The Energon Pub

[Wolfman Jake]

Back on the topic of Legends exclusives...

Besides Buster and Hydra, I'm really hoping they crank out a new pair of Artfire and Stepper. They have the molds in the factory to do it (ie. the new Inferno and Jazz)... plus they've quite deliberately left out the targetmaster partners from their characters in all of the recent Takara releases...

Huh? Transformers United Stepper/Ricochet and Artfire came with their Targetmaster partners, "Nebulon/Nightstick" and "Nightstick", respectively. In fact, Artfire even came with a second one named "Spark" to give to Transformers United Rodimus Prime as a stand-in for his G1 Targetmaster, "Firebolt." Masterpiece Artfire came with Targetmaster Nightstick as well. I'm pretty sure Takara considers Stepper/Ricochet and Artfire and their respective Targetmasters "covered" for the foreseeable future.

He's talking about making Stepper and Ricochet out of Power of the Primes Inferno and Jazz. And he's talking about their Targetmaster partners not being used in Legends like all of the other ones were.

Emerje

The beauty of the ambiguity of the English language! I hope you can understand how it can read quite differently than what the original poster intended. Anyway, I don't think it's likely there will be new Transformers Legends Artfire and Stepper figures with their respective Targetmaster partners. As I said before, they were done not all that long ago, and the Universe 2008 Nightstick mold actually scales perfectly and works well aesthetically with the Legends Targetmasters, so why redo them? Also, they're not the only Targetmasters missing. Takara hasn't done Targetmasters for Cyclonus or Scourge either. That makes sense given that Cyclonus and Scourge didn't have their Targetmaster partners at all in The Headmasters cartoon. However, Takara did give Hot Rod, Kup, and Blurr their Targetmaster partners, who also weren't in The Headmasters cartoon, so anything is possible, I suppose.

[Jelze Bunnycat]

Also, they're not the only Targetmasters missing. Takara hasn't done Targetmasters for Cyclonus or Scourge either. That makes sense given that Cyclonus and Scourge didn't have their Targetmaster partners at all in The Headmasters cartoon.

Because they were given to Artfire and Stepper instead: Nightstick went to Stepper, and renamed Nebulon (after Fracas' initial in-box description) and Fracas went to Artfire, and renamed Nightstick So really only two are missing... debatable, because aside from sharing and switching names they switched character models as well.

[Wolfman Jake]

Also, they're not the only Targetmasters missing. Takara hasn't done Targetmasters for Cyclonus or Scourge either. That makes sense given that Cyclonus and Scourge didn't have their Targetmaster partners at all in The Headmasters cartoon.

Because they were given to Artfire and Stepper instead: Nightstick went to Stepper, and renamed Nebulon (after Fracas' initial in-box description) and Fracas went to Artfire, and renamed Nightstick So really only two are missing... debatable, because aside from sharing and switching names they switched character models as well.

Yeah, that whole situation is just a giant cluster. I'd like Hasbro release an official Artfire in their markets just to see what they name his Targetmaster. Will they just keep it Nightstick and make him the second "Autobot Nightstick" Targetmaster and the third Targetmaster with named "Nightstick" overall in the franchise, or pick a new name, or complicate things even further with another duplicate name. Maybe he can be "Autobot Fracas?"

[o.supreme]

For the record I'd love for Hasbro to release a standard Riccochet/Stepper deluxe as part of PotP. It seems to be a slam dunk for a Jazz repaint, but if this was somehow to become a TT Mall exclusive, I'd be ok with that, a single deluxe, even an *exclusive* one could not be that expensive could it? Provided it was promptly pre-ordered . I know its hard to have one without the other, but I'm not to keen on getting Artfire, I really want to avoid Voyagers without dedicated limbs. I was barely able to make it all work in the last line, it's a potential problem with PotP, I'm just hoping later waves wont let me down with additional deluxes.

[william-james88]

For the record I'd love for Hasbro to release a standard Riccochet/Stepper deluxe as part of PotP. It seems to be a slam dunk for a Jazz repaint, but if this was somehow to become a TT Mall exclusive, I'd be ok with that, a single deluxe, even an *exclusive* one could not be that expensive could it? Provided it was promptly pre-ordered .

If you want a tentative budget, standard TT exclusive deluxes are around $40 and always available from collector shops like BBTS.

