The Energon Pub

Is there a need for this item? How can it be done to please all?

I'd like to see the Mega Pretenders done first,especially Thunderwing. As there Pretender shells don't split in half like the regular shells do. Second,I'd like to see some of those Animal Pretenders done. Last would be the regular ones.

MMC is creating a Catilla repaint with some remolded parts. As a extra team member for there Predaking. I think this would make a excellent candidate for this. All that's needed is now create a Leader sized 3rd party pretender shell that splits in half for MMC Catilla to fit inside of. It can be done exactly like the 1988 Hasbro catilla shell. Just with the added articulation in the Four beast legs,tail & beast head.

I was thinking of how to do a pretender shell for the Classics minicon sized Catllia toy. Maybe design a transforming voyager sized catilla beast pretender shell. Fit the minicon catillia inside the guts chest area cavity. have the pretender shell transform from beast to robot doing a simple few steps transformation.

For the 3rd party regular pretender shells that split in half front to back. I was thinking about using some of the classics Generations legends & minicon sized toys as the inner robots. This might work very well for the 1989 Classics Pretenders toys like bumblebee,starscream,jazz & Grimlock. As they all have classics Legends & minicon sized inner robots sized toys to fit into the 3rd party pretender shells. Grimlock will have to use the Classics minicon toy,unless a TF4 Legends sized Grimlock toy gets made.

Since most probably want the regular & mega pretender shells to have some decent articulation in the legs,arms,head,waist & beast tails. I think the only way to accomplish this is to have the inner robots fit inside a cavity in the guts chest area on the toy. most classics legends & minicons can be transformed in a way to compact a bit bit smaller than what they are in either mode.

Others with no classics legends or minicon scale HasTak toys will have to get newer inner robots made to fit inside the 3rd party pretender shells. The regular or mega shells would need to be voyager,ultra or leader acale depending on how big the inner robot is & which character it is.

The biggest the inner robots could be are minicon,legends or basic sized. for toys like MMC Catilla this would probably be the only voyager inner robot toy exception. MMC Catilla will no doubt need a leader or bigger pretender shell to house the voyager inner toy.

I think most will agree. If a 3rd party company does create a Mega pretender Thunderwing toy. They can't use the Generations deluxe thunderwing toy as the inner robot & looks nothing like the inner robot. If I had my selection,I'd like to see a Eight on Nine inch mega pretender shell made for thunderwing. With a Legends or basic sized inner robot. it would look as much like the 1988 toy as possible in all modes,colors & sculpt. it would do all the gimmicks & come with all the weapons.

I was quite pleasantly surprised by the way they did the HFTD Bludgeon, mixing the Pretender shell look into the robot, whilst having the whole thing transform into the alt mode of the inner robot. Skullgrin's a great toy too, and Thunderwing would have been awesome if he'd been a tad bigger.

I'd be happy to see someone else do a similar take on these guys. Hell, if the BW molds are still available I'd take Snarler, Carnivac and Catilla out of those as an exclusive set.

I'd really love to complete my Mayhem Attack Squad though, one way or another. Carnivac in particular is a must-have for me. I'd love James Roberts to have him sitting on the Lost Light as a Hipster Drift "hey man I was the badass redeemed Decepticon, before it was cool".

Not sure I'd love the return of a full shell encasing a bot though. I can't think of any good way to do it that doesn't leave either the bot or the shell suffering. Most way will negatively affect both. There is a customiser around here who uses action figures for the shells and Scouts (most from Cybertron line, IIRC) as the inner bots. Those are great, but not sure I'd see a lot of people throwing down for them as a proper product.

Someone really does need to make a big Thunderwing too. Its quite disappointing that TFPrime redesigned him (and he's pretty cool looking from what I've seen) but then just gave us a dozen more Prime and Predakings. I'd probably be very tempted by a Stormbringer/IDW styled Thunderwing, but even an upscale of the Hasbro one with modifications to put a smaller bot inside could work.

I can't see the shells really working out. The best I think they could do is various bits of armour that could clip on to a robot in order to disguise it. (it'd have to just be parts lying around normally). This wouldn't work for all the Pretenders, but it's work for the humans and monsters, I think.

But I think a blending of the armour and robot worked well for Bludgeon, so that's another route they could go. As for the human and animal ones, just focus on the inner robot.

craggy wrote: Its quite disappointing that TFPrime redesigned him (and he's pretty cool looking from what I've seen)

Are you referring to the Hasbro TFP BH Dreadwing Toys? or something else?

craggy wrote:but even an upscale of the Hasbro one with modifications to put a smaller bot inside could work.

This would be my first option as well. The deluxe Generations already has a hollow cavity in the torso on the robot mode. All that is needed is to increase the mold to a Eight or Nine inch scaled toy. HasTak will have to create a minicon or legends sized inner robot Thunderwing

I never liked the Pretender shells. When I was a kid I got a couple as gifts, and I used the inner robot to fight the shells. I'm perfectly happy with how HasTak is doing them these days, although I hope they stay away from the human heads like FunPub tried.

