The Energon Pub

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Let's talk Drift then.

So i was not going to get Drift. He was going to be a pass. i have 3 Drift figures already, and I wasn't a fan of the Dropkick helicopter (dang, Dropkick was involved with this wave a lot), so it was going to be a pass.

But I've heard some good stuff this week, so when i saw him at Target, i picked him up. And I am happy i did.

Robot mode is the best Drift has ever looked in a toy, and he is sturdier than his other figures too. His swords store in a nice way, and the samurai armor looks great.

I have loved Drift's design since it was unveiled because I love the samurai look. And seeing that basically get a perfect robot mode is fantastic. And it doesn't affect the alt mode either. The helicopter mode is fantastic! it's so much bigger than Dropkick, it's sleeker, it's awesome in black, and the rotors spin freely. Both bot and copter mode are so much better than the original, and the transformation scares me a lot less.

This is a great figure, all 3 deluxes in the wave are brilliant. And it's amazing that they took a mediocre mold and turned it into such a stunner

[ZeroWolf]

That is some hefty remoulding there! Glad you liked it!

[D-Maximal_Primal]

That is some hefty remoulding there! Glad you liked it!

Dude, he's just so much bigger and more enjoyable! they turned a mediocre mold into a fantastic one

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Up next on the itinerary, we have the next 2 Studio Constructicons.

Hightower is so weird, like the sub-humanoid/T-Rex puppy pet, but he is still really cool. His legs can move so much, he can pose just about how you want him to. His head sculpt is really cool, and he feels good in hand. He makes a great partner for Scrapmetal. Transformation is fairly straightforward, but it's still good and he makes a great crane. And he and Scrapmetal form a pretty mean looking claw arm.

Long Haul is so chunky and large, it's great. His robot mode is literally his alt mode, he looks so putupon and heavy. The posability is a little lacking, but he can still pull off some good moves. Transformation is pretty simple, and alt mode is alright. The arms in the bed is a little egregious, but it's still not bad. He forms a pretty mean foot too.

So overall, not too bad for these guys. Rampage is still the best, but I think Hightower is now my 2nd favorite of the team.

Also interesting to note: these figures are being released 2 at a time over 4 waves. Each wave has constructicons in 2 different size classes, and each wave has 1 humanoid and 1 unique design for the robot modes too. I love this approach.

[ZeroWolf]

Devy is going to be a beast...and you're half way to forming him

[D-Maximal_Primal]

And the final Studio guy of the wave: Optimus Prime.

This one is a bit unique compared to the other 4, and even most of the rest of the line.

You see, when Dark of the Moon came out, I loved the Optimus from that film: he had flight tech, an axe, an arsenal trailer, and he looked great. And the Optimus that took down Megatron and Sentinel was the most badass moment from the films for me. One-armed Prime with his axe.

And then the movie toy came out, and it was awesome as an armored not even remotely accurate toy, and i still love it. But I wanted a trailer that became an arsenal and could form his flight tech. So this toy is basically one of those special dreams that i hoped would come true someday and didn't right away.

So that plays a big part in this figure for me. The base figure is really good, but the trailer is a bit bland. It desperately needs paint, as do the weapons, and the jetpack has the hollow part forward, which is terrible looking. But despite the flaws of the trailer, it is what i have always wanted, and it fulfills that dream pretty dang well despite the flaws. He's not the best, but he really matters to me.

So here he is, alongside Angel Armor Optimus Prime. And both are valid for Dark of the Moon Prime, since both use the trailer completely differently.

[william-james88]

Glad to know your car dropkick is good. Sucks to know mine is indeed a dud and not only do I have to return it, but hope to find another one.

Yeah dude, you must have had a dud. Mine is on Par with Rampage for best Studio Con, and he is infinitly better than any of the other muscle car-formers

Prime first edition cliffjumper is still the best muscle car-former.

[william-james88]

In regards to Dropkick (vehicle version), he was one I was anxious to pick up.

There is a version that does not turn into a vehicle?

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Glad to know your car dropkick is good. Sucks to know mine is indeed a dud and not only do I have to return it, but hope to find another one.

Yeah dude, you must have had a dud. Mine is on Par with Rampage for best Studio Con, and he is infinitly better than any of the other muscle car-formers

Prime first edition cliffjumper is still the best muscle car-former.

I don't have him, so I cannot argue that point

In regards to Dropkick (vehicle version), he was one I was anxious to pick up.

There is a version that does not turn into a vehicle?

Helicopters are not technically "vehicles" since "vehicle is "a thing used for transporting people or goods, especially on land, such as a car, truck, or cart". when someone says "vehicle", we mean cars

[Ig89ninja]

Also interesting to note: these figures are being released 2 at a time over 4 waves. Each wave has constructicons in 2 different size classes, and each wave has 1 humanoid and 1 unique design for the robot modes too. I love this approach.

And it looks like they’re going to continue that trend with Mixmaster and Scavenger, and after that Overload and Scrapper .

[Deadput]

I'm glad that the DOTM Optimus here has his abs which is like probably one of the best parts of that design.

Overall leader DOTM Optimus looks pretty great.

[william-james88]

Helicopters are not technically "vehicles" since "vehicle is "a thing used for transporting people or goods, especially on land, such as a car, truck, or cart". when someone says "vehicle", we mean cars

Helicopters are vehicles. There is a page dedicated to them un any kid's book on vehicles. Cant believe I'm having this conversation. Here is the full definition with examples.

