Astrotrain by Trecathlus on DeviantArt (original) (raw)

DESIGNATION / CLASSIFICATION
Astrotrain / Decepticon Triple Changer

FUNCTION
Military Transport

LIFESPAN
SEASON TWO - THE MOVIE - SEASON THREE

BEGINNINGS 1997 - 2001

The original icon was based entirely on memory and created at a time when the details of the many various TRANSFORMERS were not yet ingrained in the eye of my mind. I may have been recalling his close-up appearance at the end of STARSCREAM'S BRIGADE when he is about to transport STARSCREAM and the Combaticons into exile. The first two versions were not given "metallic" shading treatment, but it was there for the third and significantly reshaped attempt, which thankfully shed the goofy smile but retained the oversized optics. In June of 1999, I revamped him from a sketch I had recently drawn, narrowing his eyes and giving his head more appropriate proportions. Following that, the only alteration was a repositioning of his mouth, moving it closer to his nose.

SECOND WIND 2007 - 2011

Resuming work on ASTROTRAIN in 2007 made it clear to me how I to some extent had revisited all of the shapes I have given most of the icons over the years. Depending on the angle from which he and other characters are seen, each take has had a certain amount of merit insofar as some accuracy of detail has always been present. Until 2011, however, there simply was never enough size to proportion him meaningfully and ensure that all details were included and well-balanced. The most difficult part was probably finding a way to give him the expression of the tough, imposing guy he is. That is part of why I finally decided to make his "natural" disposition surly rather than neutral. He may not always have been a favourite character to render in icon form, but I always liked him and succeeding with his avatar makes me a little extra satisfied.

CURRENT EDITION Tuesday, July 7, 2015

PREVIOUS REVISIONS
Logged iterations: 9

09.30.1997