The Energon Pub

I'm still planning on getting that 3-pack, just because all 3 figures would be improvements on my current collection. But the main reason for me was Shockwave, however the new Marvel comics version coming out has me thinking twice about the purchase as well. And we're getting both Soundwave and supposedly Megatron in SS86 as well, so that set might become lower priority. Hopefully the price won't go up on the 2ndary market.

Till-all-R1 wrote:

Sowndwave76 wrote:I'm on the fence about canceling my preorder for the Decepticon Bridge 3-pk. Other than that, my list for the year as of right now:

I was so torn on this simply because I wanted a very different deco on Megs than ER offers, yet the other two didn't quite live up to expectations. Shockwave should be a slightly lighter color for a G1 preference, and I still don't care much for that Soundwave mold.

My planned purchases for the year are, so pretty light.
Gears
Origins Wheeljack
SS86 Blaster
Undecided on SS86 Swoop

I usually don’t mean anything in a judging way, especially when we’re talking TF toys…
But I’m always surprised when I read that people are skipping the SS86 Dinobots. I know you’re saying Swoop is a possibility…. Just sharing my thoughts.
Of course any of these figures still could have been improved in some way or ways. But man, they’re pretty strong figures and G1 representations of these characters. And considering what’s gone into each (being leader class), I don’t believe Hastak is working on any “improved” versions in secret.
In fact these are some of the figures that I call definitive versions. I don’t know how any of them could be improved under the same budget…. If they had the money to make the dino modes more articulated, I’m sure that’s what would’ve happened.

If I stick with that Decepticon 3-pk, it will mainly be for Shockwave. The MP figure is the only version I have in my collection (oh, other than the Funko figure). I agree he probably is too dark, but still, I’d say this version is better than the Siege offering. I will sell that Megatron and the throne…. The ER head/face sculpt look really bad imo…. I can definitely wait for the SS86 figure next year.
Being that Soundwave is my favorite character, I could see keeping this one. I’d really appreciate Hastak revealing the L.U. version; that really would help me make a decision on this 3-pk. I will be really surprised if Soundwave doesn’t get a new mold for SS86 in 2026. I HATE the Siege greebling (in general, not just with Soundwave), and why the forearms weren’t retooled into panels for the NF version is baffling. Especially since Hastak probably knew this mold was going to be used at least a few more times.

It’s also pretty disappointing hearing that a “SS86 Astrotrain” will just use the Siege mold…
Relatively speaking, that figure is maybe just a hair better than Kingdom (ER) Ultra Magnus. Which isn’t saying much, other than it wasn’t good enough for me to buy. I know triple changers are probably a b!tch to engineer, but come on, Astrotrain deserves bette than that Siege train (and shuttle) wreck of a figure.

Sowndwave76 wrote:I usually don’t mean anything in a judging way, especially when we’re talking TF toys…
But I’m always surprised when I read that people are skipping the SS86 Dinobots. I know you’re saying Swoop is a possibility…. Just sharing my thoughts.

Well to preface this I'm not 100% on the Dinobots in general, I owned Grimlock as a kid and maybe one other, long time ago and bad memory. So I've not no real huge affinity for them, particularly when considering space issues I have.

That said, and I know it's my own fault for skipping the new Grimlock, I did buy Sludge and intend on buying Slag and Snarl. For "just in case" scenario but I'd be lying if missing out on Grimlock hasn't made me think twice about getting any of them. Knowing that they won't be complete now kind of does hinder my overall interest. I won't go into the whole story on why I chose not to, suffice to say as time went on and seeing pics of him and the others I've since come around on getting them.
Same sentiments I'm now feeling about CC Ultra Magnus. lol

I'm going to hold out as long as I can for an all new Astrotain and Soundwave because I feel teh current ones are garbage, no offense to those who genuinely like Siege bots. They just ain't for me.

Sowndwave76 wrote:It’s also pretty disappointing hearing that a “SS86 Astrotrain” will just use the Siege mold…
Relatively speaking, that figure is maybe just a hair better than Kingdom (ER) Ultra Magnus. Which isn’t saying much, other than it wasn’t good enough for me to buy. I know triple changers are probably a b!tch to engineer, but come on, Astrotrain deserves bette than that Siege train (and shuttle) wreck of a figure.

