Transformers Discussion Thread

[Revanchism]

God the Studio Series has been absolutely killing it. I just recently got DOTM Megatron as a gift and he is amazing.
Also picked up an upgrade kit for SS Grimlock. Not that he really needed it, but man, he looks even better with a giant mace.

I've heard good things about SS. So the stories are true?

Absolutely. Some are a little worse than others(though still decent; Stinger for example), but most of the figures are really great. It's really nice too how they've kept a consistent robot-mode scale in the line. I highly recommend the leader-classes.

[Pax Nerdvana]

I've heard good things about SS. So the stories are true?

Absolutely. Some are a little worse than others(though still decent; Stinger for example), but most of the figures are really great. It's really nice too how they've kept a consistent robot-mode scale in the line. I highly recommend the leader-classes.

Thanks. I might look into them if I obtain sufficent funds.

[Gandoor]

You know, I never realized the extent of Takara's ridiculous price increases for Masterpiece figures until I discovered that in some cases, the 3P alternative is cheaper.

Seriously the other day I watched a video review of Transform Element OP Leader, a 3P MP Optimus Prime that does a similar cartoon-aesthetic thing like the upcoming MP-44 does and I was curious and decided to check the price for OP Leader online.

You can get OP Leader on eBay for between $115 and $160.

MP-44 costs between $400 and $450, depending on the site you order it from (Japanese sites like AmiAmi have the preorder for cheaper than US-based sites, of course).

Now, to be completely fair, MP-44 does come with a metric buttload more accessories than OP Leader does.

OP Leader comes with:
Energon Axe
Blaster
Matrix
Alternate head (if you have the second production version)

MP-44 comes with:
Energon Axe
Blaster
Matrix
Alternate head
Battle damaged head
Battle damaged chestpiece
Starscream head and shoulder pylons
Sideswipe's jetpack
Blast effects for Prime's blaster/effects for Sideswipe's jetpack
Spike, Sparkplug, and Carly figurines
Trailer
Roller
Flight-stand (formed from part of the trailer that has the claw arm and the missiles)
Fuel hose for roller

And of course, MP-44 features voice clips from Tesshou Genda from the Japanese version of the cartoon.

But then again, I get that more accessories and electronics will make the price increase, but I don't see how it would make it cost THAT much more. And let's be real here - how many of those accessories included with MP-44 would you actually use and how many would you just keep in the box?

Ah well, at least Masterpiece Blackarachnia looks good (at least in robot mode, the less said about her spider-mode - the better) and isn't fuck-off expensive, I think her RRP is like $150 but you can pre-order for like $110 on AmiAmi.

[Pax Nerdvana]

You know, I never realized the extent of Takara's ridiculous price increases for Masterpiece figures until I discovered that in some cases, the 3P alternative is cheaper.

Seriously the other day I watched a video review of Transform Element OP Leader, a 3P MP Optimus Prime that does a similar cartoon-aesthetic thing like the upcoming MP-44 does and I was curious and decided to check the price for OP Leader online.

You can get OP Leader on eBay for between $115 and $160.

MP-44 costs between $400 and $450, depending on the site you order it from (Japanese sites like AmiAmi have the preorder for cheaper than US-based sites, of course).

Now, to be completely fair, MP-44 does come with a metric buttload more accessories than OP Leader does.

OP Leader comes with:
Energon Axe
Blaster
Matrix
Alternate head (if you have the second production version)

MP-44 comes with:
Energon Axe
Blaster
Matrix
Alternate head
Battle damaged head
Battle damaged chestpiece
Starscream head and shoulder pylons
Sideswipe's jetpack
Blast effects for Prime's blaster/effects for Sideswipe's jetpack
Spike, Sparkplug, and Carly figurines
Trailer
Roller
Flight-stand (formed from part of the trailer that has the claw arm and the missiles)
Fuel hose for roller

And of course, MP-44 features voice clips from Tesshou Genda from the Japanese version of the cartoon.

But then again, I get that more accessories and electronics will make the price increase, but I don't see how it would make it cost THAT much more. And let's be real here - how many of those accessories included with MP-44 would you actually use and how many would you just keep in the box?

Ah well, at least Masterpiece Blackarachnia looks good (at least in robot mode, the less said about her spider-mode - the better) and isn't fuck-off expensive, I think her RRP is like $150 but you can pre-order for like $110 on AmiAmi.

MP is too expensive for me, so I stick with CHUG, but that is really interesting.

[Arcturus Novus]

Has anyone been reading the IDW reboot series? I'm up to issue 6 currently and I'm loving it so far, would definitely recommend that those interested seek it out.

