The Energon Pub

[Noideaforaname]

Wow, an entire set of barely-different-from-the-original repaints...
I mean, it's cool that the entire team got released, but apart from the Protectobot label there really just isn't any appeal to these.

*is surprised they've never done this sort of thing for Stunticons or Combaticons; non-combining, non-BotCon sets I mean*

[ScottyP]

On the downside, these are kind of "meh" redecos. How cool would G2 colors have been? On the upside, the Prime Ratchet and Prowl and RTS Grapple molds are really nice molds.

[shockblast2]

Wow. This definitely ranks up there with some of the most shameless repaints ever conceived. I don't think even the geewun crowd would shoehorn these abominations into their classics collections.

[ILL-Star]

I think the only combiners that I'll ever truly enjoy are the original ones from RID so the lack of classic combiners these days doesn't bother me. It's sad however that these figures are being used as those decos are so close to Ratchet and Smokescreen's.

On the other hand though, I would get that set with the Blazemaster and Grapple repaints.
I very much like both of those figures.

[Dr. Caelus]

I like them. It would be nice to have back up for my GDO Hot Spot, provided I can afford the money and space. Too bad I didn't get the Blades repaint of Evac, but Evac himself will probably look pretty good with them, and give me an excuse to return him to the front lines, as it were.

[Wolfman Jake]

The 3-Pack set is promising. First Aid and Streetwise aren't too far off in terms of color from their G1 selves, and they match quite well in terms of a "Team Color Scheme." Groove is a mess. They could have used Legends Animated Prowl for a better robot mode and alt-mode match. The Hotspot and Blades pack is...meh. The good news is, we already have Protectobot Hotspot from Generations GDO, a proper coloration of the same mold (with a more appropriate accessory), and several options for Blades, including the Universe 2008 repaint of Cybertron Evac, the ROTF Evac (redeco of Blazemaster), which is a better color match for the same mold they are using for the 2-Pack, or even Universe Legends Blades (if scale is not a concern). My plan is to skip the 2-Pack, keep using GDO Hotspot and Universe 2008 Blades, pick up the 3-Pack for First Aid and Streetwise, and replace Groove with Legends Animated Prowl.

[shockblast2]

The 3-Pack set is promising. First Aid and Streetwise aren't too far off in terms of color from their G1 selves, and they match quite well in terms of a "Team Color Scheme." Groove is a mess. They could have used Legends Animated Prowl for a better robot mode and alt-mode match. The Hotspot and Blades pack is...meh. The good news is, we already have Protectobot Hotspot from Generations GDO, a proper coloration of the same mold (with a more appropriate accessory), and several options for Blades, including the Universe 2008 repaint of Cybertron Evac, the ROTF Evac (redeco of Blazemaster), which is a better color match for the same mold they are using for the 2-Pack, or even Universe Legends Blades (if scale is not a concern). My plan is to skip the 2-Pack, keep using GDO Hotspot and Universe 2008 Blades, pick up the 3-Pack for First Aid and Streetwise, and replace Groove with Legends Animated Prowl.

Yeah, and every time you look at "First Aid" and "Streetwise" you know they are really just repainted Ratchet and Prowl figures from a toyline different than classics. The Prime designs do not pass as classics. Look at the face sculpts and tell me that you can convince yourself they are the G1 bots they claim they are. That is like trying to look at Animated Arcee and telling yourself it is classics. You are only kidding yourself. You might as well just pick up Prime Ratchet and Prowl and use them as stand ins to skip the inflated pricing because that is what they are.

[Madeus Prime]

Huh, I actually like this enough that I might grab these.

[Rated X]

Nope.....

Whether its TFC or Maketoys, I can assure you it wont be this...

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

Wow. Those are pathetic. I'm passing.

[Wolfman Jake]

Shockblast2, you're not going to save the world convincing people how to create their Classics collections "correctly." Please, just give it a rest already.

[Va'al]

We know a lot of collectors have been finding the Transformers Legends Tailgate and Skrapnel figures (and their Targetmaster partners) in spots around the world, and they've become quite hard to find - fear not, as they seem to be finally arriving at regular US retail! Courtesy of Seibetron.com user Bounti76 and supporter from our official Facebook page Phil S, we have proof mirrored below of the little dudes showing up in Target stores in Centerville, Utah and Willowbrook, Ilinois!

[leokearon]

We know a lot of collectors have been finding the Transformers Legends Tailgate and Skrapnel figures (and their Targetmaster partners) in spots around the world, and they've become quite hard to find - fear not, as they seem to be finally arriving at regular US retail! Courtesy of Seibetron.com user Bounti76 and supporter from our Facebook page Phil S, we have proof mirrored below of the little dudes showing up in Target stores in Centerville, Utah and Willowbrook, Ilinois!

