The Energon Pub

by **frogbat** » Sun Sep 06, 2015 5:17 pm

I got the hasbro version cos I couldn't wait... In a way I'm glad I did. The white thighs and the choice of blue tip it for me. Though the takara seems to have a better quality to its paint apps and alpha trion might be a plus. Don't care for the mini figures either way... Didn't follow idw... And would prefer a good classics or voyager interpretation of alpha trion.

Either way, whichever one you choose, it's a great toy and very good update to the character. The size and transformation steps hit a sweet spot for me. Have mp Magnus too and I was apprehensive I'd enjoy combiner wars less, but he is a great version that finds his place fighting combiner wars megatron...

News Credits: 4853 · by **william-james88** » Sun Sep 06, 2015 11:28 pm

AutobotAlvaron wrote:Hmm...Takara Magnus' colors are more vibrant; subtle yet effective. The blue is brighter & the whites are whiter. The red thighs aren't only comic accurate, they're G1-toy accurate; I wasn't expecting that.The blue on the shins/ramps, and the crotch is a surprise as well. There's a lot less white, overall.

G1 Magnus is one of my all-time favorites so the comparison pic is really cool, but it kind of makes CW Magnus look like a pin-head. They're about the same size in bot-mode, so the smaller head on the CW Magnus does look a bit tiny. Leader G1 Megatron, Skyfire, and the new Seekers don't seem to have the same issue.

Anyway, this does look good, and more than a bit tempting to "double-dip" despite the higher price, I think.

As it turns out, he only costs 47.35$US, so less than the Hasbro version, if you buy it from Japan. While it might cost you more once you add up the shipping costs, it needs to be said that Takara and the Japanese retailers are not charging a mark up compared to the Hasbro versions for the extra paint apps they have. Which is pretty awesome.

http://www.amiami.com/top/detail/detail?gcode=FIGURE-011557&page=top%2Fsearch%2Flist%3Fs_keywords%3Dmagnus%24pagemax%3D40%24getcnt%3D0%24pagecnt%3D1

News Credits: 3 · by **prjkt** » Sun Sep 06, 2015 11:40 pm

looking forward to this one arriving. Will be swapping out Alpha Trion for Minimus Ambus though, retiring the Hasbro version and sticking Alpha Trion on Metroplex' shoulder. Scale's close enough.

Hasbro's Magnus might end up re-creating the TFTM scene where the sweeps pull him to pieces....

News Credits: 65 · by **Wolfman Jake** » Sun Sep 06, 2015 11:55 pm

prjkt wrote:looking forward to this one arriving. Will be swapping out Alpha Trion for Minimus Ambus though, retiring the Hasbro version and sticking Alpha Trion on Metroplex' shoulder. Scale's close enough.

Hasbro's Magnus might end up re-creating the TFTM scene where the sweeps pull him to pieces....

I wish it were so easy to pull this figure apart into pieces so I can kitbash a "perfect" version of Magnus from the best parts of the Hasbro and Takara versions. For me, it would be the Hasbro version, with its white thighs, and lack of the IDW yellow lights/markings, plus the deeper blue of the Takara version and it's painted hubcaps. As it is, the Hasbro version still edges it out for me. That blue is perfectly acceptable, and as I've said many times before, the red thighs just kill it for me on Takara's version.

News Credits: 2 · by **Nemesis Destron** » Mon Sep 07, 2015 3:49 am

I'm still going for the Takara release despite the slight disappointment. Maybe there is a chance Reprolabels can assist on this. I think they should have left out the mustard like paint on the knees leaving them like Hasbro's.

I think it's great that they left his weapons white for that G1 homage.

