The Energon Pub

[MGrotusque]

Backpack looks alright. Sunstreaker in general is a pretty ugly character despite what he thinks of himself. Never liked his head design either. One of the worst of all the Autobot cars.

That's just straight up crazy talk man......

[Cobotron]

Would someone please explain to me where the "I hate back packs" way of thinking originated. Is it derivative of the Bayverse? Or the G1 cartoon?
I just don't get it. 98.6% of every Transformers toy I have handled/owned over the last 32 years has a pack pack of some kind. To me it just comes with the territory. I mean I guess I could think of a few that are over the top or cumbersome, but what exactly do those who dislike back packs expect?

I'm not trying to be an asshat. It's a criticism that never crossed my mind until I entered the fandom and heard it from others.

[Bumblebee21]

Sunsurge has a backpack but nowhere as big as that one

[Cobotron]

Sunsurge has a backpack but nowhere as big as that one

Doesn't really answer my question Bee. So you dislike this back pack because it's too big?

Does the general disdain for back packs come from the idealistic pursuit of screen accuracy?

[Cyberpath]

He did have a bit of a "backpack" in the cartoon, anyway.
Sometimes it was drawn compact something less.

Nothing severe as this guy...

⠀

[Cobotron]

OK. Even Jazz and Sideswipe have their wind shilds on their pack in those drawings. which I consider to be a back pack.

And that reminds me Cyber P. Suntreaker's pack is really kind of one of those iconic details for the character. Like the Seekers shoulder vents, or the Datsons' door wings.

So then I ask again, where does the criticism of back packs come from? Just trying to wrap my mind around it.

And not to beat the poor dead horse, but by golly I love the over all silhouette of Sunstreaker, but the head just kills it for me. PLEASE Takara, do some Diaclone homage with a toy accurate head and will buy it with out hesitation.

[Bumblebee21]

Look at most of the deluxe bees.that's a backpack.

This just does look clean to me.

Where do the hate over buttflaps come from

[Cobotron]

Look at most of the deluxe bees.that's a backpack.

This just does look clean to me.

No. I think that is a fair criticism. But it seems like the existence of a back pack at all, seems to put off a lot of folks.

Where do the hate over buttflaps come from

That was going to be my next question!

[Bumblebee21]

Look at most of the deluxe bees.that's a backpack.

This just doesn't look clean to me.

No. I think that is a fair criticism. But it seems like the existence of a back pack at all, seems to put off a lot of folks.

Where do the hate over buttflaps come from

That was going to be my next question!

Depends on how messy it is as well.


This one has an Autobot symbol for a butt flap.

I think it started with mp-22

[Kurona]

It's like kibble (and arguably it IS kibble, but let's not split hairs for now). It's fine and arguably necessary in moderation, but it's when it goes into excess that it becomes a problem. Most of us like Prowl having door wings or Starscream proudly displaying his wings in Robot mode, right? Helps to make them good designs. But I doubt we'd like them that much if all the vehicle mode parts integrated into them were hanging off them; like how a lot of the lazier Beast Wars figures (especially in Neo) are just generic robots with animal parts hanging off them rather than actually using animal parts as part of their body.

Likewise, a backpack helps round out the body shape and can become a good part of a character's profile; but if it's very large and it stuffs so many vehicle parts in there rather than those vehicle parts being integrated into the body or otherwise contributing to the robot mode in a positive way... it becomes a negative. It's all about moderation

[Cobotron]

OK, good answer K. Thanks.
I guess for me packs have never been an issue. I just see them as something that makes the function of transforming possible for the toys. But things like back packs, butt flaps, and even kibble have never bothered me. (how dare you slander BW Neo! )
But I agree on the moderation. there are plenty of packs that are excessive. Like a lot of movie toys that are trying to achieve screen accuracy, and just can't physically, in real time and space do so with out cheating.
The worst is when a back pack throws of a toys center of gravity and they can't even stand. Enter heel spurs!

[Ironhidensh]

OK. Even Jazz and Sideswipe have their wind shilds on their pack in those drawings. which I consider to be a back pack.

And that reminds me Cyber P. Suntreaker's pack is really kind of one of those iconic details for the character. Like the Seekers shoulder vents, or the Datsons' door wings.

So then I ask again, where does the criticism of back packs come from? Just trying to wrap my mind around it.

