Mods - KO G1 Shockwave, G1 Hotspot, Targetmaster Firebolt, Classics Dirge

Had a few busy days lately... some major and minor mods, mainly want to "clear" the old KO TFs... repair/mod I mean... Some slightly major ones that I like to share...

G1 Shockwave
Yeap, I bought the cheap boxed one (the Handarm Passes version, .. or whatever) which has a unsightly trigger-crotch design in bot mode... So earlier this year (or last, can't remember) made a G1-trigger with spare plastic parts for him.. is ok, except I miscalculated and the trigger gets in the way of the handle (legs) in gun mode... so remake the trigger with polystyrene sheet...


Now the legs can go fully in as handles...


... and bot mode has more sightly crotch....


G1 Hotspot (Protectobots Leader)
Dunno if it is my KO or is it the design, but in transforming Hotspot into gestalt body, the ladder weight behind pulls the head down. Have attempted to mod it but it hinders the ladder position in vehicle mode, so re-mod the gestalt head... with a simple solution... the old pin and hole method!

...secure and absolutely does not hinder ladder position in vehicle mode... but sigh, broke the arm joint when I kay-kiang try to tighten the joint.. now fixed but not sure it will last, cos its only surface joint via superglue, without any reinforcements... hope will last long...

Targetmaster Firebolt (Update)

Earlier post I blog about my kitbash of a Targetmaster for my Classics Hot Rod.. so now took some time to give it a G1 counterpart colour...

... gun mode...

Would love to "chrome" the whole legs but... too tough and time consuming to do so... Some shots taken with his nemesis, Nightstick...

... will post pics of Firebolt and Hot Rod next time...

Update: Pics of Classics Hot Shot with Firebolt...

Classics Dirge

Earlier I also posted my KO Classics Ramjet... very nice KO with all movements except the rotating lower legs... and side wings connectors wrongly assembled...

... the KO is at right side (white wings) ...

... and so I repainted into Classics Dirge... my second attempt in bashing/repainting a Dirge, the first failed attempt I used a spare RM Starscream and paint-pen... this time use spray paint... although effect is nicer and more even, the oily plastic surface is not absorbing the paint well,, very much like the KO Kabaya case, only slightly better... Use paint paint to touch up and realised it sticks much better... anyway, also use super glue to toughen up contact areas... tried to use brown acrylic paint (or poster colour? Can't remember...) with a paint brush for the wings but again the plastic surface prove too oily... Used orange colour paint pen instead... Pic below shows Dirge (left) with my Henkei Ramjet...

I actually use the Henkei's colour scheme but retain Classics's theme in my Dirge, so its a mix, hahaha...

Some mod I did to Dirge to cover up the face in jet mode... borrow the concept from Henkei Ramjet too...

... close up view of Dirge in jet and robot mode in pics below (use camera without flash to capture the detailings on the body)...

next coming up? not sure... very tired... but have fun...

Side-Tracked: Recent Haul of (non-)KOs (33)

ROTF Sideswipe (non-KO)
Bought this piece of ROTF Sideswipe, which used to be quite rare... everyone seems to snapped it up when it is first released... Now OG is having 20% discount offer and since yesterday tio toto $30, so go and use up this money to buy this.. Did not expect to find this though, given its past reputation... but seems fated... Summarised the reasons to buy this:
(1) Lazy to bash the KO version accurately into its original counterpart.
(2) Heard the legit one is appearing again...
(3) Heard OG and TRU got sales 20%...
(4) Tio toto $30...


Opened up and transform it once... extremely unstable, even the KO seems to be more stable, in bot mode... one blade seem to be naturally bended... otherwise, the rest seems ok... $22.30 is quite ok... not my money anyway, hahaha...

Mods - Hyperwiz Robo Warriors & KO Kabaya Red Geist

Modded some TFs today and yesterday...

Hyperwiz Robo Warriors - Spark Blaze
OK, so I have 2 in-package and 1 box KO-Kabaya Spark Blazes. but the bad thing is Kabaya one is partial part-former, and one of my in-package is in bad condition. So in the end, use the parts to form just one piece. Below pic has the left as un-modded an right one is modded.


Use the hands (longer and more original looking) from the Kabaya set to use for Spark Blaze.


Painted the roof red, looks more pleasing to eyes...


Hyperwiz Robo Warriors - Speed Neon
Speed Neon is based on Spark Blaze's mold, and very similar mods is done... but since I have no more extra arms, I have to find some suitable part from the spare KO Cybertron Legends Dirtboss...


Comparison with Spark Blaze...


Closer view of the modded arms... Initially wanted to make the whole arm to swivel, but upon closer inspection, realised the arms will be blocked by the chest even if managed to make them.


Hyperwiz Robo Warriors - Rota Moto & Big Adventures Gobot - Buzzer-bot
Since two of them looks good, decide to keep both. Then decided to distinguish them and make 1 (right in pic) to look more like the Gobots counterpart (arms inside of guards)...


