The Energon Pub

Out of interest, how solid is FP Menasor and his components? I have the second release of the Bruticus addon kit and it's plagued with QC issues- one of the antenna snapped off, the joints are all kinda loose (Swindle's combiner joint and the shoulder blocks/missile pods being particularly bad, the latter of which I actually had to tighten by pouring in water effects resin- which seems to have done the job), the little mini-Shockwave's hip joint snapped after attempting to tighten his horrendously loose ball joints, one of the shoulder cannons is kinda wonky...I don't know if I got a bootleg or if there was a bad batch...

megatronus wrote:

Agamemnon wrote:

megatronus wrote:

Autobot Genocide wrote:I don't mean BF has better product than hasbro , What i'm saying is side by side i would choose Boldforms Menasor design over Hasbros

I'm questioning everything I ever thought about you right now.
(just kidding)

I actually have to agree with AG, on the aspect of the overall design. I am not digging the remold of OP as the design choice for CW Menasor. I would have wished for a Hasbro attempt along the general design of Bold Forms, but with much better engineering and design details, of course.

But if I am wishing for something, how about a couple hundred grand so I can get all the TF toys I really want!!

Bold Forms just seems like a step backward, IMO... they're overall aesthetic just seems very Impossible Toys-esque, which I don't dig. But if you all like them, that's cool.

Also, a point of order - there's much speculation that Motormaster isn't a redeco of Prime, but the other way around. They just revealed Prime first, since the Combiner Wars announcement was later.

Oh, I quite agree with you on the actual Bold Forms product. It isn't up to my Classics engineering or detailing standard. But I do like the overall design a bit better. Maybe it's the cab. Maybe it's the trailer. I'm not quite sure...

Delta Magnus wrote:Out of interest, how solid is FP Menasor and his components? I have the second release of the Bruticus addon kit and it's plagued with QC issues- one of the antenna snapped off, the joints are all kinda loose (Swindle's combiner joint and the shoulder blocks/missile pods being particularly bad, the latter of which I actually had to tighten by pouring in water effects resin- which seems to have done the job), the little mini-Shockwave's hip joint snapped after attempting to tighten his horrendously loose ball joints, one of the shoulder cannons is kinda wonky...I don't know if I got a bootleg or if there was a bad batch...

Sorry, missed your post replying to Megatronus. I have had no issues with MMM (outside of the trailer half rolling off the table onto a tile floor. But that was definitely my fault.!) There was the issue that Drag Strip's canopy can snap, but I've been real careful and it hasn't happened to me. I don't handle him a lot, but everything still looks great on mine.

I snapped an antenna from the first run of the Bruticus add-on set. It's quite long and trying to get him into truck mode, I didn't realize the antenna wasn't aligned properly with the fist hole. But, so far no cracking on the connector. Swindle is tight. But, again, I don't handle him much.

'Tis but one voice in the crowd....

Agamemnon wrote:Oh, I quite agree with you on the actual Bold Forms product. It isn't up to my Classics engineering or detailing standard. But I do like the overall design a bit better. Maybe it's the cab. Maybe it's the trailer. I'm not quite sure...

I like the silhouette on Bold Forms' combined mode a bit better, but everything else? Fuggedaboutit!

Delta Magnus wrote:Out of interest, how solid is FP Menasor and his components? I have the second release of the Bruticus addon kit and it's plagued with QC issues- one of the antenna snapped off, the joints are all kinda loose (Swindle's combiner joint and the shoulder blocks/missile pods being particularly bad, the latter of which I actually had to tighten by pouring in water effects resin- which seems to have done the job), the little mini-Shockwave's hip joint snapped after attempting to tighten his horrendously loose ball joints, one of the shoulder cannons is kinda wonky...I don't know if I got a bootleg or if there was a bad batch...

FP Menasor is super solid in combined mode, which is surprising given how fiddly the individual bots are. It helps that the car shins just peg on - people are critical of the pre-existing skeleton, but it makes a huge difference in terms of stability. Plus, the arm connector ports are entirely different than the Energon ports the Bruticus set uses, and there's nothing loose there.

Outside of a scary transformation, the only persistently annoying thing I've encountered are the fiddliness of the individually articulated fingers, which are all on ball joints.

Anyway, I highly recommend Peaugh's review. He kind of covers everything.

