The Energon Pub

I've begun a project, inspired by discussion in a separate thread on this forum. The point of this project is to recreate the Generation One toy catalogue, based on how it is listed on this page on the Transformers Wiki, but using modern, "Classics" style toys.

"Modern, 'Classics' style toys," in this project, are defined as starting with the 2006 "Classics" toyline and continuing through modern "Classics" inspired toylines. Whenever possible, a character will be represented by such a toy designed to be that character.

Where no such official toys exist, repurposed toys will be acceptable if they are toys that clearly fit the character. (Example: Revenge of the Fallen Sea Spray repurposed as Classics Seaspray.) Also, while official Hasbro (or Takara) toys will be used when possible, when a third party option exists where there is no official option, that third party product may be used. With very few exceptions, however, if an official option exists it will have the priority. (Some official figures may also feature third party accessories that help them better match their G1 equivalents.)

As my project, I will be the final decision maker on what goes into it. However, for figures that have no official figure, and for whom I have no personally preferred repurposed or third-party option, I will ask the opinions of you, my fellow forum members.

While if I need to, I shall "borrow" photos from elsewhere on the web (such as from the Transformers Wiki or from TFU.info) I prefer this project to use as much original photography as possible. For toys I own, I shall supply my own photographs. But for other toys, I may ask my fellow forum members for help in providing photos of their own toys. (Supplied photographs will be credited.)

Photographs will feature figures individually, except in some cases where in the G1 Toyline figures were sold packaged together. (Example: G1 Cassettes were sold in two-packs, thus their modern equivelents were photographed in corresponding pairs.) Each figure will have one photograph for each mode, excluding minor mode variations. Photographs should be against a neutral background.

Anyway, that all being said, please allow me to announce...

The "Classics" Toy Catalogue!

Two main pages are completed as of the time of this writing:

1984 Autobots
1984 Decepticons

In addition, even though it was jumping ahead a bit, I have presented one of three currently planned bonus pages in this project:

Bonus #1: Pre-Movie Characters With "Classics" Style Toys Who Were Not Represented In the Original G1 Toyline

So, the next two pages I'll be working on would be the 1985 Autbots and the 1985 Decepticons. I do need some help with these pages. Here is what I am seeking:

Photgraphs:

-2006 Mini-Con Dinobot Swoop
-Mech Ideas Apex
-Mech Ideas Geminus
-Universe 2008 Roadbuster
-2013 Year of the Snake Omega Supreme

-Fansproject Insecticons (thee figures, please photograph individually)
-Fansproject Deluxe Insecticons (three figures, please photograph individually)
-Fall of Cybertron Shockwave (as I personally didn't care for this figure for repurposing into a Classics Shockwave, it would only be a placeholder until hopefully someday a better option does come along. Thus, I have no opinion on if the Deluxe mold or the Voyager mold would be better, and would welcome whichever is sent to me first.

Suggestions:

(The following do not have official "Classics" style updates, and I am unaware of what figures my work well as repurposed or third party options. Suggestions, and hopefully photographs, would be welcome.)

-Slag
-Sludge
-Snarl
-The Powerdashers -- Zetar ("Drill Type"), Aragon ("F-1 Type"), and Cromar ("Jet Type")
-The Omnibots -- Camshaft, Downshift, and Ovrdrive
-Deluxe Insecticon Venom

Thanks! I hope people enjoy this project, and that it can generate some interesting discussion!

Took some picture of the FP Insecticons for you, but the camera won't stay connected long enough to pull them out and my computer lacks an XD card slot(it's an ooooooooold camera). Luckily my wife found one of our newer, SD card cameras tonight, so I'll setup for new pictures tomorrow.

Also, if you want, I can send a list I did a few months ago when I started a similar project.

I look forward to your photos, Midnight_Fox. As for the list... sure, why not? It may be useful, it may not. But I won't know until I see it, yes?

I noticed that you used "Rager" to represent Huffer. If you were trying for Has/Tak versions of the character you could use the PCC version of Huffer.

