View Full Version : Starscream Ramjet clone repaint (+ helmet?)
Hey guys, this is my first forum post and also my first attempt at a full on custom/repaint! Forgive me if I somehow am offensively n00bish! I'm hoping you guys can give me some tips so that my first try is a success.
So, my idea was to repaint an extra voyager class animated sunstorm that I had into the Ramjet inspired Starscream from the show using the picture at the bottom of the post for color guides and such.
I also had thought about doing a couple mods, making a conehead helmet (especially one that would pop on and off the existing head) and moving the missile launchers to his triceps where they belong, but I'm not sure they're possible.
I purchased testors enamel paints in these colors:
Flat white, black, red, yellow, and blue. I also got dark sea gray, aluminum, engine gray, and enamel primer. On the paint end of things I'm at a loss as to how to mix the blue and red for the burgundy or how to seal everything if I manage to finish.
Also, I haven't got a clue as to how to do the decepticon decals on his wings.
Any tips/help/ideas would be greatly appreciated!
C2567
10-07-2009, 11:56 AM
I think for the burgundy Mix Red and blue but just use more red in the mix. Throw in a drop of black for good measure too. www.reprolabels.com Has good Decpticon and autobot logos. As for the cone head I have no Idea. For the missile launchers maybe you can use magnets, and I just thought if your going to paint the cockpit red pick up some Tamiya Clear red. Its a paint for See through Parts and comes in a few basic colours..
I'm no Pro But I hope this helped..
I think for the burgundy Mix Red and blue but just use more red in the mix. Throw in a drop of black for good measure too. www.reprolabels.com Has good Decpticon and autobot logos. As for the cone head I have no Idea. For the missile launchers maybe you can use magnets, and I just thought if your going to paint the cockpit red pick up some Tamiya Clear red. Its a paint for See through Parts and comes in a few basic colours..
I'm no Pro But I hope this helped..
It does help actually, Thanks! I was beginning to wonder if anyone was going to reply at all, so I appreciate the advice, pro or not. I was also wondering how to paint the see-through parts and keep them transparent, so that helps as well! Thanks again.
Hatchet
10-07-2009, 05:26 PM
It's been a while since I had to transform one of these guys but you should have enough clearance to be able to mold the cone on his head with a two part apoxie or some greenstuff. I use apoxie sculpt here (http://www.avesstudio.com/Products/Apoxie_Sculpt/apoxie_sculpt.html). It's not cheap but a 1/4 pound will last through quite a few projects.
Moving his missle launchers will be a bit harder. They're a pain the way they are never mind moving them. I can't remember exactly how they're attached to the arm but you'll probably need to fill in the area with something, you can use the apoxie or greenstuff for that.
I wish you luck!
Okay, I'll check out the apoxie, but how do you use it? Do you mold a chunk around the head and then shape it into the helmet or what? I'm not really familiar with how that stuff works at all.
Yeah, the missile launchers are a bit of a pain. I think my biggest obstacles to moving them is having clearance past his giant forearms post-move and retaining the functionality of his little forearm pop-out thingys. It may not be an issue though, it really doesn't look that bad on the figure the way it is, it's just not show or seeker accurate.
Anyway, thanks for your advice and the good luck, I'll be needing it!
Hatchet
10-07-2009, 08:13 PM
Looking at the toy now I can see the problem. Clearance wise it shouldn't be an issue but the missile piece is huge. You'd have to take the whole arm apart and then move the missile to the upper arm. Looks like you'd have to cut a new hole for the launchers to attach to. Then you'd have to fill/ repair the lower arm. You're looking at a lot of work, sanding and cutting. Honestly if you don't have a dremel I'd just leave the missiles where they are. It's not going to hurt the aesthetics too much since the other clones look the same way.
The apoxie is super easy to use, it's like using clay except in 24 hours it becomes almost rock hard and can be sanded or you can use a dremel on it.(It's water soluble before it's dried too, so cleaning it up is easy) It's also got a pretty good working time on it, around 3 hours so you don't have to worry about messing up and having a big chunk of it stuck there for good.
Also a side note, repolabels is awesome but be careful about placement once your paint is on! The backing glue is extremely strong but if you need to reposition the decal you are SOL. I messed up some decals and ended up having to repaint a whole section to keep the paint even.
Also as a side note, and I don't know if you know this already, take as much of the toy apart as humanly possible, tape all the pegs off and make sure there's no glue residue on him before you paint. I learned these things the hard way too and it ended in whole projects getting scrapped.
Again good luck, this should be a bad ass custom.
Yeah, although I do have a dremel-like rotary tool, I think I am going to just leave the missile launchers where they are for now.
The apoxie sculpt sounds perfect and I've already made an order inquiry for some. I'm assuming you shape it as best as you can and then sand it smooth when it cures? I'm already trying to imagine how to make the helmet pop on and off, and I'm guessing I'll have to mold the helmet, let it dry, then shave/trim the innards to fit snugly without getting stuck. Shouldn't be too difficult, right?
I haven't made my mind up about the reprolabels yet, as I was kind of hoping to do what I guess are water-slide decals that I could seal along with the rest of the paint job. Reprolabels are considerably easier though I imagine, and who doesn't like stickers? :) If I end up trying them I'll definitely be careful!
Lastly, Yeah, I took him apart to the max pretty much, but I don't know exactly what you're referring to when you say, "pegs". Do you mean the screw holes or connecting-joint-type parts?
Glad you're optimistic about the project and thanks as always!
Hatchet
10-08-2009, 01:39 AM
I'm guessing I'll have to mold the helmet, let it dry, then shave/trim the innards to fit snugly without getting stuck. Shouldn't be too difficult, right?
Lastly, Yeah, I took him apart to the max pretty much, but I don't know exactly what you're referring to when you say, "pegs". Do you mean the screw holes or connecting-joint-type parts?
Yeah, just cover the head in something before putting the apoxie directly on it otherwise it will just stick. If its possible find something similar in size to mold it on, after its cured you can just dremel out the inside to fit.
Not all the toys have pegs in them. I haven't taken SS apart but I know Jazz has a lot of pegs holding his legs together. Any part that is going to be inserted into another (that isnt going to be painted or showing) should be wrapped before painting. Otherwise you'll have to scrape all the paint off to get it to fit.
I actually was planning on this but never got around to it so I'm glad to see someone else doing it.
Well, hopefully I can pull it off! I let you know how it goes, at the moment I'm still waiting for supplies to show up...