The Energon Pub

News Credits: 198 · Mon Aug 24, 2009 6:29 am

Vangelus has posted an excellent video review of the recently released Fansproject G3 Trailer set. It includes a lot of interesting details about the set (including some never made clear before in photos) and tips for applying the included stickers, and is very well-edited and entertaining. To view the set, click the link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iQ9kMTIvwQ

I'd post this as news, but I'm crunched for time.

News Credits: 5 · Mon Aug 24, 2009 7:04 am

My response to this review was originally posted here:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=57621&start=25

After extensive review by Vangelus, I have concluded 2 things about the FP trailer..

1. It is awesome to the extreme!!! and sets the Bar for any Optimus Prime trailers to come.. the quality is top notch..

2. the only issue is the weather vein on classics prime, it does kinda make the trailer addition seem like it is not doing what it should in real life..plus the classics prime is so small compared to the trailer..which is how it was in G-1. However, after seeing the trailer, the powered commander add on, and all of it together, I think that it looks like that Prime has got tons of weight to pull, and makes his truck cab seem very small and weak comparatively..

I suppose this is the way Hasbro had envisioned the Henkei/Classics Prime..and since they had no consideration for making this figure come with a trailer, the Henkei/classics Optimus Prime reflects that..what kinda sucks is that if you look at the whole thing together and once you get passed the awesomeness of the Optimus Prime, G3 trailer, and Powered/DIA commander add on, you start to feel like the whole thing is out of whack, like the classics Optimus Prime should be larger, or a new weather vein for the semi truck should be added to make the figure look more like it is aerodynamic and a bit larger to handle the payload..

My final analysis:

The Fansproject G3 trailer is amazing! It is a great set, has tons of Options and the whole thing just screams perfection..I love it! Now the only problem I have with it is that Classics/Henkei Prime should have a new weather vein for his truck cab.. this could easily be done by a 3rd party.. a weather vein that slides over the existing one, and maybe when in bot mode becomes Classics Optimus Prime's Jet pack.. maybe the backpack could also be compatible with the FP Powered Commander Armor as well as simple classics/Henkei Prime..that would work and it seems like that one piece of extras is about the only thing missing from the entire 3rd party add ons..

in either case, I need to buy a proper Classics/Henkei Optimus Prime G-1 styled gun..

I would hate to suggest this... and I know it seems like blasphemy, but if you took the 3rd party mini Masterpiece Prime and used it for display with this trailer and powered commander armor, it would look a bit better considering the scale of the mini masterpiece Optimus Prime in truck mode..

But I would rather hope that a new 3rd party weather vein/jet pack is in the works some day..

News Credits: 905 · Mon Aug 24, 2009 7:12 am

I am starting to regret didn't pre-order this.... #-o

News Credits: 5 · Mon Aug 24, 2009 8:04 am

Real Devastator wrote:I am starting to regret didn't pre-order this....

my only advice is to order it now, because of how well this thing is made, and the gimmicks attached.. the quality is outstanding.. and it will most certainly double if not quadruple in price as time goes by..even if it is a 3rd party product..

News Credits: 129 · Mon Aug 24, 2009 8:30 am

skywarp-2 wrote:
Real Devastator wrote:I am starting to regret didn't pre-order this....

my only advice is to order it now, because of how well this thing is made, and the gimmicks attached.. the quality is outstanding.. and it will most certainly double if not quadruple in price as time goes by..even if it is a 3rd party product..

I think it might be hard to get in the future, but I don't see a large scale jump in price for it.

Plain and simple? It's not a character (which automatically makes it non-essential) and it was made in numbers which are reletively equal to the number of people who wanted one (via the pre-order system, which is quite effective for limited runs).

News Credits: 5 · Mon Aug 24, 2009 8:33 am

Counterpunch wrote:
skywarp-2 wrote:
Real Devastator wrote:I am starting to regret didn't pre-order this....

my only advice is to order it now, because of how well this thing is made, and the gimmicks attached.. the quality is outstanding.. and it will most certainly double if not quadruple in price as time goes by..even if it is a 3rd party product..

I think it might be hard to get in the future, but I don't see a large scale jump in price for it.

Plain and simple? It's not a character (which automatically makes it non-essential) and it was made in numbers which are reletively equal to the number of people who wanted one (via the pre-order system, which is quite effective for limited runs).

wouldn't a limited run make the price climb even higher, I mean look at the city commander trailer or the powered commander version... they climbed pretty high there before the rerelease..not discounting your analysis..

