The Energon Pub

News Credits: 3 · by **DedicatedGhostArt** » Mon Mar 28, 2016 4:01 pm

Hmm maybe it's a good idea to wait on getting Hot Rodimus, so that we can see if Hasbro comes out with a TR voyager Rodimus Prime soon or not. If they do not, I'll probably get Hot Rodimus later, but it would be nice to save money by getting a voyager. I think Wheeljack might be a better option for right now to get hopefully with Hasbro Grimlock. Thanks for the help!

News Credits: 226 · by **Burn** » Tue Apr 12, 2016 6:18 am

So apparently some people want to know my thoughts on this guy.

First and foremost, I'm going to post disclaimers.

First ... I never saw the point of this figure. We had a prior release that gave us both Hot Rod and Rodimus Prime (Japanese names be damned). Was it a great release? Not the point. We had the character, it was far too soon for a rehash.

Secondly ... I've never liked the character. Over-rated, and it was his stupid involvement that lead to the death of Optimus Prime.

Thirdly ... I've only transformed him to robot mode, I haven't transformed him back into vehicle mode. So I haven't really tinkered.

Now, all that aside. What do I think of him? He's an okay figure. Like many, I was not impressed with the incredibly large back kibble, now that I have him in hand, I'm still not impressed. That being said, kudos to the designers because they did do a good job of folding all that kibble up into the tiniest space possible.

Transformation ... wasn't overly difficult, I didn't need to resort to instructions. My biggest problem was getting the back to peg into the backpack. The shoulders pegged in okay, little bit tight, but the peg in the middle that goes into the backpack was just slightly out of line.

Overall, it's an okay figure, it's nothing exciting to me, most likely because of my biases. As I said though, whoever engineered him did a good job.

If you're a fan of the character, you'll want him in your collection. If you're a casual collector or short on cash, put it towards Ironhide.

News Credits: 60 · by **fenrir72** » Tue Apr 12, 2016 6:53 pm

Burn wrote:So apparently some people want to know my thoughts on this guy.

Now, all that aside. What do I think of him? He's an okay figure. Like many, I was not impressed with the incredibly large back kibble, now that I have him in hand, I'm still not impressed. That being said, kudos to the designers because they did do a good job of folding all that kibble up into the tiniest space possible.

Overall, it's an okay figure, it's nothing exciting to me, most likely because of my biases. As I said though, whoever engineered him did a good job.

If you're a fan of the character, you'll want him in your collection. If you're a casual collector or short on cash, put it towards Ironhide.

Edited to the relevant juicy comment. This!

I salute the engineer/designer. I wonder if he's the one who did IH too? MP-10 fyi was also designed by the same guy who did MP-05 but the circumstance was a bit different back then.

Some MP characters could be a pain to design while others are naturally beautiful at a get go.

Hotrodimus, well, he's got a lot of baggage. Both in a literal and figurative sense. (Also, he's got sucky bottom clearance too (my biggest peeve with this MP)

News Credits: 226 · by **Burn** » Tue Apr 12, 2016 7:12 pm

fenrir72 wrote:I wonder if he's the one who did IH too?

This is an interesting question. When I was typing up my previous post and thinking of the figure, I found myself comparing him Ironhide (who pretty much is leading contender for MP of the year in my mind) and how simplistic both their transformations were, but also how both utilised things folding up, which lead me to think that yeah, it wouldn't surprise me if it was the same designer/engineer.

News Credits: 25 · by **Ironhidensh** » Tue Apr 12, 2016 8:59 pm

Yeah, I don't get you two. Hot Rods backpack gets no kudos, it's just lazy. If the same guy did him and Ironhide, then he blew his whole wad on Iron, and only had dribbles left over for the Rod.

News Credits: 10 · by **Agamemnon** » Tue Apr 12, 2016 9:42 pm

Ironhidensh wrote:Yeah, I don't get you two. Hot Rods backpack gets no kudos, it's just lazy. If the same guy did him and Ironhide, then he blew his whole wad on Iron, and only had dribbles left over for the Rod.

I don't think "lazy" is the right word here. I can see an issue with folding the car kibble into the backpack instead of the legs, but seen in person, I think the design of the backpack is anything but lazy. Perhaps a poor choice in design?

News Credits: 60 · by **fenrir72** » Tue Apr 12, 2016 10:48 pm

Agamemnon wrote:
Ironhidensh wrote:Yeah, I don't get you two. Hot Rods backpack gets no kudos, it's just lazy. If the same guy did him and Ironhide, then he blew his whole wad on Iron, and only had dribbles left over for the Rod.

I don't think "lazy" is the right word here. I can see an issue with folding the car kibble into the backpack instead of the legs, but seen in person, I think the design of the backpack is anything but lazy. Perhaps a poor choice in design?

