The Energon Pub

Hehe, usually Megatron is the one carrying around the bigger blaster. He should win! He gets all stabby in Alternity just to see if a change of plan will work against Optimus.

Convotron wrote:Hehe, usually Megatron is the one carrying around the bigger blaster. He should win! He gets all stabby in Alternity just to see if a change of plan will work against Optimus.

Well, an urban rumor states that a Samurai or any Martial Arts master can so skilled, he can deflect or even cleave incoming bullets. Check Mythbusters some time, or even Beast Machines (Cheetor to be exact).

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

Convotron wrote:Hehe, usually Megatron is the one carrying around the bigger blaster. He should win! He gets all stabby in Alternity just to see if a change of plan will work against Optimus.

Well, an urban rumor states that a Samurai or any Martial Arts master can so skilled, he can deflect or even cleave incoming bullets. Check Mythbusters some time, or even Beast Machines (Cheetor to be exact).

I've seen that one before in old samurai movies, but those are old-school bullets though. With semi-auto or auto weaps there's no way they can deflect or cleave all the bullets.

There's a video floating about internetspace of a Japanese "demonstration" of firing a bullet at the edge of a secured katana, dead on. The bullet is "cut". However, the angle of the edge of the blade and the incoming bullet have to be just right. Also, tempered steel edge > lead bullet. You could do the same "bullet cutting" with any sword with a properly treated edge and appropriate blade geometry(a traditional diamond cross section blade would be better than a hollow ground blade for this kind of exercise).

Getting back on topic, I have Cybertron Optimus Prime and I'm real keen on getting GF Sonic Bomber/C Wing Saber at some point in the future. However, I'm not really eager about Leobreaker. I've seen photos, I've watched reviews but I'm just not sure how good it would go with Optimus. Would anyone who has Leobreaker care to weigh in on what they think it adds to the GF Convoy/C Optimus Prime figure?

Convotron wrote:There's a video floating about internetspace of a Japanese "demonstration" of firing a bullet at the edge of a secured katana, dead on. The bullet is "cut". However, the angle of the edge of the blade and the incoming bullet have to be just right. Also, tempered steel edge > lead bullet. You could do the same "bullet cutting" with any sword with a properly treated edge and appropriate blade geometry(a traditional diamond cross section blade would be better than a hollow ground blade for this kind of exercise).

Getting back on topic, I have Cybertron Optimus Prime and I'm real keen on getting GF Sonic Bomber/C Wing Saber at some point in the future. However, I'm not really eager about Leobreaker. I've seen photos, I've watched reviews but I'm just not sure how good it would go with Optimus. Would anyone who has Leobreaker care to weigh in on what they think it adds to the GF Convoy/C Optimus Prime figure?

Surprised that no one mentioned Star Convoy, the concept of Hot Rodimus pulling Prime really blows my mind back then.

Convotron wrote:Getting back on topic, I have Cybertron Optimus Prime and I'm real keen on getting GF Sonic Bomber/C Wing Saber at some point in the future. However, I'm not really eager about Leobreaker. I've seen photos, I've watched reviews but I'm just not sure how good it would go with Optimus. Would anyone who has Leobreaker care to weigh in on what they think it adds to the GF Convoy/C Optimus Prime figure?

I have Nemesis Breaker, and while the idea was a great one, the execution leaves much to be desired. He doesn't have a proper hand in Savage Claw mode. You do get a tribute to the TF-related series GaoGaiGar: to the Goldion Hammer to be exact.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:I have Nemesis Breaker, and while the idea was a great one, the execution leaves much to be desired. He doesn't have a proper hand in Savage Claw mode. You do get a tribute to the TF-related series GaoGaiGar: to the Goldion Hammer to be exact.

Hmm, good points!

Oh, is anyone planning on getting the TAW-01S "God Sword" to go along with their Omega Prime/God Fire Convoy? I read that the Matrix Blade was only available with the clear version of God Fire Convoy.

Convotron wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:I have Nemesis Breaker, and while the idea was a great one, the execution leaves much to be desired. He doesn't have a proper hand in Savage Claw mode. You do get a tribute to the TF-related series GaoGaiGar: to the Goldion Hammer to be exact.

Hmm, good points!

