The Energon Pub

[ZeroWolf]

I still argue the vehicons were the best of beast machines

[ZeldaTheSwordsman]

Many would agree with you. But as far as Maximals go, the non-show ones beat the show ones.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

I still argue the vehicons were the best of beast machines

Beast Machines wise, I only have 3 vehicons (Thrust, T30 Tankor, and Mirage), and the designs are fun, especially Thrust, I really enjoy that deluxe figure.

Battle Unicorn is also one I would like to get eventually. He's another story of cheap toy on BBTS that is now uber hard to get.

I want to get Blastcharge next though for the vehicons, I adore that look

[ZeroWolf]

You owe scavenger a look for the drones, he's really fun to mess with.

[AllNewSuperRobot]

Personally, I think these are the best two BM Maximals:



Deluxe Primal

&


Battle Unicorn

(Who, also has a Universe redeco in...)

Magna Stampede

Other than those two, as mentioned non-show designs, I think the Vehicons are the only worthwhile part of the BM line.

[ZeroWolf]

All this time I've been desiring that figure, in none of it did I realise that the axe could seperate from the tail

[D-Maximal_Primal]

this is my basic Beast Machines shopping/wish list:

Maximals: Buzzsaw, Longhorn, Geckobot, Night Viper, Hammerstrike, Battle Unicorn, Noble/Savage, maybe that Primal (since he is cheap on ebay)

Vehicons: Scavenger, Blastcharge

Also, RiD Bruticus (the original cancelled Beast Machines Cerberus mold)

[Burn]

I need to have a look to see if I have any of the Universe repaints you might be interested in.

[AllNewSuperRobot]

this is my basic Beast Machines shopping/wish list:

Maximals: Buzzsaw, Longhorn, Geckobot, Night Viper, Hammerstrike, Battle Unicorn, Noble/Savage, maybe that Primal (since he is cheap on ebay)

Vehicons: Scavenger, Blastcharge

Also, RiD Bruticus (the original cancelled Beast Machines Cerberus mold)

I do plug them relatively frequently, but you might want to look at Transformerland, given that you're in the US, shipping would also be a lesser factor for you too.

EG They have two Blastcharge, for $11 & $10 respectively.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

So I'm finally messing around with my Optimal optimus, and I feel confident in saying I still prefer the new PotP one to the original. He is big and heavy, but he is definitely less elegant and posable, kinda offsetting the chunk of the original.

also, his cockpit can fit the new Diaclone dudes

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Putting some comparisons in here for your viewing pleasure

[ZeroWolf]

I still wonder what they were thinking with the spark pilot idea on OpOp, TM2 Megs (and I think Tigerhawk?) I get they were supposed to represent their sparks but... Why?

[Jelze Bunnycat]

Do be careful with OpOp, he's a confirmed case of Gold Plastic Syndrome in the wheels and turrets, which includes the battery block.

I still wonder what they were thinking with the spark pilot idea on OpOp, TM2 Megs (and I think Tigerhawk?) I get they were supposed to represent their sparks but... Why?

Tigerhawk, yes. And well... I suppose for Megatron and Tigerhawk they were originally going for the oversized Spark Crystal idea, the size an indicator of their overall power. But then they still got a normal-sized one anyway.

It is interesting to note that all three toys represent "fused" characters: G1 and BW Optimus, G1 and BW Megatron, and Tigatron and Airazor. But that was probably a happy accident by the cartoon as their original bios outside of Tigerhawk make no such mention.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Do be careful with OpOp, he's a confirmed case of Gold Plastic Syndrome in the wheels and turrets, which includes the battery block.

I will be careful, when he shipped the right side cannon actually did break, but I got it glued back together again. I'm surprised the wheels have it.

I think I will be keeping him in monkey mode, I think that is his strongest mode.

On the GPS side, I am super sad about my Torca, I cannot transform him to beast mode. I tried again this week and he just won't cooperate. Need to get a 2nd for the beast mode, or find the Blentron version of the mold

[AllNewSuperRobot]

I really can't stand the OpOp design. Literally the first BW figure wherein the Beast Mode is completely redundant. I saw him on the shelves, back in the day, before Season 3 dropped and immediately passed. A complete mish-mash of visual identities.

[Skritz]

Different stroke for different people. While I will concede the form, overall, was under utilized within the show until the finale and only used its beast mode twice, its a design that always stuck with me as a kid due to how over the top and unique it was. Or, maybe, it was just because its introduction episode was tied into the storyline of the Arc and seeing Optimus Prime on screen for the first time after being told he existed by people who remembered pre-BW Transformers.

[ZeroWolf]

See if you went back in time and told me that Optimus Prime would fuse, I wouldn't have pictured the result like that.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

I wish Optimal had used different colors, the orange doesn't make sense, replace the orange with black and I feel like it would have worked out better with the dark red and blue accents

[Skritz]

I wish Optimal had used different colors, the orange doesn't make sense, replace the orange with black and I feel like it would have worked out better with the dark red and blue accents

Actually the orange does make some sense. If you look at the robot mode of Optimal Optimus, if you ignore the burgundy shoulders and the oddly colored head, you will see it loosely match the classic Optimus Prime scheme with a primarily warm color (orange and red) upper torso with a cold lower legs (blue legs). I also think it's just that BW designers were not feeling too beholden to 'muh nostalgia' back then as, had this thing been designed today, it would have probably looked more like Botcon's Primal Prime which is a bit on the nose.

[AllNewSuperRobot]

Exactly. The colour scheme is one of the worst parts. Prime is red, white and blue. Yet where is that reflected in the design? TM 2 Megatron's all red aesthetic, doesn't make sense for the same reason.

[Skritz]

Exactly. The colour scheme is one of the worst parts. Prime is red, white and blue. Yet where is that reflected in the design? TM 2 Megatron's all red aesthetic, doesn't make sense for the same reason.

Beast Wars got really 'experimental' with their design, as you'd expect of some late '90 show and toyline.

[AllNewSuperRobot]

Indeed. The Transmetal and TM 2 lines showed that and were really visually striking. OpOp, TM 2 Megs and Cheetor were the only duds, to me. As we noted a page or two ago, TM 2 Megs didn't go experimental enough and could have looked a lot better than a Red Dragon. OpOp, would have been better as a new character.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Regarding Cheetor, in my collection he is represented by his Transmetal self, which is really good. I do have his Transmetal II toy as Ravage, and I think that works pretty well for Ravage. I like that mold in black, and I actually do like the mold as well.

Jawbreaker is probably my favorite Transmetal II so far. If I could write some fiction, he would be in it, he actually needs some fictional appearances. Plus his design, while not really well liked by others, really speaks to me, it's really cool

[AllNewSuperRobot]

He's got weird hands but, I do think TM Cheetor is his best design in the entire series. I was really impressed by the TM 2 line from the first time I saw it. Sonar and Scarem were my first two and as I have an artistic background, the level of detail in them really struck a cord. I even adapted my Rebellion fiction to spotlight the entire TM 2 roster. Even switching out Cheetor and Blackarachnia for mold variants, as neither of them made it to the Future setting I based the TM 2 design in.

[Skritz]

Just a reminder that Optimal Optimus is not a Transmetal 2, but technically one of the last Transmetal and arguably the only one of his breed of 'super Transmetals'. TM2 Megatron is one by toy design and labeling but isn't a TM2 within the show.