The Energon Pub

News Credits: 65 · Mon Mar 24, 2014 5:43 pm

I just ordered a Takara-Tomy Transformers United Scourge from eBay (used) planning to use him as my new Classics Scourge, with three of the Hasbro Transformers Generations versions as his sweeps. I like the idea of having Scourge look distinct with different, shinier paint apps and red optics to differentiate him from his drones. However, the red eyes I had heard all about are VERY underwhelming. With light behind Scourges head, his eyes light up vaguely purplish. The difference from the Hasbro version is definitely not dramatic. I can see where the clear piping has been painted red when I take apart the head (as opposed to blue paint on the Generations version). Is this the norm for the United version, or might there be something fishy going on with the one I bought used from eBay?

News Credits: 241 · Mon Mar 24, 2014 6:14 pm

That is the norm for the United one I'm afraid. TakaraTomy made the mistake of using sheer paint instead of opaque for the eyes so the light piping still works.

News Credits: 65 · Mon Mar 24, 2014 6:29 pm

Thanks for the confirmation on that. Now I know my figure is authentic and the eye paint is just as underwhelming on all samples. Still, I like having the United version of Scourge with his slightly different color layout and applications to make him the definitive leader of the otherwise identical Sweeps.

News Credits: 2 · Mon Mar 24, 2014 11:14 pm

The other key thing between United and Hasbro is the

insignia is dead center so your United Scourge can stand out from his minions. Another cool idea is you can arrange their wings in robot mode just right so your Scourge stands bold too...I'm just saying.

News Credits: 65 · Tue Mar 25, 2014 12:12 am

Before I got United Scourge, I set Generations Scourge "proper" apart from his minion Sweeps by folding his wings out fully to give him more of his G1 "cape" look and armed him with his guns combined as "Fracas." The sweeps behind him kept the wings folded up (as in alt mode) and kept their guns hidden away in the wings as well, leaving them unarmed. Now with United Scourge, my Scourge "proper" looks even more distinguished. I just wish his "red" eyes were...redder. Oh well. United Scourge will look nice next to Decepticon Specialists Galvatron with his shiny new electric indigo deco.

Now I'm tempted to pick up a couple extra Universe Cyclonuses to make Cyclonus' fabled "Armada." Though, I guess I could get by with just the ONE Universe Cyclonus I have

, but it would be nice to have three to even out the "Armada" with the Sweeps. Battle at Cybertron Cyclonus, of course, is my Cyclonus "proper."

Tue Mar 25, 2014 8:32 am

I never liked the wings in their official set up pointing down, which is why i took them off & reattached them pointing upwards.

News Credits: 241 · Tue Mar 25, 2014 10:53 am

Hammer wrote:I never liked the wings in their official set up pointing down, which is why i took them off & reattached them pointing upwards.

You can unfold the wing to better emulate his original cape, you know? That's how I have mine.

News Credits: 65 · Tue Mar 25, 2014 10:59 am

Indeed, unfolding the wings is a great "undocumented" feature of the mold and replicates the G1 "cape" rather well. That's how I help differentiate Scourge from his Sweeps in my display. Plus, I think it helps stabilize the figure just a bit, centering the mass closer the middle of the figure and lower to the ground, mititating some "back-heaviness" issues.

Tue Mar 25, 2014 8:58 pm

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:
You can unfold the wing to better emulate his original cape, you know? That's how I have mine.

Im just not a fan of that set-up. I prefer them that way

News Credits: 65 · Tue Mar 25, 2014 10:09 pm

Well, I think I've warmed up to United Scourge after the initial disappointment with his not so red eyes. What are some other Takara-Tomy versions of Classics/neo-G1 figures to look into? I already have United Voyager Megatron (he's almost perfect) and I'm contemplating picking up United Tracks and Jazz, Tracks for the better G1 flame decal, and Jazz for the extra paint apps and brighter white plastic. Henkei Optimus Prime is very appealing, but in general, I'm trying to avoid most Henkei figures because I don't care much for the arbitrarily chromed parts on most of them. Henkei Prime's chrome makes perfect sense, though, and looks very nice. What else should be on my wish list for screen-accurate or superior decoed Classics-styled figures?

