The Energon Pub

[Kurona]

Because this has been nagging at the back of my head for the past couple hours and I'm really curious to get your guys' opinions on it - what counts for a Lost Light Crew display? Since unlike a lot of displays like say, G1 Season 1, Transformers Prime Autobots, Beast Wars Predacons etc. it's a little hard to say what objectively counts as a main cast display.

I mean, there's some obvious ones. The core cast of Rodimus, Megatron, Magnus, Swerve, Chromedome, Brainstorm etc. etc., but beyond that how far do you guys go? The whole crew including those not seen much like Hound and Hot Spot? And what would you qualify as main cast material? There's some obvious examples like I said there, but what about certain... others, like Trailbreaker, Pipes, Blaster, First Aid and Perceptor? They're rarely in the spotlight as much as others, but are definitely more prominent than the likes of Hoist or Gears.

Another thing to address is how do you deal with guys who have no representation whatsoever? Some characters have little to no toy representation right now - until Titans Return wave 3 drops we're stuck with a not-very-good Hot Rod for one thing - but then there's some that have never had any figures period, perhaps most significantly Rung, Nautica and Velocity. And as far as I'm aware there are no third party figures of them either... it's quite a problem, especially when personally speaking Nautica's one of my favourites. I'm really counting on that rumour that she'll be a Titans Return retool of Scourge or Blurr. It at least makes hoping for them to get toys in the future exciting I guess.


Personally, what I like to qualify as a Lost Light crew right now are those (issue 50-54 spoilers) currently stuck on the Necrobot's planet as I feel those are what generally make up the main cast aside from Riptide and Getaway (issue 50-54 spoilers), as well as First Aid, Blaster and Perceptor because I feel they can eek their way in there... and I really like First Aid, Blaster and Perceptor.

But yeah, you guys go ahead and post what you guys think counts. Remember, there's no real right or wrong here as long as you don't discount Nightbeat I will murder you if you don't count Nightbeat, I'm just kinda curious and I think it'd be pretty interesting to see what everyone personally counts for their display.

[Noideaforaname]

Good question.


I think maybe something like "played a notable part in 2 or more story arcs." Or maybe even simply "played a notable part", with or without the caveat of "didn't play a notable part anywhere else". So up to guest stars and tertiary characters.

Trailbreaker and First Aid would 'count' since I feel I've known them thru MTMTE. Hoist and Blaster would not because they seem to be more "just there". Perceptor's an odd one since his role hasn't been that much more or less than his role in the original cartoon or Last Stand of the Wreckers -- a toy of him would bounce between three different sets.

[SureShot18]

Well I think anybody that was on the Lost Light for several issues counts for a display, it just depends on how much space you have to display them on a shelf. The lack of comic figures is disappointing but on the third party front Maketoys and Mastermind Creations have no problem with creating comic figures. And if comic characters are released by Hasbro at this point, it would probably be in more G1 styled bodies.

My current setup is RtS Rodimus, CW Ultra Magnus, TAV Origin Drift, Gen. Swerve, Gen. Tailgate, Gen. Whirl, Gen. Brainstorm, RtS Cyclonus, Gen. Skids, RtS Perceptor, Classics Mirage, Uninverse Hound, and FOC Blaster.
The last three weren't always present, but they were put in when I took out Prime Rachet and CW First Aid for other displays.

So yeah I think it's just how many crew members you can fit on a shelf, with the stars and co-stars taking priority.

[Kurona]

Well I think anybody that was on the Lost Light for several issues counts for a display, it just depends on how much space you have to display them on a shelf. The lack of comic figures is disappointing but on the third party front Maketoys and Mastermind Creations have no problem with creating comic figures. And if comic characters are released by Hasbro at this point, it would probably be in more G1 styled bodies.

My current setup is RtS Rodimus, CW Ultra Magnus, TAV Origin Drift, Gen. Swerve, Gen. Tailgate, Gen. Whirl, Gen. Brainstorm, RtS Cyclonus, Gen. Skids, RtS Perceptor, Classics Mirage, Uninverse Hound, and FOC Blaster.
The last three weren't always present, but they were put in when I took out Prime Rachet and CW First Aid for other displays.

So yeah I think it's just how many crew members you can fit on a shelf, with the stars and co-stars taking priority.

