The Energon Pub

[Tsutsukakushi]

Brainstorm. Hopefully he should be in soon, then I'll have enough for free shipping.

Pre-ordered my 30th Brainstorm from HTS.com. It was a good deal, It cost $19.99, free shipping and had 15% off. Got a email from HTS Yesterday, alerting me my order has shipped.

[Yotsuyasan]

Indeed, it was a happy find. I just wish the guns fit more securely on the carrier....

I will agree it would be nice, but less of a problem for me since, when he's in carrier mode, I tend to have his flight deck rather full up. So there wouldn't be any room for the guns, anyway!

I happen to have him in that mode at the moment, so here, have some pics to better explain what I mean. Metroplex makes for a reather nice raised rear level for the shelf I display him on, allowing more figures to be visible!





Likely, Six Sigma will defy my usual philosophy of displaying all of the figures on a particular shelf in the same mode. (Wreck-Gar and Junkheap are another exception, I usually just leave them alone.) When Metroplex is in carrier mode, he'll be a robot. And when Metroplex is a robot, I'll have Six Sigma pulled apart to be weapons for him. And, unfortunately, city mode just doesn't fit on any of my shelves! That's only a once-in-a-great-while mode for when I feel like taking up a bit of floor space!

Pre-ordered my 30th Brainstorm from HTS.com. It was a good deal, It cost $19.99, free shipping and had 15% off. Got a email from HTS Yesterday, alerting me my order has shipped.

Okay... good for you. Not really helpful in my situation though, eh? I can hardly order a Six Sigma from Hasbro, so I can't just transfer everything in my TFSourcee order to them. Likewise, I don't think I can call up TFSource and say, "Yes, I think I'll order my Brainstorm elsewhere as you're slightly later then a few other places in getting him in. Would you mind terribly, though, just sending the rest of my order along? Oh, and be sure not to charge me shipping, even though I haven't quite spent enough to qualify! Thanks a bunch!"

[Rodimus Prime]

The final option, from X2 Toys, has an individual thread here.



It is a gun, designed to match with the large red gun that comes with Metroplex, which can transform into a tank. It will be available in two colours, red (to better match Metroplex's other gun) and white (as a better Slammer homage). Worth note is that the white one is being produced in lesser quantities, and unfortunately is thus being sold at a higher price.

Big Bad Toy Store: Red - $42.99 / White - $54.99
TF Source: Red - $42.95 / White - $47.95

BBTS has the white gun, but it's $12 more than the red. Is the difference worth it? I'm seriously contemplating picking 1 up, as my stripped-down Metroplex doesn't have a big gun. I like the white better, but $55? That's a lot.

[Yotsuyasan]

BBTS has the white gun, but it's $12 more than the red. Is the difference worth it? I'm seriously contemplating picking 1 up, as my stripped-down Metroplex doesn't have a big gun. I like the white better, but $55? That's a lot.

Well, I suppose you have to ask yourself what you want here. You like white better, but do you like it $12 better? If so, go with the white. Just a shame it is out of stock at TFSource, which, while still more then the red version, wasn't as stupidly more expensive as it is at BBTS. (Likely why BBTS still has stock, while TFSource does not!)

Otherwise, go with the red, which is still in stock at both of the retailers I linked.

Or, for another $30.00 or $40.00, you could say the heck with that gun, and pick up one of the two larger Six-Gun options and use the guns formed by his legs.

So many options with Metroplex!

[Rodimus Prime]

Well, I suppose you have to ask yourself what you want here. You like white better, but do you like it $12 better? If so, go with the white. Just a shame it is out of stock at TFSource, which, while still more then the red version, wasn't as stupidly more expensive as it is at BBTS. (Likely why BBTS still has stock, while TFSource does not!)

For me, white goes better with Metroplex, but thinking in terms of resale, I wonder if it would be harder to sell with a white gun, if the need arises.

[Yotsuyasan]

For me, white goes better with Metroplex, but thinking in terms of resale, I wonder if it would be harder to sell with a white gun, if the need arises.

You said, "For me," and obviously personal opinion can be quite subjective, but I have to ask, why? Because Metroplex himself if white? Is there some new rule that Transformers must carry weapons color coordinated with themselves?

Granted, it does often happen that way, but that is usually just because the parts for the gun are being molded with the parts for the figure itself, making it cheaper just to keep everything within the same color or set of colors.

Metroplex, however, has always had red guns and black guns. I've never seen him with white guns. And frankly, because of that, I think he looks strange with a white gun. To me, the only advantage that this has in being white is that, when transformed, it makes for a better Slammer analogue. (Something I don't need, since I'm going with a different Slammer option.) But if I was looking for something with the main motivation of wanting a gun for Metroplex, it'd have to be red.