[Wolfman Jake]

Switching gears for a moment, I'd like to talk a little bit about Legends Blitzwing. I just received and opened him up last night. I've had experience with this mold before, both as Titans Return Megatron and Blitzwing. Ordering the Takara version when it was finally announced was a no-brainer for me, given the more cartoon accurate color scheme and the lack of foil stickers. The purple, in person, is not at all bad. It may seem a little lighter and brighter than you would expect, but that kind of fits in with how Takara has been handling color for much of the Legends line anyway (see Legends Hardhead for a good example). Plus, Blitzwing's purple is leagues closer to the ideal shade than Legends Galvatron turned out (that still stings a bit, honestly). I am very impressed, though, that Takara seems to have made a few tolerance adjustments to the mold as well! Everything seems to tab in a lot tighter than it does on my Hasbro Megatron and Blitzwing. Even better, the articulated wings actually hold together! You can bend them up for transformation, back and forth among all three modes, and they never pop off! This was seemingly impossible with the Hasbro versions I have. I've got high hopes that the upcoming Legends G2 Megatron will also enjoy the same apparent upgrade in quality control.

[o.supreme]

I am very impressed, though, that Takara seems to have made a few tolerance adjustments to the mold as well! Everything seems to tab in a lot tighter than it does on my Hasbro Megatron and Blitzwing. Even better, the articulated wings actually hold together! You can bend them up for transformation, back and forth among all three modes, and they never pop off! This was seemingly impossible with the Hasbro versions I have. I've got high hopes that the upcoming Legends G2 Megatron will also enjoy the same apparent upgrade in quality control.

I enjoy hearing stories like this. Thank you. Right now I am pretty bummed that releases will be the exact same as Hasbro's for PotP. But I am a bit interested to see reports when their line does come out to see if there is any difference in quality or not. I mean even Legends Dinosaurer, despite being physically identical to its TR (Trypticon) Hasbro counterpart, was of seemingly better quality all around. When both lines are coming from the same manufacturing plant in Vietnam, it makes the mind boggle sometimes.

[Wolfman Jake]

I am very impressed, though, that Takara seems to have made a few tolerance adjustments to the mold as well! Everything seems to tab in a lot tighter than it does on my Hasbro Megatron and Blitzwing. Even better, the articulated wings actually hold together! You can bend them up for transformation, back and forth among all three modes, and they never pop off! This was seemingly impossible with the Hasbro versions I have. I've got high hopes that the upcoming Legends G2 Megatron will also enjoy the same apparent upgrade in quality control.

I enjoy hearing stories like this. Thank you. Right now I am pretty bummed that releases will be the exact same as Hasbro's for PotP. But I am a bit interested to see reports when their line does come out to see if there is any difference in quality or not. I mean even Legends Dinosaurer, despite being physically identical to its TR (Trypticon) Hasbro counterpart, was of seemingly better quality all around. When both lines are coming from the same manufacturing plant in Vietnam, it makes the mind boggle sometimes.

I think it comes down to timing, honestly. Hasbro's versions of modern figures usually come out first, for the most part, and then the Takara versions months to almost a year later in some cases. That's a lot of time to look at the first factory runs and figure out what isn't working as intended and make the needed adjustments. When you look at some of the rare examples where it is the other way around, with Takara making a mold first and then Hasbro releasing it later, like with the upcoming Hasbro release of Blast Off in his shuttle form, the difference is again all down to timing. Unite Warriors Blast Off was a quality control disaster. It didn't hold together well in arm mode. Various panels and joints were floppy and wouldn't hold their poses or positions well. Most embarrassing was that the head would just pop off at the slightest provocation, like, for instance, simply looking in its general direction. The later release of the mold as Shuttler for UW-EX Baldigus was MUCH better in all those regards. I suspect the Hasbro release of the mold later this spring for "May Mayhem" will also outshine the original Takara release in QC as well.

[o.supreme]

I think it comes down to timing, honestly. Hasbro's versions of modern figures usually come out first, for the most part, and then the Takara versions months to almost a year later in some cases. That's a lot of time to look at the first factory runs and figure out what isn't working as intended and make the needed adjustments. When you look at some of the rare examples where it is the other way around, with Takara making a mold first and then Hasbro releasing it later, like with the upcoming Hasbro release of Blast Off in his shuttle form, the difference is again all down to timing. Unite Warriors Blast Off was a quality control disaster. It didn't hold together well in arm mode. Various panels and joints were floppy and wouldn't hold their poses or positions well. Most embarrassing was that the head would just pop off at the slightest provocation, like, for instance, simply looking in its general direction. The later release of the mold as Shuttler for UW-EX Baldigus was MUCH better in all those regards. I suspect the Hasbro release of the mold later this spring for "May Mayhem" will also outshine the original Takara release in QC as well.

