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Since the announcement that Machine Wars will be next year's theme for BotCon 2013, everyone has the same question in their little heads; what molds will be used to create the characters in Machine Wars?

Turn your audio receptors to me, gentlemen, because you're in the right place!

This thread is designed to voice the opinions to Energon Pub regulars on what molds will be used to use as characters for the enigmatic Machine Wars series. Remember to keep it clean, respect fellow users, and type away as many possibilities your little pea-brained brilliant minds can process!

I'd like to see either Cybertron Defence Red Alert as Soundwave or Universe Silverbolt as Starscream, but I suspect we won't see both due to cost.

If they choose to do non-MW characters, I'd love to see what The Club could do with the Hailstorm/Mindset mold.

We don't really have much to go with. We will see some older characters, not all, but we'll also get new characters. And last I heard, no A/E/C or Unicron Trilogy molds will be used. so that pretty much excludes Soundwave as an ICBM Tank.

I think Megaplex is sure to return, as well as Megatron himself (hello? Easy repaint!), but which jet mold? Same question for Starscream and the Seekers.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:We don't really have much to go with. We will see some older characters, not all, but we'll also get new characters. And last I heard, no A/E/C or Unicron Trilogy molds will be used. so that pretty much excludes Soundwave as an ICBM Tank.

I think Megaplex is sure to return, as well as Megatron himself (hello? Easy repaint!), but which jet mold? Same question for Starscream and the Seekers.

Where did they say they weren't going to use any UT molds this time around anyway? I mean, let's be honest here, cost isn't an issue, with what they charge for the things. They could easily use any existing mold, I'm sure, and still make a grand profit.

I've taken the image and somewhat boosted it. Here are the results:



Now, we all know who these guys are: Soundwave, Megatron, and Starscream, respectively. But what molds are they? We'll start with Soundwave.




For Soundwave, there aren't many ICBM carrier (or similar vehicles) Transformers around. We have Stalker, the original Machine Wars Soundwave, Doubledealer... and Cybertron's CDF Red Alert. Since Red Alert is the more poseable of the bunch, it would make sense that his mold be used as Soundwave.



I understand that this mold is already shared by fellow BotCon exclusive Darksyde Megatron, but it's the only one that really makes sense.



Megatron (or Megaplex) seemed a little trickier to deduce. After sifting through memory, toy galleries, and even toys off my own shelf, I have concluded that Megatron/Megaplex shares a mold with none other than Energon Starscream.



Reasoning? Compare the BotCon poster's central character to the image of Energon Starscream above. Their wings are an almost perfect match.

Same as Soundwave, I am aware that this mold has been previously used to make Classics Leozack and Lyzack. But again, the comparison is uncanny.



Starscream is the trickiest. As of the typing of this post, I still haven't figured this one out. In due time, I'll find something.

If they don't use Unicron Trilogy molds, what could they use that doesn't have hindered articulation?

PrymeStriker wrote:If they don't use Unicron Trilogy molds, what could they use that doesn't have hindered articulation?

What makes you guys so sure they'll even be made to begin with?

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

PrymeStriker wrote:If they don't use Unicron Trilogy molds, what could they use that doesn't have hindered articulation?

What makes you guys so sure they'll even be made to begin with?

Maybe not, but I want them to.

This time around I'm finding my self not too interested in the Botcon story, so I'm going to just sit back and wait to see who/what gets made for the set. I'd like to add myself to the small but seemingly growing number of voices saying that the Club may not be putting out a set of remade original MW characters, but rather a completely new group, something akin to the Star Seekers in Prime.
Maybe we're going to get a whole new group/faction rather than the same old junk redone. I think it'd be cooler to get some new fiction/characters than another Soundwave and Megatron, despite both of those guys being Botcon rarities.

*Bump* Ow, my head...

After some cleaning, I came up with some ideas of possibilities:

1) Sandstorm: DotM Skyhammer
This is one I'm hoping will come out. The vehicle mode matches, it's not a licensed vehicle, if anything they could leave the MechTech weapon out if it's too troublesome otherwise. If this comes to pass, it'll confirm my suspicions even movie main line molds can be used. Have I mentioned I really love the mold?




2) Hoist/Hubcap, maybe even RiD Tow-Line: Movie Longarm
Longarm has been repainted into RotF Hoist (who I repurposed as Classics Hoist for now), plus the head has G1 Hoist written all over it. MW Hoist was repainted into RiD Tow-Line, and since Side Burn appears in the Wings Universe (the story is set after G2: Redux), I don't see why Tow-Line shouldn't.





