custom Zoid: Centaur

(Heavy Assault Platform)

This is the story of my first Zoids custom. (completed February 2004)

Back in late 1998 (before Zoids were being re-issued) I was looking in Jerry Dreiss's "Zoids: The Coolest Toys Ever!" web page in the Trading Post section. For my 40th birthday I was able to secure a Zoids 2 Ultrasaurus, shipped all the way from Singapore to California.

I also recall looking wistfully in the Customs area and seeing the winged Centaur Zoid (see pic at right) made up from a Gojulas, Ultrasaurus, Gordos, and Pteramander. I remember thinking to myself, "Who would be crazy enough to cut up such hard-to-find (and expensive) masterpieces of engineering?".

I eventually receive my Zoids 2 Ultrasaurus and casually inspect it, then pack it away to save it for a special occasion...

Fast Forward to June 2003. Zoids have been re-released by Tomy since late 1999 and some are even available in the United States via Hasbro. My meager Zoids collection has swelled to over 40 items and continues to grow. My nine year old son shares my fascination with Zoids. It was time to treat myself and assemble my 40th birthday present, albeit 4 years late.

I open the Zoids 2 Ultrasaurus and separate the chrome pieces to spray paint them. Only when I attempt assembly do I realize: I have no "B" parts sprue! Just two "F" parts sprues. So I'm missing the front belly ramp, rear leg armor, and upper aircraft hanger door. Emails to Tomy and Hasbro only produce condolences but no real help. Prices on eBay are too expensive to justify buying a complete Ultrasaursus only for parts. Even after the Ultrasaurus is released as a ToysRUs exclusive, Hasbro will not replace the parts, and only offers a refund. (But of course, I didn't buy it from ToysRUs!). After 5 months, I give up and buy a new NJR Ultrasaurus.

December 2003. My NJR Ultrasaurus is built and standing proud, however my Zoids 2 Ultrasaurus is still in pieces. In the meantime I have acquired a Zoids 2 Gojulas with a broken tail.

I see on ZoidsFans that Darth Maktar has built his own Centaur, using only a Gojulas and an Ultrasaurus. (See pic at left.)

Something clicks in the back of my mind. Maybe there is a way for me to assemble my 40th birthday present after all...

Slicing and Dicing

I look carefully at the rear legs of my NJR Ultrasaurus. It occurs to me that the only real difference between the front leg armor and the rear leg armor is the spacing of the two locating pegs. After some experimentation, I determine that I can slot the upper hole in each Zoids 2 Ultrasaurus rear leg to allow the duplicate front leg armors to be mounted on the rear legs. I get out my nippers and files and get to work. Two hours later, both legs are done, and my Zoids 2 Ultrasaurus can walk!

Next comes the hard part: joining the Ultrasaurus and Gojulas body shells. I begin to cut and whittle both right hand body shells. Their lack of alignment pegs lets me put both parts on a flat table and helps me keep the parting line in a flat plane. Using my NJR Gojulas as a reference, I arrive at a similar torso angle for the Centaur upper body (the Gojulas body). After securing the modified right hand body shells with Krazy Glue, I modify both left hand body shells to match the right side. Epoxy glue fills the gaps. I fill the leg holes in the Gojulas body with wheels from a model car kit.

Motor Modifications

I didn't know this, but the Gojulas and Ultrasaurus motors are very similar, they only differ in the neck movement mechanisms and the output cogs. More Tomy ingenuity. For the Gojulas motor, I remove the axle that powers the legs. For the Ultrasaurus motor, I remove the neck movement. I also cut away some of the housing to allow it to fit in the revised body shell. I rewire the Gojulas motor and light to be powered from the Ultrasaurus batteries. I retain the Gojulas power switch just in case I want the Centaur to walk without Gojulas arm and head movement or lights. I shorten both power switches since neither needs to be that long.

Weapons Upgrades

Since I envision the Centaur as an assault platform and not as a mobile base, I shorten the landing platform and make it into a gun platform. I modify a CP-15 by removing the rocket plate and moving the gattling gun mounts to the rocket end, then slice away the rear webs. This allows the modified CP-15 to elevate to nearly vertical, perfect for its new role as an anti-aircraft weapon. I also modify the aircraft hanger mounted on the back of Ultrasaurus by slicing off the base, removing the cockpit on top and filling it in, then turning the hanger around and gluing the base back on. This visually smooths the Gojulas/Ultrasaurus transition and also solves the missing hanger door problem.

I still lack the Ultrasaurus front belly ramp, so I have to fill that void somehow. I think of using some kind of rocket pod array. I first try sawed-off ball point pen shells. Although cheap, they cannot be produced in a uniform fashion. Then I try a 3x5 array of LEGO cylinders and that works great. I also mount the discarded Ultrasaurus landing platform large supports as cannons, and a spare Liger belly gun in the ramp hinge points. Standard Gojulas and Ultrasaurus weapons, along with a CP-10, round out the weapons list.

Masking and Painting

After some trial fits to ensure proper assembly, a trip to Home Depot to purchase Matte Red and Flat Black spray paint. Although these general purpose spray paints do not work as nicely as Testors they are cheaper (about 50%-70% less cost, and you also get more paint). I mask off all pivot points with drinking straws or tape, then spend the next three days spraying and waiting for the paint to dry.

Final Assembly

Final assembly is uneventful and actually fun, although some parts fit together very tightly because the spray paint has covered the alighment holes. I use the Gojulas black caps (good thing I save all my spare caps!) to contrast against the red body. The centaur walks fine, and he moves his arms and head and lights up. My 9 year old son is very excited to see this custom finally come together, and so am I.

NJR Ultrasaurus Custom Centaur NJR Gojulas

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