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Required Equipment:
- philips/crosshead screwdrivers with long shafts
- fine tipped marker pen
- drill and drill bits: 2mm and 2.5mm are essential. 2.75mm and smaller than 2mm if you can get them.
- hacksaw
- sandpaper or nail file
- superglue
- plenty of courage
- optional: cup of tea and a biscuit; a little energon and a lot of luck.
Time:
The first leg took me a few hours as I was planning the steps and photographing every step for this tutorial. The second leg took about 35 minutes.
Kitbashed, Repainted, Customized Transformers Masterpiece Seekers
The Masterpiece line is dedicated to producing high-end toys that replicate Generation One cartoon characters perfectly apart from Starscream (and the inevitable repaints) whom they screwed up. The prototype was accurate, with the tail fins on the ankles where they should be, but the final product put the tail fins on some long panels attached to the hip, apparently because someone declared that he should look like he had scabbards even though he had no swords. Not only was this detrimental to the accuracy but ruined his balance as his feet have a very small surface area and he was now carrying extra weight at the back. There are other solutions to these issues but in this tutorial I will show you how to fix these problems in such a way that the tail fins can be used as extra stabilisers, which is something other methods lack. You'll also find that hip mobility is dramatically improved.Required Equipment:
- philips/crosshead screwdrivers with long shafts
- fine tipped marker pen
- drill and drill bits: 2mm and 2.5mm are essential. 2.75mm and smaller than 2mm if you can get them.
- hacksaw
- sandpaper or nail file
- superglue
- plenty of courage
- optional: cup of tea and a biscuit; a little energon and a lot of luck.
Time:
The first leg took me a few hours as I was planning the steps and photographing every step for this tutorial. The second leg took about 35 minutes.
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Here is my tutorial on how to turn this:
Here is my tutorial on how to turn this:
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into this:
into this:
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from the side he will look like this:
from the side he will look like this:
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and be able to do poses like this:
(although this tutorial doesn't cover how to give him waist articulation)
and be able to do poses like this:(although this tutorial doesn't cover how to give him waist articulation)
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Step 1:
Pop the hip panels off. You may need some force for this as they were tough to remove on mine.
Step 2:
Using your hacksaw remove the ball and shaft from the hip oh god that sounds nasty! In this pic you'll see I have already done this step.
Step 1:Pop the hip panels off. You may need some force for this as they were tough to remove on mine.
Step 2:
Using your hacksaw remove the ball and shaft from the hip oh god that sounds nasty! In this pic you'll see I have already done this step.
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Step 3:
Remove the two screws holding the outer panel to the black inner panel. Put these screws somewhere safe so you don't lose them. One of them will be used for its original purpose of holding the panels together while the other will become a pivot/slide joint.
Step 4:
Insert something thin into the slot at the end to prize out the black panel.
Step 3:Remove the two screws holding the outer panel to the black inner panel. Put these screws somewhere safe so you don't lose them. One of them will be used for its original purpose of holding the panels together while the other will become a pivot/slide joint.
Step 4:
Insert something thin into the slot at the end to prize out the black panel.
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Step 5:
Place one of the screws upside down against a strut as shown.
Step 6:
Draw a line around the screw head.
Step 7:
Put the screw in your safe place and mark the centre of the circle.
Step 8:
Drill a hole using the centre mark as a guide. The screw shaft should slip through this hole easily without being turned.
Step 5:Place one of the screws upside down against a strut as shown.
Step 6:
Draw a line around the screw head.
Step 7:
Put the screw in your safe place and mark the centre of the circle.
Step 8:
Drill a hole using the centre mark as a guide. The screw shaft should slip through this hole easily without being turned.
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Tip: start with your smallest drill (you can buy 1mm bits. Buy several as they're fragile and easy to break) and work up to the required size of 2.75mm. If you don't have a 2.75mm then use a 2.5mm and then jiggle it about in the hole to increase it's size.
To the left...
Tip: start with your smallest drill (you can buy 1mm bits. Buy several as they're fragile and easy to break) and work up to the required size of 2.75mm. If you don't have a 2.75mm then use a 2.5mm and then jiggle it about in the hole to increase it's size.To the left...
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...to the right.
Don't forget up and down as well.
