The Energon Pub

Sun Nov 14, 2010 12:19 pm

Hello all,

I recently had the good fortune of finding a loose Acid Storm for cheap in really good condition. All parts were accounted for, the paint-app was decent, and there was no visible damage to the toy. I'd always wanted a version of this mold, but never bothered to pick one up, so naturally, I bought it. Now that I've had a few days to play around with it, there is one thing that bugs me a bit... the spring loaded missiles.

Before I get more in-depth on that, I'd like to take a minute to examine spring-loaded weapons as a whole. To be honest, I've never really been a fan, since to me they seem to be the kind of things that are easily lost. Not to mention that due to safety regulations, they have to be pretty long in many cases, which can lead to them looking downright awkward. I'm not completely biased against them... as long as they don't detract from the look of the toy. Examples of what I deem acceptible include Universe Galvatron and ROTF Bumblebee, whose missiles can be easily removed and put safely in a bag in my closet.

http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/ ... 1554/1/86/

With or without the missile, the cannon looks the same, and the long missile is almost completely hidden within the cannon barrel.

Then come those toys whose appearance is altered by these missiles, usually in a bad way. Due to the length of the missile or the size of the spring loaded launcher, there is a detraction from the toy's appearance. Take, for example, Tomahawk or the aformentioned Seeker mold.

http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/ ... 2131/1/62/

The fact that these stick out so far is just darn unsightly, isn't it?

As I've said before, I'm not opposed to spring-loaded weapons, but I feel that they have to be done right, or they shouldn't be bothered with. What would you prefer, that your classics/generations seekers have launching missiles, or smaller, sleeker, more show-accurate non-firing "null-ray cannons" (or whatever they are).

http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/ ... 1597/1/44/

Am I a Decepticon? You can't tell because my faction symbols are hidden behind my enormous launchers! Mwa-ha-ha-ha!

Anyways, thanks to all for listening, and please post your thoughts on the matter as well. I welcome a discussion!

EDIT: Can't get the darned image tags to work, so if anyone could offer a solution, I'd appreciate it!

News Credits: 1 · Sun Nov 14, 2010 1:14 pm

Nice to see I'm not the only one who doesn't like spring-loaded missiles! I've sort of hated them ever since I got a Classics Starscream and I lost one of the missiles, meaning he was without a gun. I don't mind them too much if they don't form part of the gun and don't look too bad, but I absolutely despise them when they form part of the gun, like with the Classics Seekers, since they can be so easily lost. I've luckily managed to avoid losing most of the ones I care about, but I really wish Hasbro would stop doing them.

Sun Nov 14, 2010 2:02 pm

I hate them too, cue rant: 95% of them I immediately take them out and put in a box. They always put the button in the worst possible spot. Like WfC Megatron, the button is directly opposite of where the cannon connects to his arm. Which is where you want to apply the force needed to attach it. They don't always work either, I recently got Tomahawk and the missiles won't lock into one of the launchers at all. Like you said they do look pretty bad sometimes, have you seen Hailstorm?

http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/ ... 2136/1/52/

Those sticks poking out the back make the missiles look like bottle rockets. I definitely prefer guns that are sleeker and better looking. Or have some non obstructive electronic gimmick, like blasting sounds or lights.

Sun Nov 14, 2010 2:40 pm

Oh, definitely! The spring eventually wears down and then the gimmick is useless, not it was good to begin with. I hate those damned launchers!

News Credits: 3 · Sun Nov 14, 2010 2:42 pm

I too cannot stand spring-loaded weapons, especially when they need to be left as part of the weapon or are used in place of a weapon mold that is screen accurate because the designers think all kids love projectiles. Not only have I always disliked projectiles, my mom took them away whenever she could when I was a kid. My only original G1 seeker is Dirge, and he came with two shoulder/wing cannons that were solid pieces of awesome weaponry. I used those cannons on other bots and cons that fit, and I may use them with Generations Dirge if I can ever find him over here. :APPLAUSE:

Sun Nov 14, 2010 2:48 pm

I've never been a fan of spring loaded detachable missiles. I like the style on Generations Soundwave where the missile looking piece is able to extend and retract but not detach.

soundwave missile.JPG

News Credits: 1 · Sun Nov 14, 2010 5:29 pm

I'll probably get shot for saying this, but...

I like them.

In my opinion they actually add a genuine authenticity to battle scenes.I find they help to enhance figures in a way a static weapon could never do.

As a kid I used to enjoy lining up my bots in their respective factions and just letting rip, it was complete carnage and fun.

The only real reservation I have is, as a responsible parent, I'm terrified about the potential chocking hazard. Should my son get his hands on one, he is always strictly supervised. If one should go missing I don't rest until its found, literally turning the house upside down!

News Credits: 4 · Sun Nov 14, 2010 5:36 pm

They have their place and back when they were part of a middle launcher which actually fired they were good some are stupid(optimal optimus' back lit ones which many people shot themselves in the eyes with for example).

