The Energon Pub

[Evil Eye]

Hmm. On the one hand the cartoon colours never did appeal to me, and those wheels really really REALLY needed picking out with silver or something. On the other hand, the overall colour layout combined with the attention to detail (train windows, spaceship cockpit etc) improves the look a lot. I might just buy the Hasbro version and paint the details, but...we'll see.

[Kurona]

Gotta admit, that painted detail on the lower chest comes out so much better - bolder with a starker contrast.

But I'm not so sure about the detail on the knees. It sticks out in a pretty bad way especially in spaceship mode.

But it's meant to be there specifically for the shuttle mode

Aye, I just don't like how it comes out.

[Counterpunch]

I'll buy the Legends Astrotrain, but I think the Hasbro version looks better and is more relevant to current fiction (with it being his IDW coloration).

Takara is doing a service, keeping a version of these figures true to their G1 roots. I like the options here, but I've always preferred the white/light gray Astrotrain look.

(except on the Classics figure. The Henkei version blew it away.)

[kirbenvost]

While I like the darker grey and additional details, I think I can safely skip this one. That Hasbro version is good enough and matches all my other Astrotrains better.

[Kurona]

While I like the darker grey and additional details, I think I can safely skip this one. That Hasbro version is good enough and matches all my other Astrotrains better.

You've got an Astrotrain collection?
I've heard of people collecting Megatrons and Bumblebees and Starscream and Optimi and Rodimi but never Astrotrain. That's interesting can I see

[Stuartmaximus]

While I like the darker grey and additional details, I think I can safely skip this one. That Hasbro version is good enough and matches all my other Astrotrains better.

You've got an Astrotrain collection?
I've heard of people collecting Megatrons and Bumblebees and Starscream and Optimi and Rodimi but never Astrotrain. That's interesting can I see

Well.....i have the WST, Evila Star & Classics Universe (& hope to get the TR one when the Smyth's Toys local to me gets one in )

[chuckdawg1999]

And once again I forget to wait for the Takara reveals, and now I want the Japanese version of a figure I just bought.

[ArmadaPrime]

Man, Astrotrain will always be an awkward one for me, having two distinct decos which I both like, but neither of which I have enough attachment to for it to be obviously "my" one. Like I've never had much opinion on him from what I've watched of G1 or read of the marvel comics, I don't have the G1 (or any other, for that matters) toy of his, there's nothing to sway me in that sense. I probably prefer this dark grey colourscheme overall, but then again in the IDW run at the moment (the only real exposure to the character I have) I'm pretty sure he's depicted in his white getup.
Then of course the heads are (or at least seem to me to be) slightly different, and I'm not even sure which I prefer. Somehow, though, looking at the Takara version, I feel I'd be more alright with getting Legends Astrotrain and TR Sentinel Prime, than I would be getting both TR versions. Not sure quite why that is, as I'd say both 'trains are equally as distinct from Prime, albeit in different ways. Basically, I'm rambling with the hope of having made a decision when I got to the end of writing this, and still haven't

Also, how long until a 3P (or Shapeways person) makes a chest-wing for this guy? There's even a little slot right in the middle there for it to use- I like the chestwing look but probably not enough to buy an add-on for it, but there's got to be people out there who would get one

[Kurona]

Man, Astrotrain will always be an awkward one for me, having two distinct decos which I both like, but neither of which I have enough attachment to for it to be obviously "my" one. Like I've never had much opinion on him from what I've watched of G1 or read of the marvel comics, I don't have the G1 (or any other, for that matters) toy of his, there's nothing to sway me in that sense. I probably prefer this dark grey colourscheme overall, but then again in the IDW run at the moment (the only real exposure to the character I have) I'm pretty sure he's depicted in his white getup.
Then of course the heads are (or at least seem to me to be) slightly different, and I'm not even sure which I prefer. Somehow, though, looking at the Takara version, I feel I'd be more alright with getting Legends Astrotrain and TR Sentinel Prime, than I would be getting both TR versions. Not sure quite why that is, as I'd say both 'trains are equally as distinct from Prime, albeit in different ways. Basically, I'm rambling with the hope of having made a decision when I got to the end of writing this, and still haven't

Also, how long until a 3P (or Shapeways person) makes a chest-wing for this guy? There's even a little slot right in the middle there for it to use- I like the chestwing look but probably not enough to buy an add-on for it, but there's got to be people out there who would get one

The heads are only different in deco. Though, admittedly; Takara's redeco is actually that impressive to the extent you might think it's different molding.

[bvzxa]

Hasbro = G1 Toy Production colors
Takrara = Cartoon accurate, and pre-production E-Hobby colors.

Takara FTW!!

[bvzxa]

I'll buy the Legends Astrotrain, but I think the Hasbro version looks better and is more relevant to current fiction (with it being his IDW coloration).

Takara is doing a service, keeping a version of these figures true to their G1 roots. I like the options here, but I've always preferred the white/light gray Astrotrain look.

(except on the Classics figure. The Henkei version blew it away.)

The Henkei version was the best. Now if it had only been a voyager....

[Sabrblade]

I'll buy the Legends Astrotrain, but I think the Hasbro version looks better and is more relevant to current fiction (with it being his IDW coloration).

Takara is doing a service, keeping a version of these figures true to their G1 roots. I like the options here, but I've always preferred the white/light gray Astrotrain look.

(except on the Classics figure. The Henkei version blew it away.)

The Henkei version was the best. Now if it had only been a voyager....

