The Energon Pub

Overall I love him, except for Drillbit's got a problem or two. Transforming him into leg mode was pretty damned tricky, not helped by unclear instructions. And sometimes his foot comes undone. I'm thinking of some bands around it if it keeps up.

got him yesterday. first thing I noticed was how nice they all looked. seeing them online is one thing, but it's great to see they hold up their visual appeal in person. haven't even gotten around to combining them yet, but have put each into alt mode and back again. LOVE the options Maketoys give us here.

Strafe can be fully neo, or have the G1 guns on the jet, or a combination of the two for his alt mode, and likewise swapping the weapons out in bot mode is a lot of fun. Scattershot has his powerups in both modes. Afterburner has at least 2 options for weapons in bot mode, and you can beef up the lightcycle too! Lightspeed and Nosecone don't have a lot of options in alt mode, but Nosey has tons in bot mode.

First time transforming them took a while. I took a break half-way through, that's how tricky it was. changing them back afterwards was fine though, it's just the little bits and pieces that I wasn't fully understanding til I saw where everything went in each mode. Most of them are fine, but Drill-bloke is really complicated, and Scattershotz is just a little unstable. He goes into alt mode fine, but there's clearly tabs that are meant to peg together but just don't. Maybe I'm being a little too careful, but I'd rather that than brute force-ing the thing and breaking it, especially when it does end up holding together ok anyway.

I got mine yesterday and opened them. Havent transformed them yet. Not a big fan of Nosecones eye piece or Afterburners weird shaped head, but they still look pretty good. I like that the limb bots are pretty close to scaling with Hasbro deluxe figures. Wish Scattershot was a bit shorter though with a more cartoon accurate height when standing next to his team. But overall, they look great. Ive seen alot of comments about Nosecone being complicated. Im not into the whole puzzle thing. I plan to watch the online salesmen (cough cough, I mean reviewers) and let them earn their free test shot by teaching a paying customer like myself to salely transform them.

Rated X wrote:I plan to watch the online salesmen (cough cough, I mean reviewers) and let them earn their free test shot by teaching a paying customer like myself to salely transform them.

I wish you would drop that bit, but you're definitely entitled to your opinion. I even get that you're trying to be for the consumer with these quips...

Anyways, I'm not sure that anyone can really "teach" someone else to help transform these guys. Some of these designs are kind of "breakneck", like MP Rodimus. They come together in planning and models, but in execution they don't always hold up. That cannon under Scattershot ALWAYS falls off. Pieces just don't fit right on this guy. But I'm pretty happy with him in combined mode and he's holding up so far.

necr0blivion wrote:Anyways, I'm not sure that anyone can really "teach" someone else to help transform these guys. Some of these designs are kind of "breakneck", like MP Rodimus. They come together in planning and models, but in execution they don't always hold up. That cannon under Scattershot ALWAYS falls off. Pieces just don't fit right on this guy. But I'm pretty happy with him in combined mode and he's holding up so far.

Which cannon? The big nose cannon?

necr0blivion wrote:

Rated X wrote:I plan to watch the online salesmen (cough cough, I mean reviewers) and let them earn their free test shot by teaching a paying customer like myself to salely transform them.

I wish you would drop that bit, but you're definitely entitled to your opinion. I even get that you're trying to be for the consumer with these quips...

Anyways, I'm not sure that anyone can really "teach" someone else to help transform these guys. Some of these designs are kind of "breakneck", like MP Rodimus. They come together in planning and models, but in execution they don't always hold up. That cannon under Scattershot ALWAYS falls off. Pieces just don't fit right on this guy. But I'm pretty happy with him in combined mode and he's holding up so far.

Well some people like to go off instinct and try to figure out the "puzzle" for a sense of satisfaction. In the process they end up breaking it or putting stress marks on the plastic as they to figure out the transformation own their own. I don't get a sense of satisfaction from figuring out the transformation. I get a sense of satisfaction from owning and displaying the figure. I let the guy who got it for free take one for the team and do the hard work. Let him risk breaking it, he didn't pay 400 bucks like we did. I watch his commercial (cough cough...I mean review) and learn from it without the risk of making rookie mistakes. No stress marks, broken parts, or headaches for me. I pose him on my shelf, crack open a beer, and then my sense of satisfaction begins where many other people's would have ended.

