The Energon Pub

Okay so, this morning while googling an image of Optimal Optimus as part of a discussion with someone about Power of the Primes, I found an odd little pic of what appeared to be the original figure but with small improvements. This accidentally led me to the discovery of TransArt Toys BW-04, an improved (or so it seems) knockoff of Optimal Optimus.


Now obviously, people will go 'but if you like this design so much why didn't you buy Perfect Effect Beast Gorira?!' Well, simple: I didn't have the money to spend on it back when it was on sale and yes, I regret not buying it. Now originally I was going to settle for Power of the Primes Optimus Primal/Optimal Optimus as my replacement for the figure. However that one obviously lacks the vestigial vehicle modes and replace them with the Leader Evolution gimmick.

So to sum up, I badly want a new Optimal Optimus figure to both display and fiddle with, as I worry my original will snap in several places, making me worry about transforming it. That leaves me with the upcoming Hasbro one vs a seemingly improved Knockoff. The BW-04 appears to be mostly identical in engineering to the original figure barring the cannon improvements and it's smaller scale (which is not an issue to me, it just mean it will take less space). Beside, Beast-era characters are smaller, even the behemoth that was Optimal Optimus was small compared to the Autobots and Decepticons.

Anyone here owns a TransArt Toys BW-04? If so, how solid is it? Does the plastic quality appear decent and solid enough or will it crumble in my hands?

I got him. I don't recommend him unless you're a BW (and specifically Primal) fanatic. I'm not sure where you're shopping, but he'll probably cost you around the same as the POTP Leader, and he's simply not worth it.

The quality is pretty poor. Mine is still in one piece, but I've seen a review where he broke in the middle of it. He looks the part for sure, but he wouldn't be useful besides a placeholder on a shelf. Or simply as a novelty (which is why I have him). The plastic doesn't feel good, and he's fragile AF.

Also, you probably all he know, but he's small.

Don't get me wrong though, I am the aforementioned BW fanatic, and I'm glad I have the piece. Anyways, here's some pics I took a while ago (even though I'm not trying to sell you on him lol).

I see. Well, one reason I was hesitating between him and PotP Optimal Optimus is that the latter is a lot less like the original in terms of engineering. However, if the plastic is really that crappy and fragile on this one I may as well fiddle with my original. Which, you know, I have no idea if it's going to break or not.

Guess I'll settle for the PotP version, even if it lacks two modes.