The Energon Pub

[Shumi Nagaremono]

I'm very interested in seeing what TakTom does with the Optimus Maximus combiner.

If they really do go the Super Link Convoy route, it'd stand to reason that we'll also see them release Galvatronus, as Galvatron was Super Link Convoy's chief nemesis in the series.

Guess it wouldn't be *too* difficult to redeco some of the Aerialbots into Seekers for limbs. Or maybe even just color-appropriate drones.

[Bronzewolf]

I'm very interested in seeing what TakTom does with the Optimus Maximus combiner.

If they really do go the Super Link Convoy route, it'd stand to reason that we'll also see them release Galvatronus, as Galvatron was Super Link Convoy's chief nemesis in the series.

Guess it wouldn't be *too* difficult to redeco some of the Aerialbots into Seekers for limbs. Or maybe even just color-appropriate drones.

Not a bad idea. Heck, you wouldn't even need to use some of the Aerialbot molds, you could just do one, and redeco it four times. (it's what they've been getting away with for the past 30+ years ) I nominate Air Raid! He's probably the most seekerly.

[ScottyP]

I'm very interested in seeing what TakTom does with the Optimus Maximus combiner.

If they really do go the Super Link Convoy route, it'd stand to reason that we'll also see them release Galvatronus, as Galvatron was Super Link Convoy's chief nemesis in the series.

Guess it wouldn't be *too* difficult to redeco some of the Aerialbots into Seekers for limbs. Or maybe even just color-appropriate drones.

Or, since Grand Scourge is coming out next month, maybe some limbs for him! A lot of the TFSS 4.0 guys work for that, sure, but some are a bit of a stretch.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

I'm very interested in seeing what TakTom does with the Optimus Maximus combiner.

If they really do go the Super Link Convoy route, it'd stand to reason that we'll also see them release Galvatronus, as Galvatron was Super Link Convoy's chief nemesis in the series.

Guess it wouldn't be *too* difficult to redeco some of the Aerialbots into Seekers for limbs. Or maybe even just color-appropriate drones.

Not a bad idea. Heck, you wouldn't even need to use some of the Aerialbot molds, you could just do one, and redeco it four times. (it's what they've been getting away with for the past 30+ years ) I nominate Air Raid! He's probably the most seekerly.

Air Raid is my favorite jet bot, so I would be down for that!

[jay5]

I'll be bummed if this delays their Bruticus. Plus, do we really need alternate paints on these guys before we get actual new content like Bruticus?

[Hellscream9999]

I'll be bummed if this delays their Bruticus. Plus, do we really need alternate paints on these guys before we get actual new content like Bruticus?

Well it's not for us; we got our useless repaints, at least TT's seems to be referencing something cool; it'll probably be a big deal, that is, if superlink prime was a hit.

[RAR]

I think I'd chuckle a little if Takara remoulded Airraid a little with new wings and head and just repainted him 4 times - I guess the problem there is interaction with F-15 types and Cyclonus was pretty minimal.

I wonder what the fan reaction would be if Takara made a Galvatronus boxed set with 4 identical (new mould) Sweeps in it ?

I'm sure we'd be able to find 4 suitable remould/repaints from the Aerialbots who'd work fine.

Off the top of my head :

Fearswoop, Nightflight, Tracer, Stormcloud, Skyhopper, Airwave, Flattop, Or the various Decepticon Cyberjets.

One Funpub isn't doing already - problem is some of the best fits mould wise might be G2 characters.

Alternatively they could sell "Black Box" Cyclonus and "Black Box" Sweep as a special toy release and get around the whole problem with the limbs that way.

I'd not mind a Takara Cyclonus in a paler tone than Hasbro's is.

[Agamemnon]

We need Megatronus! A voyager tank with 4 Seeker limbs.

Bat Signal out to Megatronus, are you up for this idea?

[william-james88]

I'll be bummed if this delays their Bruticus. Plus, do we really need alternate paints on these guys before we get actual new content like Bruticus?

Well they are mirroring Hasbro's full combiners so far. So their Bruticus (which calling fully new content as opposed to this set is very debatable) will come out after Hasbro's Bruticus in about as much time it took for their other combiners to come out after Hasbro's. And that's like 4-5 months, I think?

[D-Maximal_Primal]

I'll be bummed if this delays their Bruticus. Plus, do we really need alternate paints on these guys before we get actual new content like Bruticus?

Well they are mirroring Hasbro's full combiners so far. So their Bruticus (which calling fully new content as opposed to this set is very debatable) will come out after Hasbro's Bruticus in about as much time it took for their other combiners to come out after Hasbro's. And that's like 4-5 months, I think?

Takara is always behind the curve considering they do a (mostly) much better detailed job. And I believe you're right WJ88: Superion just came out like last month I think and there were reviewers in February with a whole Superion, so like 5 months

[Shumi Nagaremono]

I remember when Takara would release stuff first, then Hasbro would release (often) lower-quality versions later. Now, Hasbro gets stuff first and TakTom spends a few months upgrading it for the JP market.

Not sure which I prefer.

[fenrir72]

I'll be bummed if this delays their Bruticus. Plus, do we really need alternate paints on these guys before we get actual new content like Bruticus?

