The Energon Pub

[phantom1592]

Just picked up Silverbolt, Skydive and Alpha Bravo at local walmart....

These things are REALLY cool


That's all I wanted to say

[shajaki]

Just picked up Silverbolt, Skydive and Alpha Bravo at local walmart....

These things are REALLY cool


That's all I wanted to say

good enough. cause the totally are

[CrankyOldTruck]

Not sure what you guys are seeing with Mixmaster and the part that makes the foot. To me it looks like the back end of a cement mixer that's used A LOT around here. The back end has vents in it that look just like what's on the foot there... and it's connected to the back end. The cement drum also empties out of the top front also just like what this Mixmaster looks to do.

Sure, it's a mish-mash of designs, but this is what I see with a more G1 styled cab.



The back end red area is what I see being the foot. Do you guys not have these types of cement mixers in your neck of the woods?

Would you believe no? It actually looks like a truck riding perpetually in reverse It doesn't change that Mixmaster seems to be reversed one way or another tho.

was looking at TFW's images and they have a small shot of Devy's box with an even smaller image of the vehicle modes on it, and Mixmaster looks like he might be the mixer in Cobra Viper's pic

Spot on. the mixing drum is now facing the front
if you look carefully you can see it on the box images of their vehicle modes.

so really, there's no fancy transformation; flip Devastator's foot out from under the rear of Mixmaster's truck mode & then attach the front of Mixmaster to the thigh connector.

http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-new ... 835639.jpg

It's definitely not one of the typical cement mixers here in my part of the U.S. I'm a construction worker so I deal with these monsters fairly regularly and the toy in it's leg form looks more like a combination of one of the larger cement trucks and the line/pump trucks that often accompany them on our job sites. The box image of the truck itself, however, does indeed look very similar to what Viper showed us in his pic. The toy version looks a bit longer and with the box picture being so grainy it's impossible to tell the full details but it appears to be the best match.

[william-james88]

A few have asked how it makes any sense that it seems 2015 will give us distinct torsos but not enough distinct limbs for each of them. Hasbro told us 16 deluxes, meaning we get enough for 4 combiners. But the added Optimus Maximus and Cyclonus voyager torsos were part of that same announcement from long ago, we just didnt know they would all be torsos back then:



The way I see it, those 2 extra voyager torsos wont get their proper limbs. And here is why, I reread the Hasbro press announcement today and saw this in the recap:

Combiner Wars talked of in terms of modular, customisable, swap and change play aspect, with core components.

The way I read it, there are core components (the torsos) and a different combiner is made by swaping the limbs around. That would explain why we have more torsos than needed and why we probably wont get extra distinct limbs to complete them. Hasbro wants to promote the customisable aspect, and the best way they have found to do this is by giving us pieces we need to match ourselves.

[Sabrblade]

I honestly don't see why the new-style cement mixer altmode for Mixmaster is such a big turn-off for people. Isn't this the same kind of upgrade that Classics-esque lines are known for? I don't see how it's any different from Classics Astrotrain turning into a Shinkansen instead of a locomotive. Or Classics Bumblebee turning into a sports car instead of a VW Bug. Or Universe Ironhide and Ratchet turning into SUVs instead of Vanettes. Or Reveal the Shield Perceptor turning into a treaded truck instead of a microscope. Or Generations Blurr turning into an Earth car instead of a Cybertronian hover car. Or Generations Straxus turning into a tank instead of a flying cannon. Or Generations Sergeant Kup turning into an old Earth truck instead of a Cybertronian truck. If anything, I'd say some of those (especially Perceptor) were more radical changes than Mixmaster now having his drum facing forward instead of back. At least the Devastator leg mode still resembles Devastator's iconic leg look. Besides, who is honestly going to be displaying Mixmaster in altmode?

[Cobotron]

@Sabrblade -

[william-james88]

Generations Blurr turning into an Earth car instead of a Cybertronian hover car.

Of all the ones you mentioned, I agree, except for that one. But probably more because such an important character was given another mold that I still dont feel suits him. And its not even about it being an earth car but its about all the extra kible an alt mode like that can give him. He is supposed to be sleek and inspire high velocity and thus have limited kibble. I feel a sleeker and maybe more futuristic vehicle mode could have provided that. I am still holding out for (a hero) a better version of this character. Kup works find though, probably due to this wonderful chest design.

[Sabrblade]

Generations Blurr turning into an Earth car instead of a Cybertronian hover car.

Of all the ones you mentioned, I agree, except for that one. But probably more because such an important character was given another mold that I still dont feel suits him. And its not even about it being an earth car but its about all the extra kible an alt mode like that can give him. He is supposed to be sleek and inspire high velocity and thus have limited kibble. I feel a sleeker and maybe more futuristic vehicle mode could have provided that. I am still holding out for (a hero) a better version of this character. Kup works find though, probably due to this wonderful chest design.

So you would say that that one is even more radical a change than that which was done to Mixmaster? If so, then I can see that, but it more helps than hinders my greater argument.