Oh, is anyone planning on getting the TAW-01S "God Sword" to go along with their Omega Prime/God Fire Convoy? I read that the Matrix Blade was only available with the clear version of God Fire Convoy.

I wanna get one too... but too expensive! The Matrix Blade was originally available as a mailaway, but the giftset one is more common. How I hate US Safety Laws....

Getting back on Leobreaker:

TFWiki wrote:The original plans for Leobreaker involved a more coherent Savage Claw Mode arm design, complete with fingers and thumbs. The fingers folded into the rather large spaces above the robot mode knees, while the thumbs were originally riveted into the place where the large round protrusions are on the knee sides. In addition, Leobreaker's Cyber Key gimmick seems to have originally been much more complex, with the key slotting into the shoulder rather than the forearm, and causing two-pronged claws to deploy from the forearm and shoulder. Traces of that gimmick version are still present in the final, including a divot where the Cyber Key slot was and places for the shoulder claws to rest. The aborted gimmick also explains the odd, articulation-limiting construction of his arms. A variety of factors resulted in the simplified form, including rising petroleum prices.

Here's an image of the prototype. Such a shame...

Oh, wow! The original design sounds so much better! The prototype and design sketches are pretty nifty. I wish the original concept was realized. Darn!

Convotron wrote:Oh, wow! The original design sounds so much better! The prototype and design sketches are pretty nifty. I wish the original concept was realized. Darn!

The prototypes of most figures are always better, but usually failed to make into production line.

shonenfan4 wrote:

Convotron wrote:Oh, wow! The original design sounds so much better! The prototype and design sketches are pretty nifty. I wish the original concept was realized. Darn!

The prototypes of most figures are always better, but usually failed to make into production line.

Definitely but it seems a significant amount of design simplification happened.

I wonder if Cybertron Optimus Prime and/or Megatron would look good with both Leobreaker and a Nemesis Breaker attached. Double the savage claw fun!

shonenfan4 wrote:The prototypes of most figures are always better, but usually failed to make into production line.

As the owner of several prototypes from several lines, the opposite is true. Most toys are changed only slightly if at all. The exhaustive downgrading like Leo Breaker had only happens when it becomes cost prohibitive by either a lineshift or the rising cost of plastics. Leo Breaker was a little complex for his price point plus being designed mainly as an accessory for Prime didn't help. Would it have been cooler? Yup. Ten dollars more worth of cool? Not so much.

Convotron wrote:I wonder if Cybertron Optimus Prime and/or Megatron would look good with both Leobreaker and a Nemesis Breaker attached. Double the savage claw fun!

Optimus looked pretty good with the red Universe Leo Prime and Botcon Razorclaw attached. Sorry, didn't take any pics though.

zodconvoy wrote:Optimus looked pretty good with the red Universe Leo Prime and Botcon Razorclaw attached. Sorry, didn't take any pics though.

The more I think about it, the more I think I may like the double Breaker look on OP.

zodconvoy wrote:

shonenfan4 wrote:The prototypes of most figures are always better, but usually failed to make into production line.

As the owner of several prototypes from several lines, the opposite is true. Most toys are changed only slightly if at all. The exhaustive downgrading like Leo Breaker had only happens when it becomes cost prohibitive by either a lineshift or the rising cost of plastics. Leo Breaker was a little complex for his price point plus being designed mainly as an accessory for Prime didn't help. Would it have been cooler? Yup. Ten dollars more worth of cool? Not so much.

Convotron wrote:I wonder if Cybertron Optimus Prime and/or Megatron would look good with both Leobreaker and a Nemesis Breaker attached. Double the savage claw fun!

Optimus looked pretty good with the red Universe Leo Prime and Botcon Razorclaw attached. Sorry, didn't take any pics though.

But look at the ROTF line, the rubber tires changed, gimmicks taken out...etc. I guess we can always customize them but, would've been great if they had went with the original toy.

Hmm, I look at the RotF toys as more functional toys . It's just that relatively minor aspects like gimmicks and rubber tires are discarded. I don't mind that as much as the lack of paint apps in bot mode.

The issue with Leobreaker is that, to my understanding, the concept design was more about making the toy more a coherent design in combined "Savage Claw" mode. Unfortunately, it would have been too much for the size class price point, I guess.

shonenfan4 wrote:But look at the ROTF line, the rubber tires changed, gimmicks taken out...etc. I guess we can always customize them but, would've been great if they had went with the original toy.

