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Emerje wrote:To say nothing of all of the retail Commanders being unique molds so far. Also, to curb expectations, there's no reason to believe his Super Mode will be much bigger than our largest modern leader, just with a higher parts count. Definitely won't be Combiner sized.

Emerje

I disagree hard, I think you're very much underestimating what they can pull off.
1. Legacy Motormaster proves that Combiner height is possible with a Commander-class figure even when it has a separate, modern!Voyager-ish robot. And there are even parts of the trailer not integrated into the Menasor frame.
2. Armada Optimus' cab robot (which lacks any G1 animation model nonsense to try and replicate) would not require the transformation complexity of Kingdom Rodimus or Legacy Motormaster's cab robot, which will save on engineering costs.
3. Armada Optimus' super mode legs would be TR Powermaster Optimus Prime levels of hollow.

You're also overlooking that Leaders haven't really seen much shrinkage since Prime Wars - they've just mostly gotten denser vs. large yet thin (with the exception of the Studio Series Dinobots). With that in mind, and looking at the PotP Evolution figures... a Leader alone would still be capable of a Leader-height Armada Optimus or at least close to it, if made to that standard (again, especially with how hollow the legs would be). Hell, they could get a Leader-height one via a Selects reshell-and-tweak of PotP Rodimus. So again, I think a Commander-class one will be capable of more than you're crediting it with.

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:

Emerje wrote:To say nothing of all of the retail Commanders being unique molds so far. Also, to curb expectations, there's no reason to believe his Super Mode will be much bigger than our largest modern leader, just with a higher parts count. Definitely won't be Combiner sized.

Emerje

I disagree hard, I think you're very much underestimating what they can pull off.
1. Legacy Motormaster proves that Combiner height is possible with a Commander-class figure even when it has a separate, modern!Voyager-ish robot. And there are even parts of the trailer not integrated into the Menasor frame.
2. Armada Optimus' cab robot (which lacks any G1 animation model nonsense to try and replicate) would not require the transformation complexity of Kingdom Rodimus or Legacy Motormaster's cab robot, which will save on engineering costs.
3. Armada Optimus' super mode legs would be TR Powermaster Optimus Prime levels of hollow.

You're also overlooking that Leaders haven't really seen much shrinkage since Prime Wars - they've just mostly gotten denser vs. large yet thin (with the exception of the Studio Series Dinobots). With that in mind, and looking at the PotP Evolution figures... a Leader alone would still be capable of a Leader-height Armada Optimus or at least close to it, if made to that standard (again, especially with how hollow the legs would be). Hell, they could get a Leader-height one via a Selects reshell-and-tweak of PotP Rodimus. So again, I think a Commander-class one will be capable of more than you're crediting it with.

I tend to agree. Commander prime is likely to end up much taller than leaders, just because of how he combines with his trailer, and the fact it can be pretty much hollow.

His cab robot will likely end up being normal Prime height, like Earthise or Laser sized.

For a general idea:

Menasor is just a frame, even if you include the parts that are left over there isn't enough material to fill in that frame to give us the bulk required to make a satisfying Armada Prime in super mode. You can't take that arm frames and apply them to the legs because you need that bulk to stay with the core bot if you're going to make him a convincing super mode.

Also, this:



This isn't going to be acceptable in a modern figure. That's more plastic that's going to have to be allocated to the torso. This isn't as simple as taking the original and working in knees, hips and ankles. The only way they can do everything necessary to modernize Armada Optimus Prime at the Motormaster price point is to make it smaller than Menasor.

Emerje

I just wanted to share my latest addition to y Cybertron line. A while back stopping by some garage sales, my wife spotted some Transformers. One of those was Quickmix. While he was missing his mini-con, missile, Cyber Key and part of his mixer, he cost a whopping 50 cents, hard to pass that up. Since then i have at least bought his missile. Overall, he is in good condition and still has tight joints, for the most part. For the remaining pieces, that could be hard and people in hell might get ice water first but its all good.

SGM

Congrats on Quickmix, although I fear you may be right about Hell freezing before you find Stripmine and the other mixer shell.

Emerje wrote:Menasor is just a frame, even if you include the parts that are left over there isn't enough material to fill in that frame to give us the bulk required to make a satisfying Armada Prime in super mode.

