This is a kitbash that used parts from three Alternators. The bulk of the figure used Nemesis Prime, with a new head donated from Roll Bar and clear truck windows from Optimus Prime. The custom Trailbreaker sticker set came from Reprolabels. The modifications that “freed up” Trailbreaker’s upper legs and gave him proper knees were inspired by the work of other kitbashers. The modifications to the legs were something that Hasbro could have easily done in the manufacturing process and would have produced a better figure.

Cartoon screenshots from the Transformers episodes are provided for illustrative purposes.

Sometimes Trailbreaker was drawn with a gun instead of a left hand. I made this kitbashed figure so that the hand and gun were interchangeable.

How To Make Trailbreaker’s Custom Weapons Attachments

I made these custom weapons accessories out of black Sculpy modeling clay. The weapons rack that sits across Trailbreaker’s shoulders has two posts that fit into the two screw holes on the figure. I pressed unbaked clay into those holes to get the size and length of the post right, then baked it and cut the posts off the unmolded part, which isn’t used. Then I put the finished posts in the holes, put a very small amount of two part epoxy glue (only for positioning at this point) on the tops of them, and set the flat horizontal piece down. Let it dry well before trying to remove the piece with the posts glued to it. You can add more glue to make the post connections stronger after their basic attachment in the correct position is done. 

The block that the “binal tech arming” missile launcher fits in is just a clay block with a hole in it that was formed using the missile launcher post so that it would be the right size and a firm fit. If you don’t have one of these missile launchers you could make this piece fit one of the original Trailbreaker toy’s silver missiles for a more G1 look. I placed a small piece of foam around one of the original silver missiles to keep it firmly in place inside the missile launcher instead of gluing it in place. 

The piece that holds the silver scanner is simply a flat piece of Sculpy, glued in place on top of the flat clay bar. Although I made this to fit the scanner towards one end you could make it sit higher so that the scanner appeared behind Trailbreaker’s head as seen in many cartoon screenshots. The hole was formed* to be slightly smaller than the diameter of the scanner, and the final fit was achieved by carefully shaving away the cooked clay with an Exacto knife. Making the fit in stages like will make the hole just big enough to press the scanner through and have it sit firmly in place without rotating due to a loose fit and it won’t be so tight that you’ll take the silver off the scanner.

The missile attachment that replaces Trailbreaker’s hand consists of three pieces. The post that fits into the wrist socket was a little clay ball, rolled to look about the same size as the hand’s ball joint. Then I rolled a small cylinder of clay and carefully rubbed the two pieces together to make a joint and baked it so that it was one solid piece. After, I cut the cylinder shorter and lightly sanded the ball so that it was the right size to easily “snap” into Trailbreaker’s wrist socket. This post can stay in Trailbreaker’s wrist all the time and won’t interfere with transforming the figure. The cylindrical piece connects the post to the silver missile from the original Trailbreaker toy. I didn’t glue anything when making this. Everything was custom fit so that it was snug. After the cylindrical piece was baked, I pressed a wooden forming tool into the hole for the silver missile so that the hole would be snug without wrecking the silver coating. When this kitbashed Alternator Trailbreaker is transformed, the piece with the silver missile in it can easily be detached by gently pulling it out of the wrist socket.

* I used wooden clay modeling tools to cut and form Scuply. I’ve tried using kitchen knives and other metal tools, but I find that wooden tools give you the most control and distort the clay the least when you shape it.