Back on topic...

I decided to start with Lightspeed because he looked so easy that I wouldn't even need help to get him transformed. After fighting with the arms for 15 minutes, (which don't stay tabbed properly because the fists get in the way of the assembly fully closing) I figured that's what the "replacement part" was meant for. Its top rectangle piece is smaller and it helps make them tab together better. Sadly this part still pushes against the fists and prevents a perfect tab lock from the back burgundy tabs that connect to form a triangle. I do believe by filing the dark grey rectangle down to where the fists don't touch it, you can solve this problem. However, I believe the grey rectangle is part of the connection port for leg mode and if so filing it down is out of the question.

Woot! I solved my unstable wing kibble on Scattershot. (Sorry, I don't know the MT names well enough.)

The rifles that Scattershot can wield also tab into the Computron feet, right? The side tabs on the rifle fit in slots on Scattershot's wings, if the wings are folded up properly. (I didn't have the wings like this previously.)

I'll see if I can take some pictures tomorrow. I have a bunch of homework to do too, but this could be a nice diversion.

So far, Strafe is my favorite. I like Scattershot a lot (now that things are more stable) and I love Afterburner for his Tron Light Cycle. But Strafe just rocks my socks off.

So I had a chance to mess with Strafe earlier. Very cool figure. Just a little fiddly to get the legs and arms all the way in for jet mode. It caught me by surprise that the front parts of the jet parts form though. No big deal. I love the option to use the guns for a more G1 look. Really not a fan of the "neo" jet unless they repaint him as Misfire that it resembles. Not sure where to put the jet parts if you opt for the guns G1 look. Oh well, Its not like I ever cared about parts storage anyways. Later on I will check out Afterburner.

combined them today. lovely, fiddly, exciting, complicated bot. at least as much engineering as a voyager in each deluxe-sized limb bot. Strafe is the simplest, but that doesn't detract from my liking him. Weirdly, he and Nosecone are my favourites, despite being on different ends of the difficulty spectrum.

Combined mode holds up very well. Bigger than FP Bruticus (my only other modern combiner) by about a head or two. (I haven't measured, I'll wait for Tsu to correct me) Strafe's a little loose as an elbow joint holding the big gun, but I'm sure I can work with that. He's also the least cohesive limb mode (perfectly stable, but there's some debate going on in my mind about exactly how to pose and line up the arms/swords/guns parts). Nosecone was a terrible fit as a foot, until I smooshed the correct parts together and now he's solid as a rock.

Yeah, I think I need this guy. Shame I have no money ATM.

From what I've seen, Nosecone looks the best. All that lovey greebly goodness and engineering...

Ok so what's the secret to getting Strafe back to robot mode ? Once those thighs are slid in the legs and fists covered up, there seems to be no turning back. Im scared to yank. Whats the secret ?

edit: push the thrusters up...still a bit scary though

Agamemnon wrote:

necr0blivion wrote:Anyways, I'm not sure that anyone can really "teach" someone else to help transform these guys. Some of these designs are kind of "breakneck", like MP Rodimus. They come together in planning and models, but in execution they don't always hold up. That cannon under Scattershot ALWAYS falls off. Pieces just don't fit right on this guy. But I'm pretty happy with him in combined mode and he's holding up so far.

Which cannon? The big nose cannon?

Not the big one, the smaller one white one that "pegs" into the bottom of Scattershot in alt mode (also the same piece that fits at the bottom once you combine the two larger red guns while in combined mode).

Rated X wrote:Ok so what's the secret to getting Strafe back to robot mode ? Once those thighs are slid in the legs and fists covered up, there seems to be no turning back. Im scared to yank. Whats the secret ?

edit: push the thrusters up...still a bit scary though

one of the thrusters popped out when I put him back to bot mode. Had to...or rather preferred to...unscrew the lower leg to put it back on. Nothing damaged though. "some parts designed to detach if excessive force applied"?

Peaugh review.

He looks a fun little number, and given MakeToys track record he's probably pretty high quality, but that transformation looks scary! I kinda wish the central foldy shaft that the legs are attached to was made of metal. Regardless, he looks like a great toy. I love the little extras like the eye-lens and the extendable arms.