I didn't preorder mine, I just bought from a source in singapore..cheaper that way and I trust him..

News Credits: 60 · Mon Aug 24, 2009 8:34 am

Funny, my sentiments exactly. I hate them guys at FP so much 8-}

Such a high quality product (no I'm not with their PR department) but the trailer is one kick in the groin Masterpiece that I'd compare it and it's functionality to THS-02 trailer. It's that good so fence sitters, get one now before it's too late.

News Credits: 129 · Mon Aug 24, 2009 8:49 am

skywarp-2 wrote:wouldn't a limited run make the price climb even higher, I mean look at the city commander trailer or the powered commander version... they climbed pretty high there before the rerelease..not discounting your analysis..

Limited run items only have drastic price increases if the collectors (and I mean the hardcore collectors) were unaware of either the release of the thing or were skeptical of the quality.

Otherwise, the limted run items are released at a high market price that pretty much maintains.

Examples:

Gentai Wildrider, cost $80-100 on release. People were very dismissive of it because of similarities to BotCon SG Rodimus. Current Value? $150-200.

on the other side:

Getai Seekers, cost $80-125 for Thundercracker and Skywarp, current value is the same. People knew, collectors got what they wanted, no demand created by late comers.

News Credits: 5 · Mon Aug 24, 2009 8:55 am

Counterpunch wrote:
skywarp-2 wrote:wouldn't a limited run make the price climb even higher, I mean look at the city commander trailer or the powered commander version... they climbed pretty high there before the rerelease..not discounting your analysis..

Limited run items only have drastic price increases if the collectors (and I mean the hardcore collectors) were unaware of either the release of the thing or were skeptical of the quality.

Otherwise, the limted run items are released at a high market price that pretty much maintains.

Examples:

Gentai Wildrider, cost $80-100 on release. People were very dismissive of it because of similarities to BotCon SG Rodimus. Current Value? $150-200.

on the other side:

Getai Seekers, cost $80-125 for Thundercracker and Skywarp, current value is the same. People knew, collectors got what they wanted, no demand created by late comers.

that makes sense CP.. thanks! :APPLAUSE:

News Credits: 129 · Mon Aug 24, 2009 8:59 am

skywarp-2 wrote:that makes sense CP.. thanks!

Word.

Thing is, in general, prices for Transformers have cooled a lot lately. Some will blame the economy, but I think the nostalgia wave has kind of crested. Personally, I think the economy in its current state is just shaking prices down to where they should be.

News Credits: 609 · Mon Aug 24, 2009 9:54 am

Counterpunch wrote:
skywarp-2 wrote:that makes sense CP.. thanks!

Word.

Thing is, in general, prices for Transformers have cooled a lot lately. Some will blame the economy, but I think the nostalgia wave has kind of crested. Personally, I think the economy in its current state is just shaking prices down to where they should be.

Which is good for us!

I'm not looking to make money on my collection, but I am looking to expand it. So less demand is makes me happy!

News Credits: 11 · Mon Aug 24, 2009 9:58 am

I'm beginning to regret my decision not to buy this trailer too. It's got really cool features and looks great. But I stand by my feelings that it does look a bit too big for the cab.

News Credits: 9 · Mon Aug 24, 2009 12:06 pm

My only regret regarding the trailer is that I received the notice it had arrived and been added to my BBTS POL, less than 24 hours after requesting the POL contents to be shipped (Superior add-on pack, and 25% off Joes) and only a few hours after getting the confirmation that they shipped.

It will have to wait until the Magnus add-ons or Disney Donald pre-orders come in. Damn customs fees.

News Credits: 5 · Mon Aug 24, 2009 12:19 pm

I just got this and I gotta say it is pretty damn nice. The size thing doesn't bother me at all, it seems a good match compared to G1 Optimus.

Also, I love the way they've updated Roller and the repair drone, definitely makes it feel like it belongs in the classics line.

Great quality toy. So looking forward to Protector (and any of their other projects if they do come to fruition).

Mon Aug 24, 2009 12:21 pm

This thing is amazing. :grin:

News Credits: 5 · Mon Aug 24, 2009 2:43 pm

I'm looking forward to this. I really can't see any real flaws with it and windveins often aren't as tall as the trailer they are towing in real life plus, um I don't like the windvein on Optimus Prime anyway. The vein cannon will be Roller's "big stick," adding to the general awesomeness of the little blue gokart! My only issue with it is a personal apathy toward Prime's trailers in general. I never really saw it as necessary as a play feature. Too many trailers suck. On the other hand, if they do a Shadow trailer you can hook it to Optimus for Classics Generation 2 Optimus Prime!

