The Energon Pub

by **Shadowstream** » Fri Feb 08, 2013 9:46 pm

a LOT or retooling; get rid of the joint mechanism, put a cockpit(false or otherwise) on the chest, new head, new weapons, then maybe we'll talk

News Credits: 10 · by **Agamemnon** » Fri Feb 08, 2013 10:35 pm

Shadowstream wrote:a LOT or retooling; get rid of the joint mechanism, put a cockpit(false or otherwise) on the chest, new head, new weapons, then maybe we'll talk

Um.....I'm not sure I see what you mean. Are you bothered by the joint in the wings? Outside of that I just see a new head and a remolded chest, with a false cockpit as you mentioned. It would seem a fair compromise to making a larger set of seekers. Not perfect, for sure.

Otherwise, I believe iGear has some MP knockoffs that are smaller than the MPs. I think...

by **Shadowstream** » Fri Feb 08, 2013 10:59 pm

Agamemnon wrote:
Shadowstream wrote:a LOT or retooling; get rid of the joint mechanism, put a cockpit(false or otherwise) on the chest, new head, new weapons, then maybe we'll talk

Um.....I'm not sure I see what you mean. Are you bothered by the joint in the wings? Outside of that I just see a new head and a remolded chest, with a false cockpit as you mentioned. It would seem a fair compromise to making a larger set of seekers. Not perfect, for sure.

Otherwise, I believe iGear has some MP knockoffs that are smaller than the MPs. I think...

I meant the joint inside his torso that makes him a limb. Not to say a seeker combiner wouldn't be..... interesting(?), but to be quite frank I'd rather that functionality be removed altogether

News Credits: 10 · by **Agamemnon** » Sat Feb 09, 2013 2:17 am

Shadowstream wrote:
Agamemnon wrote:
Shadowstream wrote:a LOT or retooling; get rid of the joint mechanism, put a cockpit(false or otherwise) on the chest, new head, new weapons, then maybe we'll talk

Um.....I'm not sure I see what you mean. Are you bothered by the joint in the wings? Outside of that I just see a new head and a remolded chest, with a false cockpit as you mentioned. It would seem a fair compromise to making a larger set of seekers. Not perfect, for sure.

Otherwise, I believe iGear has some MP knockoffs that are smaller than the MPs. I think...

I meant the joint inside his torso that makes him a limb. Not to say a seeker combiner wouldn't be..... interesting(?), but to be quite frank I'd rather that functionality be removed altogether

I get you. I'm sure it could be done, ala the FansProject Bruticus re-released crossfire set. I think the unique characters had their connecting bits left out. Would it be worth the extra expense, however? I'd think some might be okay with just re-molds with leaving the extra connector bits if they are not visible. I'm not speaking for anybody here, just thinking out loud (typing) that anything hidden that costs extra in remold costs could be left alone. *shrug*

News Credits: 4 · by **King Kuuga** » Sat Feb 09, 2013 5:27 am

Agamemnon wrote:I get you. I'm sure it could be done, ala the FansProject Bruticus re-released crossfire set. I think the unique characters had their connecting bits left out.

For what it's worth, FP left the connector port in when they redesigned Munitioner into Warcry. The hole had a removable plug on it, but that's it. Explorer/Flameblast never had a connector built in, but it retains the slots where the shoulder joint clips in. Additionally, Flameblast's sword is fitted for Colossus's hand. Neither figure had all the combiner kibble of their original mold counterparts, but it's entirely possible to make a Bruticus out of them if you have the Crossfire 02 sets. Bearing in mind that some people may want to build a Uranos with seekers for limbs for their own reasons, I doubt they'd go to the trouble to remove the shoulder connector in the event that they remake the F-15 into seekers.

by **Shadowstream** » Sat Feb 09, 2013 7:18 am

I suppose you're right, but personally I'd rather it was taken out since I won't be using as a limb, and it'd just be a waste of unused parts in the production budget.

News Credits: 2 · by **xyl360** » Sat Feb 09, 2013 12:08 pm

Shadowstream wrote:I suppose you're right, but personally I'd rather it was taken out since I won't be using as a limb, and it'd just be a waste of unused parts in the production budget.

It would cost them more to re-engineer the figure to remove it than it would to just do another run of it in different colors with all the pieces intact.

News Credits: 119 · by **daimchoc** » Sat Feb 09, 2013 2:29 pm

c/o Devyfan5 of TFW2005

Devyfan5 wrote:I will be adding more pics to this post as I take them but weekends is busy for me so heres a lil something for now.

Pics of combined mode:

Sorry for the crappy phone pics.

This one is for you M31, the yellow visor is molded into the face so not sure how that's gonna be tackled to get a blue visor.

WILL UPDATE MORE

News Credits: 33 · by **Genocide G2.0** » Sat Feb 09, 2013 8:18 pm

Im so glad those missiles on the legs are removable that's the one thing i hated about hasbros was the turbines or whatever blocking up leg space.

News Credits: 2 · by **Banjo-Tron** » Sun Feb 10, 2013 1:59 pm

Did Pat Lee design the face? #-o

News Credits: 10 · by **Agamemnon** » Sun Feb 10, 2013 2:25 pm

'Tis also obvious that Superion never played football. (Where's his neck?)

