The Energon Pub

[megatronus]

I'm definitely going to get Takara's Tankor to lead my Hasbro Drones, much as I have Takara's Scourge to lead my Hasbro Sweeps.

[Wolfman Jake]

I'm definitely going to get Takara's Tankor to lead my Hasbro Drones, much as I have Takara's Scourge to lead my Hasbro Sweeps.

That's how I display my Scourage and Sweeps as well.

[Sabrblade]

Takara, you mad genius you.

Mad genius? Please explain?

As you recall, Roadbuster and Whirl made up the Deluxe Vehicles. There was actually a third, tank-like robot in the line they originated from, Special Armored Batallion Dorvack, which was called "Bonaparte Tulcas", the blue and gray tank you see to the far right. It was presumably not included into Generation One due to it not having a convincing robot mode. (more can be read here)

I was saying that Takara were comprised of mad geniuses because they're releasing their version of Tankor, whose deco and physique (tank-treaded feet, chicken legs, claw hand(s), and general bulkiness) coincidentally somewhat matches up to the Bonaparte Tulcas, thus making up the third never-to-be Deluxe Vehicle that someone could totally repurpose as so.

TLDR version: Takara is being sneaky and cheeky by releasing a blue and gray tank character in a wave that is comprised of modern reimaginings of the 1985 Deluxe Vehicles, whose ranks were ripped from another transforming robot toyline that had a third, blue and gray tank character that was never released as a Deluxe Vehicle in the original Generation One run for one reason or another.

I think you might be reaching a bit, here. That Tankor is in show-accurate Beast Machines colors, not Bonaparte Tulcas' colors.



Besides, Bonaparte Tulcas was in this year's BotCon comic, with the comic artist thinking of the name "Landfire" as a proposed TF name for him (it didn't make the cut, but Tulcas still made it in). It's unambiguous as to who this Tankor toy is meant to be.

After all, the usual "mad genius" stuff we get from Takara tends to come from e-HOBBY or in special events or store exclusives and such, rather than the standard mass retail items (Dispensor, notwithstanding).

[SW's SilverHammer]

I think you might be reaching a bit, here. That Tankor is in show-accurate Beast Machines colors, not Bonaparte Tulcas' colors.



Besides, Bonaparte Tulcas was in this year's BotCon comic, with the comic artist thinking of the name "Landfire" as a proposed TF name for him (it didn't make the cut, but Tulcas still made it in). It's unambiguous as to who this Tankor toy is meant to be.

After all, the usual "mad genius" stuff we get from Takara tends to come from e-HOBBY or in special events or store exclusives and such, rather than the standard mass retail items (Dispensor, notwithstanding).

Really, we're the ones who are reaching by pointing out a theme? I suppose it's just a massive quinky dink, that the small squat tank man features with the wave that contains both of the neo classics renditions of the G1 Deluxe Vehicles, which also happened have a small squat tank man in their original line up that was nixed last minute. we're the ones who are reaching, yeah okay

[Sabrblade]

If it actually had Tulcas' deco, then yeah, it'd be more convincing. As is, it just looks more simply like Takara's playing catch up on the current Hasbro molds that they haven't gotten to yet, and it just so happens that Tankor, Whirl, and Roadbuster are among the immediate recent ones. After all, Rattrap's in this too, and he's Tankor's wave mate over here. I'd imagine that Sky-Byte shouldn't be too far along with this line as well. Maybe even Skids, since his mold strangely got overlooked by the Japanese Generations line altogether.

[Mindmaster]

Really, we're the ones who are reaching by pointing out a theme? I suppose it's just a massive quinky dink, that the small squat tank man features with the wave that contains both of the neo classics renditions of the G1 Deluxe Vehicles, which also happened have a small squat tank man in their original line up that was nixed last minute. we're the ones who are reaching, yeah okay

This was what I was trying to go for. Not saying that Tankor was the other robot whose name I've already forgotten, just pointed out the sneakiness and cheekiness of Takara for releasing the character, whose deco and physique, like I said before, is similar to said robot in the same wave as the Generations Deluxe (or, should we say, Voyagers?) Vehicles.

[SW's SilverHammer]

If it actually had Tulcas' deco, then yeah, it'd be more convincing. As is, it just looks more simply like Takara's playing catch up on the current Hasbro molds that they haven't gotten to yet, and it just so happens that Tankor, Whirl, and Roadbuster are among the immediate recent ones. After all, Rattrap's in this too, and he's Tankor's wave mate over here. I'd imagine that Sky-Byte shouldn't be too far along with this line as well. Maybe even Skids, since his mold strangely got overlooked by the Japanese Generations line altogether.

