The Energon Pub

[fenrir72]

Hmmm.....I like the plastic colors on both, but I think both will benefit greatly from the Reprolabels/Toyhax sticker set.

I looked into those but all they do is add distracting 80s sticker detail. It ends up looking more jarring. I lwas like when reprolabels add to the toy and blend with the design, those dont.

What they did for the noggins of Legends and TR Galvatron, however, is amazing. Better than any other 3rd party upgrade option, IMHO.

This. At first look it looked oversized to one but its only an optical illusion. Just the right size and almost Studio OX like.

[Evil Eye]

Does that helmet store in cannon mode?

[Cyberpath]

In-hand photos by Alfes2010 --

→ http://higekumatoytoy.blog60.fc2.com/bl ... -2743.html ←

How does Takara apply these tiny paint details?

[steals_your_goats]

Does that helmet store in cannon mode?

It stores in his enormous chest cavity

[steals_your_goats]

How does Takara apply these tiny paint details?

Children's hands.

[william-james88]

How does Takara apply these tiny paint details?

Children's hands.

I really shouldnt be laughing though

[Evil Eye]

How does Takara apply these tiny paint details?

Children's hands.

I really shouldnt be laughing though

*On second thoughts, perhaps not.*

[Cyberpath]

The Titans Masters figures are so small, some of the paint details almost seem impossible.

[Burn]

How does Takara apply these tiny paint details?

Children's hands.

I really shouldnt be laughing though

I sometimes wonder if children that don't turn out their required number of Transformers on time are fed into a macerator and made into an additive to make HasTak's plastic "more efficient" (read: cheaper). That snapped peg I told you about on UW Nosecone? That was a malnourished Vietnamese child's brittle bones once.


...And this is why I deserve every broken toy I get.

Very much not called for.

[Evil Eye]

Yeeeaaaahhhh....whoops. I'll get my coat.

[Kurona]

Anyone really desparate for Takara to release their cartoon-accurate-colours version of Titans Return Astrotrain? Well, thanks to fellow Seibertronian Cyberpath, perhaps this'll ease the wait - from the personal blog of alfes2010, we have in-hand images of the figure split between two blog posts! Most notably we finally get a look at how the Headmaster's robot mode has been painted, and a little preview at his pack-in comic. Some of the more eagle-eyed among you might also notice the comic includes a picture of Sentinel Prime; Astrotrain's pretool in Hasbro's Titans Return line - given that the colour layouts seem to match Hasbro's figure exactly though, this seems to just be a neat little reference to the Hasbro toy rather than any hint Sentinel will be released in Takara's markets (but keep your eyes pealed just in case we're wrong about that ). We've included a few key images in particular below, but click on the links to both blog posts to see Takara Astrotrain in all his in-hand glory!

http://higekumatoytoy.blog60.fc2.com/bl ... -2743.html
http://higekumatoytoy.blog60.fc2.com/bl ... -2744.html

[Jelze Bunnycat]

Wow, never thought I'd see the Tera-Kura Co. one-up Axalon: mass-produced Astrotrain Transtectors (vs. mass-produced Nightbeat suits)! Nice nod to Astrotrain's role in the G1 episode "Triple Takeover". His army has different heads, but I'm having trouble identifying some of them: I do spot:

- Goshooter
- Bullhorn
- a yellow Cerebros
- a pink Repugnus?
- Soundwave
- a blue Shuffler?
- I guess a red Ptero/Swoop? I'm guessing that's supposed to be Terrosaur
- Brawn

[Albatross250]

I doubt that Astrotrain have a crown

[fenrir72]

Does that helmet store in cannon mode?

http://toyhax.com/for-titans-ret/2245-p ... atron.html

Looks like there's enough clearance.

[Emerje]

I do spot:

- Goshooter
- Bullhorn
- a yellow Cerebros
- a pink Repugnus?
- Soundwave
- a blue Shuffler?
- I guess a red Ptero/Swoop? I'm guessing that's supposed to be Terrosaur
- Brawn

That wouldn't be Terrorsaur since they're keeping the Beast Wars characters as a separate thing, right? Looks more like Ironhide to me, especially being next to Brawn. That's also probably not Soundwave since he already has his own Transtector.

Yellow one sort of reminds me of Leadfoot.

But would they use a G2 guy? Probably not.

