The Energon Pub

News Credits: 668 · by **Autobot032** » Mon Mar 25, 2013 1:25 am

Twitter user TFYuki has posted pictures of the newly released Fortress Maximus Encore reissue from TakaraTomy. Looks nearly identical to the original, with a few notable changes. If you'd like to see an original, check out Seibertron's own gallery of Fortress Maximus, located here.

A handful of the pictures have been mirrored here for your viewing. The full gallery can be located here: http://twitpic.com/photos/TFYUKI (Please note that TFYuki is currently in the process of adding new pics, so please keep checking back for more images as the day goes on.)

American buyers should be seeing this hitting US shores via BBTS (early air shipment @ $379.99, regular shipment @ $329.99)TFSource (Early @ $399.95 and FREE US SHIPPING and late @ $349.95 and FREE US SHIPPING) and the like rather shortly. Looking like that April release date is holding true.

Keep your optics tuned to Seibertron.com for the latest news and updates!

News Credits: 1 · by **RhA** » Mon Mar 25, 2013 1:32 am

I need clean pants.

News Credits: 387 · by **Bounti76** » Mon Mar 25, 2013 1:56 am

The only thing that could possibly make this cooler for me is if there was an option for Fort Max to come in a replica of his original American box. But seeing as how this is an Encore release by a Japanese company from (what was essentially) a Japanese-only cartoon toyline, I totally get why he's in the box that he is.

Either way, when mine shows up in a few weeks, 26 years of waiting and wanting will come to an end. :DANCE:

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Mon Mar 25, 2013 2:04 am

Finally. We've waited a long time for this.

by **dabattousai** » Mon Mar 25, 2013 2:42 am

I'm going to get him later on, possibly for Christmas. I also want to see if Takara will repaint him into Grand Maximus.

News Credits: 7 · by **alldarker** » Mon Mar 25, 2013 3:53 am

Hey good lookin', where you been all my life

I read that some retailers might get him with a slight delay, due to all packages needing to be re-checked for extra QA. It'll mean double-taping on all Encore FM boxes.

News Credits: 1 · by **RhA** » Mon Mar 25, 2013 6:06 am

Bounti76 wrote:The only thing that could possibly make this cooler for me is if there was an option for Fort Max to come in a replica of his original American box. But seeing as how this is an Encore release by a Japanese company from (what was essentially) a Japanese-only cartoon toyline, I totally get why he's in the box that he is.

Either way, when mine shows up in a few weeks, 26 years of waiting and wanting will come to an end.

He'll fit so nicely with my Megazarak box.

News Credits: 1 · by **Sodan-1** » Mon Mar 25, 2013 6:35 am

I'm sorry to say I've cancelled my pre-order. Tightening wallet strings and the new Generations Metroplex conspire against him. Will pick him up during a quiet month (if he's still around. Good numbers at BBTS so not too worried).

News Credits: 2 · by **Ketchup** » Mon Mar 25, 2013 8:40 am

Sodan-1 wrote:Good numbers at BBTS so not too worried

I have seen others say things like this in the past. How can you tell how much of an item BBTS has in stock? I can't seem to find anywhere that states that.

Thanks!

News Credits: 461 · by **mooncake623** » Mon Mar 25, 2013 8:49 am

Ketchup wrote:
Sodan-1 wrote:Good numbers at BBTS so not too worried

I have seen others say things like this in the past. How can you tell how much of an item BBTS has in stock? I can't seem to find anywhere that states that.

Thanks!

its simple. Just go on fort max put him in your cart and change the quantity to some crazy number like 100,000 and update they should tell you have many they have instock once refreshed. then quickly change the number back to zero and make sure you don't check out lol

Anyway can't wait for my Fort Max!!
Although in my mind Fort Max is the character that got destroy by overlord in LSOTW and in MTMTE. It still confuses me a lil how different these two characters are in terms of looks (they look almost nothing alike lol)

News Credits: 1 · by **KNM2012** » Mon Mar 25, 2013 4:11 pm

Biggest irony to this is that I wanted to be surprised by this, but the packaging looks exactly like the way I expected it to look. :-B

But even then, I am anticipating the day I get this bad boy! :lol:

by **Defcon!** » Mon Mar 25, 2013 4:15 pm

Very nice indeed. I'm not into the encore figures but this is the exception. I've come to terms with more than likely never owning an original.

News Credits: 7 · by **alldarker** » Mon Mar 25, 2013 4:27 pm

From the TFSource Facebook page:

Here is an Encore Fortress Maximus Update - be sure to read through! Preorder yours at TFsource here:
http://tfsource.com/encore/fortress-maximus/
http://tfsource.com/encore/fortress-max ... y-release/

Today Takara pulled back all of the Fort Max stock for a second QC inspection. Due to this some stock did not pass, and Takara has to do a new run. This will not be finished until the end of April. The good news - TFsource will receive all of our stock on schedule shipping out later this week. Many shops will not.

