The Energon Pub

Just got ahold of Kickback, he's great and this is the EXACT size I wanted the Insecticons to be done at. Very excited to see Bombshell in the future to go with him (and I guess Shrapnel, but Bombshell's my favorite of the 3). I think my only gripe is that he doesn't have wrist rotation, but that's just due to transformation so I'm cool with it.

Also, dunno if anyone else has noticed this yet, since it isn't called out in the instructions, but there's a dedicated hole and slot on his back/bug underside that allows you to peg the swords in as a "thorax", if you want weapon storage other than pegging the blades into the wings. It also conveniently locks his waist joint in place.

Sowndwave76 wrote:

Emerje wrote:And really, it would be strange if Dragstrip didn't get released again in a later wave for people that were holding out to complete Menasor, possibly even in the 2023 line as we're seeing a lot of transplants lately. Both Kingdom Wave 4 and Wave 5 were half new figures and half rereleases.

Emerje

This is also a good point…
Especially with Dragstrip, maybe even Wild Rider.

Looking at the wave breakdowns we currently have that were news'ed, there are no repacks in the Deluxes until Wave 4, where they repack Kingdom Cheetor and ER/Kingdom Wheeljack. If Legacy goes farther than 4 waves, maybe they'll be some Stunticon repacks, but as far as we currently know, you gotta get 'em when their wave is out.

Nemesis Primal wrote:Just got ahold of Kickback, he's great and this is the EXACT size I wanted the Insecticons to be done at. Very excited to see Bombshell in the future to go with him (and I guess Shrapnel, but Bombshell's my favorite of the 3). I think my only grip is that he doesn't have wrist rotation, but that's just due to transformation so I'm cool with it.

Also, dunno if anyone else has noticed this yet, since it isn't called out in the instructions, but there's a dedicated hole and slot on his back/bug underside that allows you to peg the swords in as a "thorax", if you want weapon storage other than pegging the blades into the wings. It also conveniently locks his waist joint in place.

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IMG_2602.jpg

Sowndwave76 wrote:

Emerje wrote:And really, it would be strange if Dragstrip didn't get released again in a later wave for people that were holding out to complete Menasor, possibly even in the 2023 line as we're seeing a lot of transplants lately. Both Kingdom Wave 4 and Wave 5 were half new figures and half rereleases.

Emerje

This is also a good point…
Especially with Dragstrip, maybe even Wild Rider.

Looking at the wave breakdowns we currently have that were news'ed, there are no repacks in the Deluxes until Wave 4, where they repack Kingdom Cheetor and ER/Kingdom Wheeljack. If Legacy goes farther than 4 waves, maybe they'll be some Stunticon repacks, but as far as we currently know, you gotta get 'em when their wave is out.

Damn, I think you just cracked the code on "Ransack" from the upcoming Buzzworthy Bumblebee multi-pack listings. Just do those energon accessories for Kickback in yellow, and you can repaint the entire mold into a pretty convincing G1 Deluxe Insecticon Ransack. The built-in storage for the energon weapons that goes undocumented in the instructions, but looks like an additional "thorax" for insect mode that matches the look of Ransack's G1 abdomen can't be coincidence. Hasbro and Takara don't have to remold any parts, except for maybe the robot mode head.

Nemesis Primal wrote:Also, dunno if anyone else has noticed this yet, since it isn't called out in the instructions, but there's a dedicated hole and slot on his back/bug underside that allows you to peg the swords in as a "thorax", if you want weapon storage other than pegging the blades into the wings. It also conveniently locks his waist joint in place.

IMG_2603.jpg

IMG_2602.jpg

You have literally solved all three of the peeves I had with this figure in a way that brings it up from mildly disappointing to appreciated. I had spotted the port and been confused by it, because by having it be both perpendicular from and flush with the torso made it mostly useless, my aesthetic sensibilities were offended by the fact that the energon blades tabbed together asymmetrically, and was mildly peeved the grasshopper mode had no abdomen, g1 accuracy be damned. But I hadn't yet put those separate obrevations together, and for that I thank you.

william-james88 wrote:It's interesting, when I first heard Motromaster was going to be sold at the commander price point I was almost done with it. We went from a voyager in CW to a commander?! And I'm still stuck having to buy 4 limb bots?!?!?! I just wasn't having it. But now that we finally see what we are getting for the commander price point, I did a complete 180 since it looks really obvious just how much you are getting. While the rest of the stunticon team is still needed for the complete look, it's pretty crazy how you can go from a small bot to a giant bot in the same commander class package. The trailer does is a triple changer on it's own with a function in every mode. The value and worth is just so clearly on display.

