The Energon Pub

Sowndwave76 wrote:Found these online, and the person who posted them snagged them from an ebay listing, surprise surprise.

Initial thoughts:

This looks incredible... Imo, both modes. I personally love that the shins basically become the feet and that there aren't forefeet that were never part of this character's original design.
The alt mode alone makes this 20x better than the CW version for me. Overall this is clean, filled-out, and thankfully better than Scrapper, and much better than Bonecrusher.
There are other photos I've seen showing Mixmaster and Scrapper side-by-side. I believe in those shots the feet were mis-transformed, but either way, Mixmaster looks to just be slightly taller than Scrapper.
My gut tells me that Scavenger is going to be better than Bonecrusher, but we'll see if he's better than Scrapper. From we've seen, just based on appearances, I'd rank these:

1- Mixmaster
2- tie between Hook and Long Haul
3- Scrapper
4- Bonecrusher

Looking at those side-by-side photos of Mixmaster and Scrapper, the greens don't seem to quite match up, with Mixmaster's looking a bit more saturated. I am hoping this is just a lighting/camera issue, and not an issue with the actual figures.

Here is a transformation video for SS86 Mixmaster: https://youtu.be/Jadflsnlf4k

G1OptimusPAX wrote:Honestly, these constructicons shouldn't be studio series. Studio series is supposed to be way better quality then these. I cant believe most people are ok with this level of poor quality. I get that the main attraction is to form devastator, but even the stuntacons look better then these and they aren't even SS. Selling my gravity builder was my worst mistake.

I'm not sure I can agree that the Stunticons look better, but I see your first point, and it's difficult to argue... Which goes back to a couple things I've said before-- first, Scrapper does not justify Voyager price. The ratcheted waist and gun for Devastator aren't enough to convince me. Just as Brawl seems to be the only Bruticus limb that will be a voyager, the same could have happened for Mixmaster. Hell, to justify that, he could've been packaged with Devy's gun. Then there's absolutely no reason Scrapper couldn't have been a deluxe and saved everyone $11. My other point was with Bonecrusher... How in the hell does a deluxe class figure in the STUDIO SERIES line have 6 ball joints??? I really can't think of a deluxe figure in my collection that isn't better than Bonecrusher... Even smaller bots like Bee and Beachcomber are made better, AND have better resemblance!
I'm not saying this is justification, and this is all still relatively difficult to remedy in my own mind... But my gut is telling me Hastak is only going to do maybe one other version of this set, and because Bonecrusher and Scavenger can't share a mold, Hastak has made these with the shortcuts and upped prices to ensure that they get their profits upfront with the first releases of these figures.
I think back to some of the older Studio Series 86 figures like Scourge, Hot Rod, and even Gnaw, and those make Scrapper look kinda sad, and Bonecrusher look pathetic. I understand times have changed in the last 4 years. But still. The standard in SS has dropped.

DeathReviews wrote:Seriously - they couldn't think of ANYTHING to do with the robot forearms when it's in leg mode? Not even double jointing the elbows so they could fold up and tab fully behind the calf? I hope it's a mis-transformation and that they fold up someplace instead of just sticking out like mud flaps. Yuck.

This observation closely relates to G1OptimusPax's and my points... None of these Constructicons are truly triple changers... And if Mixmaster is a true voyager with no extra pack-in's, then additional engineering should have been included to allow his arms to fold, swivel, or move somewhere instead of simply hanging off the back at a slight diagonal...
Again, the SS86 standard has dropped.

I'm here until I get SS86 Soundwave, Shockwave, Wincharger, Kranix, and complete Bruticus next year... But more and more I'm looking forward to retiring from this game.

If that Megatron transformed into a rifle I would sooo buy it. Tanks are ok but I want a gun Megatron like in G1...

Triggerdick Megatron wrote:If that Megatron transformed into a rifle I would sooo buy it. Tanks are ok but I want a gun Megatron like in G1...

The 3rd party NewAge "Romulus" figure is probably the current best-bet for G1 Walther P-38 accuracy. It costs a pretty penny though - prepare thyself...

Sabrblade wrote:

Triggerdick Megatron wrote:If that Megatron transformed into a rifle I would sooo buy it. Tanks are ok but I want a gun Megatron like in G1...

Hasbro isn't willing to break the law.

Not sure if the rumor is true... Back in the days of Commemorative Series, Hasbro floated the idea of a G1 Megatron toy. TRU shot it down (pun intended). So didn't see the light of day.