I absolutely adore the dynamics between Megatron and Orion Pax. Having these two established as close friends who found themselves drifting apart because of their different aspirations is just... so fitting. Also, they're building such a vibrant world and history without showing hardly any of it yet - there's a healthy dose of mystery to why Cybertron is like this in [current year].

Also if they've already killed Rubble I might cry.

[Pax Nerdvana]

Has anyone been reading the IDW reboot series? I'm up to issue 6 currently and I'm loving it so far, would definitely recommend that those interested seek it out.

I absolutely adore the dynamics between Megatron and Orion Pax. Having these two established as close friends who found themselves drifting apart because of their different aspirations is just... so fitting. Also, they're building such a vibrant world and history without showing hardly any of it yet - there's a healthy dose of mystery to why Cybertron is like this in [current year].

Also if they've already killed Rubble I might cry.

I do want to read it eventually, but not yet.

[Gandoor]

https://news.tfw2005.com/2019/06/15/tak ... voy-389784

Masterpiece Lio Convoy

That is all

[Pax Nerdvana]

https://news.tfw2005.com/2019/06/15/takara-tomys-next-beast-wars-masterpiece-is-lio-convoy-389784

Masterpiece Lio Convoy

That is all

I saw that yesterday. I haven't watched BWII or BWN, so I don't really have too much of an interest.

[The first Galactic Republic]

Funnily enough, I’m only really familiar with his Cybertronian form from Beast Wars Uprising.

[Pax Nerdvana]

Funnily enough, I’m only really familiar with his Cybertronian form from Beast Wars Uprising.

I still need to read Uprising.

[Gandoor]

https://news.tfw2005.com/2019/06/15/takara-tomys-next-beast-wars-masterpiece-is-lio-convoy-389784

Masterpiece Lio Convoy

That is all

I saw that yesterday. I haven't watched BWII or BWN, so I don't really have too much of an interest.

I've been watching BWII and it is literally the best.

I mean I can't hate a show where three of the characters are just Mexican - for no reason whatsoever. I know the wiki tries to claim that it's offensive and stereotypical (which I can see) but it's honestly so over the top it loops around to being utterly hilarious to me.

Also can't wait for all the reviewers who's never seen BWII to mispronounce Lio Convoy's name when they review the figure.

[Pax Nerdvana]

I saw that yesterday. I haven't watched BWII or BWN, so I don't really have too much of an interest.

I've been watching BWII and it is literally the best.

I mean I can't hate a show where three of the characters are just Mexican - for no reason whatsoever. I know the wiki tries to claim that it's offensive and stereotypical (which I can see) but it's honestly so over the top it loops around to being utterly hilarious to me.

Also can't wait for all the reviewers who's never seen BWII to mispronounce Lio Convoy's name when they review the figure.

That will be interestingto see. Where can I find BWII?

[Gandoor]

Kairyuudo Fansubs subbed it back in 2016, you can get the torrent for the series off Nyaa or, if you don't wanna download it, they uploaded the entire show and the movie on their YouTube channel (along with their releases for Transformers Zone, Transformers Car Robots, and Beast Wars Neo).

Personally if you just wanna watch the show, I'd go for the YouTube option, although do keep in mind that the YouTube one uses their non-localized subs for the show, if that bothers you (the one you can download has two sub options available, one that localizes terminology and one that keeps it in the Japanese forms. It doesn't do anything like localize character names, but the localized subs refer to the factions as the Maximals and Predacons instead of the Cybertrons and Destrons and the transformation phrases as Maximize and Terrorize instead of Metamorph and Transform [which I gotta admit, 'metamorph' is an awkward translation for 'henshin' but considering it's usually translated as 'transform' and you gotta have some way to distinguish between characters using Japanese word for transform and characters using English word so...])

Although if you're a huge nerd like I am, I'd highly recommend the torrented version because they loaded it with extra features. In addition to the show itself and the movie you also get:
(Untranslated) scans of books relating the series, magazine articles, and the manga
FLAC copies of the entire series soundtrack
Scans of production cels, posters and fliers, VHS covers, the toy tech spec cards, trading cards, some Korean trading cards
The OP and ED sans credits
BWII commercials
The Beast Wars II live show
The rest of the Beast Wars Special that premiered with the BWII movie, which includes Clash! Beast Warriors, a clip show recap of the first season of the American Beast Wars cartoon, and Beast Wars Metals, episode 34 of the Beast Wars cartoon (known as Bad Spark in the original version) and, yes, the Beast Wars episode includes both the Japanese and English audio tracks because of course it does.

[Pax Nerdvana]

Kairyuudo Fansubs subbed it back in 2016, you can get the torrent for the series off Nyaa or, if you don't wanna download it, they uploaded the entire show and the movie on their YouTube channel (along with their releases for Transformers Zone, Transformers Car Robots, and Beast Wars Neo).

