Autobots!

I can't believe my luck finding this tiny Lamborghini, it's a Micromachines toy and just perfect for what I need.

I saw it on eBay but didn't imagine for a moment it would be a  useful size. Being a collectors item, these little cars can be expensive, so I had to look around for a really cheap one. Well, I finally found one for a couple of pounds and bought it. When it turned up the low price made sense...it had three wheels. I booked him in to the workbench and soon he was as good as new, complete with a new wheel.

Such a cute little fella and very useable for the game. It didn't take long for me to find another bashed up toy and order it. Now I have the Alt modes for Sunstreaker and Sideswipe, the Autobot lambo twins.

I've added some gizmos to the models to cover up some of the damage and make them look a little more futuristic. The figures of the characters are from a diecast collectors set. They were originally coated in a thick enamel paint that filled a lot of the models detail. I was glad to see that after I had stripped them, their detail was actually quite good and true to the cartoon.

It was tempting to leave this model yellow as it is Sunstreaker's colour, but does need a bit more tlc.
 It's good to paint the figure and his car mode at the same time so the colour matches seamlessly.

Side swipe is done, just needs his decal on the car.

He is so iconic of the original line up of Autobots, I'm really pleased to include him in the collection.

Volley gets an Alt mode too. I had two of these futuristic tanks from Micromachines and used the drills off one to add to the character model. Together with slight repaint with some extra colours added, the two look like the same machine.

Autobot Rescue Mission

Last night I promised my little lad a game of the new Transformer rules. He didn't let me forget and it wasn't long before the table was set up and ready. 

As Maximus had been captured in my last test game, it made only sense to form up Autobot strike teams to break him out.

The Autobots weren't leaving anything to chance and attacked in force. Adding to this large force was the legendary warrior, Ultra Magnus. Against him was a small but powerful force of Decepticons led by the newly upgraded Shockwave.

Autobots gained the initiative and took up positions around the Decepticon detention block.

Having got themselves into position the Autobots launch their assault. Magnus uses an energon net to disable Shockwave, while Ratchet and Hound fire on the Seeker guards.

Shockwave, outraged by this attack, breaks free of the net and transforms into his shock cannon form. It's now that Green bug (my old car) and her team make a dash for him. Their goal was to divert his fire away from the rest of the teams. A head on run for the commander failed after a huge blast from his Shock cannon blunted the attack.

Little Green bug narrowly missed being vaperised from a huge blast from Shockwave.

The Seekers having been driven back, Ratchet and his team attempt to open the holding cell door. Before they can get anywhere, Soundwave surprises them and sends them flying back. They are damaged and in full flight. It is now that Ratchet uses his ability to repair and restores two energon points back onto his unit.

Silver spin and Green bug take cover then try again to get close to Shockwave. Magnus blasts the great Decepticon from behind and this pushes him back. Soundwave too is sent flying back from a volley from a heavy Autobot team. Transforming into their heavy tanks they continue to push the Decepticons back. In the brutal firefight, the out numbered Decepticons are eventually whittled down and taken off line. Soundwave is shot while falling back and taken out.

 Shockwave transformers back into robot mode and attempts to rally his Seeker jets. Hit and wounded he fails to reach them in time and they too are destroyed.

This leaves the mighty gun bot on his own and heavily outnumbered. As Ratchet tries to open the cell block door, the other Autobot teams surround Shockwave. Shockwave diverts energon into himself and repairs his damaged systems.

 Greenbug finally catches up to him and her squad accelerate to a ramming attack. Seeing all is lost and the growing Autobot numbers, Shockwave flees the scene..

Ratchet cracks the door code first go and Maximus is freed. Damaged, low on energon, but still functional. The victorious forces gather to hear a small speech from their old sector commander.

Having heard a rushed speech about freedom is the right of all sentient beings, the Autobots fallback, melting away into the wreckage of Cybertron.

Megatron will not be pleased at this affront to his authority and no-one crosses MEGATRON!

Creating Shockwave

I thought it was time I gave Shockwave his fearsome cannon this morning. While I was about it, I decided to upgrade him with bigger legs.

My original model used pieces from a smaller Megatron keyring. This worked okay but I always thought they looked a bit small. So this morning I jumped up and set about cutting and shaping extra leg pieces.

I also tweaked the gun design by covering the central structure and adding a connecting pipe into the barrel. This made more sense to me and the model started to look like a gun.

I thought I would repaint the model of Shockwave and use the same paints to do the gun.

Here can be seen the new pieces that connect the barrel with the main body. This looked so much better I'm glad I pushed myself to tweak it. Sometimes leaving it for a night is the best way to look at it with fresh eyes and helps not to rush it.

A coat of purple paint pulls everything together.

 

All finished and varnished. I added a little carbon scoring around the muzzle of the cannon with Tamiya weathering chalks.

I tried to match some of the detail on the rear of the gun to those I had put on the figure.

The inside of the glue lid has a nice circular detail which painted up as red hot energy conductor.

Shockwave shows off his new legs to Twin cast, who in turn shows off his new gun.

He looks so much better with his new chunky legs. He seems better in proportion now as he was very top heavy before.

His chest was given a coat of reflective paint which made it catch the light and glo. Being a purple hue, it matched his body colour and so was perfect for the job.

I used the Transformers Siege artwork book for reference and so gave him a worn campaign look.

The reference book is a real god send and has helped me no end with this project. I'm just a bit sorry I never got the chest quite right. However, it would be too much of a hassle to change it now.

 I always think of this as an early version of Shockwave before he upgraded himself in the one we all know.

I used the Tamiya weathering power for the blast damage on the base too.

I think he's my favourite boss for the bad guys, I'm a little afraid of taking Megatron out, but Shockwave is a great substitute. A cool strategist who dwarfs most other Autobots, he is a feared adversary. Not to mention he can turn into one of the most deadly guns on the planet. His emotionless eye analyzing every detail, there is nowhere to hide.