The Energon Pub

If all I saw was just a supermodel's one leg, I would think that something is wrong too..

Cars don't have the same leeway that construction vehicles and jets do. The fact that they are actually combiners, and the fact that they remain to be sleek cars AND still combine is fascinating.

FP is doing a good job and all you've seen is a fraction of the combiner. Give it some time.

Rated X wrote:I had seen a picture of Breakdown transformed into what appeared to be a foot and it looked horrible. Ill try to find it.

I believe this is what you're talking about:

daimchoc wrote:

At first glance that does look to be a rather mediocre leg, but then it's hard to really get a feel for it since we have no idea what Motormaster looks like or how they will connect. I'm also pretty sure I've seen a picture of Breakdown posed as an arm (seemingly suggesting they will be Scramble City-able), but there's no hand bits, so I would take both of these 'modes' with a grain of salt. It's entirely possible that the set will still use separate parts for things like the feet and hands. (Of course if someone has confirmation that that is indeed the official leg form, I may be worried too.)

As for parts vs integrated, I think if they can get more integrated, then great! Of course if they can't, or they have to compromise one or both of the figures other modes for it to work, well then it's really not worth it. In this case it would also make a lot of sense to have the combiner bits hidden away in-- or as part of-- Motormaster (think City Commander and Protector).

As to the, figures themselves they look great! I've already pre-ordered Car Crash, though I'll likely wait until I have him in hand to decide if I'll order the rest. I absolutely love the alt modes, I think they made great choices there. The bot modes for Car Crash and T-Bone look amazing as well, and really show how altering some of the detailing and the alt mode can make a figure really look like a another character. I have to admit, I'm a little mixed on not-Dead End's bot mode. I mean, it looks good, but in G1 all the cars save Drag Strip looked pretty similar in bot mode. Also that shoulder kibble is a little extreme, I wish there was a hinge or something to fold the door-bit down on the other side of the wheel.

Oh and I have no idea what so many are on about with not-Drag Strip. Aside from the kibble being different (obvious as he's a different car) and the leg's being flipped I think he looks pretty close to G1. Of course I was never that big a fan of him, so perhaps I'm just missing something.

Can't wait to see what they're doing with Motormaster.

Yeah thats the picture that got me scared. Looking closer at their teaser silloute of Menasor, it does appear that he has long feet similar to FP Bruticus that cant be part of the car mode from what we have seen (sigh of relief) However, Im not thrilled about the posibility of the car parts being Menasors shins rather than being the the back of his legs like BOTH the G1 toy and G1 cartoon. Thats way too neo for me. Kind of like the idea a Throttlebot combiner.

On intergrated parts: While sometimes it works and is kind of cool, it often sacrfices things that would look better to make them intergrate. The perfect example is small gestalt heads. Colossus, Giant, and MMC Predaking (render) all seem to suffer from small head syndrome. This is of course because of intergration of the gestalt heads into the alt and robot modes. Also you can do so much more with a trailer when you dont have to design it with parts that turn into hands and feet of the gestalt. The Colossus set was able to give energon/ROTF Onslaught a more G1 alt mode look. However it looked kind of weird because it was made out of obvious gestalt pieces. This is where I prefer G1 combiner figures over their neo upgrades. If I aint using the parts. I got a box for them. I dont need a Devy head looking like a tumor on Hooks foot (Maketoys Crane) And how about FOC Bruticus ? His hands and feet look horrible because the designers were so concerned with intergration. Imagine how much better FOC Bruticus would look if they had given him real hands and feet that didnt need to be "stored" somewhere on the figure ? I could go on and on, but Im sure by now you understand my point as to why parts intergration is not always all that its cracked up to be.

Just to show where the set is being based on...

daimchoc wrote:Just to show where the set is being based on...

I would say very loosely based on. Deadend looks nothing like that picture in bot mode, and there are some clear differences with all of the others as well (though not as much with Breakdown as the rest).

headsortails wrote: there will always be a few, no matter what gets produced, who are jaded and always have to say "aw, that sucks".

I see you've familiarised yourself with Rated X's posts.


It's not that I disagree. The pics of the recent comic designs for the team are more in line with what I'd have liked to have seen for Dragstrip and especially Dead End, and hands and feet that may or may not integrate with Motormaster don't bother me one bit. BUT we haven't seen enough pics of these guys, nor of the final member or their combined form, for me to completely write-off the set.

All the vehicles will be nice from what we've seen. At least 2 of the robot modes are REALLY nice and I might be able to live with the others. Considering what FP did with Broadside, I'm not sure if they might even made Deadend and Dragstrip have reversible torsos. THIS IS PURELY SPECULATION ON MY PART but I think it'd be cool if there was that option. If not, well, screw it, we know what we're getting into before buying at least.

Im not feeling that Motormaster at all, but Id rather have the Dead End in that picture than what we got.

Rated X wrote:Im not feeling that Motormaster at all, but Id rather have the Dead End in that picture than what we got.

