Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Yeah if they can go old school for Bumblebee, they should have gone old school for Optimus too.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

geez i am with all of you!! in the old comics, prime was a old worn beat up truck, with a fat guy hologram driving. i never really got why they never made him a cab over truck? there are so many out there. scania, man ,mack.... its not like they are trying to keep the all u.s car thing with a merc , Ferrari , audi in the last film. i really hope they get a writer for the next movie and not kill off the stars of the comics and cartoon in the first five min(arcee iron hide jazz)

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

And it looks like they pinched the Bumblebee design from a car restorer!
Link

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18pe...jpg/xlarge.jpg

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

I always thought that O.P. was best thought of as a Marmon truck :D

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/d...s/100_3450.jpg

Just my thought :cool:

- RCT

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Good eye my friend ,this truck would be perfect for the cartoon cabover version of optimus...got the square box look and even the colour pops out at you as optimus:D

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Back on topic a bit... I'm aiming to start laying down paint this weekend. I want to try and get the rear fenders done, they're simpler to paint than the body.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Well, the flash makes the pinstripes look thicker than they are (they're 0.3mm), but i'm not sure i'm happy with the colours.

Thoughts?

http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/98.JPG

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Looks great to me:D:D

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Wow! Great job on the masking, Bob! That is incredible. Are you thinking the pinstripes are to light of a blue? It's really hard to tell. I've looked at some photos of the 1:1 Optimis Prime Peterbilt, and I think it's actually really close to matching, but in the end it's up to you to decide if you are happy with it. I'm a perfectionist too, so I know how little things can be annoying when I know they aren't right.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

The flash lightens the pinstripe, but its about right to the eye. I actually cheated with the pinstripe, its not paint. I found some 1/64" blue pinstripe tape online, so used that.
Covers small flaws in the paint from when the mask was removed too.

Its more the red and blue, they're close, but i dunno, hard to explain. They just sort of feel a bit off compared to the real thing..

http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/99.JPG
http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/100.JPG

That being said, i read an article somewhere ages ago on a military modelling forum about the guys who will match paint chips from the real thing, to a model colour. But then when painted, the model doesnt look right.

Apparently there is something in the way the eye sees things that doesnt see the same colour when something is scaled down. Ie: a real red truck and a model truck in the same red, look like different colours because of how we percieve the scale.

And to add to the mayhem, there seem to be multiple shades of red on the truck.
The rear fenders, the sleeper flames, and the cab flames are different. Not to mention the orange/red faded hood.

http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/101.jpg
http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/102.jpg

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

I'm toying with the idea of redoing them in an Anodized Candy red color like this:
http://s4f68b909e5ea9.img.gostorego....z/szx15059.jpg

Which is actually pretty close to the paint around the cab on the real thing.
Not quite true to the movie truck, but will make it look less "toyish" than the bright red and blue do.

Comments?
http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/102.jpg

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Here it is test fitted in late afternoon sun.
I dont think the colours are right.

http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/103.JPG
http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/104.JPG

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

bob what i think is the problem is that the pinstripe is way too large and it is taking away from the actual flame paint.when i see that the first thing i notice is the pinstripe and it makes the paint look cartoon like..just my opinion.the pinstripe has to be real suttle and blend in ,it is too bright .the colours are probably right because don't forget the camera doesn't see colours as well as the human eye .i have taken pictures of my kw Zeus and the pictures come out almost a dark blue look but the truck is metalflake purple,also do you have a clear coat over it to protect it and make it shine ,it comes off as a matte(flat) look ,at least your pictures

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

what shade of red are you using for your paint?see if you look at the pics of the real optimus the pinstripe is so small and blends in you hardly notice it unless you are right up close ..yours is BAM!!! right in your face no matter how far away or close you are ,on the real optimus the pinstripe is a shade of blue not white...thats what i think

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

After looking at all of the pics here is my opinion: Your pin striping does not blend into the fender flames as the real paint does. Might be the fact that its is tape and not paint. Your shade of red for the fenders seems too light. Your paint is fantastic on the fenders but the tape pin striping seems to be the main problem.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

The pinstripe actually is light blue, but looks almost white in the pics, so is a little deceptive.
I havent clearcoated it yet, wanted to wait until i'd decided i'm sure on it.

But you're right, the pinstripe stands out too much. Looking at the real pics at an equivalent distance its barely visible, in scale it must be hairline, which is practically unpaintable so will leave them off.
I used standard tamiya gloss red, but it is a very in your face bright. I have a couple of bottles of Autoair airbrush paint in some different reds, and some other makes. So i'm gonna spray a piece of styrene in the various reds to see which i like best. Also have a couple of blues to try.

