The Energon Pub

by **JRFitzpatrick7** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 12:04 am

Does it look like RiD Grimlock at all to anyone else? Am I the only one at this party who is hanging out in the room with the elephant?

I have Exgraver preordered at BBTS, actually, 5 of them. From what we've seen of this team, I think it looks really good. Though his likeness to gridlock is jarring. As far as things going wrong are concerned, the only thing I am worried about is that the color palette is the same for all 6. And by that I mean, the same purple, bright green, black, and silver for highlighting purposes. The samples of other testshots from the team that we have seen are radically different in appearance. I'm not down with that.

News Credits: 187 · by **GetRightRobot** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 1:29 am

JRFitzpatrick7 wrote:Does it look like RiD Grimlock at all to anyone else? Am I the only one at this party who is hanging out in the room with the elephant?

I have Exgraver preordered at BBTS, actually, 5 of them. From what we've seen of this team, I think it looks really good. Though his likeness to gridlock is jarring. As far as things going wrong are concerned, the only thing I am worried about is that the color palette is the same for all 6. And by that I mean, the same purple, bright green, black, and silver for highlighting purposes. The samples of other testshots from the team that we have seen are radically different in appearance. I'm not down with that.

Agreed on all fronts. I am going to pissed if they drop the ball on uniformed greens and purple. I give some wiggle room for detail colors, but everyone who gets this, will want him combined. And combined (exclusively for the Constructicons) should be one color palette. IMO.

News Credits: 12 · by **robofreak** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 3:18 am

JRFitzpatrick7 wrote:I have Exgraver preordered at BBTS, actually, 5 of them.

Why? By that I mean why did you buy 5 Exgravers?

That's $500 and 5/6 the price of this figure.

News Credits: 1 · by **Gauntlet101010** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 10:46 am

He does look lik RID Grimlock, but RID Grimlock looks like G1 Scavenger, so it all evens out.

I was concerned about different shades as well, but the test shot colors don't look much like the final either. So I won't worry about it.

by **JRFitzpatrick7** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 10:48 am

robofreak wrote:
JRFitzpatrick7 wrote:I have Exgraver preordered at BBTS, actually, 5 of them.

Why? By that I mean why did you buy 5 Exgravers?

That's $500 and 5/6 the price of this figure.

Scenario A:
Since this I preordered through BBTS, I have not paid for them yet, when these preorders come in, my debit card will be rejected because it won't have 500 bucks in checking to pay for these, this will give me an additional 2 weeks to come up with the money.

Scenario B:
I'm a baller. Need proof check out the gallery of LD Unicron.

News Credits: 2 · by **Convotron** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 5:02 pm

Sure, we may see another Devastator by Hasbro/TakaraTomy some day but how long will that be? Will it be the ideal incarnation that hardcore fans like us wish for? How many compromises will be made in its design? I like the Energon combiners and I like the PCC figures(well, some of them) but they aren't platforms for providing fan-centric versions of characters we desire. We basically need add-on sets or completely new figures to provide that.

If the Exgraver figure delivers what TFClub promises then I think the price tag is par for the course. In the current 3rd party product market where relatively basic add-ons like a replacement head sculpt or weapons are $15 or more, a price tag of $90-$100 for a Deluxe/Voyager sized figure of good quality materials and functional design makes sense to me.

$100 plus import/shipping fees makes this figure a prohibitively expensive purchase, especially because its quality and design are unknown at this time. It also will be a purchase that leads to further investment since it's a combiner figure and it's unlikely that anyone would want a single figure or just a partial set of figures rather than a complete combiner set. By the time Hercules is completed, one would have to spend over $600.

To me, the choice of whether or not one should purchase this figure and the rest of its combiner family is fairly easy. If you are a fan of Devastator, if you have the financial means to purchase the figures with funds you can set aside that aren't meant to be spent on your regular expenses, and if you are prepared for issues that can arise in non-mass produced figures, then you are probably the type of person that is ideal for buying the Hercules combiner figures.

It just comes down to this: You've got to pay to play. If you want to get in on products that are unlikely to be made by Hasbro or TakaraTomy, then expect to pay higher prices for these products. Products designed for niche markets, which are made by small organizations that have limited funding, will not be cheap. If you really want to look at some high pricing for non-official products, take a gander at garage model kits. Even licensed garage kits such as those by B-Club can be quite expensive.

News Credits: 409 · by **Stormrider** » Sun Jul 03, 2011 6:25 am

GetRightRobot wrote:I have this horrible sensation that I'm going to end up with one third of a Hercules than....something will go wrong....

I am nervous about that too

News Credits: 5749 · by **El Duque** » Sun Jul 03, 2011 12:56 pm

Thanks to a TFC Toys TaoBao listing another question regarding TFC Toy's soon to be released Exgraver has been answered, partially anyway. The combiner hand does integrate into the figure's alt mode. However, the images do not show the hand integrated into the robot mode, but the black clip the hand attaches to in alt mode is visible on the robot's back. It might be possible to attach the hand to his back forming a "backpack" of sorts. That's merely speculation though. Check out the mirrored images below.

Website · by **RK_Striker_JK_5** » Sun Jul 03, 2011 1:11 pm

You know... I don't think I'll regret getting him, even if Devastator's not complete.

