Hi guys, little birdy told me about the discussion of Trailcutter here and whether he counts as a CHUG, WFC/FOC, or IDW toy.
Before I get into that, though, I feel I should say something about the Generations toyline itself.
The Generations toyline seems to operate in phases, with each one being themed around a different aspect of the Transformers brand.
Phase 1: WFC toys
Phase 2: Classics-style (or what many refer to as "CHUG") toys
Phase 3: FOC toys
Phase 4: Thrilling 30/IDW G1 toys
The third phase is what we are currently nearing the end of and moving gradually into the fourth. Thrilling 30 is heavily themed around the IDW G1 comics designs.
Legends class: Optimus Prime & Autobot Roller, Bumblebee & Blazemaster, Megatron & Chop Shop, Starscream & Waspinator
Deluxe class: Orion Pax, Megatron, Bumblebee, Trailcutter, Hoist, Thundercracker, Dreadwing
Voyager class: Springer, Blitzwing, Sandstorm
Titan class: Metroplex (w/ Scamper)
All of these are Thrilling 30 toys and are based on the IDW G1 comics in some form or another, be they designs directly made by IDW G1 comic artists or their bios derived from the IDW G1 comic versions of the characters.
However, the lines become a bit blurred with the WFC and FOC Generations toys due to the latest IDW G1 comics borrowing designs from the WFC and FOC video games. Thus, the Generations Deluxe class toys of Bumblebee, Soundwave, Jazz, Shockwave, Starscream, Onslaught, Blast Off, Brawl, Laserbeak, and Sideswipe could all be repurposed from their video game selves into their IDW G1 selves. And because of this, the Thirlling 30 Generations Thundercracker toy could be repurposed in reverse from his IDW G1 self into his WFC/FOC self.
As for Trailcutter himself, him being a Thrilling 30 toy, and based directly on his current IDW G1 design, peg him down as IDW G1 Trailbreaker/Trailcutter.
And since Springer kept being mentioned, he is also his IDW G1 self for two reasons. One, he's in the body of IDW G1 Springer from "Last Stand of the Wreckers" designed by Nick Roche. Two, his toy bio pegs him as a different guy from WFC/FOC Springer. TFSource's listing labeling him as a FOC toy is in error, and same with Blitzwing, Sandstorm, and Metroplex.
As for whether or not any of these count as "CHUG" figures... well, thing is, using the term "CHUG" kinda negates what the original meaning of the term was before Generations evolved into something more than just "the next Classics-style toyline". Now that Generations has grown to become its own beast with a different mindset from what the original Classics toyline had, it would probably be more fitting to use a term like "Classics-style" instead of "CHUG".
Getting to the point, it's understandible how one would see these as being "Classics-style" toys for Trailbreaker, Springer, etc. But the truth is, does the very concept of "Classics-style"/"CHUG" figures really hold much weight anymore? I mean, what original made those figures stand out was that they were toy-only modern updates of classic character, with the only real fictional appearances to their names were Classicsverse stories from Fun Publications and the Japanese Henkei! Henkei! manga. But, as of recent years, more and more of what people see as "Classics"/"CHUG" designs began showing up in more forms of media... like IDW's G1 comics.
"All Hail Megatron" and the 2009-2011 ongoing introduced character body designs taken from the Universe and Masterpiece lines, "Stormbringer" had a design for Jetfire that was used for his Classics toy, Robots in Disguise used (in addition to the WFC and FPOC designs) used more non-WFC/non-FOC Generations and United designs.
In a way, IDW's G1 comcis have gradually become more and more like the world of the Classics/CHUG toy designs, despite the Classics comics, Henkei! manga, and United manga already claiming that position.
On the other side of the Pacific, Japan's "All Spark" manga has also been going a similar route of IDW's G1 comics by using designs from the Japanese Generations and Masterpiece toys, despite the toys of the former representing their video game selves.
And then there's Fun Pub's "Wings Universe" comic series which also seems to work in a similar mindset to their Classics comics as far as character designs based on updates of classic toy characters is concerned.
At the end of the day, with such a wide array of media using the character designs of toys from Classics, Henkei!, Universe, Generations, United, Reveal the Shield, and more, what defines a toy as a "CHUG" character toy vs. a toy representing a specific fictional version of a certain character has become more and more murky.
An easier way to look at this would be to just think of a "CHUG" toy as either:
- A) Any toy representing a character as s/he appeared either the comics of Classics, Henkei!, United, IDW, All Spark, or Wings Universe (discounting Masterpieces or any toy belonging to a line made specifically for a cartoon/movie), or
- B) Any toy that's simply a modern update of a classic character and isn't specifically tied to any current cartoon/movie (like what the original Classics toyline was).
Thus,
1. All of the WFC Generations toys are WFC/FOC toys
2. All of the Classics-style Generations toys released after the WFC toys but before the FOC toys are what most think of as "CHUG" toys
3. All of the FOC Generations toys are WFC/FOC toys
4. All of the Thilling 30 Generations toys are IDW G1 toys
5. Some of the WFC Generations toys can be repurposed as IDW G1 toys
6. Some of the FOC Generations toys can be repurposed as IDW G1 toys
7. Generations Thrilling 30 Deluxe Thundercracker is IDW G1 Thundercracker, but can be repurposed as his WFC/FOC self
8. Classics Jetfire is a CHUG figure based on an IDW G1 design, thus can also be used as an IDW G1 toy
9. IDW G1 toys can be seen as CHUG toys by thinking of "CHUG" less as fully encompassing the entirety of Generations and more as a synonym for "Classics-style".
10. Some CHUG/Classics-style toys can be seen as IDW G1 toys due to IDW repurposing some of their designs.
11. Some CHUG/Classics-style toys can be seen as "All Spark" toys due to All Spark repurposing some of their designs.
12. Some WFC/FOC toys can be repurposed as All Spark toys
13. Some CHUG toys can be seen as "Wings Universe" toys due to Wings Universe repurposing some of their designs.
Hope that helps.