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Mechatron the Second


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Revision Log
25 September 2024page first published

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©1994-2024 Bill Armintrout
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Personal logo Editor in Chief Bill The Editor of TMP Fezian writes:

Having painted up one Transformer toy to add a Battle Mech to my Mechanoids army for Alien Squad Leader, I was tempted to do it again. I don't need another Battle Mech for my 100-point army, but when has that ever stopped me?

Mechatron

I started by slicing the vinyl toy into three pieces: legs, torso and gun. The gun will be discarded and replaced. Cutting at the waist allows some reposing, so the second mecha is not a clone of the first. The vinyl is easily cut with snippers or a sharp hobby knife, and can be carved and sanded to remove rough spots.

Mechatron

To securely connect the body, I drilled holes in the vinyl and inserted a bit of toothpick.

Mechatron

Above, you can see the reconstructed Megatron, with his torso now rotated to the left, and his arm now angling downward.

Mechatron

For a new weapon, I raided one of the weapon packs from the Final Faction action figure series. This is a laser gatling gun (one of a pair). It is made of bendy plastic, and the barrels are designed to spin.

Mechatron

My intent is to glue the new weapon where the old one used to be.

Mechatron

Above, you can see the gun attached. I've flipped the gun over, so that the attachment peg is now on top. The spinning gun barrels are glued down. (I probably should have drilled holes in the gun barrels…)

Mechatron

Mechatron is now based and ready for priming and painting.

Shortly after I took that picture, Mechatron took a spill and his base and weapon broke off. I then chose to use the toothpick technique to more firmly attach the weapon to the arm, and the legs to the base.

Priming, painting, decal and flocking were identical to the previous mecha, except that I used a silver marker to highlight the gun barrels.

Mechatron

And here is the finished Mechatron.

Mechatron

Or is he a Megatroid?

Mechatron

The new weapon is more detailed than the original! In Alien Squad Leader, the exact weapons don't matter, which makes conversions easy to fit into an army list.

Mechatron

This will boost my army list to 123 points.

Mechatron

This was a fun, quick project.

Mechatron

Next, I need an Installation for my Mechatron army…