Seibertron.com Energon Pub Forums

shajaki wrote:X, why do you say it's big for nothing? It's MP scaled. Just cause it's not a scale you prefer doesn't mean it's pointless.

The more he says it, the more I'm convinced he is trying to talk himself out of a purchase.

So I'm trying to knock the pin out of Vortex's tail fins so I can rearrange the parts in a more pleasing way (and hopefully one where the tail rotor doesn't hit the main one) but this damn thing is in there. Anyone got any trick to share on popping this thing out? Had one started that managed to wiggle itself back in further somehow :/

ScottyP wrote:So I'm trying to knock the pin out of Vortex's tail fins so I can rearrange the parts in a more pleasing way (and hopefully one where the tail rotor doesn't hit the main one) but this damn thing is in there. Anyone got any trick to share on popping this thing out? Had one started that managed to wiggle itself back in further somehow :/

The tail rotor pin?

Are you setting a soldering iron to it before working at leveraging it out?

Touch the iron to the pin and the heat will travel down, separating the plastic a bit and making it easy to pull.

Counterpunch wrote:

ScottyP wrote:So I'm trying to knock the pin out of Vortex's tail fins so I can rearrange the parts in a more pleasing way (and hopefully one where the tail rotor doesn't hit the main one) but this damn thing is in there. Anyone got any trick to share on popping this thing out? Had one started that managed to wiggle itself back in further somehow :/

The tail rotor pin?

Are you setting a soldering iron to it before working at leveraging it out?

Touch the iron to the pin and the heat will travel down, separating the plastic a bit and making it easy to pull.

Sometimes I read things and then think, "I knew that, once upon a time, but forgot." Thanks!

Warbotron WB01-E - Fierce Attack In stock at BBTS for $118.99.

http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=WAR10004&mode=retail

Also the full set available for $494.99

http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=WAR10009&mode=retail

I finished this guy.

He really is not as big in person as he seems in pictures.

I think he was 14.5 inches to the top of head and 17.5 inches to the top of his back cannons.

What comparison shots would be useful to see?

Counterpunch wrote:I finished this guy.

He really is not as big in person as he seems in pictures.

I think he was 14.5 inches to the top of head and 17.5 inches to the top of his back cannons.

What comparison shots would be useful to see?

Would love to see him next to feral rex with the thighs not extended. But I gotta ask, if you had known hasbro was doing bruticus for CW, would you have still gone all in ? Or are you using this for your MP shelf ?

Counterpunch wrote:I finished this guy.

He really is not as big in person as he seems in pictures.

I think he was 14.5 inches to the top of head and 17.5 inches to the top of his back cannons.

What comparison shots would be useful to see?

Feral Rex, Herc, Uranos

Those would be extremely helpful for me to make a decision.

next to tfc defensor if you got that

rpetras wrote:Feral Rex, Herc, Uranos

Those would be extremely helpful for me to make a decision.

mbd88prime wrote:next to tfc defensor if you got that

Will do.

Rated X wrote:

Counterpunch wrote:I finished this guy.

He really is not as big in person as he seems in pictures.

I think he was 14.5 inches to the top of head and 17.5 inches to the top of his back cannons.

What comparison shots would be useful to see?

Would love to see him next to feral rex with the thighs not extended. But I gotta ask, if you had known hasbro was doing bruticus for CW, would you have still gone all in ? Or are you using this for your MP shelf ?

Will do.

The answer is yes, I would have still gone in and no I would not have bought this for an MP shelf. These are going with my Classics. I know that will make you curious, so I'll try and explain...

I think we've all been operating off a faulty premise; that Devastator and Predaking MUST be the largest combiners. Those two, being the ones we scale the others off of, is bad policy. Most combiners are Scramble City type: Five members, one of which is significantly larger than the limbs. Neither Devastator nor Predaking is Scramble City. Each one has a combination method unique to itself.

Uranos really convinced me that the SC type combiners work best with Voyager-ish sized limbs and a leader sized center bot. It made the argument to me more effectively than the FP Menasor did with its scaling.