News Credits: 1 · by **Gauntlet101010** » Sun Jul 03, 2011 1:35 pm

If Devestator's not complete at least one of your Energon Combiners can have one GIGANTIC arm!

Website · by **DMSL** » Sun Jul 03, 2011 2:28 pm

This figure looks very cool, but i'm hoping the green will be more like the G1 version when you have it in hand. Also the chest looks blue hoping that is purple. One other thing those guns need to be black or silver, red and purple (or blue?) looks fake to me.

News Credits: 5 · by **alexison** » Sun Jul 03, 2011 5:18 pm

I'm not too worried about the Devy hand not having a place to go in Exgraver's alt mode. Once I have all six, he will be in combined mode almost all of the time.

News Credits: 4 · by **craggy** » Sun Jul 03, 2011 5:35 pm

the hand connects to him in vehicle mode. also, presumably, it's possible to give him a weird giant hand growing out of his shoulder or his bum in robot mode.

ARG! I should have gotten him after all! 8-}

News Credits: 5749 · by **El Duque** » Sun Jul 03, 2011 5:45 pm

The hand does store in alt mode, it's unclear if it stores in robot mode.

News Credits: 17 · by **cannonfodder4000** » Sun Jul 03, 2011 10:05 pm

El Duque wrote:The hand does store in alt mode, it's unclear if it stores in robot mode.

Looks like it, the same clip ends up on his back in robot mode, it might not look that good though. :-?

by **Rated X** » Sun Jul 03, 2011 10:51 pm

Glad I pre-ordered !!!

I wish the legs could be purple instead of black to give it a more G1 vibe, but I guess they went with the black to make it look more real life. Thats cool I guess. And Im loving the hands, I can already picture Devastator on my shelf doing his best Stone Cold Steve Austin impression !!!

News Credits: 1 · by **Sodan-1** » Mon Jul 04, 2011 7:35 am

This figure's levels of 'WIN' continues to increase. We're potentially looking at a team of Constructicons who can incorporate every accessory into the main figures. I know this won't be enough for some people as Hercules' hand and Exgraver's digger arm and cab are simply detachable peg 'n' hole pieces, but those people can continue to go through life sucking on those lemons. As far as I'm concerned the design of this figure is top (I mean COME ON!! Moving hydraulic pistons on the digger). Only its production quality can let it down now.

I wonder what, if any, point there is in having two physically identical guns in different colours. Their fairly simple design makes me hope that the whole team's weapons will be able to combine Power Rangers style into a large weapon for Hercules.

News Credits: 409 · by **Stormrider** » Mon Jul 04, 2011 9:56 am

The details are great. I am not diggin the coloring though. It looks like it's from the Energon series with the bright green and blue.

News Credits: 187 · by **GetRightRobot** » Mon Jul 04, 2011 10:04 am

Stormrider wrote:The details are great. I am not diggin the coloring though. It looks like it's from the Energon series with the bright green and blue.

You know, at first, I really liked the blue. But now I feel like the purple would have been nice. So long as they are the same shades of green and blue throughout the set, then I will be fine. Boy, TFClub better not release these guys in one big box set with G1 green/purple and chrome weapons, I will be pissed!
And considerably more poor.

News Credits: 14 · by **DecepticonFinishline** » Mon Jul 04, 2011 12:56 pm

Hand in alt mode affirming my decision to pay $97. This. Will. Be. Epic.

Website · by **RK_Striker_JK_5** » Mon Jul 04, 2011 5:15 pm

Yeah. If the QC is moderately good, I won't be regretting this one.

News Credits: 409 · by **Stormrider** » Mon Jul 04, 2011 7:57 pm

GetRightRobot wrote:
Stormrider wrote:The details are great. I am not diggin the coloring though. It looks like it's from the Energon series with the bright green and blue.

You know, at first, I really liked the blue. But now I feel like the purple would have been nice. So long as they are the same shades of green and blue throughout the set, then I will be fine. Boy, TFClub better not release these guys in one big box set with G1 green/purple and chrome weapons, I will be pissed!
And considerably more poor.

We are thinking a like. I keep wondering if the creators are planning to release a more G1 accurate version a year from now.

News Credits: 8 · by **LiKwid** » Tue Jul 05, 2011 6:52 pm

I swear I must have Pre-ordered this thing and then cancelled it like 10 times already... :BANG_HEAD:

News Credits: 5 · by **alexison** » Tue Jul 05, 2011 8:03 pm

LiKwid wrote:I swear I must have Pre-ordered this thing and then cancelled it like 10 times already...

If you are on the fence man, I'd just wait until Exgraver is out and you hear the initial response on the final quality and colors. It doesn't appear to be selling out anywhere.

News Credits: 3 · by **Dread_Wing** » Wed Jul 06, 2011 4:03 am

I really hope that the blue in those pictures is just strange lighting. In the first (unpainted) colour picture of Exgraver, (The one of him sitting crosslegged on his back shovel) the purple seemed dead on, though the black seemed more of a grey. I Preordered and paid for him, so I guess I will find out sometime this month.

Then it will be a case of mixing up the right shades of green and purple/blue paint to do some paint apps. I like my constructicons to have Purple windscreens, and I think Scavenger should have a bit more purple on his track mechanism (not the tracks themselves) and the base that supports the digger arm should be green, not black. Since I think every one of them will need some paint apps I guess I will mix up a lot for standardisation across the set.