Have missiles where it's justified and solid guns where it's not, it adds cost to the figure too making some cheaper than others to produce

News Credits: 1 · Sun Nov 14, 2010 6:03 pm

By and large I hate the things. Sometimes they're done well, but most of the time I take out the projectile, put it in a box, and forget about it.

News Credits: 1 · Mon Nov 15, 2010 12:39 am

i dont mind them on the seekers al that much. I have thrust and they havent bothered me at all. i also try not to shoot them though. On my WFC megatron the launching mechanism is broke anyway...so screw it. But the paints apps on him are great so judging by the complaints some have had ill take good paint over a launcher anyday

Mon Nov 15, 2010 2:10 am

I like em! Sure some are a bit ridiculous but for the most part it's kinda traditon. TF's have always had projectiles since day one. I always leave the missiles in the gun when displaying them.
Plus i like to shot people within range of the guns when they chek out my collection or start picking them up and playing with them. Always gets a little laugh. My girlfriend let me shoot Starscreams missiles into her cleavage while she was watching t'v not to long ago, repeatedly. It was pretty fun actually.
So yeah....i like em

News Credits: 9 · Mon Nov 15, 2010 7:54 am

I've never been bothered about shooting missiles so if it affects the look this does upset me, however, what is wrong with chopping off the excess? In the case of Hailstorm, where the red missile tips look very nice but the stems sticking out the back spoil it and make him take up too much shelf space, I say take a saw to them! This may make them launch further as there will be less friction as they leave the hole.

News Credits: 4 · Mon Nov 15, 2010 8:22 am

wow, this thread has degenerated. shooting into cleavage and friction in holes.

let me say I'm not really a fan of spring-loaded missile-launchers on my TFs in general. I used to like them with GI Joes though. Probably because very few Joes needed their missiles to be show/comic/whatever accurate. I didn't lose my G1 Prowl's missiles, but I'd have hated it if I did, he wouldn't have looked right to me. I did lose one of Inferno's but he had a few spares so it was ok. The missile making no difference to the look of the toy is one of the things Universe Galvatron did right.

Not exactly the same thing, but I did like BW Depth Charge's disc-launching action.

News Credits: 11 · Mon Nov 15, 2010 10:34 am

monstergrotusque wrote:I like em! Sure some are a bit ridiculous but for the most part it's kinda traditon. TF's have always had projectiles since day one. I always leave the missiles in the gun when displaying them.
Plus i like to shot people within range of the guns when they chek out my collection or start picking them up and playing with them. Always gets a little laugh. My girlfriend let me shoot Starscreams missiles into her cleavage while she was watching t'v not to long ago, repeatedly. It was pretty fun actually.
So yeah....i like em

I imagine that would be fun.

As for me, I don't mind missiles, but I do prefer when they're not too large or obtrusive. Sometimes they look really silly. But as a gimmick, they're fun. And they have been with us from the very beginning. I do also like non-firing weapons though, and in general they look better. I guess I like everything.

Mon Nov 15, 2010 4:58 pm

Funny story.

Was in my mate's shop looking at Universe Silverbolt. Baely touched the button and the missile it me right in the teeth. My mate didn't laugh, either out of politeness or just didn't find it funny but I found it hilarious. Right in the incisors!

Normally I'm indifferent but was taking Acid Storm out of storage recently and one of them fired in behind a pile of boxes that I couldn't get past. Hopefully I'll find it when I clear them out and move into my new house.

News Credits: 4 · Mon Nov 15, 2010 5:45 pm

I was on the under ground when Beast Wars first started with a Jetstorm.

I was happilly taking it out of the box when it went off. I managed to catch one of the missles and the other went on to the railway tracks and un retrievable.

A similar thing happened with energon Sprung(or what ever that green helecopter is called outside of japan). The missle went off on their own on the back seat of my friends GF's car and could never find one of them again.

I think this is more a example of open these things at home though.

Wed Nov 17, 2010 10:30 am

I don't have a problem with them as long as they don't take away from the look of the figure. I haven't lost any yet becasue I am very careful about that stuff. If I did lose one it would drive me crazy. Then I would be ranting about how Hasbro should do away with them.

Wed Nov 17, 2010 1:03 pm

I hated G1s with supposedly firing missiles but when you press the button nothing happens. I swear some of these had no spring and were for decor. So then why include 4 missiles!? That happened on several of my childhood 80s toys.

News Credits: 2 · Wed Nov 17, 2010 1:25 pm

Why not? My kids love them. I allow them to shoot those around as long as not aiming at people and don't lose them. Otherwise they will see my rant.

Personally I don't mind the spring missiles as long as Hasbro put them on the right place and use them right. Things like Tomahawk, Hailstorm, or even back to energon Starscream that missiles ruin the look, don't even bother make them or else I won't buy them either. To those missiles at right place and use them right but putting the button on the wrong place to make this figure trigger happy, such as WFC Megatron, it's Hasbro's fault.

Speaking about missiles, my Primus is missing his two. Any suggestions about replacement? (sorry, could be out of topic)