Except that Armada Optimus' super mode legs were as hollow as it gets, with the heft coming from the motor and batttery box. They wouldn't need to "fill in" anything, they'd just need to make them be 4-sided hollow boxes instead of 3-sided. And I think there certainly is enough for that,

Emerje wrote:You can't take that arm frames and apply them to the legs because you need that bulk to stay with the core bot if you're going to make him a convincing super mode.

I think you're forgetting that Armada Optimus' super arms would only need to be about half as wide. And Armada Optimus wouldn't need that big chestplate, so that's another chunk of mass free for the leg boxes. The core bot would likely also be a cheaper to engineer than Motormaster or Rodimus Prime, which is money freed up to use elsewhere on the figure.

Emerje wrote:Also, this:



This isn't going to be acceptable in a modern figure. That's more plastic that's going to have to be allocated to the torso.

Mmm, I don't know. They might have to accept some gappiness there if they want him to have more than 90 degrees of outward arm movement. Although they might be able to mitigate it by 1. making better use of the forearms (instead of having them awkwardly floating there doing nothing) and 2. tweaking the pelvis split (which they'd have freedom to do since the super head could be stuck in where the circuit board went on the original). If they're somehow able to retain the backpack, that could be made to tuck in closer.

Emerje wrote:This isn't as simple as taking the original and working in knees, hips and ankles. The only way they can do everything necessary to modernize Armada Optimus Prime at the Motormaster price point is to make it smaller than Menasor.

Emerje

Fine, continue conditioning yourself to believe it can't be done then. I guess that just means you'll be pleasantly surprised when they do it.

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:Fine, continue conditioning yourself to believe it can't be done then. I guess that just means you'll be pleasantly surprised when they do it.

We'll know who's right in a few months, probably at Toy Fair.

Emerje

Here are the two latest additions to my Cybertron collection!
To add to my Decepticons is Lugnutz. His robot mode has character even if it is a bit limited articulation wise, but the transformation is fun to do back and forth and his vehicle mode is cool. It's nice to have another in-show (non-Planet-X) Decepticon in hand.






I was also able to score a Crosswise! This figure was one of my grails, so finding him complete in person for a good price was unbelievable. He looks fantastic, and the transformation pulls a few tricks I wasn't expecting. Definitely one of the top figures in the line for me. I'm waiting to get his partner Evac because I'm holding out for a generations version in the same vein as Override and Metroplex (even if it isn't next year). But for now he goes very nicely with the rest of the crew. He's very fun to mess around with.




I don't recall him ever actually using these in the cartoon, but his back kibble can be slung under his arms Optimus-Super-Mode style.




300th post!

Crosswise is so much fun, that is one of my favorites!

Congrats on scoring Lugnutz and Crosswise, Whifflefire, very nice! I still need to get those two. As far as show characters/toys I'm still missing them, Dirt Boss, Brimstone, Undermine, Menasor, the Recon Mini-Con Team, Drill Bit, the Scrapmetals, and (sigh) the Cobybot. Also Longrack, Blurr, and Buzzsaw.
I don't know about holding out for a new Evac tho - the original's pretty solid, and in his case an update risks being another shallow imitation rather than improving much.


This is finally fit to show off, since I at last have the helmet. Gonna have to do a super mode group shot soon.

Q Whifflefire, apologize for the belated response but loving what you have there, great group of Transformers from that line. The two i don’t have in that group is Mudflap and Landmine; hoping to add them to my Cybertron shelf down the road.

@ ZeldaTheSwordsman, congrats on finding that part for your OP. Not sure how long it took to find that piece but i know sometimes it can take awhile to find select parts. Looking forward to seeing some super mode shots.

For myself, once i get this remaining part for Quickmix, i will update it with a photo. But from a previous post talking about how hard it would be to find his minicon: Stripmine, I was very lucky to find a partial complete Quickmix with Stripmine for 7 bucks. Cant complain about that. What i have coming will complete the mixer of the vehicle and I already bought the cyber key. Looking forward to having him 100%.

SGM

SGMLordMirage wrote:Q Whifflefire, apologize for the belated response but loving what you have there, great group of Transformers from that line. The two i don’t have in that group is Mudflap and Landmine; hoping to add them to my Cybertron shelf down the road.

@ ZeldaTheSwordsman, congrats on finding that part for your OP. Not sure how long it took to find that piece but i know sometimes it can take awhile to find select parts. Looking forward to seeing some super mode shots.