Those were largely taken out due the the rising cost of plastic and rubber. Plus molds are expensive. Giving Optimus the individual fingers the prototype had takes one easy fist mold and turns it into a six or seven piece mold. The complete hand mold alone would have been about as complex as an entire Legends class figures. They had to get costs down any way possible and kids don't really care too much about finger articulation.

zodconvoy wrote:

shonenfan4 wrote:But look at the ROTF line, the rubber tires changed, gimmicks taken out...etc. I guess we can always customize them but, would've been great if they had went with the original toy.

Those were largely taken out due the the rising cost of plastic and rubber. Plus molds are expensive. Giving Optimus the individual fingers the prototype had takes one easy fist mold and turns it into a six or seven piece mold. The complete hand mold alone would have been about as complex as an entire Legends class figures. They had to get costs down any way possible and kids don't really care too much about finger articulation.

That's true, and when I think about it, I think it'd be hard for them to hold their weapons if instead of pegs they have movable fingers. But it'd sure be great if Optimus Prime and use his fingers to stroke his chin like in the cartoon or point straight forward.

samsworkshop11 wrote:

agent1159 wrote:lio convoy and g2 laser prime!

if I was an Alabama Crimson Tide fanatic i'd be all over the Neo Big Convoy. Love the sculpt. I'm still thinking about the beast wars stuff. as I don't own any but see many love the series and the lio(leo) convoy is pretty sweet.
g2 lazer is sweet!

Oh yeah!! Big Convoy is sweet too, another of my favs!! Cybertron and RID are nice as well...

I'm surprised no one mentioned Softimus Prime yet. Come on, now. Softimus needs some support!

Convotron wrote:I'm surprised no one mentioned Softimus Prime yet. Come on, now. Softimus needs some support!

I have Softimus next to my bed, he's soft and squishy and still turns into a truck! Anyone without one is sorely lacking in awesome, GET HIM!

Samsonator wrote:

Convotron wrote:I'm surprised no one mentioned Softimus Prime yet. Come on, now. Softimus needs some support!

I have Softimus next to my bed, he's soft and squishy and still turns into a truck! Anyone without one is sorely lacking in awesome, GET HIM!

Yeah, it's so cool how he and Slumblebee can transform into decent plushy alt modes!

shonenfan4 wrote:That's true, and when I think about it, I think it'd be hard for them to hold their weapons if instead of pegs they have movable fingers. But it'd sure be great if Optimus Prime and use his fingers to stroke his chin like in the cartoon or point straight forward.

Actually, ROTF OP hasn't got any weapons to hold, since his swords are built into his forearms. I've a theory that Has/Tak already knew they were going to release Buster OP, and thus designed his hands to accomodated the double blasters, so you can use the blasters even with ROTF OP. If they used the same movable fingers that were in the movie one OP, there's no way he could hold onto the blasters without pegs in his hands.

So, to kill two birds with one stone, they simply made a single molded fist to also save costs.

Just my theory, anyway.

SKYWARPED_128 wrote:

shonenfan4 wrote:That's true, and when I think about it, I think it'd be hard for them to hold their weapons if instead of pegs they have movable fingers. But it'd sure be great if Optimus Prime and use his fingers to stroke his chin like in the cartoon or point straight forward.

Actually, ROTF OP hasn't got any weapons to hold, since his swords are built into his forearms. I've a theory that Has/Tak already knew they were going to release Buster OP, and thus designed his hands to accomodated the double blasters, so you can use the blasters even with ROTF OP. If they used the same movable fingers that were in the movie one OP, there's no way he could hold onto the blasters without pegs in his hands.

So, to kill two birds with one stone, they simply made a single molded fist to also save costs.

Just my theory, anyway.

Your theory might be right, too bad they couldn't use a removable faceplate to accomadate the hate for no-faceplate though.

I like the mouthplate-less Buster OP. It'll distinguish it from my Leader OP with more than just the paint job and gun.

The only reason even I'm considering getting a Buster Prime is I'm planning to have the standard Leader be combined with Jetfire on a Movie/RotF. Right now I still have the Premium Leader on the Prime shelf and I really have no desire to replace that desplay a second time. Maybe if they release Buster in the States... Still not keen on it.