SJ21 wrote:I noticed that you used "Rager" to represent Huffer. If you were trying for Has/Tak versions of the character you could use the PCC version of Huffer.

If this project was limited to Has/Tak figures, I think it would be a toss-up between BotCon '07 Huffer and PCC Huffer. But iGear's Rager is a much better "Classic" style representation of Huffer than anything else out there.

G1 Soundwave repurposed for Classics?

Alex Jones wrote:G1 Soundwave repurposed for Classics?

Well, that would hardly be recreating the original toyline using more modern toys, now, would it? That would just be presenting the original toyline. Besides which, the project already has a Soundwave, if you look at the 1984 Decepticons page: It uses a repurposed Music Label Soundwave.

GuyIncognito wrote:

SJ21 wrote:I noticed that you used "Rager" to represent Huffer. If you were trying for Has/Tak versions of the character you could use the PCC version of Huffer.

If this project was limited to Has/Tak figures, I think it would be a toss-up between BotCon '07 Huffer and PCC Huffer. But iGear's Rager is a much better "Classic" style representation of Huffer than anything else out there.

Re: Botcon '07 Huffer -- I know it is somewhat hypocritical of me*, as I specifically said that I prefer using official figures when available over third party figures... But I kind of want to avoid also using convention exclusive figures, which I feel are often rare and vastly overpriced for what they are. Especially for those (like me) who are unable to attend such conventions and have to take their chances on the secondary market. (Sooooo glad I waited on the Seekers... Took many years, but the core six eventually all had retail releases!)

But to be far... it is an official Huffer option. So it did, if you'll note, at least rate something of a footnote like mention after another forum member had pointed that figure out to me.

Re: PCC Huffer. Not having ever been terribly interested in the PCC line, I'd forgotten about that figure as well. But looking at it again... I'm sorry, he doesn't say G1 Huffer to me at all (which, even if I don't like it as much as Rager, I could at least say about the Botcon version), and it would to me be a bad repurposing. So yeah, I think Rager shall (unless Hasbro releases a better figure in the future) keep his place on the project.

*Expect a bit more such hypocritical behavior when the Constructicons... Perhaps even more hypocritical, as the official "Classics" version was a retail release and not a convention exclusive. But to me, that was a bad repurposing on Hasbro's part. They may have been fine as a loose homage to the G1 Constructicons in the Energon line... but as a more direct homage in the Classics line, they failed spectacularly, for many reasons not the least of which being that the team was short a member.

Hegemon for Megatron or United voyager Megatron.

Alex Jones wrote:Hegemon for Megatron or United voyager Megatron.

I appreciate your enthusiasm for my project, and hope you continue to post to this thread. But both of your suggestion have been for 1984 Decepticons, a group I am not looking for suggestions on. Do you have any suggestions for any of the following?

Yotsuyasan wrote:-Slag
-Sludge
-Snarl
-The Powerdashers -- Zetar ("Drill Type"), Aragon ("F-1 Type"), and Cromar ("Jet Type")
-The Omnibots -- Camshaft, Downshift, and Ovrdrive
-Deluxe Insecticon Venom

Yotsuyasan wrote:-Slag
-Sludge
-Snarl

Wait for TF4, Toyworld or Planet X releases.

Yotsuyasan wrote:-Deluxe Insecticon Venom

I'm using Beast Wars Cicadacon for him atm.

Arctorro wrote:

Yotsuyasan wrote:-Slag
-Sludge
-Snarl

Wait for TF4, Toyworld or Planet X releases.

We'll see on your second and third suggestions... As for the first...

Ha! Like a Bayverse film will ever produce a design that fits in well with Classics. Our only hope there is that the only Dinobot to feature in the film is Grimlock, and the rest are released as toy only characters to expand the toyline.

(Note: I shall be more then happy to eat my hat if I am wrong. No, strike that. I love my hat. And it was an expensive hat. A high quality fedora. Not taking chances with that. Well... um... I will be more then happy to eat the hat of anyone else who wishes to volunteer one to me if I am wrong. As long as that person has decent hygiene, and keeps their head and hair clean.)

