The Energon Pub

I noticed that when the arms 'telescope' in on themselves for car mode that sometimes they do not go in all the way. This means that it looks like the tabs on the arm panels will not meet the slots in the roof panel, and when you do slot them in there is a lot of tension and the panels look misaligned. My advice is to use a bit of force to make sure the arms are properly collapsed, and then the panels align up pretty well.

Fansproject do this with every figure, there is always some element of their design that either causes you to injure yourself or damage the figure. They're still awesome little figures though.

Agamemnon wrote:Yeah, there are times I fiddle with them and somehow magically the hood comes together and it's a car! I had a video a while back about transforming the feet, if you are having trouble there. I can re-post the YouTube link if desired.

I appreciate that but I got them figured out. They just really need some work to get them from mode to mode. Both modes are great, it's the getting them there... Haha!

Flux Convoy wrote:

Agamemnon wrote:Yeah, there are times I fiddle with them and somehow magically the hood comes together and it's a car! I had a video a while back about transforming the feet, if you are having trouble there. I can re-post the YouTube link if desired.

I appreciate that but I got them figured out. They just really need some work to get them from mode to mode. Both modes are great, it's the getting them there... Haha!

Indeed, the journey is half the fun/aggravation. But, hey, I like golf too...

About time they posted these images! After seeing Motormaster's bot mode I bit the bullet and jumped on board, have to get him in-hand for some annoying reason

I think I can live with this size Menasor standing beside Herc and Uranos, time will tell

Please FP, don't screw us with MM's price.

Those arms still look like crap.

I suspect I'll be keeping this just till TFC or MMC take on the stunticons.

I'm surprised he's taller than Bruticus (w/crossfire add-ons). Glad we can finally see a live comparison to other combiners. The straight view of this figure is a little disappointing, wish M3 (can we call him that now) was a bit more bulkier as the central figure. The previous pictures we've seen of the prototype at an angle were very However, still excited to pick these guys up, and hope it'll be finished by end of year (I'm pessimistic about the Sept release of M3).

This is a one of FPs sets that could use an extra add-on to do something about those arms like TFC does with their gestalt sets. Something along the lines of how Maketoys did with Giants forearms would make this set that much better.

I'm not too worried about the arm connections. I love the FP Bruticus gestalt but it looks pretty awkward too in this photo, actually worse than "Menasor". I'm just ready to see everything in high detail and color... and on my shelf too!

Bruticus needs some lifts in his shoes. I never thought he needed replacing in his entirety, but he's just too small within his own size class.

Menasor's arms are his weakest point. We were spoiled by Giant, I think. If they were using the trailer for the legs they may as well have used some to bulk up the arms too. Still, I like the overall look well enough.

Reading some other comments since my last posting, I'm wondering if MAYBE the combined mode will look more "full" once we get a picture of the production model of M3. All the black just makes it easier for the eye to pick out the colors of the surrounding figures and enhances any shortcomings of the proportions. Not that it will miraculously change folks minds about the shoulder connectors or anything like that, but for the reasons above I think our perception is being skewed.

I want to LOVE this figure, because I LOVE the Stunticons. I'm just ready to have displayed.

I think FP's just being outclassed by MMC, TFC, and MT. Their Menasor isn't nearly as bad as people are making it out to be. The combined mode itself seems on par with Bruticus. HOWEVER, they aren't upgrading a POS now and the competition just looks better as an overall robot. So you have a lack of an incredible before and after aspect as well as better robots being pumped out by others.

necr0blivion wrote:Reading some other comments since my last posting, I'm wondering if MAYBE the combined mode will look more "full" once we get a picture of the production model of M3. All the black just makes it easier for the eye to pick out the colors of the surrounding figures and enhances any shortcomings of the proportions. Not that it will miraculously change folks minds about the shoulder connectors or anything like that, but for the reasons above I think our perception is being skewed.

Also, having him displayed in a plain, non-descript stance hurts the presentation. For Bruticus at least, the fact that you have the forearms up and in action poses makes it really hard to tell that the "elbow" are just the smaller 'bots upper legs. I think full-colored, high quality shots will look infinitely better than the pics we've seen so far.

Also, why is Bruticus shorter? I was under the impression they'd be the same height. Is that picture at a weird angle or something?

Bruticus is shorter because Menasor's taller.

Yeah, someone needs to make extensions for his feet. I think that's really where the extra height comes in.

Gauntlet101010 wrote:Bruticus is shorter because Menasor's taller.

Yeah, someone needs to make extensions for his feet. I think that's really where the extra height comes in.

I seriously hope he's not that much taller. I was fine having two size classes for my Decepticon Gestalts: large for Hercules & Feral Rex (being huge construction vehicles + beasts), and slightly smaller for FP Bruticus & Intimidator (being comprised of smaller vehicles).

Oh well.