This may be labeled as a “complaint”, and that’s fine…
But why in the world does the “SS voyager class” Long Haul figure have ball-jointed elbows??
Relative to being toys, the disappointments with these new Constructicons are definitely outweighing the positives for me…. Admittedly I’ve gone back and forth about a lot of this…. But I’ve wanted to be excited about these new versions. I was very happy with Legacy Menasor, and on top of that, the SS86 subline has produced some of my favorite figures, so it seemed logical that Hastak would make one of the most popular combiners an incredible set of figures.
However, it’s getting to the point where reality is overriding my want of this set to be incredible.

Yeah, I’m still getting these figures, but I’m absolutely questioning my decision to preorder two sets.
Any excitement I had, even after seeing Mixmaster, is dissolving.
Not by choice, but my expectations have sunk…. Although I suppose it’s better to be letdown now.

I got the first 2 (Bonecrusher & Scrapper), because they were on sale at Target. paying $35 for that "Voyager" especially is ridiculous to me, especially now that I have it in hand. It all transforms clean and fits together nicely, but any engineering advancements do not justify an additional $10. Also, now that I know Bonecrusher is misassembled, I especially am disincentivized to complete the team. Seems like the "Commander Class" 2-pack is selling out everywhere, and even if it does become readily available, after another price hike, it definitely wont be worth it, to me at least. Unless they go "CC Rodimus" crazy and way over produce these (which I doubt will be a thing anymore) . I don't see myself getting them.

o.supreme wrote:I got the first 2 (Bonecrusher & Scrapper), because they were on sale at Target. paying $35 for that "Voyager" especially is ridiculous to me, especially now that I have it in hand. It all transforms clean and fits together nicely, but any engineering advancements do not justify an additional $10. Also, now that I know Bonecrusher is misassembled, I especially am disincentivized to complete the team. Seems like the "Commander Class" 2-pack is selling out everywhere, and even if it does become readily available, after another price hike, it definitely wont be worth it, to me at least. Unless they go "CC Rodimus" crazy and way over produce these (which I doubt will be a thing anymore) . I don't see myself getting them.

Good for you for getting the first two on sale... Wish I could say the same.
And I said something very similar about Scrapper being a voyager. If nothing else, that is a stretch... Even with Devy's gun. I've been supportive of Hastak and in many ways they have earned that. But like I mentioned in my last post, reality is setting in that these new figures just aren't that good. I would've liked to have waited for a sale, but between the Nemesis, SS Scourge (missed both of these), and seeing what happened with SS86 Ultra Magnus, and SS86 CC Optimus, I jumped on the preorders.

I'm not a fan of Devy's back kibble; I know it's supposed to be Long Haul's truck "bed", but I'm not convinced. I also don't like the skirt that hangs down past the waist on the back side. Then in a recent photo I saw, it almost looks like Devy's elbows won't have a 90º bend... Not confirmed, but seeing the photo I'm not convinced it can reach 90º, and it won't be shocking if this is true.

Again, all of this is relative to these things being toys. It's just slightly disappointing that Hastak didn't improve these figures.

Sabrblade wrote:I wonder if Scrapper being sold as a Voyager was mainly due to his scoop being proportionately large enough in size to scale correctly with the rest of his altmode, while also not integrating at all with his robot mode (since it just hangs off the back like the original toy), made him too big to fit into a Deluxe class box.

I wonder similarly if it is either the size/fit, or just whatever Hasbro's internal limits are for deluxe class on the combination of amount of plastic and number of parts and he just barely exceeded deluxe, so he got pushed up to voyager and they threw in Devy's gun to try and make it not seem as much of a ripoff. Scrapper seems to only be voyager because he was just over whatever limit to be deluxe.

TF-fan kev777 wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:I wonder if Scrapper being sold as a Voyager was mainly due to his scoop being proportionately large enough in size to scale correctly with the rest of his altmode, while also not integrating at all with his robot mode (since it just hangs off the back like the original toy), made him too big to fit into a Deluxe class box.

I wonder similarly if it is either the size/fit, or just whatever Hasbro's internal limits are for deluxe class on the combination of amount of plastic and number of parts and he just barely exceeded deluxe, so he got pushed up to voyager and they threw in Devy's gun to try and make it not seem as much of a ripoff. Scrapper seems to only be voyager because he was just over whatever limit to be deluxe.

I don't remember if it was said word-for-word or just strongly implied, but I believe it was said when Scrapper was revealed that the ratcheted Devastator ankle was what pushed it out of Deluxe.

Can someone comment was a box set announced for the Constructicons by Hasbro or Takara or is it a safe bet?

Nemesis Destron wrote:Can someone comment was a box set announced for the Constructicons by Hasbro or Takara or is it a safe bet?

