The Energon Pub

Emerje wrote:It's the double rear window. There's really no way around it, the character design isn't based on a real car but a super deformed Beetle that severely shortened the car. There's just no way to account for that whole section of car that didn't exist on the character design so they had to make it into a backpack with a fake rear window on the chest.

Emerje

No, that window on the top of his chest is just the privacy screen to separate the front of the cabin from the back. Bumblebee works for Uber in his spare time.

-Kanrabat- wrote:That Blitzwing bit don't bother me at all, because it's really not obvious at first glance. You must really know what you are looking for. Hell, I have both the G1 and the TR and I didn't noticed that at all.

Speaking of obvious fake parts for the bot visible in vehicle mode, nothing beat Jazz '07, legion version:


Transformers (2007) Battle Jazz Gallery


Transformers (2007) Battle Jazz Gallery

To add insult to injury, the REAL car front isn't even painted!

That's because you put Battle Jazz, the normal Jazz has the real car front painted and the fake one unpainted.

Lord, he has another bumper on his ROOF. Have they no shame!?!?

Wolfman Jake wrote:

Emerje wrote:It's the double rear window. There's really no way around it, the character design isn't based on a real car but a super deformed Beetle that severely shortened the car. There's just no way to account for that whole section of car that didn't exist on the character design so they had to make it into a backpack with a fake rear window on the chest.

Emerje

No, that window on the top of his chest is just the privacy screen to separate the front of the cabin from the back. Bumblebee works for Uber in his spare time.

This is a good explanation, Wolfman.

Emerje knew exactly what I was talking about. I guess I was spoiled by the engineering that came before. I know it may be unreasonable to expect such a miracle from something as small as BB. (And I don't have Sunstreaker, so I cannot complain about him.) But, as I said, given what I had seen before I had come to expect better from MP.

That said, outside of the back of the Beetle forming a backpack, I love everything else about MP Bumbles, especially the transforming exo-suit.

william-james88 wrote:

Agamemnon wrote:That said, outside of the back of the Beetle forming a backpack, I love everything else about MP Bumbles, especially the transforming exo-suit.

I have issues with taht suit. I lik he look, especially in "alt mode" and the transformation is fine. But I hate those arms. That balljoint is badly designed wth limited movement.

Back to fake chests, I just realized that all the live action grimlock toys have fake chests. His lower jaw is supposed to become an ornament on his chest. That explains why all gimlocks hide away the lower jaw in the back. I dont think its a major issue but it would be really cool to see the actual transformation attempted.

Also TLK voyager Scorn, who have half-jaws hanging on his hips for reasons.

-Kanrabat- wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

Agamemnon wrote:That said, outside of the back of the Beetle forming a backpack, I love everything else about MP Bumbles, especially the transforming exo-suit.

I have issues with taht suit. I lik he look, especially in "alt mode" and the transformation is fine. But I hate those arms. That balljoint is badly designed wth limited movement.

Back to fake chests, I just realized that all the live action grimlock toys have fake chests. His lower jaw is supposed to become an ornament on his chest. That explains why all gimlocks hide away the lower jaw in the back. I dont think its a major issue but it would be really cool to see the actual transformation attempted.

Also TLK voyager Scorn, who have half-jaws hanging on his hips for reasons.

As does AoE Deluxe Scorn. I think that's one of those things that will never be possible to get with the real parts - I cannot think of a possible transformation scheme, however complicated, that could make those work in reality.

I think that's a good example of my personal "line" with regard to fake kibble (chests, etc). When a character's fictional appearance is designed first and the toy is attempting to emulate that - like with Masterpiece, TFP and Animated toys, etc. - then I'm considerably more tolerant of fake vehicle parts since it's often trying to emulate details that'd be literally impossible in the physical realm.

But when the appearance is defined by the toy first - G1, UT toys, toy-only Bayverse characters, and so on - I expect to see zero, or at least extremely minimal, fake parts. Because if you're creating a character's look via their toy, what possible reason could you have to introduce fake parts? If the design you're thinking of isn't possible in toy form, come up with a different design since you have that liberty.

The grey area is, of course, 'redesigns' of classic character designs that try to keep the look of the original but change how the thing actually works. Lots of the CW Autobot cars (and a few "main uses" of the molds too) did this sort of thing. Prowl/Smokescreen, as Yotsuyasan mentioned, is a good example of homaging classic detail without resorting to really obvious fake car parts, and it pulls it off pretty well all things considered. Swindle and Hound really ride the line, but since their chest-grilles look totally different from their actual vehicle modes (and look so good to boot) I can just about forgive that too; but that's about as far as things can go before I start to get put off.

I've read this whole topic and I have to say, I think it all depends on the engineering of the figure, if I can see what they were attempting and it doesn't distract from the fun I have with the figure, go on with your bad self. But if it's just bad engineering (Looking a5 that Jazz) that's just...no

personally,
i don't think i have ever consciously considered
the subject,
nor
have i ever purchased
a faker
(that i can recall)

i surmiss
this is perhaps
an unconscious action,
based on my now,
obvious and clear,
bias and distain
for shape-shifting shenanigans.

although,
i have given a pass
on at least one occasion:
TFP 1st ed.
BULKHEAD.

Why?
absolute LOVE
of the Transformers' very first,
openly FAT character.
I LOVE that he was also a strong, admirable, kind, well developed, tough, funny,
as well as ROTUND,
member of the team!
AND
a very fun & well designed toy as well!

i can get over / 4give
a small, teensy flaw
for the sake if this little, big buddy of mine.

william-james88 wrote:

Z3ROhour wrote:although,
i have given a pass
on at least one occasion:
TFP 1st ed.
BULKHEAD.

He has a fake chest?

Also, question for you guys, what is the best use of fake parts so far? And what is the worst? I feel my worst is Voyager Sentinel Prime.

not his chest,
per say.
but the fake tire on the inside of his heals
is an extension of the theme.

william-james88 wrote:Also, question for you guys, what is the best use of fake parts so far? And what is the worst? I feel my worst is Voyager Sentinel Prime.

For me, the best use of fake chest is when Optimus cheat with his grill belly but keep his windows pecks. As seen in both MPs, the Classic mold, and some others. The aestetics is kept while not being a too much of a cheat that it ruin the figure.

The worst is defenitely for Prime deluxe Ratchet. His whole chest is clearly something that have been transformed completely yet this marvelous design dosent happen at all with the transformation. He should have been a voyager to follow the original design more closely.

william-james88 wrote:Also, question for you guys, what is the best use of fake parts so far? And what is the worst? I feel my worst is Voyager Sentinel Prime.

The worst for me is the one I always use as example : T30 bumblebee. too much fakeness, too much laziness.

The best is probably Potp Optimus. Damn; he is 100% fake, from the chest windows and grill to the smokestaks.
But I can't hate it. It's also a strange case, it's a trailer pretending to look like classic Optimus, who is usually a truck...