The Energon Pub

[Sabrblade]

There's a very easy way for Takara to do full Leader-sized versions of Soundblaster and Twincast without interfering with the fiction: Just leave the little Headmaster figures unaltered, identical to those that come with Blaster and Soundwave, as those little guys are the real characters in the fiction while the Transtector bodies are lifeless. So long as the little heads are the same as the normal versions, the accompanying fiction could write whatever temporary side story about the new Transtector toys that they'd want.

Like, maybe Twincast's Blaster Transtector and Soundblaster's Soundwave Transtector get momentarily upgraded by a special power source or something that changes the former from red to blue and the latter from blue to black, and then have then revert back to their normal colors by having the power boost wear off at the end of the story.

Or, a story where Twincast's Blaster Transtector and Soundblaster's Soundwave Transtector both get broken and in need of repair, with the Twincast Transtector and the Soundblaster Transtector being temporary replacements used by the two until their normal Transtector's get fixed.

[Kurona]

There's a thousand ways to do it, really. Super forms, their Headmasters influence the body, the Headmasters become full-sized, Twincast misses how he looked in blue so he grabs some paint cans...

[D-Maximal_Primal]

But Will, I like it when a bunch of guys are randomly thrown together with some sort of fun story. It's how we got Grand Galvatron, and that to date I believe is a real hit and winner of Unite Warriors.

Plus, it's fun to not make any sense at time. Dare to be stupid mi amigo

[william-james88]

But Will, I like it when a bunch of guys are randomly thrown together with some sort of fun story. It's how we got Grand Galvatron, and that to date I believe is a real hit and winner of Unite Warriors.

Plus, it's fun to not make any sense at time. Dare to be stupid mi amigo

I never said I didnt like the idea. I was just showing that it was possible to make fiction for anything. (I just found that megatron odd since we already had a DOTM movie voyager Megatron)

I personally dont care much for fiction made to go with toys, the toy's look is usually all I need to want him. I wanted RTS wreckgar and Lugnut before I even knew who those characters were.

I do like fiction that goes beyond that, that is its own product, which is basically what Beast Machines turned out to be and what MTMTE really is.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

But Will, I like it when a bunch of guys are randomly thrown together with some sort of fun story. It's how we got Grand Galvatron, and that to date I believe is a real hit and winner of Unite Warriors.

Plus, it's fun to not make any sense at time. Dare to be stupid mi amigo

I never said I didnt like the idea. I was just showing that it was possible to make fiction for anything. (I just found that megatron odd since we already had a DOTM movie voyager Megatron)

I personally dont care much for fiction made to go with toys, the toy's look is usually all I need to want him. I wanted RTS wreckgar and Lugnut before I even knew who those characters were.

I do like fiction that goes beyond that, that is its own product, which is basically what Beast Machines turned out to be and what MTMTE really is.

Were it not for Oilmaster, Megatron would easily be my most desired Botcon figure that is not shattered glass. and I love a little fiction, makes some sense towards bringing them together for me

[Logan.]

@Alfes2010 on Twitter

[D-Maximal_Primal]

That is a lot of bot

[fenrir72]

@Alfes2010 on Twitter

Greato Mazinga and Mazinga Zetto feel......goose bumpies!

[King Kuuga]

I don't see a Mazinger in any of those pictures, what are you on about?

[Emerje]

I don't see a Mazinger in any of those pictures, what are you on about?

Maybe you should re-read that since they never said there was a Mazinger in those pics.

Emerje

[Logan.]

@ponponchin on Twitter

[Emerje]

Encore 23 Fort Max and Takara Tomy Generations Metroplex shared the same box cut-out, I'm guessing the same is true for Legends Fort Max as well. I wonder if it's the same box for the previous "Maxs" as well, surely that's not something they kept after all these years?

Emerje

[Logan.]

Train Mode (On Twitter)... ahem... why not...

[fenrir72]

I don't see a Mazinger in any of those pictures, what are you on about?

@Alfes2010 on Twitter


Greato Mazinga and Mazinga Zetto feel......goose bumpies!

In the bold

[Kurona]

Train Mode (On Twitter)... ahem... why not...

It's actually better than his other modes. Screw it, Fort Max is a train now. Choo choo

[Professor Smooth]

@ponponchin on Twitter

Mother of God...

[Counterpunch]

I received Blaster, Wheelie, and Weirdwolf yesterday.

I haven't been that excited to open a bunch of official figures in a long while.

A couple of thoughts...

Weirdwolf's head is the shape that I prefer compared to the Hasbro version, however... It wasn't as nice as I expected. The details were kind of soft and it doesn't seem like it had the same sculptor as the rest of him. Robot mode is outstanding. I like how the wolf head nestles into the back. I also really like his gun for some reason, though I wish its peg didn't have those two lines of plastic on it so he could more easily hold it. I'm not sure exactly how to position his rear wolf legs as the yellow pieces seem to hit the body at bad spots making the lines not as clean as they should be.

Wheelie is just excellent. Out and out better than the Hasbro version. I thought the painted hood would bother me, but in person it blends just great. Go-Shooter is spot on as well.

