The Energon Pub

[Cobotron]

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 noticed this too. Crazy that that tiny beveled edge could make that difference. Those are some minuscule tolerances.

[Counterpunch]

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 noticed this too. Crazy that that tiny beveled edge could make that difference. Those are some minuscule tolerances.

My concern is that while all the tapes will fit, positioning them incorrectly will stress the clear plastic piece inside and over time, end up breaking it.

[Agamemnon]

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 noticed this too. Crazy that that tiny beveled edge could make that difference. Those are some minuscule tolerances.

My concern is that while all the tapes will fit, positioning them incorrectly will stress the clear plastic piece inside and over time, end up breaking it.

That makes a lot of sense, and I will be looking out for it. Truthfully, I don't see myself putting the minions in the chests very often, if at all...

[Logan.]

Super Comparison (@ibonnko on Twitter)

[RAR]

I didn't know there was a Metroplex with so much white on it - the one I have has dark grey decks. I kinda like the white - it makes it look more like the original toy.

Their storage method for the guns sort of works too more so on one side than the other though.

That image does make me think "Boy does TR Fort Max need some ramp extenders"

Oh and I still think the Original Fort Max is overall the superior toy.. even with the 5mm & ramp connections and a few neat fan modes the Modern Fort Max really only sell himself in robot mode. and the problem with ramps not going anywhere is even worse.

I'm seriously considering buying the replacement knees for both of them as I think it would help them both a lot in the various base modes as well as all for more dynamic poses. (joints allowing). I expect I'll like Fort Max a bit more once i have some Titanmaster weapons to mount on him though.

But as I said - Nice robot - nice display piece - just a bit of a failure as an actual "Transformer" or as an attempt to improve the original.

But hey it's made me appreciate the original more - so that isn't a bad thing.

[Sabrblade]

Looking at those, I'd say the Battleship mode of the new one looks much more streamlined than that of the old one.

[fenrir72]

I didn't know there was a Metroplex with so much white on it - the one I have has dark grey decks. I kinda like the white - it makes it look more like the original toy.

Their storage method for the guns sort of works too more so on one side than the other though.

That image does make me think "Boy does TR Fort Max need some ramp extenders"

Oh and I still think the Original Fort Max is overall the superior toy.. even with the 5mm & ramp connections and a few neat fan modes the Modern Fort Max really only sell himself in robot mode. and the problem with ramps not going anywhere is even worse.

I'm seriously considering buying the replacement knees for both of them as I think it would help them both a lot in the various base modes as well as all for more dynamic poses. (joints allowing). I expect I'll like Fort Max a bit more once i have some Titanmaster weapons to mount on him though.

But as I said - Nice robot - nice display piece - just a bit of a failure as an actual "Transformer" or as an attempt to improve the original.

But hey it's made me appreciate the original more - so that isn't a bad thing.

Yup. Own the original too. The original beats them all in oomph (weight) features (working elevator) and beefiness (less hollow parts) which more or less got Hb/Takara used to get around the so called crash test. The saving grace would be "Fortress"/Cerebros/Emissary aka the Hm part.

And this is coming from one who ordered the Takara version.

[william-james88]

People who got Takara's LG Fort Max have just noticed something: the legs have been glued shut. You cannot open them to make the makeshift city mode.

[fenrir72]

People who got Takara's LG Fort Max have just noticed something: the legs have been glued shut. You cannot open them to make the makeshift city mode.

The Hb and special ed version's legs can be opened then?

[nycPrime]

People who got Takara's LG Fort Max have just noticed something: the legs have been glued shut. You cannot open them to make the makeshift city mode.

The Hb and special ed version's legs can be opened then?

Yea for hasbro. I wasn't familiar with metroplex when I first got FM and wondered why the legs opened since it wasn't part of the transformation.

[Agamemnon]

People who got Takara's LG Fort Max have just noticed something: the legs have been glued shut. You cannot open them to make the makeshift city mode.

The Hb and special ed version's legs can be opened then?

Like nycPrime said, yes the Hasbro version can open. Here's the mode WJ88 was talking about.


Transformers Titans Return Fortress Maximus Gallery

[Sabrblade]

I guess Takara's really trying to push their idea of it being a "Fortress Mode" over Hasbro's idea of it being a "City Mode".

[fenrir72]

People who got Takara's LG Fort Max have just noticed something: the legs have been glued shut. You cannot open them to make the makeshift city mode.

The Hb and special ed version's legs can be opened then?

Like nycPrime said, yes the Hasbro version can open. Here's the mode WJ88 was talking about.


Transformers Titans Return Fortress Maximus Gallery

Does "Fortress", the tiny head , have a cockpit for him to sit in and pilot the Battle Station mode? Like in the G1 toy.

[Agamemnon]

People who got Takara's LG Fort Max have just noticed something: the legs have been glued shut. You cannot open them to make the makeshift city mode.

The Hb and special ed version's legs can be opened then?

Like nycPrime said, yes the Hasbro version can open. Here's the mode WJ88 was talking about.