The last word I heard about a boxed-set was that IF it happened, it would be a couple years down the road. 2027 at the earliest. It will be interesting to see if any of these molds get retooled for different characters, and to me, even more interesting if Hastak decides to make a set with G2 decos before or after re-releasing these original versions, or at all. As well as how those would be handled. I'd assume through Selects; the cost of 6 figures is already a decently expensive purchase for an average consumer, and when two of them are in a set that basically costs $100, imo that makes it an even tougher sell. But imo this means a boxed-set will happen at some point, because re-releasing all 6 again in SS, or all 6 with G2 deco in the main line doesn't seem likely.

While my comments on this set recently have been leaning into the realistically negative side of what I'm seeing, I'd strongly recommend that if you're at all interested, to go ahead and start getting these now. Especially Hook and Long Haul; it's always less likely to find a CC set on a store shelf. I personally would be fairly annoyed if I ended up with the other 4, and then had to wait two years and pay full price for a boxed-set just to get the last two. Then imagine the first release of the boxed-set being the G2 version...
Not to mention, no matter which versions are included in a boxed-set, in two years that price could easily be $240-$250 before tax.

Damnation 2027???

Well if that's the case then I better prep my wallet. I'm keeping my United Devastator combined and the SS Constructicons I'll keep in individual robot modes. Thanks for the word Soundwave76!

Nemesis Destron wrote:Damnation 2027???

Well if that's the case then I better prep my wallet. I'm keeping my United Devastator combined and the SS Constructicons I'll keep in individual robot modes. Thanks for the word Soundwave76!

Yeah man, no problem.
At least that's what I remember seeing/reading... While that may only be "rumor" level info, I'm betting it's legit. You'd think that if there was a boxed-set coming out next year, even in Selects, that word would've leaked by now, kind of like the 2-packs of SS86 G2 deco Dinobots.

We have the same plan-- I have the CW Devy and I doubt I'll ever sell him. He'll stay combined and the new SS Constructicons will be displayed as individual bots.

Saw this on Instagram...
It's probably the real deal, but I kind of figured the sculpt would be better. I know it's small and the scope probably had to be connected to the gun that way to avoid being too fragile.
Was the tab on the scope necessary?

Looks a lot like the Megatron gun from the Centurion set. Not unexpected.

The tab may be used to fix it somewhere on the tank mode.

Also, kind of sad there is no stock. wonder if the silencer is removable like in the Centurion set one.

Overcracker wrote:Looks a lot like the Megatron gun from the Centurion set. Not unexpected.

The tab may be used to fix it somewhere on the tank mode.

Also, kind of sad there is no stock. wonder if the silencer is removable like in the Centurion set one.

Imo the one from the Centurion set looks better; the scope actually looks like Megatron's fusion cannon.

I'm sure the tab serves some function, but if it's to attach this to the tank, to me that was not worth it... I would've been more okay with a semi-circular tab on the side of the gun that would've allowed it to connect under a seeker's wing or something similar. Although again, for being this small, that may not have worked well either.
I have never cared about nor liked weapon storage, the exception being when it's hidden in a figure's vehicle mode. But even then I rarely use it and would never be bothered if it weren't there... Figures having these 5mm holes in their arms, legs, roofs and/or doors of vehicles, etc. isn't worth it. Technically, yeah, it adds a tiny bit of "play value". But when not used, there's just random holes that look fairly stupid.

It would be nice if the silencer is a separate piece.

Sowndwave76 wrote:

Overcracker wrote:Looks a lot like the Megatron gun from the Centurion set. Not unexpected.

The tab may be used to fix it somewhere on the tank mode.

Also, kind of sad there is no stock. wonder if the silencer is removable like in the Centurion set one.

Imo the one from the Centurion set looks better; the scope actually looks like Megatron's fusion cannon.

I'm sure the tab serves some function, but if it's to attach this to the tank, to me that was not worth it... I would've been more okay with a semi-circular tab on the side of the gun that would've allowed it to connect under a seeker's wing or something similar. Although again, for being this small, that may not have worked well either.
I have never cared about nor liked weapon storage, the exception being when it's hidden in a figure's vehicle mode. But even then I rarely use it and would never be bothered if it weren't there... Figures having these 5mm holes in their arms, legs, roofs and/or doors of vehicles, etc. isn't worth it. Technically, yeah, it adds a tiny bit of "play value". But when not used, there's just random holes that look fairly stupid.

It would be nice if the silencer is a separate piece.

Indeed!!!

Sowndwave76 wrote:Saw this on Instagram...
It's probably the real deal, but I kind of figured the sculpt would be better. I know it's small and the scope probably had to be connected to the gun that way to avoid being too fragile.
Was the tab on the scope necessary?

If that is the real SS86 one, I am glad I have the Centurian one. It is not horrible, but that tab is. Also Mixmaster still looks straight fire(not even sure what that means, but sounds right).

Here’s a juicy teaser….