Same here, following Rodimus with Motormaster in the Commander slot was a huge disappointment for me when we first learned about things. I was firmly in the camp of Commander should be reserved for bogger bots that won't fit anywhere else.

Then they revealed Motormaster and, well, just shut up and take my money!

TF-fan kev777 wrote:
Then they revealed Motormaster and, well, just shut up and take my money!

As I predicted.

Nemesis Primal wrote:Just got ahold of Kickback, he's great and this is the EXACT size I wanted the Insecticons to be done at. Very excited to see Bombshell in the future to go with him (and I guess Shrapnel, but Bombshell's my favorite of the 3). I think my only gripe is that he doesn't have wrist rotation, but that's just due to transformation so I'm cool with it.

Also, dunno if anyone else has noticed this yet, since it isn't called out in the instructions, but there's a dedicated hole and slot on his back/bug underside that allows you to peg the swords in as a "thorax", if you want weapon storage other than pegging the blades into the wings. It also conveniently locks his waist joint in place.

IMG_2603.jpg

IMG_2602.jpg

Sowndwave76 wrote:

Emerje wrote:And really, it would be strange if Dragstrip didn't get released again in a later wave for people that were holding out to complete Menasor, possibly even in the 2023 line as we're seeing a lot of transplants lately. Both Kingdom Wave 4 and Wave 5 were half new figures and half rereleases.

Emerje

This is also a good point…
Especially with Dragstrip, maybe even Wild Rider.

Looking at the wave breakdowns we currently have that were news'ed, there are no repacks in the Deluxes until Wave 4, where they repack Kingdom Cheetor and ER/Kingdom Wheeljack. If Legacy goes farther than 4 waves, maybe they'll be some Stunticon repacks, but as far as we currently know, you gotta get 'em when their wave is out.

Cool. What I really want to know, is what the spring hinge in his torso is for. Seems to be locked in place, making it totally pointless. Was there a cockpit feature that got scrapped?

Overcracker wrote:What I really want to know, is what the spring hinge in his torso is for. Seems to be locked in place, making it totally pointless. Was there a cockpit feature that got scrapped?

I don't think its actually a spring hinge. I think they are just regular pins holding in the clear plastic part making it look like it should be a hinge. The top portion of the yellow part fits into the torso in a way that would not allow it to open. In this case it looks like a homage to the opening cockpit, but was likely mainly just for ease of assembly.

Hasbro has been doing that a little bit lately, using pins for static joints sometimes making them look like they should be rotating joints. Kingdom Cheetor and Tigatron have that on their cod pieces.

sol magnus wrote:

TF-fan kev777 wrote:
Then they revealed Motormaster and, well, just shut up and take my money!

As I predicted.

For me, It had nothing to do with the G1 look. Putting the arm bots on then transforming Menasor's arms is what got me. I NEED to experience that engineering. The fun factor of the transformation alone is going to clearly blow away any of the CW combiners and I love my CW combiners, even Menasor faults and all, they are fun to build. This will be next level.

The one part that did hit me in the G1 nostalgia feels was truck/trailer mode for Motormaster. They really nailed the look.

TF-fan kev777 wrote:

sol magnus wrote:

TF-fan kev777 wrote:
Then they revealed Motormaster and, well, just shut up and take my money!

As I predicted.

For me, It had nothing to do with the G1 look. Putting the arm bots on then transforming Menasor's arms is what got me. I NEED to experience that engineering. The fun factor of the transformation alone is going to clearly blow away any of the CW combiners and I love my CW combiners, even Menasor faults and all, they are fun to build. This will be next level.

The one part that did hit me in the G1 nostalgia feels was truck/trailer mode for Motormaster. They really nailed the look.

Oh, I never claimed it was about G1 this or that - my opinion was based on it being a quality figure for the money - the main reason people stomp and swear they won't buy it and then turn around and buy it. I don't think I've ever seen someone claim (or admit) it's 'about it being G1.'

