The Energon Pub

[chuckdawg1999]

Never had Tracks as a kid but I wanted it. One of my favorite G1 characters so I pre-ordered mine. Although I now remember the last time I did that, for Bumblebee I believe, another listing popped up later on that had the collectors coin. Hopefully the BBTS listing is for the coin version.

[Cyberpath]

He probably is a little slim because of his car-mode, but I think he seems even slimmer due to both original image and the image-of-image looking distorted. Plus, he's at an angle, and his pelvis is rotated. Hopefully better prototype pix will pop up before it becomes a thing.

Anyway, I love Track's voice. Looked up his voice-actor, and he still does a flawless Tracks. Check out his little poem --

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9hO9IfJVyk#t=9m43s
(9:43 to 10:29)

And I agree with him, Tracks is not vain, he just has very well-developed sense of self.

[zodconvoy]

Not to get too far off topic, but I hope the recent focus on female characters will get us a decent Elita-1, and just maybe...that tie-wearing cat!!

Elita-1, Nightbird, and Minerva would all 3 be at the top of my list. Fingers and eyes crossed!

Totally agree with Elita and Minerva, but as Nightbird's technically not cybertronian, I can wait. I'd rather have Firestar or Moonracer

Elita-1, Nightbird, Minerva, Firestar, Moonracer, flippin' Road Rage and not one mention of Arcee?

[shajaki]

Never had Tracks as a kid but I wanted it. One of my favorite G1 characters so I pre-ordered mine. Although I now remember the last time I did that, for Bumblebee I believe, another listing popped up later on that had the collectors coin. Hopefully the BBTS listing is for the coin version.

BBTS typically has two separate listings for with and without coins.

[Desslok2201]

Not to get too far off topic, but I hope the recent focus on female characters will get us a decent Elita-1, and just maybe...that tie-wearing cat!!

Elita-1, Nightbird, and Minerva would all 3 be at the top of my list. Fingers and eyes crossed!

Totally agree with Elita and Minerva, but as Nightbird's technically not cybertronian, I can wait. I'd rather have Firestar or Moonracer

Elita-1, Nightbird, Minerva, Firestar, Moonracer, flippin' Road Rage and not one mention of Arcee?

I'd take the recent Arcee as a placeholder for a while.

[ScottyP]

I'm in the "Tracks is too thin and tall" boat as well. Something is off but hopefully it's fixed in upcoming angle shots or maybe the legs compact or it's mistransformed or something. The artwork padfoo posted looks fantastic. I'm still excited about the figure, but it just looks off to me.

Stylized pose + early resin version = Yeah, gonna look a little off. I'm ok with a little skinny Tracks, I think it fits his vain personality, but it is off when I think of the G1 character model.

Also Raoul and Blaster accessories would be great! Maybe even a cardboard breakdancing mat! Oh wait, I could do that myself using the recycling bin.

[SW's SilverHammer]

I think the reason tracks looks so lithe is due to everything from the waist down. Tracks' animation model was mostly lower leg, kinda like the generations/RTS version, with short upper legs and lower legs that were around about half of his car mode. On the mp model, it seems as though his upper legs are a bit longer and his lower legs are compressed so they aren't like 6 inches of solid car.

[chuckdawg1999]

Never had Tracks as a kid but I wanted it. One of my favorite G1 characters so I pre-ordered mine. Although I now remember the last time I did that, for Bumblebee I believe, another listing popped up later on that had the collectors coin. Hopefully the BBTS listing is for the coin version.

BBTS typically has two separate listings for with and without coins.

Yeah I know, I hope the one they have up now is for the one with coin

[william-james88]

A new scan from the Tag Hobby Magazine, which can be found on their site, has a clearer image of the recently revealed Masterpiece Tracks prototype image. It also shows more images of Star Saber and the Brain of Courage.

[donny1975]

Never had Tracks as a kid but I wanted it. One of my favorite G1 characters so I pre-ordered mine. Although I now remember the last time I did that, for Bumblebee I believe, another listing popped up later on that had the collectors coin. Hopefully the BBTS listing is for the coin version.

BBTS typically has two separate listings for with and without coins.

Yeah I know, I hope the one they have up now is for the one with coin

I wouldnt bet on it the last few pre orders they did the w/o coin version first then the coin version just sorta appears magically sometime there after...

[Ravage XK]

Hmm, what's going on with Tracks forearm? Looks like the hand rotates into the arm and some other piece rotates out but what is that piece?

[Sabrblade]

He looks less trim so that's a little better.

[Seibertron]

He looks good ... but only Generations / Combiner Wars good, not Masterpiece amazing like Wheeljack or Ultra Magnus. It seems like his backside is hollow or something. I can't figure out what's not quite right about this figure but something seems off to me. I just don't have that "oh wow, they knocked it out of the park" feeling that I usually have after Masterpiece leaks.

[Sabrblade]

He looks good ... but only Generations / Combiner Wars good, not Masterpiece amazing like Wheeljack or Ultra Magnus. It seems like his backside is hollow or something. I can't figure out what's not quite right about this figure but something seems off to me. I just don't have that "oh wow, they knocked it out of the park" feeling that I usually have after Masterpiece leaks.

A side effect of the changeover from Shogo Hasui to Hironori Kobayashi, perhaps?

[megatronus]

He looks good ... but only Generations / Combiner Wars good, not Masterpiece amazing like Wheeljack or Ultra Magnus. It seems like his backside is hollow or something. I can't figure out what's not quite right about this figure but something seems off to me. I just don't have that "oh wow, they knocked it out of the park" feeling that I usually have after Masterpiece leaks.

