The Energon Pub

News Credits: 129 · Tue Jan 19, 2010 9:38 am

Encore Metroplex...but no eHobby Metrotitan.

Encore Bruticus...but no eHobby Battle Gaia.

Encore Trailbreaker...but no Diaclone Red version

Numerous Cassette Encore Reissues...but no ka-razy redeco tapes.

Did we do wrong and not buy up enough Diaclone black redecos of Ironhide? Was the $200+ price point for the Omega Guardian too much for those to move? (The answer to both those questions is "Yes.")

The point remains, what happened to the awesome and limited eHobby toy releases? Will we see these things again or has that time passed for TF collectables?

News Credits: 217 · Tue Jan 19, 2010 9:45 am

I assumed that eHobby had something to do with ED Ligier, Ghost Starscream and the G1 twins.

Tue Jan 19, 2010 9:48 am

CP, can you explain the E-Hobby thing? Are they some kind of division of Takara, a group similar to botcon that gets new color schemes made? I never really understood who was making these things and for what purpose. I know Metrotitan was from something, but was there ever a blue Omega Supreme featured in a comic? I never really understood what was going on with these, and thus never knew why they were so highly priced or sought after.

News Credits: 129 · Tue Jan 19, 2010 9:55 am

IceWilly wrote:CP, can you explain the E-Hobby thing? Are they some kind of division of Takara, a group similar to botcon that gets new color schemes made? I never really understood who was making these things and for what purpose. I know Metrotitan was from something, but was there ever a blue Omega Supreme featured in a comic? I never really understood what was going on with these, and thus never knew why they were so highly priced or sought after.

eHobby is a Japanese vendor that for a long while would get a chance to sell and promote a special redeco of a current reissue. Sometimes that redeco was a new character like Clampdown or Deepcover (Sideswipe mold) an occasionally it was a more obsucre G1 character like Twincast. These were ALWAYS expensive, but it was a truly limited release and not only were you importing them, but they were specail editions in Japan as well.

Metrotitan is from the later part of G1 in a series called "Zone". It really had only one episode and a host of special one-page ads in Japan to explain the story. It's rare, from Japan, and from the last of the Japanese G1 which makes it a novelty in a way. People want, what they can't have.

Blue Omega Supreme is a reference to the Omega Guardians from the G1 series. They were in a few of the shows.

News Credits: 5749 · Tue Jan 19, 2010 11:22 am

I've wondered this myself. I figured we would have seen a Classics and MP Sunstorm out of them by now.

News Credits: 241 · Tue Jan 19, 2010 11:24 am

Counterpunch wrote:Encore Metroplex...but no eHobby Metrotitan.

Encore Bruticus...but no eHobby Battle Gaia.

Encore Trailbreaker...but no Diaclone Red version

Numerous Cassette Encore Reissues...but no ka-razy redeco tapes.

Did we do wrong and not buy up enough Diaclone black redecos of Ironhide? Was the $200+ price point for the Omega Guardian too much for those to move? (The answer to both those questions is "Yes.")

The point remains, what happened to the awesome and limited eHobby toy releases? Will we see these things again or has that time passed for TF collectables?

Sorry for saying this CP, but I think you're taking things for granted now. Truth be told, I did hope for at least Metrotitan...

I can imagine Metrotitan not being able to be released, because compared to Metroplex he had an extra piece: Micromaster Metrobomb, a repaint of Skystalker. What's the state of his mold? Lost? Degraded? And Battle Gaia, can the Bruticus mold really handle one more use if Onslaught is any indication? And whatever happened to his stickerset :-?

Point is, I still wish it could be done. Even so, I don't think eHobby would willingly hold back on possible releases.

News Credits: 9 · Tue Jan 19, 2010 12:30 pm

Maybe in the current state of the economy, they are just taking a step back. I was just thinking the other day, that we haven't heard much from them lately.

Tue Jan 19, 2010 4:28 pm

Counterpunch wrote:Encore Metroplex...but no eHobby Metrotitan.

Encore Bruticus...but no eHobby Battle Gaia.

Encore Trailbreaker...but no Diaclone Red version

Numerous Cassette Encore Reissues...but no ka-razy redeco tapes.

Did we do wrong and not buy up enough Diaclone black redecos of Ironhide? Was the $200+ price point for the Omega Guardian too much for those to move? (The answer to both those questions is "Yes.")

The point remains, what happened to the awesome and limited eHobby toy releases? Will we see these things again or has that time passed for TF collectables?

It is too bad that eHobby has kind of fallen to the wayside. For the life of me, I cannot come to terms with the idea that eHobby may have given up the cool releases like the ones you mention or the possiblity of a Classics Sunstorm in favor of crummy G1-Movie repaints like those stupid Skids recolors. eHobby was always putting out something neat, and I hope Editor is right, and it's just an economy related slow down and not a closing of the shop.
Omega Guardian, that's awesome and I'm glad I spent the money.
Black Ironhide, I was interested for the longest time, but ultimately I jsut never bought one. I got the re-reissues of Sunstorm and black MEgatron, and I'll pick up eHobbys whenever I find them and can afford them, but obviously the problem is that I didn't buy the black Ironhide. My condolences to everyone.

Tue Jan 19, 2010 5:25 pm

Yes I am fond of Crosscut and Clampdown. I like that they gave us new G1 characters.

I wouldn't mind seeing some of the following if they start up again -

G1 Prowl repainted as Movie Barricade.

Sideswipe as Stunticon Breakdown or G2 Firecracker.

A Clone Seeker.

Prowl or Jazz as Kick Off.

Maybe a new head for G1 Ultra Magnus and give us Motormaster.

Maybe a few non-Diaclones if they could get the molds. Might work out cheaper for everyone.

Robotmasters Mirage as G2 Double Clutch or Dragstrip.

Energon Divebomb as Banzai-tron.

Cruellock as Tyrannitron in G1 Dinobot colours.