More Ultra Magnus City Commander Images

I'm just going to :lock because this is just ridiculous at this point.

I didn't sacrifice the armor mode. The aesthetics, yes, but not the mode itself. I went function over form. It's still a fully functioning suit of armor and the only articulation lost is the waist articulation. All of the rest of the articulation is there. The head turns, the arms have full articulation in the shoulders, elbows, even wrists. The hips still have full mobility as do the knees and ankles. So no, I didn't sacrifice the armor mode at all. I based mine off of G1 and updated it, which is what Classics are. They're G1 updated. Armor is going to add bulk, and lots of it, especially powered armor. I kept the original G1 toy transformation as well, for the most part. And, if you look at the DW renditions of Ultra Magnus, which was also one of my references, he's just as broad and bulky there too. So no, I didn't want him slim. IF anything the only thing I think could be improved on in mine is the shoulder joints and how the horizontal articulation works.

Yeah, but look at the posts here - people want a figure that has the aesthetics in robot mode. FansProject's armour has both aesthetics and function - it maintains most of the articulation and looks great, it is a set of armour that adds bulk and does the same thing, but in most of the opinions here, looks better. So what if it doesn't look exactly like G1, DW's MTMTE isn't law buddy, and G1 updated doesn't mean it has to be an update that's translated exactly as it used to be.

It may look fine in armor mode, it's the trailer mode that needs work. That is where the problem lies. They sacrificed one mode completely for the other, not balanced them equally. That's the problem with it.

We all hear what you're saying. The trailer mode isn't functional, etc. And what we're all saying is that we're not looking for it to be a perfect trailer, because more people are concerned with it looking good in robot mode. It doesn't have to be a fully functional trailer that can carry four cars for the majority of people, because the armour - what they CARE about most - is almost perfect.

Since you seem to completely ignore this fact, I'm just gonna follow Hobbes' lead and not bother anymore.

I didn't sacrifice the armor mode. The aesthetics, yes, but not the mode itself. I went function over form. It's still a fully functioning suit of armor and the only articulation lost is the waist articulation. All of the rest of the articulation is there. The head turns, the arms have full articulation in the shoulders, elbows, even wrists. The hips still have full mobility as do the knees and ankles. So no, I didn't sacrifice the armor mode at all. I based mine off of G1 and updated it, which is what Classics are. They're G1 updated. Armor is going to add bulk, and lots of it, especially powered armor. I kept the original G1 toy transformation as well, for the most part. And, if you look at the DW renditions of Ultra Magnus, which was also one of my references, he's just as broad and bulky there too. So no, I didn't want him slim. IF anything the only thing I think could be improved on in mine is the shoulder joints and how the horizontal articulation works.

Yeah, but look at the posts here - people want a figure that has the aesthetics in robot mode. FansProject's armour has both aesthetics and function - it maintains most of the articulation and looks great, it is a set of armour that adds bulk and does the same thing, but in most of the opinions here, looks better. So what if it doesn't look exactly like G1, DW's MTMTE isn't law buddy, and G1 updated doesn't mean it has to be an update that's translated exactly as it used to be.

it seems to me that you're the only one complaining. so do us all a favor, complain to them about it in an email, and let us enjoy the damn TOY!!!!

I didn't sacrifice the armor mode. The aesthetics, yes, but not the mode itself. I went function over form. It's still a fully functioning suit of armor and the only articulation lost is the waist articulation. All of the rest of the articulation is there. The head turns, the arms have full articulation in the shoulders, elbows, even wrists. The hips still have full mobility as do the knees and ankles. So no, I didn't sacrifice the armor mode at all. I based mine off of G1 and updated it, which is what Classics are. They're G1 updated. Armor is going to add bulk, and lots of it, especially powered armor. I kept the original G1 toy transformation as well, for the most part. And, if you look at the DW renditions of Ultra Magnus, which was also one of my references, he's just as broad and bulky there too. So no, I didn't want him slim. IF anything the only thing I think could be improved on in mine is the shoulder joints and how the horizontal articulation works.

Yeah, but look at the posts here - people want a figure that has the aesthetics in robot mode. FansProject's armour has both aesthetics and function - it maintains most of the articulation and looks great, it is a set of armour that adds bulk and does the same thing, but in most of the opinions here, looks better. So what if it doesn't look exactly like G1, DW's MTMTE isn't law buddy, and G1 updated doesn't mean it has to be an update that's translated exactly as it used to be.

:) :) Wow Tramp, I really like your Titanium UMagnus coloring custom....very nice to the eyes.

http://www.sector70.com/viewimage.aspx?img...ltraMagnus4.jpg

I always thought Titanium UMagnus needs more red.

As for your Classic Magnus trailer, I thought the arm and shoulder post are a little bit thin compare to the massive body. Also, the shoulder posts are a little bit long as well. Otherwise, looks great. I love the car carrier mode.

The Titanium one isn't mine. That was done by Ptitvite. Sector70 Labs is a kitbasher's site started by former members of Transtopia. I have 19 customs in their gallery. The rest are other people's

Yeah, the arms are a little thin, and that's probably the one thing I'd like to improve along with figuring out a better horizontal rotation on the shoulders. I did the best I could with the resources I had though. I'm thinking that what I could do is add some pieces of styrene to the upper arm that could cover the block, which contains the ratchet joint, when the arm is at his side.

:) :) Wow Tramp, I really like your Titanium UMagnus coloring custom....very nice to the eyes.

http://www.sector70.com/viewimage.aspx?img...ltraMagnus4.jpg

I always thought Titanium UMagnus needs more red.