This is why I think Commander might help with that, as in hiding some of the extra bulk needed to triple change, also by losing the tender maybe that would allow all resources to go strait into Bot Mode not looking like crap. Plus maybe it might get a small cargo area for a smaller Bot to fit?

Leader seem to work okay for Blitzwing but I'm thinking Astrotrain would be larger in principle, being a Space shuttle. None of his modes look good at all, and I'm hoping he'd get better treatment in the future particularly with accuracy to G1 appearances. With as many times they've reused Siege mold it should be paid for by now.

To me all the Dinobots look great. Especially as a group. However, I think only Grimlock achieved "no improvement needed" status. The other 3 IMO all have things that could have been done better, at least somewhat.

They don't feel leader class when I'm transforming them. Only Grimlock does. They just seem too simple. I still got them all so Hasbro got my money, so in the end that's what matters, but aside from Grimlock, I probably wouldn't like having them individually for that price.

I just hope that since we're getting a comics version of Grimlock, hopefully we'll get a red version of Swoop down the line as well.

Till-all-R1 wrote:Well to preface this I'm not 100% on the Dinobots in general, I owned Grimlock as a kid and maybe one other, long time ago and bad memory. So I've not no real huge affinity for them, particularly when considering space issues I have.

That said, and I know it's my own fault for skipping the new Grimlock, I did buy Sludge and intend on buying Slag and Snarl. For "just in case" scenario but I'd be lying if missing out on Grimlock hasn't made me think twice about getting any of them. Knowing that they won't be complete now kind of does hinder my overall interest. I won't go into the whole story on why I chose not to, suffice to say as time went on and seeing pics of him and the others I've since come around on getting them.
Same sentiments I'm now feeling about CC Ultra Magnus. lol

I'm going to hold out as long as I can for an all new Astrotain and Soundwave because I feel teh current ones are garbage, no offense to those who genuinely like Siege bots. They just ain't for me.

Well, as I've posted before, for me, these Dinobots aren't to be missed...
Grimlock is being re-packed this next year... With your short list for this year, maybe going for Slag and Snarl would be smart while you can still get those for retail price. It may be a lot to also get Swoop, but again, considering your short list, this could be possible. And then Grimlock is a '25 purchase.

I really didn't like skipping on characters like Astrotrain, Shockwave, and Reflector... But I'm with ya... For me, Siege figures weren't good enough and weren't worth the money. I caved for Springer, but by the end of this year, I'm very confident that version will be replaced.

Till-all-R1 wrote:This is why I think Commander might help with that, as in hiding some of the extra bulk needed to triple change, also by losing the tender maybe that would allow all resources to go strait into Bot Mode not looking like crap. Plus maybe it might get a small cargo area for a smaller Bot to fit?

Leader seem to work okay for Blitzwing but I'm thinking Astrotrain would be larger in principle, being a Space shuttle. None of his modes look good at all, and I'm hoping he'd get better treatment in the future particularly with accuracy to G1 appearances. With as many times they've reused Siege mold it should be paid for by now.

Astrotrain is definitely a tricky figure to upgrade... Even if they ditch the tender, the engineering required to get the three modes right is probably beyond leader class... But justifying $90-$100 and pushing him to Commander Class... May be too much of a stretch. I don't really want an Astrotrain that is anywhere close to as tall as the Dinobots in bot mode and not in scale where he should be. At least for me, that's not the compromise I want to see. In fact realistically, I'd settle for another leader class version where the bot mode is on point, one of the alt modes is great, and the other just has to suffer and be sacrificed.
For me personally, I'll take the shuttle over the train. Or actually, which ever is going to create the best screen accurate bot mode.

All things considered, I think Blitzwing is a fantastic figure... I know the underside of the jet isn't great. But the tank is awesome and the bot mode is beautiful. I personally love the look of the screen accurate tank, partial cockpit and all... Like I've said before; if I were that concerned about super realistic alt modes, I'd be collecting model kits.