Now, the SC combiners have some things unique to them, mostly the variation the center bots provide in height, scale, and relative lankiness; and the issue of their "shoes." Take off the shoes on TFC's Defensor or Warbo's Bruticus and they are essentially the same size as the otherwise "shoeless" TFC Devastator.

Further, Warbo's Bruticus is really deceptive on a number of fronts. The individual bots do a lot of unfolding. They are about the same weight as a TFC bot, but end up slightly taller due to their transformations. Bruticus looks HUGE because of his shoulder arrangement. His head sits at 14.5 inches, which isn't too much more than Herc and even less of a discrepancy against Superion and Defensor.

I think maybe Bruticus is supposed to be the largest of the Earth based vehicle combiners. His modes are the most robust and aside from Predaking's exaggerated statement of strength (1 million tons), Bruticus is the only combiner who's profile discusses strength.

I don't know if it sounds like I'm rationalizing my decision, but these were things I considered before jumping in. Pictures will speak louder and I'll prepare some this weekend if time allows.

Counterpunch wrote:

rpetras wrote:Feral Rex, Herc, Uranos

Those would be extremely helpful for me to make a decision.

mbd88prime wrote:next to tfc defensor if you got that

Will do.

Rated X wrote:

Counterpunch wrote:I finished this guy.

He really is not as big in person as he seems in pictures.

I think he was 14.5 inches to the top of head and 17.5 inches to the top of his back cannons.

What comparison shots would be useful to see?

Would love to see him next to feral rex with the thighs not extended. But I gotta ask, if you had known hasbro was doing bruticus for CW, would you have still gone all in ? Or are you using this for your MP shelf ?

Will do.

The answer is yes, I would have still gone in and no I would not have bought this for an MP shelf. These are going with my Classics. I know that will make you curious, so I'll try and explain...

I think we've all been operating off a faulty premise; that Devastator and Predaking MUST be the largest combiners. Those two, being the ones we scale the others off of, is bad policy. Most combiners are Scramble City type: Five members, one of which is significantly larger than the limbs. Neither Devastator nor Predaking is Scramble City. Each one has a combination method unique to itself.

Uranos really convinced me that the SC type combiners work best with Voyager-ish sized limbs and a leader sized center bot. It made the argument to me more effectively than the FP Menasor did with its scaling.

Now, the SC combiners have some things unique to them, mostly the variation the center bots provide in height, scale, and relative lankiness; and the issue of their "shoes." Take off the shoes on TFC's Defensor or Warbo's Bruticus and they are essentially the same size as the otherwise "shoeless" TFC Devastator.

Further, Warbo's Bruticus is really deceptive on a number of fronts. The individual bots do a lot of unfolding. They are about the same weight as a TFC bot, but end up slightly taller due to their transformations. Bruticus looks HUGE because of his shoulder arrangement. His head sits at 14.5 inches, which isn't too much more than Herc and even less of a discrepancy against Superion and Defensor.

I think maybe Bruticus is supposed to be the largest of the Earth based vehicle combiners. His modes are the most robust and aside from Predaking's exaggerated statement of strength (1 million tons), Bruticus is the only combiner who's profile discusses strength.

I don't know if it sounds like I'm rationalizing my decision, but these were things I considered before jumping in. Pictures will speak louder and I'll prepare some this weekend if time allows.

So.... what are you going to do with that tiny Fans Project Bruticus? I'm thinking he might need an upgrade, but you can't sell him for anything these days.. where would you put it?

mooncake623 wrote:

Counterpunch wrote:

rpetras wrote:Feral Rex, Herc, Uranos

Those would be extremely helpful for me to make a decision.

mbd88prime wrote:next to tfc defensor if you got that

Will do.

Rated X wrote:

Counterpunch wrote:I finished this guy.

He really is not as big in person as he seems in pictures.

I think he was 14.5 inches to the top of head and 17.5 inches to the top of his back cannons.

What comparison shots would be useful to see?

Would love to see him next to feral rex with the thighs not extended. But I gotta ask, if you had known hasbro was doing bruticus for CW, would you have still gone all in ? Or are you using this for your MP shelf ?

Will do.