Can someone please comment, does Platinum UM hammer fit this mold perhaps?? Thanks in advance! :VEHI:

News Credits: 652 · by **ScottyP** » Mon Sep 07, 2015 9:26 am

Via multiple site sponsors, including TF Source and Robot Kingdom, preorders are now available for several new Takara Tomy products due out in December and January. These include new Q-Transformers, such as Arcee and Ultra Magnus, a Q-Transformers crossover featuring Sanrio's My Melody, re-releases of the "anime" styled Q Optimus Prime, Lockdown, and Bumblebee, and our first (albeit low resolution) look at Armada Starscream Super Mode for the Transformers Legends line-up.

Head on over to one of our sponsors now to preorder your end/beginning of the year cuteness overload, or to secure a great companion piece for the upcoming Ramjet and Skywarp figures from the Transformers Collectors' Club.

You can also stroll down memory lane with our galleries of Armada's (inappropriately named given the fiction) Thundercracker, or even jump on Seibertron's eBay store to grab your own vintage upgrade of Armada Starscream now!

News Credits: 10 · by **Agamemnon** » Mon Sep 07, 2015 9:44 am

ScottyP wrote:

Indeed, et. tu. Thundercracker? I'm guessing the fiction explains this, but why not Thundercracker than another Starscream "Supermode?"

I suppose he could just be Armada Thundercracker in my collection....

News Credits: 251 · by **Mindmaster** » Mon Sep 07, 2015 9:57 am

The update of one of my first Transformers from my childhood I've been waiting for...

*inhales*

I NEEEEEEEEEEEEEED IIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

News Credits: 652 · by **ScottyP** » Mon Sep 07, 2015 9:58 am

Agamemnon wrote:Indeed, et. tu. Thundercracker? I'm guessing the fiction explains this, but why not Thundercracker than another Starscream "Supermode?"

I suppose he could just be Armada Thundercracker in my collection....

In the Armada cartoon, this appearance is indeed an upgraded form of Starscream, just like the "Powerlinx" or "Super Mode" decos of Hot Shot, Demolishor, Megatron, Optimus, and Red Alert are. Hasbro packaging did a very weird thing, calling him Thundercracker. He's still called Starscream in the show after the upgrade, and even makes a joke about how he looks like Thundercracker, but then proceeds to still be called Starscream by everyone. It's also a handy demarcation point for when he goes from being nasty evil Starscream to noble tragic hero Starscream in that show, which is one of the reasons the character is endearing to many.

The only name change that made sense was Galvatron, because at least the fiction acknowledged it.

It should be noted that the Takara Micron Legend packaging got it right:

by **Grahf_** » Mon Sep 07, 2015 11:05 am

At least now we know for sure who's NOT going to be the seventh TFCC subscription 4.0 figure. I figured as much as it's supposed to be a Combiner Wars deluxe figure but since Ramjet is the freebie and Skywarp is being sold separately, it could've been this. It could still be a G2 colored (aka regular) Jhiaxus though. I'm hoping it's another Autobot. That way you can take that figure, Impactor, Alpha Bravo and Rook and have another full set of limbs for one of the teamless torsos...at least until they do the rest of the Wreckers in the subscription service 5.0.

News Credits: 458 · by **Sabrblade** » Mon Sep 07, 2015 11:44 am

Alpha Weltall wrote:At least now we know for sure who's NOT going to be the seventh TFCC subscription 4.0 figure.

We do know that the 7thy figure is a CW Deluxe, though.

News Credits: 3609 · by **Seibertron** » Mon Sep 07, 2015 11:54 am

ScottyP wrote:
Agamemnon wrote:Indeed, et. tu. Thundercracker? I'm guessing the fiction explains this, but why not Thundercracker than another Starscream "Supermode?"

I suppose he could just be Armada Thundercracker in my collection....
In the Armada cartoon, this appearance is indeed an upgraded form of Starscream, just like the "Powerlinx" or "Super Mode" decos of Hot Shot, Demolishor, Megatron, Optimus, and Red Alert are. Hasbro packaging did a very weird thing, calling him Thundercracker. He's still called Starscream in the show after the upgrade, and even makes a joke about how he looks like Thundercracker, but then proceeds to still be called Starscream by everyone. It's also a handy demarcation point for when he goes from being nasty evil Starscream to noble tragic hero Starscream in that show, which is one of the reasons the character is endearing to many.

