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Hey Everyone!

This repaint has been in progress for a long time (You've probably seen some in-progress pictures in the Studio Series thread) because I just keep finding new paint apps to add. I'm particularly proud of the black pinstriping on his shoulders - my first use of modeling tape to help accomplish that! The early versions of this repaint used a mix of gray that was lighter than the final product but just didn't quite work for me. Applying some dark gray model wash, however, gave a result that's much closer to what we see on-screen.

Something interesting about this mold is that even though the forearms are remolded from the TLK version, it still has the front "pointy" parts on his forearm shields, which are absent on only this appearance for Bumblebee (this can be seen in the film and the render on the box). To account for this, I painted that part of the shields in the same gray as the rest of the arm to make it blend in more.


I'll probably end up finding some new details to add (I'll update with pictures here if I do), but this is pretty much the final version! I didn't add the weathering/faded paint to vehicle mode because that's a ways above my current skill level (And SS Clunker Bee pulls it off quite nicely), but there are a few added paint apps on the front of the alt. mode which you can see in the pictures.

Hope you all enjoy! I'd love to hear any feedback!






Paint Used:
Testor's Enamels:
-Flat Yellow
-Metallic Silver
-Flat Gunmetal
-Flat Aluminum
-Gloss Tangerine
-Metallic Bronze
-Flat Red
-Flat Black
Black Paint Pen
Dark Gray Model Wash

That is some seriously nice work. Hopefully the paints behave.

Thanks, Zelda! I've had to do some touch-ups on some parts, like the black paint on the shoulders, but other than that the paint seems to be holding up alright!

- FINAL UPDATE -

To finish off this repaint, I chromed the tires and bumpers with a molotow chrome marker and repainted the face to get it closer to the movie.

Glad to hear that about the paints behaving.

I was worried because my experience with Testor's Enamels on ABS has been that they never fully dry, instead perpetually remaining ever-so-slightly tacky and the paint getting gunked up by dust.

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:Glad to hear that about the paints behaving.

I was worried because my experience with Testor's Enamels on ABS has been that they never fully dry, instead perpetually remaining ever-so-slightly tacky and the paint getting gunked up by dust.

I don't have that problem on standard hard plastic, but that is the case on rubbery plastic like parts on Shockwave, Barricade, and Soundwave. The gunmetal acrylic paint I've started using, however, seems to work well on those types of plastic. I'll probably start getting some acrylics for painting those parts whenever it's safe to do so.

EvasionModeBumblebee wrote:

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:Glad to hear that about the paints behaving.

I was worried because my experience with Testor's Enamels on ABS has been that they never fully dry, instead perpetually remaining ever-so-slightly tacky and the paint getting gunked up by dust.

I don't have that problem on standard hard plastic, but that is the case on rubbery plastic like parts on Shockwave, Barricade, and Soundwave. The gunmetal acrylic paint I've started using, however, seems to work well on those types of plastic. I'll probably start getting some acrylics for painting those parts whenever it's safe to do so.

Well, I had that problem on standard hard plastic, and between that and having my Testor's enamel paints turn to rubber in the jars... I've avoided enamels since.
I just go with acrylics for everything. They work well on soft and hard plastic. I personally recommend Craft Smart, Apple Barrel, and DecoArt. They're cheap brands, and yet when used with care they're generally better behaved than pricier brands like Americana (unfortunate tendency to be pulpy) or sadly even Tamiya (doesn't always dry as smoothly as would be hoped for, and I've had it turn rubbery in the jar).

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:

EvasionModeBumblebee wrote:

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:Glad to hear that about the paints behaving.

I was worried because my experience with Testor's Enamels on ABS has been that they never fully dry, instead perpetually remaining ever-so-slightly tacky and the paint getting gunked up by dust.

I don't have that problem on standard hard plastic, but that is the case on rubbery plastic like parts on Shockwave, Barricade, and Soundwave. The gunmetal acrylic paint I've started using, however, seems to work well on those types of plastic. I'll probably start getting some acrylics for painting those parts whenever it's safe to do so.

Well, I had that problem on standard hard plastic, and between that and having my Testor's enamel paints turn to rubber in the jars... I've avoided enamels since.
I just go with acrylics for everything. They work well on soft and hard plastic. I personally recommend Craft Smart, Apple Barrel, and DecoArt. They're cheap brands, and yet when used with care they're generally better behaved than pricier brands like Americana (unfortunate tendency to be pulpy) or sadly even Tamiya (doesn't always dry as smoothly as would be hoped for, and I've had it turn rubbery in the jar).

Thanks for the recommendation! The metallic dark gray I've started using is Decoart, and I'm really liking it so far. Looking forward to trying some new stuff out!

Looking absolutely sharp with the details!