The answer is yes, I would have still gone in and no I would not have bought this for an MP shelf. These are going with my Classics. I know that will make you curious, so I'll try and explain...

I think we've all been operating off a faulty premise; that Devastator and Predaking MUST be the largest combiners. Those two, being the ones we scale the others off of, is bad policy. Most combiners are Scramble City type: Five members, one of which is significantly larger than the limbs. Neither Devastator nor Predaking is Scramble City. Each one has a combination method unique to itself.

Uranos really convinced me that the SC type combiners work best with Voyager-ish sized limbs and a leader sized center bot. It made the argument to me more effectively than the FP Menasor did with its scaling.

Now, the SC combiners have some things unique to them, mostly the variation the center bots provide in height, scale, and relative lankiness; and the issue of their "shoes." Take off the shoes on TFC's Defensor or Warbo's Bruticus and they are essentially the same size as the otherwise "shoeless" TFC Devastator.

Further, Warbo's Bruticus is really deceptive on a number of fronts. The individual bots do a lot of unfolding. They are about the same weight as a TFC bot, but end up slightly taller due to their transformations. Bruticus looks HUGE because of his shoulder arrangement. His head sits at 14.5 inches, which isn't too much more than Herc and even less of a discrepancy against Superion and Defensor.

I think maybe Bruticus is supposed to be the largest of the Earth based vehicle combiners. His modes are the most robust and aside from Predaking's exaggerated statement of strength (1 million tons), Bruticus is the only combiner who's profile discusses strength.

I don't know if it sounds like I'm rationalizing my decision, but these were things I considered before jumping in. Pictures will speak louder and I'll prepare some this weekend if time allows.

So.... what are you going to do with that tiny Fans Project Bruticus? I'm thinking he might need an upgrade, but you can't sell him for anything these days.. where would you put it?

Sold. Gone gone gone.

Got about $140 net for him.

Counterpunch wrote:I think we've all been operating off a faulty premise; that Devastator and Predaking MUST be the largest combiners. Those two, being the ones we scale the others off of, is bad policy. Most combiners are Scramble City type: Five members, one of which is significantly larger than the limbs. Neither Devastator nor Predaking is Scramble City. Each one has a combination method unique to itself.

In my personal fiction, I like Predaking to be the biggest combiner. Probably because his original toy towered over the scramble city guys. This is a desire, not a visceral need, and so far he is one of the biggest I have, so I'm happy with it.

I always looked at Devastator as the first of the "combiner experiments" and thus he was different. The Scramble city guys defined the status quo, and then Predaking takes it to a newer, larger level.

Counterpunch wrote:Uranos really convinced me that the SC type combiners work best with Voyager-ish sized limbs and a leader sized center bot. It made the argument to me more effectively than the FP Menasor did with its scaling.

Now, the SC combiners have some things unique to them, mostly the variation the center bots provide in height, scale, and relative lankiness; and the issue of their "shoes." Take off the shoes on TFC's Defensor or Warbo's Bruticus and they are essentially the same size as the otherwise "shoeless" TFC Devastator.

I also like the combiners to be big. Oddly, I have been considering getting MT's Giant to stand with the Hasbro combiners, as I think they will have a separate display area, but Hasbro's Devastator would find no place in that display for me.

Counterpunch wrote:Further, Warbo's Bruticus is really deceptive on a number of fronts. The individual bots do a lot of unfolding. They are about the same weight as a TFC bot, but end up slightly taller due to their transformations. Bruticus looks HUGE because of his shoulder arrangement. His head sits at 14.5 inches, which isn't too much more than Herc and even less of a discrepancy against Superion and Defensor.

That is exactly what I want to hear, and was hoping for! Pictures will be worth 1000 words, but I was hoping he would size up well with TFC Superion. A little bigger is OK, but too big is too big, and I want to see how they size up.

Counterpunch wrote:I think maybe Bruticus is supposed to be the largest of the Earth based vehicle combiners. His modes are the most robust and aside from Predaking's exaggerated statement of strength (1 million tons), Bruticus is the only combiner who's profile discusses strength.

I can see this too. He is made up of military equipment, so it stands to reason he should be a big boy.

