The Energon Pub

by **gothsaurus** » Wed Oct 01, 2014 2:38 pm

Yeah, have to say... I love some seekers. I'd get a rainmaker set from USA or Asia or FunPub. AND I'd be especially excited to see more new characters or decos, which includes the unreleased G2 Sandstorm. He would display well with camo Acid Storm.

Might have to make a custom if one never surfaces. Seriously, those molds have to be wearing out by now!!! :^o

News Credits: 3604 · by **Seibertron** » Wed Oct 01, 2014 2:50 pm

gothsaurus wrote:Might have to make a custom if one never surfaces. Seriously, those molds have to be wearing out by now!!! :^o

The Seekers are one of the biggest reasons I don't necessarily buy into the whole "mold degradation" claim. To me, "mold degradation" sounds like an excuse for something else such as an inexpensive mold that is only meant to be used for one or two productions or something gets stuck in the mold that goes unnoticed that causes problems with a mold or the plastic used is a different level of quality than previous uses. I'm not saying it doesn't happen and I am speculating, however I do feel like that it seems like when they want a mold to last a while, they seem to be able to do that just fine and that any other problems that seem to arise from supposed "mold degradation" could be prevented by taking better care of the mold, using a higher mold in the first place, or by using higher quality plastics. Case in point: the Seekers with 32 (is that correct?) uses.

News Credits: 241 · by **Jelze Bunnycat** » Wed Oct 01, 2014 3:00 pm

Seibertron wrote:
gothsaurus wrote:Might have to make a custom if one never surfaces. Seriously, those molds have to be wearing out by now!!! :^o

The Seekers are one of the biggest reasons I don't necessarily buy into the whole "mold degradation" claim. To me, "mold degradation" sounds like an excuse for something else such as an inexpensive mold that is only meant to be used for one or two productions or something gets stuck in the mold that goes unnoticed that causes problems with a mold or the plastic used is a different level of quality than previous uses. I'm not saying it doesn't happen and I am speculating, however I do feel like that it seems like when they want a mold to last a while, they seem to be able to do that just fine and that any other problems that seem to arise from supposed "mold degradation" could be prevented by taking better care of the mold, using a higher mold in the first place, or by using higher quality plastics. Case in point: the Seekers with 32 (is that correct?) uses.

On the flip-side, mold restoration has been confirmed to have happened on several occasions. A prime case in point would be the progress from G1 Jazz all the way to G1 Stepper's reissue. I can imagine that once a certain tooling has shown its potential worth, it's eligible for repair in the long run.
The Classic Seeker and potentially Optimus Prime are worth investigating as, despite popular belief they shouldn't be viable given certain releases, they continue to be used. The Seeker mold definitely has shown its worth, and still has potential releases in it, like Black Starscream from e-Hobby.

by **gothsaurus** » Wed Oct 01, 2014 3:32 pm

another option could be that they planned for the many releases by creating more than one mold. (?) Could also be that they just use it until it breaks... and that we've had good luck that it hasn't broken. ha.

News Credits: 3 · by **Midnight_Fox** » Wed Oct 01, 2014 3:48 pm

gothsaurus wrote:another option could be that they planned for the many releases by creating more than one mold. (?) Could also be that they just use it until it breaks... and that we've had good luck that it hasn't broken. ha.

You can tool more molds using the Master Mold if you still have it in good condition. Mold degradation is really only an issue if you keep using molds beyond their "natural life" due to damaged or lost master molds. It's how some companies have been using the same molds for 20+ years without noticeable quality issues.

News Credits: 650 · by **ScottyP** » Wed Oct 01, 2014 3:57 pm

My issue with the term "Mold degradation" is that it's used the wrong way. Folks think that just because a run has more mold flash, or more QC issues, or bad pin assembly, then there must be "mold degradation", but that's not necessarily the case.

The easiest way to tell if a mold is actually degraded, and that a new production one needs to be made out of the master, is to check the sculpted detailing. If it's duller, say for instance raised surfaces aren't as sharp, places where panel lining could go aren't as defined, things like this, then -that- is true mold degradation and the production one being used needs restoration or retirement. The recent MP Grimlock re-releases are one example of this. Outside of Transformers, Bandai is notorious for using production molds on re-releases way past their prime. There are Gundam kits from the 90's being reissued even today on a regular basis and their detail isn't nearly as sharp as kits from the first few runs.

by **gothsaurus** » Wed Oct 01, 2014 4:10 pm

Thanks to you both for some insightful back story. Cheers!

News Credits: 293 · by **shajaki** » Wed Oct 01, 2014 4:44 pm

Gauntlet101010 wrote:None of the Botcon Welcoming Committee Seekers matched their models.

i think theyre pretty close... only one id question is the blue guy. but hes so thundercracker'y that i can see why they changed him a bit.