Well, a proper start's finally been made. Any other ideas?

Heh - I just thought of the movie Breakaway mold for Megatron and Megaplex, and the movie Dreadwing mold for Starscream.

Interesting chatter... I have to say, if the entire line were from movie toys it would be a dramatic and kinda cool reinvention of the machine wars line. I also have to say, I might skip it and save a good thousand bucks. Was never too keen on the movie line's aesthetics. Hmmmm.

Mind you, if they turn out to be classics and Trilogy molds, I'm in as always.

Mirage does seem like a shoe in. His mold is underutilized, and there is the obvious Prowl repaint. That one thing leads me to believe they will stick with the classics style toys.

It does seem like a real stroke of genius doing Machine Wars. Instead of obscure or new characters, that's a whole line of important name characters and leaders to include. Prime, Megs, Prowl, Mirage, Soundwave, Starscream... A lot of fans will deem those as must-have.

I still think we might see some powercores!
Mirage/Prowl- Leadfoot
Hoist/Hubcap- Huffer or Smolder
Megatron/Plex- Skyhammer
Cracker/Skywarp- Skyburst

ausbot wrote:I still think we might see some powercores!
Mirage/Prowl- Leadfoot
Hoist/Hubcap- Huffer or Smolder
Megatron/Plex- Skyhammer
Cracker/Skywarp- Skyburst

Powercore Combiners was so short-lived, I completely forgot about them. If they do plan to use that line's molds, will they do away with the combiner heads and connectors, or keep them in favor of adding a plot twist that some of the characters are now combiners?

*Leadfoot's a good one. Agreeable.

*I'd say Huffer would be the more acceptable of the two. Neither Hoist nor Hubcap were emergency-response trucks.

*I'm sticking to my theory of Energon Starscream being Megatron/Megaplex until otherwise. Those wings are just too damn similar.

*Skyburst is a maybe. I wouldn't necessarily agree, but I'm not disagreeing either. Mental limbo for him.

Mindmaster wrote:

ausbot wrote:I still think we might see some powercores!
Mirage/Prowl- Leadfoot
Hoist/Hubcap- Huffer or Smolder
Megatron/Plex- Skyhammer
Cracker/Skywarp- Skyburst

Powercore Combiners was so short-lived, I completely forgot about them. If they do plan to use that line's molds, will they do away with the combiner heads and connectors, or keep them in favor of adding a plot twist that some of the characters are now combiners?

*Leadfoot's a good one. Agreeable.

*I'd say Huffer would be the more acceptable of the two. Neither Hoist nor Hubcap were emergency-response trucks.

*I'm sticking to my theory of Energon Starscream being Megatron/Megaplex until otherwise. Those wings are just too damn similar.

*Skyburst is a maybe. I wouldn't necessarily agree, but I'm not disagreeing either. Mental limbo for him.

Using PCC makes a lot of sense - especially if the "machine" part of Machine Wars refers to drone combat.

Skyhammer's chunky head could easily be swapped for Megatron/plex, and Skyhammer is one of the beefier PCCs. The rest would do nicely.

I think Starscream is looking like Cybertron Wingsabre.

Problem though, is between the big 3 of the cons, we would have 2 Ultras and 1 Deluxe. Ultras haven't been in the box set since 2005.

So if Soundwave and Starscream are the molds we think they are, chances are they will be split between the two souvenir sets while Megatron will be in the box set.

I would also anticipate Megaplex, Thundercracker, and Skywarp as the troop-builder set, all using the Energon Screamer mold.

They could also go with TC and Skywarp out of the Cybertron Thundercracker mold with Megaplex drones as the troop builder alone. I could also see Megaplex as a single release and he would be the attendee freebie.

You will also notice that while Megatron has not been in the box set, Prime has been several times now. I think this changes this year. I'm guessing that they only want one them in the box set at a time to encourage sales of the souvenir sets. Probably why Starscream was in the SG box set instead of Megatron (despite both being voyagers). So if Megs is in the box set, Prime will be in the souvenir set.

Fender Bender wrote:Problem though, is between the big 3 of the cons, we would have 2 Ultras and 1 Deluxe. Ultras haven't been in the box set since 2005.

Try 2009: Landshark (Energon Landmine) was Ultra-sized. Or better yet: 2010 with Clench (Universe 2008 Onslaught).

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

Fender Bender wrote:Problem though, is between the big 3 of the cons, we would have 2 Ultras and 1 Deluxe. Ultras haven't been in the box set since 2005.

