The Energon Pub

A lot of the modern toys feel very hollow/light compared to my G1/G2 toys. Are there any modern ones you recommend that feel really solidly built? Thanks!

Mkdlmr wrote:A lot of the modern toys feel very hollow/light compared to my G1/G2 toys. Are there any modern ones you recommend that feel really solidly built? Thanks!

What is the goal? To play roughly?

In that case, you'll have to go back to the 2000's.

Any toys from the Unicron Trilogy, (Armada, Energon, Cybertron) and the 2007 Bay Movie line are solid contender to have Transformers that are nice and SOLID.

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Mkdlmr wrote:A lot of the modern toys feel very hollow/light compared to my G1/G2 toys. Are there any modern ones you recommend that feel really solidly built? Thanks!

What is the goal? To play roughly?

In that case, you'll have to go back to the 2000's.

Any toys from the Unicron Trilogy, (Armada, Energon, Cybertron) and the 2007 Bay Movie line are solid contender to have Transformers that are nice and SOLID.

My 4 year old does play rough and he definitely gravitates toward my Prime Wars/War for Cybertron/SS86 collection over his own Rescuebots... I'm also feeling a bit nostalgic.

Mkdlmr wrote:My 4 year old does play rough and he definitely gravitates toward my Prime Wars/War for Cybertron/SS86 collection over his own Rescuebots... I'm also feeling a bit nostalgic.

Then, you'll have a great time with the Unicron Trilogy. Look up for Armada, Energon, and Cybertron toys. Those are great looking, and they feel AMAZING in hand. Look them up on eBay and elsewhere. If you don't mind the occasional missing accessory, you can have many at a reasonable price.
Also, look for the old CHUG toys. The old Generations lines, like Classics and Universe. Those are also pretty damn solid without hollow parts. Plus these "outdated" transformers can be found at a reasonable price too.

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Mkdlmr wrote:My 4 year old does play rough and he definitely gravitates toward my Prime Wars/War for Cybertron/SS86 collection over his own Rescuebots... I'm also feeling a bit nostalgic.

Then, you'll have a great time with the Unicron Trilogy. Look up for Armada, Energon, and Cybertron toys. Those are great looking, and they feel AMAZING in hand. Look them up on eBay and elsewhere. If you don't mind the occasional missing accessory, you can have many at a reasonable price.
Also, look for the old CHUG toys. The old Generations lines, like Classics and Universe. Those are also pretty damn solid without hollow parts. Plus these "outdated" transformers can be found at a reasonable price too.

Will do! Thanks!

Mkdlmr wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Mkdlmr wrote:My 4 year old does play rough and he definitely gravitates toward my Prime Wars/War for Cybertron/SS86 collection over his own Rescuebots... I'm also feeling a bit nostalgic.

Then, you'll have a great time with the Unicron Trilogy. Look up for Armada, Energon, and Cybertron toys. Those are great looking, and they feel AMAZING in hand. Look them up on eBay and elsewhere. If you don't mind the occasional missing accessory, you can have many at a reasonable price.
Also, look for the old CHUG toys. The old Generations lines, like Classics and Universe. Those are also pretty damn solid without hollow parts. Plus these "outdated" transformers can be found at a reasonable price too.

Will do! Thanks!

Be sure to add "lot" or "lots" in your searches. Often, may wants to get rid of their old Generations, Classics, and Universe toys at a bargain to be replaced with the newest Prime Wars and War For Cybertron or Studio Series 86 ones.

If you do not mind screen accuracy and you like some wild interpretations of classic characters (for example, how about a BIG leader class sized Ultra Class Powerglide?) you'll find plenty of solid toys that are still amazing even by today's standards.

You WILL find treasures at a bargain price. I'm sure of it. And when you do, be sure to post them into the "toy haul" thread!

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Mkdlmr wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Mkdlmr wrote:My 4 year old does play rough and he definitely gravitates toward my Prime Wars/War for Cybertron/SS86 collection over his own Rescuebots... I'm also feeling a bit nostalgic.