Gauntlet101010 wrote:But if we're talking about Seekers we'd just like to see, my own vote is for one based on the unreleased G2 Sandstorm prototype.

i had to google this myself, so if anyone else was wondering what G2 sandstorm looked like, here he is

News Credits: 25 · by **SW's SilverHammer** » Wed Oct 01, 2014 4:56 pm

I wants these from the club then:

News Credits: 7 · by **Zeedust** » Wed Oct 01, 2014 6:45 pm

gothsaurus wrote:Scamper (Megatron)

Sorry I'm late to the party, but I assume you mean Slammer?

News Credits: 1 · by **Gauntlet101010** » Wed Oct 01, 2014 7:17 pm

shajaki wrote:
Gauntlet101010 wrote:None of the Botcon Welcoming Committee Seekers matched their models.
i think theyre pretty close... only one id question is the blue guy. but hes so thundercracker'y that i can see why they changed him a bit.

Well, they're closer than Acid Storm was to his cartoon counterpart, which was a single flat colour, if that's what you mean. But if FunPub can't make a 100% matching Sunstorm what makes you think they'll make a "close" Acid Storm? And if you acknowledge they wouldn't, then why bother? If the Takara MP is any indication that camo effect is not going away.

Some people hate KOs, so it makes sense for them to complete the Rainmakers set. Personally, I'd rather they try other things. Any of the unreleased G2 colour schemes would be nice. Or a Classics Exhaust (that'd be neat). But, if we're talking about the Rainmakers, I can see the sense in them making the remaining two (as opposed to doing a full set).

News Credits: 1235 · by **LOST Cybertronian** » Wed Oct 01, 2014 11:32 pm

The Transformers Collectors' Club shared a new image of their Subscription Service 3.0 exclusive Serpent O.R. This image give a good look at both modes. If you are interested in subscribing to the service, the sign up period ends October 2nd at 11:59 p.m. If you need another look, check out the rest of the figures which include Krok, Nacelle, Tarantulas, Carzap with Blackrock and G2 Starscream.

News Credits: 387 · by **Bounti76** » Thu Oct 02, 2014 1:37 am

I signed up for TFSS 3.0, but this is one of the ones I'm definitely selling. Though the color scheme is interesting, I have zero interest in GI Joe.

by **Rated X** » Thu Oct 02, 2014 9:08 am

Im gonna keep him and find a backspace on my shelf for him to inhabit, but I agree TFCC needs to stay the hell away from GI Joe. Whats next ? A ratchet repaint to homage Doc ? Freaking stupid. But it could have been worse. They could have put marissa as one of the 3.0 figures or as the freebie. That would have really pissed me off.

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Thu Oct 02, 2014 9:19 am

Rated X wrote:Im gonna keep him and find a backspace on my shelf for him to inhabit, but I agree TFCC needs to stay the hell away from GI Joe. Whats next ? A ratchet repaint to homage Doc ? Freaking stupid. But it could have been worse. They could have put marissa as one of the 3.0 figures or as the freebie. That would have really pissed me off.

At least this toy has precedence for existing:

News Credits: 3 · by **Midnight_Fox** » Thu Oct 02, 2014 9:20 am

Rated X wrote:Im gonna keep him and find a backspace on my shelf for him to inhabit, but I agree TFCC needs to stay the hell away from GI Joe.

Eh, FunPub runs both clubs, I'm surprised they waited this long to do crossover exclusives.

by **gothsaurus** » Thu Oct 02, 2014 9:37 am

Nemesis Primal wrote:
gothsaurus wrote:Scamper (Megatron)

Sorry I'm late to the party, but I assume you mean Slammer?

Yeah, Nemesis Prime. I edited my earlier post and deleted the wrong word. YEAH! Slammer.

by **gothsaurus** » Thu Oct 02, 2014 9:47 am

Gotta say, of the other Joe repaints I'd be pleased with... at the top of the list would be a nice blue Cobra Rattler out of Powerglide.

If we got an entire line of excellent Joe/Cobra vehicles that transformed into mechs or Transformer characters (ie. NOT human-styled GI Joe characters like that daft Star Wars or Marvel line) I'd buy them up quick.

Putting human characters and faces on those lines killed them for me. Made them into kids toys instead of anything I could relate to or believe could actually exist in "real life".

That's like me painting my face on the hood of any car I drive. What kind of narcissist would make a transforming robot that looks like himself/herself... with his/her face... and skinny little people legs... or of a little boy like Anakin??? That's just weird.

