Kitbash - Fighbird & Granbird (unpainted)

So I started this project earlier than expected... and ended earlier too... so here's a summary of what I have done...

Bought this set some time ago, and was a bit sad when I realised that Fighbird and Granbird cannot combine... So I decided to bashed them... thinking that it should be quite simple... but it is not... When I realised that they are about the same size of my another duo-combiner, Robotmasters Star Saber & Victory Leo, I am even more determined...


Founded an extra pair of arms from Energon Bulkhead/Quickstrike... a bit long, need to saw off...


I like my little vice clamp, makes work so much easier...


...fast forward a lot... basically is:
(i) glue back the (Great Fighbird) arms pieces
(ii) cut off the cannon from the fists moulds
(iii) bash Granbird's arms to be able to swivel up as well as rotate (used mainly 1.5mm polystyrene as material)
(iv) join up both arms


...oh, and I put a little pin and hole for the large arms to let them secure together...


This is how I fixed up the arms to the body...


... cut the holes to ensure later Fighbird's arms can be protruded out properly when combined...


... testing.. what's missing? Yes, the vertical tail fin... do later...


... for Fighbird, 1st, trim off the ugly missiles...


trim till feet can be lowered, like that of Star Saber's...


... ok, now for the vertical tail fin for Granbird, I used one of Liokaiser's fins as base, then add polystrene to complete the shape...


... Granbird head bash... note that for smaller head, the slot (for sliding) was later changed to hole (for rotating)...

... lastly is the feet add-on... cut off and add swivelling joints using the plastic pin-socket from Tamiya... cut off excess flesh too, to allow the feet of Fighbird to be slotted in ...

... can't seen here, but I added a pin to hold Fighbird's legs (drill a hole each) in place...

The completed Granbird!

Busou Granbird!

Next is the weapon system for Great Fighbird... got the sword from the KO ROTF Sideswipe... and trim it to look like double-edge sword instead of a Japanese sword... Added small handle for Granbird's fist and another small peg to hold in jet mode / super sword mode...

...have to fill up the space to drill a hole to fit in the small peg in super sword mode...

Great Fighbird's super sword....

Tighten the shield holder to secure it more tighter...

... Done (almost)... In jet modes...

...Busou jet modes....

Robot modes... with weapons!!!

Busou robot modes!!!

... finally, Great Fighbird!!!!

Comparison with Star Saber...

... and Victory Saber... wah, smaller by a head... but nevermind, make up with an extra big shield...

Great Fighbird, armed...

Will put back the stickers and paint next time...

Side-Tracked: Recent Haul of KO (16)

Classics Starscream

My haul for today... bought in a 7-11 store... for only $6.90!!!!!! Cheap.... so is it good? Let's see... The box packaging is nice... although a bit fanciful... I think I got the other 2 in this series (Cybertron Sideways and Cybertron Thundercracker, I think...) very good KOs, save that they like to simplify the hand/elbow joints... same for this as well...


Comparison with the Henkei counterpart... no reduction in size... at first I thought the plastic will be the flimsy brittle type, but then after de-tombing it, I realise it is made of a slightly above average plastic... not too bad! Think the colour scheme is quite similar to the Classics version... Best of all, the canopy plastic is clear type!!




Underneath view of the jets... realise the chest turbine/wheels can be flipped out like the real one (as compared to the KO Ramjet's chest turbine wheels are moulded...)


Bot mode comparison... very nice! Except for the head is a bit ... eh... fat, yeah, that's the word... but if look from far can't really see, or if is going to repaint into another seeker (which I will be doing - into Sunstorm or Acid storm...), then slight head mould is good for a new character...


Final verdict: I like the plastic, the design... almost all transformation (parts) are the same, even the weapons can fire (but a bit weaker)... What I would like is Ramjet's configuration - elbow joints to be there, and swivelling knee joints to be sacrifice. Nevermind, I will bash them later... So at $6.90 (SGD!!!! Not USD), it is well worth it... Recommended for grown-up collectors whom doesn't grumble about little things... and bashers who want to create an army of seekers... I love this mould, hahaha....