So I've been really enjoying Laser Optimus. For his trailer, I built some gun/launcher emplacements out of Sixgun, Cromar, and Slammer with a few micromasters. I like the idea of the trailer being a fortified position for the bots to rain hell down on incoming attackers.

TF-fan kev777 wrote:

Overcracker wrote:What I really want to know, is what the spring hinge in his torso is for. Seems to be locked in place, making it totally pointless. Was there a cockpit feature that got scrapped?

I don't think its actually a spring hinge. I think they are just regular pins holding in the clear plastic part making it look like it should be a hinge. The top portion of the yellow part fits into the torso in a way that would not allow it to open. In this case it looks like a homage to the opening cockpit, but was likely mainly just for ease of assembly.

Hasbro has been doing that a little bit lately, using pins for static joints sometimes making them look like they should be rotating joints. Kingdom Cheetor and Tigatron have that on their cod pieces.

Cheetor's actually moves. Tigatorn's is super tight, but it may move, though it serves no real purpose even if it does move.

But going back to Kickback.... there seems to be more than just a pin there:


It's odd, is what I'm saying to go to those lengths for aesthetic homages.

Earthrise Prime's legs, that kept Siege Prime's hinges for the wheels but were completely blocked by a panel, it's a terrible use of parts.

Once Amazon decides to ship my kickback I can find out in more detail.

Usually I'm not a big proponent of certain Youtubers, because even the best aren't perfect. However I've been following Scott's channel for almost a year. While he often talks about MOTU and DC Superheroes (brands he worked on), he is also a big fan of Marvel and SW. Transformers is a brand he doesn't mention often, but obviously recognizes it's popularity. I found this video quite refreshing, especially for a line I currently have no plans to purchase any regular line releases, but still appreciate it for what it is.

Wolfman Jake wrote:Damn, I think you just cracked the code on "Ransack" from the upcoming Buzzworthy Bumblebee multi-pack listings. Just do those energon accessories for Kickback in yellow, and you can repaint the entire mold into a pretty convincing G1 Deluxe Insecticon Ransack. The built-in storage for the energon weapons that goes undocumented in the instructions, but looks like an additional "thorax" for insect mode that matches the look of Ransack's G1 abdomen can't be coincidence. Hasbro and Takara don't have to remold any parts, except for maybe the robot mode head.

This is what I'm assuming that Ransack is gonna be, yeah, even though Cybertron Ransack is my preferred use of the name and could probably get made from the Arcee mold.

alekese wrote:You have literally solved all three of the peeves I had with this figure in a way that brings it up from mildly disappointing to appreciated. I had spotted the port and been confused by it, because by having it be both perpendicular from and flush with the torso made it mostly useless, my aesthetic sensibilities were offended by the fact that the energon blades tabbed together asymmetrically, and was mildly peeved the grasshopper mode had no abdomen, g1 accuracy be damned. But I hadn't yet put those separate obrevations together, and for that I thank you.

Happy to help!

Nemesis Primal wrote:

Wolfman Jake wrote:Damn, I think you just cracked the code on "Ransack" from the upcoming Buzzworthy Bumblebee multi-pack listings. Just do those energon accessories for Kickback in yellow, and you can repaint the entire mold into a pretty convincing G1 Deluxe Insecticon Ransack. The built-in storage for the energon weapons that goes undocumented in the instructions, but looks like an additional "thorax" for insect mode that matches the look of Ransack's G1 abdomen can't be coincidence. Hasbro and Takara don't have to remold any parts, except for maybe the robot mode head.

This is what I'm assuming that Ransack is gonna be, yeah, even though Cybertron Ransack is my preferred use of the name and could probably get made from the Arcee mold.

alekese wrote:You have literally solved all three of the peeves I had with this figure in a way that brings it up from mildly disappointing to appreciated. I had spotted the port and been confused by it, because by having it be both perpendicular from and flush with the torso made it mostly useless, my aesthetic sensibilities were offended by the fact that the energon blades tabbed together asymmetrically, and was mildly peeved the grasshopper mode had no abdomen, g1 accuracy be damned. But I hadn't yet put those separate obrevations together, and for that I thank you.

Happy to help!

