The Energon Pub

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 12:49 am

william-james88 wrote:Also, does anyone know why Hasbro did not go for the asymmetrical chest? Because every version of the character ever depicted seem to have the two colored chest design, unless I am wrong (in that case, please let me know).

Possibly due to the chest forming the shark head this time, which isn't as asymmetrical as the robot mode chest is.

News Credits: 119 · by **megatronus** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 12:49 am

william-james88 wrote:
megatronus wrote:I've got Gelshark preordered... Super excited for him!

I'd still buy the Hasbro version on sight, though, if I ever see him...

Why get the hasbro if you have the Gelshark on the way? I hope I dont come across as elitist to takara, I am just curious.

No worries - over time, I've become a Hasbro generations completist (which is elitist in its own way).

News Credits: 372 · by **Cyberpath** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 5:40 am

New photos from TF YUKI:

He also posted sketches of Ginrai:

News Credits: 6188 · by **Va'al** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 5:53 am

Takara Tomy's unofficial social media PR Hisashi Yuki has taken to Twitter again to show off the upcoming Legends figures LG08 Tailgate and Swerve and LG09 Brainstorm, along with Targetmasters and Headmaster - and of course, MP-24 Star Saber (more on the upcoming Masterpiece figure over here).

Thrown into the mix is also a concept doodle by Yuki of Ginrai - speculation time, or just some social media fodder from the vaults? Let us know what you think in the Energon Pub!

News Credits: 60 · by **fenrir72** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 7:58 am

Those doodle are most probably for the original Ginrai/PM Optimus Prime.

by **Doubledealer93** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 9:54 am

tailgate actually looks good.

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 10:45 am

fenrir72 wrote:Those doodle are most probably for the original Ginrai/PM Optimus Prime.

Yeah, I'm likewise thinking they might be sketches from the original 1988 toy's production.

But if not, they could instead have been something Yuki-san was drawing for the Fans Choice poll had Super Jinrai won instead of Star Saber.

News Credits: 60 · by **fenrir72** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 11:20 am

Sabrblade wrote:
fenrir72 wrote:Those doodle are most probably for the original Ginrai/PM Optimus Prime.
Yeah, I'm likewise thinking they might be sketches from the original 1988 toy's production.

But if not, they could instead have been something Yuki-san was drawing for the Fans Choice poll had Super Jinrai won instead of Star Saber.

More or less. But if this would have been another MP Ginrai, having a windshield for a back would be a slap to modern engineering techniques ( that or do the henkei convoy transform sequence) let alone be a Masterpiece.

Edt:

What's weird though is that for the first time, the original PM Optimus USA release had longer stacks while the die-cast cab Ginrai had shorter ones, why that didn't carry over to Yuki's doodle is kind of surprising. Another thing, if you still own the original Hasbro catalogue for the Powermaster/Pretenders, PM Optimus Prime was waaaaaaay different from the final product. That proto hand more angled feet and a proportional head.

News Credits: 1 · by **leakin' lubricant** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 11:26 am

shajaki wrote:some new in hand pics of legends jetfire from Alfes 2010

Nice, should be getting mine next week, cant wait!

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 11:29 am

fenrir72 wrote:
Sabrblade wrote:
fenrir72 wrote:Those doodle are most probably for the original Ginrai/PM Optimus Prime.
Yeah, I'm likewise thinking they might be sketches from the original 1988 toy's production.

But if not, they could instead have been something Yuki-san was drawing for the Fans Choice poll had Super Jinrai won instead of Star Saber.

More or less. But if this would have been another MP Ginrai, having a windshield for a back would be a slap to modern engineering techniques ( that or do the henkei convoy transform sequence) let alone be a Masterpiece.

Not when that makes it show-accurate.

Besides, MP-1 and MP-10 both had two truck grills, MP-9 had two flame hoods, etc.

News Credits: 60 · by **fenrir72** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 11:43 am

Sabrblade wrote:
fenrir72 wrote:
Sabrblade wrote:
fenrir72 wrote:Those doodle are most probably for the original Ginrai/PM Optimus Prime.
Yeah, I'm likewise thinking they might be sketches from the original 1988 toy's production.

But if not, they could instead have been something Yuki-san was drawing for the Fans Choice poll had Super Jinrai won instead of Star Saber.

More or less. But if this would have been another MP Ginrai, having a windshield for a back would be a slap to modern engineering techniques ( that or do the henkei convoy transform sequence) let alone be a Masterpiece.
Not when that makes it show-accurate.

Besides, MP-1 and MP-10 both had two truck grills, MP-9 had two flame hoods, etc.

I have no problem with the grills, that's were the Godmaster/engine attaches. It's the windshield on his back at an angle (gives Ginrai a stooping appearance)......me no like.

News Credits: 60 · by **fenrir72** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 11:45 am

leakin' lubricant wrote:
shajaki wrote:some new in hand pics of legends jetfire from Alfes 2010

Nice, should be getting mine next week, cant wait!

D@mn holidays got my UM and Jetfire stuck at Tokyo :BOOM:

expecting them in the next 2 weeks.

News Credits: 4838 · by **william-james88** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 11:53 am

fenrir72 wrote:
I have no problem with the grills, that's were the Godmaster/engine attaches. It's the windshield on his back at an angle (gives Ginrai a stooping appearance)......me no like.

