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Post by shaxper on Feb 20, 2005 14:33:45 GMT -5
I've recently purchased a TRU Commemorative Edition Optimus Prime, and plan to kit-bash it with an original, less-than-mint Pre-Rub Optimus Prime (Gray roller, metal plate version), in order to create a mint and complete Pre-Rub version. Here's what I plan to do. Please, anyone, let me know if you have any experience with this, and if I'm setting myself up to have two broken Primes and nothing to show for it:
The general idea is to use the CE's cab body and trailer mechanical arm. However, the CE cab will need the roof panel that doesn't have the rub sticker on it. It will also need long smoke stacks.
step 1: Replace CE's smoke stacks with those from the pre-rub (will it just stick in, or do I need a glue gun?)
step 2: Replace CE's roof panel with pre-rub's.
step 3: Put CE's head on the pre-rub roof panel (can I just screw them on and off if I remove the CE version's rub sticker?)
step 4: Replace pre-rub trailer's broken mechanical arm with CE's (is this even possible?).
So that's the plan. Is it doable? Will there be any way of distinguishing this from an authentic mint original when I'm done?
Much thanks.
J
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Post by Fighbird on Feb 20, 2005 17:10:31 GMT -5
The general idea is to use the CE's cab body and trailer mechanical arm. However, the CE cab will need the roof panel that doesn't have the rub sticker on it. It will also need long smoke stacks. Ah yes -- the joys of DIY. Been doing it myself now for quite some time, although mostly to make junkers into usable kitbashes (sorry, got nothing to show for it as of yet). I took a Prime apart some years ago, and I think I remember most of how it went... The CE should basically be the same as the Takara reissue mold, i.e. a G2 Prime. With that in mind, I suspect the parts are similar -- if anything a rounded peg on the original versus a square one on the CE, or something to that effet -- resulting in an easy replacement. Should be easy, once you've disassembled the whole of the main cab piece/robot torso. Considering the age difference of 20 years though, the colors may not be 100% alike on the 2 units, though... Can't verify this myself, but maybe the reds are different shades of red; decide with yourself, if you want that to be an issue -- if any at all.  I may be mistaken, but I think the heads are glued on... my Spanish Classic prime is glued on, AFAIR... Pass. Maybe the ball joints have been retooled so their aren't intercahngable between the 2 sets -- the only way is to try, I'm afraid...  Disregarding the color issue (see step 2), then probably not. Best of luck with the project! |
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Post by shaxper on Feb 20, 2005 19:24:34 GMT -5
Much thanks for the reply, Fighbird!
So the stacks just pull out? No risk of breakage?
This had occured to me, specifically since my pre-rub cab shows a color difference between the diecast front and the plastic rest. I take that as an indicator that the plastic has faded. I wonder if I'd have any more luck just removing the rub sticker and not switching heads or anything. Rub stickers seem quite difficult to remove completely, but I'm willing to bet it can be done.
Then removing the rub sticker would definitely be the way to go. It looks like they're screwed on (there's a screw going directly into the head from the roof panel) but it might be glued on as well.
I'm wondering if it might be easier to just replace the entire robot-thingy mechanism. It looks like it can be removed from its base by removing a single screw. As far as I know, there's no distinguishable difference between the pre and post rub versions of these.
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Post by Fighbird on Feb 21, 2005 12:41:36 GMT -5
So the stacks just pull out? No risk of breakage? No, no -- erm, how to explain something in a language different than your native one... erm, there's a peg going from the stack into the arm, and at the end of that peg is a tab, preventing the stack from being pulled out. What I meant was that that tab might be square on one unit and round on another. (Hope this makes sense...) Why do you want to remove the rub mark? Why not leave it on and switch the whole head/head plate section? Pass... there might be... check Fred's Workshop for that. So basically you are both restoring your old unit while trying to make sure it cannot be spotted even by the trained eye?  Oh, so you want your "restored" version to be rub-less? Then yes, all sticker residue from it can be removed easily. Go check Fred's Workshop again if your restored unit is "authentic" (isn't pre-rub mostly known for its metal sided trailer halves?) |
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Post by shaxper on Feb 21, 2005 14:48:44 GMT -5
I THINK I understand what you mean. I'll give it a look. Thanks. Because the paint on the pre-rub's head is a bit worn. Will do. It looks easy enough to do without incident though. Essentially. I have a selectively short memory, so I'm hoping to generally forget that I did this after the fact, and savor having a mint pre-rub without asking where it came from Good! Yes, and I do have that trailer, as well as the grey roller. Thanks, Fighbird! |
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Post by shaxper on Feb 21, 2005 14:56:47 GMT -5
I finally checked Fred's page on this. Looks like the Pre-rub cab is VERY different from the other moulds in many subtle ways. I may just abandon this surgery idea altogether.  |
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Post by Fighbird on Feb 22, 2005 10:16:57 GMT -5
I finally checked Fred's page on this. Looks like the Pre-rub cab is VERY different from the other moulds in many subtle ways. I may just abandon this surgery idea altogether. I think the key word here is "subtle" -- if I were you I'd go through with the restauration process anyway, if nothing else than to make a beautiful display piece. As you said earlier on in this thread, this is only to make your old worn unit look new. AFAIR all those "subtle" mold variations are really only for the trained eye (as I might have said before), and as long as you want to have a minty display peice, I can't see why not to go through with it. Just my oppinion, of couse -- and if you're not going through with it, I'd love to take that CE Prime offa your hands!... |
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Post by shaxper on Feb 22, 2005 22:38:34 GMT -5
Good point. And, incidentally, I've now confirmed that my pre-rub cab is actually a rub cab with the sticker removed. I got it from a different source than the trailer, so this explains a lot. Nothing to lose, I suppose.
Still not clear on how to remove and replace the smoke stacks though...
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Post by Fighbird on Feb 23, 2005 7:01:25 GMT -5
Erm... isn't it a simple procedure of just unscrewing the 2 shoulder section halves?...
(can't say for sure, though, as I don't have my own Prime handy to check at this moment)
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Post by cybermuton on Feb 23, 2005 7:51:58 GMT -5
I remember taking a Magnus cab apart in a stillborn attempt to make a Black Magnus, and if I remember rightly, once you unscrew it, they just kinda fall off anyway.
replacement may take some scalpel work on the base of the stack, but just get in there and rip him apart...
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Post by shaxper on Feb 23, 2005 19:15:59 GMT -5
Aren't the arm pieces glued together, as well as screwed?
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