I'd say the Specialists: Decepticons one is the prettiest.

[bvzxa]

I'll buy the Legends Astrotrain, but I think the Hasbro version looks better and is more relevant to current fiction (with it being his IDW coloration).

Takara is doing a service, keeping a version of these figures true to their G1 roots. I like the options here, but I've always preferred the white/light gray Astrotrain look.

(except on the Classics figure. The Henkei version blew it away.)

The Henkei version was the best. Now if it had only been a voyager....

I'd say the Specialists: Decepticons one is the prettiest.

The unofficial United version looks good, I owned it but it always looked a bit sloppy compared to the Henkei version -- look at the lines of purple. The best of the United toys was Megatron, Drift, Jazz, all six Seekers, and the Autobot Specialists set.

[fenrir72]

I'll buy the Legends Astrotrain, but I think the Hasbro version looks better and is more relevant to current fiction (with it being his IDW coloration).

Takara is doing a service, keeping a version of these figures true to their G1 roots. I like the options here, but I've always preferred the white/light gray Astrotrain look.

(except on the Classics figure. The Henkei version blew it away.)

The Henkei version was the best. Now if it had only been a voyager....

From later JP G1 manga, Astrotrain was later portrayed as a huge 'bot. So the leader size more or less approximates the huge shuttle mode that can carry a Titan like Devs within.

[MemphisR56]

I'll buy the Legends Astrotrain, but I think the Hasbro version looks better and is more relevant to current fiction (with it being his IDW coloration).

Takara is doing a service, keeping a version of these figures true to their G1 roots. I like the options here, but I've always preferred the white/light gray Astrotrain look.

(except on the Classics figure. The Henkei version blew it away.)

The Henkei version was the best. Now if it had only been a voyager....

From later JP G1 manga, Astrotrain was later portrayed as a huge 'bot. So the leader size more or less approximates the huge shuttle mode that can carry a Titan like Devs within.

A leader class one would've been awesome. They could've utilised his torso insides to put a load of seats and pegs and use him as a titan master dropship.

Make it happen hasbruh

[william-james88]

A leader class one would've been awesome. They could've utilised his torso insides to put a load of seats and pegs and use him as a titan master dropship.

Make it happen hasbruh

I always thought this was pretty close albeit lacking a train mode):




Transformers Club Exclusives Astrotrain Gallery

[Sabrblade]

The unofficial United version looks good, I owned it but it always looked a bit sloppy compared to the Henkei version -- look at the lines of purple. The best of the United toys was Megatron, Drift, Jazz, all six Seekers, and the Autobot Specialists set.

What do you mean "unofficial"?

[Hero Alpha]

A leader class one would've been awesome. They could've utilised his torso insides to put a load of seats and pegs and use him as a titan master dropship.

Make it happen hasbruh

I always thought this was pretty close albeit lacking a train mode):




Transformers Club Exclusives Astrotrain Gallery

I really liked this Timelines one as well, a lot, and almost bought it a few times. The Henkei was too small, but I held out for more G1 Sunbowness and looks like it has paid off.

[Genericon #378]

Good option for the people who prefer the cartoon accurate deco. I myself like the toy colours more, plus I already have Hasbro's coming in the mail.

[MemphisR56]

Anybody know what the inspiration is behind the decco for Legends Blurr's headmaster? He doesn't look anything like Haywire, toy or show, but the paint seems pretty specific.

Is he inspired by a headmasters show only character?

[RodimusConvoy13]

Shame he doesn't have any painted train wheels, that was the one thing I expected of TT

But his train wheels are supposed to be purple. Just as they were on both the original Hasbro toy and the e-HOBBY prototype-accurate reissue toy.

Sorry, that's not an acceptable excuse, I expected it from hasbro, but not TT - not interested

Has there been a Legends or Titans Return figured that you've liked? You seem to crap on everything that gets announced. Why do you collect Transformers if you hate all of them?

[william-james88]

Anybody know what the inspiration is behind the decco for Legends Blurr's headmaster? He doesn't look anything like Haywire, toy or show, but the paint seems pretty specific.

Is he inspired by a headmasters show only character?

From what takara has given us, he is supposed to be Blurr. The body is a transtector so the headmasters coours try to mimic Blurr's colours:

[Hellscream9999]

Shame he doesn't have any painted train wheels, that was the one thing I expected of TT

But his train wheels are supposed to be purple. Just as they were on both the original Hasbro toy and the e-HOBBY prototype-accurate reissue toy.

Sorry, that's not an acceptable excuse, I expected it from hasbro, but not TT - not interested

Has there been a Legends or Titans Return figured that you've liked? You seem to crap on everything that gets announced. Why do you collect Transformers if you hate all of them?

I loved legends blurr, but, unfortunately, I sneezed and he sold out. I love my hardhead with clobber' head attached, and the cassette-bots are awesome, as are the titan masters, sentinel is fun, I enjoy him, waiting to find the wave 2 guys and I kinda want soundwave now. Not going near pmop with a 10 mile pole though, no matter how much I want him

And it's hardly my fault that hasbro keeps giving me reasons to hate collecting these figures, it's not like I want to

[Cyberpath]

AmiAmi posted clean stock photos.

[william-james88]

Wow thats one hell of a sacrifice Takara did to the robot mode by wanting to add some screen accurace to the shuttle which is baffling since the robot mode is the only one of the 3 modes to look anything like the show model.

Not kidding in the least when I say that Hasbro wins here. Their homage works better than Takara's.