Those lower legs are looking rather chunky all of a sudden, but as it's been said, the pose probably isn't helping with that.

Kind of glad I never forked out for Bruticus Maximus the the Crossfire 2.0 sets. As awesome as it is, it's starting to look a little outdated these days.

We're really over due to see more details for Motormaster.

Uggghhh....those arms !!!!

Yeah FP dropped the ball on this project. Im still gonna buy him, but Im up for a 4th party Dead End and Drag Strip to replace the two bad apples.

Seriously, we need to see Motormaster already! In full color botmode, altmode and combined. I can't believe that they don't have a fully painted prototype yet. Even if it's half a year off, they could still have preorders somewhere.

zodconvoy wrote:Seriously, we need to see Motormaster already! In full color botmode, altmode and combined. I can't believe that they don't have a fully painted prototype yet. Even if it's half a year off, they could still have preorders somewhere.

That would ruin the surprise. We'll hear news as the supposed release date draws nearer that the figure has been delayed. This will continue into next year, at which point, on April 1st, 2014 FP will announce that there will be no Motormaster at all, and that we bought these 4 cars that actually don't combine with anything for nothing .

xyl360 wrote:

zodconvoy wrote:Seriously, we need to see Motormaster already! In full color botmode, altmode and combined. I can't believe that they don't have a fully painted prototype yet. Even if it's half a year off, they could still have preorders somewhere.

That would ruin the surprise. We'll hear news as the supposed release date draws nearer that the figure has been delayed. This will continue into next year, at which point, on April 1st, 2014 FP will announce that there will be no Motormaster at all, and that we bought these 4 cars that actually don't combine with anything for nothing .

lol. that would be a terrible April Fools joke.

Rated X wrote:Uggghhh....those arms !!!!

Yeah FP dropped the ball on this project. Im still gonna buy him, but Im up for a 4th party Dead End and Drag Strip to replace the two bad apples.

I agree with you 100%! Maybe someone can make rear spoilers for them that turn in covers for the knees

Arctorro wrote:

Rated X wrote:Uggghhh....those arms !!!!

Yeah FP dropped the ball on this project. Im still gonna buy him, but Im up for a 4th party Dead End and Drag Strip to replace the two bad apples.

I agree with you 100%! Maybe someone can make rear spoilers for them that turn in covers for the knees

That's a good idea, assuming it wouldn't hinder articulation. It's funny that they made the legs combine the same way that the lame (in my opinion) customs I've seen in the past have where they aren't actually the legs, just sitting on top of/attached to the legs of the gestalt underneath yet the arms are the same as on the much dated and lackluster Has/Tak combiners where the articulation is all in the legs of the bot that forms the arm. I guess there wouldn't be any other way to gain real elbow articulation while still retaining the proper G1 look, but it still sorta sucks.

I really liked TFC's answer to this problem with Herc. Using the treads as the forearms was a brilliant move and made the arms still look as though they were composed of the vehicles themselves (because they were) instead of like half a car attached to the shoulders with robot legs attached to a fist like this one.

xyl360 wrote:

Arctorro wrote:

Rated X wrote:Uggghhh....those arms !!!!

Yeah FP dropped the ball on this project. Im still gonna buy him, but Im up for a 4th party Dead End and Drag Strip to replace the two bad apples.

I agree with you 100%! Maybe someone can make rear spoilers for them that turn in covers for the knees

That's a good idea, assuming it wouldn't hinder articulation.

Thanks

xyl360 wrote:It's funny that they made the legs combine the same way that the lame (in my opinion) customs I've seen in the past have where they aren't actually the legs, just sitting on top of/attached to the legs of the gestalt underneath yet the arms are the same as on the much dated and lackluster Has/Tak combiners where the articulation is all in the legs of the bot that forms the arm. I guess there wouldn't be any other way to gain real elbow articulation while still retaining the proper G1 look, but it still sorta sucks.

I'm in two minds about the legs... It is a bit half-arsed, but it also helps to soak up some of the much bigger Motormaster. So, for now at least, I'm going with it. Agree completely with the arms, they look like they belong on a toy from 10 years ago.

xyl360 wrote:I really liked TFC's answer to this problem with Herc. Using the treads as the forearms was a brilliant move and made the arms still look as though they were composed of the vehicles themselves (because they were) instead of like half a car attached to the shoulders with robot legs attached to a fist like this one.

That was really inspired. To my mind it seems like a no-brainer, bots that become arms can use their robot mode hips as the elbows if it makes things easier, but hide those damn knees

That design style helps keep me with TFC and MMC scaled combiners.

I don't think the "using treads" logic really applies to cars. There's no treads to use. Plus construction vehicles are bulkier and make for more convincing arms than cars to as well.

Maybe another 3rd party company will see reason and give us skeleton arms the two cars can attack to, like the legs do. But, seeing as nobody has given us replacements for the Energon Bruticus limbs, I am not holding my breath.