Arctorro wrote:I'm using Beast Wars Cicadacon for him atm.

Well, I suppose he has the right alt mode, and when talking repurposed figures sometimes compromises need to be made, but I'm not feeling it. They don't really look like the same character to me. The robot modes are so different. Maybe if they at least had similar color schemes, but they don't even have that going for them. They're just the same bug. That'd be like grabbing a Sunstreaker toy and saying, "I don't have a Sideswipe, and you're a Lamborghini. So, well, I'll just love you and hug you, and call you Sideswipe from now on."

I dunno, I'm willing to be a bit flexable... Does anyone else have an opinion? Would Cicadacon be a believable modern Venom?

Venom:


Cicadacon:

To be clear, where do you stand on using War for Cybertron/Fall of Cybertron figures in your project? Although many of these figures were originally part of the "Aligned" continuity, several designs have been repurposed by IDW Publishing as Generation One characters in their ongoing Transformers comics. Some bigger examples include Shockwave, many of the Combaticons, The Seekers, and Soundwave (as well as Laserbeak) in their WfC/FoC forms. I just swapped out my G1 reissue Soundwave and tape minions for the FoC Voyager and data discs. They look fantastic with all the other Classics toys on my shelves! I decided to do the same with Blaster in my Classics display as well. Similarly, my FoC Grimlock from the Thrilling 20 two-pack with Bruticus took the place of 2006 Classics Grimlock in my Classics display. The gold chrome paint really makes him pop on the shelf and gives me warm and fuzzy G1 vibes.

Wolfman Jake wrote:To be clear, where do you stand on using War for Cybertron/Fall of Cybertron figures in your project?

Well, when it comes to this project and repurposed figures, a lot of it has to do with personal feeling, I suppose. And I know it may sound shocking, but I'm not a big reader of comic books thus I don't feel beholden to IDW designs when they clash terribly with more traditional G1 designs. Not all of the War for Cybertron/Fall of Cybertron designs clash terribly, but some of them do.

That being said, I am not totally against the idea of War for Cybertron/Fall of Cybertron figures. I do already plan on using Blaster and his Data Discs as part of this project, having repurposed them in my own Classics collection. (His alt mode design is a bit clashy... but there isn't really a better "Classics" option, and he is a terribly prominent character to not have.)

A lot of other figures you mentioned already have better "Classics" options, in my opinion. The Seekers were well represented. The FOC Bruticus has an aesthetic that does not say G1 to m at all, and thus I'd stick with one of the G1 repaints of the Energon set (helped out a bit with Fansproject's upgrades).

For a Classics Soundwave, I really stand by Music Label Soundwave. Yeah, he does have the minor disadvantage of not being able to hold minions (although I did name the Mini SD card I use in him Buzzsaw), but he so wonderfully looks the part while bringing modern design and articulation to the table. And his minions... well, three of them have excellent Classics representations which blow the "Data Disc" ones out of the water. (Frenzy, Ravage, and Rumble.) As far as Lazerbeak and Buzzsaw... well, neither one were toys I was destined to own, not having any desire to own the larger toy they came with beyond its use as Blaster. I suppose I went with a repurposed Booster X10 for Lazerbeak for this project as that is what I use in my collection. I guess there isn't really a better Buzzsaw, option, though. Problem is, since in '84 Buzzsaw was sold with Soundwave, I'd want to photograph them together. If anyone can supply me of photographs similar to the ones I currently have of a Reprolabeled Music Label Soundwave, but with the FOC Buzzsaw rather then the Masterpiece one I used as a placeholder, I would use them.

Shockwave... I was not a fan of any of his recent official toys. It was a shame, each time one was announced I got hopeful that I might soon have a Shockwave for my collection. That being said, he is a figure I will use if supplied photographs of. (And since, as I said, I wasn't a personal fan of any of them, I'm not picky on which recent Shockwave it is, the FOC one or the Beast Hunters one... Although if someone sends me photos of the Beast Hunters one, for the love of God, don't include the beast armor pieces!)