And not to beat the poor dead horse, but by golly I love the over all silhouette of Sunstreaker, but the head just kills it for me. PLEASE Takara, do some Diaclone homage with a toy accurate head and will buy it with out hesitation.

I think for me, the hatred comes from these figures supposedly being Masterpiece figures. I understand that a backpack at times may be necessary, due to the engineering of the figure, but I don't think it should be there on a masterpiece level figure. They should have much cleaner backs, ideally. I usually get over it with time.

[chuckdawg1999]

Would someone please explain to me where the "I hate back packs" way of thinking originated. Is it derivative of the Bayverse? Or the G1 cartoon?
I just don't get it. 98.6% of every Transformers toy I have handled/owned over the last 32 years has a pack pack of some kind. To me it just comes with the territory. I mean I guess I could think of a few that are over the top or cumbersome, but what exactly do those who dislike back packs expect?

I'm not trying to be an asshat. It's a criticism that never crossed my mind until I entered the fandom and heard it from others.

I've always felt complaints like that exist to help people justify not buying the figure because they can't afford it.

[SpaceKaseJase]

Aren't we forgetting the fact that some of those backpack parts are from the turbo kit found in vehicle mode? Isn't the turbo assembly removable in vehicle mode? Not sure why SS isn't shown in bot form without that assembly.

[chuckdawg1999]

Aren't we forgetting the fact that some of those backpack parts are from the turbo kit found in vehicle mode? Isn't the turbo assembly removable in vehicle mode? Not sure why SS isn't shown in bot form without that assembly.

I was under the impression the bits folded out.

[Bumblebee21]

Aren't we forgetting the fact that some of those backpack parts are from the turbo kit found in vehicle mode? Isn't the turbo assembly removable in vehicle mode? Not sure why SS isn't shown in bot form without that assembly.

That's why he has the backpack. Its not removable

[SpaceKaseJase]

If the parts fold out, then that would totally justify the backpack. Plus, at least it looks like it could be functional as opposed to a windshield hanging off the back.

[SpikeyTigertron]

Regarding backpacks. I think a good example was brought up earlier. MP-Hot Rod (new one) versus Sunstreaker. Hot Rod needed the backpack, and did the best it could with the car kibble. However, I'd argue he's been better done in the deluxe lines with both Titans Return and Animated.

Sunstreaker on the other-hand I don't get the hate. It's fairly compact, and gets it all tucked in rather well. Sure, he's got a but flap, but I think someone mentioned it was also a concession with Lambo (something to do with the hood).

[Cyberpath]

OK. Even Jazz and Sideswipe have their wind shilds on their pack in those drawings. which I consider to be a back pack.

And that reminds me Cyber P. Suntreaker's pack is really kind of one of those iconic details for the character. Like the Seekers shoulder vents, or the Datsons' door wings.

So then I ask again, where does the criticism of back packs come from? Just trying to wrap my mind around it.

And not to beat the poor dead horse, but by golly I love the over all silhouette of Sunstreaker, but the head just kills it for me. PLEASE Takara, do some Diaclone homage with a toy accurate head and will buy it with out hesitation.

Oh, it wasn't criticism, just an observation. I think the toy looks good so far.

[william-james88]

I just dont like backpacks when they are big, take away from a character`s shape and are the result of a lazy transformation. best example would be Voyager Sentinel Prime and HA Sideswipe. Sunstreaker looks fine and works well with the backpack rules I laid out.

[Cyberpath]

Just noticed that the turn signals change for the turbo-mode, too.

⠀

[SpaceKaseJase]

I'm still having a difficult time figuring out how all that turbo "kibble" gets hidden in car mode, especially the tail light panels. Looks like ladder magic to me. Makes me that much more excited to get him in Dec.

[chuckdawg1999]

I'm still having a difficult time figuring out how all that turbo "kibble" gets hidden in car mode, especially the tail light panels. Looks like ladder magic to me. Makes me that much more excited to get him in Dec.

The silver boosters rotate out from the side, I think the fin rotates around somehow.

[SpaceKaseJase]

I figured out how the tail light panels (with the holes) fold in. They flip outwards so they stick straight out from the back panel (the "holes" facing out). Then they fold down on an inside hinge almost 180 degrees. If you look at the pics, you'll notice a gap near the rear wheels in the bottom pic that is filled in the top pic.

[chuckdawg1999]

Something that I heard mentioned on a podcast that I didn't think of before; MP Sunstreaker is a representation of one of the first, if not the first car to robot converting toys.