Edit:
I cannot tahan and shaved some baby fats off the face of KO Classics Starscream; looks better now....

KO v.s. Original : Scattorshot

A comparison of the lousy KO Scattorshot (left in pictures) I have against the original Scattorshot I bought recently in the "Warriors From Three Worlds" Pack... My KO Scattorshot is a member of a Frankenstein gestalt appeared a few years ago, but mine is the individual packed type... Ad the robot mode is lousy... so bashed it into near original state...

No difference in size... front wheels in KO is more inside the car... Reason is because the front wheels are moulded to the car and it hinders arm movement in bot mode.. I had to cut, shift inner into the car and permanently joined to the car...

...bot mode... KO has no elbow articulation.... but I'm a bit sad to know the original has also NO leg articulation on swinging front-back... hey, this is basic requirement in the newer TFs... sigh... nevermind lah, I'll just take it as retro.... The KO can R.I.P. now...

Side-Tracked: Recent Haul of KOs (& non-KOs) (15)

Latest haul a few days ago... Decided to go to Kuan Yin Temple to pray and shop after work... So after praying, went over to the gift & toy shop and saw, with surprise, new stock of KO TFs... Then went over to OG Albert and unexpectedly gotten crazy and spend $$$$....

(1) ROTF Poster (2 Sided)
Got this free at OG Albert, think is spend certain amount then they give... not something I want, but not rejecting either, so most likely it will be kept transformed in its alternate (rolled-up) form...

(2) "Warriors From Three Worlds" Pack
25th Anniversary... Universe... but it is from Cybertron line... complicated... hahaha... nevermind, cos I am attracted by the Ransack GTS (leftmost in picture)... I already have a KO Scattorshot, but it is the lousy version (from the ugly Gestalt line) which I have bash into a nicer bot mode... so will be using this original Scattorshot (middle in picture)... Repugnus (rightmost in picture)! Weird and ugly bot and creature mode... but I still like it because it is cute... hahaha... Repugnus... Finally, my Doublecross (original) found an old Monsterbot friend (at least same name)...

(3) Universe Sunstreaker

Damn, I have been contemplating whether to get this or not for long long time liao... decides to get this in the end that day after much comparison (with ROTF Deluxes, Marvel crossovers)... And decide this is still the nicest design... Somemore earlier gotten KO Sideswipe (his brother) already, so got to let the siblings reunion mah... hahaha... And I did NOT regret buying him... and later that night, found a way to combine his back engine to his blaster gun... neat...

(4) Universe Galvatron (Oversized)
Man, is he HUGE! I mean as compared to his original counterpart... I think most TF fans must have wished for the original Universe Galvatron to be this size... BUT sadly.... the parts are TOO simplified... way too simplified... perhaps you can refer to kotoys.com for a picture of the bot mode 1st before I put up a pic myself (if I can remember)... Nevertheless, hey, after all these years of practise, I am sure I can do something about this... a bit big scale though... only time is the factor...

Edit: Perhaps I may NOT be doing this afterall, time is definitely not on my side, too many to complete this year... will see how... maybe a very simplified one...

(5) ROTF Sideswipe (KO)
.... and save the best for the last!!!!!!.... According to kotoys.com's forum, this pack is the average quality one of the 3 types available in the market... The lousiest one is way cannot make it, with so much remoulding to most parts, I think even the head is not spared... The best has transparent door windows and windscreen, inner thighs are not hollow like my one, the back pack can be folded like original (mine can't)...

hmm... transparent sword... perhaps can used for mini Gran/Fighbird... Anyway, can bash to better, not big problem... Sweet, since now is ridiculously difficult to find a real Sideswipe, this will be a good replacement, with some surgical operations of course, hahahaha.......

I love KOs....