The Energon Pub

[gothsaurus]

I have to say, that color scheme for Grand Scourge and his limbs looked AMAZING. One of the best ever in the past 30 years. I still have deep desire to buy an old Energon Prime to repaint like that in full size.

[-Kanrabat-]

Just a quick post to show my UW Bruticus upgraded with the Dreamwave kit. A kit that came insanely fast from Hong Kong! Almost a month is a long time, but it's damn short with the COVID trouble and it's the normal time for something with free shipping from Asia.

Anyway, the kit was intended for the CW version, not the UW. The "correct" one being out of stock. So I had to paint some bits. Also, the instructions that came with the kit were hard to read and was for the wrong kit anyway. Thank God for Youtube videos!
It was lot of work because the original Onslaught thighs and knees sucked. The kit gave me new thighs and knees and it took a lot of unscrewing, snapping, gluing, and screwing to assemble the parts. Then I replaced the head, changed the old codpiece for the new one, then snapped on the new legs, cannons, and chest parts. The kit also came with new hands and feet for the combined mode.

The final result is astounding. Bruticus is now taller than before, beefier than before, and most importantly, HE CAN STAND UP WITHOUT FALLING! As for the chest, I much prefer the all silver CW version from the odd colors of the UW one. As for the "belt" of the codpiece, the CW colors dont bother me so I left it as it is.

Without further ado, here's the comparison between the original, then I show the upgraded one:




I will not give my other combiners upgrade kits because I consider them perfect as they are. But that UW Bruticus was pretty disappointing the first time I got him. But now with the upgrade, it's absolutely marvelous!

[Rodimus Prime]

Looks good. Yeah the torso mode for the Onslaught mold is probably 2nd worst only behind PoTP Grimlock.

[-Kanrabat-]

Looks good. Yeah the torso mode for the Onslaught mold is probably 2nd worst only behind PoTP Grimlock.

1st worst is definitely the truck. All over. Grimlock at least is solid structurally, but man, does it look dumb.

For me, the "fire truck" torso is one that get a passing grade and the Bruticus one is even better just for the fact that the chest plates lock the shoulders in place. That is, if the damn knees of the torso bot are TIGHT.

My Victorion and my Defensor are perfectly fine. But my UW Onslaught had a loose right knee and a completely floppy left knee. This was unacceptable. So with the upgrade kit, this glaring issue is fixed. Another thing that the upgrade fix is with the new position of the legs in combined mode, Bruticus no longer have Defensor legs.

This upgrade make partforming to a minimum when transforming. If there is any. Onslaught's vehicle mode will look like a carnival float, but it's allright.

[ZeldaTheSwordsman]

Looks good. Yeah the torso mode for the Onslaught mold is probably 2nd worst only behind PoTP Grimlock.

1st worst is definitely the truck. All over. Grimlock at least is solid structurally, but man, does it look dumb.

Disagree about it looking dumb Unfortunately, Rodimus is one of the unlucky bastards who got landed with a loose-tabbed Grimlock so his doesn't hold together well.

But seriously, the truck is the worst torso hands-down. Even when the tabs are good, they don't plug in solidly enough to bear the load properly. On top of that, they tab in at a very poor angle for the job. And there's not even any tabs or deployable struts in the sleeper halves to help secure them.

On top of that, the feet on the original version of the mold protrude down a tad too much on their outside edge; they have a tendency to snag on the Dead End/Streetwise mold when Optimus/Motormaster's legs are facing tires-rearward.

[Rodimus Prime]

Oh yeah, I forgot about MM's torso mode. It is the worst, even worse than Grimlock. I put it out of my mind, because I always use Cyclonus as Menasor's torso and MM just stays in robot mode. And my Optimus has the SND kit, so he never becomes a torso. I can't even properly transform him to truck mode. But he does look badass as a leader-size IDW Prime.

[-Kanrabat-]

Looks good. Yeah the torso mode for the Onslaught mold is probably 2nd worst only behind PoTP Grimlock.

1st worst is definitely the truck. All over. Grimlock at least is solid structurally, but man, does it look dumb.

Disagree about it looking dumb Unfortunately, Rodimus is one of the unlucky bastards who got landed with a loose-tabbed Grimlock so his doesn't hold together well.

My main issue with the Grimlock torso is that it's way too small for a good looking combiner. Especially the dinky skinny legs. Of course, they couldn't do it any other way because the Grimlock himself would have been way too big.

