The Energon Pub

G1 Insecticons are a lot of fun! They are one of my favorite G1 toys. Well worth it, in my opinion.

PLEASE Hasbro. PLEASE give us a Platinum set of the three main G1 Datsun brothers.

So..what everyone is saying..is that I should probably order the Predaking set since I never had it.

They were in Headmasters right? Fits my collection

itscramtastic wrote:So..what everyone is saying..is that I should probably order the Predaking set since I never had it.

They were in Headmasters right? Fits my collection

I never had it and absolutely love it. They're awesome in beast mode. But the die cast is a double edged sword. The limbs are super heavy and it makes it challenging to play with when combined as Predaking. Also, there apparently are known QC issues. I ordered it about a month ago, and Predaking's right arm would not stay in place no matter what. But I ordered from Amazon, so I was able to exchange it without hassle.

nycPrime wrote:

itscramtastic wrote:So..what everyone is saying..is that I should probably order the Predaking set since I never had it.

They were in Headmasters right? Fits my collection

I never had it and absolutely love it. They're awesome in beast mode. But the die cast is a double edged sword. The limbs are super heavy and it makes it challenging to play with when combined as Predaking. Also, there apparently are known QC issues. I ordered it about a month ago, and Predaking's right arm would not stay in place no matter what. But I ordered from Amazon, so I was able to exchange it without hassle.

I was wondering what QC issues may arise. Play factor is a must, I know he won't be super dynamic but we don't have a better official version yet..drat. I'll wait for a sale again, but I may have to pick it up. Decided recently to mix my collection up with some of my G1 goodness mixed in. These guys might be a perfect fit!

A Platinum set of G1 Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, and Red Alert would be awesome too.

itscramtastic wrote:They were in Headmasters right?

Yep, and Predaking had something of a small rivalry with the Autobot newcomer rookie combiner Raiden.

SillySpringer wrote:A Platinum set of G1 Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, and Red Alert would be awesome too.

Any reissue of Sunstreaker would be awesome, shame it'll never happen.

Emerje

Emerje wrote:

SillySpringer wrote:A Platinum set of G1 Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, and Red Alert would be awesome too.

Any reissue of Sunstreaker would be awesome, shame it'll never happen.

Emerje

Proof?

Sunstreaker's mold is said to be among the number of G1 molds that have since been lost, which includes the likes of Mirage and the five Dinobots (the Wheeljack mold tends to be grouped together with these as well, but his mold is instead said to have been broken).

Sabrblade wrote:Sunstreaker's mold is said to be among the number of G1 molds that have since been lost, which includes the likes of Mirage and the five Dinobots (the Wheeljack mold tends to be grouped together with these as well, but his mold is instead said to have been broken).

Ah, alright.

Then, either the Datsuns, or even G1 Reflector would be real nice!

Sabrblade wrote:

itscramtastic wrote:They were in Headmasters right?

Yep, and Predaking had something of a small rivalry with the Autobot newcomer rookie combiner Raiden.

I thought I remembered that. Thanks for the confirmation!

itscramtastic wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

itscramtastic wrote:They were in Headmasters right?

Yep, and Predaking had something of a small rivalry with the Autobot newcomer rookie combiner Raiden.

I thought I remembered that. Thanks for the confirmation!

They were also in Season 3 of the US cartoon. A memorable episode was Call of the Primitives when they were drawn together with other beast based bots.

Four of these guys look great. Dezaras....he was an incredible stretch to reuse a mold. Drillhorn could use a bigger Drill and I still don't understand how you can have Liokaiser without Leo. They should have used a Silverbolt remold to make a Leozack. I wonder if Takara will come up with a better version.

G1 Reflector recolored to look more like the cartoon incarnation would be a real great set also.

I feel like Reflector is one that if they were capable of doing it they would have already. They were sold at retail in Japan and had a prominent spot on the cartoon, plus the repaint potential is there. Takara Tomy (and therefore Hasbro) not reissuing them some 10+ years ago tells me that they either don't have the molds or don't have them in any condition to reuse them.

Emerje

Emerje wrote:I feel like Reflector is one that if they were capable of doing it they would have already. They were sold at retail in Japan and had a prominent spot on the cartoon, plus the repaint potential is there. Takara Tomy (and therefore Hasbro) not reissuing them some 10+ years ago tells me that they either don't have the molds or don't have them in any condition to reuse them.

Emerje

True, true. If at least we could get the Datsuns that would be awesome. I love me some good g1 die-cast cars.

I've opened my Blaster/Perceptor set now - I suppose I should say a few words about it.

Looking at Blaster's Big logo I still can't decide if to put an Autobot logo on my Twin Cast reissue or not.

Blaster in the Platinum set is a single cassette bay version I like the idea of the 2 Cassette Bay version (Twincast in Blaster Colours) it seems more useful so I may still chase one of them up too.

Quality wise Blaster seems fine - I remember when they solicited him he was advertise as being shiny - having metallic paint or metal flake - but if he does I can't tell looks pretty plain to me.

Factory Sticker placement wasn't horrible one shoulder sticker is a tiny bit off and I had to move the Autobot logo as it was crazy crooked. but otherwise fine.