News Credits: 119 · by **daimchoc** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 7:36 am

Some folks from TFW2005 already have their BlackBird set. Here's a picture review c/o LazyAza

http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transform ... eview.html

Also, custom seekers..

News Credits: 2 · by **Banjo-Tron** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 8:44 am

daimchoc wrote:Also, custom seekers..

Very impressed with how well these have come out, is this with no modification other than paint? Not convinced that I will be replacing the 6 seekers I already have, though.

News Credits: 119 · by **daimchoc** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 10:17 am

Banjo-Tron wrote:
daimchoc wrote:Also, custom seekers..

Very impressed with how well these have come out, is this with no modification other than paint? Not convinced that I will be replacing the 6 seekers I already have, though.

Well, new heads... and possibly the null rays.

by **Rated X** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 10:21 am

daimchoc wrote:
Banjo-Tron wrote:
daimchoc wrote:Also, custom seekers..

Very impressed with how well these have come out, is this with no modification other than paint? Not convinced that I will be replacing the 6 seekers I already have, though.

Well, new heads... and possibly the null rays.

Exactly how did they get the cockpit of the plane to go into his shest or are those fake cockpits glued on ?

News Credits: 1 · by **rpetras** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 12:55 pm

daimchoc wrote:Some folks from TFW2005 already have their BlackBird set. Here's a picture review c/o LazyAza

http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transform ... eview.html

Also, custom seekers..

That was an EXCELLENT review.

And the custom seekers prove out that I would be interested if TFC were to convert the mold to a seeker mold.

See the thread here:
http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/radicons- ... ished.html

I would definitely want to see a nosecone mod as talked about in the thread, as well as mods to the arm transform. I would also hope that they would cut the cost if they planned a seeker release.

EDIT : Blackbird just hit my PoL, and I pulled the trigger.
Should be here early next week!!!

by **warwik311** » Wed Feb 13, 2013 9:41 am

Blackbird is in stock at toyarena.
http://www.toyarena.com/product_info.php/tfc-toys-project-uranos-blackbird-phantomray-p-7610

by **Gurgintius Maximus** » Sat Feb 16, 2013 4:52 pm

Silverbolt as a stand alone figure is pretty good. It doesn't look as "robot with a plane on its back" as I first thought.

Enjoying the combined mode so far as well. Seems like the Silverbolt arms have trouble staying pegged when manipulating the Gestalt shoulder joint. Also the chest piece is not held on well, trying to move him by holding him by the main body results in the chest piece separating at the many folds. Kind of annoying.

Maybe a third party replacement that is static in nature would be a good idea?

The inner wing on the arm bot does interfere by rubbing. Also kind of annoying. Took it off and it looks fine.

Ascetically it looks really good IMO. About half a head taller then Herc. Looking like this is gonna be great when complete!

News Credits: 10 · by **Trikeboy** » Sun Feb 17, 2013 9:12 pm

This arrived today:

I haven't had a chance to open it yet but first impressions are "Damn that's a big box".

News Credits: 1 · by **duo_maxwell_1017** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 1:26 pm

Man TF Source better get their Blackbirds in soon. Why are they always the last ones to get the new stuff in??

News Credits: 1 · by **rpetras** » Wed Feb 20, 2013 2:05 am

Got mine today, and have been messing with him for quite a wile now.

Loving the bot and plane modes.

I plan to add some black striping a la the early digibashes we saw.
That will kick the alt mode up a notch IMO.

Still dislike the chest shield, and the gestalt mode noggin could use improving (but it isn't bad), I suspect we will see 4th party add-ons, or a Rage Kit like add-on from TFC themselves.

Just please, please, please release the other leg so I can stand this guy up!!!!

Website · by **RK_Striker_JK_5** » Wed Feb 20, 2013 11:39 am

We'll probably get the other arm first.

And I got him and like him a lot. Nothing against Crossfire II, but this is now my Classics Superion.

News Credits: 1 · by **Sodan-1** » Wed Feb 20, 2013 4:57 pm

I'm not liking either of the heads on Blackbird. I know we as a fandom like our light-piping, but it's a little too prominent on these heads. Phantom and Eagle had great heads, but with Blackbird and Uranos it's like the piping took priority and before TFC knew it they'd made them too big and had to try and fit the rest of the head on there somehow.

I do like these designs. I think they're the best examples of aeroplane Transformers we've ever seen. But I won't be getting them. I just can't justify these figures as my Classics Aerialbots. It's the price I pay for having more than a passing interest in military aviation.

News Credits: 119 · by **daimchoc** » Mon Mar 04, 2013 6:32 pm

News Credits: 1 · by **rpetras** » Tue Mar 05, 2013 1:37 am

daimchoc wrote:

Very cool and easy to do.

I popped the parts in about a minute, and test fit them to see how they look, and it is an improvement IMO.

If TFC, or someone else, doesn't come up with a replacement chest shield I'll do the permanent mod.

If you don't want a permanent change, you can always just remove the 2 pins that hold the lever under the chest shield, set that aside, and move it manually.