The Energon Pub

[Overcracker]

Stupid question …. Those Chinese KO’s of the G1 Dinobots, aside from using cheap plastic and suspect parts, seem to be the same molds as the originals. Couldn’t Hasbro just take one and modify / reverse engineer it and use it to make more?

Yes and no. It costs a HUGE amount of money to do what you're suggesting, the last and as far as I know only time Hasbro has done something like that was during the Pursuit of Cobra line for the Skystriker. They had to pay a collector for one and they only went through the expense because they knew they were going to release the jet enough to cover the costs. If I remember correctly the retail for the Skystriker was around $50 the same as the last reissue of G1 Prime.

Knowing all that, and what the current reissues go for, would you be willing to pay probably closer to $100 for ONE Dinobot? Keep in mind you have to buy it within the first month of release and not use any kind of gift or discount card for the retailer and Hasbro to see it as a success.

Didn’t they do just that with Rattrap last year for Walmart’s Vintage line?

The mold was clearly already not viable all the way back in 2006, when they used Transmetal Rattrap for the 10th anniversary. And only last year did they give us an original Rattrap, from what TFwiki claims are a brand new set of molds.

Vintage Rattrap - TFWiki

Or was that a different process?

[Jelze Bunnycat]

The question then becomes, why hasn't Hasbro or Takara ever done that in all these 40 years?

Basic economics I'm guessing. Would you rather allocate budget for new molds to restoring vintage toys that appeal to a limited target group, or to brand new toys with articulation, or features that increase playability for a broader audience? You may note that the "restored" molds are limited to parts (BW Cheetor's gut gun, G1 Jazz's head) to smaller toys (W Cassettebots, BW Rattrap).

[Sabrblade]

The question then becomes, why hasn't Hasbro or Takara ever done that in all these 40 years?

Basic economics I'm guessing. Would you rather allocate budget for new molds to restoring vintage toys that appeal to a limited target group, or to brand new toys with articulation, or features that increase playability for a broader audience?

The aforementioned Vintage Beast Wars Rattrap says "Hi".

[-Kanrabat-]

The vintage Cartoon Soundwave and Blaster are available at last at Walmart.ca, but I'm skipping them. For the price they go for, my current G1 accurate reissues does the job aplenty. Plus the differences are not drastic enough for me to double-dip, like for Starscream.

[chuckdawg1999]

Stupid question …. Those Chinese KO’s of the G1 Dinobots, aside from using cheap plastic and suspect parts, seem to be the same molds as the originals. Couldn’t Hasbro just take one and modify / reverse engineer it and use it to make more?

Yes and no. It costs a HUGE amount of money to do what you're suggesting, the last and as far as I know only time Hasbro has done something like that was during the Pursuit of Cobra line for the Skystriker. They had to pay a collector for one and they only went through the expense because they knew they were going to release the jet enough to cover the costs. If I remember correctly the retail for the Skystriker was around $50 the same as the last reissue of G1 Prime.

Knowing all that, and what the current reissues go for, would you be willing to pay probably closer to $100 for ONE Dinobot? Keep in mind you have to buy it within the first month of release and not use any kind of gift or discount card for the retailer and Hasbro to see it as a success.

Didn’t they do just that with Rattrap last year for Walmart’s Vintage line?

The mold was clearly already not viable all the way back in 2006, when they used Transmetal Rattrap for the 10th anniversary. And only last year did they give us an original Rattrap, from what TFwiki claims are a brand new set of molds.

Vintage Rattrap - TFWiki

Or was that a different process?

I think they made a new set of production molds, the original steel molds are still around. The original Steel molds for the Dinobots and others were lost. Didn't help with Rattrap since the toy ended up a floppy mess.

[Emerje]

It's possible they or Takara Tomy had already made that Rattrap mold a while ago and didn't use it, like maybe for the 20th anniversary that didn't get celebrated properly.

There's a big difference between reissuing a Skystriker and reissuing Grimlock. Not only is there a much larger world wide fanbase for Grimlock but there's also more realistic reuses for the mold. Not only are there multiple ways they can repaint it (original, cartoon, comic, G2 decos), but there are more opportunities to use it later and it wouldn't take up much store shelf space like a giant jet. I doubt it would be $100 if they're really dedicated to using it like other reissues. At most $60, at least $45, even more optimistic $35.

Emerje

[william-james88]

While they were available on the website, it was unsure if the Walmart exclusive 40th anniversary Trasformers G1 Soundwave and Blaster eeissues wouold find their way in stores as well. However, we have several reports of them being found at stores across Canada. The particular images below are from a Quebec Walmart and are courtesy of TF fan Daniel. These reissues go for $66.97. We have a review below of these products, enjoy.

[Dino-Snarl]

Nice! They arrived 2 months ago from the online order.