Oh, well that's good. I am beginning to get used to the whole "car armour" look- it still looks odd and kind of defeats the point of being a combiner, but it doesn't look too bad and if it gives a more solid figure then that's great.

The funny thing about the Bruticus combiner joints is that all the "official" HasTak toys I have with those joints have a very tight ratchet. as a result, the Brawl leg has a nice and tight knee, but the Swindle leg is so loose it just flops around unless he's standing on it. I think I got it off eBay, but it was from the UK so I don't think it was a bootleg...

Delta Magnus wrote:Myself, I'd like to see fully-transforming new mold limb-bots paying homage to Energon Prime's drones. Those things were pretty awesome, especially the drill arm.

Looking at CW Menasor, he looks pretty boss. I'd be tempted to settle for him. Either that or get FP Menasor and CW Menasor, repainting the CW figures into something new.

Hurm...Prime's Drill Arm = Nosecone! The Helicopter is already in Superion. What were the other 2 things? A burger van and a pie shop?

Agamemnon wrote:

megatronus wrote:

Agamemnon wrote:

megatronus wrote:

Autobot Genocide wrote:I don't mean BF has better product than hasbro , What i'm saying is side by side i would choose Boldforms Menasor design over Hasbros

I'm questioning everything I ever thought about you right now.
(just kidding)

I actually have to agree with AG, on the aspect of the overall design. I am not digging the remold of OP as the design choice for CW Menasor. I would have wished for a Hasbro attempt along the general design of Bold Forms, but with much better engineering and design details, of course.

But if I am wishing for something, how about a couple hundred grand so I can get all the TF toys I really want!!

Bold Forms just seems like a step backward, IMO... they're overall aesthetic just seems very Impossible Toys-esque, which I don't dig. But if you all like them, that's cool.

Also, a point of order - there's much speculation that Motormaster isn't a redeco of Prime, but the other way around. They just revealed Prime first, since the Combiner Wars announcement was later.

Oh, I quite agree with you on the actual Bold Forms product. It isn't up to my Classics engineering or detailing standard. But I do like the overall design a bit better. Maybe it's the cab. Maybe it's the trailer. I'm not quite sure...

That's why i said Hasbro imo is below BF . Hasbros finished combiner shape/form may be a step forward for Hasbro but to me it's what Hasbro should have been doing years ago and i think by now they should be putting out combiners that look like BF combiner mode with the Hasbro engineering .

I guess i'm just used to 3rdp quality when it comes to combiner designs , i mean if a third party put out the combiner wars line it would get so much hate .

I will admit i have very little interest in what Hasbro puts out when it comes to classics these days there is only one or two figures in a wave i pick up , the MP line is my only real interest.

craggy wrote:

Delta Magnus wrote:Myself, I'd like to see fully-transforming new mold limb-bots paying homage to Energon Prime's drones. Those things were pretty awesome, especially the drill arm.

Looking at CW Menasor, he looks pretty boss. I'd be tempted to settle for him. Either that or get FP Menasor and CW Menasor, repainting the CW figures into something new.

Hurm...Prime's Drill Arm = Nosecone! The Helicopter is already in Superion. What were the other 2 things? A burger van and a pie shop?

Well Nosecone's drill either becomes a shoulder or a knee, whereas he Energon drill drone's drill either becomes his foot or gives him a DRILL HAND. So not quite the same.

The other 2 were a fire engine and a submarine...thing.

Defensor is going to part of combiner wars. heard it here first

mooncake623 wrote:Defensor is going to part of combiner wars. heard it here first

Sweet

Kinda easily guessed this months ago. Based off CW Superion having that rescue helicopter. That I speculated was going to get re-used for CW Defensor.

Autobot Genocide wrote:

Agamemnon wrote:

megatronus wrote:

Agamemnon wrote:

megatronus wrote:

Autobot Genocide wrote:I don't mean BF has better product than hasbro , What i'm saying is side by side i would choose Boldforms Menasor design over Hasbros

I'm questioning everything I ever thought about you right now.
(just kidding)

I actually have to agree with AG, on the aspect of the overall design. I am not digging the remold of OP as the design choice for CW Menasor. I would have wished for a Hasbro attempt along the general design of Bold Forms, but with much better engineering and design details, of course.

But if I am wishing for something, how about a couple hundred grand so I can get all the TF toys I really want!!

Bold Forms just seems like a step backward, IMO... they're overall aesthetic just seems very Impossible Toys-esque, which I don't dig. But if you all like them, that's cool.

