The Energon Pub

News Credits: 1 · Thu Apr 10, 2014 1:55 pm

Has anyone got any inkling whether Takara's Encore series is officially dead or not?

The last Encore (#23 Fortress Maximus) I believe was released more than 12 months ago and it seems to have been ominously silent ever since.

With OAE fast approaching I was rather hoping for some G1 Dino reissues, which I know was unlikely but it would have been the perfect opportunity IMO.

I realise that the Generations line is sort of filling this void, however I still hanker after some good old fashioned G1 goodness.

News Credits: 12 · Thu Apr 10, 2014 2:11 pm

I don't think the Dinobot molds exist anymore.

Many of the G1 molds are either gone, destroyed, or unusable. Eventually (if they haven't already) Takara will run out of G1 molds to reissue.

Why they can't recreate the lost molds, I have no idea. Couldn't they just dis-assemble an existing figure, scan the parts with a 3-D scanner, and recreate the mold?

News Credits: 241 · Thu Apr 10, 2014 2:22 pm

GuyIncognito wrote:Why they can't recreate the lost molds, I have no idea. Couldn't they just dis-assemble an existing figure, scan the parts with a 3-D scanner, and recreate the mold?

They have fixed molds in the part, well, certain parts of a mold set or tooling. G1 Jazz's head, the G1 Constructicons, G1 Rumble and Frenzy and even BW Cheetor's Gut Gun are examples of that. Well, recreating molds would be a better term. Although, I think it can only be done with the original mold still intact.

News Credits: 12 · Thu Apr 10, 2014 2:27 pm

I would think that with today's technology they could make a new mold that's so close to the original that most people wouldn't be able to tell the difference with the naked eye. It would be easier than designing an entirely new mold from scratch, wouldn't it?

News Credits: 241 · Thu Apr 10, 2014 2:34 pm

GuyIncognito wrote:I would think that with today's technology they could make a new mold that's so close to the original that most people wouldn't be able to tell the difference with the naked eye. It would be easier than designing an entirely new mold from scratch, wouldn't it?

What would be the point tho? If you have to make a new tooling from scratch, you may as well add articulation and other bells and whistles. 8-}

News Credits: 12 · Thu Apr 10, 2014 2:43 pm

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:
What would be the point tho? If you have to make a new tooling from scratch, you may as well add articulation and other bells and whistles.

I can't imagine I'm the only collector who would gladly purchase new versions of the G1 figures made from molds that recreate the originals accurately. Are you telling me there's no market for a set of Dinobots or a Mirage made from molds that are exact replicas of the originals? People will pay $50 for a good KNOCKOFF of Mirage; you don't think they'd pay $20 for a real Hasbro version?

News Credits: 241 · Thu Apr 10, 2014 3:04 pm

Maybe we should look at it this way: a new mold from scratch for a G1-style figure, is a mold slot lost for another bigger line that potentially brings in more money. You'd be sacrificing profits with recreating something that's already been made, just lost or deteriorated, just to appease a "negligible" number of fans. And what if the mold is found after the new copies are made? Heads are going to roll if that happens.

News Credits: 409 · Fri Apr 11, 2014 8:46 am

I would like to see the line continue. And the dinobots would be a great addition. I also would like to see the cone heads. Are the dinobot molds really lost/broken? The molds didn't last past the G2 dinobots?

I think Takara made the wrong turn releasing too many large Encore bots in a row. There seems to be a surplus of Encore Fort Max at online retailers. I think fans couldn't afford all the big bots so quickly, which hurt the line.

News Credits: 33 · Fri Apr 11, 2014 10:30 am

As already said (I even did an exhaustive thread about this a long time ago) - new molds could be made for any G1 toy, provided they either had the master copy or had an unblemished original. They've recast Soundwave, Megatron (I own a G1 and a reissue. You can tell that at least SOME molds were recast), Jazz, Optimus Prime in the past - as well as made running changes to Hotrod and Kup.

These things are made of metal. They're hugely heavy and costly to not only make - but keep in storage as well. Not to mention it isn't "one" mold - it'll be several for just one figure and even then they need duplicates of each to have a production line.

It comes down to business sense. If they have the kit available to reissue, then they'll reissue when they think they'll earn their profit. If they need to recast the molds, then they'll need to be sure its a figure they can either repaint or is guaranteed a solid return. Optimus Prime and Soundwave were no brainers - everyone loves Prime and Soundwave, and ol' Cassetteman can be redeco'd into Soundblaster. It would be interesting to find out which characters were most popular in Japan, to compare them to the encore choices.

News Credits: 461 · Fri Apr 11, 2014 10:30 am

Why don't they just KO the KO dinobots. =X

News Credits: 241 · Fri Apr 11, 2014 10:33 am

mooncake623 wrote:Why don't they just KO the KO dinobots. =X

Now you're going to a new low. Why would you want a figure of worse quality than KO quality? :roll:

News Credits: 461 · Fri Apr 11, 2014 10:40 am

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:
mooncake623 wrote:Why don't they just KO the KO dinobots. =X

Now you're going to a new low. Why would you want a figure of worse quality than KO quality?

New low? I'm simply asking a question if molds are lost, just take back what's stolen. I don't like KOs or buy any of them nor do I want Takara to do this but if they do, it is no longer a KO right?

News Credits: 33 · Fri Apr 11, 2014 10:41 am

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:
mooncake623 wrote:Why don't they just KO the KO dinobots. =X

Now you're going to a new low. Why would you want a figure of worse quality than KO quality?