Hey 'desh. Look at it from a designers point of view. (Included Agster's post too)

Path one:

Minimum or no back pack.....where would you put them then? On his shins most logical. If the mass would be too large, fans would complain that he doesn't look like the animation model (The base car is, well isn't really a regular earth car (okay concept car but the 2005 cast were more "futuristic" alien focused) and raise this as an issue of having oversized feet therbye gutting the spirit of MP to make the figs as clos as possible to the show. That and a lot of fans seems to dislike Hotrod to the next level.

Path two:

What we have now. If you see some of the reference images I used, even henkei had that back pack sticking out..........but rarely read a complaint on that. Comparing to the TFA version is apples and oranges because that mode used is a variant of the 1986 design.

Burn is neutral on Hotrod. Me, as I mentioned, got those issues with the clearance and the shoulders when you try to do the fishing pose but it no biggie. I feel the backpack issue for you is similar to your issue with IH's side panels.

The proportioned image of the animated model kind of imprinted into you all these years that, the deviation from the style is like a brain worm always sticking out. This statement btw isn't a dig or anything. We humans are just that. A deviation from our "comfort zone" really does stick out on us.

News Credits: 226 · by **Burn** » Tue Apr 12, 2016 10:53 pm

Ironhidensh wrote:Yeah, I don't get you two. Hot Rods backpack gets no kudos, it's just lazy. If the same guy did him and Ironhide, then he blew his whole wad on Iron, and only had dribbles left over for the Rod.

The folding gets the kudos. The backpack itself still sucks and is still far too large, but given how much there is I think he did a good job of making it that small.

News Credits: 372 · by **Cyberpath** » Wed Apr 13, 2016 2:44 am

They redid Optimus Prime, Ultra Magnus, Starscream and the jets; why not Hot Rod? The robot scale is one of the selling points of MP II. Megatron and Grimlock are probably a matter of time, too.

I think he came out really well. Looking at him now, very nice. I was never going to get MP-9 so I'm glad.

Fenrir, MP-10 was designed by MP-king Hasui and MP-5 by Yuki.

Ironhide was done by Kobayashi. And MP-28 by a new guy.

News Credits: 226 · by **Burn** » Wed Apr 13, 2016 5:01 am

Cyberpath wrote:They redid Optimus Prime, Ultra Magnus, Starscream and the jets; why not Hot Rod? The robot scale is one of the selling points of MP II. Megatron and Grimlock are probably a matter of time, too.

There was a fairly big gap between those releases though. The Rod boys just felt too close together.

by **MelRains** » Wed Apr 13, 2016 6:06 am

Burn wrote:
Cyberpath wrote:They redid Optimus Prime, Ultra Magnus, Starscream and the jets; why not Hot Rod? The robot scale is one of the selling points of MP II. Megatron and Grimlock are probably a matter of time, too.

There was a fairly big gap between those releases though. The Rod boys just felt too close together.

To be fair the Masterpiece line has a much more aggressive release schedule than they used to.

News Credits: 60 · by **fenrir72** » Wed Apr 13, 2016 6:42 am

Cyberpath wrote:They redid Optimus Prime, Ultra Magnus, Starscream and the jets; why not Hot Rod? The robot scale is one of the selling points of MP II. Megatron and Grimlock are probably a matter of time, too.

I think he came out really well. Looking at him now, very nice. I was never going to get MP-9 so I'm glad.

Fenrir, MP-10 was designed by MP-king Hasui and MP-5 by Yuki.

Ironhide was done by Kobayashi. And MP-28 by a new guy.

Right. I mixed them up. The engineer behind Starsaber was also behind MP-05 Megatron. #-o

News Credits: 33 · by **Amelie** » Wed Apr 13, 2016 9:39 am

Cyberpath wrote:They redid Optimus Prime, Ultra Magnus, Starscream and the jets; why not Hot Rod? The robot scale is one of the selling points of MP II. Megatron and Grimlock are probably a matter of time, too.

I think Grimlock is actually the right size now. He's actually supposed to be taller than Optimus Prime. True - the aesthetic doesn't quite fit, but size-wise he's good to go.

News Credits: 372 · by **Cyberpath** » Sun May 22, 2016 4:50 am

Anyone (here) already coat Hot Rod's chromed-parts?

News Credits: 60 · by **fenrir72** » Sun May 22, 2016 8:11 am

Cyberpath wrote:Anyone (here) already coat Hot Rod's chromed-parts?

With Pledge Wipe and Shine or Mr. Hobby Top Coat?

Is your pealed off already?

News Credits: 372 · by **Cyberpath** » Sun May 22, 2016 8:31 am

fenrir72 wrote:With Pledge Wipe and Shine or Mr. Hobby Top Coat?

Anything. Did you?

fenrir72 wrote:Is your pealed off already?