These three come out in a wave after Primal and Rattrap, it's intentional, If takara was just playing catch up, why would two beast wars characters be grouped together? if it were just catch up, where are these divided into set waves instead of mishmash of characters?. Also, let's be fair here Sabrblade, whenever you see something new that has a passing relation to some obscure triviality, you're quick to bring it up, even if others say you're reaching. Is it so bad that some of us do the same?

[Sabrblade]

Pleasantly happy coincidence, then, at least.

Though, are there waves for this line? (honest question)

Also, now we need someone out there to make us a real Tulcas, whether it's from this or any other workable mold. It's high time we got it worked into here, after all the crazy inhumanoid designs ROTF gave us.

[Observedhalo]

Happy accident or not, i'll be displaying these three together. Tankor looks way better, unsurprising of course. Now we just need an enterprising customiser to make Tankor into Tulcus.

[chuckdawg1999]

Coincidence or not I just think it's funny these figures got announced the day after someone was questioning if they would ever see a release in Japan in another thread.

[Ultra Markus]

Takara, you mad genius you.

Mad genius? Please explain?

As you recall, Roadbuster and Whirl made up the Deluxe Vehicles. There was actually a third, tank-like robot in the line they originated from, Special Armored Batallion Dorvack, which was called "Bonaparte Tulcas", the blue and gray tank you see to the far right. It was presumably not included into Generation One due to it not having a convincing robot mode. (more can be read here)

I was saying that Takara were comprised of mad geniuses because they're releasing their version of Tankor, whose deco and physique (tank-treaded feet, chicken legs, claw hand(s), and general bulkiness) coincidentally somewhat matches up to the Bonaparte Tulcas, thus making up the third never-to-be Deluxe Vehicle that someone could totally repurpose as so.

TLDR version: Takara is being sneaky and cheeky by releasing a blue and gray tank character in a wave that is comprised of modern reimaginings of the 1985 Deluxe Vehicles, whose ranks were ripped from another transforming robot toyline that had a third, blue and gray tank character that was never released as a Deluxe Vehicle in the original Generation One run for one reason or another.

I think you might be reaching a bit, here. That Tankor is in show-accurate Beast Machines colors, not Bonaparte Tulcas' colors.



Besides, Bonaparte Tulcas was in this year's BotCon comic, with the comic artist thinking of the name "Landfire" as a proposed TF name for him (it didn't make the cut, but Tulcas still made it in). It's unambiguous as to who this Tankor toy is meant to be.

After all, the usual "mad genius" stuff we get from Takara tends to come from e-HOBBY or in special events or store exclusives and such, rather than the standard mass retail items (Dispensor, notwithstanding).

that is so weird i had this as a kid http://galleryplus.ebayimg.com/ws/web/1 ... 0x1000.jpg and thought it was some stupid imitation transformer, never thought how whirl and roadbuster were related in some way

[chuckdawg1999]

Looks like you had the Convertors version

[-Kanrabat-]

Wow, that Whirl lokk hyper detailed for a legend toy! It's almost as if they mixed-up the pictures and posted the voyager toy instead.


Wait...
Oh, Takara, you...
And I thought the Legends/Cyberverse lines were making a glorious return.

Sigh...

[xyl360]

I see no Vehicon faction symbol on Tankor . It's surprising that Takara would exclude a detail like that when Hasbro did not. I have some Reprolabels ones, but still, it's kinda annoying.

I do like all the metallic paint though, so I probably will use Takara's as Tankor and Hasbro's as one of his drones (along with the rest of my Tank Drone figures from the Beast Machines line).

I probably won't buy the other two. I've got Hasbro's Whirl and I'm not that impressed, probably because I never had any attachment to the character since he was never featured on the show. I didn't get Roadbuster and won't buy Takara's for the same reason (I didn't buy Fansproject's version either).

[Sabrblade]

I see no Vehicon faction symbol on Tankor . It's surprising that Takara would exclude a detail like that when Hasbro did not. I have some Reprolabels ones, but still, it's kinda annoying.

Unless they put it somewhere else on his body, since Tankor didn't have a tattoo of his faction on his pec in the show.

[Jelze Bunnycat]

Takara, you mad genius you.

Mad genius? Please explain?

As you recall, Roadbuster and Whirl made up the Deluxe Vehicles. There was actually a third, tank-like robot in the line they originated from, Special Armored Batallion Dorvack, which was called "Bonaparte Tulcas", the blue and gray tank you see to the far right. It was presumably not included into Generation One due to it not having a convincing robot mode. (more can be read here)

I was saying that Takara were comprised of mad geniuses because they're releasing their version of Tankor, whose deco and physique (tank-treaded feet, chicken legs, claw hand(s), and general bulkiness) coincidentally somewhat matches up to the Bonaparte Tulcas, thus making up the third never-to-be Deluxe Vehicle that someone could totally repurpose as so.