The tampographs on the cassettes mostly work OK - I can see how the labels have some merit in covering screws up but otherwise the appearance is perhaps more pleasing with the tampographs.

I'm not a big fan of any mould that has been altered to make a spot for a rubsign and Eject suffers from this all the detail from one arm has been removed to make space for the rubsign.

The weapons all fit really tightly on the cassettes so much so that they are scary to get off - where are as my Kissplayer and Encore cassettes hold just well enough to stay but not so tightly as to rub the chrome.

They are a bit hit and miss tightness wise Ramhorn's legs are a little loose - he can support his weight but he feels a bit like a vintage Ravage in terms of looseness, Steeljaw is mostly fine but his head is a bit loose compared to the old stickered One I have.

Eject is OK overall but he wouldn't Transform until I realised his head comes off pretty easily (like Rumble's does) then I realised the cap over the spring had fell off stopping the spring from compacting fully; an easy fix.

Perceptor's new accessory is a little hit and miss too - I like the idea - and it looks cool on his back - but they didn't make it possible to fit on the tank mode - which annoys me. it's really scary to open too.

His Rocket launcher is useless the missile just falls out as the mechanism is glued in place and when I unscrewed it they'd even altered the trigger so there is no spring backplate now. I'll likely jam a bit of foam inside so as to keep the missile in place.

His gun is a poor fit in the hand too - which isn't the case on Magnificus.
The wheels on his arms probably should not have passed QC either they have bad chrome scuffs on them showing the plastic through on the outer face on both sides.

Sticker placement is fine.

A part seems to be missing too the silver mirror square Magnificus has over his reflector block is missing. even if this wasn't on the G1 toy they should have included it on this toy too.

The magnification is worthless - Magnifcus can work fine with the slides but Perceptor lacks the ability to focus properly so doesn't actually work at all.


Overall some mild QC issue that would have been infuriating on a purchase at full price - but as the set was cheap I'm reasonably pleased overall.

But not so satisfied that I wouldn't consider looking for a Japanese Reissue Perceptor sometime (did they ever make one with blue legs?)

As well as a Twincast mould variation of Blaster.

Hopefully they might think to include rewind in a future boxed set just to complete the set.

One final realisation I had too was - someone should make Cassette Case paper inlays for cassettes that come with cases - I think that would be cool.

Perhaps they could be reversible with Energon Cube pink on one side an an appropriate joke piece of art on the other side.

RAR wrote:The magnification is worthless - Magnifcus can work fine with the slides but Perceptor lacks the ability to focus properly so doesn't actually work at all.

Did you follow the instructions? I ask because people who say that usually dont position the slides corectly. They are meant to go over the mirror, not the slide holder.

http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/ ... ure/34235/

I have explained it here in a review of the figures (which also shows you the sparkly spsce on Blaster's legs, even though I dont think he was advertized as sparkly).

And the missile doent fall offon my peceptor's gun. I was a bid ticked off that it didnt work but then I learnt that the original Hasbro toy didnt fire either.

Interesting note:

Liokaiser & the destrons have both the Platinum Edition and Combiner Wars moniker on the box.

How can it be in both lines at once?

SillySpringer wrote:G1 Reflector recolored to look more like the cartoon incarnation would be a real great set also.

Emerje wrote:I feel like Reflector is one that if they were capable of doing it they would have already. They were sold at retail in Japan and had a prominent spot on the cartoon, plus the repaint potential is there. Takara Tomy (and therefore Hasbro) not reissuing them some 10+ years ago tells me that they either don't have the molds or don't have them in any condition to reuse them.

Emerje

I actually agree with SillySpringer here. That would be a great set to remake. My G1s are still in great shape, but Viewfinder being the only one close in color to the cartoon is crazy. The only media I saw them in in their toy colors was Dreamwave comics I think? Or was that early IDW..I can't remember..

Emerje I'm sure you're right that they were lost or aren't usable. Where'd all the KO versions come from though (with their pretty boxes)?!

itscramtastic wrote:Where'd all the KO versions come from though (with their pretty boxes)?!

Those come from new molds made through reverse engineering the original toys.

william-james88 wrote:

itscramtastic wrote:Where'd all the KO versions come from though (with their pretty boxes)?!

Those come from new molds made through reverse engineering the original toys.

So what you are saying is Takara needs to buy some of those toys and pull the same trick. If they re-engineer the mold to be the correct size (you know, with computers and magic) then we can all have G1 re-issues of errrrrrybody!!

MemphisR56 wrote:Interesting note:

Liokaiser & the destrons have both the Platinum Edition and Combiner Wars moniker on the box.

How can it be in both lines at once?

Several previous Platinum Editions were labeled both Platinum Edition and either Age of Extinction or Generations.

Sabrblade wrote:

MemphisR56 wrote:Interesting note:

Liokaiser & the destrons have both the Platinum Edition and Combiner Wars moniker on the box.

How can it be in both lines at once?

Several previous Platinum Editions were labeled both Platinum Edition and either Age of Extinction or Generations.

In short, Platinum Editions are no longer their own line, rather now it's a sub-line for Generations. That includes Age of Extinction, as the Deluxe, Voyager and Leader Class figures were considered part of Generations as well, Series M4 to be exact.