Not yet. I was aware of this issue before mine had arrived so I've only handled him with waiter's gloves. I found a brand of lacquer that I think I can trust so hopefully I will get it done this week.

News Credits: 60 · by **fenrir72** » Sun May 22, 2016 5:07 pm

Cyberpath wrote:
fenrir72 wrote:With Pledge Wipe and Shine or Mr. Hobby Top Coat?
Anything. Did you?

fenrir72 wrote:Is your pealed off already?
Not yet. I was aware of this issue before mine had arrived so I've only handled him with waiter's gloves. I found a brand of lacquer that I think I can trust so hopefully I will get it done this week.

On stand by
. There is no peeling yet but advise you not too. If indeed the reports are true, and chrome is "thin", the lacquer might melt it off. Use the modeling/hobby type stuff.

News Credits: 372 · by **Cyberpath** » Mon May 23, 2016 12:43 am

fenrir72 wrote:On stand by
. There is no peeling yet but advise you not too. If indeed the reports are true, and chrome is "thin", the lacquer might melt it off. Use the modeling/hobby type stuff.

Which would you recommend?

I tried some lacquer on one of Skyfire's guns and it seems fine.

News Credits: 60 · by **fenrir72** » Mon May 23, 2016 1:59 am

Cyberpath wrote:
fenrir72 wrote:On stand by
. There is no peeling yet but advise you not too. If indeed the reports are true, and chrome is "thin", the lacquer might melt it off. Use the modeling/hobby type stuff.

Which would you recommend?

I tried some lacquer on one of Skyfire's guns and it seems fine.

That atrocity :lol:

of over doing the chrome is thick. Err on the side of caution. Use either those clear type paints from a hobbyshop or the Pledge floor polish. It should be milder ( experiment on a junker first).

News Credits: 372 · by **Cyberpath** » Mon May 23, 2016 3:26 am

fenrir72 wrote:That atrocity of over doing the chrome is thick. Err on the side of caution. Use either those clear type paints from a hobbyshop or the Pledge floor polish. It should be milder ( experiment on a junker first).

Don't have Pledge, bought something similar, tried it on the legs of an office chair, looks a little dull now.

Sigh, I don't feel like doing it, but I figure that coating the chrome now would be easier than trying to fix it later.

(And Skyfire's chrome is amazing. :-P

)

News Credits: 60 · by **fenrir72** » Mon May 23, 2016 7:55 am

Cyberpath wrote:
fenrir72 wrote:That atrocity of over doing the chrome is thick. Err on the side of caution. Use either those clear type paints from a hobbyshop or the Pledge floor polish. It should be milder ( experiment on a junker first).

Don't have Pledge, bought something similar, tried it on the legs of an office chair, looks a little dull now.

Sigh, I don't feel like doing it, but I figure that coating the chrome now would be easier than trying to fix it later.

(And Skyfire's chrome is amazing. )

I too have tried on a small scale, clear nail polish on my G1 Hotrod's chrome with great effect. I'm still not "brave" enough to do it on MP Hotrodimus. Maz warned me that if you use the Pledge wax (technically not a wax :-P

) may cause the chrome to "dull" out.

I'll need time to get the right "mix" first. So good luck.

News Credits: 194 · by **RodimusConvoy13** » Mon May 23, 2016 7:59 am

I used the future floor Pledge polish. It worked just fine. I don't see any new Chrome wear from after I put it on. The chrome is still shiny. It also really tightened up his hip joints when I applied it to them too.

News Credits: 372 · by **Cyberpath** » Mon May 23, 2016 8:07 am

RodimusConvoy13 wrote:I used the future floor Pledge polish. It worked just fine. I don't see any new Chrome wear from after I put it on. The chrome is still shiny. It also really tightened up his hip joints when I applied it to them too.

Paintbrush or dip?

News Credits: 194 · by **RodimusConvoy13** » Mon May 23, 2016 8:46 am

Cyberpath wrote:
RodimusConvoy13 wrote:I used the future floor Pledge polish. It worked just fine. I don't see any new Chrome wear from after I put it on. The chrome is still shiny. It also really tightened up his hip joints when I applied it to them too.

Paintbrush or dip?

Paint brush. 2 coats. approximately 24 hours between coats.

News Credits: 372 · by **Cyberpath** » Mon May 23, 2016 10:55 am

RodimusConvoy13 wrote:
Cyberpath wrote:
RodimusConvoy13 wrote:I used the future floor Pledge polish. It worked just fine. I don't see any new Chrome wear from after I put it on. The chrome is still shiny. It also really tightened up his hip joints when I applied it to them too.

Paintbrush or dip?

Paint brush. 2 coats. approximately 24 hours between coats.

Thanks!

Did it leave any brush strokes? Do you have pix? :)