I got mine today, but won't be able to open/assemble him for another couple weeks

Thanks for the heads up on the Nosecone figure, I'll be sure to watch videos when it comes time to combine him.

Think it'll go on sale? I just can't bring myself to pay the 400 or so plus shipping.

Do you guys think he's worth paying full price for now that you've got the set?

EDIT: With that being said. It's almost worth the price because you actually get the entire team in a complete giftset right off the hop that doesn't take a year to complete. It's unheard of and almost worth the price of admission but i'm curious nevertheless.

necr0blivion wrote:

Agamemnon wrote:

necr0blivion wrote:Anyways, I'm not sure that anyone can really "teach" someone else to help transform these guys. Some of these designs are kind of "breakneck", like MP Rodimus. They come together in planning and models, but in execution they don't always hold up. That cannon under Scattershot ALWAYS falls off. Pieces just don't fit right on this guy. But I'm pretty happy with him in combined mode and he's holding up so far.

Which cannon? The big nose cannon?

Not the big one, the smaller one white one that "pegs" into the bottom of Scattershot in alt mode (also the same piece that fits at the bottom once you combine the two larger red guns while in combined mode).

Ah, yes. It fits on mine, but just barely. I'd rather have seen a better connection.

Have you found a place to store the big gun handle in alt mode. I have something, but it's not great. I'll post some pics when I download them from my camera.

MGrotusque wrote:Think it'll go on sale? I just can't bring myself to pay the 400 or so plus shipping.

Do you guys think he's worth paying full price for now that you've got the set?

EDIT: With that being said. It's almost worth the price because you actually get the entire team in a complete giftset right off the hop that doesn't take a year to complete. It's unheard of and almost worth the price of admission but i'm curious nevertheless.

I am loath to tell someone to spend $400. I will say this. I spent the same for FP Menasor and more than a $100 more for Feral Rex (and I'm not done, waiting on Felisaber and Feral Queen) and Quantron is easily as much fun for me as Feral Rex and tons more fun than Menasor. Menasor pretty much went immediately into the display case. I am just having so much fun with Strafe and Scattershot. I can't wait to get my flightpose stands so I can take some better group shots. I wish I could have spread out Quantron's cost over 5 or more months like my other combiners. But I do not regret buying him one bit.

I don't know if that helps or not...

Agamemnon wrote:Have you found a place to store the big gun handle in alt mode. I have something, but it's not great. I'll post some pics when I download them from my camera.

No luck on that part, it just sits out for now. A puzzle to solve for another day.

Peaugh review of Celeritas.

Looks good, although the arms look kinda messy and the bits sticking off the legs might get annoying when trying to pose him.

MGrotusque wrote: Do you guys think he's worth paying full price for now that you've got the set?

I remember looking at the initial renders and proto pics and thinking "oh, that looks nice, not for me though" and considering it a pass, til I saw the coloured pics. Then I HAD TO HAVE IT. As time went on I weighed it all up, and eventually bit the bullet. Paid for shipping to the UK plus import tax/customs fees. Don't regret it at all. Maybe not for everyone. You've got to accept that there's a fiddly transformation for some of it, and it's got partsforming as well. It took me a while to transform these guys and get everything all lined up correctly, and (probably because of the price) I've been very concerned about breaking bits, but so far everything's been great.

If you're a fan of the fact that you get all 5 at once, and there are loads of options and new, unique transformation schemes, and like the look of them, then go for it!

Maketoys.jp
Replacement parts etc.

did you mean this: http://maketoys.jp/announcements/quantron-fixes-and-replacement-parts/?

I may need to order that first item, but BBTS packed in the replacement Celeritas neck joint and I installed it just fine. This is pretty damn good to know, thanks GM!

No prob.

Peaugh review of Overheat/Afterburner:



This guy looks great. Love the GaoGaiGar shout-out with the hammer, and he looks a lot of fun in general.

So far I REALLY dig these guys. I might have to get a set. (Also I kinda wish I could get a load of Blindfires in "generic" Autobot or Decepticon colours to have as generic troop types- with a switch of colours he'd make an excellent "crowd filler" and as a lover of Generics I mean that entirely positively!)

Review of Metal Storm/Scattershot...



...And Quantron/Computron.



Yep, very impressive. Love the hand storage.