Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

i had no idea op started out like that cool pics and project

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Me and my younger brother are planning a build of a 1:1 Pete 359, we were both raised in them and instead of a classic muscle car or hot rod build, which we'be already done were gonna build something that can.make us a few bucks lol.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Great job on the fenders, Bob. I wish I could work with styrene like that. Everything I try with styrene gives me results that leave something to be desired, but you seem to get great results without any problem! Even on rework, like your fenders. Very nice.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

They still need some smooth sanding on the inner curve, to get them looking nice. I just take my time and plan things out.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Got the hood reattached today. Its mostly sanded down, need to fill a few little spots, and blend the right in a little better. But nearly there.

http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/57.JPG
http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/58.JPG

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

So i'm getting pretty close to laying down some paint and am in a quandry. The OP movie truck has a thin light blue pinstripe around all of the dark blue flames (example below), but it is very thin, in most photos you cant see it. Only in close ups is it visible. It looks like its maybe 5-6mm thick, (a little under 1/4") which if it was painted with a proper pinstripe paintbrush would be about right.

Trouble is in 1/14 scale, that makes it somewhere in the region of 0.3-0.4mm thin.

I do have some 1mm pinstripe paper masking tape which is reasonably flexible, and i think i've seen some vinyl 0.7mm online but using that to mask the complex flame design will be a *****. Liquid mask is no help as i'd never be able to cut a consistent thickness pinstripe.

So, do i try and paint a 1mm pinstripe, leave it out altogether, or perhaps try and use some thin blue vinyl to tape the pinstripe?

Suggestions?

http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/50.JPG

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

I'd pretty much dismissed the thought of printing them as decals. Compound curves aside, i'd never be able to get a printed blue flame to match the painted blue of the sleeper/cab. And its the reverse problem for the cab and sleeper flames. I'd never be able to print them in a red to match everything else. Would end up with the whole truck decalled.

And to make it worse, all the rivets and panel lines would lift the decal up, it wouldnt sit flat. Pretty sure printed decals dont like decal softening/setting solutions either.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

I've been going through it in my head, and have come up with 2 ways to paint it:

Spray the light blue as a base, then put the 1mm tape over it, then spray red or blue as appropriate. Let it cure, then mask off that colour and spray the other, then peel it all.

Or, spray the light blue, mask off one colour along the light blue, and spray it. Once it cures, mask that colour and the 1mm pinstripe along with it, then spray the other colour.

Make sense?

Either will give the same end result in terms of layers, but it comes down to how evenly i can mask and trim the pinstripe in the 2nd method. The 1st will give a more even line i think. 2nd way also risks scoring the surface as i trim tape.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

I'm not much of a painter, but maybe you could use Testors's enamel paint markers, if the tips are fine enough? They've got close to the right color available -

http://www.testors.com/category/4583..._Paint_Markers

Masking would be a pain, but perhaps the best way to do the job. I think the flames would look a little bland without the pin stripe.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

You know if you don't add that pin stripe you are always going to wish you did...practice on something else first but go for it...

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Ha, i know. Gonna spray a bit of scrap styrene, see how it turns out.
Can make sure the colours come out how i want them too.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Well, the hood extension is all finished, sanded and primed. Also relocated the sleeper mounting point from the sides to the rear, will hide the screws that way. Also after all the paint removal, sanding, priming etc the windscreen frame was looking thin so re-styrened that too.

Did a test fit of the body and fenders, starting to look the part now!

http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/61.JPG
http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/62.JPG
http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/63.JPG

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Wow, Bob! That cab and sleeper are looking flawless! Great work with the body. I like that you relocated the mounting holes.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Thanks Esp, many rounds of putty/sanding/priming/sanding/putty/sanding/priming/sanding to get it that good. Filling every pit and scratch i could find.

Will give the whole thing a 600/800ish sanding before it gets any proper paint. Going to do a test paint on a bit of spare styrene first though.

Next up i'll be fitting the steps, tanks, and toolboxes, obviously needed the body extended and ready so i can get placement right.
Need to trim 10-15mm off the rear end of the chassis rails before mounting the light plate too.

I suppose i better start soldering up some LEDs soon too.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

I think you did an amazing job on the extended hood, and all your custom body work . I love the front fenders. I'm very impressed with the amount of detail your putting into it. But I do see one big problem that in my opinion is overlooked by a lot of people when the do peterbilts builds. The height ans shape of the sleeper and cab roof. The cab and sleeper roof are supposed to be the same height, and more rounded. The way the king hauler sleeper sits way higher then the cab and is so boxy up top drives me crazy. Please dont take offense to my comments, I just see the lengths of detail your aiming for, I would hate to see you over look this. But like I said, this thing looks great already.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Hey Brick, actually i had noticed it, but its one of those things i decided not to adjust. Mostly its an effort vs result thing.