But, pretty sure its gonna be a re-paint. Again. lol

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

This truck is looking fantastic! The paint looks spot-on to me! Your attention to detail is astounding! Keep up the great work, and lets see some pics!!!

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Will be painting this weekend. I think ive got the right colours now.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

So I sat down with the airbrush yesterday and sprayed some scrap plastic. Did 4 different base colors, black, white, silver, and flat aluminum. The auto-air paints are semi opaque so the base color makes a big difference.
None of the paints I tried came out how I wanted. A couple were OK but didn't quite have the look I wanted.
Going through my paint box I noticed a bottle of a deep red that I forgot I had. Tried it out and its exactly what I wanted!
The rear fenders have now been painted red, leaving them to cure for a couple of days before I mask up the flames, but I think I'm finally happyb with the color.

I swear these fenders must have as much putty and primer as they do plastic!

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

I need to get a daylight pic, this just doesnt do it justice.

http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/105.jpg

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

That matches your pics of the real thing :D Did you get my PM???

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Dead on! That is a beautiful red. I think you've solved your red color issues. I can only imagine it looks 100 times better outside!

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Last pm I got from you was 4-5 weeks ago. Figured you were uber busy.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Sweet!!!!

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

wow that is a really nice shade of red:D

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Its slightly ironic, I went to ludicrous lengths to make things like maker lights to get all the details as close as I can, yet the paint colors I've chosen are purposefully different, more metallic than on the real thing. I'm just trying to avoid the sort of toy pastel colors that are on the plastic toys.
Hope it works out because damned if i'm respraying the fenders for a fourth time! Lol

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

i hear you about that :D

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

I can tell you that I've tried things 3 or 4 times for my own truck, before getting the results I was after. It gets old after 2 failed attempts, and by the third, your patience is really being tested, but when it turns out the way you want it, then you quickly forget the trials it took to be happy.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

I really love this red but **** its hard to get a photo of it that shows it properly.
These look good, but still dont show it properly.

http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/106.JPG
http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/107.JPG
http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/108.JPG

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Got the blue chosen too, and have made a start on the body. Undercoated silver, and sprayed the front end blue ready to mask the flames before doing the orange to red fade.

http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/109b.JPG

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Looking good KB! You keep bashing your painting skills, but you are really an excellent painter! Your colors are all spot-on! This rig is so good, it should be sponsored by the movie, or Hasbro, or something! Keep up the great work!

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

KB, if you keep painting this well, I'll be sending my fleet your way for a repaint. :eek: :eek: :p
God knows my skills are amateur at best. :lol:

Keep up the great work. :popcorn: Everyone loves your OP. :jaw:

- RCT

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Bob, I'm eagerly awaiting the completed paint job on this one! That blue looks sharp on the hood, and with the red, I think it's going to be perfect. You must be using an air brush? That's one smooth finish.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

At the moment i'm working on making all the little flame masks for the front end. They're all in seperate pieces which will make applying them easier, but makes drawing and cutting them out a pain in the a$$.

I usually paint military models, so i'm not bad with an airbrush, but it's rare for me to do a clean shiny paintjob. A good airbrush makes all the difference though. I've got 3, rarely use my oldest one since its a suction feed, have a Tamiya HG Superfine which is great for thin paint and detail work. But my main one which i got a couple of years ago is an Infinity airbrush from Harder and Steenbeck in Germany.

http://www.harder-airbrush.eu/images...inity_Solo.jpg

I absolutely love this brush. Can change the tip/needle size for different paints, full double action, adjustable tension, click to set paint limiter, screw on paint cups, love it. Seriously if anyone is looking for an airbrush, theres nothing better!

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Thanks for the tip :)

- RCT

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Quick snap under bad lighting in my hobby room.
Need to let it cure for a couple of days, then gloss coat and polish it still.

http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/110.JPG

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Your last choice of colors looks spot on. The rear fenders really POP :eek: Can't wait to see some completed truck pics :D:D Your painting skills make anything I do look childish at best :)

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Those fenders are looking really good! Wow! This might end up being the best paint job anyone has ever done.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

They're not THAT good!

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

:popcorn:agreed...try taking the pictures outside late afternoon around 6 just as the sun is getting ready to go down but it is still partially up in the sky...if you understand that:lol:thats normally when i take the pictures of my trucks.if you do it under artificial lightning then it will come out as such..use the natural light to bring out the colours vibrantly.some cameras have different settings for the lighting and also some cannot dicifer the colour contrast like the human eye can .i have a camera and when i take the pictures of zeus ,he comes out dark blue in the pictures.i am not an expert but one of my trucker friends is a professional photographer on the side and he told me how to try to get close to the colour as i :)can.even in the pictures you posted of the fenders,you can tell what the colour looks like and how great it will look with the right setting,great job on the paint;)