We could always get both Ransacks! The one we're getting in Buzzworthy is going to be the deluxe insecticon almost for sure at this point. But we're getting both Infernos, so we could get both Ransacks after all. Doesn't Cybertron Ransack have a ton of repaint potential? If they can get like, 3 characters out of him, he may get his own mold. Unless they pull a "Terrorsaur" with him, and make him a moldmate for a character with less redeco potential.

I get the impression that Hasbro is re-releasing some of the Siege line, sans cr@pple-damage throughout this line, both to "atone for their sins" and to easily pad-out their line. We've gotten Galvatron, Soundwave and Springer is rumoured to be coming out too.

Rtron wrote:We could always get both Ransacks! The one we're getting in Buzzworthy is going to be the deluxe insecticon almost for sure at this point. But we're getting both Infernos, so we could get both Ransacks after all. Doesn't Cybertron Ransack have a ton of repaint potential? If they can get like, 3 characters out of him, he may get his own mold. Unless they pull a "Terrorsaur" with him, and make him a moldmate for a character with less redeco potential.

Both Ransacks would be ideal, I'm just not expecting it currently. I would love to be surprised though, any Unicron Trilogy updates are appreciated in my book.

Ransack sadly doesn't have that great of repaint potential, actually, since he's got:
-2 different "same guy but with new colors" repaints (which do sometimes get made these days, but they've been almost exclusively Megatron)
-A super-obscure FunPub/fan character named Quickslinger that nobody knows
-Cybertronian forms of Rattrap and Tarantulas (which doesn't seem likely to happen anytime soon, since a Deluxe-class Cybertronian Rattrap would be bigger than Kingdom Rattrap, Legacy Tarantulas only just got revealed, and the only character to recently get both a Cybertronian mode and Earth mode update without having been in Siege was Bumblebee)

I really hope they realize and take advantage of the versatility of the Arcee mold though. They could easily do both Ransack and Animated Prowl as retools from that mold, plus Flareup and Flamewar as Arcee repaints in addition to Road Rocket who we already know is coming. Ransack and Animated Prowl both transform almost the same if not the same way as this Arcee, they would both need mostly just new heads and reshelling, with Ransack specifically benefiting from a new accessory while Prowl would need either to flip the chest and the back in Universe-Lambo-bro-fashion or have a fake bike chest (or paint the existing chest to look like a different part like Selects Rotorstorm). Honestly, they might actually be able to fit Ransack and Prowl into the same remold with one being the alternate head tooling, since they both become fictitious sci-fi bikes, but that would probably lead to complaints from those much more invested in cartoon accuracy than I.

primalxconvoy wrote:I get the impression that Hasbro is re-releasing some of the Siege line, sans cr@pple-damage throughout this line, both to "atone for their sins" and to easily pad-out their line. We've gotten Galvatron, Soundwave and Springer is rumoured to be coming out too.

And Impactor, although it's likely that Springer and Impactor both will have the differences of having Wreckers badges instead of Autobadges at the very least.

Never mind. Blown to smithereens.

Evil Eye wrote:So this got leaked. It has one of the TFW sekrit leakerz klub member's personal info on it by the looks of things? Unfortunately the only version that hasn't got it has been very badly shooped to remove the text...and also most of the figure. With that being said, be responsible and don't do anything nefarious.
Looks to have swappable heads, which is neat! I 100% want this version of Scorponok. I actually like how the mold looks but always thought the deco was a bit mediocre.

(As a side note I will remove this if requested by staff for obvious reasons, but I trust Seibertron enough to not do anything silly with it)

Man, delete that, don't be an idiot, it's got someone's damn adress on it

Best to delete it, yeah
Can't be too careful these days

Evil Eye wrote:With that being said, be responsible and don't do anything nefarious.

Or you could do the smart thing and just never have posted it to begin with. Be responsible? What a joke.

sol magnus wrote:

TF-fan kev777 wrote:
Then they revealed Motormaster and, well, just shut up and take my money!

As I predicted.

On my end, I wasn't surprised he was a Commander. Leader Optimus Prime had a bare-bone trailer and he was a leader.
Some 3P made a "MP Stunticons" team and "Morotmaster's" trailer sold separately for hundreds of dollars. So I see HASTAK took inspiration from that 3P example but included Motormaster AND the trailer in a single box for the "low" price of Commander.

