Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

No Kingbob, they are that good.:jaw::bounce::bounce::bounce:

These look simply phenomenal! This would be a brilliant paint job on a full-size car, let alone a 1:14 scale replica!:eek:

The excellence of your work continues...:cop::bounce::bounce::bounce:

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

And i just discovered a new detail. Theres a small oval window in the lower part of the door. Have to ponder whether to add it.

http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/111.JPG

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Bob,
i would add the window but if not, maybe even paint it on to look like it, just a thought , great job by the way

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Question for those who know more about the real things: does a Pete like the Optimus truck only have that oval window on the right hand door?

I cant find any pics of there being a window like that on the left.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Bob, those windows on the passenger side door (left hand drive here in the USA) are very common. They are used to check blind spots, when changing lanes. A lot of trucks have them. I'm not sure I've ever seen a truck that didn't have one. Most drivers seem to use the mirrors more then that window though. What they do use the window for, more often then not, is for stickers, or to stick a suction cup footed Garfield there. :D

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Yeah going over reference pics it does appear a few times on the right only. Surprisingly well hidden detail. Guess if its only the one, I better add it in!

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

yea bob they are only on the right for the blind spot as previously said .i drove a gmc general awhile back that had the window on the right and a vent door on the left,as for the kw's and the petes that window was there before someone decided to add the convex mirror's to the nose of the trucks for your blind spots.surprising my real 85 kenworth w900b does not have that window on the passenger door...its solid:)

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

The side window in the right-door is in most U.S. trucks. It was installed to help the driver watch his/her blind-spot. :)
It also makes for a wonderful easy-access panel when you lose your keys, to get into your truck (Don't ask). :eek: :eek: :lol:

It's not hard to install one for the replica. I've seen several done & they look really nice. :cool:

- RCT

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Don't laugh, I had a truck last winter that would self lock the drivers door, screw driver to the rescue!
Cheers. Neil.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Gave the rear fenders an initial protective gloss coat today, and got a couple of snaps in sunlight. Once the body is done, i'll give them all a proper equal gloss then polish and wax.

They're still hard to photograph to show the depth of colour properly.

http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/112.JPG
http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/113.JPG

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Have masked up the blue flames on the front end, so will spray the exposed blue silver again ready for the orange-red fade. I've also added in a the window in the right door, but have glued in a small raised frame, so need to wait for that to dry for a bit before i can spray the front end.

http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/114.JPG

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Looking fantastic as usual, Bob! Loving this build, you are the master masker!:D

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Seriously, i AM cursed when it comes to painting this truck!

Just peeled the masking for the front end, and in several places its peeled the blue paint with it :(
I didnt have the problem with the fenders, so i know its not specific to the tape or blue paint i used. The only thing I can think that I did different was the silver undercoat. On the fenders i used a tamiya flat aluminium, but ran out, so used a tamiya chrome silver instead. Obviously one adhered better than the other.

In the worst spots, the blue has lifted almost like a latex, and taken some of the red/orange with it.

Now i need to work out how to fix it :(

Not happy :( :( :( :( :(

http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/115.JPG
http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/116.JPG

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Dang Bob. I feel your pain. If it wasn't for that peeling, it would be perfect. Sorry to see such troubles painting. Unfortunately, I can't offer anything but my condolences. Some days things work out great, other days nothing works out. I had one of those days myself, Monday. Take a break, relax, and try again, once you've calmed yourself down. Persistence will be rewarded.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Yeah i'm happy with the colouring (finally), just that !@#$%&^ peeling!

I think i'll have to sand down all the blue to primer and fill where necessary to remove the flame contours. Then respray the silver base, and red-orange fade.

The red/orange will need a clear sealant, and once thats cured, i'll re-mask the flames in negative, and spray the blue again as the top layer, so i dont have to apply any tape over it.

Running out of that red too, and its **** hard to get.

