Couldn't resist making a Classics Skyfire when Target clearanced Jetfire for $10.

 

I kept the movement that used to release the backpack booster guns. I made it so in jet mode they are pushed back allowing the front of the booster to extend closer to the front cockpit while the upper cockpit stays back. In robot mode, they are pushed forward which allows the front of the booster to be closer to the robot's head and the upper cockpit is pushed more toward the top of the robot's back. This also allowed the wings to automatically swing up when the booster is compressed in robot mode.

 

This is a work in progress. Backpack still has work to be done. Need to finish the backpack cockpit and repaint. Then I need to give the main figure slightly more cartoon accurate paint apps.

 

The split image shows the backpack's 2 modes.

looks alright, but way too back-heavy...

looks alright, but way too back-heavy...

 

Well, the only things added that weren't on his original backpack are the wings and fins.

 

As for the size of the backpack in general, it is accurate to the cartoon in jet mode. But, yes, in robot mode the toon shrunk the backpack to fit onto his back. If I had made it accurate to the toon in robot mode, then it would have been too small in jet mode. Unfortunately, it wasn't possible to create a backpack that is proportionate in both modes.

 

And, that's also why I made the backpack have 2 modes. Otherwise, if it was just solid with only the wings moveable, I would have either had the front of the booster too high in robot mode, or the back of the pack hanging too far off the back of the jet. The 2 modes allow it to look larger in jet mode and smaller in robot mode.

 

Here's som screen captures from www.seibertron.com showing the backpack in jet and robot modes.

great work. simple, but very effective. may i suggest an autobot sticker on his chest/canopy?

great work. simple, but very effective. may i suggest an autobot sticker on his chest/canopy?

 

Yeah, I haven't done anything to the main figure yet except the removal of the wings/fins. I want to complete the bash portion of the figure before I do any repainting. So once that is done he will be getting the added autobot sticker. I thought about a reversable faction panel so he could do the whole switching sides scene, but then the autobot symbols on the wings would have to be removed too, so I have decided against it.

I really like that mod, and I will probably try that myself. Could you briefly explain what you did again to the backpack? I am a little confused.

 

Like, what exactly did you cut / remove / add on to the backpack to make it work?

 

Looks awesome, by the way!

I really like that mod, and I will probably try that myself. Could you briefly explain what you did again to the backpack? I am a little confused.

 

Like, what exactly did you cut / remove / add on to the backpack to make it work?

 

Looks awesome, by the way!

 

I can try, but I know I'll leave some things out. You will need to fine tune the positions for the wings and bottom connector before finally gluing them on.

 

For this bash, the original backpack will basically be split up into 6 sections: the 2 gun sections of the booster, the 2 engine sections of the booster and the top and bottom halves of the connection base.

 

1. Unscrew the bottom of the base to remove the boosters.

2. Unscrew the front gun sections from each booster, remove the spring loaded guns.

3. Screw each gun section back together and sand the open sides (where the guns sprang from) until they are straight.

4. Unscrew each gun section again and cut off the screw post that used to connect the gun section of the booster to the engine section (this is so the wings will fit).

5. Screw each gun section back together and glue the sections to each other on the sanded side.

6. Sand the bottoms of each engine section until they are parallel to the movement of the moving panels (this is important since the moving sections will be connected to the base sections and a non parellel movement will cause headaches. Trust me.). Cut off the screw posts that used to connect the boosters to the base.

7. Glue the bottoms of the engine sections together.

8. Glue the connected gun sections to the connected engine sections. They basically just slip together, but you may need to shave off some plastic to make them fit.

9. Connect the bottom half of the connection base (the part that connects the base to the main figure) to the moving panels on the bottom of the combined engine section. This is where things get complicated and trial and error kick in. The base has to be connected to the moving parts or the backpack will not be able to have 2 modes and will extend too far over the robot's head.

10. Connect the top half of the connection base to the moving panels on the top of the combined engine section. This is just as complicated and trial and error kick in. If you prefer, you could attach it to the non-moving parts and the upper cockpit would stay in the same place for both modes. I wanted mine to move so it matched the way the cokpit moves up on the backpack in the toon.

11. Remove the tail fins from the main figure (this is easy, they just snap off. No pins involved) and shape the fins to your liking.

12. Glue the fins to the top half of the connection base.

13. Saw the wing connection from the main figure. From the bottom, you can use the robot's chest as a guide for where to cut. On the top, you gotta eyeball it.

14. Glue the wings into the booster. You will need to cut some of plastic off of the wing connectors to fit them, but they basically just slide right in.

 

That's basically what I did.

Wow! That works out much better than expected.

 

I especially like that the transforming backpack makes the bot-mode very true to Skyfire as well.

 

Can't wait to see the finished version :thumb

LOOKS FLIPPEN SWEET MASS!! Awesome idea and very well applied, if I get brave enough might have to do that myself, being kinda new to kitbashing I just had one question for you thru your process on making him, what did you use or find that works best for making clean cuts and gives you less of a fit for cutting his wings off? Keep up the great work man :clap

Here he is completed!!!