Our first bit of Botcon news comes in this morning thanks to the BotCon Twitter feed. The custom class figure for 2016 is Combiner Wars Deluxe Ratchet based off the Combiner Wars Deluxe First Aid. Attending customizers will actually have a choice of five different versions using different sticker sets, specifically four different Ratchet builds and a Medix option. Ratchet is exclusive to the custom class, as well s a small number of built and unpainted version from the club store.
Keep your eyes on the front page as more news from Botcon rolls in over the next few days.
amagon
I'm working on my alt team (Defensor II): Heatrock, Skyfeather (Shapeways parts), Medix (need to paint First-Aid; wish for stickers), Rook, Groove as the chest piece on Hot Spot.
psychography2
It just occurred to me that the regular Scattorshot makes a fine Combiner Wars version of Skyfeather. He's already a canon Protectobot (albeit a Kabaya kit).
The combined form would be Guardian.
Sure, there's no Heatrock, but Ratchet, Medix, Alpha Bravo, and Rook can pick up the slack.
Exodus
Nice set up, hmm now makes me wonder if I should pick up a regular Scattershot…My Target has plenty of him…
Looks good, man now I really wish I would have grabbed him when he was at $120 both him and Terrorsaur…ugh.
PoweredConvoy
Looks good!
Thundershot
Oh I know.. I'm just terrified of screwing up. I got it mostly done. I'm looking at it and trying to figure out what little bits I could add. I don't want him too busy, as Marvel Ratchet was rather plain. I might find some way to add a little red to his forearms and upper legs to represent his stripes, but right now he's not bad.
PoweredConvoy
Yeah customizing isn't a precise science.
With the gray underneath you should really only need one or two coats. The red ends up darker (this is how everyone's was).
G.B. Blackrock
Honestly, I think what psychography is intending to say is that, while you seem to asking for precise instructions, there really isn't any one "right" way to do this. It is a trial-and-error enterprise, and what works for one person may not work for you.
My best advice is to do what you've already done. Get a picture that represents what you want the end result to look like, get colors to match that as best you can, and keep working until you get it to where you want it to be. As long as you're using acrylics instead of enamels (which don't work well at all on these kinds of plastic), you're unlikely to do any damage you can't fix if you need to.
Thundershot
I've never done this before, so I'm getting advice here… I'm almost done. I was just asking about the red. I'm making my Marvel Ratchet. So I don't need a lot of paint apps. Something easy to start with.
psychography2
I think you're overthinking this. One of the big perks of customizing (and the customizing class) is that it's supposed to be a fun way to get a character into your collection that you wouldn't otherwise have. As an example, the class did 4 different takes on Ratchet, depending on personal taste. When you customize, you're the one in charge of the project and get to alter details based on the representation you want. If you want dark red, Ratchet is now dark red. If you want light, he's light. If you decided he's now Arctic Blast Ratchet, that he is.
If you're not confident in your abilities or techniques before working on a project of any kind, you might want to take a break from it and take a test run on another figure. Get a random CW figure at retail, and give it a shot in making your own character. You'll learn a lot about the process through trial and error, and you may have fun doing it.
Customizing my Ratchet consisted of prying apart the head, painting the eyes, reassembling the head, painting the entire helmet red except for the crest, painting the windows and hands, painting his waist and roof lights, then adding the official stripe stickers and some Animated Ratchet EMT emblems. Thus, I now have my ideal Ratchet for all time. He may not meet someone else's checklist of Ratchet qualities, but it doesn't matter, because he meets mine.
Thundershot
Okay so it now applying the red over the gray. How many coats of red will I need to do? It's coming out very dark red because of the gray underneath.
Thanks to everyone for all of the help!
psychography2
I've got him, Medix, Rook, and Alpha Bravo as the limbs on the current Scattorshot to make Betatron the backup for the Protectobots.
Exodus
Probably the only cw figure I won't have for those that do have him are you using him as a limb and if so to whom.
Thundershot
Mine was way too tight to risk. I didn't want to use a screwdriver so I didn't damage the head.
psychography2
Having pried mine apart, I can safely say it isn't. It's a really snug fit, but not glued.
griffin-of-oz
We had to glue the head halves together in the custom class so the assembled toy is probably glued too.
Thundershot
I couldn't get the head apart, so I tried without. Going around the ears were a pain, but not hitting the top of the crest I think was harder.
Fortunately I don't need to paint the face as this is the look I'm going for..
White face and white eyes.
G.B. Blackrock
Oh, that's right. It probably is. No, don't try to tear it apart. I was imagining that it was screwed together (as most heads used to be, once upon a time). (EDIT: I'd trust Psychography's experience above.)
Speaking only for myself, probably not long enough, and only until it was dry to the touch before moving on to another application (10-15 minutes?). But it should be noted that, because of demand on specific colors, I very likely didn't use the exact paints mentioned in the instructions, but rather just grabbed whatever was on-hand that looked like the right color. This varied not only according to exact shade, but also quite a few different brands were available. That said, they WERE all acrylics….
I seem to recall even the instructions (or maybe it was a person there) suggesting the 24-hour thing, but obviously that would have been impossible to do while in class.
psychography2
Nope, just held on tight. Pry it apart CAREFULLY so as to paint the eyes easier. After the eyes, put it back together and paint the whole head, preferably if it's mounted on something.
I got the pre-assembled class figure, and it worked out well for me.
Smitty.1981
Like I said, to be on the safe side.
Thundershot
I'm using the exact paint that's on the list on the sheet. I'm worried about taking the head apart.. I think it's glued.
Really? That long? How long did the people in the custom class wait?