This. The tooling on those things is poor. Didn't you ever pirate video tapes? Doing that is like the 3rd generation copy. Never good :HEADHURTS:

News Credits: 461 · Fri Apr 11, 2014 10:43 am

Amelie wrote:
JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:
mooncake623 wrote:Why don't they just KO the KO dinobots. =X

Now you're going to a new low. Why would you want a figure of worse quality than KO quality?

This. The tooling on those things is poor. Didn't you ever pirate video tapes? Doing that is like the 3rd generation copy. Never good

Nope never pirated tapes, so I do not know. Listen I'm just asking a question no need to jump on my back for it. if its a bad idea than fine? I don't care

News Credits: 16 · Fri Apr 11, 2014 11:05 pm

There was also a huge gap between #19 #20. We shouldn't worry. TT will probably make more at some point.

Personally, I want to see another round of #16 Bruticus out there. That guy is impossible to find now

News Credits: 60 · Sat Apr 12, 2014 1:55 am

Just make it be Scorponok G1.

News Credits: 409 · Sat Apr 12, 2014 7:50 am

Amelie wrote:As already said (I even did an exhaustive thread about this a long time ago) - new molds could be made for any G1 toy, provided they either had the master copy or had an unblemished original. They've recast Soundwave, Megatron (I own a G1 and a reissue. You can tell that at least SOME molds were recast), Jazz, Optimus Prime in the past - as well as made running changes to Hotrod and Kup.

These things are made of metal. They're hugely heavy and costly to not only make - but keep in storage as well. Not to mention it isn't "one" mold - it'll be several for just one figure and even then they need duplicates of each to have a production line.

It comes down to business sense. If they have the kit available to reissue, then they'll reissue when they think they'll earn their profit. If they need to recast the molds, then they'll need to be sure its a figure they can either repaint or is guaranteed a solid return. Optimus Prime and Soundwave were no brainers - everyone loves Prime and Soundwave, and ol' Cassetteman can be redeco'd into Soundblaster. It would be interesting to find out which characters were most popular in Japan, to compare them to the encore choices.

Good info. And good question about what toys are popular in Japan. We've seen fans make claims that the Dinobots are not popular in Japan so Takara would never reissue them. I would like to know where that is statement is based on.

News Credits: 16 · Sat Apr 12, 2014 8:07 am

Since Takara is repairing molds, anything is fair game. Considering the dinobots are the stars of a new movie this year, it would seem that this year or next year would be the time to do it. Synergy and other beryllium baloney

Also wasn't there a rumor of a dinobot gift set at one point?

News Credits: 33 · Sat Apr 12, 2014 6:06 pm

It Is Him wrote:Since Takara is repairing molds, anything is fair game. Considering the dinobots are the stars of a new movie this year, it would seem that this year or next year would be the time to do it. Synergy and other beryllium baloney

Also wasn't there a rumor of a dinobot gift set at one point?

It was rumored around the time of the Devastator release, yeah.

As for Bruticus - I've heard the quality isn't all that up to much. If its so expensive now, you might be better off grabbing a loose G1 original and collecting it over time.

News Credits: 60 · Sat Apr 12, 2014 7:02 pm

I got that Encore Bruticus. 2ndary market prices of the guy are really unbelievable and yes, the mold has indeed degraded and Tomy released a very degraded mold of Baldigus (not the original Bruticus)

News Credits: 16 · Sat Apr 12, 2014 7:55 pm

Yeah, ive heard the quality isnt ao good. I already have an original bruticus, I just want one that children (myself) haven't broken and drooled over.

News Credits: 60 · Sat Apr 12, 2014 8:12 pm

I don't know what got into Takara and later Tomy but when they first released Baldigus, they removed onslaught's shoulder ratchets. So it no longer locks when in Bruticus mode.

Then in the Encore version, Onslaught (again), there are what appears to be molding scorch marks (that's how I describe them and very rough edges when he was pulled off the mold.) The rest aren't that bad. It's Onslaught who got the short end of the stick.

News Credits: 33 · Sat Apr 12, 2014 9:18 pm

Onslaught never had ratchets, just a block with a hole through it and thin plastic rods inserted in each, which only faith holding them together. Onslaught has always been made of fail, and liable to snap at a moments notice. It sounds like they've used parts that dont quite fit so his arms are loose, from what you've described. Though thats hardly a bad thing considering I've had two as a kid that've snapped just moving the arms up

News Credits: 60 · Sat Apr 12, 2014 9:29 pm

No no no Amelie. I opened those shoulders and it had a square peg that "functioned" like a ratchet if you want to be specific then. That is why G1 Bruticus when transformed, Onslaught's arms stayed up pointed to the back. The Baldigus mold up until Encore didn't have that feature (the square peg was a smoothened peg instead)so when you swing is arms up, the shoulders follow it in unison.

News Credits: 33 · Sat Apr 12, 2014 9:32 pm

fenrir72 wrote:No no no Amelie. I opened those shoulders and it had a square peg that "functioned" like a ratchet if you want to be specific then. That is why G1 Bruticus when transformed, Onslaught's arms stayed up pointed to the back. The Baldigus mold up until Encore didn't have that feature (the square peg was a smoothened peg instead)so when you swing is arms up, the shoulders follow it in unison.

I suspected thats what you were referring to, just wanted to make sure. Its still a badly designed joint, especially compared to the joys that is HotSpot.