Transformers
 

I know there are TF collectors out there. Where are ya? :P

I would say half of my toy collection (in space at least) is made up of Transformers. Now, I'm a Beast Wars fan, so I've never been big on cars and jet transforms (though I far from hate them). Eitherway, it's a good time for TF fans right now. There's the movie and it's sequel (first trailer will be shown during the superbowl :D) and Animated, which is a great show. Plus, it's the 25th anniversary, which is something Hasbro does greatly.

I am a HUGE Starscream fan. He is the MAN. I also love the new Transformers Animated show.

I forgot to mention that I only have about 40 G1 Transformers in my collection but I do have almost every movie transformer that has been made.

I normally don't liked Starscream, but he's awesome in Animated. He also has one of the best figures of Animated (also a first for Screamer, imo).

You have more than me. I have maybe 15 G1 figures if you don't count Micro Masters or World's Smallest TFs. I rarely can bring myself to get figures with so little articulation.

Even the horde of repaints? I got one of every character in the movie. Sadly, I'm kind of sick of the movie line from all the "look at the new tiny diffence" repaints...and they're doing the same for TF2.

I've seriously lost count on all the TFs I own.

My recent acquisitions are the Henkei versions of Hound w/Ravage and Cyclonus w/Nightstick. Both are incredibly awesome. Hound review up on Figured Out this Friday and hopefully Cyclonus this weekend.

===HERO

hey Hero, did you ever get back into collecting the convention exclusives again? I know you sold your Antagony and Vicegrip a while back, but do you still have any others?

I have OFTCC Sideswipe, The Glyph and Tapout keychains from Botcon 2001(?), amd The Rook Keychain from Botcon Europe 2002.

===HERO

No, you got me there. I don't have very many of the repaints. I have always despised repaints, its kind of like when a production company releases 5 different versions of one film. It just plain sucks and I choose not to double dip.

Like with Alternators Smokescreen *cringe*

===HERO

Sorry for the double-post. Just thought I'd share some toy reviews of Transformers I have been mucking about with making.

Metroplex Jnr:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smZz-dgSNpQ

I was pretty big into TF before the Turtles and continued a little after they hit. Anyway I've got quite a big collection spanning several iterations, mostly Gen 1 & 2. I have lots of the micromaster figs, even the Rocket Launcher base, Pretenders (wasn't that their name?), the big plastic human shell that hid a robot inside, Headmasters, some weird line that were different monsters (vulture, goblin, green alien monster, etc) that had a minibot inside and they would all combine into a bigger figure, the TF action figures that didn't transform but were poseable....anyway, I can't possibly list them all but those are just a few of what all I do have.

They brought me great joy as a kid and I had good times battling it out alongside the Autobots and Decepticons! I have toyed with the idea of selling them, though. If I had to choose between TMNT or TF, the TF would go lol!

Action Masters are the non-transforming ones. I assume you mean the awesome Countdown Rocket base. That thing is great. Speaking of, Countdown is about to get a new toy. It's a repaint of Cybertron Defence Red Alert. What makes it neat is the alt mode is painted to look like the folded Rocket Base (Which fits because Red Alert carries a huge nuke) and all the bot parts are painted to look like Countdown. It looks better than it sounds.

You'd proabably get a lot more money that way to.

Oh wow... I almost forgot about the new Countdown toy. I hope that thing is released soon.

BTW. Just updated Figured Out with a review of Transformers: Henkei Hound w/Ravage --> Click Me

===HERO

Just wondering... Is anyone here trying to avoid potential spoilers for the upcoming Revenge of the Fallen film?

If yes I put this tidbit under a spoilers banner and also because I've never used it before ;). Some of the toys do leak certain stuff about the film that some might not want to see (I've had to tread on eggshells elsewhere see).

No. That first film made me want to KO everyone in the theater, so I have absolutely no interest in seeing this film -- and with the price hike on deluxe TFs, I now have no interest in owning any of the movie toys either. So please, spoil away. ;)

The only good thing from the price increase is that TMNT figures start looking cheap again. The price increase makes me so mad too. Deluxes have been $10 (give or take on cents) for 13 years.

On a side note, I'd rather get more Animated figures than most of the TF2 figures shown.

I want that Keytar Ratbat!

I'll certainly make the most out of Animated this year since CN are pulling the plug at the end of season 3.

===HERO

I want him to...just wish he didn't come with a crummy repaint (Yes, I know it's Soundblaster, but that doesn't make it any less crummy).

I'm igorning that rumor until season 3 actually starts. So, let's look at the good news, season 3 starts next month!:thyper:

I thought that repaint looked pretty sick, personally! Not $13 sick, but if it were $7-10 I could see picking it up -- even though I'm not the hugest fan of the original mold. I do like Soundwave's ankles, though.

I'd probably get it mainly for the Ratbat. Ratbat (G1) was never released in the UK.

BTW gang, Universe Ironhide is naff. Avoid!

===HERO

That is the most rad thing they've done in the TFA line.

