TF: Bumblebee - Mini Cooper reshell WIP

[INCOM]

Ever since joining this great site, I've wanted to take on some Transformer projects. And this is going to be my first one: a reshell project turning a Universe/RTS Bumblebee into a Mini Cooper. Not just any Mini Cooper, but the one my brother owns for real. He's the bigger TF fan of the two of us, and this will make a very sweet birthday present. I've got plenty of time, since his birthday's in December :D

Jazzman's Bumblebee reshell is what inspired me to start this project, by the way. His excellent WIP shots and info really helped me through the first steps, and I think I've gotten it pretty right so far.

Here's a recap of what I have so far:

[speedleescustoms]

Wow, looks cool man ! :D

[curse007]

great start. Cant wait to see the finished product. Do you plan on repacking the toy in its package?

[stevescustoms]

Nice idea. The only problem I see at this point is that the front wheel wells don't line up. I can't wait to see how this works out.

[INCOM]

Thanks for the support guys!


great start. Cant wait to see the finished product. Do you plan on repacking the toy in its package?

Nah, I'd have a black Mini Cooper on a card featuring a yellow Autobot. It'd be cool to make a custom card though, but that's something else entirely.


Nice idea. The only problem I see at this point is that the front wheel wells don't line up. I can't wait to see how this works out.

Yep, the problem is the wheel base of the Mini itself. While the bodies are nearly compatible from the start, the wheel base of the Mini is so much longer. I'll sand down the front wheel wells, add a bit of styrene if necessary and attach the wheel "axles" that came with the model kit.

[Solrac333]

That is going to look great!

[Eyes-of-a-Snake]

Off to a pretty good start man! Good luck! I like your idea for fixing the wheel base issue... Should work out pretty well. Cant wait to see this take shape...

[JaZzMan26]

Looks great man...that Mini body is dead on right from the start.



Nice idea. The only problem I see at this point is that the front wheel wells don't line up. I can't wait to see how this works out.

Nothing ever lines up perfect...even mine LOL. All reshelling is re-engineering stuff. The Prowl I am working on will require relocating wheel mounts and stuff no biggie just more work...

[INCOM]

Thanks for the positive vibes, fellas! I've been doing some maintenance to our house lately, but today I managed to get this project moving again. It's all about sanding off little bits now. I think I'm nearly there. Below are pics of how it looks now.

I've removed the original wheel mounts and sanded down the wheel wells. The doors have been sanded down as well and I'm very glad they fit so nicely. That way I can just attach the Mini's doors and keep that cool twist 'n turn transforming bit. I only need to remove a bit of the undersides of the doors.

I guess I'll have to get some pieces of styrene ready to fill up some space in the rear end and the doors.

Hope you guys like it so far and be sure to visit my facebook page :D

[sabretooth]

looking good.

[JaZzMan26]

Nice man, keep up the good work.

[INCOM]

Thanks guys. Finally came to what I view as one of the big steps in a reshell project: figuring out where to cut up the new body. Well, here's the body with the cutting lines marked. I basically followed the lines of the original Bumblebee, seemed a safe route to me. I've already started cutting, although scoring would be a better term. Once I've cut all the parts, I'll post a pic of that of course!

[Jimster]

Certainly sounds logical. Good luck and I hope it all works out!

[stevescustoms]

Have you resolved the issue of the front wheels lining up?

[INCOM]

Have you resolved the issue of the front wheels lining up?

Yes I have, and the rear wheels as well. I've sanded down Bee's wheel mounts and will attach the ones from the model kit's undercarriage.

[speedleescustoms]

Wow, mini cooper ! Tats nice !!! :D

[JaZzMan26]

Keep up the good work bro!

[INCOM]

Thanks man!

I finished cutting the mini body. Cutting the hood from the windshield took the longest as I really had to cut through it, whereas the back and doors snapped off after enough scoring. But it worked out, only had to fix a slight issue with the center line on the hood.

[INCOM]

I primed the Mini parts and started laying on some coats of white. The white will later be masked off for the racing stripes, the circles on the doors and the chequered pattern on the roof, so I can paint the rest black. White's a b!tch to paint though, but I'll keep adding multiple thin coats with my airbrush until I get the desired look.

[Dez]

This is turning out great!

[JaZzMan26]

Looking good man...cant wait to see it finished.

[INCOM]

Thanks guys. Had to wait for some paints to arrive, but went straight back to work once I had them. The body's almost done now, safe for the details. Next up is painting bot mode after minor adjustments to make the Mini shell fit better.

http://i740.photobucket.com/albums/xx49/incomscustoms/Transformers/49f4f5a8.jpg

[JaZzMan26]

The paint looks great man!