(Fortunately, as far as the black guns, if you're missing those as having a "stripped-down Metroplex" might imply, at least the extendable black portions in his upper arms help maintain the right look for his robot mode.)

[Rodimus Prime]

For me, white goes better with Metroplex, but thinking in terms of resale, I wonder if it would be harder to sell with a white gun, if the need arises.

You said, "For me," and obviously personal opinion can be quite subjective, but I have to ask, why? Because Metroplex himself if white? Is there some new rule that Transformers must carry weapons color coordinated with themselves?

No, and that's exactly why I said "for me." I think a white gun looks better with Metroplex. But I am also planning on getting the Reprolabels sticker set, and I'm not sure how colorful that will make the big guy. I do have the black shoulder cannons. The white gun came with the Metrotitan repaint.

[Yotsuyasan]

But I am also planning on getting the Reprolabels sticker set, and I'm not sure how colorful that will make the big guy.

Well, my Metroplex has mostly Reprolabels, with a few of the original stickers thrown on. (There were a few spots where there was no Reprolabel equivalent, or where I actually liked the original sticker better. But mostly, this is Reprolabels.)

This is mostly pics I've shared earlier in this thread, but I'll throw 'em together here for you to take a look. These weren't taken specifically to show the labels off, so sometimes their view may be obstructed, but hopefully you'll get a passing idea.

Robot:



City:
(City mode also nicely shows off MegaMoonMan's ramps and knees.)






Battle Station:

I do have the black shoulder cannons.

If you really want a white gun, go for it, man! Live your dream!

But if you do have the stock black guns, the Before and After Six-Gun (which was designed assuming the buyer would have those) gives you pretty much everything else you could need! Two bigger red guns, and the option to make both of Generations Metroplex's missing G1 minions!

[Rodimus Prime]

I gave in and bought the red gun. However, Metroplex can handle up to 3 of these guns, right?
So in the near future I will get at least 1 more, a white one.

[Yotsuyasan]

However, Metroplex can handle up to 3 of these guns, right?

Yes, I suppose so. He could hold one in each hand, and have one slung over his right shoulder. Once I am able to get my Six Sigma, I'll likely use his stock gun as a shoulder mounted gun, and Six Sigma's legs as his hand guns. (Alas, then he won't have a free hand for his fudge pop!)



(Fudge pop!)

[Rodimus Prime]

I almost forgot to order the Reprolabels set...

[Rodimus Prime]

Stickers:

Two options I know of here. The first is from the well known Reprolabels.



Available on the Reprolabels website for $35.00.

I ordered these a week ago and received them today. There are 5 sheets of stickers, but no instructions whatsoever. Could someone help me out? Or at least point me to a site where I can get instructions as to what goes where? There are a lot of stickers, and the only ones I can place are the stickers on his command center and the Autobot symbol.

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

My Metroplex is pretty much done. I got Six Sigma, which got me Six-Gun and Slammer. I'm not bothering with new stickers because the ones that he came with were fine for me, and I don't wanna have to go through the hassle of putting more on. And I don't have him in city mode enough to justify new knees, either.

So... my Classics Metroplex is complete!

[megatronus]

Stickers:

Two options I know of here. The first is from the well known Reprolabels.



Available on the Reprolabels website for $35.00.

I ordered these a week ago and received them today. There are 5 sheets of stickers, but no instructions whatsoever. Could someone help me out? Or at least point me to a site where I can get instructions as to what goes where? There are a lot of stickers, and the only ones I can place are the stickers on his command center and the Autobot symbol.

If you post questions with images of the unapplied stickers to the Reprolabels Facebook page, they're very good at helping you out.

[Rodimus Prime]

If you post questions with images of the unapplied stickers to the Reprolabels Facebook page, they're very good at helping you out.

I guess I can try that, thank you.
Otherwise, does the Reprolabels set simply duplicate the original sticker sheet, with minor improvements?

[Yotsuyasan]

Otherwise, does the Reprolabels set simply duplicate the original sticker sheet, with minor improvements?

There is some duplication of placement... but not of detail. And not complete duplication of placement. There are some Reprolabels that go where there was no Hasbro sticker, and likewise there are a few bits where Hasbro had a sticker that Reprolabels left blank.

As for me... well, I will admit it was a pain in the arse, but from studying the photos on Reprolabel's website, I was able to determine the placement of all of the stickers. So it can be done. And once you have most of them on, if you find yourself with a few left over that you cannot figure out, between myself or anyone else who has previously used them, I'm sure someone here can help you out.

[Rodimus Prime]

And once you have most of them on, if you find yourself with a few left over that you cannot figure out, between myself or anyone else who has previously used them, I'm sure someone here can help you out.