Lucky I managed to get mine from BBTS

[BERSEKAEL]

I wish they could complete the protectobots from movieverse, just goofing the idea... I don't know maybe Crankcase and Crowbar could fit better instead of ratchet and barricade, anyways a photoshop just to picture it (I haven't touch blades, it was released like that)

[lupinesithlord]

I may be in the minority here, but a gestalt team made from figures that don't combine....no thank you.

[Midnight_Fox]

Groove looks exactly Arcee with some extra silver bits, First Aid is just Ratchet with more blue, and Streetsmart appears to be Prowl, but with Smokescreen's deco. They didn't even change the base plastic colors.

The sad part is that this is likely the closest we'll get to having Classics Protectobots.

Actually, we already have two of the five in Classics form:

GDO Series Hot Spot and Universe 2008 Blades. So the second set would be obsolete.

3 of 5, you forgot G2 Streetwise/Streetstar from Botcon's G2: Redux.

[megatronus]

Found Tailgate at Target yesterday, but they were all out of Skrapnel.

[Wolfman Jake]

Groove looks exactly Arcee with some extra silver bits, First Aid is just Ratchet with more blue, and Streetsmart appears to be Prowl, but with Smokescreen's deco. They didn't even change the base plastic colors.

The sad part is that this is likely the closest we'll get to having Classics Protectobots.

Actually, we already have two of the five in Classics form:

GDO Series Hot Spot and Universe 2008 Blades. So the second set would be obsolete.

3 of 5, you forgot G2 Streetwise/Streetstar from Botcon's G2: Redux.

True, but some people may be looking for a closer match to his G1 color scheme.

[Grahf_]

I'm looking forward to these. I don't have Inferno, Grapple, Pyro, Hotspot or Artfire so this gives me one more chance at that mold (provided these are a US release). For those who have all the retail versions, you can pretend that this Hotspot is either Pyro or Fire Chief. I'm also not bothered by Groove looking exactly like Arcee. At least this way you can just take the one of the two deluxe retail releases of Prime Arcee and use her instead. One can be Groove and the other Arcee. If you have Beast Hunters or Go! Arcee then one can be Chromia too!

Maybe this is in response to the TFC designed Star Cats Rescue combiner team being sold at retail in China. Hasbro seems to be doing that lately be it inadvertently or intentionally. Platinum Omega Supreme, Masterpiece Ultra Magnus, Leader Jetfire, Leader Megatron, Springer, Sandstorm, Roadbuster and Skybite. With most of the releases of the third party versions being just before the releases of the Hasbro versions, it would seem that Hasbro hears the rumors of what they're doing and puts their own into production shortly after.

[Jelze Bunnycat]

Groove looks exactly Arcee with some extra silver bits, First Aid is just Ratchet with more blue, and Streetsmart appears to be Prowl, but with Smokescreen's deco. They didn't even change the base plastic colors.

The sad part is that this is likely the closest we'll get to having Classics Protectobots.

Actually, we already have two of the five in Classics form:

GDO Series Hot Spot and Universe 2008 Blades. So the second set would be obsolete.

3 of 5, you forgot G2 Streetwise/Streetstar from Botcon's G2: Redux.

True, but some people may be looking for a closer match to his G1 color scheme.

...in which case you could easily get a spare Universe Prowl and slap new stickers on the doors

[Cyber Bishop]

We know a lot of collectors have been finding the Transformers Legends Tailgate and Skrapnel figures (and their Targetmaster partners) in spots around the world, and they've become quite hard to find - fear not, as they seem to be finally arriving at regular US retail! Courtesy of Seibetron.com user Bounti76 and supporter from our official Facebook page Phil S, we have proof mirrored below of the little dudes showing up in Target stores in Centerville, Utah and Willowbrook, Ilinois!

wait, I thought these figures were all cancelled.... Well fancy that.

[shockblast2]

Shockblast2, you're not going to save the world convincing people how to create their Classics collections "correctly." Please, just give it a rest already.

Save the world? WTF? LOL....they are just toys.

And I call it how I see it. These are Prime toys. Period. And no amount of shoehorning is going to change that. If you want them for your Prime collection they will fit in just fine, but as far as classics go that line is dead in the water. Your best bet will be 3pt retailers. And just because Hasbro slaps a name and some paint on some random mold doesn't make it a geewun classics figure.

I always chuckle at the bondage this kind of collecting brings. It is silly. If you want to buy the figures because you just like them then fine, but to call these classics is a joke. Kinda like the GDO stuff, save Hot Spot, and all the movie line junk that people shoehorn into their classics collection because they are mad a Hasbro for not making what they want in their time frame.

I do not have convince anyone of anything. It is what it is. And just because I speak it doesn't mean you have to get all puffed up at me because I said what you are thinking in the back of your mind.

[shockblast2]

I may be in the minority here, but a gestalt team made from figures that don't combine....no thank you.

Amen.

[crazyfist]

They have Skrapnel and Tailgate at TARGET in Winston-Salem, NC near Hanes Mall. There were two of each.

[shockblast2]

Got my Tailgate & Shrapnel from BBTS. No wasted time to save a measley two dollars waiting for retail.