News Credits: 241 · Wed Mar 26, 2014 9:49 am

I got Henkei Prime instead of the Classics one, because I can't stand the yellow and blue, they stick out like a sore thumb. Just a matter of taste really. Henkei Hot Rodimus is another good one to consider with the G1-accurate flame and chromed spoiler. Do be warned both have been KO'ed, but Prime's a little easier to tell: the doors have been retooled on the KO to split the clear windows from the now opaque doors, on the original it was all a single clear piece painted over.

Here's my list for recommendations, but some don't come cheap:

Galvatron: either Henkei, or the upcoming Specialist one.
Cyclonus: Battle in Space or Challenge of Cybertron.
Laser Optimus Prime: United
Deluxe Tank Megatron: United, could double as G2 Europe Archforce
Ironhide: Henkei, or the upcoming Specialist one. The Hasbro version has a blue face by accident, but nothing a sharpie can't fix.
Smokescreen: Henkei, the Hasbro one's deco is just... bad. Granted, it was the deco artist's first professional work, and he shares our disappointment.
Powerglide: the red Walmart one, the TakaraTomy release has too much red

The rest can be either or

News Credits: 65 · Wed Mar 26, 2014 10:18 am

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:I got Henkei Prime instead of the Classics one, because I can't stand the yellow and blue, they stick out like a sore thumb. Just a matter of taste really. Henkei Hot Rodimus is another good one to consider with the G1-accurate flame and chromed spoiler. Do be warned both have been KO'ed, but Prime's a little easier to tell: the doors have been retooled on the KO to split the clear windows from the now opaque doors, on the original it was all a single clear piece painted over.

Thanks for the tip on Henkei Convoy. I've heard about the proliferation of KO's of that figure lately, but it's comforting to know it's easy to distinquish the genuine article from the high quality bootlegs.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Here's my list for recommendations, but some don't come cheap:

Galvatron: either Henkei, or the upcoming Specialist one.
Cyclonus: Battle in Space or Challenge of Cybertron.
Laser Optimus Prime: United
Deluxe Tank Megatron: United, could double as G2 Europe Archforce
Ironhide: Henkei, or the upcoming Specialist one. The Hasbro version has a blue face by accident, but nothing a sharpie can't fix.
Smokescreen: Henkei, the Hasbro one's deco is just... bad. Granted, it was the deco artist's first professional work, and he shares our disappointment.
Powerglide: the red Walmart one, the TakaraTomy release has too much red

The rest can be either or

Galvatron: I've got the Decepticon Specialist version on preorder

That will net me a nice screen acurate Astrotrain too. (I've got the Universe version and the Challenge at Cybertron 3-pack version as well, the later of which is on my shelf now.)
Cyclonus: I've got the Challenge at Cybertron version. He's perfect

The Universe version is his "Armada"

Laser Optimus Prime: I've got the Reveal the Shield version. It's good enough for now.
Deluxe Tank Megatron: he's definitely on my list, but at a low priority currently.
Ironhide: Autobot Specialist version on preorder! I've been making due with the Universe version since 2008, despite his "hypoxia" face.
Smokescreen: I'm putting up with the Universe version hoping for a new "Asian Market" rerelease in the near future. The Henkei version is too expensive right now, and I don't like the chrome parts.
Powerglide: I have the Wal-Mart exclusive Universe version. Love it

I've been pondering picking up United Bumblebee as a nice "G2 Bumblebee" due to the golden paint job, but I've heard most samples are scratched up because of the packaging.

News Credits: 461 · Wed Mar 26, 2014 3:34 pm

May I recommend Henkei Hound? Miles better than Hasbro's version.

Henkei Red Alert for the red cartoon actuate head. (If your appose to getting third party add-on heads)

News Credits: 65 · Wed Mar 26, 2014 4:52 pm

I've got Autobot Specialist Hound on pre-order. It's got the best cartoon accuracy yet, except for the yellow eyes. I intend to just swap those out for the blue eyes on the Universe version.

Henkei Red Alert is tempting. Again, the chromed spoiler is problematic for me, but I like the cartoon red helmet and the cartoon/G1 toy accurate decals/tampographs on the Henkei version. I could swap out Generations Red Alert's weapons to the Henkei one to eliminate some of the random chrome, but I don't think I can swap the spoilers that easily.