I wonder if blue Shuffler has anything to do with my theory of him being used for a potential e-Hobby blue Big Convoy (made from Magna Convoy's blue Astrotrain-modeled ship)? Cameo perhaps? Or just something entirely different, I don't know...

Emerje

[no-one]

[Cyberpath]

That's pretty neat!

[o.supreme]

One of the contentions I have with some toy reviewers on Youtube is the fact that many of them gain popularity just because they happen to live in a place where they get the first chance to review both Hasbro & Takara product, without really knowing a whole lot about the history about the characters of said product. Now I know the counter to that is..well they are just tying to show how cool the toy is, not explain its whole backstory, which is fine, but if I want to see how "cool" the toy is youheidx is my go to. Without a single word, he can show me how great the toys are, I leave it to others to be competent enough to explain where it came from...

[gothsaurus]

Yeah, I expect reviewers to know the character, show height comparisons with other figures in the same line, compare with the original G1 toy, show articulation... well, and maintain some kind of semblance of being upbeat and professional and consistent in their speaking volume.

I'm actually thrilled when someone delivers all of these.

On the flip side, whenever I come across a reviewer more focused on their fan character or puppet while talking in a digitally altered chipmunk voice, I always stop those a few seconds in while muttering "nope, nope, nope."

I'm too old for that nonsense.

[o.supreme]

Yeah, I expect reviewers to know the character, show height comparisons with other figures in the same line, compare with the original G1 toy, show articulation... well, and maintain some kind of semblance of being upbeat and professional and consistent in their speaking volume.

I'm actually thrilled when someone delivers all of these.

On the flip side, whenever I come across a reviewer more focused on their fan character or puppet while talking in a digitally altered chipmunk voice, I always stop those a few seconds in while muttering "nope, nope, nope."

I'm too old for that nonsense.

agreed, also I changed my post to say *some* , not all toy reviewers irk me, just the ones with a cheesy gimmick as you stated, or who often state "I don't know what this is" about the toy they are reviewing.

[Sabrblade]

As bad as some of the worse reviewers can be, just remember, it could always be even worse:

[gothsaurus]

There was one last week where the reviewer was quite a downer. Didn't know the character and was negative and mopey and mumbly. That's hard to watch.

I'd say the same about keeping them short with good pacing. A 30 min review for a toy is toooo long.

All that said, I AM grateful for the early glimpses of the toys and objective opinions. I hope reviewers can take all this constructive criticism and hone their craft.

[o.supreme]

All that said, I AM grateful for the early glimpses of the toys and objective opinions. I hope reviewers can take all this constructive criticism and hone their craft.

well said. Also Sabr...I had not seen that video before, that's pretty darn amusing considering it was made way back in 2011. I probably just started watching Toy reviews in the past 18 months, and have seen all of those (though to be fair, cats in TF videos is a flaw I don't mind really lol!_)

Also it confirms the fact that I made the right decision as a parent. My son (10) was inspired to make his own TF toy reviews on his iPad, basically just mimicking much of what he saw other reviewers doing, he asked me to upload them to Youtube, but I said no, basically to spare him from the scars of rude comments, oh and the volume was so low, you really couldn't hear anything heh. I applauded him for his efforts, and to keep trying though. But like most kids, his interest faded, and although he is still into the toys, he is also interested in other things so doing videos probably wont come up again for a while.

Anyways...looks like youheidx next video will be Legends Chromedome. He usually goes in waves from various different Japanese toys, so hopefully we will get a Megatronia video soon, and perhaps a couple other Transformers before he hops to the next thing.

I do have to say, like UW, the TT Legends figures do look better in many ways than the Hasbro TR equivalents, but the increased price is a deterrent unfortunately.

[gothsaurus]

yeah! That guy gets it. Great video. Thanks!

[RAR]

I can name a few people if I was wanting to be cruel who do much of those things and often.

Peaugh is especially prone to making things not in frame for extended periods for example. I've also seen people talk about anything an everything but the toy including unwanted details about their private life.
Our new Bo Chefatron is loath to edit anything. and John Garrison is prone to ramble a bit. Chuck's & Panda Prime's sound is horrible, some of the most annoying reviewers I can't watch at all so I can't comment on.

Some thing people moan about just irritate me - sprue marks being one of them - no idea why - it just irks me to see people winge about that.

But yes that is a video I'm familar with and it often comes to mind (unfortunately)