Counterpunch wrote:I don't know if it sounds like I'm rationalizing my decision, but these were things I considered before jumping in. Pictures will speak louder and I'll prepare some this weekend if time allows.

Looking forward to them!

Sorry for the lousy pics. My lightbox isn't big enough for this stuff.

All figures posed as best I could to make them all stand upright. Devastator's legs were altered just a bit so I could make him stand straighter for the pics.

Bruticus & Superion by ME_Counterpunch, on Flickr

Bruticus & Superion M by ME_Counterpunch, on Flickr

Bruticus and Predaking by ME_Counterpunch, on Flickr

Bruticus and Predaking M by ME_Counterpunch, on Flickr

Bruticus and Devastator by ME_Counterpunch, on Flickr

Bruticus and Devastator M by ME_Counterpunch, on Flickr

Bruticus and Defensor by ME_Counterpunch, on Flickr

Bruticus and Defensor M by ME_Counterpunch, on Flickr

Combiner Group Shot by ME_Counterpunch, on Flickr

Awesome pics. Still too big for my tastes (I wont be getting CW Devy either) but still cool. Bruticus is my favorite combiner so Im kind of bummed by the size plus Onslaught and Vortex's cockpit chests. Ill just wait and see how well the 3rd parties fix Hasbro's Bruticus. Perfect Effect, Renderform, and Nonnef have done such excellent jobs improving CW Menasor and Superion, that Im already starting to regret buying TFC Uranos and Intimidator. Not because Im a super-Hasbro fan, but because Hasbro did nail the individual bot modes for the most part. Fixing all the Hasbro wrongs in combiner form was the icing on the cake. Im going all Hasbro on Defensor (so excited about Takara's deluxe Groove and the inevitable Hasbro version) I might still go 3rd party with Abominus but combiner height will play a huge factor on whether UT gets my money. Im cringing waiting to see if Hasbro Computron (plus upgrades) will add Quantron to my regret list. But I haven't completely disregarded Fansproject's smaller combiner scale. The Fasnsproject set works great with TFCC's Nexus Prime plus FP's pointless Micromaster repaints to give the character a real deal classics representation. And lets not forget Monstructor is coming. You know Hasbro is not gonna do a Monstructor.

Rated X wrote:Awesome pics. Still too big for my tastes (I wont be getting CW Devy either) but still cool. Bruticus is my favorite combiner so Im kind of bummed by the size plus Onslaught and Vortex's cockpit chests. Ill just wait and see how well the 3rd parties fix Hasbro's Bruticus. Perfect Effect, Renderform, and Nonnef have done such excellent jobs improving CW Menasor and Superion, that Im already starting to regret buying TFC Uranos and Intimidator. Not because Im a super-Hasbro fan, but because Hasbro did nail the individual bot modes for the most part. Fixing all the Hasbro wrongs in combiner form was the icing on the cake. Im going all Hasbro on Defensor (so excited about Takara's deluxe Groove and the inevitable Hasbro version) I might still go 3rd party with Abominus but combiner height will play a huge factor on whether UT gets my money. Im cringing waiting to see if Hasbro Computron (plus upgrades) will add Quantron to my regret list. But I haven't completely disregarded Fansproject's smaller combiner scale. The Fasnsproject set works great with TFCC's Nexus Prime plus FP's pointless Micromaster repaints to give the character a real deal classics representation. And lets not forget Monstructor is coming. You know Hasbro is not gonna do a Monstructor.

I can appreciate how people enjoy the Hasbro stuff, but getting the compete Warbotron set reminded me where the extra money goes in terms of a premium product. Onslaught is ridiculously nice as a leader bot.

I just transformed TFC's Hotspot last night and was just completely struck as to how good the design and transformation was.

I have plans for showing off some of this stuff in the next few weeks with some good pictures. Supplies are on their way. It's interesting for me in a way. I seem to be advocating for products that people remain unconvinced on where I am totally in love with the stuff.

It takes me back to my AEC days and trying to win the hearts and minds of an uncertain fandom over those toys.

