracking open my MISB Takara Voyager Prime signed by David Kaye to have it match the japanese metallic paintjob)
Practically the entire thing (about 95%) is scratchbuilt with white styrene sheets, styrene rods and brass rods; only one pair of joints and one set of "wheels" (which became the red/blue lights on the forearms) were not built from scratch. (
It was just MUCH simpler to steal a set of joints from an old Gundam kit).
All accompanying artwork in the accompanying photo-album are original and initially hand-drawn; inked and colored in Photoshop. (
Yes, the dialog and text is lame, mainly due to the forceful intent to include the words "Galaxy", "Force" and "Convoy" in there)
Work Timeline:
- Design phase for started in December 2010.
- Experimental and Prototyping phase was during January and February 2011.
- Actual build started mid-February 2011
- Actual date of 100% completion of toy: July 1, 2011
- Actual date of 100% completion of photo-album: July 6, 2011
Materials used:
Build:
- unmodified Hasbro release of Transformers Animated Voyager-class Optimus Prime
- Lots of sheets of styrene of varying thickness
- 3mm and 5mm styrene square rods
- 3mm and 5mm styrene round/circular rods
- 1/32 inch brass rod
- 1 set of shoulder joints from an old 1/144 Gundam Deathscythe Hell EW-ver. Gundam kit
- 1 pair of wheels from an old Tomy candy-toy car kit
Finishing:
- Tamiya Basic putty
- Aves Apoxie Sculpt
- Tamiya liquid primer (gray)
- Plamo Colour lacquer paints (red, blue, gray, black, silver)
- Tamiya Acrylic clear paints (clear red, clear blue)
Without further adue, here are the pictures!
I apologize for the odd-ish sizes for the pictures; all of these were planned/designed for print primarily.
Box front:
Comic:
Japanese-style new-product promotional advertisement:
