The Energon Pub

This thing is a spectacle, congratulations on the clutch gallery!

any reason to belive that the have come up with a new gold plastic that dosnt suffer from GPS?

Ohhh, man! even though Scorponok is my favorite G1 Transformer, I've never really allowed myself to like Black Zarak, due to the cost and vunerability of the toy. Actually, even the idea of anything breaking on my Scorponok scares me.

But as usual (and I've said this so often before) you've made BZ look awesome, and now I almost want to own him. Dakastu mode is pretty awesome! I've never seen that in actual toy mode, and I'm going to have to try that with Scorponok!
It's too bad you couldn't work out anything with Darkov's parts, but I hear he's fully out of the repro-parts game and he wouldn't be making any more BZ parts anyhow.

njb902 wrote:any reason to belive that the have come up with a new gold plastic that dosnt suffer from GPS?

I think Ryan answered most of your question already earlier:

Seibertron wrote:I would think they would take pains to use one of the other brownish plastics like we've seen in more recent figures or go to gold chromed and gold painted parts instead of the gold plastic. It'd be interesting to see what they would do.

As for gold plastic itself, I thought it had been eliminated a long while ago and/or that gold plastic was no longer being used for Transformers. And then came along the Star Wars Transformers Chewbacca toy ... with gold plastic. I'm still determined that HFTD Leader Class Starscream uses gold plastic as well. Time will tell.

Oh my. Valiant work, fearless leader! Sorry to hear about the casualties, but you did a great service to us fans.

kirbenvost wrote:Oh my. Valiant work, fearless leader! Sorry to hear about the casualties, but you did a great service to us fans.

This!

Impressive looking figure but that helmet looks awful - too organic and rounded for such a blocky figure. It also renders the headmaster gimmick rather pointless as you can't see it.

Mykltron wrote:Impressive looking figure but that helmet looks awful - too organic and rounded for such a blocky figure. It also renders the headmaster gimmick rather pointless as you can't see it.

Toywise, yes. The show did explain it, though.

VERY nice gallery, and I'm glad you finally did it! but WOW I had no idea just how fragile gold plastic could be.
I still have my G2 electro, and, while I dont mess with him much, he's not that fragile. Just yesterday he fell off my shelf when my cat knocked him off. I thought he was done. But I checked on him and he just fell, no harm done. Maybe it's because, up until recently, he's been in a dark box, inside another box for like, 10 years. I really dont know. Just lucky I guess

Still, as always, jealous of your photography skills and your massive collection. I need to get off my rump and start saving up for a new camera. No, I need to stop saying I will, and actually DO it.

Rated X wrote:Very impressive. As always the galleries were nicely done. I never knew he had a different head sculpt. I always thought it was a straight repaint. So this is the figure that started the "gold plastic syndrome" outrage ???

Yes, Black Zarak is the first Transformers toy to use gold plastic.

Sabrblade wrote:

Seibertron wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:Though, two things:
1. How'd you remove the head?

If you're referring to the Scorponok head ... I used the KO reproduction head for those shots, as well as any shots where the arms and legs are posed. Most of the shots in Scorponok's gallery are using the actual toy except for when he's in head mode and posed.

I meant for the Dakatsu Mode, in which the red BlackZarak head isn't present.

The red head just pops off. It's just attached via two large pegs on each side of the head, in a similar fashion to the "helmet" for Scorponok. The serpent mode can be achieved just as easily with Scorponok.

Sabrblade wrote:

Seibertron wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:Though, two things:
1. How'd you remove the head?

If you're referring to the Scorponok head ... I used the KO reproduction head for those shots, as well as any shots where the arms and legs are posed. Most of the shots in Scorponok's gallery are using the actual toy except for when he's in head mode and posed.

I meant for the Dakatsu Mode, in which the red BlackZarak head isn't present.

Seibertron wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:2. Kinda disappointed that no pic of him in this form has him crawling on his belly all serpent style like he did in the show, but no real biggie.

Not sure that he did that ... I watched the last episode of Masterforce over and over again while doing the serpent mode. If he did do that, it was just a minor scene that I missed while taking photos. I'm sure we'll be just fine without pics like that since I did the far more complicated shots with him upright in his serpent mode.

'Kay.

Though, here's some shots of the Dakatsu Mode sitting on its belly from the episode.

Thanks for the screenshots. That pose can be accomplished. One day I'll take some photos of Black Zarak like that.

Congratulations on completing an endeavor only a few would dare.