... Motorcycle mode...


KO Kabaya Deathsaurus
Please refer to this post ( Update - KO Kabaya Kits #1 ) for his first appearance. Very detailed figure, however, the biggest problem is the tiny beast arms will pop off when you pull them out during transformation... So decide to mod... thought of many ways, but decided to use this finally, due to the ease of modding...


Use a Tamiya plastic pin to cut to length and use my reliable Selleys Plastic Glue to join... and it worked well!!! In fact, this mod is even faster than tightening the joints....

Update - KO Kabaya Kits #10

KO Kabaya Energon Hot Shot
2nd piece of the boxed-KO-Kabaya kit set bought in Genting.... and man, it is a sweet surprise after assembling! Easier but similar transformations, especially compared to my KO Energon Hot Shot... Colour combination also seem aesthetically pleasing... As usual, I painted the wheels to black colour...

...car mode... quite cute...


Door can open like original version!!!


... Engine details are not forgotten!!!!... Sweet... May consider painting it silver...


..Bot mode!!! Not much is changed, as usual the head is a bit different... Break a pin again, and this time repaired with tip of toothpick and super-glue...

In fact, this kits seem to be able to powerlink with some of the kits, as the parts allow the limbs to split up like the original counterparts... the joint seems to be a square hole and peg, but when try with Prowl (built earlier), the hole on Hot Shot is too small... Probably each bot can only fit with just one other...

Sigh, read from forum that AMK got sell KO Thor, Capt Am... but he did not state which blk... sigh... cannot go and hunt in my state now (my swollen sprain ankle not recovered yet)... sigh...

Mods - KO Kabaya Energon Prowl

KO Kabaya Energon Prowl
Yeap, this is the boxed version of Kabaya kits I bought from Genting, and happily get to work on this piece... Initially liked the Gundam-like plastic, but later realised that it may be more difficult to work on with, especially fitting in of pins, etc. broke one such pin.... The swivel joints are merely the simplest of pin and hole, held tightly by friction alone... some other kits have ball-joints, but not know how they fare, will know when assemble... Basically these kits are simplified, and may not look too much like the original versions...

Anyway, assemble Energon Prowl and realised that the arms are moulded as one piece can only swing lateral and can't lift arm to aim gun forward... so use some polystyrene sheet and Tamiya pin to make it swivelable..

Next, added a piece of face mask to hide the face when viewing the vehicle mode from bottom side...

So here's the vehicle mode... did not apply stickers...

Bot mode... very small head, suspect is from another TF... anyway, looks quite good... height to head is about 9.5cm... Weird kit to have the gun holes at bottom of fists... S0, drill holes on the top of fists to allow gun to fit in...

...neat piece, took a long time to do, the instructions cannot make it... hahaha... oh, and yes, colour the wheels black with a black marker...

Side-Tracked: Recent Haul of KOs (32)

My haul from Genting trip... Kabaya kits of Energon and Hyperwiz Robo Warriors!!! (...and a Transformers Armada DVD)...


Transformers Armada DVD set
Bought this because it is on offer, 1/2 price, so got it at around RM29.90...


Kabaya Hyperwiz Robo Warriors - Rota Moto
Ok, so I've got the plastic packet type, but this one seems different, the hands are molded 1 piece... Anyway, will assemble then see how, neat... At RM3.90, its a steal... Btw, the kit also includes the boy, also got to assemble.. and he has a real WEIRD ROUND head, hahaha...


Kabaya Hyperwiz Robo Warriors - Spark Blaze
Again, looks different...


KO Kabaya Energon Hot Shot
Initially bought only 2 of them (Inferno and Prowl), but after some considerations, and seeing how good the plastics used are, I finally gave in and went back to get the rest... BTW, for those going to Genting soon, I bought these at the small shop besides Old Town Coffee House, the one opposite the road of Penang Food Village, which is besides Outdoor Theme Park... Only RM 6.90 per box, sweet...


KO Kabaya Energon Inferno
Intend to bash this into Grapple... since G1 Grapple is also remoulded from G1 Inferno... Notice the head has no cover, an exposed head in vehicle mode... hahaha....


KO Kabaya Energon Optimus Prime
Some difference includes the helmet molded with head, like my old one..


KO Kabaya Energon Prowl
Sweet... I do not have one yet, so its good to have it in collection!


KO Kabaya Energon Rodimus
Haven't open up yet, so will wait...


KO Kabaya Energon Skyblast


Nice... actually wanted to order from Kotoys some more TFs, but seems its website has reached maximum bandwidth... must wait then...

Edit: Finally able to access kotoys.com and ordered my 2nd batch liao... Now waiting for my Armada Super OP, Mini Sixshot, Skullcruncher, Legends Beachcomber and Legends Wheelie...