Did anybody else get the weapons pack? Were you also surprised that it is, in essence, a model kit? All the parts came on sprues, and a small screwdriver and screws are included. I may have some time this weekend to assemble the weapons...

Agamemnon wrote:Did anybody else get the weapons pack? Were you also surprised that it is, in essence, a model kit? All the parts came on sprues, and a small screwdriver and screws are included. I may have some time this weekend to assemble the weapons...

No, I wasn't surprised. I thought it was advertised like that.

Be careful assembling Shockwave. Some parts need modification to avoid breaking.

I feel that if Swindle were tweaked slightly to be one of these bad boys http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marauder_%28vehicle%29 the whole jeep not scaling thing would be minimised, not that I really care about scale anyway I'm quite taken with this set.

Counterpunch wrote:I don't know if it sounds like I'm rationalizing my decision, but these were things I considered before jumping in.

It does kind of sound like that, but honestly, the only person you need to justify these things to is yourself. So you're all good.

Counterpunch wrote:

Agamemnon wrote:Did anybody else get the weapons pack? Were you also surprised that it is, in essence, a model kit? All the parts came on sprues, and a small screwdriver and screws are included. I may have some time this weekend to assemble the weapons...

No, I wasn't surprised. I thought it was advertised like that.

Be careful assembling Shockwave. Some parts need modification to avoid breaking.

Very much this. The thigh to hip joint connection needs a lot of flash cleared out to go together. A lot. Bring your sharp knife.

Also need to be very careful with how far you screw things in. I stressed a lot of plastic by accident. The bored screw holes stop too short of the other side of the plastic, they won't just stop on their own without leaving some marks.

ScottyP wrote:

Counterpunch wrote:

Agamemnon wrote:Did anybody else get the weapons pack? Were you also surprised that it is, in essence, a model kit? All the parts came on sprues, and a small screwdriver and screws are included. I may have some time this weekend to assemble the weapons...

No, I wasn't surprised. I thought it was advertised like that.

Be careful assembling Shockwave. Some parts need modification to avoid breaking.

Very much this. The thigh to hip joint connection needs a lot of flash cleared out to go together. A lot. Bring your sharp knife.

Also need to be very careful with how far you screw things in. I stressed a lot of plastic by accident. The bored screw holes stop too short of the other side of the plastic, they won't just stop on their own without leaving some marks.

Indeed, I snapped one of my hips trying to get the thigh in. Be careful!

Swindle by ME_Counterpunch, on Flickr

Vortex by ME_Counterpunch, on Flickr

Brawl by ME_Counterpunch, on Flickr

Blast Off by ME_Counterpunch, on Flickr

Onslaught by ME_Counterpunch, on Flickr

Hey folks, we have been offering these over at TFW and I realized I didn't offer them to our friends on seibertron. Warbotron replacement strong and flexible foot ratchets just arrived, so we are now taking orders for them. If you want a set, please send payment as normal goods and services (NO GIFT PLEASE) via paypal to "wpeniche@comcast.net"

Pricing as follows:
$13.99 for 1 pair shipped in the US
$21.99 for 1 pair shipped worldwide
Add $12.50 for each additional pair beyond the first

All orders will start shipping on a first come first served basis and tracking numbers will start going out within 48 hours of payment. We are cutting orders off on Friday Night so if you need a set please order as soon as possible.

Quick comparison video between the stock Warbo ratchets and our upgrades.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9UVkC5wXo8&feature=youtu.be

Guess how many clicks before the yellow one breaks? This video show how brittle they can be

Spoilers, it's 11!

http://youtu.be/L5Ug_U3ISYw

Guide on the replacement installation:

http://youtu.be/_4UJEQl8Djk

^ Got a set and they're great. Stripped the screw hole they attach to out on one foot though, but that's on me and not the part itself of course. Glued the crap out of it but haven't tested out if it will hold yet. I'm sure I'll be able to get it in another way if needed.

Also nabbed the Reprolabels set for these guys. Minimal impact when in combined mode:

Some very nice touches when the bots are separated though. At $18, that's a steal for 5 figures worth of decals that do some very nice enhancements without getting in the way or going over the top.