Then, you'll have a great time with the Unicron Trilogy. Look up for Armada, Energon, and Cybertron toys. Those are great looking, and they feel AMAZING in hand. Look them up on eBay and elsewhere. If you don't mind the occasional missing accessory, you can have many at a reasonable price.
Also, look for the old CHUG toys. The old Generations lines, like Classics and Universe. Those are also pretty damn solid without hollow parts. Plus these "outdated" transformers can be found at a reasonable price too.

Will do! Thanks!

Be sure to add "lot" or "lots" in your searches. Often, may wants to get rid of their old Generations, Classics, and Universe toys at a bargain to be replaced with the newest Prime Wars and War For Cybertron or Studio Series 86 ones.

If you do not mind screen accuracy and you like some wild interpretations of classic characters (for example, how about a BIG leader class sized Ultra Class Powerglide?) you'll find plenty of solid toys that are still amazing even by today's standards.

You WILL find treasures at a bargain price. I'm sure of it. And when you do, be sure to post them into the "toy haul" thread!

I'll definitely explore my options! Curious: Any rhyme or reason why newer toys feel so hollow? Just the cost of Hasbro/Takara doing business?

Mkdlmr wrote:I'll definitely explore my options! Curious: Any rhyme or reason why newer toys feel so hollow? Just the cost of Hasbro/Takara doing business?

Definitely costs cutting measures. That's why the bigger the toy is the most hollows it must have. Also, by doing the "ice tray" trick on the inner parts of the limbs, they save on parts counts. That something that basically didn't existed int he UT / CHUG years.

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Mkdlmr wrote:I'll definitely explore my options! Curious: Any rhyme or reason why newer toys feel so hollow? Just the cost of Hasbro/Takara doing business?

Definitely costs cutting measures. That's why the bigger the toy is the most hollows it must have. Also, by doing the "ice tray" trick on the inner parts of the limbs, they save on parts counts. That something that basically didn't existed int he UT / CHUG years.

Not surprising... thanks again for the info!

Some more recent figures certainly don't feel bad in-hand: Earthrise Optimus [great] compared to SS86 Jazz [feels like it's going to break whenever handled], for example. I've heard good things about Siege Hound and Sideswipe.

I'd love a good non-movie Bumblebee. I have the Netflix Siege Bumblebee, and even that feels fragile [I know I'm not the only one who has reservations about clear plastic].

A good non-movie Bee?

The Classics mold is the way to go.

Speaking of Classic Bee, here's a short about Classics Cliffjumper to give you an idea:

https://youtube.com/shorts/hr0437_dXgM?feature=share

-Kanrabat- wrote:Speaking of Classic Bee, here's a short about Classics Cliffjumper to give you an idea:

https://youtube.com/shorts/hr0437_dXgM?feature=share

Thanks again!

Do you know how durable the Generations Arcee is? Always wanted an Arcee, and I do like the touch of black on that one. My Legends Windblade from that same era feels fairly flimsy TBH...

Mkdlmr wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:Speaking of Classic Bee, here's a short about Classics Cliffjumper to give you an idea:

https://youtube.com/shorts/hr0437_dXgM?feature=share

Thanks again!

Do you know how durable the Generations Arcee is? Always wanted an Arcee, and I do like the touch of black on that one. My Legends Windblade from that same era feels fairly flimsy TBH...

Windblade is indeed flimsy. As for the T30 Arcee, she's still the best IMO. Both in looks and solidity. Too bad mine yellowed horribly.

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Mkdlmr wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:Speaking of Classic Bee, here's a short about Classics Cliffjumper to give you an idea:

https://youtube.com/shorts/hr0437_dXgM?feature=share

Thanks again!

Do you know how durable the Generations Arcee is? Always wanted an Arcee, and I do like the touch of black on that one. My Legends Windblade from that same era feels fairly flimsy TBH...

Windblade is indeed flimsy. As for the T30 Arcee, she's still the best IMO. Both in looks and solidity. Too bad mine yellowed horribly.

Boo for yellowing... Curious: D o you have the Hasbro or Takara version of this Arcee mold?

I have fond memories of my G1 Cosmos and Seaspray are the Titan Returns ones worth hunting down?

