Movie Optimus Prime build

[Radio Control Trucker]

Bob, if you're using real aluminum doors, you could use an engraving tool to etch the pattern into the doors and then have the doors chrome dipped. It's a thought.



- RCT

[kingbob]

Ive seen the square pattern styrene, and thats my fallback if I cant make anything else. I may get a better result by using a thicker piece of aluminium, the one I did above is super thin 0.1mm. A thicker piece may hold the pattern better. I have some 0.2 and some 0.4, so might at least try it.

That stainless above has a 3" pattern so is way too big, but embossing it over wire mesh might work.

[kingbob]

Its not a layer issue though, just one of pattern.

[kingbob]

Ahh, right, sorry didnt get what you meant. The Ali I used was 0.1mm, so almost like foil anyway. Im going to try it on a slightly thicker piece and see if it holds better.

Also just found some nice little 1.8mm LEDs for the trailer lights. Should be able to just have the round tip showing through on the outside.

[Radio Control Trucker]

Nice find

- RCT

[kingbob]

Not bad for 25c each!

[Radio Control Trucker]

Where did you get them from?

I know of a couple places (maybe), but not sure of prices.

- RCT

[kingbob]

From an aussie shop online. Www.ledsales.com.au

They do some nice electroluminescent wire too, might have to think of a project to use some on.

[bowtiebuba350]

I love this build

[kingbob]

OK, work has kept me busy recently, but i have 2 weeks off now, so am at it again!
On the plus side, the clearcoat i put on the body has had time to cure, so i set at masking up the front end today.

And finally, success!

I'll give the front end flames a day or 2 to dry, then start masking up the cab doors and roof. Then just the sleeper to do.

[diesel950]

looking great bob

[Espeefan]

That looks really nice, Bob! Can't wait to see more. Glad it turned out well for you this time. Finally, right? Take a deep breath, relax, and soak it all in. Well deserved.

[Finster]

Nice paint job, well done! Looking forward to seeing it finished as I'm sure you are to

[kingbob]

OK, after HOURS of cutting tape, the body is masked and ready for painting blue tomorrow!
Fingers crossed i dont screw this up otherwise the body is going through a wall! lol

[kingbob]

FINALLY!!!!!!!

So freakin happy the body is finally painted! And its mostly to my satisfaction!

I printed out pics of the real truck, and traced the flames onto tape, so the design should be as close as i can get in this scale.
I would have liked the red/orange fade on the hood to be smoother, not so rapid, and the finish in a few places isnt as smooth as i'd like. BUT, it is finally done! Now i see it painted like this i realise there really was no way to do the tiny pin stripe around the flames. In scale its just not practical.

Still needs a clear gloss one the blue is cured, but as near as i can tell, paint is complete! A huge milestone as far as i'm concerned!

I'll get a few better pics once the sun comes out of hiding, and the body is a bit drier and safer to handle. So just a quick snap for now in bad light!

Thoughts?

[kingbob]

Ahh the sun came out. Here we go, some decent pics







I like it

[kingbob]

The only real hiccup is at the top of the front flame on the left of the sleeper. I didnt quite do enough red, so it shows a little bit silver.

Hopefully that will be obscured by the exhaust shield once fitted.

[diesel950]

looking good out in the sun

[kingbob]

You'd think i'd have learnt this build is best served by patience, but apparently not.
Last night before bed i threw a quick coat of clear over the body to protect it all. Looked this morning and it made some of the blue on the sleeper run! *bangs head on wall*

The flames at the front are fine, they had a full day extra to cure, but the sleeper had only had a day. This is the only really bad bit. I should be able to spray a bit of blue over it to blend it in and hopefully save it.

Just should have left it for a week or so to cure.
(we need a headbutting a wall emoticon!)




The other side is mostly fine. Little bit of the blue collected in seams and against raised detail, but most gets hidden.
I started adding adhesive chrome metal foil to the appropriate details. I decided to use this instead of the folded metal rod i made as i tested it on a scrap piece of plastic and couldnt glue it in without wrecking the paint.

Need to make door handles and the vent for the sleeper doors, hopefully done today/tonight. Then can start bolting on details!

[kingbob]

OK, i've sprayed a touch paint up over the bit of run paint, now have to wait and see how it looks when dry.

But i've come to a decision, i'm going to finish the truck with the body as-is, and it should look passable from a distance. But, the body has so many flaws, mistakes, and re-works in its history, that it just isnt in a state that i consider done to the best of my ability. In some places the paint/primer/putty is thicker than the plastic.

So once finished, i'm going to build a new body for it, with all the lessons learnt applied. I know what modifications i need, how best to apply the paint, and so on.

Starting from a pristine body, i think i can get all the bodywork done in a weekend, get then do the red painting the following week, then the blue a week later. But since the truck will be finished, i wont have to rush, or be waiting on it before i can continue.

Does that sound like a good plan, or am i mad? lol