Interesting approach for a multiple-changer! But I guess such tiny parts that go under one or two millimetres thickness won't be realizable with a 3D printer.

 

Thankya. It's slightly Sixshotty in that the core torso doesn't transform all that much, the limbs just assume different positions. I genericised it a little by having no mode-specific sculpting apart from on pop-out kibble, and adding a pile of joints to the very rectilinear limbs so that they could fold into a bunch of different built-out-of-cubes shapes without having protruding parts - including things like hinges - bumping into each other. Almost every hinge and joint is already modelled - it's just internal to the cubes, so it doesn't show on the surface of the altmodes. I tossed in a pair of wedge shapes for variety and a folding flat sheet capable of hiding a multitude of design sins. Then I challenged myself to fit as much mode-kibble inside the limbs and body as I could. Dual rotor blades, a complete set of jet wings, four sets of fold-out claws, ten rolling wheels, and (eventually) six heads, I think (I keep losing count).

 

I originally just got curious about the limits of toy design and imagination, and wondered how many reasonably realisable forms could be packed into a genuine real-world chunk of plastic (as opposed to a 3D model with cheaty bits), so that's the constraint I try to keep in mind when tweaking it. My main problem at the moment is that I'm procrastinating modelling the vaguely organic bits, like the animal heads and robot face and fists. That, and I keep flicking back and forth between a couple of different designs in my head. I'm also going to have to modify the jet-wing root panelling again to accommodate one of the animal mode heads, and probably the hinge location for the truck windshields if I want to have pop-out jet canards, not to mention decide how to model the jet exhaust ports and whether I can include landing gear of some kind...

 

 

The millimetre-tiny stuff is more like the minimum thickness of external panels, kind of thing. I might do better building it up from plain styrene and routing out the various sliding-joint channels with a very small routing bit.

I think I get your idea, Geminii. It's really fascinating to see the actual limits of real world plastic models, as they lie far beyond what "normal" transformers use. If you go for adult collector car models in 1:87 scale, you will find far more tiny joints and thin elements than in any Hasbro toy - but I guess you would never be allowed to sell them to children, at least not in the U.S.

 

But talking about rapid prototyping, you would have to print out your model at least three times the real size when dealing with 3D printing technology. For these elements, you'd better go for a plastic based process, I guess.

But, anyway, nice approach to the multiformer thing... :)

Thank you all for the positive feedback!

 

Here's some more news on the Robobuz project: An early preorder site is now online!

 

If you would like to get one of the Robobuz toy models, please visit

http://www.robobuz.de/preorder

to make a reservation. If you order now, you will also get a 12,5% discount off the regular price (34,90 Euros instead of 39,90 Euros).

 

 

 

And here's my early package design:

 

 

and the back side:

 

 

Hope you like the look!

Thank you all for the positive feedback!

 

Here's some more news on the Robobuz project: An early preorder site is now online!

 

If you would like to get one of the Robobuz toy models, please visit

http://www.robobuz.de/preorder

to make a reservation. If you order now, you will also get a 12,5% discount off the regular price (34,90 Euros instead of 39,90 Euros).

 

 

 

And here's my early package design:

 

 

and the back side:

 

 

Hope you like the look!

I dont know why but this thread amuses me. Its kinda funny to see updates coming this quickly normally you would have to wait weeks to see the left foot then weeks the right arm.... This is just rocketing along... CONGRATS and nice box design... One idea I have. Package it in Vehicle mode but make the box look like a garage/bus depo with the info on Ad boards...

OK, I still don't have all the details that I actually wanted to post, but I just don't want to let you wait any longer, so I'll give you a short update on this project.

 

The good news: We have managed to get more financial support from our client TWK for the production of these figures. Therefore the figure's selling price will now go down (!) AND the mold will even get more parts and details.

The robot you know from the video, the renderings and the photos will only be the first of a trio of bus transformers. For this first one's individual name, we thought about "Bendway" or "Safecase".

Each of them will come with an individual weapon; his will be a samurai/katana style mecha sword.

Also, he now has a more detailed body and a proper face, as seen in this new rendering:

 

 

Here's a new Youtube video showing the latest CAD structure of the mold:

 

 

The downside to these good news is that these changes and some other issues took our manufacturer much longer than expected. The first finished figures will hopefully be ready for the Nuremberg toy fair in february, but they won't make it till this christmas. Sorry for that! I find this delay very disappointing myself, as I have put so much time and effort into construction and modelling during the last weeks to get the thing done in time. But this is just out of my range of influence.

 

Also, I'm sorry that I can't tell you an exact pricing right now. As soon as our manufacture gets the calculation done, I will let you know!

And of course every pre-order customer will only have to pay the lowered price (that will be below the pre order discounted rate).

 

Here are some more detailed views of some of the CAD parts:

 

 

 

Stay tuned, hopefully I will have more information soon.

awsome work - I still would love to get it and put my shop advertisements on the side to make like a real bus :) Question though... how do we get it here in US? I dont have Euro's...

This is sweet TomPrime. I've been looking into 3D printing and rapid prototyping for the last year or so. Does the plastic powder automatically fill in as the printer raises?

awesome transformer I like it