Ok, I know I will sound like a newbie but you guys have been nice and understanding before.

Why is this Ginrai and not Convoy?

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 12:00 pm

william-james88 wrote:Why is this Ginrai and not Convoy?

When the Powermaster Optimus Prime toy was released in Japan, it was as a new character named Ginrai (with a soft G, like "Jin-rye") since, in the Japanese cartoon continuity, Optimus/Convoy was already dead once again, so they decided to make it into a new character instead of bringing him back to life for a third time.

Plus, the Powermaster concept in Japan was reworked into the Godmaster concept, which would have made it difficult for the toy to represent Convoy anyway, since it put more focus on the human rather than the Transtector.

News Credits: 241 · by **Jelze Bunnycat** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 12:01 pm

william-james88 wrote:
fenrir72 wrote:
I have no problem with the grills, that's were the Godmaster/engine attaches. It's the windshield on his back at an angle (gives Ginrai a stooping appearance)......me no like.

Ok, I know I will sound like a newbie but you guys have been nice and understanding before.

Why is this Ginrai and not Convoy?

The short story is that in the Japanese timeline, Convoy gets killed off (again) in The Headmasters. The difference is, he wouldn't be properly revived until after Zone in Return of Convoy, as Star Convoy.
Ginrai's body was meant for Convoy, but for unknown reasons, it was turned into a new character named Ginrai. The fact it was a lifeless Transtector (at first) controlled by a human (the Engine) akin to a Japanese Headmaster probably had something to do with it.

by **wetwithwaterwings** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 12:19 pm

Takara's Flanker is a drastic departure from the U.S. release. I like how the gun mode mimics Swerve's "my first blaster" from MTMTE. Are those Flanker's original colors or is that a nod to something else?

by **wetwithwaterwings** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 12:20 pm

Takara's Flanker is a drastic departure from the U.S. release. I like how the gun mode mimics Swerve's "my first blaster" from MTMTE. Are those Flanker's original colors or is that a nod to something else?

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 12:24 pm

wetwithwaterwings wrote:Takara's Flanker is a drastic departure from the U.S. release. I like how the gun mode mimics Swerve's "my first blaster" from MTMTE. Are those Flanker's original colors or is that a nod to something else?

Flanker's been redecoed into being the Micromaster Phaser partner of Blast Master (who is the real identity of Cosmos's Payload figure).

News Credits: 10 · by **Agamemnon** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 1:23 pm

Sabrblade wrote:When the Powermaster Optimus Prime toy was released in Japan, it was as a new character named Ginrai (with a hard G, like "Jin-rye")...

[Grammar Nazi] You meant "soft g" as in "jin" and not "hard g" like in "gun," right? [/grammar Nazi]

Sorry, it never happens that I get to correct Sabrblade. His knowledge is truly astounding!!

News Credits: 241 · by **Jelze Bunnycat** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 1:24 pm

And to illustrate here are the G1 Micros:

Left: Blast Master (aka "Payload")
Right: Phaser

They each form one half of a Space Shuttle: Phaser is the front, Blast Master is the back.

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 1:30 pm

Agamemnon wrote:
Sabrblade wrote:When the Powermaster Optimus Prime toy was released in Japan, it was as a new character named Ginrai (with a hard G, like "Jin-rye")...

[Grammar Nazi] You meant "soft g" as in "jin" and not "hard g" like in "gun," right? [/grammar Nazi]

Sorry, it never happens that I get to correct Sabrblade. His knowledge is truly astounding!!

Really? I thought it was the other way, since I figured the "guh" sound was softer to pronounce that the "juh" sound.

Fancy that. :lol:

Thanks. I'll edit it right away.

News Credits: 4838 · by **william-james88** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 2:44 pm

Sabrblade wrote:
wetwithwaterwings wrote:Takara's Flanker is a drastic departure from the U.S. release. I like how the gun mode mimics Swerve's "my first blaster" from MTMTE. Are those Flanker's original colors or is that a nod to something else?
Flanker's been redecoed into being the Micromaster Phaser partner of Blast Master (who is the real identity of Cosmos's Payload figure).

Takara keeps impressing me. Even though Hasbro is the sole designer of the toys these days, they still make it their own whenever they have the chance, thats awesome!

News Credits: 65 · by **Wolfman Jake** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 2:45 pm

Actually, Agamemnon, the pronunciation of the "G" in Ginrai is a matter of phonics, not grammar. Yes, I'm being that guy.

News Credits: 10 · by **Agamemnon** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 2:55 pm

Wolfman Jake wrote:Actually, Agamemnon, the pronunciation of the "G" in Ginrai is a matter of phonics, not grammar. Yes, I'm being that guy.

Nice call. But I've never heard of a Phonics Nazi... Are you the first?

News Credits: 4838 · by **william-james88** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 3:04 pm

Va'al wrote:
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What I really was asking is how do we know that these drawing are of Ginrai and not Convoy?

Also, my instinct, was that this was detailing the takara release of Combiner Wars Optimus. This is entirely due to that shot of the truck's front with the different windows, drawn near the back of the cab. They look a lot like the chest of the Torso created using Combiner Wars Optimus. That would also explain the fact that he was several set of windows for transformation.