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I just saw the Transformers movie...any kits available?

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  • Member since
    January 2006
Posted by KirkTrekModeler on Wednesday, January 16, 2008 8:06 PM
 Lufbery wrote:
 KirkTrekModeler wrote:
 Lufbery wrote:
 KirkTrekModeler wrote:

I've seen a scratch built BB that is really quite astounding, especially considering it was made from cereal boxes. 

 

Yeah. I posted a link to that further up in this thread. [:D ]

Right, but from what I understand that was the inspiration for this person to decide to do the model. :) 

No kidding? Well, it's certainly inspirational.

If anyone is looking for good pictures of the robots from the film, the lead robot designer has a whole bunch of high-quality digital images on his on-line portfolio.

Regards, 

Thanks, I'll definitely pass that on. 

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by Prince of Styrene II on Wednesday, January 16, 2008 11:12 AM
Those are some great images & insights into the designs!  ThoughI do wish they would have kept in Arcee. Grumpy [|(]  Maybe in TF2??

"Hold the weapons, Daddy. I'm going to go get my monkeys." The Dutchess of Styrene

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Harrisburg, PA
Posted by Lufbery on Wednesday, January 16, 2008 6:46 AM
 KirkTrekModeler wrote:
 Lufbery wrote:
 KirkTrekModeler wrote:

I've seen a scratch built BB that is really quite astounding, especially considering it was made from cereal boxes. 

 

Yeah. I posted a link to that further up in this thread. [:D ]

Right, but from what I understand that was the inspiration for this person to decide to do the model. :) 

No kidding? Well, it's certainly inspirational.

If anyone is looking for good pictures of the robots from the film, the lead robot designer has a whole bunch of high-quality digital images on his on-line portfolio.

Regards, 

-Drew

Build what you like; like what you build.

  • Member since
    January 2006
Posted by KirkTrekModeler on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 10:16 PM
 Lufbery wrote:
 KirkTrekModeler wrote:

I've seen a scratch built BB that is really quite astounding, especially considering it was made from cereal boxes. 

 

Yeah. I posted a link to that further up in this thread. [:D ]

Right, but from what I understand that was the inspiration for this person to decide to do the model. :) 

 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Harrisburg, PA
Posted by Lufbery on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 9:33 PM
 KirkTrekModeler wrote:

I've seen a scratch built BB that is really quite astounding, especially considering it was made from cereal boxes. 

 

Yeah. I posted a link to that further up in this thread. [:D ]

-Drew

Build what you like; like what you build.

  • Member since
    January 2006
Posted by KirkTrekModeler on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 8:54 PM

 Prince of Styrene II wrote:
The movie version?!  Now that I'd like to see!

Yes, it's going to be made per the movie version. I've seen a scratch built BB that is really quite astounding, especially considering it was made from cereal boxes. 

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by Prince of Styrene II on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 6:41 PM
The movie version?!  Now that I'd like to see!

"Hold the weapons, Daddy. I'm going to go get my monkeys." The Dutchess of Styrene

  • Member since
    January 2006
Posted by KirkTrekModeler on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 12:41 PM
There is someone working on a bumblebee, but it wont be done for awhile. I think they are going for full articulation. I'll update when I have something to show.
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Harrisburg, PA
Posted by Lufbery on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 9:39 AM
 Prince of Styrene II wrote:
 Lufbery wrote:

Frankly, I'm not sure I'm up to scratchbuilding the robot body, even with the car kit available as a basis.

Scratching the movie version would be quite an endeavour!  Those guys are far more complicated than they look!  Once you take a real good look at all the details, you'll be boggled!

It would be quite a feat! Still, the guy who made one from paper is (link posted above) is an inspiration. Presumably, most of Bumblebee's body, at least the yellow parts, come from the car's body. Still, it would be a lot of work.

However, my dream scratchbuilding Transformers project is to design and build an Autobot Cessna 172. I'd like to go for the movie look where the parts of the vehicle are more subtlely distributed over the robots body than the generation 1 robots I remember from when I was a kid.

Regards, 

-Drew

Build what you like; like what you build.