The bad news - all of the first run of Fort Max will be double-taped. Some collectors are very particular about this, so be aware all stock we receive will be double-taped. It's unavoidable due to the circumstances, but also a check to show that the product passed the QC check. Takara did not release any information on what the QC issues are that caused this.

News Credits: 1 · by **RhA** » Mon Mar 25, 2013 6:07 pm

A delay? The anticipation is killing me.

News Credits: 1 · by **KNM2012** » Mon Mar 25, 2013 8:39 pm

alldarker wrote:From the TFSource Facebook page:
Here is an Encore Fortress Maximus Update - be sure to read through! Preorder yours at TFsource here:
http://tfsource.com/encore/fortress-maximus/
http://tfsource.com/encore/fortress-max ... y-release/

Today Takara pulled back all of the Fort Max stock for a second QC inspection. Due to this some stock did not pass, and Takara has to do a new run. This will not be finished until the end of April. The good news - TFsource will receive all of our stock on schedule shipping out later this week. Many shops will not.

The bad news - all of the first run of Fort Max will be double-taped. Some collectors are very particular about this, so be aware all stock we receive will be double-taped. It's unavoidable due to the circumstances, but also a check to show that the product passed the QC check. Takara did not release any information on what the QC issues are that caused this.

I sent them a message about this, as I did order mine through them and also plan to submit it to AFA - Which means that if even the second release (as in not the early release) has this issue, I might have to wait a bit longer for them to send me mine. :BOOM:

by **Cliff Jumper** » Mon Mar 25, 2013 9:13 pm

Can't wait!!!

News Credits: 5749 · by **El Duque** » Tue Mar 26, 2013 12:11 pm

Takara Tomy's TFYUKI has updated his twitter account with some updated images of their soon to be released Transformers Encore #23 Fortress Maximus!

We also have an update from site sponsor TFsource:

Here is an Encore Fortress Maximus Update - be sure to read through! Preorder yours at TFsource here:
http://tfsource.com/encore/fortress-maximus/
http://tfsource.com/encore/fortress-max ... y-release/

Today Takara pulled back all of the Fort Max stock for a second QC inspection. Due to this some stock did not pass, and Takara has to do a new run. This will not be finished until the end of April. The good news - TFsource will receive all of our stock on schedule shipping out later this week. Many shops will not.

The bad news - all of the first run of Fort Max will be double-taped. Some collectors are very particular about this, so be aware all stock we receive will be double-taped. It's unavoidable due to the circumstances, but also a check to show that the product passed the QC check. Takara did not release any information on what the QC issues are that caused this.

facebook · by **Deruji** » Tue Mar 26, 2013 1:07 pm

Text in 2nd picture: "The sticker sheet was folded into two halves."

Text in 3rd picture: "The styrofoam block is missing."

Text in 4th picture: "The eyes are painted."

EDIT: checked original tweets for exact context

by **Optimum Supreme** » Tue Mar 26, 2013 1:46 pm

Nice to hear at least one of the companies making Transformers cares about QC.

News Credits: 387 · by **Bounti76** » Tue Mar 26, 2013 3:00 pm

I'm not a serious MISB collector, so could someone tell me....double taping? Does that just mean the box is sealed at various points with two applications of tape? How does that affect the toy's value?

News Credits: 226 · by **Burn** » Tue Mar 26, 2013 3:04 pm

Optimum Supreme wrote:Nice to hear at least one of the companies making Transformers cares about QC.

Given the size and cost of him TT have no choice BUT to make sure there aren't any QC issues with him.

by **gothsaurus** » Tue Mar 26, 2013 3:17 pm

Guessing that means it was taped.... RE-OPENED to re-inspect... the re-sealed with a second piece of tape. To MISB collectors, it would appear that their MISB item was opened, thus ruining it's resale value.

If you're planning on keeping it MISB, best to get the re-issue sealed one. Planning on opening it, this early run is for YOU!

:grin:

News Credits: 1 · by **RhA** » Tue Mar 26, 2013 3:30 pm

I'm cracking that thing open AND I DESERVE IT.

News Credits: 1 · by **Cybertronian** » Tue Mar 26, 2013 4:51 pm

Deruji wrote:Text in 2nd picture: "The sticker sheet was folded into two halves."

Text in 3rd picture: "The styrofoam block is missing."

Text in 4th picture: "The eyes are painted."

EDIT: checked original tweets for exact context

Thank you, Deruji. You told me exactly what I wanted to know. I may not be able to pre-order, but I hope the price isn't UNGODLY when I do finally get to buy one.
-- Cybertronian.

P.S.: (Fantasizes of a new centerpiece for my dream model railroad layout. Lionel... meet FM!)