The Energon Pub

When we wanted a trailer for MP Optimus Prime, the third parties gave us one. When we wanted a trailer for Classics Optimus Prime, the third parties covered that too. And when we're in the midst of getting a G2 Optimus Prime, rumor has it those third party guys are at it again.

There has been a somewhat negative reaction to this year's upcoming DOTM Optimus Prime toys so far, some saying the older movie series molds should have been reused or retooled. The Ultimate Optimus Prime toy has been getting mixed reactions, but it seems a lot of fans don't like his not-so-movie-accurate design. So naturally, why not look to third parties to whip up some magic?

What do you guys think; would you buy a third party trailer add-on for a previous version of Optimus Prime? Should it just be a trailer or should we get the whole shebang that converts to a jetpack?
Maybe for the ROTF leader mold, maybe for the voyager "Battle Blades" mold, maybe even the older leader or the older voyager. Heck, maybe the new DOTM voyager could get his own edition too.

What's the point? I hate to see third party add-ons for things that don't need change. Sure, Prime's trailer turns into wings, but if a third party gets on the train, we're just going to get... more wings? No one here has yet to hold the figure in their hands either. No one even knows if Prime has his trailer on for the entire movie or for just 10 seconds.

Look, add-ons are great, but 2007 Movie Prime cured cancer, and ROTF Prime gave us light speed travel.

It's tough to turn a box into something that looks great. Armada showed us. So did Energon. DOTM Prime looks to be in the right direction. You can counter me with FansProject Ultra Magnus and Rodimus Prime, but that's a different aesthetic all together.

Grand idea. You're going to need a magician.

I'd be interested to see what people could do with making a Transformable trailer to combine with ROTF Leader Prime, but I think it'd be far too expensive to be doable.

Starscream GaGa wrote:I'd be interested to see what people could do with making a Transformable trailer to combine with ROTF Leader Prime, but I think it'd be far too expensive to be doable.

Oh, I think it could be done for $100.00 or less once it hits BBTS and the like.

Really, all they need to do is gut the electronic features, and just upsize the Hasbro trailer, and modify it to make it attach to ROTF Leader Class Prime, or Buster Prime.

It could be done, it's just a matter of whether or not anyone's willing to do it.

Maybe it's just my personal feelings shining through, but I'm not sure there's enough interest in movie toys at this point where a pricey 3rd Party trailer (and 3rd Party products always are) would be all that successful. And the people that want a trailer can just get the one that's coming out.

Heck, I'd be happy if FP remolded their G3 trailer to work with ROTF voyager BB Optimus Prime.

Blurrz wrote:What's the point? I hate to see third party add-ons for things that don't need change. Sure, Prime's trailer turns into wings, but if a third party gets on the train, we're just going to get... more wings? No one here has yet to hold the figure in their hands either. No one even knows if Prime has his trailer on for the entire movie or for just 10 seconds.

Look, add-ons are great, but 2007 Movie Prime cured cancer, and ROTF Prime gave us light speed travel.

It's tough to turn a box into something that looks great. Armada showed us. So did Energon. DOTM Prime looks to be in the right direction. You can counter me with FansProject Ultra Magnus and Rodimus Prime, but that's a different aesthetic all together.

Grand idea. You're going to need a magician.

I suppose your right. But, I'd really like to have a LEADER Prime with a trailer. I'm not sure what class size the Ultimate toy alt-mode is by itself, but I'm assuming it's a voyager around the Battle Blades Prime size. It would look sort of silly to have a Smart car semi truck among the rest of the Autobot deluxe cars and voyager trucks.
Also, I picked up HFTD leader Prime this week. And yes, he's near perfect aside from some annoying issues I've had. And even though I'm pretty satisfied with him already, I admit I will probably buy Ultimate Prime and the new voyager. I think I'm just letting the DOTM complainers influence me too much.
And I suppose by your last sentence you mean it's a stupid idea?
P.S. I know a magician.

Actually the new Prime isn't Voyager or deluxe. From the Toy Fair coverage I saw, it's going to be a maasive figure. It was measured at 22 inches tall. If that is true, then this will be the second tallest TF ever made.

I think the reason for the clunky design is to compensate for the trailer. Primes design had to take a hit in order to match up with the trailer. Now this could be combatted with why didn't they just make more parts in the trailer, but parts get expensive and the molds for the trailers are significantly larger than mold for the figures themselves. I've actually seen some pictures once and the MP-04 trailer mold is MASSIVE compared the molds that make up MP Prime.

If they were to go ahead and make a trailer that would wrap around ROTF Prime perfectly, then you's better be willing to shell out quite a bit of cash. More so than the $80 set aside for this figure.

A lot of this boils down to making is buyable for the normal marker. As CP had said in his post about the Takara paint apps. Takara is able to price their figures individually and according to the specs on the toy itself compared to a wave case breakdown. Granted, Ultimate Prime isn't really subject to that, but he is subject to the parents wallet. He's going to be a hot Christmas item and make quite a few kids birthdays.

What I really want is a FP trailer for the RTS G2 Optimus Prime. I also want him in Scourge colors so I get get my hands on 2 trailers because I'm OCD that way.

robofreak wrote:What I really want is a FP trailer for the RTS G2 Optimus Prime. I also want him in Scourge colors so I get get my hands on 2 trailers because I'm OCD that way.

Well you might just be in luck. Although probably not Fansproject, there is a rumor of a 3rd party RTS G2 Prime trailer that not only has a battle station mode but also combines armor style.

Heck Yeah!!!The DOTM trailer Looks horrible (No Surprise There ).I have battle blades optimus Prime And he is the best prime figure of all time,There is no way I am getting rid of him Just because the is a new version (That looks like crap Then ).Tell them We Want it!!!!!

Sidearm wrote:Heck Yeah!!!The DOTM trailer Looks horrible (No Surprise There ).I have battle blades optimus Prime And he is the best prime figure of all time,There is no way I am getting rid of him Just because the is a new version (That looks like crap Then ).Tell them We Want it!!!!!

Are you prepared to pay about $80 + shipping for the trailer alone? And if it transforms into armor, it may or may not cost even more. Just saying'...a lot of the people "interested" probably aren't willing to actually pony up for it.

Blurrz wrote:What's the point? I hate to see third party add-ons for things that don't need change. Sure, Prime's trailer turns into wings, but if a third party gets on the train, we're just going to get... more wings?

No. Not just wings. &MAGIC& *FAIRY* ~PRINCESS~ PRIME WINGS!It's the wings he wanted to have since he was a Powermaster. These third party add-ons would be making his dreams come true.

In all seriousness though, the movie add-ons have never sold well regarding Bayformers; it's the Classics crowd that really demands figures and add-ons to "correct" existing ones, and I really don't see enough demand for this to justify the cost to make it, let alone the cost to sell it just to break even. I've no doubt efforts will be tried, some successful and maybe even profitable, but it's just a market that's getting toys that look exactly as they're supposed to on their own. Doesn't really need much help in that department.