Thanks, great info.

 

As soon as I get an airbrush and finish completely overhauling my house, I'll start to customize some transformers.

 

Question: Those heat-stamped Autobot symbols we saw during Robots in Disguise, are they removeable, and if so, how? I once read -- I believe on bwtf -- that they could easily be rubbed off with hoth water, but I tried and failed.

...

JackKnife:

 

I don't usually come to the Toy Discussion forum, but now I'm glad I did, as I'm planning my first custom (turning Beast Machines/Universe Blackarachnia into Arcee), and all this info is gonna come in quite handy. :)

 

Now, I have a bit more complicated question for you. I have an idea for modifying BA's foot so the back of it can fold down to form Arcee's 'trademark' high-heels, as well as making BA's feet look more like they do in the BM cartoon (tapering to a point, rather than those ugly flat supports she has now) from the front.

 

However, this is gonna require seperating the foot pieces from the legs, but I'm currently at a loss as to how to dismantle those aluminum-rivet-looking hinges. (go here to take a look at what I'm dealing with: http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/Da...me/P1010043.jpg --I hope that works ok.. I don't wanna stick that huge IMG in here, 'cause of the dial-up folks)

 

Now, the plastic of her foot is already relatively soft (flexible, at any rate), so I'm thinking maybe I can heat it up and make it soft enough to come off over the dimpled end of the rivet without breaking the plastic? And if that would work, I should be able to either squeeze the end of the rivet together to put my modded foot back on, or replace the rivet altogether.

 

Any suggestions? I currently have two Universe arachnias, and a BM arachnia on its way here from an eBay auction, as well as about 3 pounds of Beast Wars/Machines parts, which likely includes yet more Arachania pieces, so I'm not -too- worried about destroying this particular toy's foot while experimenting. Figuring this out would be very helpful, as she has multiple joints like this, and being able to get those apart would save me having to try to paint the parts without "gluing" the joints together in the process. :)

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Dark Lord Prime,

First off, I saw your post to another transfan, where you recommended "the idiots guide" for a painting reference. Thank you; I consider it a compliment.

 

To answer your question: if you're not concerned about destroying the existing foot, you could try one of several ways; heating the foot, drilling out the rivet, or cutting the rivet with heavy scissors. Personally, I would warm the foot gently in boiling water, then use an exacto knife to slice throiugh the plastic surrounding the rivet on the foot's side. ( BE CAREFUL WITH THAT KNIFE!! PLEASE!!) After that, I would cut the rivet using a pair of aviation shears or heavy scissors. remove the rivet and replace it once you have the new foot in place. look at Home Depot, Ace hardware or Lowe's Home improvement for a pop-rivet gun and rivets in the length you need for the ankle. the gun shopuld run you about $15, and it will be useful in future projects. get aluminum rivets, as the steel ones might damage the plastic. You'll have to use your judgement on how much to squeeze the rivet, but if you do it carefully, you should get the results your looking for. I would very strongly recommend that you experiment first before trying it on your kitbash. Keep me informed on your progress: I want to hear how your project comes out. Good luck!

RE: directing that other transfan to this topic.

Not a problem. It constantly amazes (and bugs the hell out of) me how many people apparently don't bother (or, seemingly, even try) to check old posts. Even when a nearly identical topic is 3 - 5 down the list. :)

 

Now, back to my hinge problem.

 

Well, what I'm wanting to do is (ideally) get the foot off the leg (and the hinge) without destroying it (the foot).

 

If you've ever seen the Beast Wars figure, "Snarl" (aka "Tasmania Kid"), then you should have an idea how I envision Arachnia's new foot when I finish with it.

 

If not.. the beast's head splits in two. Each half is attached to the robot's legs, and become the feet. The feet have a heel that folds down to provide stabililty.

 

I'll try to find a picture of it, or take one of my own.

 

If all else fails, and I can't do what I want with Arachnia's feet.. maybe I can use Snarl's heel to create a new mold.

 

hmm.. actually, that may be better than what I was planning. If I can cut Arachnia's foot of the rivet without destroying it, I can use the front half and Snarl's heel, along with a little Super Sculpey, to create a whole new mold and get the effect I want.

 

I tell ya, ever since I started thinking about creating "Custom Kitbash" kits, the ideas have been pouring into my head.. :)

 

Besides Blackarachnia/Arcee here, I've got ideas for New Beetle Alternator Bumblebee, a possible "Alternator" Devastator, using a kids' construction-vehicle set from the dollar store..

 

crap. there were a couple other things, but I've been awake too long..

 

hehe..

 

Thanks again for the help, Jack. :)

...

(still planning my kitbashing set-up)

 

Would you recommend a heat gun, or just a hair-dryer (for softening plastic, drying paint, etc)?

I did it! I just took apart one of Arachnia's feet without damaging it! :clap

 

I had to boil it a little longer than 30 seconds, though. It was tougher plastic than it appears. hehe.. but it softened enough for me to get a small flat-blade screwdriver between the foot and the ankle, and the foot just popped off its rivet.

 

Next job: scoring and cutting the foot. *insert mad scientist cackle here*

Woo! First attempt:

 

That's only half the foot (far side of the leg has no foot attached). The heel isn't quite as upright as I'm wanting, but not bad for a first go. :)

 

I've mostly worked out how the foot needs to be. I think I'm gonna have to sculpt a new one with super sculpy and make a mold to cast a new plastic foot. I discovered tonight that my local hobby store not only has mold-making supplies, but also liquid plastic resin (as well as activator). I just need to find pigment to mix with it (otherwise I'll have to paint the foot.. although, I guess I'll be doing that anyway, won't I? :tflaugh Ah, well.. pigment will be useful when I move on to things like my Alternator Bumblebee. :thumb

 

The Arachnia that leg is attached to is my extra Universe BA, as the one I'm turning into Arcee is currently broken down to her seperate components. :tflaugh

Moved from Toys, per request :D