Also, a point of order - there's much speculation that Motormaster isn't a redeco of Prime, but the other way around. They just revealed Prime first, since the Combiner Wars announcement was later.

Oh, I quite agree with you on the actual Bold Forms product. It isn't up to my Classics engineering or detailing standard. But I do like the overall design a bit better. Maybe it's the cab. Maybe it's the trailer. I'm not quite sure...

That's why i said Hasbro imo is below BF . Hasbros finished combiner shape/form may be a step forward for Hasbro but to me it's what Hasbro should have been doing years ago and i think by now they should be putting out combiners that look like BF combiner mode with the Hasbro engineering .

I guess i'm just used to 3rdp quality when it comes to combiner designs , i mean if a third party put out the combiner wars line it would get so much hate .

I will admit i have very little interest in what Hasbro puts out when it comes to classics these days there is only one or two figures in a wave i pick up , the MP line is my only real interest.

How can anyone say BF is better than HasTak, When no one has any BF toys.

At least HasTak has almost final test shots on display at various conventions this year. Think those CW Stunticons limbs-bots are top notch and there going to be hard to compete with.

Tsutsukakushi wrote:

Autobot Genocide wrote:

Agamemnon wrote:

megatronus wrote:

Agamemnon wrote:

megatronus wrote:

Autobot Genocide wrote:I don't mean BF has better product than hasbro , What i'm saying is side by side i would choose Boldforms Menasor design over Hasbros

I'm questioning everything I ever thought about you right now.
(just kidding)

I actually have to agree with AG, on the aspect of the overall design. I am not digging the remold of OP as the design choice for CW Menasor. I would have wished for a Hasbro attempt along the general design of Bold Forms, but with much better engineering and design details, of course.

But if I am wishing for something, how about a couple hundred grand so I can get all the TF toys I really want!!

Bold Forms just seems like a step backward, IMO... they're overall aesthetic just seems very Impossible Toys-esque, which I don't dig. But if you all like them, that's cool.

Also, a point of order - there's much speculation that Motormaster isn't a redeco of Prime, but the other way around. They just revealed Prime first, since the Combiner Wars announcement was later.

Oh, I quite agree with you on the actual Bold Forms product. It isn't up to my Classics engineering or detailing standard. But I do like the overall design a bit better. Maybe it's the cab. Maybe it's the trailer. I'm not quite sure...

That's why i said Hasbro imo is below BF . Hasbros finished combiner shape/form may be a step forward for Hasbro but to me it's what Hasbro should have been doing years ago and i think by now they should be putting out combiners that look like BF combiner mode with the Hasbro engineering .

I guess i'm just used to 3rdp quality when it comes to combiner designs , i mean if a third party put out the combiner wars line it would get so much hate .

I will admit i have very little interest in what Hasbro puts out when it comes to classics these days there is only one or two figures in a wave i pick up , the MP line is my only real interest.

How can anyone say BF is better than HasTak, When no one has any BF toys.

At least HasTak has almost final test shots on display at various conventions this year. Think those CW Stunticons limbs-bots are top notch and there going to be hard to compete with.

We're talking about the design, dude, not the details. For BF, I like the overall use of a cab and trailer. I like the G1 throwback in overall transformation design. I don't care for the way CW Motormaster transforms or forms the torso. He looks too broad chested.

Does that make sense?

Agamemnon wrote:

Tsutsukakushi wrote:

Autobot Genocide wrote:

Agamemnon wrote:

megatronus wrote:

Agamemnon wrote:

megatronus wrote:

Autobot Genocide wrote:I don't mean BF has better product than hasbro , What i'm saying is side by side i would choose Boldforms Menasor design over Hasbros

I'm questioning everything I ever thought about you right now.
(just kidding)

I actually have to agree with AG, on the aspect of the overall design. I am not digging the remold of OP as the design choice for CW Menasor. I would have wished for a Hasbro attempt along the general design of Bold Forms, but with much better engineering and design details, of course.

But if I am wishing for something, how about a couple hundred grand so I can get all the TF toys I really want!!

Bold Forms just seems like a step backward, IMO... they're overall aesthetic just seems very Impossible Toys-esque, which I don't dig. But if you all like them, that's cool.

Also, a point of order - there's much speculation that Motormaster isn't a redeco of Prime, but the other way around. They just revealed Prime first, since the Combiner Wars announcement was later.