...to the right.Don't forget up and down as well.
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Step 9:
Remove the two screws holding the lower leg together and put the screws in your safe place.
Step 10:
Prize open the lower leg and remove it from the upper leg. The lower leg sections are glued together at the back so it won't come apart properly. This part is tricky and requires some jiggling.
Step 9:Remove the two screws holding the lower leg together and put the screws in your safe place.
Step 10:
Prize open the lower leg and remove it from the upper leg. The lower leg sections are glued together at the back so it won't come apart properly. This part is tricky and requires some jiggling.
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Tip: be careful not to catch your skin between the two halves.
Tip: be careful not to catch your skin between the two halves.
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Step 11:
Reassemble the black panel, outer panel and lower leg as shown. Don't screw anything together!
Important: ensure the panel is aligned how it would be in jet mode.
Step 11:Reassemble the black panel, outer panel and lower leg as shown. Don't screw anything together!
Important: ensure the panel is aligned how it would be in jet mode.
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Step 12:
Carefully remove the outer panel being careful not to disturb the black panel.
Step 12:Carefully remove the outer panel being careful not to disturb the black panel.
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Step 13:
Using a marker pen mark where the hole is on the leg.
Step 13:Using a marker pen mark where the hole is on the leg.
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Step 14:
Remove black panel.
Step 15:
Mark the centre of the hole.
Step 16:
Drill the hole.
Tip: start with your smallest drill and work up to the required size.
Apology: I can't remember if the hole should be 2mm or 2.5mm. Drill the smaller size first. The screw needs to be a tight, secure fit in this hole.
Step 14:Remove black panel.
Step 15:
Mark the centre of the hole.
Step 16:
Drill the hole.
Tip: start with your smallest drill and work up to the required size.
Apology: I can't remember if the hole should be 2mm or 2.5mm. Drill the smaller size first. The screw needs to be a tight, secure fit in this hole.
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Steps 17, 18, 19 & 20:
Repeat steps 5 - 8 to make a hole at the spot shown here:
Step 21:
Draw guidelines joining the outside edge of both holes.
Steps 17, 18, 19 & 20:Repeat steps 5 - 8 to make a hole at the spot shown here:
Step 21:
Draw guidelines joining the outside edge of both holes.
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Step 22:
Disassemble your hacksaw
Step 23:
Pass blade through a hole in the black panel as shown.
Step 24:
Reassemble hacksaw.
Step 22:Disassemble your hacksaw
Step 23:
Pass blade through a hole in the black panel as shown.
Step 24:
Reassemble hacksaw.
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Step 25:
Saw along the guidelines to combine the two holes into one mighty groove. Don't forget to remove the blade from the groove!
Step 25:Saw along the guidelines to combine the two holes into one mighty groove. Don't forget to remove the blade from the groove!
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Step 26:
Reassemble black panel and outer panel.
Step 27:
Using the panel line as a guide saw the piece in half as shown:
Tip: saw a little way into each of the four sides, changing often. This will help you get a straighter, better looking cut.
Step 26:Reassemble black panel and outer panel.
Step 27:
Using the panel line as a guide saw the piece in half as shown:
Tip: saw a little way into each of the four sides, changing often. This will help you get a straighter, better looking cut.
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You should now be faced with this heart-rending sight:
You should now be faced with this heart-rending sight:
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Step 28:
Connect lower leg to knee and screw together.
Step 29:
Separate black panel from tail fin panel (the piece on the right in the previous picture).
Step 30:
Attach black panel to lower leg by slotting the ankle peg into the hole at the bottom of the black panel and adding one of the screws as shown.
Step 28:Connect lower leg to knee and screw together.
Step 29:
Separate black panel from tail fin panel (the piece on the right in the previous picture).
Step 30:
Attach black panel to lower leg by slotting the ankle peg into the hole at the bottom of the black panel and adding one of the screws as shown.
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Step 31:
Saw off the tab on the wrist. This will make the transformation much easier without hindering the jet mode holding together.
Step 31:Saw off the tab on the wrist. This will make the transformation much easier without hindering the jet mode holding together.
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Step 32:
Fit tail fin panel over black panel and screw in place.
Step 33:
Transform into jet mode (I mean the toy, not you!).