[deathman]

Nice startup for the bumblebee! I'm wondering how you'ld make those parts get together from 2 different parts

[INCOM]

Nice startup for the bumblebee! I'm wondering how you'ld make those parts get together from 2 different parts

Thanks, I have a 2-part epoxy glue, which is also gap-filling. That, and some styrene to fill up any gaps should do the trick.

[INCOM]

Went back to work on this, after finishing my custom in memory of Mike Martinez. I primed Bee in black, but I'm at a loss of creativity as to what colour scheme I should give him. I though about some bluish grays or something like that, but I'm wondering what you guys think.

http://i740.photobucket.com/albums/xx49/incomscustoms/Transformers/a321a2c8.jpg


Also, I ran into some issues while checking out the transformation again and again. I'll have to cut out "lid" from both hood parts and make those hinged. And the rear wheel wells need to be trimmed down, otherwise they can't turn 180 degrees because of the Mini Cooper's wheel wells. Nothing major, but now I have to find out how to make hinges small enough to fit inside the body :)

[JaZzMan26]

Went back to work on this, after finishing my custom in memory of Mike Martinez. I primed Bee in black, but I'm at a loss of creativity as to what colour scheme I should give him. I though about some bluish grays or something like that, but I'm wondering what you guys think.

http://i740.photobucket.com/albums/xx49/incomscustoms/Transformers/a321a2c8.jpg


Also, I ran into some issues while checking out the transformation again and again. I'll have to cut out "lid" from both hood parts and make those hinged. And the rear wheel wells need to be trimmed down, otherwise they can't turn 180 degrees because of the Mini Cooper's wheel wells. Nothing major, but now I have to find out how to make hinges small enough to fit inside the body :)

When I did BB, I attached the roof where the original roof was located and the rear hatch piece where it normlly should be. Sand down the contact points for those pieces.
If you do this you will not need to make hinges and utilize the same transformation process.

[INCOM]

Thanks, Jazzman, but I meant I'll need to make hinges inside the hood. Just like the original RTS Bee has. You know, the parts that form his shin guards, to speak. I thought, because of the very short hood of the Mini, I could get away without cutting out those parts and make them hinged.

I think I'll need to make something like Wikkid shows in this post (http://www.sector70.com/forum/fb.ashx?m=50230).


The rear part is going to be..... a challenge. As you know, Bee's shoulders rotate outwards in the transforming process. Well, because of the fact that the Mini's rear wheel wells are placed so far to the rear, the shoulders can't get out of those wells.

I did notice the shoulder's ball joints are placed off centre, so I will try flipping Bee's wheel mounts, so the shoulder joint will move towards the rear.

If that doesn't work, well, I'm in for a lot of work, because then I'll need to build shoulder joints from scratch. Never thought this project would take me that far in TF customizing land! :eek: :D

If all else fails, I can always ditch the transforming process, and attach all the car parts in bot mode. It's most likely my brother will display him in bot mode anyway :o I know, sounds like taking the easy way out, huh? ;)

[Xcion]

Looking great so far! For the colour scheme I have no idea what might work best, the bluefish metallic on some part with yellow accents maybe?

[INCOM]

Yeah, I tried going for a yellow theme, but that didn't work. Seeing FR's superb Goldbug made me think otherwise and make him black with blue accents. Simple, but effective.

[INCOM]

LOL, this one's been in progress for a almost a year now, but I'm getting there :D It's time to attach the car parts back to the bot. Here's a pic of the roof and rear end in place. You can also see my work on the front end.

My brother celebrated his birthday while on holiday in Portugal, so that bought me some time ;) I'll present this fella to him next time I see him, then.

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/393849_304565626248410_197614093610231_805911_1993 321603_n.jpg

[JaZzMan26]

Nice man...these things take a lot of time but the end result is worth it trust me I know LOL..

[Arte Loko Kustoms]

Wow,awesome idea.Looking good!
I cant wait to try a reshell myself.

[INCOM]

Thanks guys, here's a couple more shots, bot mode. I guess I should've cut the roof differently (like an arc towards the windshield), because the edge now sits very close to Bee's chin. But on the other hand, it kinda give him this burly, beefy look, which I'm pretty okay with.

http://i740.photobucket.com/albums/xx49/incomscustoms/Transformers/cb6bdde7.jpg

http://i740.photobucket.com/albums/xx49/incomscustoms/Transformers/1edd7c6a.jpg

Paint apps will be tidied up after assembly, no worries :)

[JaZzMan26]

Looks fine how it is man...I like the squared roof.