That is a good point. I have UW Blastoff. And I'm not upset, but yeah it does have all the issues you described. But even by the time it was reused as UW Strafe, it was already fixed. I don't have Shuttler ...yet, but I understand. Still it comes down to--I can (for example) get Hasbro's toys (Volcanicus) and spend about $90-100 US (after tax) and have it in march sometime, or pre-order Takaras, which will cost me about $170 (after shipping), and I don't even get them in a UW set, but I can *hope* any QC isues are fixed...Right now its just not worth it, but some I am definitely curious to find out about (Voyager Starscream for example)/....

My apologies I know this was all a bit OT, but the superior quality seen in the Legends line interests me, as I've taken advantage of it going exclusively with UW (and only CW when there was no UW counterpart), and purchasing exclusive Legends toys that had no TR version (God Bomber, and hopefully soon Greatshot etc...) and unfortunately bleeds over to PotP discussion. But I'll try not to veer off moving forward.

[primalxconvoy]

Legends Blitzwing is the same colour as his appearance in TF: - The Movie.

[gothsaurus]

Having purchase both lines in their entirety — Takara has hands-down beaten the quality of Hasbro in paint apps and quality control.

The Hasbro toys on the shelf now have glaring paint issues, leaving me to pick through dozens of flawed ones... plus often swapping after finding issues after purchase.... while the Takara versions have been immaculate.

I truly feel that there must be two sets of standards for the factory runs based on the age of our target audiences (kids VS collectors). Maybe they are cranked out faster/in higher quantities and slowed down respectively?

Again, this is just conjecture... but I cannot imagine it not being the case after comparing the last years of toys from both lines... and after checking literally hundreds of toys on the shelves to compare.

And don't get me started on the stickers. I'm thrilled to see that the tampos on the deluxe dinos look fantastic. Very reminiscent of the G1 toy stickers. I hope and pray they can move to tampos instead of those cheap foil stickers more and more in the future.

(I know I'm preaching to the choir, but hopefully it's just one more voice in agreement for Hasbro to read.)

EDIT — I guess as ties in to the discussion, the quality control issues have me STILL considering buying Takara versions... and ever interested in the Legends line based on superior quality of toys, paint, tampos, QA and of course the great choices for rare and fan-favorite characters.

[primalxconvoy]

There are some QC issues with the Takara versions, though. On Blitzwing, the feet scrape past the back of the lower legs, when transforming it. As Takara's version has painted feet, the gaps between the feet and leg pieces is less than the unpainted parts on Hasbro's. This means that the lovely metallic paint on the inside of the feet, and the cream paint on the back of the legs, will scrape off in places.

[fenrir72]

Same factories different product specs. Yup! The TT versions of whom I double dipped are waaaaaaaaaay OT better.

Kickback
Gong
6shot
Broadside
Gnaw
Kup
Hotrodimus
Overlord (I'll be using the Hb ver for his power armor upgrade once he and the rest arrives)

The TM too compared to the Hb versions(I am just relying on visual quality as I did NOT double dip on them (Triggerhappy especially! Great face sculpt and coloring )

As for the Clonebots, no choice but to get the TT 'cause for convenience and aesthetics, it's a buy 1 take two pack.

[Sabrblade]

Legends Blitzwing is the same colour as his appearance in TF: - The Movie.

...You do know that there have been so many different releases of that movie with varying degrees of color tinting, right? How is one to decide which release's coloration is the *correct* one?

[william-james88]

Legends Blitzwing is the same colour as his appearance in TF: - The Movie.

...You do know that there have been so many different releases of that movie with varying degrees of color tinting, right? How is one to decide which release's coloration is the *correct* one?

Excuse me but I think there are certain colourations that are accepted as exact to the character and accepted by the entire community. Like this being Kup's true colour:



Clearly, Takara agreed with us on that one




Ok, now onto a more serious note, I am glad to hear Takara's blitzwing is more solid since that mold's qc was a major determining factor in me not including it in my recent top 5 triple changers list and, at the same time, saying that G1 Blitzwing is the better toy.