Grimlock: In my personal collection, I must sheepishly admit I use the Masterpiece Grimlock in my own collection. (I say sheepishly, as on the 1984 Decepticons page, Buzzsaw's footnote discourages mixing Masterpiece in with Classics, saying that Masterpice should be its own separate thing.) For this project, however, I'm sticking with the 2006 Classics option. It is a good figure. It is an official option. And it is nice to give him some love, as my figure of him normally sits off to the side by himself, thinking evil thoughts about Masterpiece Grimlock. That being said, with you having pointed it out I think the FOC mold is at least worthy of a footnote pointing out it is popularly repurposed into Classics collections. (I was already planning such a footnote for Powerglide regarding the Dark of the Moon Cyberverse figure.)

And if there are War for Cybertron/Fall of Cybertron options that might be usefull for any figures I do ask for suggestion on, please do mention them!

Sorry for the delay, but here they are:































I'll also try to get some pictures of my YotS Omega.

Midnight_Fox wrote:Sorry for the delay, but here they are:

Awesome, thank you! I shall definitely use six of those (one of each mode for each character) in the project. (Although the ones for Shrapnel may be replaced when the Generations "Sharpshot" figure comes out, as official figures would trump third party as long as the official figure doesn't completely suck).

One minor request: in the future, could you try to avoid cutting off any bits of the figure off of the edge of the photo? I shan't ask you to retake any of these. (They're great photos overall, and I certainly don't wish to seem in any way ungreatful for your efforts.) Just a preference I should have specified originally, and thus am now doing so for photo requests going forward.

Look forward to the Omega Supreme ones if you can get those. Especially since the '85 Autobot article will be before the '85 Decepticon one!

By the way, how do you wish to be credited for your photos when they are used? By your Seibertron.com screen name? Your actual name? Some other preference (as long as it isn't a lewd nickname)?

Screen name's fine. Yeah, I hated cutting off parts, but the other option was backing out and losing detail due to the distance from the figures.

Edit: I also really need to find what box my light box is packed in. Makes so much difference...

Midnight_Fox wrote:I also really need to find what box my light box is packed in. Makes so much difference...

I should get one of those eventually. Heck, even some better lighting would probably help me, as I pretty much currently just use whatever light is in the room, and the flash on the camera itself.

Not a short term priority, I shall admit. But as an eventuality, it is nice to think about having.

Yeah, I'm currently using the room's light and a number of lamps, but the actual dispersion of light in the box helps out better than the multiple naked light sources.

Are you going to do the third year as well. A lot of characters are available.

Hot Rod
Kup
Blurr
Wreck-Gar
Arcee (3rd Party)
Springer
Ultra Magnus
Wheelie
Swerve
Tailgate (coming soon)
Eject (FOC)
Rewind (FOC)
Ramhorn (FOC)
Steeljaw (FOC)
Sandstorm
Metroplex
Galvatron
Cyclonus
Scourge
Sharkticon
Ratbat
Razorclaw


Among the missing are Sky Lynx, Pipes, Hubcap, Broadside, Trypticon and the rest of the Predacons, although there's some 3rd party answers for some of those.

I've found that Cybertron Armorhide makes an excellent Classics Pipes. That mold was also used to make BotCon 2007 Huffer. Being that Huffer and Pipes were mold brothers back in G1, it makes this repurposing all the more perfect in my collection.

RiddlerJ wrote:Are you going to do the third year as well.

Well, if you look at the project's main page, you'll see that the eventual plan is to cover pretty much the entire American G1 line, through the line's end in 1990. Of course, I am sure that the farther along we get, the more characters we'll get to that don't really have a modern equivalent... Suppose we'll just have to do the best we can, and live with the fact that there are a lot of figures that will just have placeholders.

But I want to concentrate on one year at a time. I'll ask about '86 once we're done with '85!

I'd like to get the 1985 Autobot article up tomorrow, so I'm going to say midnight Eastern standard time tonight is last call for the following:

Photgraphs:

-2006 Mini-Con Dinobot Swoop
-Mech Ideas Apex
-Mech Ideas Geminus
-Universe 2008 Roadbuster
-2013 Year of the Snake Omega Supreme

Suggestions:

(The following do not have official "Classics" style updates, and I am unaware of what figures my work well as repurposed or third party options. Suggestions, and hopefully photographs, would be welcome.)