For myself, once i get this remaining part for Quickmix, i will update it with a photo. But from a previous post talking about how hard it would be to find his minicon: Stripmine, I was very lucky to find a partial complete Quickmix with Stripmine for 7 bucks. Cant complain about that. What i have coming will complete the mixer of the vehicle and I already bought the cyber key. Looking forward to having him 100%.

SGM

Congratulations on completing Quickmix! That mold is really fun. I have it as Universe Heavy Load. One of the only cement mixer Transformers I can think of whose mixing barrel actually spins. In robot mode, it can be used as a big mallet as well.

So with god news, my Quickmix is finally at 100% with proper cyber key. All in all not bad for a guy i paid 50 cents for and spent roughly 25 to 30 bucks to make him complete. I was surprised it didn't take as long to find his minicon Stripmine, i think i got lucky there. It wont be the same for finding Menasor’s minicon- Heavy Load. I feel that will still take some time to find.

Enjoy!

SGM

Couple items I pulled out of storage while looking for Christmas decorations.

Sweet, love it!

I’m legitimately scared at how tight Scorponok’s joints are now. I guess 17 years I guess have affected the ratchet joints.

Overcracker wrote:Couple items I pulled out of storage while looking for Christmas decorations.

Are you gonna put them on or under the tree?

That Scorponok mold is a guilty pleasure for me. I'll admit that he's not that great in robot mode, but I would love to have a copy of each version of him.

Scorponok
Dark Scorponok
Doublepunch
Pirate Scorponok

Any others?

Rodimus Prime wrote:

Overcracker wrote:Couple items I pulled out of storage while looking for Christmas decorations.

Are you gonna put them on or under the tree?

That Scorponok mold is a guilty pleasure for me. I'll admit that he's not that great in robot mode, but I would love to have a copy of each version of him.

Scorponok
Dark Scorponok
Doublepunch
Pirate Scorponok

Any others?

Hadn’t though of that. But that would be fun. Put them under the tree,. And unwrap 17 and 19 year old toys come Christmas morning.

As to the mold, I think the only other usae besides those 4 is Superlink Megazarak. Close to Energon Scorponok, but all the orange is replaced with yellow.

It would definitely be nice to have those four molds. I have the Energon version and would love to add at least Dark Scorponok to my collection.

In regards to whether or not to place them on or under the tree, which a nice thought, under the tree would be cool. Of course, depending on yr tree tucking them inside on the branches might be a nice nice in their alt modes.

SGM

I was thinking like in gun battle poses if the tree branches can support them. Hanging off the tree with 1 arm while aiming to fire with the other.

That would be cool looking!

If we ever get an updated Energon Optimus Prime in Generations I really hope they do and updated Wing Saber with articulation to go with him, that's a must! And then we can top things off with a Titan Energon Omega Supreme.

Emerje

I would love an updated Energon OP and a Wing Saber; having the ability to combine would be awesome. A Titan Class Energon Omega Supreme would be fantastic as well, totally agree.

Final wish, I know the talks about the next Haslab being something to commemorate 40th anniversary or something to that affect but it would be awesome if it was a representation of Cybertron Primus.

SGM

SGMLordMirage wrote:I would love an updated Energon OP and a Wing Saber; having the ability to combine would be awesome. A Titan Class Energon Omega Supreme would be fantastic as well, totally agree.

Final wish, I know the talks about the next Haslab being something to commemorate 40th anniversary or something to that affect but it would be awesome if it was a representation of Cybertron Primus.

SGM

Primus has got to be one of their front runners on choices, though it's hard to say if it'll be specifically the UT version. It could be a mix of different takes on Primus, personally I'd like one that has the Marvel head (the one that looks like Rodimus), maybe it could even be a stretch goal like they've done with the Marvel Legends HasLab figures (Galactus and Sentinel).

Emerje

Im sure there would be a variation but definitely like your thought process of choice they could perhaps do. Either way it would be a great project for sure.

SGMLordMirage wrote:So with god news, my Quickmix is finally at 100% with proper cyber key. All in all not bad for a guy i paid 50 cents for and spent roughly 25 to 30 bucks to make him complete. I was surprised it didn't take as long to find his minicon Stripmine, i think i got lucky there. It wont be the same for finding Menasor’s minicon- Heavy Load. I feel that will still take some time to find.

Enjoy!

SGM

Nice! Well done! Looks great!