Try 2009: Landshark (Energon Landmine) was Ultra-sized. Or better yet: 2010 with Clench (Universe 2008 Onslaught).

Whoops, I suppose so.

Even still though, there was only 1 Ultra in each set. Doubtful they would put 2 Ultras in a box set.

Fender Bender wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

Fender Bender wrote:Problem though, is between the big 3 of the cons, we would have 2 Ultras and 1 Deluxe. Ultras haven't been in the box set since 2005.

Try 2009: Landshark (Energon Landmine) was Ultra-sized. Or better yet: 2010 with Clench (Universe 2008 Onslaught).

Whoops, I suppose so.

Even still though, there was only 1 Ultra in each set. Doubtful they would put 2 Ultras in a box set.

Fully agreeing with that. Although, 2008 had two Voyagers, 2009 had an Ultra plus a Voyager as did 2010. With the current standings, two Voyagers is the limit for any box set.

But we also mustn't forget the souvenir sets, which can contain just about anything... just no Leaders.

There might be two Voyager scale figures in the box set, but I doubt they'll both be cons. One of them will probably be an Autobot analogue. Similar to the Shattered Glass and Generation 2: Redux sets, there'll be one big bad guy and one big good guy.

I concur that the troop builder set makes the most sense with Thundercracker, Skywarp, and Megaplex (assuming they're all the same mold), and the 2 packs will likely have one set with a Voyager scale figure, likely the Soundwave or Starscream analogue.

What do you mean when you say the word analogue?

Wondering if the troop builder might BE Megaplex. An army of little Megatrons!

That's me using a misnomer. It'd be more accurate to say "previous figure with new head sculpt and paint job that is now Machine Wars Soundwave".

An army of Megaplexes would be nice, but that leaves us without a full set of Decepticons. It's also possible the troop builders will be a set of someone new, like Starscream clones. The Club indicated there'd be a few old characters and a few new characters.

We get 15 or 16 figures each year. I'm thinking they'll cover the main characters for sure. Doubt they'd leave out the seekers. Wow. There were only 12 of the original run. They could do them all... and using only 7 molds.

Megatron, Megaplex, Starscream, Soundwave, Thundercracker, Skywarp
Prime, Mirage, Prowl, Hoist, Hubcap, Sandstorm

BUT another thing they might do, which I'd be fully behind. They could do a repaint of one of these as the original european toy to go with the crazy colored G2 universe and set... could be Stalker, Skyquake, Thunderclash, Rotorstorm or one of the insanely bright colored jets like Snare or Skydive. Not to mention Calcar, who's head sculpt was pretty awesome.

Wow, I'm excited about the repaint potential here. Hope they do some of these.

I think anyone with the G2 set would love to pick up add-ons like this to go with their set.

The Club also mentioned their intent to upgrade some "Basic" scale figures up to a "Voyager" scale. My guess here would be Megatron/Megaplex, because Soundwave and Starscream were already larger figures. The most popular mold choice so far has been Energon Starscream for Megs, but I'm thinking we might see him voyager scale instead, with the army builder set left to the three seekers.

That leaves a few likely candidates, if Megatron is being redesigned as a Voyager:

Prime: Dreadwing/Skyquake (probably too soon for this mold to be available), PRiD Starscream

Classics: Jetfire, Dreadwind

Universe: Darkwind/Silverbolt (my money's on this mold), Stormcloud/Powerglide

RoTF: Starscream, Mindwipe (this one also strikes me as possible)

2007 Movie: Starscream, Jetstorm

Cybertron: Starscream, Soundwave (I find either of these unlikely), Jetfire/Sky Shadow (plausible), Wing Saber (plausible again, though I wish he had hands)

Energon: Jetfire (again), Wing Saber (kind of a brick tho)

Armada: Jetfire (again, but less likely)



Any favorites?

Henry921 wrote:Prime: Dreadwing/Skyquake (probably too soon for this mold to be available), PRiD Starscream

I could see Megatron/Megaplex coming from the Skyquake/Dreadwing mold. Starscream is just way too skinny to make a Megatron.

Classics: Jetfire, Dreadwind

I'm on the fence on this one. I'll give it some thought.

Universe: Darkwind/Silverbolt

Money on this as being Starscream.

RoTF: Mindwipe (this one also strikes me as possible)

Perhaps as ATB Megatron with Starscream using the Skystalker mold...

2007 Movie: Starscream, Jetstorm

That's where I'm going to say no at. Movie Starscream in general, with his thin chicken legs, just scream "AW HELL NAW" to me.