I would challenge that - as far as I can tell, the only post-MP10 Masterpieces without gap or backpack issues are Optimus Prime & Wheeljack (and maybe Bumblebee). Sideswipe has a hole going through his side, Prowl has an extended backpack, Magnus has huge gap issues around the waist... I think the gap issue with Tracks will be alleviated once we have color test shots. That bright yellow background doesn't do the prototype any favors

The big issue I have with Tracks is the same issue I have with Magnus: articulation. It looks like Tracks has none of it in the waist, which is a big deal. In a line that tries its best to minimize the number and severity of compromises, going a step or so backward in the articulation department on Magnus, and now on Tracks, is a huge let down for me.

At the very least, Tracks silhouette looks really nice. I think the overall look hits it out of the park, and I'm definitely looking forward to future updates, and the various redeco reveals.

[sol magnus]

The big issue I have with Tracks is the same issue I have with Magnus: articulation. It looks like Tracks has none of it in the waist, which is a big deal. In a line that tries its best to minimize the number and severity of compromises, going a step or so backward in the articulation department on Magnus, and now on Tracks, is a huge let down for me.

In the first picture his waist is definitely turned, which is what makes him seem "thin".


I think he's looking much better than the first picture and I expect him to look even better once painted prototypes are revealed.

[Desslok2201]

To me, this looks to be as good as the other MPs, and I've already preordered. That being said, I just don't find the character or the original design of Tracks to be that compelling. I think the designers of this mold have done the absolute best they could given the character, and they once again will get my money. I'd really like to see Mirage, Jazz or Ironhide, though.

[Seibertron]

He looks good ... but only Generations / Combiner Wars good, not Masterpiece amazing like Wheeljack or Ultra Magnus. It seems like his backside is hollow or something. I can't figure out what's not quite right about this figure but something seems off to me. I just don't have that "oh wow, they knocked it out of the park" feeling that I usually have after Masterpiece leaks.

I would challenge that - as far as I can tell, the only post-MP10 Masterpieces without gap or backpack issues are Optimus Prime & Wheeljack (and maybe Bumblebee). Sideswipe has a hole going through his side, Prowl has an extended backpack, Magnus has huge gap issues around the waist... I think the gap issue with Tracks will be alleviated once we have color test shots. That bright yellow background doesn't do the prototype any favors

Just to clarify, I didn't say "gap or backpack issues", I said it looks hollow like there's not much going on behind the chest area. It looks like the side panel is there to try to fill out the back but on the backside it appears so far to be hollow or extremely minimal. The backside reminds me of the Universe/Classics Inferno/Grapple mold, which is probably the best example I can think of offhand. Ok for a regularly priced retail figure, not acceptable for a Masterpiece figure.

[Agent-539]

Due to his transformation in the G1 cartoon and G1 toy, he does turn at the waist and to complete the transformation by bringing the hood of the car inline with the rest ofthe car.

Color photos will do Tracks more justice for sure. WST Blaster would pair greatly with Tracks.

[Deathsaurus1]

He looks good ... but only Generations / Combiner Wars good, not Masterpiece amazing like Wheeljack or Ultra Magnus. It seems like his backside is hollow or something. I can't figure out what's not quite right about this figure but something seems off to me. I just don't have that "oh wow, they knocked it out of the park" feeling that I usually have after Masterpiece leaks.

I would challenge that - as far as I can tell, the only post-MP10 Masterpieces without gap or backpack issues are Optimus Prime & Wheeljack (and maybe Bumblebee). Sideswipe has a hole going through his side, Prowl has an extended backpack, Magnus has huge gap issues around the waist... I think the gap issue with Tracks will be alleviated once we have color test shots. That bright yellow background doesn't do the prototype any favors

Just to clarify, I didn't say "gap or backpack issues", I said it looks hollow like there's not much going on behind the chest area. It looks like the side panel is there to try to fill out the back but on the backside it appears so far to be hollow or extremely minimal. The backside reminds me of the Universe/Classics Inferno/Grapple mold, which is probably the best example I can think of offhand. Ok for a regularly priced retail figure, not acceptable for a Masterpiece figure.

I would have to say I am in the same boat as Seibertron, although I do have to say it would be hard to make a solid back for tracks, the roof of the car being his chest, rear of the car being behind his head, and the engine hood being on the leg. So there is lil to work with to make his back.
Not to mention his arms have to fit into a slim vehicle.

I am having some faith that it will turn out fine

[Emerje]

A new scan from the Tag Hobby Magazine

Tag Hobby isn't the name of the magazine, it's the name of the website that scanned the magazine page. The magazine is Dengeki Hobby Magazine.

Emerje

[Ultra Markus]

i want to see the flying car mode!

[Convoy]

Now I'm worried about Jazz.
It may just be that my expectations are too high. After I got MP-01 in hand, all those years ago, I expected all future MP 'formers to have a good amount of die cast and heft (and little chrome.). The amount of heft and size to require a hand and a half to hold.
MP Tracks just doesn't seem to form a well fit together alt mode.
The MP line is starting to feel like Alternators that should be Binaltechs.
CW Devastator could almost pass as a modern MP.

[Ryrynz]

Why are his wings so long!? Arrgh.

[Ryrynz]

And I agree with him, Tracks is not vain, he just has very well-developed sense of self.

I really wish they'd do a G1 series with as many original voice actors as possible and for the rest people imitating the original actors.