-Slag
-Sludge
-Snarl
-The Powerdashers -- Zetar ("Drill Type"), Aragon ("F-1 Type"), and Cromar ("Jet Type")
-The Omnibots -- Camshaft, Downshift, and Ovrdrive

Any gaps still left when I present the article tomorrow will have to just be filled with photos taken from the internet. In the case of figures I was seeking suggestions for, placeholder photos of the G1 figures will be used.

Note: It isn't as if the articles cannot be updated as time goes on, so for any of the above requests that may remain unfilled, if someone has some photos to offer or a great suggestion for a repurposed figure at a later date, please do still make them available. But it is my hope that the 1985 Autobot article can be as complete as possible with tomorrow's publication.

There has been some question on what toys I am willing to include in this project, and when there are multiple toys to represent an individual character, which toy I see as taking priority. I've tried to answer these questions as they have come up, and hopefully it hasn't been too confusing. But I've decided to try and simplify things, by making a list of priority levels. I've put this list on the project's main page, but will reproduce it here for you to see (and comment on, if you wish).

-Level 1: Official Hasbro retail releases intended as a modern G1 update. (Some may have third party upgrades, but these upgrades will be useless without the core figure.) This includes retailer exclusives, as they are usually still easily available to most collectors at the time of their release.
-Level 2: Takara retail releases with no Level 1 equivalent. (Some may have third party upgrades, but these upgrades will be useless without the core figure.)
-Level 3: Figures repurposed from other official Transformers toylines using toys intended as another continuity's version of the same character, repurposed figures not intended as the same character but who by coincidence have adequate resemblance to the G1 character, or figures that are complete third party products. (If more then one of these options exist, priority will be given to whichever the author of these articles feels best aesthetically represents a modern update of the G1 character.)
-Level 4: Convention or Club exclusive figures. (As figures generally only available to a financially and / or geographically blessed minority, these figures will only be included in the project if there is no other modern toy to represent the G1 character in question.)

If in whichever level is being used for a particular character, there are multiple representations of the same character, priority will be given to whichever toy the author of these articles feels best aesthetically represents a modern update of the G1 character.

There may be occasional exceptions to the above, which if occurring will be noted with the toy in question.

Well, here is the page for the 1985 Autobots!

While it is now a published article, if anyone has any suggestion for the missing Dinobots, the Omnibots, or the Powerdashers, I'll be most welcome to them. (Also, if anyone can provide photos for me to replace ones borrowed from other websites such as the TF Wiki or TFU.info, that'd be great. In an ideal world, other then placeholder G1 pictures, I'd use only photos taken by myself or others specifically for this project.)

So... 1985 Decepticons! Midnight_Fox was kind enough to supply Insecticon photos. I still need photos of the three Fansproject Deluxe Insecticon figures, and of one of the recent Shockwaves, whichever you fine folk think makes a better repurposing as G1 Shockwave. (Either the FOC one or the Beast Hunters one.)

Oh... and unless more people agree with Arctorro's Cicadacon suggestion (I'm not sold personally on it, but willing to be flexable if it seems a popular suggestion) I'd also still like suggestions on figures that can be repurposed as Deluxe Insecticon Venom.

Thanks! And enjoy the 1985 Autobots article!

The 1985 Decepticons article is up!

So, next up will be the 1986 Autobots. I could use help with the following:

Photos for:
-the 2008 Universe Aerialbots with the Fansproject Aerial Appendage Kit (individual robots in both modes, plus the gestalt mode)
-Fansprojct Warbot Assaulter
-2012 Generations Hot Spot (unless someone can suggest a modern combining update for the Protectobots)

Suggestions for:
-Hubcap
-Outback
-Pipes
-The four Protectobot limbs
-Skylynx
-Six Gun
-Slammer

Looking forward to comments on the '85 articles, and thanks in advance for any help with '86!