The only name change that made sense was Galvatron, because at least the fiction acknowledged it.

It should be noted that the Takara Micron Legend packaging got it right:

Hasbro got it right calling him Thundercracker. The cartoon was screwed up to call this color scheme Starscream Super Moder or Powerlinx Starscream. They should've just come up with a different color scheme that didn't conflict with an existing typical Starscream recolor.

News Credits: 331 · by **chuckdawg1999** » Mon Sep 07, 2015 12:20 pm

Hmmm. I wonder if the club was planning on doing a repaint like this then found out about Takara's version. Is it me or does the nosecone look longer now? FYI Armada Thundercracker was the first TF I bought when I got back into collecting.

News Credits: 241 · by **Jelze Bunnycat** » Mon Sep 07, 2015 12:23 pm

chuckdawg1999 wrote:Is it me or does the nosecone look longer now?

The image is stretched a bit vertically.

News Credits: 131 · by **no-one** » Mon Sep 07, 2015 2:40 pm

Derp don't mind me, reading is hard.

News Credits: 3 · by **DedicatedGhostArt** » Mon Sep 07, 2015 3:10 pm

I know I already have the Armada Starscream but this deco is really calling me. :BANG_HEAD:

Plus my Armada Starscream is kinda broken. I hate it when clear plastic is molded wrong. :\ I hope this guy also comes with a Minicon. :PRAY:

News Credits: 5 · by **alexison** » Mon Sep 07, 2015 3:36 pm

Looks cool but it's an easy pass for me. I don't need any more UT figures without their minicons.

News Credits: 8 · by **Flashwave** » Mon Sep 07, 2015 4:25 pm

So we Starscream, this guy, TCc doing Skywarp and Ramjet, are we just missing the Sam's Club Thrust colored guy then?

by **Railbomb** » Mon Sep 07, 2015 4:36 pm

Why in the world did they paint the cockpit? I get that it was like that on the original toy but couldn't they just make it clear yellow? :???:

News Credits: 12 · by **Evil Eye** » Mon Sep 07, 2015 4:39 pm

I cannot tell you how much I wish the Generations Armada Starscream mold was a voyager...

News Credits: 331 · by **chuckdawg1999** » Mon Sep 07, 2015 4:56 pm

Delta Magnus wrote:I cannot tell you how much I wish the Generations Armada Starscream mold was a voyager...

I hear ya bro, I hear ya

News Credits: 3 · by **DedicatedGhostArt** » Mon Sep 07, 2015 5:00 pm

chuckdawg1999 wrote:
Delta Magnus wrote:I cannot tell you how much I wish the Generations Armada Starscream mold was a voyager...

I hear ya bro, I hear ya

Yes. They had the FOC deluxe Seekers in the same line, why not make the Armada seeker a voyager? Still, the figure wasn't bad.

News Credits: 1642 · by **D-Maximal_Primal** » Mon Sep 07, 2015 5:21 pm

SillySpringer wrote:
chuckdawg1999 wrote:
Delta Magnus wrote:I cannot tell you how much I wish the Generations Armada Starscream mold was a voyager...

I hear ya bro, I hear ya

Yes. They had the FOC deluxe Seekers in the same line, why not make the Armada seeker a voyager? Still, the figure wasn't bad.

Well now we have deluxe, legends and leader seekers, so there are plenty of options!

This guy does look nice. Some paint jobs just look fantastic and that is one of them right there

News Credits: 241 · by **Jelze Bunnycat** » Mon Sep 07, 2015 5:23 pm

Railbomb wrote:Why in the world did they paint the cockpit? I get that it was like that on the original toy but couldn't they just make it clear yellow?

The Japanese version of Gen. Armada Starscream had the cockpit painted black as well as a nod to the original toy. I guess it's to remain consistent...