Transformers Titans Return Fortress Maximus Gallery

Does "Fortress", the tiny head , have a cockpit for him to sit in and pilot the Battle Station mode? Like in the G1 toy.

Not in a way that I've found that makes sense.....challenge accepted!

[fenrir72]

People who got Takara's LG Fort Max have just noticed something: the legs have been glued shut. You cannot open them to make the makeshift city mode.

The Hb and special ed version's legs can be opened then?

Like nycPrime said, yes the Hasbro version can open. Here's the mode WJ88 was talking about.


Transformers Titans Return Fortress Maximus Gallery

Does "Fortress", the tiny head , have a cockpit for him to sit in and pilot the Battle Station mode? Like in the G1 toy.

Not in a way that I've found that makes sense.....challenge accepted!

I hold you to that challenge At least until mine is delivered.

[fenrir72]

I just got to opening Legends Blurr and the rest of the gang. Mein gott! He is so light and hollow......but in a good way! Vibrant colors and excellent design. I also own the original G1 non targetmaster version. That too is a thing of beauty in a stiff brick sort of way but how technology has grown these part 30 years that TFL Hm Blurr IS the definite anime/1986 movie incarnation. Hands down!

Scourge too is an excellent update! United was a nice update but this one incorporates what was learned from Titanium and United. Very nice! I also didn't experience any loose links to his head module. Though the design has his neck a bit elevated unlike the other headmasters.

Both Blurr and Scourge's Hm kind of reminds me of Robotmaster Starsaber's "Courage" or the minijet that would/should be housing "Courage". Coincidence?

Hardhead. Excellent update from the anime. Too bad he lacks the extra gun though his present design did away with the extra mounting hole so no biggey. I also like how Duros was painted, down to his blue optics.

Skullcruncher? Loose thighs and all but really great update.

Galvatron. Already freed him from his "psycho ward". Really a disappointment with the spring loading crest gimmick. Were they trying to replicate the gimmick on Broadcast and Soundwave? If so, maybe they should have made him "leader" size? Aside from that, he would have been perfect.

Shockwave. The Takara colors really shine here. Makes a great weapon for MP and UW Bruticus. Speaking of which, UW Bruticus with Blast-off as an arm, won't fit Shockwave snug because of clearance issues with his rear fin unless you detach it.

I'm expecting Wheelie,Rewind,Weirdwolf,Broadcast and Fortmax. Hopefully they won't be too disappointing.

[mbd88prime]

People who got Takara's LG Fort Max have just noticed something: the legs have been glued shut. You cannot open them to make the makeshift city mode.

yes just got mine. and even worse when I decided to install the megamoonman knee swivel upgrades to make up for it I realized that opening the legs is essential to installing the said upgrade. so takara, amazingly, has managed to make their fortress maximus worse than Hasbro. literally there is no saving grace here except for the paint. god I hope third parties have something in mind for these damn legs(that doesn't involve opening them) the "fortress mode" is a joke and this time no fan modes can save it.

[william-james88]

Seibertron's Japan correspondent, Matt in Japan, has just purchased Takara's Transformers LG-30 Weirdwolf and took many pictures to show us what Takara has to offer for their version. You can compare with the Hasbro version by looking at our gallery, and Matt adds comparison images to the original G1 toy. We also get a very good look at his head, which is the main difference between this toy and the Hasbro version.

[Kurona]

Hm. So it unfortunately doesn't fix the one problem the toy has (all the face details being obscured by the big blotch of red)

[william-james88]

Hm. So it unfortunately doesn't fix the one problem the toy has (all the face details being obscured by the big blotch of red)

My thoughts exactly. What I dislike the most about Hasbro's is how the only paint on his face was a blotch of red. But its the same thing here. So it goes back to simply which shape you like better, and I preffer Hasbro's. It's a really nice homage and improvement to the G1 toy which was attempting a more rounded head.

[Kurona]

Hm. So it unfortunately doesn't fix the one problem the toy has (all the face details being obscured by the big blotch of red)

My thoughts exactly. What I dislike the most about Hasbro's is how the only paint on his face was a blotch of red. But its the same thing here. So it goes back to simply which shape you like better, and I preffer Hasbro's. It's a really nice homage and improvement to the G1 toy which was attempting a more rounded head.

True.
Plus, like Skullcruncher, I mostly want him for his beast mode - so it's not too bad for me.

[Sabrblade]

It kinda looks to me like the visor is an ever-so-slightly darker shade of red than that of the face, but the lighting in these pics sadly does the face no favors, so it's not that easy to see in this case.

[Venoose1]

The visor is red and the face is orange, kind of hard to tell in the photo though.

[no-one]

Youheidex posted a video of Transformers Takara Legends LG-31 Fortress Maximus.

[frogbat]

Usually I don't care much for the pricier Takara Versions of the toys... the paint details are nice but not worth it for me usually. At times it's a lack of patience as they're released after hasbro's.

However I'd have liked that all the titan figures had a paint splotch on their faces, seems deluxes and voyagers don't get that treatment from hasbro whereas takara does. Though I keep them displayed in robot mode with heads attached, when playing with them and see the little paintless faces I begin thinking it's time to start waiting for takara.