Looking at the reference pics, the sleeper cab should still be a bit taller than the sleeper, sort of the rounded top of the sleeper starting at the height of the roof. But yes the top isnt as flat as the KH roof.

In scale, the KH roof would need to be dropped about 2-3mm, and the middle of the roof built up with putty to give the more curved look. The 2-3mm drop would be simple, but the puttying and curving would be difficult to keep even, consistent and the same side to side. Plus the actual curve of the top of the sleeper would need tweaking too. Basically rebuilding the sleeper roof, but in a way that would be a real B!tch to keep even and consistent.

In the end i decided its one of those things that i'd probably not be able to do to my own satisfaction, and realistically the difference would be almost unnoticable to anyone not specifically looking for it.

But now you've made me think more about it it'll bug me if i leave it lol

I might not re-do the curve, but i think i will drop the roof a bit.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Incidentally, i was asked in pm how i did a cut so evenly, and scribed the lines for the door trim.
I used a scribing tool made by Trumpeter. Cost about $5, and will scribe a nice neat square line, not quite 1mm thick. Several passes will basically cut through the plastic leaving a nice neat line.

http://www.hobbyeasy.com/en/data/36077.html

http://www.hobbyeasy.com/upload/supp...4/TRU09912.jpg

There are several others as well, tip and handle design, but this one does the job just fine for me.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

So that's the tool, Bob? I was wondering about it as well, but I never asked. Did you trace, or free hand the radii in the corners of the doors?

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

They were done with a compass cutter like this. Should be able to get one at any decent stationary or craft shop.

Basically like a regular drawing compass but with a blade instead of a pencil. I turned the blade around so the square side would scribe instead of cut.

http://www.blackrocktools.com/media/.../c/m/cmp-1.jpg

Also came in mighty handy cutting the circles out for the rear fenders.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Very cool use of tools, thanks for sharing. Can't wait to see paint on it.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Hmmm, I've got one of those, and it never dawned on my to try using it for scribing lines. I bought it to cut lexan bodies, back when I had more go fast models, the scale ones.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Same here, was perfect for cutting wheel arches in touring car bodies.
I turned the blade basically upside down, so the square end was at the bottom. Scribed perfectly.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Courtesy of the public holiday, got a fair bit done today.
Dismantled the whole thing so i could drill mounting holes in the chassis rails for the steps, tanks, and toolboxes. And of course drilled the steps, tank mounts, and boxes themselves. The tanks are only double sided taped on at the moment, couldnt bring myself to put a drill through that bling from Russ!

While dismantled i also sanded and repainted the rails, they had various scratches from where i keep putting bits on for test fittings.

Just finished putting it all back together.

http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/64.JPG
http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/66.JPG

Am waiting for a couple of parts for the rear end to arrive before i put the rear light plate on, will have to cut a bit of the rails off for that. Also new bumper, the one i made was too thin.

Next things being worked on are the light bars under the sleeper and cab.
Still a thousand and one little things to do, but he's getting there!

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Couldnt resist throwing the stacks on briefly :D

http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/67.JPG

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

the truck is really coming together great. Looks awsome. ya always gotta just throw the stacks on for a quick peek.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

love that long noooose it has!

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

coming along nicely

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

yes looks great so far!!!

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

I havent made much progress in the last couple of weeks. Unfortunately my dog and best buddy Fred fell ill. After multiple vet visits, and all sorts of tests, turned out he had an advanced thyroid cancer which had spread to his lungs. Was inoperable, and regretably had to put him to sleep this week :(
http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison...redprofile.jpg

In between vet visits, i did start work on a trailer. Picked up a flatbed to use for parts, sourced a bit of ali sheet for the base, and extended it out to 45", which is a scale 53'. Have got some pieces of stainless steel for the top and front, and ali for the frame, but still working on what to do the sides with. I also lowered it a little to match the movie truck. Have to make up some new legs for it.

http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/68.JPG
http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/69.JPG
http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/70.JPG

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Sorry to hear about the dog...
Truck is looking good! Trailer looks like a good start! Is that the actual ride height of the trailer? Reason I ask is it looks like your fenders are gonna rub some paint off on the trailer... Would hate to see it get messed up.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

The trailer will sit higher, the 5th wheel isnt fitted in the pic is all.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

I'm really sorry to hear about your dog. We lost our best friend to that $*** almost exactly two years ago. In our case we caught it early but still no amount of money or Vet visits including a trip to see the cancer specialists at WSU in the States could save him. I still miss him everyday and I don't think I will ever get over it. Keep up the great work on the truck! This hobby was and still is a great distraction from everyday stress for me!