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by Prince of Styrene II on Monday, January 14, 2008 7:21 PM
 Lufbery wrote:

Frankly, I'm not sure I'm up to scratchbuilding the robot body, even with the car kit available as a basis.

Scratching the movie version would be quite an endeavour!  Those guys are far more complicated than they look!  Once you take a real good look at all the details, you'll be boggled!

"Hold the weapons, Daddy. I'm going to go get my monkeys." The Dutchess of Styrene

  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: arizona
Posted by cthulhu77 on Monday, January 14, 2008 4:59 PM
Neat stuff !  I've been a transformers fan since it hit the shores waaaaay back when. A few years ago, someone had a pretty neat photo of a Riot/battering ram armored police vehicle being used by (I think) the LVPD...on the front was the Autobot sigil.  Made me grin. Can't seem to find the pic anymore, though.
http://www.ewaldbros.com
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Harrisburg, PA
Posted by Lufbery on Monday, January 14, 2008 12:19 PM

Cool! I wasn't aware of the AMT kit.

Frankly, I'm not sure I'm up to scratchbuilding the robot body, even with the car kit available as a basis.

Still, I'm intriqued by the idea of making transformers robot figures using model vehicle kits.

Regards,

-Drew

Build what you like; like what you build.

  • Member since
    June 2005
  • From: NJ 07073
Posted by archangel571 on Monday, January 14, 2008 12:09 PM
 Lufbery wrote:

Hi all,

I noticed a week or so ago at my local hobby shop that Revell has a pretty nice-looking Revell 2009 concept Camaro in 1/25th scale. It's a Snaptite model.

I'm thinking that it would be a good basis for scratchbuilding the movie Bumblebee. [:) ]

Regards,

 

The AMT one had been out for a while and also have rather good details.  The really weird thing is that the body shell in my hand feels relatively thicker than the other car kits... 

-=Ryan=- Too many kits... so little free time. MadDocWorks
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Harrisburg, PA
Posted by Lufbery on Monday, January 14, 2008 11:53 AM

Hi all,

I noticed a week or so ago at my local hobby shop that Revell has a pretty nice-looking Revell 2009 concept Camaro in 1/25th scale. It's a Snaptite model.

I'm thinking that it would be a good basis for scratchbuilding the movie Bumblebee. [:) ]

Regards,

 

-Drew

Build what you like; like what you build.

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Harrisburg, PA
Posted by Lufbery on Sunday, November 25, 2007 7:28 AM
 Prince of Styrene II wrote:
 Lufbery wrote:
Hey Prince of Syrene II,

How's your Bumblebee build coming along?

He's stalled, & yes the pun is intended. 

*Grin* 

 

I'm trying to get a couple comissions finished first.  Ever time I sit down to build something, I feel guilty if I'm not working on them.  But I will get started on him somewhat soon.  I want to get him done for WonderFest, which is in July in Kentucky next year.

 I will start a thread on him when I restart the build.  Thanks for the thought & wondering how the build was going, though! Smile [:)]

I'm looking forward to seeing the thread when you start it.

Regards, 

-Drew

Build what you like; like what you build.

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by Prince of Styrene II on Saturday, November 24, 2007 12:26 AM
 Lufbery wrote:
Hey Prince of Syrene II,

How's your Bumblebee build coming along?

He's stalled, & yes the pun is intended.  I'm trying to get a couple comissions finished first.  Ever time I sit down to build something, I feel guilty if I'm not working on them.  But I will get started on him somewhat soon.  I want to get him done for WonderFest, which is in July in Kentucky next year.

 

I will start a thread on him when I restart the build.  Thanks for the thought & wondering how the build was going, though! Smile [:)]

"Hold the weapons, Daddy. I'm going to go get my monkeys." The Dutchess of Styrene

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Harrisburg, PA
Posted by Lufbery on Friday, November 23, 2007 12:11 PM

Hey Prince of Syrene II,

How's your Bumblebee build coming along?

Regards,

-Drew

Build what you like; like what you build.