[phantom1592]

A few have asked how it makes any sense that it seems 2015 will give us distinct torsos but not enough distinct limbs for each of them. Hasbro told us 16 deluxes, meaning we get enough for 4 combiners. But the added Optimus Maximus and Cyclonus voyager torsos were part of that same announcement from long ago, we just didnt know they would all be torsos back then:



The way I see it, those 2 extra voyager torsos wont get their proper limbs. And here is why, I reread the Hasbro press announcement today and saw this in the recap:

Combiner Wars talked of in terms of modular, customisable, swap and change play aspect, with core components.

The way I read it, there are core components (the torsos) and a different combiner is made by swaping the limbs around. That would explain why we have more torsos than needed and why we probably wont get extra distinct limbs to complete them. Hasbro wants to promote the customisable aspect, and the best way they have found to do this is by giving us pieces we need to match ourselves.

This may be a silly question... but are all the bots in the combiner wars line ACTUALLY combiners? I've heard/seen that Optimus pulls a motormaster and becomes a torso... Does Megatron too? He's a lot bigger then the optimus/silverbolt... is that gonna mess up the proportions of the arms/legs?

[william-james88]

Generations Blurr turning into an Earth car instead of a Cybertronian hover car.

Of all the ones you mentioned, I agree, except for that one. But probably more because such an important character was given another mold that I still dont feel suits him. And its not even about it being an earth car but its about all the extra kible an alt mode like that can give him. He is supposed to be sleek and inspire high velocity and thus have limited kibble. I feel a sleeker and maybe more futuristic vehicle mode could have provided that. I am still holding out for (a hero) a better version of this character. Kup works find though, probably due to this wonderful chest design.

So you would say that that one is even more radical a change than that which was done to Mixmaster? If so, then I can see that, but it more helps than hinders my greater argument.

Oh, it definitely works towards your argument, I just wanted to say that he upsets me greatly still to this day. Hence why I thought you were also saying that there wasnt much of a fuss over the others and I wanted to clarify that if there isnt a fuss, there should be. However, I do get why people are reacting this way over Devastator. Its because with these combiner Wars, and recent generations figures like Roadbuster, Arcee and Whirl, things have gone more towards redoing G1 in better engineering rather than updating G1 with contemporary designs (and especially for all the beast wars figures, all of these are like mass market MPs more than they are classics figures). Takara's Superion really pushed for the G1 aspect of this line. And Devastator appears to be more in line with G1 than being an update with radical changes. If everything was changed, no one would bother with the foot, there would be more pressing things. But since this is going for a very G1 show look, people are scrutinizing, and that new alt mode is an easy flag to raise.

[Cobotron]

The way I read it, there are core components (the torsos) and a different combiner is made by swaping the limbs around. That would explain why we have more torsos than needed and why we probably wont get extra distinct limbs to complete them. Hasbro wants to promote the customisable aspect, and the best way they have found to do this is by giving us pieces we need to match ourselves.

I've gleaned, while being in this thread from the get go, that alot of folks are anti scramble city. When I was a kid, I scramble city-ed my face off. I'm doin' it right now! I think its fantastic that Hasby is promoting this type of play. Modularity is an aspect this brand was founded on. It's cool to have it back in full force.

(WJ - I wasn't interpreting your take as biased, either way.)

[william-james88]

A few have asked how it makes any sense that it seems 2015 will give us distinct torsos but not enough distinct limbs for each of them. Hasbro told us 16 deluxes, meaning we get enough for 4 combiners. But the added Optimus Maximus and Cyclonus voyager torsos were part of that same announcement from long ago, we just didnt know they would all be torsos back then:



The way I see it, those 2 extra voyager torsos wont get their proper limbs. And here is why, I reread the Hasbro press announcement today and saw this in the recap:

Combiner Wars talked of in terms of modular, customisable, swap and change play aspect, with core components.

The way I read it, there are core components (the torsos) and a different combiner is made by swaping the limbs around. That would explain why we have more torsos than needed and why we probably wont get extra distinct limbs to complete them. Hasbro wants to promote the customisable aspect, and the best way they have found to do this is by giving us pieces we need to match ourselves.

This may be a silly question... but are all the bots in the combiner wars line ACTUALLY combiners? I've heard/seen that Optimus pulls a motormaster and becomes a torso... Does Megatron too? He's a lot bigger then the optimus/silverbolt... is that gonna mess up the proportions of the arms/legs?

No, they dont all combine. Only the Deluxes (which can all become limbs) combine with the voyagers (which all have a torso mode). Some Legends class figures have a gun mode which can be used and 2 of them (Black Jac and Hot Rod) can be attached to a torso chest for decoration. The Leaders and most legends do not combine.

[Rated X]

Not sure what you guys are seeing with Mixmaster and the part that makes the foot. To me it looks like the back end of a cement mixer that's used A LOT around here. The back end has vents in it that look just like what's on the foot there... and it's connected to the back end. The cement drum also empties out of the top front also just like what this Mixmaster looks to do.