*sigh*

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Hang in there Bob .Im sure your efforts are all going to pay off someday soon ..Unbeleiveable how much patients it takes to build somethings like this from start to finish..i walked away from my builds a few times ..Between you and Dwayne these cool transformer trucks are Keeping us well entertained ..We need a LIKE button .lol
Are you using the newer water based colors ?..My buddy used used to do custom harleys and used House of Kolors ..expensive but awsome results

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Don't worry Bob, just take a break (but don't break the truck :eek:) Then go back and see if you can sand and touch up. If not you could always repaint the whole cab, it's a pain in the @$$ but at least it would be just what you want. My mother always said that if it's worth doing, it's worth doing right! :)

You truck is fantastic. Don't let a small set back stop you from making it a masterpiece of the forum. :cool:

- RCT

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Omg I feel like I'm gonna be sick, I can only imagine how long it took you to get that amazing result. Only to be ruined by the final step. Don't worry Bob, that's my luck too buddy. You'll get her done eventually. Just walk away take a break and kool off, or you wind up throwing things like me LOL. Your doing great man, keep at her.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Yeah when I saw the blue lift up my heart just sunk. All that work shot to sh!t.
Its because of the silver, looking under the peeled blue, its silver. So the blue did adhere to the silver, but the silver has lifted from the primer.

It also means the same might happen to the red if I put tape over that. Need to see how much of it I can save, dont have enough red left to do it again.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

keep at it bob you will get it sooner or later;)....not to be disrespectful because you are doing an awesome job so far but thats one of the reasons i left the paint on mine to my friend who is way better than me at it:o .it doesn't look complicated in pictures but it is and was even for my friend that did it.that would frustrate me to no end as many times you have had grief with the paint :(,like the others said ..step back take a breather and start again with a cooler head:D

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Yeah, I just need to keep calm, and avoid throwing the body at a wall! lol
I'm trying to do as much of it myself as possible, so i will get there!

I'm much more used to painting military models, its so much simpler to paint a dirty, faded, chipped, old paint job, than a smooth glossy one!

By comparison, this was easy!
http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/t34/9.JPG
http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/t34/15.JPG
http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/t34/14.JPG

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Right, lets try this again...

http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/117.JPG

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

True bob but imperfections is easy to do .i do them all the time :o:D

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Bummer you have to go through this:(. The rest of the truck is turning out great! I'm sure you'll be able to get her back on track;).

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Bob, at least you can do multi-colored paint schemes. I can barely lay down a nice single colored scheme. Even when they turn out perfect, something stupid happens. Like a fly lands in it, or it tips over, while drying, and lands in some dirt!

That military model looks great. Your perseverance will prevail.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Hey Bob, quick question, how do you sand/putty/primer, and what do you use to do it? (start/finish grits, different grits for layers, type of putty, type of primer, average amount of repeats).

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Putty i mostly use Tamiyas polyester putty. Has a hardener so hardens in no time at all, and easily sandable. Very smooth with no grain, applies like cream.

Primer i mostly use a grey acrylic primer filler from an auto parts store. Though i do use a Tamiya superfine white primer sometimes. It can be good to have colour contrasts so you can see where you've sanded too much.

Sanding is a mix. That sanded hood was with a 240 grit painters sandpaper since i had to cut through all the bad paint. Now that its primed, i'll go over it with 400, and probably 600 as well. I use wet and dry for 400 and up, but only use it dry. If i'm polishing aluminium i'll go to 1000, 1200, 1600, and 2000 grit, done wet.

I do go to 800 on putty/primer, but usually only before i'm about to paint, so it gives the smoother finish.

Number of times, basically just until its smooth. With the extended hood, to get the join smooth and invisible, i probably puttied/primed/sanded at least 4 layers. Probably way overkill, but i just do it till it looks right to me.

But dont take me as a guru or anything, i'm just making it up as i go along! lol

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Third times a charm!
I probably should have made the yellow/gold band a bit thicker, but oh well, too late now.

http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/118.JPG

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Paint looks great, and so does that window!:D MOAR!!!!

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

I'll give it a protective clearcoat tonight, then make the masks for spraying the blue. The one for the roof of the cab is going to be a pain.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

I'm letting the clearcoat cure properly for a week or so before i do any masking over it. So in the meantime i decided to get some work on the trailer done since the styrene for the side panels came in.