Sabrblade wrote:Also, what's this other mode being advertised here along with the Robot, Scorpion, and Base modes? Anyone here Japanese-savvy enough to tell what it says?

That's indeed the different stages of transformation, standard issue in G1. Fortunately, I know some Japanese and I can tell you what the words say:

1) Black Sasori, or "Black Scorpion"
2) Transform
3) Black Zarak
4) Destron Yousai, or "Decepticon Fortress"

The envy I experienced upon Ryan purchasing this beast is now eclipsed by my astonishment that he actually transformed it. If that isn't the ultimate expression of dedication after the flash flood catastrophe, I don't know what is. The gallery is more than fabulous, it is/should be legendary.

morphobots wrote:The envy I experienced upon Ryan purchasing this beast is now eclipsed by my astonishment that he actually transformed it. If that isn't the ultimate expression of dedication after the flash flood catastrophe, I don't know what is. The gallery is more than fabulous, it is/should be legendary.

Thanks for the compliments. It means a lot to me that all of you seem to really appreciate and understand my level of dedication to this fandom, to Seibertron.com, and most importantly ... to the fans of Seibertron.com.

If you thought Black Zarak was the ultimate expression of dedication ... just wait for the next round of galleries coming over the next couple of weeks including the likes of Scorponok (poster earlier today), Overlord, Grand Maximus, Brave Maximus, and new pictures for Fortress Maximus' existing galleries!

Seibertron wrote:

morphobots wrote:The envy I experienced upon Ryan purchasing this beast is now eclipsed by my astonishment that he actually transformed it. If that isn't the ultimate expression of dedication after the flash flood catastrophe, I don't know what is. The gallery is more than fabulous, it is/should be legendary.

Thanks for the compliments. It means a lot to me that all of you seem to really appreciate and understand my level of dedication to this fandom, to Seibertron.com, and most importantly ... to the fans of Seibertron.com.

If you thought Black Zarak was the ultimate expression of dedication ... just wait for the next round of galleries coming over the next couple of weeks including the likes of Scorponok (poster earlier today), Overlord, Grand Maximus, Brave Maximus, and new pictures for Fortress Maximus' existing galleries!

Of course! If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have this forum, let alone all of the simply glorious galleries you've posted. Looking forward to the upcoming ones, especially Overlord and Brave Max!

Sabrblade wrote:

Seibertron wrote:If you thought Black Zarak was the ultimate expression of dedication ... just wait for the next round of galleries coming over the next couple of weeks including the likes of Scorponok (poster earlier today), Overlord, Grand Maximus, Brave Maximus, and new pictures for Fortress Maximus' existing galleries!

You spoil us, good sir.

Though, since you bring up the Fort Max molds, do you have (or plan on getting) the Lucky Draw Brave Maximus, which includes all of the G1 Fort Max accessories (including the swords) that were missing from the retail Brave Max release?

The accessories were never available with the Lucky Draw Cybertron Base. The accessories themselves were given away as a Lucky Draw set from Takara, sans Brave Maximus.

No I do not plan on getting any Lucky Draw items, not unless I win the lottery.

Sabrblade wrote:

Seibertron wrote:The accessories were never available with the Lucky Draw Cybertron Base. The accessories themselves were given away as a Lucky Draw set from Takara, sans Brave Maximus.

No I do not plan on getting any Lucky Draw items, not unless I win the lottery.

I wasn't referring to RobotMasters Cybertron Base.

Though, if you knew someone (not refering to me) who had the Lucky Draw accessories, would you do a gallery with them and Brave Max if they let you borrow them?

Maybe. Though I would prefer to own them ... it gives me motivation to work on these galleries and to complete my collection. Taking photos of someone else's items takes away all the steam from me wanting it, plus it scares the crap out of me handling someone else's rare Transformers items.

Seibertron wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Seibertron wrote:The accessories were never available with the Lucky Draw Cybertron Base. The accessories themselves were given away as a Lucky Draw set from Takara, sans Brave Maximus.

No I do not plan on getting any Lucky Draw items, not unless I win the lottery.

I wasn't referring to RobotMasters Cybertron Base.

Though, if you knew someone (not refering to me) who had the Lucky Draw accessories, would you do a gallery with them and Brave Max if they let you borrow them?

Maybe. Though I would prefer to own them ... it gives me motivation to work on these galleries and to complete my collection. Taking photos of someone else's items takes away all the steam from me wanting it, plus it scares the crap out of me handling someone else's rare Transformers items.

Speaking of which, is it possible for any of us who might wish to to make PayPal donations to you in order to provide fundage for specific figures of our choosing for you to purchase for your collection so that you can do galleries for them?