Still holding out for this awesome line of TF/Joe armed to the teeth ala Roadbuster/Whirl meched-out crossovers. Hasbro... DO IT!!! :grin:

News Credits: 1 · by **Gauntlet101010** » Thu Oct 02, 2014 10:50 am

Serpentor's one of the guys I'm looking forward to most, actually. This isn't Serpentor riding a ship based off himself it's based off the SerpentO.R. character in the crossover, which I really liked. The face here is just a repaint of Senator Ratbat's (which works surprisingly well).

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Thu Oct 02, 2014 12:29 pm

The only way this figure could be more perfect is A) if came with the pink versions of God and Zad for the Serpent Scepter, and B) if it was given the more proper name of "Serpentor Prime" instead of "Serpent O.R."

News Credits: 293 · by **shajaki** » Thu Oct 02, 2014 2:44 pm

Gauntlet101010 wrote:Well, they're closer than Acid Storm was to his cartoon counterpart, which was a single flat colour, if that's what you mean. But if FunPub can't make a 100% matching Sunstorm what makes you think they'll make a "close" Acid Storm? And if you acknowledge they wouldn't, then why bother? If the Takara MP is any indication that camo effect is not going away.

i see what your saying about the classics acid storm. as for MP acid storm, i might be one of the few people who genuinely liked him! sure he had the camo thing going, but it was done well with that strange minecraft 8-bit thing it had. aside from the "boo he shoulda been skywarp or something" fandom anger, i dont see why he was so poorly received.

Gauntlet101010 wrote:Some people hate KOs, so it makes sense for them to complete the Rainmakers set. Personally, I'd rather they try other things. Any of the unreleased G2 colour schemes would be nice. Or a Classics Exhaust (that'd be neat). But, if we're talking about the Rainmakers, I can see the sense in them making the remaining two (as opposed to doing a full set).

yeah. i dont know why im complaining... ill buy any seeker they release in that mold :lol:

and i would SO be into a generations exhaust!

News Credits: 6188 · by **Va'al** » Thu Oct 02, 2014 3:49 pm

Just in from the Transformers Collectors' Club is a reminder for everyone who has yet to sign up for the Subscription Service 3.0, which will allow you to receive the six announced figures of Serpent O.R, Carzap, Nacelle, Tarantulas, Krok and G2 Starscream, that today - 2nd October - is the last day to so! In addition, the Club has included a new piece of round-up art for all to enjoy, check it out below.

Today is the FINAL day to sign up for the TFSS 3.0 and we have one last little story surprise to go along with the amazing toy offerings. Check out the attached flyer for what fans can expect to see when it comes to THE 1980's CLASSIC version of everyone's favorite Decepticon... Starscream!

(New art included!)

People can signup for the TFSS 3.0 here.

UPDATE: New revised closing date

Hello all,

We have had several request to extend the deadline for those members who get paid on Friday. The new order deadline is Monday at 5pm Central Time. Don't wait until the last minute and miss these great figures!

In addition, please note that even if you subscribed to version 2.0 you are NOT automatically included in version 3.0. Each subscription set is its own process so if you want these great figures, you must subscribe again.

Thanks to all of you who have already subscribed!

Please note that this time we will not be ordering any extra figures beyond those for damage replacement. This means that very few may/may not make it in the store.

The service is available to anyone who is a member of the Transformers Collectors’ Club. The cost of this figure subscription service is $297 (plus shipping). You can pay all at once or in 3 installments. The 6 toys that make up the TFSS 3.0 are: KROK, NACELLE, TARANTULAS, CARZAP, SERPENT O.R. and G2 STARSCREAM. In addition to that you will receive a BONUS 7th figure to be mailed out with your final shipment.

by **K2vox** » Thu Oct 02, 2014 5:09 pm

I want that carzap badly... I don't know why, it just screams awesome and innovative to me. I love wild color schemes and it reminds me of Bugbite.

by **Bassmasterdust** » Thu Oct 02, 2014 7:10 pm

Cobra!!!!

News Credits: 119 · by **megatronus** » Thu Oct 02, 2014 9:25 pm

Rated X wrote:Im gonna keep him and find a backspace on my shelf for him to inhabit, but I agree TFCC needs to stay the hell away from GI Joe. Whats next ? A ratchet repaint to homage Doc ? Freaking stupid. But it could have been worse. They could have put marissa as one of the 3.0 figures or as the freebie. That would have really pissed me off.

I'm not into Joe stuff, but I don't mind Joe homages as long as they're actual Transformers. They would never (I hope) put Marissa Fairborn in the Subscription Service, just like they wouldn't put the SDCC versions of Barroness/Ravage, Hound, Jetfire, or that Joe-scale Bludgeon into the TFSS. But if it transforms...