Mkall wrote:I never liked the Pretender shells. When I was a kid I got a couple as gifts, and I used the inner robot to fight the shells. I'm perfectly happy with how HasTak is doing them these days, although I hope they stay away from the human heads like FunPub tried.

I totally agree. Pretenders and action masters were 2 really stupid concepts. I like what hasbro has been doing to homage the characters without utilizing the stupid gimmicks that killed G1 in the late 80s in america.

The whole Pretender concept is totally lame but i acquired an Octopunch and one thing i did like about it was that when i shook him and heard the rattling of the dude inside and the weight of the figure. I kinda felt good about it.
The plastic is super solid and the sculpting of the shells, especially Octopunch, is pretty cool. The Decepticons are the ones you want. The Autobot Pretenders are totally boring in comparison.

I could be interested in an updated version of the concept if handled correctly.

I also don't want to see any 3rd party Autobots or Decepticons human face looking Pretenders. As TFC turned me off this idea,with there freak show looking wannabe robocop Metalhawk toy.

I only want to see the Decepticon Pretenders monsters. Those bigger pretender beast animals. Mega Pretender Thunderwing.

Nobody gave any feedback on my Two 3rd party Pretender beast ideas for Catilla. Since MMC is creating a voyager Catilla,Does anyone want to see a Leader scale Pretender shell made for it?

How about creating a 3rd party Voyager Pretender shell for classics Minicon Catilla. The Minicon would fit in a hollow torso cavity. Which would allow the Catilla pretender animal shell to transform into a robot mode.

Tsutsukakushi wrote:I also don't want to see any 3rd party Autobots or Decepticons human face looking Pretenders. As TFC turned me off this idea,with there freak show looking wannabe robocop Metalhawk toy.

I only want to see the Decepticon Pretenders monsters. Those bigger pretender beast animals. Mega Pretender Thunderwing.

Nobody gave any feedback on my Two 3rd party Pretender beast ideas for Catilla. Since MMC is creating a voyager Catilla,Does anyone want to see a Leader scale Pretender shell made for it?

How about creating a 3rd party Voyager Pretender shell for classics Minicon Catilla. The Minicon would fit in a hollow torso cavity. Which would allow the Catilla pretender animal shell to transform into a robot mode.

Well, I wouldn't really want to see a leader sized shell for MMC's Catilla. Talk about oversize, where could that possibly fit in?

Here's the thing about Legends and Minicon sizes for Pretenders: those sizes suck. Bots have to be small deluxe size at least to be worth it at all to me and I wouldn't want to sacrifice that for the sake of a gimmick like an oversized shell. That's why I suggested some kind of clip on armour. The robots could hide somewhat and retain possibility in both modes.

Actually, when I think about it the inner robots for the G1 Pretenders were at a fairly good size. Why not just do exactly what they did back then with just better overall sculpting?

Tsutsukakushi wrote:

craggy wrote: Its quite disappointing that TFPrime redesigned him (and he's pretty cool looking from what I've seen)

Are you referring to the Hasbro TFP BH Dreadwing Toys? or something else?

the Prime video game. haven't played it myself but...
http://youtu.be/TBRySqxrQjk

Gauntlet101010 wrote:Here's the thing about Legends and Minicon sizes for Pretenders: those sizes suck. Bots have to be small deluxe size at least to be worth it at all to me and I wouldn't want to sacrifice that for the sake of a gimmick like an oversized shell. That's why I suggested some kind of clip on armour. The robots could hide somewhat and retain possibility in both modes.

Actually, when I think about it the inner robots for the G1 Pretenders were at a fairly good size. Why not just do exactly what they did back then with just better overall sculpting?

I'm not fond of the tiny scale TF toys either. The problem with bigger inner robots is,the shells need to be bigger to house them. Having deluxe scale inner robots will more than guarantee the shells be leader scale.

I wanted the inner robots to be minicon or legends scale,so they could fit inside a cavity in the torso of the pretender shell. this way the shells could have decent poseabilty in the arms,legs,waist & head.

Using the Minicon or legends scale for the 3rd party pretenders might bea good thing. As 3rd parties might be able to use some HasTak minicons & Legends as inner robots. Some of the Classics 2.0 animal minicons can get used for the bigger Pretender Beast shells. Some of the HasTak classics legends like bumblebee,starscream & Jazz could get used as inner robots for 3rd party classics pretenders shells.

Clip on pretender armor might be a good idea. If the clip on armor can form something else like a weapon or animal or vehicle mode. maybe even a battle platform. if it just sits there doing nothing on the side,then it's a bad idea.

