The Energon Pub

[BumbleDouche]

Well there wont be any plausible deniability regarding the alt. mode when trying to sneak that mother through customs.

LOL. I had preordered mine through A-E after it was mentioned that they'd insert the orange plug free of charge. I was still debating if I wanted them to go that route, and was leaning against it since a few folks including Seiberton mentioned that they never had issues importing without the plug. But after seeing that box, I'm pretty sure I'm going to have them insert it.

That's all well and good for American collectors... But here in Australia, it's illegal to even own a pretend "replica" gun without a gun license & importing this would be problematic at best. When Australian customers tried to import the first MP-Megatron, they were almost all seized by customs & destroyed, barring the select few who elected to pay the exorbitant, life-long upkeep on a license & pre-warned customs officials regarding their purchase.

[SpaceKaseJase]

That totally sucks, bro. I assume those who imported MP-05 never got their money back, right? That is the most absurd, asinine thing I've ever heard of. Even our customs laws are ridiculous when it comes to toys that resemble guns.

[nycPrime]

That's all well and good for American collectors... But here in Australia, it's illegal to even own a pretend "replica" gun without a gun license & importing this would be problematic at best. When Australian customers tried to import the first MP-Megatron, they were almost all seized by customs & destroyed, barring the select few who elected to pay the exorbitant, life-long upkeep on a license & pre-warned customs officials regarding their purchase.

It sounds like importing it yourself through a Japanese retailer is a huge risk not worth taking. Where does that leave you and/or other Australian TF collectors? Does it mean you either have to go through the legal (and expensive) way of obtaining it, or more realistically not having it in your collection? Or are there other means?

[fenrir72]

Well there wont be any plausible deniability regarding the alt. mode when trying to sneak that mother through customs.

LOL. I had preordered mine through A-E after it was mentioned that they'd insert the orange plug free of charge. I was still debating if I wanted them to go that route, and was leaning against it since a few folks including Seiberton mentioned that they never had issues importing without the plug. But after seeing that box, I'm pretty sure I'm going to have them insert it.

That's all well and good for American collectors... But here in Australia, it's illegal to even own a pretend "replica" gun without a gun license & importing this would be problematic at best. When Australian customers tried to import the first MP-Megatron, they were almost all seized by customs & destroyed, barring the select few who elected to pay the exorbitant, life-long upkeep on a license & pre-warned customs officials regarding their purchase.

What about Burn's method? Or are the rules dependent on a particular state there?

[BumbleDouche]

Well there wont be any plausible deniability regarding the alt. mode when trying to sneak that mother through customs.

LOL. I had preordered mine through A-E after it was mentioned that they'd insert the orange plug free of charge. I was still debating if I wanted them to go that route, and was leaning against it since a few folks including Seiberton mentioned that they never had issues importing without the plug. But after seeing that box, I'm pretty sure I'm going to have them insert it.

That's all well and good for American collectors... But here in Australia, it's illegal to even own a pretend "replica" gun without a gun license & importing this would be problematic at best. When Australian customers tried to import the first MP-Megatron, they were almost all seized by customs & destroyed, barring the select few who elected to pay the exorbitant, life-long upkeep on a license & pre-warned customs officials regarding their purchase.

What about Burn's method? Or are the rules dependent on a particular state there?

In my state, even owning Apollyon (which I somehow managed to sneak through customs via eBay) would require a special gun license & "letter of approval" from the local police commissioner, allowing me to retain possession (even if he innocently stands in robot mode on my bookshelf, as he does). This "license" costs about $300AUD & expires every 3 years, meaning you have to repeat the process in perpetuity (or however long you keep your "devastating weapon of mass destruction") & (now that you've informed the police about your owning it), you cannot sell it to a third party if that party is not also in possession of those same ridiculous credentials.

Fortunately, I got away with "illegally" obtaining Apollyon, but frankly, the official release doesn't look *that* much better to my eye, so I wont bother taking additional unnecessary risks. Further, if someone were to break into my house & steal Apollyon, somehow transform him without the instructions (good luck!) & were to attempt to hold up a bank or something, I could be held liable for not declaring it as a "replica weapon." How do you like them apples?!

[SpaceKaseJase]

Bro, there are no words...

[Burn]

Griffins Handy Guide to Owning Replica/Imitation Firearms in Australia - State by State

[BumbleDouche]

Griffins Handy Guide to Owning Replica/Imitation Firearms in Australia - State by State

That was the very article I was referring to.

[Cyberpath]

Cheem shared these images from the Transformers Generations 2017 book. Some transformation "spoilers" at the bottom.

[Cyberpath]

I think they start with a sketch of an "ideal" robot mode and work it into something that can transform.

We've seen it before with Magnus:

[Bumblebee21]

Looks harder than apollyon

[Cyberpath]

I hope the transformation is fun like Magnus and Soundwave's.


Lots of attention to detail, there's even a note how to curve his chin.

[Sabrblade]

Based on those instructions, it looks like the trigger guard stores away inside the robot mode's shins, while the robot mode chestplate hides away inside the top of the gun's body in gun mode.

Also, heh, the instructions refers to Megatron's waist pieces as a "skirt".

[fenrir72]

Based on those instructions, it looks like the trigger guard stores away inside the robot mode's shins, while the robot mode chestplate hides away inside the top of the gun's body in gun mode.

Also, heh, the instructions refers to Megatron's waist pieces as a "skirt".

Vader wears a skirt too and is just as badass!

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Seibertronian Cyberpath has done it again, providing us with scans courtesy of Cheem of the Transformers Generations booklet where the new Masterpiece Megatron has been shown off. Among the scanned images are a look at the process of designing a good masterpiece, with the "ideal" robot mode designed first, followed by something that looks as close to it as possible, but is still capable of Transformation. The process also shows the designing of the chest along with the alternate parts and accessories, and even a look at how they were attempting to perfect his chin curve!

Following this is a sneak peak at Megatron's Transformation, which appears quite intricate. Among the observations are that it appears the trigger guard is absorbed into the shins, and the chest plate is stored away on top of the gun mode.

You check out the images below, and join the conversation in the Energon pub below!

[Randomhero]

Step one: lay Megatron down, step two:raise arms, step three: explode, step four: gun mode, step five: profit.

[Deathsaurus1]

I am so happy and excited to finally have the ideal g1 Megatron in my collection soon.
This figure just captures everything for me.

Now who wants to buy my mp-5? Lmao

[ToaLeePrime]

Well that transformation looks utterly terrifying. Gives ROTF Prime a run for his money.

[Emerje]

Step one: lay Megatron down, step two:raise arms, step three: explode, step four: gun mode, step five: profit.

Is that the Pat Lee method?



Emerje

[Kurona]

Step one: lay Megatron down, step two:raise arms, step three: explode, step four: gun mode, step five: profit.

Is that the Pat Lee method?



Emerje

Much as I love ragging on his art given the opportunity... in this case I don't get it

[triKlops]

Just put in my pre-order on Amazon.jp
Here's hoping everything goes smoothly once it ships in spring...

[Sabrblade]

Following this is a sneak peak at Megatron's Transformation, which appears quite intricate.

[fenrir72]

I am so happy and excited to finally have the ideal g1 Megatron in my collection soon.
This figure just captures everything for me.

Now who wants to buy my mp-5? Lmao

Don't sell it! It's a bonafide collectors item! Especially if it ain't broken at all.

[fenrir72]

Following this is a sneak peak at Megatron's Transformation, which appears quite intricate.

Like Inferno's ladder?

[Kurona]

Following this is a sneak peak at Megatron's Transformation, which appears quite intricate.

First there was ladder magic. Now we have Gun Magic!