Reg

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

So I did a bit of test painting over the last couple of days. Primed a spare bit of styrene, and laid down some light blue for the pin stripe, then put some 1mm tape over it to form the stripe itself. Did a nice orange to red fade, quite happy with the col ours, and let that dry. After the last liquid mask drama I used a mice fresh new bottle and covered the red areas ready to paint the blue, let it set overnight then did the blue.

I just went to peel the mask, lifted the edge nicely, started to pull it back.... And all the paint came with it!

Lol basically left the styrene untouched, not as speck of paint on it! Had a bit of dry liquid mask with primer one side, red/blue the other!

I had used the wrong base coat, did use a primer, but not a plastic primer!

*face palm*

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

I'm working on the light bars that sit next to the aircleaners at the moment. I want to get anything attached to the body done before i paint in case i have to make holes, cut bits out etc.
This:
http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/72.JPG

But am in a dilemma. I got a load of bezels which are just awesome little pieces of work, and i'm using them elsewhere so i'd like to use them here. But, because the bezels end up being 6mm across for a 3mm LED, they take up heaps more space when theres 8 in a row. Factoring 1mm gap between each, they come in at 57mm, which makes it taller than the air cleaner. But as you can see in the pic, the group should be smaller. At that length it also puts the lowest 2 below the top of the fender.

If however i use the 3mm LED by itself, i can make it much smaller at 33mm which puts the appearance much closer to the real thing. But then i dont get the look of the bezels. Plus the blue LED's actually have a clear body so wont look right when not lit.

This is a size comparison, i mocked up the full 57mm version in styrene to check.
http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/71.JPG
http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/73.JPG

The bezels look so much better, but take up a lot more space.

And to make matters more complicated, compared to the movie truck, the air cleaners i have are actually shorter, they should go down to the bottom edge of the cab, which would make the bar with bezels work better.

Thoughts?

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

looks great so far. I would use the led it's self, it looks more to scale The lenses are too big for that . Buy clear blue leds then paint them with tamiya transparent blue paint . then they will look more to scale.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Bob, sorry to hear about your dog, Fred. I know how special the bond can be, between man and animal.

On the breather lights, I say go with the bezels. Yes, they are larger then they should be, but I think the inaccuracies of scale will not really be detracting from the model. The cool factor will win over the scale nit-pickers. :D

I'd also lob off one of the breather lights, so that the length of the light bar matches the breather length. Another little sacrifice, I know, but I would much rather have things looking good.

I like that you decided to mock-up the breather light bars like that. Something I wanted to do myself, to check how it would look on my own trucks. You've saved me some of the work!

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Bob - after skimming through your build and the jabbing from friends I watched the latest trans. Movie.

I'm lookin forward to you seeing this through.

As for your Fred - we only have pups as kids ourselves - they are more than just family......

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Thanks for the thoughts for Fred guys.
He really was my best friend and furkid. Had him cremated and got his ashes back yesterday.

He suffered a bit of seperation anxiety if i wasnt around, probably because he was a pound dog. He was lost, gets picked up by the ranger, goes to the pound, gets picked up by a rescue group, gets neutered, goes to a foster home, gets adopted, gets returned, gets adopted, gets returned, gets adopted, gets returned, gets adopted yet again, and gets returned yet again, then finally to me!
Apparently he was returned because he either made too much noise, dribbled too much, kept escaping, and at the last place, stole pizza and a freshly baked cake from the kitchen counter. His carer said she hoped the thievery didnt put me off, and i said any dog that escapes to steal pizza and cake, is my kinda dog! But after 4 failed adoptions and everything else, who can blame him for having some anxiety.

I had just under 5 happy years with him. He had four MAST cell tumors in that time (basically skin cancers), but i caught them all early, and all were removed with clear margins, so he beat them all. The last on his neck was only 9 weeks before all this happened. Thats how fast the thyroid cancer grew. The mass in his throat wasnt there when he had the last one removed. Even the vet said Fred was just stunningly unlucky to have 2 types of unrelated cancers at the same time.

But I have 5 years of memories with him, and his ashes have a spot on a shelf in the lounge now, so he can keep an eye out, and see what i'm up to.

Really miss that little fella, and not ashamed to admit i was a crying mess when i had to put him to sleep.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

I suggest using the LED lights and coloring them with nail-polish (in the color of your choice).
It's an old modeler's trick that I picked up a while back.

It might be worth a try.

- RCT

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

How about this:
http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/74.JPG

Thats with a 3mm orange LED for testing. I think once the LEDs are installed, i can put a touch of transparent blue paint on the lens should do the trick.

But, i need to test one first. Photography is another hobby of mine, so i know that putting a clear blue over blue light will act like a filter to the light from under it. If the blue from the LED is a different wavelength than the blue paint, i'll get bugger all light coming through. May have to use a cool white LED with clear lens, and transparent blue paint to get a decent light.

Do i think too much about these things? lol