TAV Drift is a very big surprise; does he really fit that much better than Generations Drift?

And yeah, I've seen those companies make some comic characters - most of the time though it's either just IDW versions of already-existing characters (like IDW's version of Swerve rather than an IDW-exclusive character like Rung or Nautica), or... Nova Prime. Third party companies seem to adore Nova Prime, it's pretty insane - can't complain mind. Seen any for Rung, Nautica or Velocity?

[SureShot18]

TAV Drift is a very big surprise; does he really fit that much better than Generations Drift?

And yeah, I've seen those companies make some comic characters - most of the time though it's either just IDW versions of already-existing characters (like IDW's version of Swerve rather than an IDW-exclusive character like Rung or Nautica), or... Nova Prime. Third party companies seem to adore Nova Prime, it's pretty insane - can't complain mind. Seen any for Rung, Nautica or Velocity?

The reason it's that Drift instead of the Generations one is that I never got Gen. Drift when he was out and didn't feel like going on eBay for him. Also I wanted that RiD Drift mold so I figured I'd kill two birds with one stone. And l'm not the biggest fan of the look of the old Drift so that kind of turns me off the figure. TAV Drift also comes with a beautifully painted RiD Jazz. And no he doesn't really fit in better than the old Drift.

No they don't have any representation yet but I was just saying there are some third party companies that have more interests than only making their own Masterpiece styled figures. So there is a chance.

[Windsweeper]

I think there might be heads on Shapeways that allow you to customise pre existing toys into the likes of Rung and Nautica.

Or just repaint the Real Gear camera as Rung.

[Kurona]

I think there might be heads on Shapeways that allow you to customise pre existing toys into the likes of Rung and Nautica.

Or just repaint the Real Gear camera as Rung.

Can't... quite say I'm seeing it.
In any case if a Shapeways Nautica Titan Master is to come out, it could be used on Scourge with a bit of customing for an okay approximation.

[Kurona]

Would everyone generally agree with these size classes?

Leader: Ultra Magnus, Fortress Maximus, Ten, Thunderclash
Voyager: Whirl, Megatron
Deluxe: Everyone else
Legends: Rewind, Tailgate, Swerve, Ravage, Pipes

Largely going by these prints by Roche and Josh






Only the crew, of course. So no Scavengers, Tyrest's gang, DJD etc.

Only two possible omissions is that Riptide could maybe stand to be Voyager (though it feels weird having him stand over most the cast bar whirl, megatron, magnus, fort max and ten), and Ten possibly being larger than Leader. Which is a tad insane and makes me doubtful we'll ever get him.

Also Velocity and for some reason Ambulon aren't in these (why does Ambulon always get shafted in group pics), but I think we could assume they're the same size as most of the crew. ie deluxe.

[ScottyP]

Rumor has it there's a TR Nautica coming at some point, so that'll hopefully take care of a toy for her.

I've been using Cloud Rodimus for a MTMTE version. Works pretty well if you never use the helicopter mode/put it around Springer.

[Noideaforaname]

Rumor has it there's a TR Nautica coming at some point, so that'll hopefully take care of a toy for her.

In a $100+ set with four other bots that have nothing to do with MTMTE...

[D-Maximal_Primal]

If it helps you at all Kurona, I consider someone to be a Lost Light crewmember if they have shown up at all in the series or Roberts said was on the ship. Even if they left, they can still be counted. I count Cosmos as a crewmember even though he did leave.

Here is my current Lost Light display, Scavengers included:

[Kurona]

I like how that just doesn't have a care in the world for scale. Leader Blaster and Titan Master Clobber

[D-Maximal_Primal]

I like how that just doesn't have a care in the world for scale. Leader Blaster and Titan Master Clobber

Hey, FOC Grim is in there too!

But I actually consider the Scavengers Lost Lighters, sort of. I intend for them to have their own display, but they are close, almost like that strange brother or cousin to the LL crew.

Besides, scale doesn't mean much here! They are all good figures, so they work!

[william-james88]

Because this has been nagging at the back of my head for the past couple hours and I'm really curious to get your guys' opinions on it - what counts for a Lost Light Crew display? Since unlike a lot of displays like say, G1 Season 1, Transformers Prime Autobots, Beast Wars Predacons etc. it's a little hard to say what objectively counts as a main cast display.