I ask because you've mentioned before that there are some figures which are pricier than you're willing to pay for them and that's why you don't own them and thus don't have galleries for them.

I'm not saying I'd buy you a bunch of Lucky Draw figures or anything, but I'd certainly donate to the cause of some other less expensive figures I'd like to see in the galleries.

xyl360 wrote:

Seibertron wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Seibertron wrote:The accessories were never available with the Lucky Draw Cybertron Base. The accessories themselves were given away as a Lucky Draw set from Takara, sans Brave Maximus.

No I do not plan on getting any Lucky Draw items, not unless I win the lottery.

I wasn't referring to RobotMasters Cybertron Base.

Though, if you knew someone (not refering to me) who had the Lucky Draw accessories, would you do a gallery with them and Brave Max if they let you borrow them?

Maybe. Though I would prefer to own them ... it gives me motivation to work on these galleries and to complete my collection. Taking photos of someone else's items takes away all the steam from me wanting it, plus it scares the crap out of me handling someone else's rare Transformers items.

Speaking of which, is it possible for any of us who might wish to to make PayPal donations to you in order to provide fundage for specific figures of our choosing for you to purchase for your collection so that you can do galleries for them?

I ask because you've mentioned before that there are some figures which are pricier than you're willing to pay for them and that's why you don't own them and thus don't have galleries for them.

I'm not saying I'd buy you a bunch of Lucky Draw figures or anything, but I'd certainly donate to the cause of some other less expensive figures I'd like to see in the galleries.

I'm flattered and I appreciate the offer. While I will admit it is tempting to see what galleries could be accomplished via many people pooling together small donations, I don't feel that this would be appropriate since Seibertron.com is an actual business.

On that note, which figures are you interested in having me take photos of? I might own them already and just need some direction of where to point my camera the next time I'm caught up with current releases of figures.

Seibertron wrote:

xyl360 wrote:

Seibertron wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Seibertron wrote:The accessories were never available with the Lucky Draw Cybertron Base. The accessories themselves were given away as a Lucky Draw set from Takara, sans Brave Maximus.

No I do not plan on getting any Lucky Draw items, not unless I win the lottery.

I wasn't referring to RobotMasters Cybertron Base.

Though, if you knew someone (not refering to me) who had the Lucky Draw accessories, would you do a gallery with them and Brave Max if they let you borrow them?

Maybe. Though I would prefer to own them ... it gives me motivation to work on these galleries and to complete my collection. Taking photos of someone else's items takes away all the steam from me wanting it, plus it scares the crap out of me handling someone else's rare Transformers items.

Speaking of which, is it possible for any of us who might wish to to make PayPal donations to you in order to provide fundage for specific figures of our choosing for you to purchase for your collection so that you can do galleries for them?

I ask because you've mentioned before that there are some figures which are pricier than you're willing to pay for them and that's why you don't own them and thus don't have galleries for them.

I'm not saying I'd buy you a bunch of Lucky Draw figures or anything, but I'd certainly donate to the cause of some other less expensive figures I'd like to see in the galleries.

I'm flattered and I appreciate the offer. While I will admit it is tempting to see what galleries could be accomplished via many people pooling together small donations, I don't feel that this would be appropriate since Seibertron.com is an actual business.

On that note, which figures are you interested in having me take photos of? I might own them already and just need some direction of where to point my camera the next time I'm caught up with current releases of figures.

Well, I wasn't talking about small donations. I was actually planning on giving you money to purchase some figures of my choosing, in particular, some Beast Wars figures. Especially Japanese variants. Almost the entire line has at least subtle variances in the paint schemes/color schemes when compared to their US counterparts (my own collection is largely made up of all of the Beast Wars figures from both Takara and Hasbro as well as their re-used molds in other lines like Armada and Beast Machines).

I'd like Seibertron's galleries to become an index of every figure ever made, including all variants and re-uses of molds as well as other versions of each character, pretty much identical to what can be found on TFU.info, but with your far superior galleries instead of their 2~3 pictures (which are often not that great).

It would be like having an online database of beautiful pictorial reviews with the most accurate representations of what the figures actually look like in real life.

I mentioned Beast Wars specifically because a while back I mentioned that one of the Japanese versions of a figure from the line didn't have a gallery, and you mentioned you hadn't found one for a reasonable price, so I'm basically offering to fund the purchase of one which would be 'unreasonably priced' so that it could have a gallery. I would of course be donating it, as I myself already own the figure and I don't need a duplicate.