Naff! LOL -- you and your British slang. ;)

But yeah, Universe Ironhide isn't the greatest. For the $7.77 I paid for him back during the holidays he's okay, and in robot mode he does pose quite well, but at the current prices I wouldn't even bother. Nor will I be bothering to pick up a Universe Ratchet (I kinda wish I'd waited for that one instead, though I wouldn't pay $13 for it either). Really, you only need one version of this mold at the absolute most.

I agree that Ironhide does pose well. Shame he keeps unclipping in half at the waist and the vehicle mode is a mess. I'm glad I didn't get the Henkei version now.

The best part of the figure is the head.

Henkei Cyclonus and Hound remain my two favourite toys of 2009 thus far.

===HERO

Anyone want to give me some advice?

I'm thinking of getting Voyager Grimlock.

I found him and thought coo but passed on it, it was $14. But then over at /toy/ they highly recommended him to me and said he was a $22 figure.


I am not really a transformers fan though, I was too old for the original series, though I really liked Beast Wars as a kid but haven't watched it since. I did catch a few episodes of Animated and thought they were alright, nothing special.


The thing that has me thinking about it though is I bought a cybertron Beast Wars Megatron figure on sale for $4 about a year ago. I was so excited and I hated it, transforming him was a huge pain and he didn't really look that good. I was very disappointed and I ended up selling him for the same 4 dollars I payed. I do regret selling him now though especially if I buy grimlock. But yeah I don't want to spend $14 and to be just disappointed again though maybe this could be the figure that makes me get into transformers....

Oh yeah and Voyager Grimlock is better than activator Grimlock right?



Hope I didn't go overboard with my dilemma over buying a toy :lol:

I'd say Voyager Grimlock is the best. Grab him!

===HERO

If you liked Beast Wars, I recommend getting the 25th Dinobot instead. He's the Dinobot that fans have been wanting for years for. He's as show accurate as you can get without going up to a Leader Class or higher. The only things wrong with the US release is the colors are very off and the sword is werid (due to being a missile). The Henkei (Japanese) fixes the colors so they are show accurate too.

Here he is in the US colors (which are very off, but I assume you don't want to import).
http://www.hasbrotoyshop.com/Product...&ID=23898&PG=1

And here's the Henkei (just to show how accurate it is):
http://vault.error-403.net/files/3/Dinobot.JPG

Anyways, I thought Animated Grimlock was one of the most disappointing Animated figures (along with Snarl/Slag). He ain't bad by any means, just simple and nothing great. If you want an Animated toy and you want a beast alt mode, I think he's the best though. If alt mode doesn't matter, try Soundwave, Jazz, Shockwave or Starscream (something I rarely say about Starscream). All of them are great. Soundwave comes with Laserbeak and Laserbeak is a guitor. He's made to be able to play it. Jazz is super poseable and has nunchucks. Shockwave is a quad-changer and disguise himself as and Autobot. Starscream is just a good figure.

Let's see, I have pictures of two of them...
http://vault.error-403.net/files/3/T...FuFighting.JPG
http://vault.error-403.net/files/3/P...aveReading.JPG

I actually like Snarl/Slag. He looks beefy and tough! Swoop's not bad either.

That Dinobot looks kinda crappy to me, but maybe that really is how he looked on the show. I never watched Beast Wars.

I'm waiting for the purple Shockwave. :)

Slag just can't take many good poses. The style is cool looking, but he's nothing special. Swoop is the best of the 3. I'm impressed by his beast mode, but like Grimlock, his bot mode is to simple. Still, I like them, I just think Hasbro phoned in on these 3 because they knew they'd sell from just being the Dinobots.

First, watch Beast Wars. It is one of the best animated shows of the 90's. Right up there with Batman and X-Men. The last 5 episodes of Season 2 (I like calling them the Toonami) are arguebly the best Transformers have ever had. Watch it. It's worth it.

Beast Machines (the direct sequel to BW) is also very well made. However, TF fans hate it because it's like the Fast Forward of Transformers. The characters change without warning and it ruins some fan favorites (including mine). Still, it is a good show, just needed some tweaking.

Here's the best full body shot I could find (From "Code of Hero." Again, watch BW :P):
http://tfwiki.net/w2/images2/4/40/BW...t_decision.jpg

Here's the original toy:
http://tfwiki.net/w2/images2/f/f8/Be...t_1996_toy.jpg
Not bad, but far from what it should be.

Here's a non-photoshoped picture of the US version (Damn Hasbro and their photoshoped pictures).
http://tfwiki.net/w2/images2/8/81/Di...ersedeluxe.jpg
It's not perfect, but it'd have to be a Masterpeice to be even close seeing as the CGI model from the show defies physics and he needs to cheat on some parts (this one even does it) like MP Prime cheats with an extra grill.

I'm sure a lot are and I like the colors. If it wasn't so much, I'd get him and use my other one as Longarms. Eitherway, I like Animated and I go for the in show colors.