It doesn't seem likely, but maybe Hastak will give Astrotrain another go for 2026; considering everything that's already been done from the '86 movie, as we're saying, he's one that really needs and deserves a better figure.

That's another topic to discuss...
What's even realistically left to release to help celebrate the 40th anniversary of the '86 movie? Megatron AND Devastator are out next year, also a supposed Bumblebee... Hound, Sunstreaker, CC Prime, and Springer all are this year... There are repacks of Gnaw, Perceptor, and Jazz on the way... I have a couple wild guesses, but I've come up with those because there's not much left.

Personally I think Grimlock missed out compared to the other 3 so far. In a group shot he looks like a runt, he doesn't have the big chest and wide shoulders of the others. On his own he looks fantastic, in a group he looks like he's in the wrong line.

Emerje

Emerje wrote:Personally I think Grimlock missed out compared to the other 3 so far. In a group shot he looks like a runt, he doesn't have the big chest and wide shoulders of the others. On his own he looks fantastic, in a group he looks like he's in the wrong line.

Emerje

Agreed, 110%. It's also prolly not something we will see be fixed anytime soon.

I think Astrotrain has just been overthought. The alt modes don't need to be perfect; they just need to be not terrible. NGL, I think the Henkei one is the best, if only it was larger. I can buy the bullet train halves as rocket boosters.

Blitzwing ... so far nothing I've seen has made me want to replace the T30 with upgrades I already have. If it were stock I may have replaced it with the newer one.

Gauntlet101010 wrote:I think Astrotrain has just been overthought. The alt modes don't need to be perfect; they just need to be not terrible.

Agree with this. Also, they need to just prioritize the bot mode even more. It's just pretty standard that a triple changer is going to have one mode that is really off and just has to be sacrificed.
But just as it always happens when a character gets an updated figure, some will go for the new version, some will stick with the older one...

I know exclusivity was involved, but if we can get 3 versions of Ratchet in a few years (with one being a new mold), a couple versions of Astrotrain in basically 5 years seems very reasonable, even if the second is a new mold.

Sowndwave76 wrote:I know exclusivity was involved, but if we can get 3 versions of Ratchet in a few years (with one being a new mold), a couple versions of Astrotrain in basically 5 years seems very reasonable, even if the second is a new mold.

We got all those Ratchets because he's way more popular a character than Astrotrain. He was a permanent fixture of the G1 cartoon's first two seasons, was the greatest hero of the Autobots in the Marvel comics, was brought back into the mainstream by his live-action movie counterpart, and received two very popular modern iterations in Animated and Prime. Astrotrain, on the other hand, was primarily just a glorified bus and hasn't received nearly as much attention as Ratchet has.

Sabrblade wrote:

Sowndwave76 wrote:I know exclusivity was involved, but if we can get 3 versions of Ratchet in a few years (with one being a new mold), a couple versions of Astrotrain in basically 5 years seems very reasonable, even if the second is a new mold.

We got all those Ratchets because he's way more popular a character than Astrotrain. He was a permanent fixture of the G1 cartoon's first two seasons, was the greatest hero of the Autobots in the Marvel comics, was brought back into the mainstream by his live-action movie counterpart, and received two very popular modern iterations in Animated and Prime. Astrotrain, on the other hand, was primarily just a glorified bus and hasn't received nearly as much attention as Ratchet has.

And still, in terms of G1 characters, Astrotrain needs a new version.

Sowndwave76 wrote:And still, in terms of G1 characters, Astrotrain needs a new version.

The perfect excuse is there.
The Siege is his CYBERTRONIAN form.
He needs his Earth version.

-Kanrabat- wrote:The perfect excuse is there.
The Siege is his CYBERTRONIAN form.
He needs his Earth version.

Basically this.
While I'm thankful to the Netflix series for getting what I consider top notch improvements to the figures since the last I ever bought any, and for actually getting be back into buying Transformers! The Live action Movies sure didn't..