Also, I do not think that means Takara's POTP toys will be better than Hasbro's. Nomatter how small a change, i there isa change between releases, it will require a different assembly line and with that someone different to oversee things and catch problems (also explaining why only Hasbro versions of MP10 have crappy sprue marks). If toys are identical, there is no need for different assembly lines and products can share the same crappy QC. The TLK toys that are the same, for instance, have been compared and truly are the very same in every way.

Now I wonder if that means we will start seeing movie symbols pop up in Takara's POTP toys (though that may go unoticed).

[primalxconvoy]

Legends Blitzwing is the same colour as his appearance in TF: - The Movie.

...You do know that there have been so many different releases of that movie with varying degrees of color tinting, right? How is one to decide which release's coloration is the *correct* one?

Here are some screenshots, showing not only the same tint, but also the same mapping for the shoulder details, etc. It was the same with their release for Kup, too. Obviously, there are issues with degraded or dirty film, but I'd you look at the recent HD release, it's the same as that. The regular animation has a darker tint and less details.

I didn't say this was the "correct" version, but I'm sure it's the version used for reference for their toy. You can see, for reference, a regular cartoon version in the top left corner.

[primalxconvoy]

Btw, here are pics of the paint scraping on legends BW:

[grimdragon2001]

I recall someone asking for pics of Haywire on Blurr's vehicle mode. Well, wish granted

Turns out there is a hole on the bottom of Haywire's handle that fits a titanmaster peg perfectly

[Agamemnon]

I recall someone asking for pics of Haywire on Blurr's vehicle mode. Well, wish granted



Turns out there is a hole on the bottom of Haywire's handle that fits a titanmaster peg perfectly

Yeah, that looks better than my trapping Haywire in the cockpit... (Pics included for convenience)

[chuckdawg1999]

I recall someone asking for pics of Haywire on Blurr's vehicle mode. Well, wish granted

IMG_3428.JPG

IMG_3429.JPG

Turns out there is a hole on the bottom of Haywire's handle that fits a titanmaster peg perfectly

Does anyone know if that hole is present on all the Targetmasters?

[Agamemnon]

I recall someone asking for pics of Haywire on Blurr's vehicle mode. Well, wish granted

IMG_3428.JPG

IMG_3429.JPG

Turns out there is a hole on the bottom of Haywire's handle that fits a titanmaster peg perfectly

Does anyone know if that hole is present on all the Targetmasters?

I'm guessing so. It's on my Target Masters with Blurr (Well, Twinferno or whoever), Hot Rod, and Kup Targetmasters.

[steals_your_goats]

I recall someone asking for pics of Haywire on Blurr's vehicle mode. Well, wish granted

IMG_3428.JPG

IMG_3429.JPG

Turns out there is a hole on the bottom of Haywire's handle that fits a titanmaster peg perfectly

Does anyone know if that hole is present on all the Targetmasters?

I'm guessing so. It's on my Target Masters with Blurr (Well, Twinferno or whoever), Hot Rod, and Kup Targetmasters.

It's on all the decepticon one's too.

[primalxconvoy]

A while back, some of us were discussing whether the current Legends figures were sold only online and/or sold to children (as Takara printed that they were recommended for she's 15+).

Today, at Bic Camera, I saw the Legends toys, sold alongside the regular film toys (recommended for ages 5+). I asked a shop assistant about the toys and he said:

- He wasn't aware about the 15+ age recommendation (until I showed him).
- The shop had no policy on the minimum age that someone had to be to buy these toys (pending safety or sexual/depictions of violence, etc).
- He thought, when showed, the 15+ age recommendation on the Legends toy was due to them having sharp parts in the original G1 figures (he thought they original G1 toys of yesteryear were sold to kids 15+, for some reason).

It seemed to me that he had no idea about the content of the comics, which would be normal (as no information regarding them was be printed on the toy box).

Here's a pic of them, for sale:

-

Again, I made no complaints, it discussed the comics. I just wanted to know how the toys were sold, at a shop in Japan.

[Lore Keeper]

I wish I could just walk into a store and find Legends figures on the shelf.

[Targetmaster Kup]

Question: Is there a whole community in Japan upset that Takara and Hasbro are coming together, because they might not be getting G1 Toy accurate depictions of new toys in the future, since Takara and Hasbro might compromise?