ROTF Tracks
 

Hi there! Good to see ya. Thanks for stopping by.

Well, I've been focusing on the new Marvel figures so much lately that it's been awhile since I got into a new Transformer, which is a shame because that's what got me into customizing. With all of the excitement surrounding ROTF, I was inspired to make a new custom!

When the very first images of ROTF Sideswipe were released, the first thing that jumped into my mind was "Tracks!" Well, it wasn't, but I decided to make a ROTF Tracks based on that concept.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d1...s/Posedark.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d1.../Poselight.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d1...Tracks/022.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d1...s/Closeup1.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d1...acks/Wings.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d1.../Legdetail.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d1...orsodetail.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d1...acks/Group.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d1...0Tracks/c3.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d1...0Tracks/c2.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d1...0Tracks/c1.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d1...0Tracks/c4.jpg

Now then, of course this was originally ROTF Sideswipe. He was painted using actual car paint from a local store. I then went to work on the details using my faorite paint, Testor's Model Master Acryl. Using various dry brushing, you see how much detail this figure truly has.

I love the copper colored details on the movie-formers, and using Tamiya flesh wash over silver produces that color, which you can see on the leg springs and other details. A light clearcoat was used to protect the decals. Speaking of which, I had to choose whether or not to put a big Autobot symbol in the hood flames like the G1 character. Since the Bay movie transformers are focused so much on hiding, I decided to go with the more traditional car flames, which match Optimus Prime from the movies, which looks great and provides some visual continuity. I opted to go with the G1 rub-symbol on the roof, as a classic nod and to provide an autobot symbol in vehicle mode while remaining along the theme of being hidden. Also Tracks has an attack mode, with the G1-themed white wings and guns. A random cool thing that happened was in the course of painting the chest panels; the white in front of his head looks kind of like a tie...which is hilarious considering the G1 Tracks attitude.

The face and taillights were painted silver, then given a coat of translucent red to provide an awesome metallic effect, including the eyes. I'm not sure that the pics convey how metallic they look. Think of the vac-metal look of Beast Wars or RID but way more durable.

I loved returning to Transformers, and had alot of fun re-making one of my childhood favorites into the movie style!

Oh...please excuse my shameless auction advertising:
eBay

Being a huge tracks/corvette fan myself, this is amazing. Great job on the details. I'd much rather buy this toy than sideswipe.

Badass man

That's badass man. Awesome job!

That is really awesome.

This is suck dude! I hope hasbro does a re-paint like this!

Very nice, clean work. I always have a lot of respect for guys who do TF customs well. They are a pain in the rear.

Wow! I'm not an RotF fan, but that is a freakin cool custom. Great paint job all over. Great job, man.

Jeez... this makes more sense than making him Sideswipe!!!

Quoted for Truthiness.

Nice job, SP!

Who knows, maybe Hasbro will do one similar along with the suspected "Red Sideswipe" redeco. I know I wouldn't mind buying the mold again.

dude this custom is wicked!

great job, wish I could do that.

Love the blue you used. Nice job.

Bravo dude. i thought the same thing when i saw the first pics of sideswipe. I must say this is fantastic.

I never read Tracks G1 bio, I don't even saw tracks on G1 until on youtube last year, I had alternator which i kept it MISB, basicly i dont know who is he, but that doesn't stop me loving tracks just because of his looks. And u really make me pump and remind me, i need to collect more tracks...and seriously i need to do the repaint for the movieverse.TQ!

That is awesome. Tracks is one of my fav's. I fondly remember his story arc in the Transformers comics from long ago.

We *should* have gotten this, instead of the sideswipe repaint that was identical to Sideswipe, except for the color of his windows.
And called it Bluesteel.

Nice job!