I had a few classics pretenders. I think those inner robots were around basic scale. I think even basics would be too big. because the pretender shells might have to be bigger than leader scale to house them. As I want the inner robots to only fit inside the torso of the pretender shell. this will free up place inside the shells to allow the arms,legs,waist & head to have articulation.

I am not looking for inner robots that fit inside the shells like the late 1980's ones did. Because this will limit or cancel out articulation for the pretender shells arms,legs,waist & head.

I'd like to see some inner robots ride the 3rd party pretenders beast. Just add a few attach ports to keep them attached.

Tsutsukakushi wrote:

Gauntlet101010 wrote:Here's the thing about Legends and Minicon sizes for Pretenders: those sizes suck. Bots have to be small deluxe size at least to be worth it at all to me and I wouldn't want to sacrifice that for the sake of a gimmick like an oversized shell. That's why I suggested some kind of clip on armour. The robots could hide somewhat and retain possibility in both modes.

Actually, when I think about it the inner robots for the G1 Pretenders were at a fairly good size. Why not just do exactly what they did back then with just better overall sculpting?

I'm not fond of the tiny scale TF toys either. The problem with bigger inner robots is,the shells need to be bigger to house them. Having deluxe scale inner robots will more than guarantee the shells be leader scale.

I wanted the inner robots to be minicon or legends scale,so they could fit inside a cavity in the torso of the pretender shell. this way the shells could have decent poseabilty in the arms,legs,waist & head.

Using the Minicon or legends scale for the 3rd party pretenders might bea good thing. As 3rd parties might be able to use some HasTak minicons & Legends as inner robots. Some of the Classics 2.0 animal minicons can get used for the bigger Pretender Beast shells. Some of the HasTak classics legends like bumblebee,starscream & Jazz could get used as inner robots for 3rd party classics pretenders shells.

Clip on pretender armor might be a good idea. If the clip on armor can form something else like a weapon or animal or vehicle mode. maybe even a battle platform. if it just sits there doing nothing on the side,then it's a bad idea.

I had a few classics pretenders. I think those inner robots were around basic scale. I think even basics would be too big. because the pretender shells might have to be bigger than leader scale to house them. As I want the inner robots to only fit inside the torso of the pretender shell. this will free up place inside the shells to allow the arms,legs,waist & head to have articulation.

I am not looking for inner robots that fit inside the shells like the late 1980's ones did. Because this will limit or cancel out articulation for the pretender shells arms,legs,waist & head.

I'd like to see some inner robots ride the 3rd party pretenders beast. Just add a few attach ports to keep them attached.

I think Hasbro's decision to just get rid of the shell is the best way. Hasbro made a mistake in ever making the Pretenders to begin with, not that there is anyway to change that.

njb902 wrote: Hasbro made a mistake in ever making the Pretenders to begin with, not that there is anyway to change that.

I wouldn't call them a mistake. I always thought the sculpts & creativity ideas were high. Some fans want newer toys of some of the Pretenders due to Marvel Comics doing a great job at giving them decent personas.

craggy wrote:I was quite pleasantly surprised by the way they did the HFTD Bludgeon, mixing the Pretender shell look into the robot, whilst having the whole thing transform into the alt mode of the inner robot. Skullgrin's a great toy too, and Thunderwing would have been awesome if he'd been a tad bigger.

I wouldn't mind if HasTak & 3rd parties created newer Pretenders toys the way HasTak did with HFTD Bludgeon & Generations Thunerwing.

Generations thunderwing might have been a home run of a toy,had it been at least Voyager size.

Gauntlet101010 wrote:But I think a blending of the armour and robot worked well for Bludgeon, so that's another route they could go.

Hasbro & 3rd parties needs to seriously start doing more animal-bots for the Classics Generations lines. There are just so many animal-bots from G-1 who need newer molds. I'd love to see all of the bigger pretenders beast get newer voyager sized Generations toys. Similar to HFTD Bludgeon. Where the pretenders beast shells & inner robots designs are combined to create a fusion design mold.

Mkall wrote:I'm perfectly happy with how HasTak is doing them these days,

I suspose then this is the best route. HasTak & 3rd party just need to start doing more beast-bots & Pretenders. Bumburst could be a animal-bot that transforms into a bat. pretenders submaruader could transform into a manta ray or shark. Skullgrin could transform into a bull or elephant or a ?

The thing about an articulated shell is that it detracts from the most important thing of any TF - the robot itself. If we're going to make compromises on that part then the whole idea isn't worth it.

If you want a classic shell, then you can have all the articulation you want in the arms and, maybe, head. I can see the head being hollow and on a larger swivel joint.

Personally, I don't feel clip-on armor has to actually do anything once it's off. Not if the trade off is having an articulated disguise, and this is the only way I can see that happening. This or just having better sculpted shells overall done in the old way. Which isn't too bad. Just think of the Todd McFarlane figures.