Personally if you just wanna watch the show, I'd go for the YouTube option, although do keep in mind that the YouTube one uses their non-localized subs for the show, if that bothers you (the one you can download has two sub options available, one that localizes terminology and one that keeps it in the Japanese forms. It doesn't do anything like localize character names, but the localized subs refer to the factions as the Maximals and Predacons instead of the Cybertrons and Destrons and the transformation phrases as Maximize and Terrorize instead of Metamorph and Transform [which I gotta admit, 'metamorph' is an awkward translation for 'henshin' but considering it's usually translated as 'transform' and you gotta have some way to distinguish between characters using Japanese word for transform and characters using English word so...])

Although if you're a huge nerd like I am, I'd highly recommend the torrented version because they loaded it with extra features. In addition to the show itself and the movie you also get:
(Untranslated) scans of books relating the series, magazine articles, and the manga
FLAC copies of the entire series soundtrack
Scans of production cels, posters and fliers, VHS covers, the toy tech spec cards, trading cards, some Korean trading cards
The OP and ED sans credits
BWII commercials
The Beast Wars II live show
The rest of the Beast Wars Special that premiered with the BWII movie, which includes Clash! Beast Warriors, a clip show recap of the first season of the American Beast Wars cartoon, and Beast Wars Metals, episode 34 of the Beast Wars cartoon (known as Bad Spark in the original version) and, yes, the Beast Wars episode includes both the Japanese and English audio tracks because of course it does.

Thanks! I'll have to check it out sooner or later.

[Pax Nerdvana]

Don't know if y'all saw this:
https://news.tfw2005.com/2019/06/26/war ... led-390354
They look great. I want all of them, but realistically, I'll only be able to afford Spinister.

[The first Galactic Republic]

So I finally did it. I’ve been a Transformers fan my entire life really, but having really gotten into the fiction more lately, and having aquired a credit card for the first time ever, I’ve decided to begin actually collecting the figures. It started a few weeks ago with a Generations Jetfire, the first toy I’ve owned since the 2007 movie was new.

I’m interested in unique figures across different lines. For example, I’m mostly unimpressed with a lot of the figures in the new Siege line, but there are a few that stand out. Among them is the first Flywheels figure (now called Skytread) since the 80’s, which I found at a Walmart today.

Skytread, AKA Flywheels, (Hasbro might have lost the trademark) is a duocon who transforms into two separate altmodes, making him three toys in one. His Siege figure is the first time this aspect of his character has been represented in a toy since 1987, which is pretty cool. It definitely sets him apart from the other Siege deluxes.

Skytread transforms into both a tank and a jet. His jet mode is pretty bulky on the bottom from his arms, but otherwise is a pretty good looking jet. His tank mode is hollow in the back, but otherwise looks fine.

His tank mode has a flaw where neither of his guns fit very well into the main tank turret slot. They both pop out easily and will point downwards slightly. The very top of his tank mode also likes to pop out. Even the wiki makes note of the flaw. They definitely could have designed his tank mode better, but otherwise the execution of his original toy’s idea is very well done.

As a Siege figure, Skytread’s guns are part of the C.O.M.B.A.T. system. They can be attached to various parts of his body and can also be combined with the weapons from other figures. Even other weapons from across the franchise can be attached if they use 5mm ports. All kind of combinations are possible. The two guns Skytread comes with can also be used for a number of different setups.

Here’s one rather ridiculous possibility.

Here’s another.

Skytread’s two guns combine into a larger gun he can (sort of) hold with both hands.

Skytread has pretty good articulation for a figure of his size and price range. My only real complaint is that the tail part of his jet mode sticks out from his back and restricts how his legs can move. There’s nothing you can do about that. Otherwise he’s pretty poseable.

All in all, this is a really nice figure and a great throwback to an idea that Hasbro hasn’t revisited a whole lot. Like I said before, he’s a lot more interesting than the other deluxe figures in the line.

Tesarus and the Necrobot sold separately.

[Pax Nerdvana]

So I finally did it. I’ve been a Transformers fan my entire life really, but having really gotten into the fiction more lately, and having aquired a credit card for the first time ever, I’ve decided to begin actually collecting the figures. It started a few weeks ago with a Generations Jetfire, the first toy I’ve owned since the 2007 movie was new.

I’m interested in unique figures across different lines. For example, I’m mostly unimpressed with a lot of the figures in the new Siege line, but there are a few that stand out. Among them is the first Flywheels figure (now called Skytread) since the 80’s, which I found at a Walmart today.

(Image)

Skytread, AKA Flywheels, (Hasbro might have lost the trademark) is a duocon who transforms into two separate altmodes, making him three toys in one. His Siege figure is the first time this aspect of his character has been represented in a toy since 1987, which is pretty cool. It definitely sets him apart from the other Siege deluxes.

