SDCC 2012 Soundwave/Retaliation HISS conversion for POC elevated treads (tutorial)

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Here are some pictures and things I ran into that may hopefully help anyone else attempting to convert a Shockwave/Retaliation HISS for POC treads. Why do it? Because static treads are shite! :D When you have aggressive treads like the POC tanks do it's best to use them. They are different than contemporary treads but for a Cobra vehicle they look decent. We are talking about an organization that dresses androids here! Any help they can get is worth it.

This is how I did it. There probably are other ways. I like easy though so this may help out. It's not the "ultimate" tutorial but it gets the job done and will work properly if you are careful. If you are careless just throw the plastic in the garbage now.

Tools used:
Dremel with small round sanding bit and needle nosed diamond tip. A thin file could probably be used too.
Phillips head screwdriver
Patience

Start off by stripping all accessories off the vehicle. Guns and canopy:


Next, you need to unscrew it. Mine had 4 screws but there are 5 spots. Maybe use screws from the POC HISS if you want extra or lose any:

Rear:


Front turret:


Side:


Self explanatory:


Front:
 
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Next, get a slight understanding of what you are working with. Put the two different attachments by each other so you can see the difference. Obviously the new one will need some work to match the size of the original. The right is the one it came with and the left is the replacement.



One thing you will notice is 3 raised tabs on the part that will be inside the tank (mine are taken off already). You will need to dremel/file the two sides off at least. You can do the middle one too if desired but if it isn't screwing anything up it might as well be left alone. One less thing to possibly screw up. Work smarter, not harder. :D These are fairly soft so a dremel will cut through them pretty easy.


If you didn't see it before there is a bump on the front of the square that needs to get ground/filed down. This is a harder plastic so you can be a little rougher with it if necessary. Pretty much match it to the original square. (Mine is ground down already)
 
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If you are using the Shockwave HISS, here comes the tough part. Committing to cutting it. A Retaliation HISS is no big deal since they suck anyway. Destroying it only improves it's looks. ;)

BEWARE!! PLASTIC IS SOFTER SO A DREMEL WILL CUT THROUGH VERY EASY. USE CAUTION AND GO SLOWLY!

Although I did not do this, it would be best to cut out a circle to the size of the POC/Crimson HISS circle. Then, center it and make light marks on the vehicle. This at least gives you a guide of where you should go. I eyeballed it. I sanded a little and then checked it. Sanded some more and checked it until the circle fit.


As you are sanding the circle, you will have to make one small cut inside the side where the screws thread into. There is a piece of plastic that just needs to have a small groove put in it so the new piece will fit ok.


Here is what the rest of the insides look like once sanded to size.

Side screws go in:



Side screws thread into (with groove cut):

 
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As you are working, constantly check where you are at. Don't just think it will fit if you follow this to a T. Work slowly and see where one side may be off or some plastic may need to get shaved. Here is what it should look like once you have the spring attachment ground and placed in the new cuts.


Here is a rough idea of what it should look like once ready. Again, this is not a perfect circle. This was all done by eye and testing as I sanded.


It's better to have it snug than to have space around the spring part. If there is a 1MM gap the screws will correct that. Try to get it as close but don't go over. It could make the new attachment loose. It is snug inside the tank but over time it may loosen up and not sit right. Just my opinion, not proven fact.

Make sure to put the chair back in and then screw it together. The part that clicks the treads down should be in the front. So where the hump was/partially is should be towards the front. I don't think it really matters but that is how it was on the HISS I too it off of. Make sure things are flush. If there is spots that are off you will need to correct that. It can affect the front gun (Shockwave head) if uneven.

Once you get it correct give yourself a high 5.
 
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Canopy:

It was asked if the canopy could get switched out. It's possible but there will be a gap if you use a POC/Crimson HISS canopy. It does not have the same part that clips as the Retaliation/Shockwave HISS does. I'm sure some work could be done but it's way easier to spray paint the Shockwave/Retaliation canopy.


