The Energon Pub

[Wes Crayon]

Just posted the first half of the Quick Change Dinobots review over at Scary-Crayon:

http://www.scary-crayon.com/misc/qcdinobots/

All things considered, they're not bad little Dinobots, but they're far inferior to anything comparable that Hasbro has produced. I'd still take any of them -- even Rawr! -- over a Mini-con, though.

[Auto Bot]

Just posted the first half of the Quick Change Dinobots review over at Scary-Crayon:

http://www.scary-crayon.com/misc/qcdinobots/

All things considered, they're not bad little Dinobots, but they're far inferior to anything comparable that Hasbro has produced. I'd still take any of them -- even Rawr! -- over a Mini-con, though.

Stop by for a quickie.

[Wes Crayon]

Just posted the first half of the Quick Change Dinobots review over at Scary-Crayon:

http://www.scary-crayon.com/misc/qcdinobots/

All things considered, they're not bad little Dinobots, but they're far inferior to anything comparable that Hasbro has produced. I'd still take any of them -- even Rawr! -- over a Mini-con, though.

Stop by for a quickie.

Eh? o_O

[DeathNoble]

Did anybody here get that Transmetal 2 Megatron knock-off? (The dragon Megatron.) How is he compared to the actual toy?

When I was looking at him, I noticed robot Magetron's head right in the dragon's crotch staring at me like it was saying hello... Kinda creeped me out and made me avoid the figure to ask you guys if that was a problem with the real toy or just with this knock-off.

Basically, should I go with this knock-off for $10 or hunt around for the real deal?

[Wes Crayon]

Did anybody here get that Transmetal 2 Megatron knock-off? (The dragon Megatron.) How is he compared to the actual toy?

When I was looking at him, I noticed robot Magetron's head right in the dragon's crotch staring at me like it was saying hello... Kinda creeped me out and made me avoid the figure to ask you guys if that was a problem with the real toy or just with this knock-off.

Basically, should I go with this knock-off for $10 or hunt around for the real deal?

I didn't get that one -- I went with RID Megatron -- but I've heard good things about it. Whether you should pay $10 for it, however, depends upon how much the original costs (I don't know, but I bet you do).

Like considering that one could get an official RID Megatron MISB online for between $20 and $30 (add an extra $10 for shipping) -- and considering that the knockoff version is missing a lot of the features needed for the toy to assume Megs's many modes -- I can't say I'd recommend it to anyone except someone who really wants a RID Megatron to display amidst his/her figures and/or who really, really doesn't want to spend any more than $10 on it.

The RID Megs is also great for kids -- sturdier plastic than your average knockoff and maybe even more resilient than the higher grade stuff (I think I've dropped mine several times without even scratching him). TM2 Megatron has way more small parts, though, so I can't vouch for his sturdiness -- but he also doesn't have 6+ extra modes. Judging from the pics I've seen online (and the packaged figure itself, in person), the knockoff figure does the dragon and robot modes quite well. Apparently it lacks the head turning mechanism, though.

I think the head in the crotch is just due to how they positioned it in the package, but don't quote me on that.

But yeah, depending upon what you want to do with it, I'd say go with the original if you can get it for $30 or less. If it'll cost you more than that, the knockoff is easily the better value.

---------------------------

AMENDED: Just posting a couple of eBay auctions I came across that y'all might find interesting. Nothing new for Big Lots shoppers, but those of you without access to one might want 'em!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 5964352199
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0045624887
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 5964352049

[Wes Crayon]

Sorry for the double post, y'all -- figured a day had passed and that this was worth bumping the thread. As the title suggests, I spotted "Morphobot" figures -- knockoffs of Cybertron Legends Scourge and Leobreaker and a shrunken Brimstone -- this evening at Dollar Tree! Pics follow:






Each of the three comes in four colors: red, green, orange, and blue. You can also view the (useless) instructions on the back of the card here:

http://www.wesoteric.com/misc/morphobot5.jpeg

They kinda suck -- cheap plastic, minimal (and badly applied) paint apps, etc. -- and you can honestly find much better knockoff figures for a little more at Big Lots. Still, they make great party favors or stocking stuffers or desk decorations for a clumsy person who's always knocking things over ('cause then if they break it's not a big deal).

[craggy]

I quite like the looks of that Scourge KO there, and the Swoop-looking guy in the purple and grey colour scheme has a totally Depth Charge vibe that I'm loving.

[Wes Crayon]

I quite like the looks of that Scourge KO there, and the Swoop-looking guy in the purple and grey colour scheme has a totally Depth Charge vibe that I'm loving.

I thought the blue Brimstone looked pretty cool too -- which is why after taking the first pic I decided to open him rather than the green version.

The Scourge is probably the best overall figure of the bunch, but here's an interesting fact. All of the Scourges are incorrectly assembled -- their right and left forearms and fists are switched. Just like a real Transformer!

[Scaleface]

I really like the morphobots. Where did you buy them and what price?

[Wes Crayon]

I really like the morphobots. Where did you buy them and what price?

Whoops, I mentioned it in the subject of the post but not in the post itself -- edited to correct the oversight. I got them at Dollar Tree, so naturally they were $1 each.

[Scaleface]

Now I'm excited. Dollar Trees are a big chain that always seem to have the exact same items in every store, so I might have them in my local store. I want every color of the Leobreaker mold! Plus the Brimstone might be repainted by me as Timelines Divebomb.

[Wes Crayon]

Now I'm excited. Dollar Trees are a big chain that always seem to have the exact same items in every store, so I might have them in my local store. I want every color of the Leobreaker mold! Plus the Brimstone might be repainted by me as Timelines Divebomb.

