The Energon Pub

News Credits: 2 · by **Sid Burn** » Wed Apr 28, 2010 9:31 am

Hey guys, remember when there was a preorder up from a german company making a bus transformer named Robobuz? I signed up for the preorder, and then nothing came of it. Well, received an email today confirming that despite the delay, Robobuz is still happening, renamed Bendway, apparently he is the first in a line of 3rd part transformers. see the email below. the preorder site is still up as well http://www.robobuz.de/preorder

Dear Robobuz Customer,

finally, we can give you some great updates to your Robobuz toy pre-order.

First, we want to apologize for the delay in our production. We had to change our production partner, but we also took the chance to make some major improvements to the whole toy design.

Here are the news:
• SIZE: Now, we can confirm that the Robobuz toy will come in 1:64 scale instead of 1:87. That means the bus mode is 28,8 cm (11.3 inches) long and the robot mode stands 21 cm (8.3 inches) tall. Also, 1:64 is exactly in scale to common Matchbox / Hot Wheels cars (and it is very close to the scale of the Bonecrusher Movie Deluxe Toy, in case you want a transforming bus to take revenge).
• SWORD: The toy will include a mecha style katana sword.
• PRICE: Though the toy becomes much larger, the price will go down to 24,95 Euro (plus shipping). Of course, this will also be the new price for your pre-order.
• NAME: As this is planned to be only the first character in a series of transforming busses (and other vehicles), "Project Robobuz" is merely - let's say - the first chapter of the story that gave birth to it all. Each character will - of course - have his or her individual name. The guy you have pre-ordered is named "Bendway".
• RELEASE: We plan to ship the first figures by the beginning of September 2010.
Still, the toy will have rubber tires and moving knee / bus center joints.

Thanks for your interest in this production.
We will keep you updated!

Best regards,
Thomas

I have emailed them back regarding the preorder, I dont believe I ever payed for anything. I think I just signed up for one. Will post more info when I get it.

Website · by **Flux Convoy** » Wed Apr 28, 2010 10:08 am

So what is 24,95 Euros in US currency? Forgive my laziness, I'm beat. He looks better than I remember. Then again, I'm stupid tired.

News Credits: 767 · by **Dead Metal** » Wed Apr 28, 2010 10:21 am

Flux Convoy wrote:So what is 24,95 Euros in US currency? Forgive my laziness, I'm beat. He looks better than I remember. Then again, I'm stupid tired.

I million.

32.76 USD

That's just 5 more than a deluxe and this will be bigger and have rubber wheels that's value.

News Credits: 5 · by **--B--** » Wed Apr 28, 2010 11:14 am

A real prototype pic or two is the only thing keeping me from ordering one of these.

Ant he cost of shipping to the US.

I will keep this in mind!

News Credits: 3 · by **Kibble** » Wed Apr 28, 2010 11:24 am

Dead Metal wrote:32.76 USD

That's just 5 more than a deluxe and this will be bigger and have rubber wheels that's value.

Someone's been ripping you off if you're paying $27 and change for deluxe figures...

News Credits: 402 · by **Mkall** » Wed Apr 28, 2010 11:38 am

I got the email too. I'm very pleased that a bus transformer is still a reality.

Fun Fact: The guy behind this is the same guy that did the Nike Shoe Transformers.

News Credits: 11 · by **kirbenvost** » Wed Apr 28, 2010 12:12 pm

Kibble wrote:
Dead Metal wrote:32.76 USD

That's just 5 more than a deluxe and this will be bigger and have rubber wheels that's value.

Someone's been ripping you off if you're paying $27 and change for deluxe figures...

Uh, BBTS?

Dude, I just may have to pick this guy up, this sounds sweet! I want to see actual pics of the toy first though.

News Credits: 12 · by **GuyIncognito** » Wed Apr 28, 2010 12:52 pm

That's a really cool concept/design. If it turns out to be a quality product, I would consider ordering one. But I need to see photos of the finished product (or at least a prototype) first, and I'd want to see it next to something for scale.

News Credits: 767 · by **Dead Metal** » Wed Apr 28, 2010 12:56 pm

Kibble wrote:
Dead Metal wrote:32.76 USD

That's just 5 more than a deluxe and this will be bigger and have rubber wheels that's value.

Someone's been ripping you off if you're paying $27 and change for deluxe figures...

It's 5 euroes more than Deluxes, and yes Hasbro Germany generally rips people off.

News Credits: 2 · by **Sid Burn** » Wed Apr 28, 2010 7:10 pm

ok, got a response to my email.

Apparently the preorders will be shipped directly, payment due when the items ship.

Bendway will be available in some online stores (nothing specific)

all preorders are reserved until payment is due.

News Credits: 9 · by **Hip-Hoptimus Rime** » Thu Apr 29, 2010 9:53 am

I may bite on this, it's a fantastic design. And not crazy expensive either. I wonder if you can cancel the pre-order before it ships? I'll have to ask.

If there are other members of Bendway's "team", what do you think should they be? A street sweeper would be cool, maybe a garbage truck, but we already have Animated Wreck-Gar. Another city-service-tyoe vehicle maybe.

News Credits: 767 · by **Dead Metal** » Thu Apr 29, 2010 11:52 am

I think they will all be buses.

News Credits: 1235 · by **LOST Cybertronian** » Sat May 01, 2010 9:34 am

BBTS has a pre-order up for $39.99

http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/prod ... ode=retail

News Credits: 11 · by **kirbenvost** » Wed Aug 25, 2010 9:49 am

Remember Bendway? Well, I was googling and came across this thread with actual prototype images!

http://robotjapan.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=TakaraTransformers&action=display&thread=14660

Kind of old, actually but for some reason I never saw it before.

News Credits: 1235 · by **LOST Cybertronian** » Tue Sep 28, 2010 6:01 pm

Got the folowing email update if anyone is interested:

Dear Robobuz Customer,

here is a brief update on the production of our Robobuz toy figures.
We are still on track and half of the molds have been opened. But, as our producer is working for the german automotive industry which is incredibly booming at the moment, they had to pause the Robobuz production for at least one or two months. That means our earliest target for a release date lies now in december / january.
I am very sorry for this delay and, personally, I too find it very annoying that we will miss christmas, but we can't do anything about it.
The automotive clients are far more important to our producer than the Robobuz project and we can't pay as much as they do. So we just have to wait.

In any case, I will keep an eye on the entire production process and we will do our best to achieve the highest possible quality for the final figures.
Again, sorry for the delay and thank you very much for your patience.

Best regards,
Thomas Wagner