I think the best answer would be that while anyone can do as they wish (like I and many have done), only the toys which have features based on the comic designs would count as an actual lost light display. Like Thrilling 30 Trailcutter would count rather than the CW Trailbreaker.

Gen Whirl would count since his leg design is based on the comics. And yeah I think that means that any Rodimus you include would just be a placeholder for now, which is technically what the case is anyway.

I do have a question though, for the scale of the display, how big should Megatron be? Is Megs as tall as Magnus in the comics? Because if so then the leader could work well, although I do wonder if anything about him reflects any of the details he has in the comic

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Because this has been nagging at the back of my head for the past couple hours and I'm really curious to get your guys' opinions on it - what counts for a Lost Light Crew display? Since unlike a lot of displays like say, G1 Season 1, Transformers Prime Autobots, Beast Wars Predacons etc. it's a little hard to say what objectively counts as a main cast display.

I think the best answer would be that while anyone can do as they wish (like I and many have done), only the toys which have features based on the comic designs would count as an actual lost light display. Like Thrilling 30 Trailcutter would count rather than the CW Trailbreaker.

Gen Whirl would count since his leg design is based on the comics. And yeah I think that means that any Rodimus you include would just be a placeholder for now, which is technically what the case is anyway.

I do have a question though, for the scale of the display, how big should Megatron be? Is Megs as tall as Magnus in the comics? Because if so then the leader could work well, although I do wonder if anything about him reflects any of the details he has in the comic

Megatron has been shown to be smaller by a bit. This picture has him placed a bit farther back and thus a wee bit shorter, but was the best I could find:

[william-james88]

Oh right, I just read that Ok, voyager he is then. And wow, that means Braodside is a beast. Still glad to know MTMTE goes by a somewhat classics scale.

[Kurona]

Oh right, I just read that Ok, voyager he is then. And wow, that means Braodside is a beast. Still glad to know MTMTE goes by a somewhat classics scale.

It's pretty wonderful; most dudes are Deluxe.


And yeah, Broadside is friggin' HUGE.

[ScottyP]

But I actually consider the Scavengers Lost Lighters, sort of.

They're Weak Anthropic Principals, perhaps? In short, they could be the W-

Hmm.

Oh. Yeah let's not continue that. Bit close to an actual slur.

On second thought, honorary Lost Lighters is fine

[D-Maximal_Primal]

But I actually consider the Scavengers Lost Lighters, sort of.

They're Weak Anthropic Principals, perhaps? In short, they could be the W-

Hmm.

Oh. Yeah let's not continue that. Bit close to an actual slur.

On second thought, honorary Lost Lighters is fine

Fort Max and Red Alert are also what I would consider honorary members, seeing as how they were on the ship and star in the series still on a part time basis

[Counterpunch]

Would everyone generally agree with these size classes?

Leader: Ultra Magnus, Fortress Maximus, Ten, Thunderclash
Voyager: Whirl, Megatron
Deluxe: Everyone else
Legends: Rewind, Tailgate, Swerve, Ravage, Pipes

Yes-ish.

The problem is that the books, great as they are, have been wildly inconsistent with sizes. I think you're in the right ball park. It's certain characters that make it difficult to get all this sorted out.

Megatron is sometime larger than the rest (Voyager) but is often almost eye to eye with Ultra Magnus.

Rodimus may be the biggest offender in my opinion. He's at times head level with most bots but when he's the focus of something, he's considerably bigger.

Cyclonus is bigger than a deluxe. He's definitely at least a Voyager.

Whirl should be as big as Cyclonus. That's a constant. I think Voyager is appropriate.

Perceptor seems to be between Deluxe and Voyager. I feel like he's bigger than regular bots, but not on par with a Megatron or Whirl.

Powerglide is huge in the book.

Grapple should be a voyager, same with Inferno.

Thunderclash doesn't seem that large to me. He seems on par with Megatron.

Broadside is definitely bigger than the rest, so at least Voyager, should probably be an Ultra.

[Kurona]

Wasn't quite counting background bots, just the main bots and some side ones. You're totally right about Powerglide and Grapple's sizes though; good thing Powerglide has an Ultra.