TLDR version: Takara is being sneaky and cheeky by releasing a blue and gray tank character in a wave that is comprised of modern reimaginings of the 1985 Deluxe Vehicles, whose ranks were ripped from another transforming robot toyline that had a third, blue and gray tank character that was never released as a Deluxe Vehicle in the original Generation One run for one reason or another.

I like the way you think, but it may ultimately be just pure chance that Tankor is among the Deluxe Vehicles. I'm not gonna go into detail on how he can't be a new character, since you never claimed he'd be. Still, if we see "themes" in the future waves (Wave 1: Beasts, Wave 2: Dorvack, Wave 3: ???), it can't be coincidental.

[shajaki]

I'm definitely going to get Takara's Tankor to lead my Hasbro Drones, much as I have Takara's Scourge to lead my Hasbro Sweeps.

ha! i think everyone does that with the sourge/sweeps. though i never did get that fracas targetmaster...

i was thinking of having the new tankor (has or tak) leading a few original BM tank drones. just cause theyll be slighyly smaller. also i reeaally hope a third party comes along to make him a better cannon, which would be the perfect chance to give him a key to vector sigma as well!

[megatronus]

I probably won't buy the other two. I've got Hasbro's Whirl and I'm not that impressed, probably because I never had any attachment to the character since he was never featured on the show. I didn't get Roadbuster and won't buy Takara's for the same reason (I didn't buy Fansproject's version either).

I'm a bit confused? There's a difference between being not impressed because the figure is meh, and being uninterested due to no attachment to the character... which is it? One, the other or both?

Not trying to excessively nitpick... just curious

I'm definitely going to get Takara's Tankor to lead my Hasbro Drones, much as I have Takara's Scourge to lead my Hasbro Sweeps.

ha! i think everyone does that with the sourge/sweeps. though i never did get that fracas targetmaster...

i was thinking of having the new tankor (has or tak) leading a few original BM tank drones. just cause theyll be slighyly smaller. also i reeaally hope a third party comes along to make him a better cannon, which would be the perfect chance to give him a key to vector sigma as well!

Mmm... Vector Sigma...

[Dead Metal]

I told you these two would likely be in this line.

They look pretty good, the Hasbro versions still look good though.

[petro rabbit]

I'm thinking for roadbuster the hasbro version is a duller shade. the takara one looks more richer.

[xyl360]

I see no Vehicon faction symbol on Tankor . It's surprising that Takara would exclude a detail like that when Hasbro did not. I have some Reprolabels ones, but still, it's kinda annoying.

Unless they put it somewhere else on his body, since Tankor didn't have a tattoo of his faction on his pec in the show.

Ah, right you are. I always thought he did for some reason . Nevermind then, carry on Takara .

It was actually on his shoulder:

I wonder if Takara put one there? I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

[xyl360]

I probably won't buy the other two. I've got Hasbro's Whirl and I'm not that impressed, probably because I never had any attachment to the character since he was never featured on the show. I didn't get Roadbuster and won't buy Takara's for the same reason (I didn't buy Fansproject's version either).

I'm a bit confused? There's a difference between being not impressed because the figure is meh, and being uninterested due to no attachment to the character... which is it? One, the other or both?

Not trying to excessively nitpick... just curious

It's both, really. I thought he looked like a nifty figure when I saw pics etc., but then I got him in hand and wasn't too thrilled/wasn't as enthused about him as I thought I'd be. Had he been a character featured on the shows/media I'm familiar with/into, it would have no doubt eliminated any negative feelings I had about the figure. It's the same reason that, even though they aren't perfect (though pretty damn close), I really have no complaints about Generations Waspinator and Rhinox (especially after doing some parts swapping between Takara's and Hasbro's Waspy and applying a bit of paint).

[shajaki]

I really have no complaints about Generations Waspinator and Rhinox (especially after doing some parts swapping between Takara's and Hasbro's Waspy and applying a bit of paint).

you should totally post some pics of this!

[El Duque]

Courtesy of of TF Yuki's Twitter feed we have a trio of in-hand images of LG01 Rattle and LG02 Convoy from Takara Tomy's upcoming Transformers Legends line. The duo are redecos of Beast Wars Ultra Optimus Primal and Generations Rattrap. Check out the images mirrored below:

[Janus Prime]

That Optimus Primal is a tough toy to top, he still holds as a figure almost 20 years later.