OK... That Dinobot image has sold the figure to me :D



Shame that Animated Goldfire Grimlock was cancelled. :(

Which, the Henkei or the 25th? I bet the Henkei for color and the 25th for being a clear shot. I can't wait to have him :D

I don't think it the figure has been caneled, just the assortment. Arcee and Soundblaster were reassorted into different wave, thus looking caneled for a bit until they said otherwise.

Also, I've never been a fan of repaints. They clog the shelves far to much. The only thing I hate is when they make tiny changes and call it a day. That said, Gold Paint Syndrome Grimlock is different enough to be cool, but I'm sure it will be a clogger since everyone wants what's in the show.

Anyways, I just got Animated Jetfire and Jetstorm. Definitely not the best figures they're made, but not the worst (Then again, I like every Animated figure. Even Slag, whom I'm not the biggest fan of). Their pretty much the same, but I like Jetstorm better. The head is smaller and doesn't get in the way as much. I'm still not sure what they transform into. All I know is I never want to say their combined jet mode again (It's wrong sooooo many levels). Their Bot combined mode is cool and probably the best combiner we're getting this year. Came with a comic and unlike other TF comic tie-ins, this is easily canon. Very nice comic at intros the characters and sets them up for next season. If Animated continues like it should, I see Flame On and Ice Up variants in their future.

I need some help here I've got a Transformer shaped like a tape can anyone tell me what it's
called

Thanks

There's at least 25 cassettes tape TFs including repaints, just that it's a tape doesn't help much. Here's a list of all the cassettes made (Though the new Ravage isn't on the list, he is on the site linked from the old Ravage)
http://www.tfu.info/subgroup/cassettes.htm

The most common are Ravage, Laserbeak, Rumble, and Frenzy

Henkei :). So far I've been really happy with the Henkei versions of the figures to buy the 25th Universe ones, although Cyclonus I will gladly own both versions of.

It's a shame that. We have Roadbuster Ultra Magnus toys here shelf warming. We're not getting a UK release of the original apparentley.

I like every Animated figure too, despite some quality issues I've had in the past with loose joints, broken limbs (see the Shockwave entry on Figured Out) and parts that stick. Some super-glue, a small file and patience can make the difference though.

What keeps me interested is the concept. There is a whole back catalogue of different Transformers types that can be brought under one umbrella with one remediating style that blends it all in nicely. I'm also happy to hear that Blackout will likely still be going ahead as a toy.

I did pay up for a Jetfire/Jetstorm through an Australian friend months ago when they first surfaced in TRU Oz. Sadly, it seems that friend took my paypal money and ran for the hills. I hope to get a Safegaurd set at somepoint though, as the 2 pack looks like a real blast to own. Maybe it will be bargain bucket stock later on.

Is it true that the Headmaster head from Leader-Class Bulkhead is usable with Sentinel Prime too?

I think the Headmaster is usable with all of the leaders, but I think the sound/light features only work with Bulkhead. Don't quote me on that, though!

Headmaster plugs into all Leaders (Bulkhead, Megs, and Magnus), but as Wes said, only has sound on Bulkhead (The other 2 have their normal effects).

Sentinel Prime is sadly very tiny. In fact, he's one of the smallest TFA figures. You can put Headmaster on him, but it's really loose and little oversized. I pulled out Sentinel to pose with the twins, so I took this picture:
http://vault.error-403.net/files/3/T...asterPrime.JPG

While on the subject of Sentinel Prime... (Forgive the language. If mods have a problem with it, I'll censer it)
http://vault.error-403.net/files/3/T...AOWAR-FF26.JPG

Haha. Brilliant!

===HERO

If you live in Canada
 

If you live in Canada, or on the border in the States or just want the best TF convention EVER. Go to TFcon 2009. They just revealed out con exclusive.

Powered Commander

Only 500 made, new and exclusive to this version. 2 shoulder cannons and a case of Energon cubes. Done up in Diaclone colors. Perfect for your Universe/Henkei Optimus Prime, or better yet, a future kitbash into a blue repaint.

For more info, check out: http://www.tfcon.ca/

Prototype photo, not the final product

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...dcommander.jpg

Art (showing shoulder cannons and Energon case)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...nx/cons/pc.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1.../powered01.jpg

I hope they do a non-attendee package.

Am looking into this considering the Botcon pre-reg non-attendee packages all sold out within a few nano-clicks. I want my Leozack darn it! :D

===HERO

Wouldn't have mattered, Leozack and Skyquake are at con figures.

To be honest, I hate all the Botcon figures we've seen so far. Kup's mold doesn't even fit him. Scourge would have made a better Cyclonus. The new heads terrorable (well, Kup's is okay if you keep in mind that this is a young Kup, but still...). Then Leozack and Skyquake use a mold I just plain hate. I'm glad I can't go this year.

I love my Classics Magnus and wish I could get his armor, but it's to much for my wallet.

http://figuredouthq.blogspot.com/200...ports-car.html :)

===HERO

And how much did that cost you, Hero? :| I'm almost afraid to find out!