 
G.I.*EDDIE

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It's hard to follow right now, but that's cause I don't have both tanks in hand...once I do, I'm sure it'll all look familiar and straight forward...thanks for all the great pics..

So I take it the silly blue things on the side are supposed to be like the nose gun of an A-10?...I'm gonna either paint mine black, or just make new ones outta styrene tubes and stock, which would probably look better anyway...
 
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Yea, once you have everything in hand it will make for sense.

Those guns and the missile that can be used instead of the Shockwave attachment are that color. It's actually pretty nice looking.
 
G.I.*EDDIE

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Well I got the mods done for the conversion...

I also made some other mods while I was at it...painted the red mounting base on the POC HISS treads black...also masked off some sections inside of the POC treads and painted them purple, just for a little detail and to kinda look like the SDCC treads...thinking about painting the wheels too...

I also used some of the parts from the POC HISS and adapted them to the SW HISS...the back bumper and the two bigger guns...I still need to make new guns to mount where the blue ones are...
 
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Sweet! I debated adding some of the extras also. I may still. I grabbed an original Shockwave barrel on e bay that is going on it. I'd like to see those painted wheels on the treads.
 
G.I.*EDDIE

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The paint I have matches perfectly right out of the can, even has the same metallic sheen...I'll post pics BEFORE I paint the wheels and see what you think about it the way it is with just the little bit painted...
 
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And let us know what kind of paint too. Seems not many people may have done the conversion yet.
 
G.I.*EDDIE

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Still working on the replacement barrels for the existing blue ones, but I REALLY dig the tread conversion...these beefier (not to mention functional) treads just look sooooo much better...


Like i said earlier, I'm also considering painting the wheels purple...thoughts?


I threw the bumper from the POC version on the backside of SW and used the hoses on the converted over POC tread base...also used the two big guns from the POC HISS on SW (had to sand down the posts a little bit to get them to fit)...





 
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M

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I'd say take the wheels off and paint that black part on the side of the threads. The wheels may be a bit much.
 
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Fine, do the wheels then. Looking at that section it is more than I thought. Effin' whiner. :D
 
G.I.*EDDIE

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Yeah, when it's up, it teeters on the edge of almost falling back...if it were real, and was given just a wee bit of throttle, it'd tip for certain
 
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If it were real it wouldn't have an effin' glass canopy and arms to raise it that could easily be taken out by an RPG or weakened with heavy fire. ;)
 
K-Tiger

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Shhhh, we can't discuss the technological chicanery that is G.I. Joe AFV design.
 
G.I.*EDDIE

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Haha, if it were real, I'm also not sure purple would NOT be the top color choice of any military...maybe france











.
 
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Color can be fixed. Engineering flaws can't be. That's what you get when you buy from some tool bag in a chrome mask.
 
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Here is the final touch on the HISS for now. LED's would really make if pop but it needs a clear cast of the middle to look right.




 
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Yea, the one that comes with the exclusive is solid gray. The original SW barrel has a clear purple inside. I think it used to have a light that went off when you pulled the trigger. The barrel with the exclusive is just a little smaller with nothing inside it. Just looks bland to me. I needed it to pop.
 
G.I.*EDDIE

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Ah, gotcha...I've never seen the real thing in person so I didn't know...and I image searched it, but I couldn't find a good pic of the inside...

But I know what yer saying, the inside of the SDCC is VERY bland...I noticed that as soon as I removed it from the box...a lit up one would kick a$$
 
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There is cutting involved so the parts are done once you commit. I had to grind down the parts inside the original and where the stem was on the new piece. Who knows, maybe there will be a replica of the piece sometime. ;)
 
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I got one for $20 shipped. If you wait MAYBE it will show up on the intenet as fixed, clear plastic so you don't have to ruin your piece.
 
G.I.*EDDIE

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FYI, these are the paints I used for painting the treads of my SW conversion...

I used a base coat of the Plymouth Plum with a VERY light mist top coat of the Ultrviolet Pearl




 
Tofujesse

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Here you go, just showed up on my casting table. This pull is OK but I just wanted to get the pic up. Everyone thank MB for sending it over
 

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