Armed with drill press, grinder and shears, i got a fair chunk of it made. The top is a sheet of stainless steel, still has protective plastic on it, and will until its all painted/prepped/lit/etc. The real trailer has rounded front corners, so i cut and bent a sheet of aluminium to fit. I still need to cut and grind the front top corners to get a curve to match before I can attach it fully though.

The real trailer is a 53", so in scale its 1150mm long. (or about 46" for the metrically challenged).
I've now realised I dont have a shelf in my house anywhere thats long enough to display the truck with trailer hitched! lol

(flat bed trailer box for scale)
http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/119.JPG
http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/120.JPG
http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/121.JPG

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

That trailer is really looking sweet, how tall should it be to be a scaled 13'6" and how tall are those plastic sheets you used for the side panels? Im thinking of converting my 53' flatbed to a reefer trailer.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

From what I worked out, in scale it should be about 294mm tall ground to top of the roof. But the actual box should be about 200mm tall, which is how i've tried to size it.

I redrilled the mounts for the axles/suspension to lower the trailer, ended up with about 10-15mm between the tyres and floor of the box i think. Probably some variation due to construction thicknesses, but its within a few mm i think. In scale it should look "about right" lol.

The styrene sheets are by Evergreen, 12" x 24", so theres 2 on each side, glued together in the middle so the pattern matches, and trimmed to size. Cost about $18US each i think. I did find some local stainless steel with a pretty similar pattern, but was going to cost me too much, like multiple hundreds. Wasnt worth it. I have some chrome adhesive vinyl on the way to cover the styrene.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Made the rear bumper/lights for the trailer today. Its a llittle uneven, but it'll do the job. Still need to paint the styrene, and polish the ali though.

Thanks to Russ for the centre light plate.

http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/122.JPG
http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/123.JPG

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

The trailers looking awesome bob, nice Jon ....keep up this build.

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Got the rear of the trailer mounted up. Had to re-make the rear side uprights of the trailer frame too, turned out they werent even.

Have some of Lynns bezels for the lights, and waiting on some chrome vinyl wrap to cover the styrene side panels. I've worked out what i'm doing for the back doors, but am having trouble working out how to mount the trailer running lights along the frame to get the right look.

http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/124.JPG

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Lookin' good Bob.

- RCT

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

I had to remake the front panel of the trailer, the previous one was 5mm too short.

I think my method of construction is: measure once, cut, test fit, swear, measure again, trim a bit, test again, swear some more, throw it out, cut a new piece, test yet again, swear profoundly, measure again, hack it a bit, whack it on, yell good enough!

I also ground down the front corners of the frame to round it for the front panel to fit. God bless the Dremel!

http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/125.JPG

Not done up completely yet, have to dismantle the whole trailer for painting and chrome adhesive on the styrene. Also going to add a painted strip of styrene (or maybe ali) along the top and bottom of the front panel. Have a reefer unit on the way, so will mount when it arrives.

http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/126.JPG

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

So i'm working on how to do the back doors, they have a quilted pattern which is difficult to replicate.

http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/128.JPG

I had a spare bit of thin aluminium, so i tried putting a cross set of bends in it for the quilted pattern. Not really sure if it works or not. I could probably do a better bending job, but getting the crossed folds tends to flatten it a bit.

Thoughts?

http://members.iinet.net.au/~canison/prime/127.JPG

Re: Movie Optimus Prime build
 

Bob, that actually looks really good, despite loosing some of the pleats. Hmmm, I wonder how an aluminum sheet would look if you started with a little thicker piece and actually scribed the pleat folds into it. It may not look as 3D and soft, but it would hold the lines better and be more durable.

The other idea I have, though extremely labor intensive, is to find some wire mesh screen the right size and with the right pattern. Then burnish a piece of aluminum foil over the top of it, getting it snuggled down in between the mesh on a solid flat surface. Then, if you separated the mesh from the foil, and flipped the foil over, you could glue it to the door, but it would be very fragile. Just an idea.