I ha the Hasbro T30 Arcee and the TR minibots are all worth it.

BTW, click the link on my signature to see my customs.
Those are pretty damd solid and could handle rough play.

-Kanrabat- wrote:I ha the Hasbro T30 Arcee and the TR minibots are all worth it.

BTW, click the link on my signature to see my customs.
Those are pretty damd solid and could handle rough play.

Thanks again and again!

Darn... was wondering if the one or the other [Takara or Hasbro] Arcee would yellow less over time.

Your custom combiner using the Starscream live-action movie mold is pretty cool! The combined mode gives me Skylynx vibes. You don't have a list of steps/mods you took to get your end result?

Nothing nearly as involved as what you did, but I actually modded my Ark a bit. I installed the DNA Design upgrade kit, sanded the front of his forehead down [came with paint chips and I couldn't touch it up satisfactorily enough]. I also sanded [so you could close the chest] and glued down those little flaps that always snapped off... My kid loves opening and closing his chest, the spring-loaded bay ramp, and the more articulate hands... and we're probably getting off topic. O:-)

If you want solid, Leader Legacy Armada Megatron and Commander Legacy Armada Optimus Prime are awesome. Posable and appart Meg's "ears", nothing feels flimsy nor pop off.

-Kanrabat- wrote:If you want solid, Leader Legacy Armada Megatron and Commander Legacy Armada Optimus Prime are awesome. Posable and appart Meg's "ears", nothing feels flimsy nor pop off.

20230815_173132.jpg

Roger. Thanks again!

I actually just picked up Buzzworthy Bumblebee 102 Optimus Prime at my local Target. It was an impulse buy seeing how he's super rare [was there for the pharmacy and thought to stretch my legs]. I have not opened him up yet, but I can't say that I'm too enamored by him, especially in contrast with my SS38 Optimus. Any thoughts? Is my first impression inaccurate?

Mkdlmr wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:If you want solid, Leader Legacy Armada Megatron and Commander Legacy Armada Optimus Prime are awesome. Posable and appart Meg's "ears", nothing feels flimsy nor pop off.

20230815_173132.jpg

Roger. Thanks again!

I actually just picked up Buzzworthy Bumblebee 102 Optimus Prime at my local Target. It was an impulse buy seeing how he's super rare [was there for the pharmacy and thought to stretch my legs]. I have not opened him up yet, but I can't say that I'm too enamored by him, especially in contrast with my SS38 Optimus. Any thoughts? Is my first impression inaccurate?

I can't tell. I've yet to see him in store.

BTW, if you can find the mainline voyager ROTB Optimus, he's pretty damn good. Small, missing some paint, but really good.

I recommend any version of the 2007 Ratchet mold. He feels very solid in hand, the transformation isn't hard and even without an being explain how, it feels he can last a lot of playtime.



Day 1325 of waiting for Transformers Armada Masterpiece news.

Thanks!

I see that the classic Bumblebee was reissued a few times... kinda digging the Black stripes on the Reveal the Shield one. Is there anything I should be aware of between the different releases of this mold?

Mkdlmr wrote:Thanks!

I see that the classic Bumblebee was reissued a few times... kinda digging the Black stripes on the Reveal the Shield one. Is there anything I should be aware of between the different releases of this mold?

Apparts the colors, no issues to be aware of. There's also a Cliffjumper version.

Any idea how does classics Bumblebee size comparison to the War for Cybertron figures?

Mkdlmr wrote:Any idea how does classics Bumblebee size comparison to the War for Cybertron figures?

Using Cliffjumper instead of Bee, here you go. As an added bonus, I also compare the original Armada Megatron to the newer Legacy Armada Universe Megatron.

The Classic Bee mold also have a pretty big vehicle mode. The deluxes were big at the time.

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Mkdlmr wrote:Any idea how does classics Bumblebee size comparison to the War for Cybertron figures?

Using Cliffjumper instead of Bee, here you go. As an added bonus, I also compare the original Armada Megatron to the newer Legacy Armada Universe Megatron.

The Classic Bee mold also have a pretty big vehicle mode. The deluxes were big at the time.

Awesome! Thanks a bunch!