44-Inch tall Iron Man / War Machine / Movie Optimus Prime WIP

[CustomPropSculptorGuy]

Hi all... Long time stalker, first time poster.

This is a rather largo Optimus Prime statue that I am doing for someone on a private commission. As it is now, this is foam boarding that I am using to get my scale correct, check the pose, all that good stuff.

Optimus will stand about 40" tall plus an illuminated, potentially rotating base, with the figure being constructed from resin, sheet metal and other low-temp-melt metals, will light up and have some sound to it and will come with a couple of guns and some lit Engergon swords.

So any how, here is the progress of the Prime torso in foam boarding

 

[colin1972]

Re: BIG Bay-verse/Movie Optimus Prime WIP

Hi all... Long time stalker, first time poster.

This is a rather largo Optimus Prime statue that I am doing for someone on a private commission. As it is now, this is foam boarding that I am using to get my scale correct, check the pose, all that good stuff.

Optimus will stand about 40" tall plus an illuminated, potentially rotating base, with the figure being constructed from resin, sheet metal and other low-temp-melt metals, will light up and have some sound to it and will come with a couple of guns and some lit Engergon swords.

So any how, here is the progress of the Prime torso in foam boarding

now im a big prime fan, you might of seen my post here, so its nice to see a different take on prime, i would love to see some more pics, but even in this early stage i can see where your going, getting the scale right is a must, and keep us all updated,
all the best
colin

 

[3d-builder]

Re: BIG Bay-verse/Movie Optimus Prime WIP

Your on your way looking good!:thumbsup

 

[CustomPropSculptorGuy]

Re: BIG Bay-verse/Movie Optimus Prime WIP

Hey everyone, thanks for the support on this. Yes Colin, scale is everything, and that's why I use the foam boarding to get my scales correct. It's a darn-near fool-proof way of doing it.

Well the scaling is done, the sculpting starts in the morning.

Total height is 44inches tall and for reference I put my Scorpinock on Primes' hip.

 

[CB2001]

Re: BIG Bay-verse/Movie Optimus Prime WIP

I see you're using Foamcore boards to construct the prototype. I'm sure you probably know this, but for Production Design/Art Design, they use this same method to construct a physical standing mockup of sets.

I too plan on using Foamcore in aiding me to construct a prop replica I am hoping to get done.

 

[CustomPropSculptorGuy]

Re: BIG Bay-verse/Movie Optimus Prime WIP

Hey CB -

Yea I was on a few sets as a designer over the last few years, and one of the prop builders actually suggested I do it this way - he was right on the money when he suggested doing it this way.

The great thing too, the boards come in a 36inch x 24inch sheet, and they're only a dollar in the 1/8inch thickness I needed.

The other added bonus, it's a great reference, with something like this, for weight distribution and potential flex. If the foam wont hold its' self up, there's no way that the cast-copy would stand on its' own.

Well, thanks again for the support everyone, I have some sculpting to do!!

 

[CB2001]

Re: BIG Bay-verse/Movie Optimus Prime WIP

Hey CB -

Yea I was on a few sets as a designer over the last few years, and one of the prop builders actually suggested I do it this way - he was right on the money when he suggested doing it this way.

The great thing too, the boards come in a 36inch x 24inch sheet, and they're only a dollar in the 1/8inch thickness I needed.

The other added bonus, it's a great reference, with something like this, for weight distribution and potential flex. If the foam wont hold its' self up, there's no way that the cast-copy would stand on its' own.

Yeah, it's like a standard now. All the Production Desingers/Art Directors for our 16mm film classes at Full Sail University had to submit Foamcore models of the sets we were going to construct. And I know that a lot of amateur prop constructors utilize this method to construct prototypes. I came across one video tutorial done by Indy Mogul's "Backyard FX" where they used foamcore to construct a low-budge samurai outfit for amateur/low budget productions.

Anyways, your project definitely looks great, even in the prototyping stage. I wish you the best of luck on it and cannot wait to see more pictures of this model.

 

[CustomPropSculptorGuy]

Re: BIG Bay-verse/Movie Optimus Prime WIP

Yeah, it's like a standard now. All the Production Desingers/Art Directors for our 16mm film classes at Full Sail University had to submit Foamcore models of the sets we were going to construct. And I know that a lot of amateur prop constructors utilize this method to construct prototypes. I came across one video tutorial done by Indy Mogul's "Backyard FX" where they used foamcore to construct a low-budge samurai outfit for amateur/low budget productions.

Anyways, your project definitely looks great, even in the prototyping stage. I wish you the best of luck on it and cannot wait to see more pictures of this model.

Yea I remember those good ole' days in school LoL... The last film franchise I was on, there was 3 sets made COMPLETELY of foam... It was nutts. It's amazing how just going to a 1" thickness in the boarding goes - you can do just about anything with it and make it look just about any way you want to.

Hopefully in the next 2 weeks I will have the head done and ready for molding - It's got the most amount of miniature detail that MAY have to move in the long run :thumbsup but just the same, it's a tight spot to fit all of that detail in, even at the scale I am using LoL

 

[MooCriket]

Re: BIG Bay-verse/Movie Optimus Prime WIP

This is coming along nicely:cool

 

[CustomPropSculptorGuy]

Re: BIG Bay-verse/Movie Optimus Prime WIP

Well they sent me the wrong clay, so I had to get a new order, and it got in this morning, so I can finally start throwing clay. Awesomness in the making right here...

 

[CustomPropSculptorGuy]

Re: BIG Bay-verse/Movie Optimus Prime WIP

Quick shot of Primes' nose / face layout... This will be interchangeable with a "guarded" face plate.
Sorry for the crappy phone pic.. I need a card reader for my computer to get the pics off the camera - So it's the phone for now.

 

[bondoking]

Re: BIG Bay-verse/Movie Optimus Prime WIP

ever work in papercraft? not sure if this is your scale or not but it may help. Im currently working on this {halfway through} looks amazing

http://paper-replika.com/index.php?/Transformers/Optimus-Prime-Papercraft-Part-1.html

 

[CustomPropSculptorGuy]

Re: BIG Bay-verse/Movie Optimus Prime WIP

Wow - No I have not done anything like that before, but in looking at the pics, a lot of my assembly is pretty similar to what's shown there.

Awesome stuff.

 

[CustomPropSculptorGuy]

Re: BIG Bay-verse/Movie Optimus Prime WIP

 

[CustomPropSculptorGuy]

Re: BIG Bay-verse/Movie Optimus Prime WIP

Forgot to post these yesterday...

 

[CustomPropSculptorGuy]

Quick update - only had a few minutes today to work on this - so I started the bridge of the nose, now I can cast and sand it, as the rest of the head will be scaled and based off this one part... Because all of the cuts are straight, I am using a blade more than tools, but I have to be honest, trying to sculpt the "damage" in there, like the dings, nicks and scrapes - it's tough...

 

[CustomPropSculptorGuy]

 

[CustomPropSculptorGuy]

Just knocked this little test piece out so I can get the rest of the face done...

 

[CustomPropSculptorGuy]

Hey I just wanted to do a general update instead of replying to everyone individually... I started back up on this - took the last couple of weeks off to deal with the flu, but I have a few shops in Orlando, NY and LA who are going to let me display the finished pieces when the time comes.

Thanks to everyone for the support!!

 

[MooCriket]

Glad your feeling better and that's great news!