Oh, I quite agree with you on the actual Bold Forms product. It isn't up to my Classics engineering or detailing standard. But I do like the overall design a bit better. Maybe it's the cab. Maybe it's the trailer. I'm not quite sure...

That's why i said Hasbro imo is below BF . Hasbros finished combiner shape/form may be a step forward for Hasbro but to me it's what Hasbro should have been doing years ago and i think by now they should be putting out combiners that look like BF combiner mode with the Hasbro engineering .

I guess i'm just used to 3rdp quality when it comes to combiner designs , i mean if a third party put out the combiner wars line it would get so much hate .

I will admit i have very little interest in what Hasbro puts out when it comes to classics these days there is only one or two figures in a wave i pick up , the MP line is my only real interest.

How can anyone say BF is better than HasTak, When no one has any BF toys.

At least HasTak has almost final test shots on display at various conventions this year. Think those CW Stunticons limbs-bots are top notch and there going to be hard to compete with.

We're talking about the design, dude, not the details. For BF, I like the overall use of a cab and trailer. I like the G1 throwback in overall transformation design. I don't care for the way CW Motormaster transforms or forms the torso. He looks too broad chested.

Does that make sense?

In agreeance that HasTak CW Menasor a terrible toy.

Think The BF Stunticons look undersculpted and guessing they use cheap shapeways plastic.

Don't care for the BF Menasor design at all. Think it's the worse looking 3rd party combined mode.

Tsutsukakushi wrote:

Agamemnon wrote:

Tsutsukakushi wrote:

Autobot Genocide wrote:

Agamemnon wrote:

megatronus wrote:

Agamemnon wrote:

megatronus wrote:

Autobot Genocide wrote:I don't mean BF has better product than hasbro , What i'm saying is side by side i would choose Boldforms Menasor design over Hasbros

I'm questioning everything I ever thought about you right now.
(just kidding)

I actually have to agree with AG, on the aspect of the overall design. I am not digging the remold of OP as the design choice for CW Menasor. I would have wished for a Hasbro attempt along the general design of Bold Forms, but with much better engineering and design details, of course.

But if I am wishing for something, how about a couple hundred grand so I can get all the TF toys I really want!!

Bold Forms just seems like a step backward, IMO... they're overall aesthetic just seems very Impossible Toys-esque, which I don't dig. But if you all like them, that's cool.

Also, a point of order - there's much speculation that Motormaster isn't a redeco of Prime, but the other way around. They just revealed Prime first, since the Combiner Wars announcement was later.

Oh, I quite agree with you on the actual Bold Forms product. It isn't up to my Classics engineering or detailing standard. But I do like the overall design a bit better. Maybe it's the cab. Maybe it's the trailer. I'm not quite sure...

That's why i said Hasbro imo is below BF . Hasbros finished combiner shape/form may be a step forward for Hasbro but to me it's what Hasbro should have been doing years ago and i think by now they should be putting out combiners that look like BF combiner mode with the Hasbro engineering .

I guess i'm just used to 3rdp quality when it comes to combiner designs , i mean if a third party put out the combiner wars line it would get so much hate .

I will admit i have very little interest in what Hasbro puts out when it comes to classics these days there is only one or two figures in a wave i pick up , the MP line is my only real interest.

How can anyone say BF is better than HasTak, When no one has any BF toys.

At least HasTak has almost final test shots on display at various conventions this year. Think those CW Stunticons limbs-bots are top notch and there going to be hard to compete with.

We're talking about the design, dude, not the details. For BF, I like the overall use of a cab and trailer. I like the G1 throwback in overall transformation design. I don't care for the way CW Motormaster transforms or forms the torso. He looks too broad chested.

Does that make sense?

In agreeance that HasTak CW Menasor a terrible toy.

Think The BF Stunticons look undersculpted and guessing they use cheap shapeways plastic.

Don't care for the BF Menasor design at all. Think it's the worse looking 3rd party combined mode.

It's like looking at Willy Wonka and an Umpa Lumpa there both strange and unappealing .

Autobot Genocide wrote:It's like looking at Willy Wonka and an Umpa Lumpa there both strange and unappealing .

megatronus wrote:

Autobot Genocide wrote:It's like looking at Willy Wonka and an Umpa Lumpa there both strange and unappealing .