However, they are representation of that source material which are not actual G1 character looks. So while very resistant to things like CC UM because I already paid $55 for the Kingdom figure thinking I wouldn't see a more accurate version for quite some time, I do actually appreciate those G1 updates like Blaster, Ironhide/Ratchet etc. And I really do want proper updated of their actual Earth mode versions. Which means I will inevitable cave and buy CC Ultra Magnus, as I will also do so for Prime when it's his time simply because of that. It's another reason why I wound up getting beachcomber even though I had a decent version.

And high on my list is Astrotrain because I absolutely dislike Siege version, and feel Hasbro could really deliver today being the advances I've seen with other Bots. Despite the intricacies and difficulties of a Triple Changer. He might even top Soundwave in my desire for an all new figure, though due to my preference for Soundwave that's a difficult choice TBH. I'd like both frankly because I have a hole in my collection where those two should be on the shelf. I also wouldn't mind a better deco'd Megs but ER is passable.

If it weren't for a need to have more Decepticons in my display I would easily say my next most wanted is Powerglide, maybe even Seaspray then my Minibots would be complete. Well once the reissued VW Bee! My Autobot shelf is about maxed out so I don't have much more room for stuff that's ancillary like G2 type repaints etc.

I've also talked about a new Octane but do feel his chances are very low to zero. But I do require a decent amount of Decepticons to even out my Autobot collection a little.

Another reason I’d say a new Astrotrain is justified is just because of all of the figures that are repaints/retools. Which isn’t a complaint. Also, there are a whole lot of characters now that don’t need a new version for a very long, long, long, long time…. To the point where the next time we get some of them, I’m assuming they’ll either be stylized for some reason, or be so tied to some play gimmick that the design priority can’t be G1 animation accuracy.
Plus I’m not saying a new Astrotrain should’ve happened this year. It would be a decent release for ‘26.

I’d also argue it’s not too soon for a new Octane.

Unless I get Legacy United Soundwave, Chop Shop, Ransack, & SS86 Frenzy are the only Decepticons I’m getting this year. I have Ferak on preorder, but I’m not sure I’ll keep him.

One figure on my wish list is a 3-pack of Reflector. Retooled with way less greebling, with 1 having the aperture on his chest, the other two with chests sans aperture. I’d pay leader class price for that set. And I’d be okay if it were an exclusive…. I’m sure many people who bought 3 Siege figures would stick with those.

Sowndwave76 wrote:One figure on my wish list is a 3-pack of Reflector. Retooled with way less greebling, with 1 having the aperture on his chest, the other two with chests sans aperture. I’d pay leader class price for that set. And I’d be okay if it were an exclusive…. I’m sure many people who bought 3 Siege figures would stick with those.

Leader class price, wasn't here already a 3-pk for $70 as it is? That far exceeds Leader Class price.
That's one reason why I passed on it in the first place, second I had already bought the single Reflektor which sufficed my need for covering the character. While accurate I don't really want/need three identical Bots representing one character. Because I wouldn't ever be transforming it into the camera. Not to mention it seems like it should have been smaller since combined the camera was bigger than almost every other bot. lol

Till-all-R1 wrote:

Sowndwave76 wrote:One figure on my wish list is a 3-pack of Reflector. Retooled with way less greebling, with 1 having the aperture on his chest, the other two with chests sans aperture. I’d pay leader class price for that set. And I’d be okay if it were an exclusive…. I’m sure many people who bought 3 Siege figures would stick with those.

Leader class price, wasn't here already a 3-pk for $70 as it is? That far exceeds Leader Class price.
That's one reason why I passed on it in the first place, second I had already bought the single Reflektor which sufficed my need for covering the character. While accurate I don't really want/need three identical Bots representing one character. Because I wouldn't ever be transforming it into the camera. Not to mention it seems like it should have been smaller since combined the camera was bigger than almost every other bot. lol

Yeah there was an exclusive that had toy deco.
Getting 3 of the Siege version would’ve cost $70+.
With what I’m suggesting, two would be identical & one would only have a slightly different chest, imo $55 is a fair compromise.
But those guys were usually seen together, so I’d want them together. But heck, don’t even sell it as a leader class slot, just sell it as an exclusive 3-pack.