Agreed. FP's Deadend doesn't really look bad to me in bot mode, but it doesn't really scream Deadend either. He should've looked much more like Breakdown and Wildrider in bot mode in the chest area and a lot less like TFP: Knockout or something with parts of his hood forming his chest.

Oh well, still not a bad effort, and at least his car mode looks awesome.

Hey, it's Menasor. And not some weird double drillbit tank. It's the Stunticons!! I've been waiting a looooong time for even a decent one (PCC doesn't come close to counting!) It's going to be hard to screw this up in my mind, especially after what we've seen already.

craggy wrote:

headsortails wrote: there will always be a few, no matter what gets produced, who are jaded and always have to say "aw, that sucks".

I see you've familiarised yourself with Rated X's posts.


Im gonna have to take a little offense to that. You say "no matter what gets produced" I will say it sucks. When did I ever say Hercules sucks ? FP Bruticus ? Uranus ? Hegemon ? Art Feather Bumblebee ? Maiden Japan stuff ? City Commander ? IT Quints ? IT Alicon ? PE Rumble & Frenzy ? Anything from CHMS ?

Ive prasied so many figures on this forum. It just happens that all the figures I am critical of happen to be the ones you like. Not my fault we arent looking for the same things in a 3rd party figure. Read more of my posts before you judge me like that. Ive been on here long enough...

xyl360 wrote:

Rated X wrote:Im not feeling that Motormaster at all, but Id rather have the Dead End in that picture than what we got.

Agreed. FP's Deadend doesn't really look bad to me in bot mode, but it doesn't really scream Deadend either. He should've looked much more like Breakdown and Wildrider in bot mode in the chest area and a lot less like TFP: Knockout or something with parts of his hood forming his chest.

Oh well, still not a bad effort, and at least his car mode looks awesome.

I think I am in the minority. I like Deadend's bot mode with the hood for the chest.

Rated X wrote:

craggy wrote:

headsortails wrote: there will always be a few, no matter what gets produced, who are jaded and always have to say "aw, that sucks".

I see you've familiarised yourself with Rated X's posts.

Im gonna have to take a little offense to that. You say "no matter what gets produced" I will say it sucks. When did I ever say Hercules sucks ? FP Bruticus ? Uranus ? Hegemon ? Art Feather Bumblebee ? Maiden Japan stuff ? City Commander ? IT Quints ? IT Alicon ? PE Rumble & Frenzy ? Anything from CHMS ?

Ive prasied so many figures on this forum. It just happens that all the figures I am critical of happen to be the ones you like. Not my fault we arent looking for the same things in a 3rd party figure. Read more of my posts before you judge me like that. Ive been on here long enough...

okay. yes, you do say positive things about some projects. I'll admit that. It's maybe just how dismissive and derisive you are towards those products you don't like. Most people here who don't like something can give their opinions in a way that doesn't boil down to "I don't like it so it's the worst thing in the world ever and has ruined my childhood forever"

craggy wrote:

Rated X wrote:

craggy wrote:

headsortails wrote: there will always be a few, no matter what gets produced, who are jaded and always have to say "aw, that sucks".

I see you've familiarised yourself with Rated X's posts.

Im gonna have to take a little offense to that. You say "no matter what gets produced" I will say it sucks. When did I ever say Hercules sucks ? FP Bruticus ? Uranus ? Hegemon ? Art Feather Bumblebee ? Maiden Japan stuff ? City Commander ? IT Quints ? IT Alicon ? PE Rumble & Frenzy ? Anything from CHMS ?

Ive prasied so many figures on this forum. It just happens that all the figures I am critical of happen to be the ones you like. Not my fault we arent looking for the same things in a 3rd party figure. Read more of my posts before you judge me like that. Ive been on here long enough...

okay. yes, you do say positive things about some projects. I'll admit that. It's maybe just how dismissive and derisive you are towards those products you don't like. Most people here who don't like something can give their opinions in a way that doesn't boil down to "I don't like it so it's the worst thing in the world ever and has ruined my childhood forever"

Thats a little extreme. The truth is, Im not a "meh" kind of guy. im a love it or hate it type of guy. Plus sometimes the designers or their contacts actually read these boards. So I am always bold in my statements.

If you're going to be derisive and disrespectful of things you don't like it'll leave an impression on people. And not always a good one.

Anyways, I don't think is base doff IDW's Stunticons. They look totally different. But I think that's okay. I don't need their Menasor to really look like any official take on the character just as long as he's rescognasiable. Plus, I'm sure Reprolables will make a set to bring him even closer if that's needed. I don't usually put such sets on my TFs, but I kinda think Breakdown could use a large Decepticon symbol on his hood.

I just ignore X, since pretty much everything he says strikes my nerves.

daimchoc wrote:

Breakdown - Perfect, BOUGHT!

Wildrider - Ditto, though not as excited character-wise...

Dead End - Was dissapointed at first, but after I heard about the comparison to Knock Out(who I always thought should be Dead End anyway) I'm willing to go all in.

Dragstrip - Polarizing. On one hand I don't think he looks too bad, the shoulders are kinda weird with the way everything else looks, but I guess it's better than a yellow mirage.