Blaster is one of those figures I can't put down. I really enjoy him. I have two questions for those that have this an the TR version though.

First, I can get Rewind to easily fit in and close in his chest compartment. Stripes feels like he puts a lot of pressure on the mechanism. I noticed he's not shaped like the white ipod/chest component in regards to the divot in the top corner. Does he fit better in the TR version?

Second, regarding the initially unattached base connectors. I've transformed the TR version multiple times and never found the base clips to be a hindrance. With the LG Blaster, I feel like they force the alt mode to buldge a bit near the bottom, like it doesn't line up and causes the foot portion to flare. Is this just me?

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Train Mode (On Twitter)... ahem... why not...

What in the legitimate burning blazes of hell...

This is really awesome, so much bot, so much train

[Evil Eye]

@ponponchin on Twitter

Mother of God...

Two Fortress Maximuses, A Grand Maximus and TWO Brave Maximuses!?!?!

Good grief, that much robot could buy a house.

[Railbomb]

@ponponchin on Twitter

Mother of God...

Two Fortress Maximuses, A Grand Maximus and TWO Brave Maximuses!?!?!

Good grief, that much robot could buy a house.

I'm pretty sure that's every Japanese release of a large Fort Max, GT Fort Max is missing and so is the Transformers Jr. Fort and Grand Max, but they're not big. Not sure why someone would have both the Car Robots Brave Max and the lucky draw Robotmasters version that there's only like 10 of.

[Agamemnon]

<snip>

First, I can get Rewind to easily fit in and close in his chest compartment. Stripes feels like he puts a lot of pressure on the mechanism. I noticed he's not shaped like the white ipod/chest component in regards to the divot in the top corner. Does he fit better in the TR version?

<snip>

I just checked Stripes with my TR Blaster. He fits really well in only one direction. The other three possible orientations all feel like I am forcing him. If we start with this reference image:


Transformers Titans Return Stripes Gallery
...the only way Stripes fits in easily is if I insert him with the Autobot symbol up and the yellow pegs closer to me. Basically exactly the opposite of how Seibs has Stripes in here:


Transformers Titans Return Stripes Gallery
It seems like the rubbing is mostly happening on those yellow nubs where the hip/plane wings rotate. They seem to get caught in the cutouts in the chest tray...

[Sabrblade]

I'm pretty sure that's every Japanese release of a large Fort Max, GT Fort Max is missing and so is the Transformers Jr. Fort and Grand Max, but they're not big. Not sure why someone would have both the Car Robots Brave Max and the lucky draw Robotmasters version that there's only like 10 of.

One of the Brave Maxes could be the Korean version instead of the much-harder-to-come-by Lucky Draw version.

[Stuartmaximus]

Train Mode (On Twitter)... ahem... why not...

I put the same pic on the Titans Return page

sooo....is this AstroSentinelMax? FortPrimeTrain? or what

[Jelze Bunnycat]

I'm pretty sure that's every Japanese release of a large Fort Max, GT Fort Max is missing and so is the Transformers Jr. Fort and Grand Max, but they're not big. Not sure why someone would have both the Car Robots Brave Max and the lucky draw Robotmasters version that there's only like 10 of.

One of the Brave Maxes could be the Korean version instead of the much-harder-to-come-by Lucky Draw version.

Nope, it's the RM version as indicated by the presence of the blank cardboard box, plus all original accessories including Gasket and Grommet (the regular CR Brave Maximus didn't come with them). Besides, the Korean version has the Autobot symbol applied upside-down.

[Counterpunch]

<snip>

First, I can get Rewind to easily fit in and close in his chest compartment. Stripes feels like he puts a lot of pressure on the mechanism. I noticed he's not shaped like the white ipod/chest component in regards to the divot in the top corner. Does he fit better in the TR version?

<snip>

I just checked Stripes with my TR Blaster. He fits really well in only one direction. The other three possible orientations all feel like I am forcing him. If we start with this reference image:


Transformers Titans Return Stripes Gallery
...the only way Stripes fits in easily is if I insert him with the Autobot symbol up and the yellow pegs closer to me. Basically exactly the opposite of how Seibs has Stripes in here:


Transformers Titans Return Stripes Gallery
It seems like the rubbing is mostly happening on those yellow nubs where the hip/plane wings rotate. They seem to get caught in the cutouts in the chest tray...

I agree about the yellow nubs causing an issue getting the figure inserted. However, I don't think that's the entire issue.

Look at the picture here:


If you insert the piece into his chest in the orientation shown in the pic, it will require noticeably more force to get the locking mechanism to fasten.

Now, if you flip the piece over and position it like this:


It will close and fasten quite readily with no needed force.

I think that the little divot in the top edge makes all the difference. It's why Rewind will go in without any difficulty if positioned with the narrow end up. It's also why the thinner bird molds have no real trouble regardless of orientation.

I think the lack of an edge up top keeps additional pressure from hitting on the inner reticle piece of the chest door, making the whole thing easier to close.