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Variable-Edge — Whirlybird
Published: 2012-06-02 16:20:36 +0000 UTC; Views: 1878; Favourites: 35; Downloads: 36
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Description
This is a commission for for his character, the Autobot Fairy, Whirlybird! When scanning for her alternate mode, she chose an Apache attack helicopter, but ended up getting a remote-controlled toy model!In keeping with the fairy theme, Whirlybird's helicopter rotors become her wings. Thinking about it in possible toy terms, I designed the rotors so that one pair splits and joins with the other pair to form the upper wings, while the remaining portion of the first pair end up as the smaller, lower wings.
The primary influence on this interpretation comes from the CG models of Transformers: Prime, with a touch of Animated. Her body design has a mix of contoured limbs with a more blocky main body, which is a little G1 (post-movie).
Played with scale a bit here too. A low angle shot makes Whirlybird look large, as expected from a Transformer, but she's actually perched on top of a desk, and what first appears to be some kind of radar dish is a lamp.
Pencils on A4 Vellum Board
Colors on Photoshop CS3 with a Genius G-Pen 450
Whirlybird created by
Transformers by Hasbro
Original art by Jon Mallari
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Comments: 8
BTW - Thank you again for helping bring Whilrlybird to life.
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It was a fun challenge, to be sure!
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Very shiny! I like the pose ^^ I don't understand the background very well though.
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It's a room interior based on a simple photo I took from within my house. From the desk that serves as the floor of the image, there's the window with light coming in from outside, and the walls and ceiling. It's highly simplified, and intended to contrast from the look of the figure itself.
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After learning that Megatron had taken on the form of a battle tank, Whirlybird could not wait to find a suitable Earth vehicle mode to battle him. Then the scouter revealed the AH64-Apache/Longbow - a legendary tank killer. A perfect choice, she programed the computer to rebuild her vehicle mode to match what she found.
Unfortunately, instead of a full sized AH64, she had instead scanned the Radio Control Apache Longbow 2CH AH64 Helicopter. She never even realized the size difference until she raced off to do battle.
Now she has all the "boom" of her original weaponry in a very pint sized package. It's also resulted in her "fairy" robot form. Overall she's taken the teasing from her teammates in good spirits. But any decepticon who dares call her a mosqueto may be looking for a good mechanic when she cuts loose.
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What a great concept! That's great! Also an absolutely gorgeous picture. If I could I would recommend this for a DD, its that good.
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Well, it's possible for anyone to make suggestions for DD's (though I don't remember the process off the top of my head), but I'm very honored you think this would be deserving of one!
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Oh, I'll check on that. I thought it was only premium members. And yeah, design, execution, everything; this is a very well done piece.
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