News Credits: 65 · Mon Mar 31, 2014 1:50 pm

BUMP!

I've got a question about Henkei " USA Edition" Silverbolt. Why does the TFWiki consider the white plastic to be more cartoon accurate? Silverbolt is very obviously gray (silver) in the original cartoon, especially compared to most of the other Aerialbots. The white does homage the original toy better, though. But I think I'll stick with Hasbro's Universe release for the best screen accuracy. So, it looks like of the three Henkei USA Edition Ultra Class figures, Onslaught is the only "must have" for his deeper screen accurate blue? I already have the Hasbro Universe Wal-Mart exclusive G1 colors Powerglide, which is even more accurate than the Henkei version (go figure).

News Credits: 241 · Mon Mar 31, 2014 2:22 pm

Thing is, the grey on the US Silverbolt is too dark, darker than shown in the cartoon where he's more of a lighter grey bordering white.

News Credits: 65 · Mon Mar 31, 2014 3:47 pm

I feel that the brilliant white for the Henkei version misses the mark just as much (if not more so) in the other direction, kind of like how Universe Starscream is way too white when he should be light gray. At any rate, Hasbro's gray pleases me more for Silverbolt's screen accuracy than Takara-Tomy's white. Money saved!

News Credits: 4 · Mon Mar 31, 2014 5:20 pm

I know some people swear by the United Jazz, but the cheap old Hasbro one is absolutely fine by me.

News Credits: 65 · Tue Apr 01, 2014 12:05 am

United Jazz (and Tracks) are on my shortlist right now, if just to phase out the last few figures on my shelf sporting rubsigns (not counting the TFCC exclusive ones, for which there is no alternative).

News Credits: 65 · Sat Apr 05, 2014 8:53 pm

Bump, again.

Sorry to keep bringing this thread back, but I figure it makes more sense to keep posting here than create a new thread to gush about my latest foreign Transformers acquisitions.

This time, I went ahead and got Henkei Optimus Prime. I love him. The chrome looks beautiful on his truck mode, homages the G1 toy quite well, and hides away in robot mode so as not to be distracting. He is now the de facto Optimus Prime for my Classics shelves. I've given him the gun and axe from an extra Generations Orion Pax, kept the wind vane and smoke stacks on his back, and posed him with Generations Legends Roller to complete his "Neo-G1" look.

I also picked up Henkei Bumblebee. I like the extra coat of yellow paint to help the opaque and clear plastics match more closely, and the Autobot tampograph instead of a rub sign. I could do without the funky gold chrome on his hood scoop and his spoiler, though. He's still closer to G1 color accuracy than any Hasbro release of the mold, ins't blingin' gold like the United repaint, and isn't the disappointment that the Generations IDW Bumblebee has turned out to be. It's nice to have a Bumblebee on my Classics shelves again that doesn't pretend like he always had black racing stripes.

News Credits: 129 · Tue Apr 08, 2014 10:16 am

Wolfman Jake wrote:Well, I think I've warmed up to United Scourge after the initial disappointment with his not so red eyes. What are some other Takara-Tomy versions of Classics/neo-G1 figures to look into? I already have United Voyager Megatron (he's almost perfect) and I'm contemplating picking up United Tracks and Jazz, Tracks for the better G1 flame decal, and Jazz for the extra paint apps and brighter white plastic. Henkei Optimus Prime is very appealing, but in general, I'm trying to avoid most Henkei figures because I don't care much for the arbitrarily chromed parts on most of them. Henkei Prime's chrome makes perfect sense, though, and looks very nice. What else should be on my wish list for screen-accurate or superior decoed Classics-styled figures?

Figures that are massively improved on the Takara side:
Jazz
Tracks
Smokescreen
Smokescreen again just to be certain you hear.
Ironhide
Ratchet
Hound
Sunstreaker, OMG Sunstreaker
Inferno
Megatron
Drift (Shocking, I know, but trust me...)