On the whole I'm not a fan of the Stunticons(except Breakdown) anyway. But hey, if I think one is perfect, I'm not gonna stray from getting the whole team.

Shadowstream wrote:I just ignore X, since pretty much everything he says strikes my nerves.

Gauntlet101010 wrote:If you're going to be derisive and disrespectful of things you don't like it'll leave an impression on people. And not always a good one.

I dont think dissing a piece of plastic should be compared to dissing a real person. Were all a bunch of middle aged guys up at 1 in the morning talking s**t about robots. Some of it is positive s**t. Some of it is negative s**t. But its all s**t. And even though Ive started my share of arguments, you must admit craggy kind of baited me into this one...

All right, guys, come on. Let's all be the adults we all know we are. Adults who are spending way too much for 4" toys to stick together to become an 11" recreation of our shared childhoods. We don't have to agree on everything or be dicks. Or by God, I swear I will turn this thread around and nobody gets a Menasor!

Anyway, as of right now BBTS still has more than 1,400 of each still available for preorder. That's surprising both because they haven't sold out and they're getting that many to begin with! Now I feel like I wasted a whole day to pounce on them the second they went up.

zodconvoy wrote:Anyway, as of right now BBTS still has more than 1,400 of each still available for preorder. That's surprising both because they haven't sold out and they're getting that many to begin with! Now I feel like I wasted a whole day to pounce on them the second they went up.

I had a feeling (and was hoping) that FP would do a much larger than normal production run for these guys. This set has been rumored, anticipated and begged for by the fandom for years and they're finally delivering (and in winning fashion so far in my opinion). I'm glad to see it in high numbers because I'm certain that many, like me, will be ordering doubles of at least some of the team members for their individual vehicle and/or bot modes in addition to the combined mode (I'm getting doubles of at least 3 of them).

It will be good for collectors, especially if the prices remain as they are and don't get jacked up as time goes on (or at least until the supply gets far shorter than it is right now).

Shadowstream wrote:Dead End - Was dissapointed at first, but after I heard about the comparison to Knock Out(who I always thought should be Dead End anyway) I'm willing to go all in.

Agreed. I've always thought of TFP:Knock Out as Deadend too due to his color scheme and alt mode (though his personality is obviously more like Tracks than anyone else, even if he is a Decepticon instead of an Autobot ).

I like all four of these guys and am sure I'll like Motormaster as well. The only possible issue I have is Menasor's height...

xyl360 wrote:

zodconvoy wrote:Anyway, as of right now BBTS still has more than 1,400 of each still available for preorder. That's surprising both because they haven't sold out and they're getting that many to begin with! Now I feel like I wasted a whole day to pounce on them the second they went up.

I had a feeling (and was hoping) that FP would do a much larger than normal production run for these guys. This set has been rumored, anticipated and begged for by the fandom for years and they're finally delivering (and in winning fashion so far in my opinion). I'm glad to see it in high numbers because I'm certain that many, like me, will be ordering doubles of at least some of the team members for their individual vehicle and/or bot modes in addition to the combined mode (I'm getting doubles of at least 3 of them).

It will be good for collectors, especially if the prices remain as they are and don't get jacked up as time goes on (or at least until the supply gets far shorter than it is right now).

so why was Chromedome produced in such small batches?

Looking forward to seeing Motormaster, just his feet will remain the cab of the truck, which may be tricky to do and keep in scale.

Stormrider wrote:so why was Chromedome produced in such small batches?

Looking forward to seeing Motormaster, just his feet will remain the cab of the truck, which may be tricky to do and keep in scale.

Might be that he was a special release in conjunction with the Toys for Tots promotion. There was going to be a limited time to pre-order so that donations could be ready in time for CHristmas.

Stormrider wrote:so why was Chromedome produced in such small batches?

Looking forward to seeing Motormaster, just his feet will remain the cab of the truck, which may be tricky to do and keep in scale.

Chromedome was first released with the charity angle so that got a shorter run then you have all the people (myself included) who missed that scoop it up with the Stunticons on the second run. It's also the first of a new line so lower numbers could be a test to see how the rest of the line goes. The next two only had a couple hundred left when I checked their numbers when I preordered them but the anticipation was so much higher for the Stunticons that they had to do a larger run on them. They got beaten to the punch with Hardhead but I know people who are still waiting for FP's (again, myself included) so by the time they get to him and Mindwipe and the rest the demand will be higher. I'm passing on Darksol now and if FP does larger Fort Max and Scorponok figures, Headrobot is going to be in trouble despite the great work they've been doing.

As for Motormaster's feet, they can't be done in scale. In reality, G1 Motormaster's design would be taller then Menasor! The smaller truck with the cab going all the way up the legs is the only way to go without making him a ridiculously tiny truck.

Guys, stop squabbling and head to Chimungchung.com http://chimungmung.com/product_info.php?products_id=1015. He has them in hand right now. I confirmed it before I ordered. I have mine ordered and paid for.