Oh yeah, you shouldn't have any trouble finding them -- but if you do, lemme know and I'll see if I can't help you out. Not only do we have a ton of 'em at our local Dollar Tree, but kids were actually scowling and turning their noses up at them -- they didn't want anything to do with the cheap bootleg Transformers! So it looks like these things are only going to appeal to the collector crowd.

Keep us posted if you do get ahold of a Brimstone and decide to repaint it!

[Scaleface]

Dollar Tree actually has an online ordering system where you can order cases of things. Can you tell me what the SKU or UPC number is of these.

[Wes Crayon]

Dollar Tree actually has an online ordering system where you can order cases of things. Can you tell me what the SKU or UPC number is of these.

The UPC number is 639277250957. Hope that helps!

And do let us know if it works... assuming they still have some around, I wouldn't mind ordering up a case of 63927773837 (the Transformatrix Primes).

[Redimus]

Im getting a little fed up with the availability (or lack thereof) of the G1 trainbots on ebay/anywhere. I'm concidering buying the knockoffs to tide me over until I finally manage to find em (and to gimme somit I wont mind playing with).

So my question is, are they any good? I already know they dont have metal wheels, but are there any other major compromises? How sturdy are they (both as individual trains/robots and combined)?

Thanks.

[waaaaghlord]

Hey Red, I posted a mini review of my Trainbot KOs on page 44. They are all plastic and feel a bit brittle, but I haven't had any damages getting them into gestalt form despite this requiring a bit of force in places. The shoulder joints on a couple of the individual bots are a bit too stiff for my liking and are probably the bits most liable to break. The tightness of the gestalt connectors makes for a pretty damned solid Raiden. Next time I have a fiddle with them I'll try to remember to get a few pics of the individual bots, but there's already a couple of photos of my Raiden up with that original post.

Only real complaint that I've got is that mine came with two right hands for Raiden. I'm presuming that this was just a production error and that they're not all like that, but can't say for certain until somebody else complains about the same thing or I get another set to display as individual bots. I got the Trainbots, The modified Shockwave and the oversized Rebirth Megatron together for £35 shipped, so they certainly make for a much cheaper option. Hope that's of some use to you.

[Powersa]

Thanks for sharing the photos on these KOs all.

A buddy of mine is working overseas. He's gonna bring me KO Alt/Bt shockwave and wheeljack one each when he comes back for a vacation in 2 weeks.

[Wes Crayon]

Thanks for sharing the photos on these KOs all.

A buddy of mine is working overseas. He's gonna bring me KO Alt/Bt shockwave and wheeljack one each when he comes back for a vacation in 2 weeks.

I don't suppose there's any way you could persuade him to bring back multiples, is there...?

Figured not -- jus' checkin'.

[Powersa]

The thing is, a passenger is only allowed to check in two bags (also with certain size/weight limits I guess). Anything after that basically gets fined. Believe me, I had a lot more on my wish list (like a KO Predaking, KO alt Subaru/Viper/Jeep with strange deco), but had to downsize it to basically two cars. So Wes, I'm afraid that I can't help you this time, but I'll keep an eye on them for you. Frankly, I have yet to have a KO alt/bt car in hand, so I don't even know if they're any good. I just thought it wouldn't hurt to try for something like $8.

[Wes Crayon]

The thing is, a passenger is only allowed to check in two bags (also with certain size/weight limits I guess). Anything after that basically gets fined. Believe me, I had a lot more on my wish list (like a KO Predaking, KO alt Subaru/Viper/Jeep with strange deco), but had to downsize it to basically two cars. So Wes, I'm afraid that I can't help you this time, but I'll keep an eye on them for you. Frankly, I have yet to have a KO alt/bt car in hand, so I don't even know if they're any good. I just thought it wouldn't hurt to try for something like $8.

Oh, yeah, I know -- I was mostly kidding.

I haven't heard terribly great things about the KO Alts, bou should be satisfied with them for $8! I haven't seen any KO Shockwave/blast Alts on eBay, but I'd certainly pay that just to have some representation of the character on my G1-ish Decepticon team.

[iron maniac]

I got my KO Nike Transformers from chimungmung today. I have to say they are very nice. Good quality, rock solid KO.
2 thumbs up!

[Shadow2063]

Not sure if this is the right place guys....

I've seen somethings about KO Dinobots, what are some of the tell-tell signs?

Thanks!

[Wes Crayon]

Not sure if this is the right place guys....

I've seen somethings about KO Dinobots, what are some of the tell-tell signs?

Thanks!

I think the major sign is the lack of a Hasbro/Takara copyright stamp, but you wouldn't necessarily be able to see that without the figure in hand! Other than that, there are a few KOs in funky colors (Grimlock in purple)... not to mention a whole bunch of weird variants with different heads and whatnot.

That said, the wacky KOs are probably rarer (and more interesting!) than the originals, so you'll likely want to snag them if you come across them!

[Redimus]

The shoulder joints on a couple of the individual bots are a bit too stiff for my liking and are probably the bits most liable to break.

Hmm, I know the real Shouki (bullet train with blue window surrounds and a head that always reminded me of smokescreen, especilly in the headmasters anime) I have has tight shoulders too, so that might actully be the KO guys being a little TOO faithful to the origanals.

Im still concidering getting em, I just havnt decided yet (and will wait until my next payday anyway).

[Auto Bot]

I got my KO Nike Transformers from chimungmung today. I have to say they are very nice. Good quality, rock solid KO.
2 thumbs up!

You are so lucky!