Normally, this would be a fun process for me, but I have slight ADD and having to pay attention to the same thing for a long time frustrates and angers me. Maybe I'll do it a little at a time. I'm just afraid of putting stickers in the wrong place.

[Yotsuyasan]

Normally, this would be a fun process for me, but I have slight ADD and having to pay attention to the same thing for a long time frustrates and angers me. Maybe I'll do it a little at a time. I'm just afraid of putting stickers in the wrong place.

I'm normally one who has no problem sitting for as long as it takes to finish stickering up a figure. For example, I got through all five of the Fansproject Stunticons in one go, and that was a lot of small, fiddly stickers. But man, Metroplex took me the better part of a week! Probably about three days in which I was actually applying stickers, and day or two between those days to regain my will to sticker!

There was a particularly frustrating moment when I dropped a tiny sticker and it fell inside Metroplex's chest! And the only way to retrieve it was to diasasemble his entire upper body! On the bright side, it actually made some of the subsequent stickering easier by not having to handle the entire behemoth of the figure at once!

But yeah, Metroplex is a chore to sticker up. But so, so worth it in the end! So try not to get discouraged in the process.

[megatronus]

Normally, this would be a fun process for me, but I have slight ADD and having to pay attention to the same thing for a long time frustrates and angers me. Maybe I'll do it a little at a time. I'm just afraid of putting stickers in the wrong place.

I'm normally one who has no problem sitting for as long as it takes to finish stickering up a figure. For example, I got through all five of the Fansproject Stunticons in one go, and that was a lot of small, fiddly stickers. But man, Metroplex took me the better part of a week! Probably about three days in which I was actually applying stickers, and day or two between those days to regain my will to sticker!

There was a particularly frustrating moment when I dropped a tiny sticker and it fell inside Metroplex's chest! And the only way to retrieve it was to diasasemble his entire upper body! On the bright side, it actually made some of the subsequent stickering easier by not having to handle the entire behemoth of the figure at once!

But yeah, Metroplex is a chore to sticker up. But so, so worth it in the end! So try not to get discouraged in the process.

Did you wash him before applying stickers? Normally I wash figures with warm soapy water to get any factory oils and other gook off the figure so the stickers adhere better, but doing so with 'Plex might prove difficult.

Bath time?

[Yotsuyasan]

Did you wash him before applying stickers? Normally I wash figures with warm soapy water to get any factory oils and other gook off the figure so the stickers adhere better, but doing so with 'Plex might prove difficult.

Bath time?

I must admit that, while what you say sounds like an excellent idea, I've never personally washed a figure before stickering it. Most I've done is clean off the dust if I'm applying stickers to a figure who has been on my shelf for a while!

As for Metroplex, if this is still something you want to do, perhaps pick one area at a time? Like, you could plan on doing one of his arms, and wash that arm first. (Obviously, this would preclude washing through immersion, but one would hope that was a given with any figure with electronics, anyway!)

[megatronus]

Did you wash him before applying stickers? Normally I wash figures with warm soapy water to get any factory oils and other gook off the figure so the stickers adhere better, but doing so with 'Plex might prove difficult.

Bath time?

I must admit that, while what you say sounds like an excellent idea, I've never personally washed a figure before stickering it. Most I've done is clean off the dust if I'm applying stickers to a figure who has been on my shelf for a while!

As for Metroplex, if this is still something you want to do, perhaps pick one area at a time? Like, you could plan on doing one of his arms, and wash that arm first. (Obviously, this would preclude washing through immersion, but one would hope that was a given with any figure with electronics, anyway!)

Indeed! 'Bath time' was said in jest.

[Rodimus Prime]

You know, both your ideas are good. I have a couple of days off from work, I might just combine what you both said and disassemble Metroplex into his main body and his arms and legs, wash them, sticker them, and put them back together. Maybe if I do 1 piece per day it'll go a lot smoother. It might take me 4 or 5 days to finish the process, but at least it'll be done right and it'll be a good experience. I just hope I put all the stickers in the right places.

[Yotsuyasan]

Something finally arrived today...




And I finally feel as if my Metroplex is complete!



Haven't messed with him much yet... Just stickered him up, posed him a little, pulled him apart and transformed him, and put his resulting guns into Metroplex's hands. Haven't done much else yet, as I don't feel like pulling Metroplex himself off the shelf tonight. But soon... Soon!

But my initial impressions are... I love him and am happy!

[Yotsuyasan]

Anyone interested in more than just my initial impressions, a full review of the base Metroplex figure, plus Before & After Six Sigma, plus MegaMoonMan's knees and ramp pieces, is now available on my website. Enjoy! And here's a few token pics to wet your appetite:

[Rodimus Prime]

Something finally arrived today...

Man, that looks pretty good! I might get him as well, instead of another big gun. What happens to the rest of him when you give Metroplex his legs as guns?