[-Kanrabat-]

There's not enough difference between these and the regular G1 for me. So for the price, that's an easy pass.

But for those who still don't have any of them in their G1 form, they are must-haves.

[Brokebot]

I'd like to see more cassettes for Blaster, but I guess that ship sailed 40 years ago.

[JDarkwulf]

I'm really over the Walmart exclusives. Pre-ordered Soundwave in October because he's one of my main collection items. The order got cancelled in January for nonspecific reasons, but they didn't actually notify me it was cancelled until February, and now I'm stuck paying 200% on third-party seller sites, or I guess now taking a road trip to Canada where it's actually on shelves.

[-Kanrabat-]

I'm really over the Walmart exclusives. Pre-ordered Soundwave in October because he's one of my main collection items. The order got cancelled in January for nonspecific reasons, but they didn't actually notify me it was cancelled until February, and now I'm stuck paying 200% on third-party seller sites, or I guess now taking a road trip to Canada where it's actually on shelves.

The only one I saw on WM shelves is Blaster.

Soundwave, I found it at my local geek store at the normal price, but that sold out quickly.

Maybe with any luck, you'll find it at an independent shop with a reasonable mark-up or none at all.

[william-james88]

Bad news for collectors who collect boxed toys. We now have images of the Ramhorn/Bommbshell G1 retro pack and it is very different from the previous two Walmart exclusive G1 retro Insecticon offerings. As with Soundwave and Blaster, this goes for the G1 box aesthetic, so it will be at odds with those. It is a cool box though, as it has both the Decepticon and Autobot colours due to there being both an Autobot and Decepticon in the set. And both happen to be rhinoceros themed, with Bombshell turning into a rhinoceros beetle. Since this is still part of the retro line, Bombshell is meant to be toon accurate with a grey chest, as he sported in the cartoon when he's in robot mode.

One more detail about the packaging though, it does look like there is no plastic window.

[-Kanrabat-]

No plastic window on a RETRO box.

Le ma fukking HO.

What is the point?

[TF-fan kev777]

I'm amused that they are packaging Bombshell playing peek-a-boo.

[ScottyP]

The bigger packaging miss here is the lack of a bubble. It's impossible to open this, enjoy it, then put it back in the box in a way where it looks like it hasn't been opened. I wish it were a closed box like the TFTM branded releases.

[Emerje]

Ramhorn looks like he turns into a chocolate bar now. You just know people will be stealing him from the box, assuming these actually get into stores. I've only seen Starscream and Hotrod in stores. Optimus will probably make it to stores, otherwise I just treat these like online exclusive.

Emerje

[william-james88]

With this being the 40th anniversary of the brand, not only do we get the most cartoon accurate CHUG scaled Optimus ever with the commander class release, and Takara and Hasbro versions of the idea of the G1 Optimus toy with modern articulation BUT but we also get a reissue of the original G1 Optimus Prime toy in cartoon colors. Below we have two reviews showing just how extensive the deco changes are from previous versions. And we also see that all the mainstays of the G1 toy are still there, like the rubber wheels and die cast.

[-Kanrabat-]

I wonder for how much that Optimus will be priced in Canada?

Also, will we find it at all in stores?

[Bumblevivisector]

It would do my heart good to actually see this on shelf at my local Wal-Marts, and that show-accurate trailer is tempting...but I still have ol' New Years Convoy, and a ton of stuff I'm behind on collecting, so I probably wouldn't bite unless I was lucky enough to stumble across it on clearance, and I hope they never shelfwarm badly enough to warrant that.

[Quantum Surge]

The white surprisingly looks better than it normally would on a toy that usually has chrome.

[william-james88]

I wonder for how much that Optimus will be priced in Canada?

Also, will we find it at all in stores?

It will be $100

https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/transforme ... 0208149972

[-Kanrabat-]

I wonder for how much that Optimus will be priced in Canada?

Also, will we find it at all in stores?

It will be $100

https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/transforme ... 0208149972

Of course it is 100$.

And of course it's out of stock.

[Emerje]

Feels like forever ago that we first fond out about Hasbro and Walmart's next batch of cartoon colored G1 reissues, but the day has finally come! As part of Walmart's latest Collector Con orders have finally opened for Optimus Prime and Bombshell with Ramhorn. People concerned about the pricing of Prime with his trailer in particular will be happy to know that he's priced at $75, that's quite the contrast to the 2018 reissue of just Prime without the trailer that was $50 on its own! Meanwhile the other set is $35 to finish the Insecticons and give Blaster another tape.

And no, this is not a pre-order, these are ready to go now!

Optimus Prime: Walmart.com - Hasbro Pulse
Bombshell and Ramhorn: Walmart.com - Hasbro Pulse

[-Kanrabat-]

Link for Optimus at Canadian Walmart.

108$+tx

https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/transforme ... 0208149971