Figures that may or may not be better depending on your taste:
Hook
Optimus
Skywarp
Prowl
Bluestreak
Red Alert
Bumblebee

Figures that are not worth the effort or are less accurate:
Sideswipe
Grimlock
Kupp (but if you use him as TM Kup, bump him up a notch)
Blurr (Same as Kup)
Octane

News Credits: 122 · Tue Apr 08, 2014 10:54 am

I've been contemplating Henkei Smokescreen for awhile, but Sunstreaker? Besides the chrome, the main difference seems to be a somewhat deeper, more goldenrod-type yellow. Is that what makes the difference?

I'm thinking of picking up the Specialist Sets; the decos look awesome, and it gives me a reason to sell my Hasbro MOSC Mirage and Hound, and finally acquire serviceable versions of Astrotrain, Octane, and Galvatron. But I want them to be cheaper. I doubt they'll dip to $90 like the Seeker sets, but do y'all think there's the chance they'll go on sale for $100-$110?

Going back to the Silverbolt discussion, I'm happy with my Hasbro version. When it comes to Classics, G1-accuracy is besides the point; it's about what looks good as an overall homage, and Hasbro Silverbolt is certainly does the job. Plus, I got him, Darkwind, and a couple other Universe Ultra figures on super-clearance for $7.50 each at TRU. Boxes are a bit beat up, but for that price, it doesn't get much better than that.

News Credits: 241 · Tue Apr 08, 2014 11:05 am

megatronus wrote:I've been contemplating Henkei Smokescreen for awhile, but Sunstreaker? Besides the chrome, the main difference seems to be a somewhat deeper, more goldenrod-type yellow. Is that what makes the difference?

The trouble with yellow is... well yellow is a cursed color in many aspects. But in Sunstreaker's case, the yellow paint on the translucent black piece does not match the yellow plastic that well. The Henkei version uses darker shades that match more closely to eachother.

News Credits: 65 · Tue Apr 08, 2014 5:10 pm

Counterpunch wrote:Figures that are massively improved on the Takara side:
Jazz
Tracks
Smokescreen
Smokescreen again just to be certain you hear.
Ironhide
Ratchet
Hound
Sunstreaker, OMG Sunstreaker
Inferno
Megatron
Drift (Shocking, I know, but trust me...)

Figures that may or may not be better depending on your taste:
Hook
Optimus
Skywarp
Prowl
Bluestreak
Red Alert
Bumblebee

Figures that are not worth the effort or are less accurate:
Sideswipe
Grimlock
Kupp (but if you use him as TM Kup, bump him up a notch)
Blurr (Same as Kup)
Octane

Yeah, I can agree with most of those. Universe Sideswipe is neigh identical to the Henkei version. The Classics Grimlock mold is moot to me, since I'm using the Generations Voyager mold now (and will soon upgrade to the Takara-Tomy version). Kup, Ironhide, Ratchet, Hound, and Octane will be replaced once the Specialists sets arrive. Bluur is way more G1 accurate in Generations, as far as paint apps and plastic color choices go, but I guess United is more IDW accurate? I have Optimus Prime covered now (still get giddy looking at his Henkei version on my Classics shelf) as well as Bumblebee. I got United Megatron a while back. That was my first foray into Takara-Tomy figure acquisitions. Skywarp I have from the Seeker: Aces set. Prowl and Bluestreak look fine in Universe and their Henkei versions are negligibly different (slightly different color tones plus chrome, but paint operations remain almost exactly the same). I want Henkei Red Alert for the red helmet and more accurate "Fire Chief" tampographs. Hook? I didn't know there was a Takara G1 repaint of Energon Devestator. Jazz and Tracks are on my short list, as are Wreck-Gar, Grapple, and maybe even Lugnut (just to get rid of as many rub sign figures as I can in my collection). Inferno I want as well. That brighter red suits him so much better on the Henkei version. Henkei Onslaught is on the wishlist too. Sunstreaker, I can wait on. The color mismatch between plastic and paint doesn't bother me to much right now. Same with Drift. I don't have a strong attachment to the character, so the Generations release will suffice for now. Smokescreen would be a dream come true, but the aftermarket prices are still so high for him. I'm not so secretly hoping we get a few more Asian market three packs to help fill in some of these gaps for me. For the most part, they seem to be hitting them out of the park, even improving upon already superior Henkei/United decos.