Personally I want a Reflector done up just like the toy, not three identical figures in different colors. Let's make that a future Commander class figure. I'm fine with the way the retail figure turned out, just wish there was a way to get them with the box set's extra parts to complete the camera without borrowing. I do think it's a little strange that anyone would want the camera to be smaller when it's supposed to be the size of a life sized camera. We've got a few tiny Reflectors already. But I suppose I could see them do some retooling to the Siege figure to clean it up a bit, but nothing more than that.

Emerje

Emerje wrote:Personally I want a Reflector done up just like the toy, not three identical figures in different colors. Let's make that a future Commander class figure. I'm fine with the way the retail figure turned out, just wish there was a way to get them with the box set's extra parts to complete the camera without borrowing. I do think it's a little strange that anyone would want the camera to be smaller when it's supposed to be the size of a life sized camera. We've got a few tiny Reflectors already. But I suppose I could see them do some retooling to the Siege figure to clean it up a bit, but nothing more than that.

Emerje

Did you forget this exist? And it's still available in some places.



That's the one I got. Add the Reprolabels for perfection.

Emerje wrote:I do think it's a little strange that anyone would want the camera to be smaller when it's supposed to be the size of a life sized camera.

Emerje

I guess this is being directed at me, due to what I said?
Well, the reason I brought up sizing is because in universe we've seen it used differently. One by big robots, while other times it's also been used as a "disguise" to appear like a regular camera. So which is it? Is it suppose to mimic a camera for us, "the consumer", or an in-world Human, or the in-world big robot? Obviously the car modes are not 1/1 in scale to the consumer, so that's why I wonder about other objects. Blaster also isn't, or it's a very small boombox. lol

But you can't exactly have an accurately scaled boombox to an in-world human or it wouldn't be as tall as Optimus Prime. Same with a camera. If every Bot was supposed to be the size of an actual life size item it wouldn't be possible to make everything would it?

Till-all-R1 wrote:

Emerje wrote:I do think it's a little strange that anyone would want the camera to be smaller when it's supposed to be the size of a life sized camera.

Emerje

I guess this is being directed at me, due to what I said?
Well, the reason I brought up sizing is because in universe we've seen it used differently. One by big robots, while other times it's also been used as a "disguise" to appear like a regular camera. So which is it? Is it suppose to mimic a camera for us, "the consumer", or an in-world Human, or the in-world big robot? Obviously the car modes are not 1/1 in scale to the consumer, so that's why I wonder about other objects. Blaster also isn't, or it's a very small boombox. lol

But you can't exactly have an accurately scaled boombox to an in-world human or it wouldn't be as tall as Optimus Prime. Same with a camera. If every Bot was supposed to be the size of an actual life size item it wouldn't be possible to make everything would it?

Blaster's original Micro Change toy was scaled to the size of being a microcassette player.

I'm prepared to get zero news about SS86 Swoop from the livestream tomorrow.
Which is annoying considering he should be released in 3 months if not sooner.

Sowndwave76 wrote:I'm prepared to get zero news about SS86 Swoop from the livestream tomorrow.
Which is annoying considering he should be released in 3 months if not sooner.

You mean it's not out already?

chuckdawg1999 wrote:

Sowndwave76 wrote:I'm prepared to get zero news about SS86 Swoop from the livestream tomorrow.
Which is annoying considering he should be released in 3 months if not sooner.

You mean it's not out already?

Swoop hasn't even been announced yet.

Sabrblade wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:

Sowndwave76 wrote:I'm prepared to get zero news about SS86 Swoop from the livestream tomorrow.
Which is annoying considering he should be released in 3 months if not sooner.

You mean it's not out already?

Swoop hasn't even been announced yet.

So expect it to show up at some random Sotheast Asian supermarket any day now!

Emerje

Emerje wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:

Sowndwave76 wrote:I'm prepared to get zero news about SS86 Swoop from the livestream tomorrow.
Which is annoying considering he should be released in 3 months if not sooner.

You mean it's not out already?

Swoop hasn't even been announced yet.

So expect it to show up at some random Sotheast Asian supermarket any day now!

Emerje

And NOW he's finally been announced by Hasbro in this morning's Pulse stream.