A vehicle (from Latin: vehiculum) is a machine that transports people or cargo. Vehicles include wagons, bicycles, motor vehicles (motorcycles, cars, trucks, buses), railed vehicles (trains, trams), watercraft (ships, boats), amphibious vehicles (screw-propelled vehicle, hovercraft), aircraft (airplanes, helicopters) and spacecraft.

Halsey, William D. (Editorial Director): MacMillan Contemporary Dictionary, page 1106. MacMillan Publishing, 1979. ISBN 0-02-080780-5

[Evil Eye]

Let's talk Drift then.

(D-Maximal talks Drift)

Damn, now I want him. He looks amazing. I'm always down for more samurai/ninja/Japanese/weeaboo TFs and he looks like he'd fit the bill nicely. I kinda want him and the TLK Drift (from SS) as a sort of "red oni, blue oni" team (with new names).

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Let's talk Drift then.

(D-Maximal talks Drift)

Damn, now I want him. He looks amazing. I'm always down for more samurai/ninja/Japanese/weeaboo TFs and he looks like he'd fit the bill nicely. I kinda want him and the TLK Drift (from SS) as a sort of "red oni, blue oni" team (with new names).

If I were you, I would get heli-Drift and skip red Drift. He is only really worth it for the Baby Dinos, he is not very good by himself

[Evil Eye]

Let's talk Drift then.

(D-Maximal talks Drift)

Damn, now I want him. He looks amazing. I'm always down for more samurai/ninja/Japanese/weeaboo TFs and he looks like he'd fit the bill nicely. I kinda want him and the TLK Drift (from SS) as a sort of "red oni, blue oni" team (with new names).

If I were you, I would get heli-Drift and skip red Drift. He is only really worth it for the Baby Dinos, he is not very good by himself

Ah, that's a bit of a shame. Thanks for the advice though. But yeah, heli-Drift looks pretty stellar.

[Stargrave]

I was just browsing around Entertainment Earth and I swear wherever I see him whenever I see him I have to double take on Shockwave because I keep thinking it's Beast Wars Megatron. Just for a split second but it's that toothy right arm and the purple it gets me every time.


Also, keep in mind I'm also getting my eyes checked tomorrow

[william-james88]

Let's talk Drift then.

(D-Maximal talks Drift)

Damn, now I want him. He looks amazing. I'm always down for more samurai/ninja/Japanese/weeaboo TFs and he looks like he'd fit the bill nicely. I kinda want him and the TLK Drift (from SS) as a sort of "red oni, blue oni" team (with new names).

If I were you, I would get heli-Drift and skip red Drift. He is only really worth it for the Baby Dinos, he is not very good by himself

Ah, that's a bit of a shame. Thanks for the advice though. But yeah, heli-Drift looks pretty stellar.

Heli drift is definitely the way to go. Probably my toy to beat for the Studio Series line this year.

[Jelze Bunnycat]

Right, I've taken a look over Rampage, to be exact whatever is holding his upper body together to see if there's even remotely a fix. The result: 2 screws on the right side and the shovel is a separate piece that's seemingly hooked on. Thing is tho, I thought rivets were visible only on one side, not both?

[D-Maximal_Primal]

This guy is so hideous and i love him so much

[Stargrave]

I don’t know what it is either but I love that guy too. His leg articulation is just so fun and different. And I love how the yellow is two tone so he kind of blends together better when combined I think.

[Hellscream9999]

This guy is so hideous and i love him so much

He's so off-putting, like something out of a horror movie, like a misshapen baby that grew up all mangled

[Stargrave]

Dude, totally

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

Awesome pics and great reviews, D-Max. They've really got me excited. I'm getting Hightower, Drift, and Dropkick hopefully Thursday from BBTS. I am STOKED for Hightower. To be able to finally start connecting the Constructicons together to form Devastator is gonna make it so... so real for me, you know?

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Awesome pics and great reviews, D-Max. They've really got me excited. I'm getting Hightower, Drift, and Dropkick hopefully Thursday from BBTS. I am STOKED for Hightower. To be able to finally start connecting the Constructicons together to form Devastator is gonna make it so... so real for me, you know?

I was so happy just to combine Scrapmetal and Hightower to make the hand! It felt good to start the combining process, especially since it will take a full year from star to finish.

It's also hard with the say they are releasing them:

Wave 1 of Constructicons: Left foot, left fingers
Wave 2: Right foot, left thumb and forearm
Wave 3: upper body and head
Wave 4: lower body and right arm

Poor Rampage was wave 1 of the constructicons and he has to wait until they are all present to combine!

Also, Long Haul is a beast!

Also also, isn't it funny how all the "big boys" in Transformers end up being big green boys?

[TF-fan kev777]

My collection is mainly a generations collection so my movie bots are only used to supplement my generations collection. My movie bot purchases typically used to fall under one of 3 categories, TR compatible (Cogman, Nitro Zeus, Thundercracker), combiner (all 4 SS Devy bots so far) or a really good deal (TLK deluxe Barricade at $6, TLK Leader Megs at $13).

More recently, my addiction to plastic has me getting a few select figures that just speak to me, but also can be added to my generations collection as-is or by headcannoning them into someone else. So far, I have WWII Bee who is Centurion in my collection, and car Dropkick (the sweet muscle car sold me). WWII Hot Rod will also be a purchase (still thinking up a headcannon for that).

I'd really like to get a car Shatter too (another sweet muscle car), but it sounds like a terrible mold. So has anybody lucked out QC-wise and gotten a decent car Shatter? Or, are they pretty much all garbage?