I'd like to kitbash something but my confidence level isn't that high.

Okay, glad you asked....

Start out with small stuff, like small modifications. Examples are alterations on paint jobs, variants on different parts, and the like. Once you build up a little confidence, then you can move on to more severe stuff like completely new paintjobs, and variant parts like different heads and the like. After that, you can do revamped transforms and variant transformers altogether. The last is scratchbuilding your own stuff, but that's the pinnacle of the craft. The way to get the most comfortable is to try messing around with cheap knock-offs. That way, if you mess up, it's no big deal. They cost a lot less than the originals, and are more plentiful.

Another good way is to pay attention to what others are doing as well. That gives you clues as to how to do things. Also, we have a kitbashing guide here at TFans. here's a link to it:

http://www.TFans.com/index.php?showtopic=13908

I hope this helps you out, Stick Zarak. Happy kitbashing, and good luck on your future projects. i'll look forwards to seeing your stuff.

-WV

I started with minicons... cheap, expendable and easy... then I did a few cheap armada ones... now I'm doing Alts... start out small... experience cannot take the place of a great tutorial... just grab some krylon fusion and testors paint and have at it!

Sureshot's right; a turtorial cannot replace firsthand experience. That's why I suggested getting your hands dirty first.

We can tell you all of our expertise and wisdom, but it means nothing if you don't have any experience to use as a basis.

heck,,get ur hands dirty,,but at least have a plan for coloring,,thenpaint like crazy,,to me testors r really good,,just have at it

I agree I`ve been doing my own repaints snd such since I was 15. Back then I just went down to the store and bought a couple of X-men or Batman figures brought them home made up characters and repainted the figures to resemble my madeup characters. Unfortuntly my wife gave them to my son to play with over the years so I now have nothing to show for all that work. Jump forward to this past April `04 I went over to my parent`s house and they just got the internet typed transformers into the search found TFormers which led me to TFans, then I found the kit bashes and figured if I can paint and build models surly I can build my own Transformers so I designed my very first kitbash Bumblebee out of a vw new Beetle. I was unexperienced at the time so he ended up being a little off but he works transforms and every thing. The reason I`m telling you all this is that right now you nervous. That`s fine just go to the store and pic up a Silverstreak or Smokescreen and repaint it into Prowl, making sure not to lose anything if you`re afraid of losing pieces wash out a butter container and put the parts in there. In fact buy 2 so that way the presure is off a little bit and if you forget where a piece goes you can just go back and look at the other one. What you want to do is tape off where you don`t want paint get crylon fusion paints and have fun if you mess up oh well it was a first try. You could also try repainting the Galaxy Defender Armada Megs KO into a G1 tank like Warpath again tis is one that I`ve done and let me tell you this one is a snap. You just paint the whole thing darkred and then accent the red with flat black on the hands upper arms and upper legs. Just so you know my firs repaint was a huge wash I took the Brown and yellow Toybiz X-men Wolverine and wanted to make him look like the Blue and yellow one so I started to repaint it and put way too much paint on. So you know what I did? I just threw him in my drawer and never thought of him again `till now that is. So be carefull and have fun.

One of the first things I started with (& still do today) is Panel-line Detailing.
It can Bring out Small details (Eyes, Antennae, Window-Gaskets, Etc. ) VERY Well & Make the Overall Look Much more Realistic. I remember using the thinnest SHARPIE I could find on my G1s (Long Ago-Dont try this now...). NOW I know that a Technical pen is PERFECT for those tiny lines.

One material I Swear by is TESTORS (Acrylic) Matte Black.
With a Medium Brush- I black out Wheel-wells, Engine-Bays, Trunk & Hood Bottoms.
With a fine brush- I cover up All those Pesky little Siver Pins that keep my TFs looking
like toys. (of course here, you have to Color-Match a bit)

Take a look at some real Cars / Realistic robot pics. What detail(s) makes them any different from your TFs /Gundams /Etc.

Of couse Always have fun too.

All of the above is good advice, Stick Zarak. But one piece of advice iI think that everyone here will agree with is NEVER give up! Kitbashing is something that frustrates us all from time to time, so just set it aside if you must. But remember to keep trying; never let it get the best of you!

one tip for the screws/small parts when taking one apart.

I take a 2"x6" wide piece of tape and set it on my desk sticky side up. Then I put tape on the top and bottom of the 1st piece to hold it to the desk... I only overlap the pieces about 1/8". When I take things apart, I lay the screws on the sticky side tape and then put another piece of tape over it... then label what it goes to... a little time consuming, but very trusty.

I hope that made sence to people...

Perfect sense SS and I must agree with WV never under any surcomstances giveup. Sure it`s frustrating from time to time but just set it aside for a couple of days and then come back to it but don`t give up, you`ll see what`s wrong when you have a fresh perspective. If not take a pic and those of us here with a few bashes under our belts will be more than glad to help.