I don't want to . look on his face says i wont make it out alive

The IDW TF comics panel yesterday revealed Four CW combiners. That will so far appear in the IDW Combiners Wars comic. CW Superion, CW Menasor, CW Defensor and CW Devastator. Whether toys get made for every IDW CW Gestalt remains to be seen.

My clever idea for a HasTak CW Devastator toy would involve Six Constructicons. One Voyager, Four Deluxes and one basic that forms the gestalt chest wing.

Don't want to see Four CW Constructicons Deluxes that have a Voyager autobot or Voyager Megatron being the Core team leader. Like it's shown in the IDW TF comics currently.

HasTak's NYCC TF Press release Wednesday revealed 16 CW Deluxes, So i'm hoping this means Four CW Combiners for 2015.

If I had my selection of what Four Combiners get CW toys in 2015. It would be Superion, Menasor, Defensor and Predaking.

Never mind Devastator, WHEN DO WE GET SEACONS!?

Delta Magnus wrote:Out of interest, how solid is FP Menasor and his components?

megatronus wrote:FP Menasor is super solid in combined mode, which is surprising given how fiddly the individual bots are. It helps that the car shins just peg on - people are critical of the pre-existing skeleton, but it makes a huge difference in terms of stability. Plus, the arm connector ports are entirely different than the Energon ports the Bruticus set uses, and there's nothing loose there.

Outside of a scary transformation, the only persistently annoying thing I've encountered are the fiddliness of the individually articulated fingers, which are all on ball joints.

Anyway, I highly recommend Peaugh's review. He kind of covers everything.

Delta Magnus, for some shameless self promotion, I'd also suggest my own review. It is text and photos rather then a video, so by all means look at Peaugh's as well for the video experience.

Short version as to your specific question, I will agree with megatronus that, when transforming these figures (individually, or into and out of combined mode) the key words are "fiddly" and "scary." The "scary," however, fades as you get used to the process, and personally I now find doing so fun. The only piece I would warn about is the clear canopy on Drag Strip/Down Force. Many people have had theirs crack, myself included. (Fortunately, I was able to get a replacement, which has remained intact.)

When transformation is complete, however, I find both the individual members (in both modes) and especially the gestalt to be quite solid, well articulated, and fun to play with!

feel like this needs to be posted here


From Daim Choc's facebook page (not his shots) don't know whatsup with the lego feet.

mooncake623 wrote:feel like this needs to be posted here


From Daim Choc's facebook page (not his shots) don't know whatsup with the lego feet.

Yes, what the heck is up with those Lego feet? Really not a great thing to do in any comparison photos, as it does make it difficult to tell how the toy will stand on its own with its regular feet. Without any other evidence, I would be dubious how well Hasbro's official Superion would stand up, height-wise.

Fortunately, we do have other evidence, and I am fairly confident that Hasbro's Superion will stack up well. After all, this photo posted in the Combiner Wars thread in the Transformers Toys Discussion forum shows him scaling well against Green Giant, even with his regular feet:

prjkt wrote:Maketoys Green Giant, CW Superion

Wow, that Superion stacks really well with Intimidator / Giant.

Yotsuyasan wrote:

mooncake623 wrote:feel like this needs to be posted here


From Daim Choc's facebook page (not his shots) don't know whatsup with the lego feet.

Yes, what the heck is up with those Lego feet? Really not a great thing to do in any comparison photos, as it does make it difficult to tell how the toy will stand on its own with its regular feet. Without any other evidence, I would be dubious how well Hasbro's official Superion would stand up, height-wise.

Fortunately, we do have other evidence, and I am fairly confident that Hasbro's Superion will stack up well. After all, this photo posted in the Combiner Wars thread in the Transformers Toys Discussion forum shows him scaling well against Green Giant, even with his regular feet:

prjkt wrote:Maketoys Green Giant, CW Superion

That's the comparison Before he exchange the "LEGO" Feet~


As the original feet don't have any joint to allow movement, I built the feet with ball joint for my Superion.

That's the comparison Before his feet exchanged. The original feet don’t have any joint, so I make the feet with Kre-o piece and added ball joint for my Superion. I also like my Superion bigger and taller, as the original feet are too tiny for my taste.

Think CW Superion is a home run.

Hoping that 3rd parties create a new Voyager Motormaster toy that looks more like the 1985 toy. So CW Motormaster and Menasor can become home runs also.