The upgrade kit fix that but it's way too much partsforming for my tastes.

Speaking of the Dinobots combiner, I find it odd that Takara have never released a box set of them. Unless I'm mistaken.

[Sabrblade]

Speaking of the Dinobots combiner, I find it odd that Takara have never released a box set of them. Unless I'm mistaken.

Unite Warriors was long over by the time Takara released the Dinobots, which was when they started sharing the same main line figure releases as Hasbro, and didn't have anything special of their own going on at the same time.

[o.supreme]

Which is unfortunate. Volcanicus, Abominus, Othia etc... would have made amazing Unite Warriors sets.

[-Kanrabat-]

Which is unfortunate. Volcanicus, Abominus, Othia etc... would have made amazing Unite Warriors sets.

IKR?
Also, Hasbro and Takara are missing out on easy money by not releasing a G2 Dinobots set.
Maybe for a Select exclusive set?

[o.supreme]

G2 Defensor first, but then yeah, after that go nuts. As long as they keep making Combiners with the same system, I'll keep buying them.

[Rodimus Prime]

Hmm... Volcanicus in G2 colors...?

[ZeldaTheSwordsman]

Hmm... Volcanicus in G2 colors...?

I like the idea. And if HasTak don't make it happen I'll buy another set of PotP Dinobots (probably KOs considering) and make my own

[Rodimus Prime]

Hmm... Volcanicus in G2 colors...?

I like the idea. And if HasTak don't make it happen I'll buy another set of PotP Dinobots (probably KOs considering) and make my own

Did all 5 of them get G2 repaints? I only ever saw blue Grimlock, green Slag and red Snarl. And a black Sludge, but I think that might have been a custom.

[ZeldaTheSwordsman]

Hmm... Volcanicus in G2 colors...?

I like the idea. And if HasTak don't make it happen I'll buy another set of PotP Dinobots (probably KOs considering) and make my own

Did all 5 of them get G2 repaints? I only ever saw blue Grimlock, green Slag and red Snarl. And a black Sludge, but I think that might have been a custom.

Sludge and Swoop seem to have had redecoes planned, as shown by packaging art that surfaced back in the late 2000s.


Sludge.


Swoop.


There was also going to be a third new deco for Grimlock that was decidedly more distinct than the blue and turquoise were from each other.

[-Kanrabat-]

Many Botcons, Collector Clubs, Selects, and other exclusive repaints were made based on unreleased prototypes that never left the paper. So in all logic, a full G1 Volcanicus release is very possible.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

got my 3rd unite Warriors set recently, and it is wonderful. Grand Galvatron was one I really did want, and finally got one for $200! I think this might beat out Computron and Baldigus, but all 3 are super strong, and I have no regrets on getting any of these 3.

This also leaves only 1 UW set I want to go: Megatronia

[o.supreme]

Congrats!

As an owner of all 11 UW sets, I'd definitely say Grand Galvatron and Megatronia are my favs, because they are so unique in that there is NO CW equivalent.

UW Computron is definitely up there as well with 3 of the 4 deluxes being completely different from the CW version, and Scattershot at least being a decent retool.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Some more Grand Galvatron images, as well as a picture of all 3 of my current UW sets! I just need Megatronia and I will be happy!

[D-Maximal_Primal]

To necro this thread, I got a new UW figure: Lynxmaster! I got intrigued by the set by Earth Wars no less, and having it in hand, I love it. Makes me feel glad to have the team in this form, especially since my hasbro Sky Reign has a random assortment attached to him.

Also eventually gave him new hands and feet, he appreciates it

[o.supreme]

Great acquisition. I always loved Lynxmaster over Sky Reign. The red tail/sword was better than the bland one CW came with..Also it was the only way you could get Ratchet as part of the team. Of course I did get an individual Smokescreen and made him a limb for Optimus

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Great acquisition. I always loved Lynxmaster over Sky Reign. The red tail/sword was better than the bland one CW came with..Also it was the only way you could get Ratchet as part of the team. Of course I did get an individual Smokescreen and made him a limb for Optimus

I now ironically have 2 UW Ratchets and Smokescreen is on my Infernocus instead of a Sky Lynx combiner

[-Kanrabat-]

While were's at it, I have to share that I really love my Grand Galvatron despite the high price I had to pay for it. It's also my only "non-G1" CW combiner (If I ignore my BW Neo God Neptune.)