News Credits: 2 · Mon Aug 24, 2009 3:07 pm

What can I say that hasn't already been said by others who have the G3 Trailer? It's a great example of how thoughtful design results in a product that can satisfy collectors on many levels.

From the concept of a "stealth" mirror mode to rationalize the trailer's absence when OP transforms to the homage of the G1 trailer's maintenance mode to the modified hitch component to connect to the Commander trailer...this is the kind of thought that should be the norm in official Transformers toy development!

News Credits: 9 · Mon Aug 24, 2009 3:22 pm

Wow, it looks like they've really gone all out on this. It looks fantastic but I know it wouldn't keep me occupied for long so there's no point in me buying it.

News Credits: 21 · Mon Aug 24, 2009 3:47 pm

i agree fansprojects make some specataclur stuuf but after the dia set rerelease fnasprojects makes me littel uneasy ever since that situation it may or not have been fansprojects fault or decision to rerelease that add on set but how do we knwo that fp will not do it again in the future with another of there sets.

for nemesis preim ill get the besttoys version of the trailer

News Credits: 9 · Mon Aug 24, 2009 4:02 pm

dragons wrote:i agree fansprojects make some specataclur stuuf but after the dia set rerelease fnasprojects makes me littel uneasy ever since that situation it may or not have been fansprojects fault or decision to rerelease that add on set but how do we knwo that fp will not do it again in the future with another of there sets.

for nemesis preim ill get the besttoys version of the trailer

Yes, it is sad that due to the misscommunication that accompanied the Powered Armor, that many people felt that they were ripped-off and or lied to.

I think Fansproject did a decent job explaining things from their point of view and seeing that they are a younger entity as far as companies go, I believe that people should put it behind them and move on. They made a mistake, regardless of if the mistake was giving out faulty info, or directly misleading people. They acknowledge it, let's move forward.

Yes, If you bought extras or decided to sell yours, the reissue for Asian fans might cut into your personal profit, but it that is your motivation, than you are more part of a problem than a solution. They make products for Fans to enjoy, not for fans to be elitist, or to make money off of their work. Not everyone can afford or is interested jn their products, so your collection is no less special if there are a few more out there.

Save your ire for the people selling the knock offs, and just bask in the beauty they gave us when HasTak choose not to.

News Credits: 2 · Mon Aug 24, 2009 4:40 pm

Yeah, I think that the ones who have the most to take issue with FP over the re-issue are scalpers. When considering true mass produced items like official Transformers toys, the total number of produced City Commanders pales in comparison even with the re-issue. With that in mind, those who own any or all of the Commander sets are still in the unique population of Transformers enthusiasts.

News Credits: 198 · Mon Aug 24, 2009 6:03 pm

Mine's coming tomorrow. This review just pumped me up that much more about this. Even dug out my Repo Autobot labels for the sides. Whether you love them and their products or not, there's no denying that FP has raised the bar on third party products and at least pays homage to classic Transformers without completely ripping them off.

On a side note, Vangelus did a spectacular job with this review.

Mon Aug 24, 2009 6:39 pm

A) The cheesiness during the beginning segment of this review almost forced me to stop watching. Great review, but a little less dorkitude next time, please.

B) I'm curious about all the comments saying "I'm really regretting not getting this!" Why regret? Just go order one. I was putting it off, and wasn't sure I really wanted it enough to justify the price, but after this review I placed my order (5 minutes ago.)

News Credits: 2 · Mon Aug 24, 2009 7:35 pm

magnusalpha wrote:A) The cheesiness during the beginning segment of this review almost forced me to stop watching. Great review, but a little less dorkitude next time, please.

Unfortunately for those who aren't able to abide dorkitude, that's what Vange1us does. Besides, this is a Transformers fan community...we collect toys and so there's bound to be a dork factor. Considering the majority of video reviews show people who are very stiff in their presentation, I like the character Vange1us adds to his reviews. It sets him apart from many other reviewers who are amatuer at best while Vange1us is one of the few pro am video reviewers in the video review scene. The dorkitude serves as entertainment and shows sincere passion and enjoyment for this hobby of ours. He also has an organized and professional manner of presentation, conveying the features of the products as well as his pros and cons on them.

On the other end of the scale, you have reviewers like Peaugh who may be more to your liking as he is more down to business in how he handles reviews. I also enjoy watching him, I have him and Vange1us on my subscription list.