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by Prince of Styrene II on Thursday, August 30, 2007 1:05 AM
Yep, I've already seen this.  Truly amazing!! Bow [bow]

"Hold the weapons, Daddy. I'm going to go get my monkeys." The Dutchess of Styrene

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Harrisburg, PA
Posted by Lufbery on Wednesday, August 29, 2007 10:23 PM

Hi folks.

Here I go adding to this thread again, but you have to check out this Bumblebee model made from paper! Paper models  can be fantastic, and I've seen some truly wonderful ones on the 'net, but this one pretty much takes the cake.

Regards,

 

-Drew

Build what you like; like what you build.

  • Member since
    September 2003
Posted by mightymax on Sunday, August 19, 2007 5:17 PM

No Kits I am aware of but do you like action figure/ statues?

I was in KMart this morning and see they have released a Bumble Bee in Hasbro's once proud Unleashed line. If you are familiar with the Unleashed Star Wars figures from several years ago then you know these are very nice 8"-12" Statue like display "action" figures. Very dramatically posed on a diorama type base. Nowadays anything in the Unleashed line is Micro Machine size.

The figure itself looks like this. Bumble Bee has one arm streched upward holding something I couldn't make out. He is standing atop a wrecked car as if he just won a fight. I did not think to look closer at the car to see if it was the Police Mustang.  The only thing that stopped me from buying it was the price. 31.99!!!

When Hasbro was doing the Star Wars Unleashed line they were 14.99. When they did a Wal Mart Exclusive TIE Fighter Pilot about 6 months ago they had gone up to 19.99. I don't think they will sell many at 31.99 to anyone other than very dedicated fanboys.

 

Max Bryant  

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Harrisburg, PA
Posted by Lufbery on Sunday, August 19, 2007 1:38 PM
 Prince of Styrene II wrote:

Also, I think I speak for everyone when I say please post as many pics as you can!!  In-progress pics are welcome, too!

Agreed! We'd love to see some photos.

Oh, and tell your friends they did a great job on the movie. [: )]

Regards,

 

-Drew

Build what you like; like what you build.

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by Prince of Styrene II on Sunday, August 19, 2007 10:19 AM

How big are the models you're working from?  Certainly you don't have the full sized props, like the Bumblebee they used when he was captured in the movie.  Just the thought of storage space is astounding! Big Smile [:D]

 

Also, I think I speak for everyone when I say please post as many pics as you can!!  In-progress pics are welcome, too!

"Hold the weapons, Daddy. I'm going to go get my monkeys." The Dutchess of Styrene

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, August 19, 2007 2:21 AM

None currently, though I am working on a little (read huge) project at home...

I know a couple of people at ILM, and was able to get my hands on (private) copies of the actual models used in the movie.  So now I'm sculpting every single tiny piece on the characters in 1/24 scale, so that when I'm done I'll have exact replicas of the movie characters to display.  And no, I will not be making kits of these, due to several things: One, I will get my butt in huge legal trouble for it; two, I won't even be done with Bumblebee before the end of the year (and he's the least complex); and three, I honestly don't think any of you want to assemble a kit with almost ten thousand pieces in it (the Cell Phone transformer, finished him, I'll have pics up eventually).  But as far as I know, that's the only project underway.

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by Prince of Styrene II on Sunday, August 12, 2007 10:02 PM

 Lufbery wrote:
That looks pretty darned good so far. How are you going to fill in Bumblebee's robot anatomy?

I'm mostly going to scratch it, & with the G-1 bots being mostly squares & rectangles it shoudn't be too hard.  I also have some Gundam kits that I can use for the hands & I might even use the joints in him as well.  His face would have to be scratched, but I could start from a Gundam base head.

 

I think at this point I might need a pair of digital calipers to make sure he's symetrical! Dunce [D)]

"Hold the weapons, Daddy. I'm going to go get my monkeys." The Dutchess of Styrene

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Harrisburg, PA
Posted by Lufbery on Sunday, August 12, 2007 9:44 PM
 Prince of Styrene II wrote:

 Lufbery wrote:
Failing that, it would be neat to make the robots by starting with a kit, cutting it up, and making the robot parts -- sort of semi-scratchbuilding the robot figures

Like this? Cool [8D]

I started with the standard Revell Beetle kit to make Goldbug, Bumblebee's second form, but I wanted to make him transform more like Jazz & Prowl instead of his regular method.