Step 32:Fit tail fin panel over black panel and screw in place.
Step 33:
Transform into jet mode (I mean the toy, not you!).
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Step 34:
Sand all the area marked '1' on the remaining portion of the outer panel and the area it will come into contact with under the wing.
Step 35:
Apply superglue to area '1' and the hole, '2', which is were the tab fits.
Step 34:Sand all the area marked '1' on the remaining portion of the outer panel and the area it will come into contact with under the wing.
Step 35:
Apply superglue to area '1' and the hole, '2', which is were the tab fits.
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Step 36:
Slot the panel into place and hold it firmly for long enough for the glue to cure. 10 - 15 seconds will do.
Step 37:
Leave the jet for a few minutes to ensure the glue is well set. Now is the time for that cup of tea and biscuit.
Step 36:Slot the panel into place and hold it firmly for long enough for the glue to cure. 10 - 15 seconds will do.
Step 37:
Leave the jet for a few minutes to ensure the glue is well set. Now is the time for that cup of tea and biscuit.
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Step 38:Transform him back to robot mode.
Step 39:
Remove the tail fin panel by undoing the screw.
Step 40:
Remove the black panel by undoing the screw.
Step 41:
Saw off the round tab on the ankle.
Pic from seibertron.com
Step 38:Transform him back to robot mode.Step 39:
Remove the tail fin panel by undoing the screw.
Step 40:
Remove the black panel by undoing the screw.
Step 41:
Saw off the round tab on the ankle.
Pic from seibertron.com
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Step 42:
Reassemble black panel with screw and the tail fin panel with screw.
You can now slide the tail fin panel up and down the leg. You will notice that there is something preventing the panel from sliding straight up, you need to pivot it back to get clearance as you move it from jet position to robot position. You may choose to leave Starscream like this but for further improvements read on...
Step 42:Reassemble black panel with screw and the tail fin panel with screw.
You can now slide the tail fin panel up and down the leg. You will notice that there is something preventing the panel from sliding straight up, you need to pivot it back to get clearance as you move it from jet position to robot position. You may choose to leave Starscream like this but for further improvements read on...
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The problem is shown here. On the right side you will see that I've removed some of the white plastic beside the thruster. This hasn't affected the jet's appearance a great deal but does wonders for the robot mode's poseability and aesthetic.
The problem is shown here. On the right side you will see that I've removed some of the white plastic beside the thruster. This hasn't affected the jet's appearance a great deal but does wonders for the robot mode's poseability and aesthetic.
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Step 43:
Remove the plastic (1) by sawing along line 2. There is a panel line which you can use as a guide.
Step 43:Remove the plastic (1) by sawing along line 2. There is a panel line which you can use as a guide.
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Now the leg panels can be swung further forward.
Tip: To aid stability in different poses you can slide the panels up or down and pivot them back and forth. You'll notice in this picture he is standing perfectly well with only one panel fitted.
Tip: The screw holding the black panel in place can be tightened or loosened to stiffen or ease the sliding of the panel.
Steps 44 - 86:
Repeat steps 1 - 43 on the other leg.
Now the leg panels can be swung further forward.Tip: To aid stability in different poses you can slide the panels up or down and pivot them back and forth. You'll notice in this picture he is standing perfectly well with only one panel fitted.
Tip: The screw holding the black panel in place can be tightened or loosened to stiffen or ease the sliding of the panel.
Steps 44 - 86:
Repeat steps 1 - 43 on the other leg.
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You may have a couple of these left over:
You have a few choices of what to do with them.
You may have a couple of these left over:You have a few choices of what to do with them.
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You could slot it in where the arrow is showing. It clips in fairly securely so you probably won't need to glue it. You can't screw it in as you used that screw elsewhere. You could just throw it away as it serves no purpose now.
You could slot it in where the arrow is showing. It clips in fairly securely so you probably won't need to glue it. You can't screw it in as you used that screw elsewhere. You could just throw it away as it serves no purpose now.
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I hope you found this tutorial easy enough to follow.
The only thing remaining to be done is to enjoy your super accurate, super poseable Masterpiece Starscream, although it would be nice if you signed my
The only thing remaining to be done is to enjoy your super accurate, super poseable Masterpiece Starscream, although it would be nice if you signed my