Sure, it's a mish-mash of designs, but this is what I see with a more G1 styled cab.



The back end red area is what I see being the foot. Do you guys not have these types of cement mixers in your neck of the woods?

Ewww...Thats one ugly cement mixer. If Mixmaster turns into that thing....

Mixmaster is almost worse than alpha Bravo !!!

[Tsutsukakushi]

Thinking the White colored CW Optimus. will get the CW Stunticons limbs recolored in Autobots colors. With possible newer heads to make them look like autobots. Called Fakesaur as a update to Masquerade.

Don't see the repurposed CW Cyclonus Voyager getting newer deluxes, no repaints, no retools. Think like CW wave One Optimus, Cyclonus will just swap CW deluxes from previous teams. Speculating Hasbro is trying to go for that IDW Chaos Decepticon Combiner with this.

Has it been confirmed anywhere that Hasbro is counting the CW Autobot combiner Fakesaur Masquerade. Towards the Sixteen planned CW Deluxes and Four CW Voyagers list for 2015?

Wondering that since these are not new molds. If Hasbro plans to release Four more deluxes and One more CW Voyager in 2015. To confirm the total of Sixteen CW Deluxes and Four CW Voyagers for 2015. Thinking if this happens that CW Bruticus or CW Computron stand a equal change of being the last new mold combiner in 2015.

Love that CW Titan Devastator is it's own thing. By not counting towards the Hasbro planned Sixteen CW Deluxes and Four CW Voyagers for 2015.

Hoping that all these questions get asked and answered at Toy Fair Today.

[Tsutsukakushi]

Please can those staff members here who are taking pics at Toy Fair Today. Please can you take a few pics of the toys from the back of the robot modes. Curious to see what Longhaul looks like combined on Titan Devasator. Also curious to see how the robot backs look like on the other toys. Love to see how the Robot back of CW Leader Class Ultra Magnus looks like.

[ZeroWolf]

I take it people have been complaining about mixmaster then? Thought that people wouldn't care too much as he would be in foot mode all the time.

[prjkt]

Megatron time - I've tried to take photos of what hasn't already been posted out there on the interwebs.















Comparisons:

[Autobot032]

So... Megatron is Leader AOE Optimus tall. Impressive.

[Burn]

Legs are still killing it for me.

His skinny fusion cannon isn't helping much either.

[Mr O]

Legs are still killing it for me.

His skinny fusion cannon isn't helping much either.

Same here. I know a 3rd party will deal with it but are Hasbro actually relying on that now, to the extent that they'll just shrug and be happy that some of us will buy their product because an add-on is sure to come?

[Syn_13]

Thanks for these shots, prjkt. Do you have the CW Voyager Optimus and both Toyworld's Orion and Hegemon figures? If so, could you do a side-by-side comparison pic like the one above?

I think a 3rd Party may produce a new cannon. It might not fit for the alt mode but it may be usable for bot mode. Does that cannon detach from the arm at all?

[prjkt]

Cannon appears fixed, not sure if can be removed. I do have CW Prime, but there's already comparison pics of those two out there so I didn't bother. If I get the chance tomorrow I'll compare the two. Unfortunately don't have Orion or Hegemon (he's illegal here.) Again, if I have time, I'll shoot a comparison of Megs with Hexatron.

[prjkt]

Cannon appears fixed, not sure if can be removed. I do have CW Prime, but there's already comparison pics of those two out there so I didn't bother. If I get the chance tomorrow I'll compare the two. Unfortunately don't have Orion or Hegemon (he's illegal here.) Again, if I have time, I'll shoot a comparison of Megs with Hexatron.

[KnightStrike]

So I finally have CW Optimus, Fireflight, and Alpha Bravo in hand. The plastic is weirdly light, but at least it feels nice and solid and stronger than some of the plastics Hasbro has used lately that have a softer, waxy feel. Optimus actually looks better in hand than I had thought he would, but the tiny head and stubby legs still have me hoping for a 3rd party add on kit, though anything short of parts forming seems impossible for the head given how the stock on barely fits the transformation.

The deluxes look awesome, are really cool, and are better than I had expected them to be, but the lack of articulated hands(admittedly the rockets would make these hard on Alpha Bravo) and feet really hurts them for me, especially at the price point they are at. As well articulated as they are elsewhere I will never understand why they didn't add some joints there, especially since it doesn't seem those areas would harm combining. Also would have been nice to have the budget allocated to more paint apps instead of those odd little art cards. Don't get me wrong, the deluxes are nice, but articulation is a huge appeal to me, especially on $16 figures. Alpha Bravo surprised me as I was pretty meh about him when revealed, but when I saw him in person I had to have him. I think I may dig around my parts bin and see what I can come up with to try add some sort of joint to the feet at least.

[Va'al]

Alpha Bravo surprised me as I was pretty meh about him when revealed, but when I saw him in person I had to have him. I think I may dig around my parts bin and see what I can come up with to try add some sort of joint to the feet at least.

I'm going to have to start compiling all of these endorsements.