(Image)

Skytread transforms into both a tank and a jet. His jet mode is pretty bulky on the bottom from his arms, but otherwise is a pretty good looking jet. His tank mode is hollow in the back, but otherwise looks fine.

His tank mode has a flaw where neither of his guns fit very well into the main tank turret slot. They both pop out easily and will point downwards slightly. The very top of his tank mode also likes to pop out. Even the wiki makes note of the flaw. They definitely could have designed his tank mode better, but otherwise the execution of his original toy’s idea is very well done.

As a Siege figure, Skytread’s guns are part of the C.O.M.B.A.T. system. They can be attached to various parts of his body and can also be combined with the weapons from other figures. Even other weapons from across the franchise can be attached if they use 5mm ports. All kind of combinations are possible. The two guns Skytread comes with can also be used for a number of different setups.

(Image)

Here’s one rather ridiculous possibility.

(Image)

Here’s another.

(Image)

Skytread’s two guns combine into a larger gun he can (sort of) hold with both hands.

(Image)

Skytread has pretty good articulation for a figure of his size and price range. My only real complaint is that the tail part of his jet mode sticks out from his back and restricts how his legs can move. There’s nothing you can do about that. Otherwise he’s pretty poseable.

All in all, this is a really nice figure and a great throwback to an idea that Hasbro hasn’t revisited a whole lot. Like I said before, he’s a lot more interesting than the other deluxe figures in the line.

(Image)

Tesarus and the Necrobot sold separately.

Flywheels is awesome. I do wish he had wrist swivels, and his waist swivel wasn't blocked by his tail. Hound is also a great figure. If you want older figures, eBay is your only real option unfortunately.

[Hurdergaryp]

Why are almost all those pictures upside down?

[The first Galactic Republic]

Why are almost all those pictures upside down?

Really? They show up right for me?

[Hurdergaryp]

Why are almost all those pictures upside down?

Really? They show up right for me?

In that case I don't understand it either. Nice Skytread pictures, though. The weird thing is that the pics are shown correctly on my screen when I open them in a separate tab. Perhaps it's a forum glitch.

[Gandoor]

Don't know if y'all saw this:
https://news.tfw2005.com/2019/06/26/war ... led-390354
They look great. I want all of them, but realistically, I'll only be able to afford Spinister.

Some thoughts on the reveals (that I've posted over on actual Transformers fan communities but now here):
1) Wow that is a better train and space shuttle mode than the TR Astrotrain. Although kind of ironic considering that Siege is supposed to be fucking Cybertronian modes (Still love taking the piss over Hasbro's pre-Siege comments about how the line 'won't aesthetically fit with previous Generations lines')

2) Loving the fact that Spinister has two separate cockpits for his legs, taken directly from the G1 toy's boxart. That's the type of pointless wankery I can't help but smile at. Although this does beg one question: the first 2018 fan poll determined which pair of characters would get figures in the Siege line and Spinister (vs Wheeljack) was one of the options, but it lost in favor of Mirage and Impactor. So what was the point in the poll if Hasbro decided to make Spinister anyway? Half-expect the next part of the WFC trilogy to include Wheeljack, Needlenose, and Tracks as well.

3) Yeah that sure is a G1 Apeface. Which really demonstrates my issue with the recent trend of making the toys basically 'G1 with knees', the figures still retain elements of the old toys which were limitations of the toy design capabilities of Hasbro and Takara back in the late 1980s. Like there's no reason to have the robot arms just hanging off the sides of the gorilla legs beyond 'well that's how it was back in 1987', they could easily figure out a method to hide them somehow.

4. I have nothing to say about Crosshairs beyond 'damn I wish he had a toy/Headmasters-anime accurate head rather than a Rebirth/Marvel accurate head' but even then he's not a figure I have any attachment too (granted I don't have any real attachment to uh any of these guys but you know what I mean, he's such a nobody character to me along with all the Targetmasters)

[The first Galactic Republic]

Nothing wrong with the losers of the polls eventually getting toys.

I’d dig a Tracks/Needlenose release. I liked their dynamic in the comics, and an updated F-35 Needlenose would be pretty cool.

[Gandoor]

I wanted Tracks to win for the chance we'd get a Road Rage out of it.

I mean I already own the Masterpiece but still a Gens Road Rage would be cool.

[Pax Nerdvana]

What I would love would be a Deluxe Tetrajet mold. Hasbro could get some decent repaints out of it.

[Gandoor]

I'm gonna be honest for a second here:
I don't get why people like the tetrajets so much.

It's really not a good design and, unless you significantly fudge the design of both the robot and vehicle forms, you can't get a good robot out of it.