As for your Classic Magnus trailer, I thought the arm and shoulder post are a little bit thin compare to the massive body. Also, the shoulder posts are a little bit long as well. Otherwise, looks great. I love the car carrier mode.

It is neither illogical, hypocritical, nor poor behavior to give a detailed critique about a model and give suggestions on how it could be improved.

Correct.

But to make claims as to how much effort or the degree of difficulty involved in implementing those suggestions when you have produced nothing for mass production is all those things.

You have built a working scratchbuild, not something that is designed to have molds made of it, and is broken down to be molded in separate colors with corresponding colored parts on the same tree to easily match the final product without too much painting, and will need to be assembled - you never once thought about the process of mass production when building your trailer. It's not just a question of capital to spend, it's a question of the process and how that effects the final product.

You clearly don't understand what's involved in mass producing a toy, so please stop making claims as to how "easy" this would have been for them.

And I'm gonna fully admit to a little pettiness on my part for letting the conversation go on this long, and apologize to the rest of the board for it. But damnit, Tramp, you're a douche.[/Hobbeslastpostinthread]

Actually Hobbes, yes, I do know what it takes. That's how I know I don't have the funds to do so. Their model is actually more complex than mine is. And, for the record, I based the engineering of mine on a mass-produced toy, so I know that it could be mass-produced. I've had several people ask me to mass-produce it over on other boards. And, I did it with less advanced tools than Fansprojects. All I had to work with was an X-Acto knife, an X-Acto saw, files and a Dremel tool. I don't have CNC machines and CAD programs like they do. But yes, if I learned how to make rubber molds and cast using Alumilite resin, I probably could Mass produce my model with very little effort. I could easily break mine down into its base component parts, make rubber molds of them, and mass-cast them in resin.

So yes, I do know how much effort it takes because I can see the engineering that went into it. I can see how it was put together, and how it was engineered. I know where it can be improved and how much it would take to make it better. It wouldn't be that difficult to do with the tools they have available. . I know that because I have built models like that before. I understand the engineering involved.

If those guys could mass produce, so could you.

No, I can't. Mass production costs money I don't have. It takes resources I don't have.

Take out a loan. Get a second job. What, you think these guys are billionaire Transformers fans with nothing else to do?

You can't attack the craftsmanship of their trailer until you've built one with mass production in mind. Anyone can scratch build something once if they want to. It's a whole 'nother ball game to design and build something that can be replicated again and again, painted, boxed, and shipped for a cost effective price.

And then to have it carry other transformers and pivot and what have you - you're comparing apples and oranges and treating your fellow fans with a huge amount of disrespect in the process.

Beautifully put.

Tramp, why don't you post some pics of your custom so we can admire its functionality?

Here: http://www.sector70.com/gallery.aspx?tgt=p...r_ultra_magnus/

Their craftsmanship isn't the problem. It's the design itself that's the problem. The useless trailer mode that's the problem. IT wouldn't be that hard to make the trailer functional with a pivoting hitch on a pin, as well as long enough and wide enough to carry four Deluxe Autobot cars.

I disagree with your view tramp. While they sacrificed the trailer use you sacrificed the robot mode. I'd rather have a beautiful and functional robot than something that carries cars.

What I really wanted to say:

HURRY UP AND SHIP ALREADY!!!!!

I didn't sacrifice the armor mode. The aesthetics, yes, but not the mode itself. I went function over form. It's still a fully functioning suit of armor and the only articulation lost is the waist articulation. All of the rest of the articulation is there. The head turns, the arms have full articulation in the shoulders, elbows, even wrists. The hips still have full mobility as do the knees and ankles. So no, I didn't sacrifice the armor mode at all. I based mine off of G1 and updated it, which is what Classics are. They're G1 updated. Armor is going to add bulk, and lots of it, especially powered armor. I kept the original G1 toy transformation as well, for the most part. And, if you look at the DW renditions of Ultra Magnus, which was also one of my references, he's just as broad and bulky there too. So no, I didn't want him slim. IF anything the only thing I think could be improved on in mine is the shoulder joints and how the horizontal articulation works.

It is neither illogical, hypocritical, nor poor behavior to give a detailed critique about a model and give suggestions on how it could be improved.

Correct.

But to make claims as to how much effort or the degree of difficulty involved in implementing those suggestions when you have produced nothing for mass production is all those things.

You have built a working scratchbuild, not something that is designed to have molds made of it, and is broken down to be molded in separate colors with corresponding colored parts on the same tree to easily match the final product without too much painting, and will need to be assembled - you never once thought about the process of mass production when building your trailer. It's not just a question of capital to spend, it's a question of the process and how that effects the final product.

You clearly don't understand what's involved in mass producing a toy, so please stop making claims as to how "easy" this would have been for them.

And I'm gonna fully admit to a little pettiness on my part for letting the conversation go on this long, and apologize to the rest of the board for it. But damnit, Tramp, you're a douche.[/Hobbeslastpostinthread]

It is neither illogical, hypocritical, nor poor behavior to give a detailed critique about a model and give suggestions on how it could be improved. If anything, It is completely appropriate and would be welcome by the people who made the product so that they could improve it.

I have stated what I don't like about this model, and what can be improved to make it better, and yes, I am saying it wouldn't take much. I am saying it from a trained eye because I have built a working model. I have no problem with the way their armor connects to the body, I have a problem with the trailer mode, and believe that it can be improved with very little effort. That is not hypocritical. That is not illogical. That is certainly not inappropriate. It's a solid, fair, and detailed critique.