That looks pretty darned good so far. How are you going to fill in Bumblebee's robot anatomy?

Regards, 

-Drew

Build what you like; like what you build.

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by Prince of Styrene II on Saturday, August 11, 2007 2:43 PM

 Lufbery wrote:
Failing that, it would be neat to make the robots by starting with a kit, cutting it up, and making the robot parts -- sort of semi-scratchbuilding the robot figures

Like this? Cool [8D]

I started with the standard Revell Beetle kit to make Goldbug, Bumblebee's second form, but I wanted to make him transform more like Jazz & Prowl instead of his regular method.

And here's the parts all cut up.  The chassis bottom still needs a bit of cutting, but I thought I'd include it in the pic.

While cutting the windows out, I cracked the passenger side, so I thought I'd include some battle damage!

And here's a quick shot of the foot parts.  The tire will be recessed upward into the foot so that it sits level.  You can see the interior cut in the wheel well in the "parts" shot.  The rear window half will be hinged at the bottom & the top will rest against the leg.

"Hold the weapons, Daddy. I'm going to go get my monkeys." The Dutchess of Styrene

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Harrisburg, PA
Posted by Lufbery on Friday, August 10, 2007 1:54 PM

Michael,

Working with and modifying the toys seems like it would be a neat intermediate step between simply playing with them and building models of them.

Still, it would be neat to actually have kits of the Autobots and Decepticons to build. It would be even neater if they were in a constant scale and could actually transform.

Failing that, it would be neat to make the robots by starting with a kit, cutting it up, and making the robot parts -- sort of semi-scratchbuilding the robot figures.

I wouldn't mide taking it a step further and making up new figures based on some vehicles that haven't been done yet. For example, I think an Autobot that transformed into a Cessna 182 would be pretty cool.

Regards, 

-Drew

Build what you like; like what you build.

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: Portland, Oregon
Posted by fantacmet on Thursday, August 9, 2007 10:15 PM

I have thought about taking the life versions of some of the kits, and then painting them up as their TF counterparts.  Like an F15 in Starscream, and Thundercracker colorschemes.  If I can remember, then for a blast from the past, I will take some pics of the original Gen1 Transformers I have I have and post them up.  I have a couple of Aerial bots, Thundercracker, and Buzzsaw.  Plus somewhere I have pics of the original Megatron and Optimus that I repaired for a friend last year.

 

Michael

    

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by Prince of Styrene II on Wednesday, August 1, 2007 12:13 AM
 Lufbery wrote:
What is the "Alternators" stuff that I keep reading about? Is that one of the offshoot toy lines?

EDIT:  I did a quick search and discovered that the"Alternators" is a line of relatively newly released Transformers still for sale. My last real involvement with transformers was when I was 10 to 12 or 13 years old in 1984-86 or so. I guess a lot has happened since then. Big Smile [:D]

Indeed, a lot has happened since the first movie!  The G-1 series continued with the CGI "Beast Wars" series in the mid-90's.  Excellent writing with a nice, continous, storyline that ties in with the G-1 series & a character that actaully died!  (I do suggest watching Beast Wars!  Even though the CG is a bit cheesy in the first season, it does improve as the series progresses.)  That rolled over into "Beast Machines", not as good, but watchable.  The G-1 series also continued into about 4 or 5 series in Japan- Victory, Master Force, Headmasters, (cell animated) Beast Wars, Energon.  The annual convention BotCon helped the franchise to never really die.  The toys had a brief pause, but have been back for several years now.  Some think that the Alternators line are pretty much the pinnacle of the toy line- very realistic cars that transform into really good looking robots.  A far cry from the old Ratchet & Ironhide! Smile [:)]

"Hold the weapons, Daddy. I'm going to go get my monkeys." The Dutchess of Styrene

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