Let's hope there will be plenty of Stunticons around here in Canukland so that I can easily make my team without being stuck importing from the USA.

o.supreme wrote:Usually I'm not a big proponent of certain Youtubers, because even the best aren't perfect. However I've been following Scott's channel for almost a year. While he often talks about MOTU and DC Superheroes (brands he worked on), he is also a big fan of Marvel and SW. Transformers is a brand he doesn't mention often, but obviously recognizes it's popularity. I found this video quite refreshing, especially for a line I currently have no plans to purchase any regular line releases, but still appreciate it for what it is.

This definitely speaks to me as a kid. The first Transformer toys I ever asked my parents for were Terrorsaur followed by Rhinox. It had nothing to do with them being good or evil or popular, it was just because I liked the play pattern and, in the case of those two, the alt mode. Of course, the one I wanted most was Megatron but I had to wait for Christmas to get him, and what a wonderful Christmas it was.

I have a question for you, o.supreme, I know you often expressed confusion as to people (including me) stating that the generations line targetted kids and that kids were still a big focus for Hasbro even in a Generations line. Has watching Scott's videos helped you see that as well?

william-james88 wrote:I have a question for you, o.supreme, I know you often expressed confusion as to people (including me) stating that the generations line targetted kids and that kids were still a big focus for Hasbro even in a Generations line. Has watching Scott's videos helped you see that as well?

Excellent Question; and I think confused/puzzled was definitely the right word usage in this case (instead of opposed to the idea). I definitely think that for a toyline to succeed, yes Children have to be the target for the majority of the marketing (not all but most).

I do believe mainlines such as RiD15, Cyberverse, etc. are definitely targeted at kids. Generations I believe definitely has to be made to be appealing to kids, since it is assumed/hoped their families will be the largest consumers for them, but there is definitely a collector motivated slant I guess you could say. I mean I still don't see as many kids directing their relatives etc.... to buy certain toys as I'd like, but I know if a toyline is to succeed this has to happen.

I also understand why most media is targeted at younger audiences as well. It makes perfect sense. But as an adult who enjoys media actually more than the toys themselves, you can understand how this would be frustrating.

As for me, buying toys as a child was a little all-over the place. As we've discussed before, my mom was way ahead of the game, she saw the wave of advertising way before it happened, and had me commit to one line, which, in 1982, was MOTU, (I collected them all despite their appearance on TV) while I watched all the other shows, MOTU dominated my toybox. Slowly but surely some Transformers did make their way in. I basically got Omega Supreme because I initially wanted Jetfire, but he was too expensive and was hard to find by late 1985. My first exposure to Omega Supreme was the catalogue below:

37 years later, I may be interpreting this wrong, but for one Robot to single handedly blast ALL those Decepticons, was a powerhouse I wanted to own! Without seeing any comic books, when he first appeared on the S2 episode Blaster Blues, he was exactly how I interpreted him in my mind. Large, powerful, and a thunderously imposing voice. I knew this bot could take down Devastator, and eventually I got wish fulfillment, additionally part of the setting of that episode was in a city I was very fond of as a child, it was almost as if that episode had been written specifically for me.

But before I get too far off, yes, I understand why all these lines are to a greater or lesser degree aimed at children. I just wish more of them would be interested. I guess it's just hard to compete with the almighty mobile games.

An image has been making the rounds online of the Transformers Kingdom Scorponok toy in the colour scheme of his original toy. Sadly, it has been covered with a bunch of text making the picture practically useless once the text is removed. But regardless it gives us proof that this toy is coming. It is said to be part of a 4 pack, like the World's Collide pack of last year. We do see that there are 2 heads and it is unknown if that means both heads come with this toy, like SG Magus, or if we are simply seeing a sample with the alternate head. Time will tell, but at least we now have confirmation of this figure coming.

o.supreme wrote:But before I get too far off, yes, I understand why all these lines are to a greater or lesser degree aimed at children. I just wish more of them would be interested. I guess it's just hard to compete with the almighty mobile games.

It definitely is hard, and with streaming now there is always something on TV that they would like. It's something I see with my kids everyday. Thanks for the response, we see eye to eye on this.