Well they are mirroring Hasbro's full combiners so far. So their Bruticus (which calling fully new content as opposed to this set is very debatable) will come out after Hasbro's Bruticus in about as much time it took for their other combiners to come out after Hasbro's. And that's like 4-5 months, I think?

Takara is always behind the curve considering they do a (mostly) much better detailed job. And I believe you're right WJ88: Superion just came out like last month I think and there were reviewers in February with a whole Superion, so like 5 months

In Asia, Superion came out post December 25, 2014. For Menasor, February 2015. Defensor, April 2015 though the TTmall relese was moved to November 2015. So it took an average 6 months for the TT version. More or less we'll be waiting half a year

[jay5]

I remember when Takara would release stuff first, then Hasbro would release (often) lower-quality versions later. Now, Hasbro gets stuff first and TakTom spends a few months upgrading it for the JP market.

Not sure which I prefer.

This certainly works better for their revenue because they get us to buy the Hasbro versions first and then release the usually-better TT versions six months later which we dutifully buy again.

[william-james88]

I remember when Takara would release stuff first, then Hasbro would release (often) lower-quality versions later. Now, Hasbro gets stuff first and TakTom spends a few months upgrading it for the JP market.

Not sure which I prefer.

This certainly works better for their revenue because they get us to buy the Hasbro versions first and then release the usually-better TT versions six months later which we dutifully buy again.

Since G1, Takara has been releasing Transformers products After Hasbro (hence why this year is their 30th anniversary). Them releasing products before was more the exception than the rule with galaxy Force as a notable example of it. Whats interesting about that was that the decos were pretty much the same for most products.

[RAR]

Poor Ol' Takara fans missed out on a lot of Cybertron Moulds. (No Moledive) but there is a Cybertron Menasor.
The Japanese or Korean Vector Prime is the one to get though.
Not to mention the bazillion Japanese Exclusive Microns decos.

I wish one of those Thrilling 30 style boxed sets had been a reissue of Cybertron Megatron in his Ghost deco. I've always wanted that to exist.

[Shumi Nagaremono]

I remember when Takara would release stuff first, then Hasbro would release (often) lower-quality versions later. Now, Hasbro gets stuff first and TakTom spends a few months upgrading it for the JP market.

Not sure which I prefer.

This certainly works better for their revenue because they get us to buy the Hasbro versions first and then release the usually-better TT versions six months later which we dutifully buy again.

Since G1, Takara has been releasing Transformers products After Hasbro (hence why this year is their 30th anniversary). Them releasing products before was more the exception than the rule with galaxy Force as a notable example of it. Whats interesting about that was that the decos were pretty much the same for most products.

Making me feel old, but you're right. I remember during the Car Robots, ML, SL, GF era, people were importing like crazy. The reissues, too. A lot of that stuff, stores couldn't *give* away over here. But yeah, from the end of the Unicron trilogy, Hasbros stuff has beaten TakTom's to market with just about everything except JP exclusives.

Unless you count Masterpiece, but that's pretty much TakaraTomy's thing, with Hasbro just cherry-picking the bits they want.

[-Kanrabat-]

All things considered, especially with that TrU 30% sale, I'm really glad to not have waited for Devastator by getting the Hasbro early. For 152$CAN taxes included (115$US), free shipping and no customs fees, that's very, very cheap for all that I got. Improved articulations be damned, I'm pretty sure that if I would have gotten the Takara version, I would have paid close to 300$CAN for it. For me, having a few bits of articulations that I will never use does dot justify the double price of admission.

[Wolfman Jake]

Yay! I finally got my Unite Warriors Stunticons today! I must say, compared to the Hasbro release, Takara's Menasor is a fair bit more stable. I'm actually able to get the legs to stand fairly parallel to each other. There are still some balancing issues, but it's more about the upper part of the gestalt leaning forwards or backwards a bit than the whole thing toppling over. Also, in hand, Drag Strip looks very nice. It's not a solid yellow color throughout, but a two-tone yellow and yellow-orange spread out nicely in the vehicle and robot modes to make it a bit more dynamic. Motormaster looks GORGEOUS decked out all in black. It's not as great a set as the Aerialbots, but the Stunticons are a more than welcome part of my Classics collection.

[Hellscream9999]

Yay! I finally got my Unite Warriors Stunticons today! I must say, compared to the Hasbro release, Takara's Menasor is a fair bit more stable. I'm actually able to get the legs to stand fairly parallel to each other. There are still some balancing issues, but it's more about the upper part of the gestalt leaning forwards or backwards a bit than the whole thing toppling over. Also, in hand, Drag Strip looks very nice. It's not a solid yellow color throughout, but a two-tone yellow and yellow-orange spread out nicely in the vehicle and robot modes to make it a bit more dynamic. Motormaster looks GORGEOUS decked out all in black. It's not as great a set as the Aerialbots, but the Stunticons are a more than welcome part of my Classics collection.

Yeah, thought mm would be absolutely stunning in the sexy tt deco. I dunno though, I personally need more color variety in my figures. It sucks that the offroad arm is so outta control in the shoulder, and that the others suck as legs (except dragstrip), because that teal is to die for

[fenrir72]

I had to "Unite" the package hence the delay.

[fenrir72]

Yay! I finally got my Unite Warriors Stunticons today! I must say, compared to the Hasbro release, Takara's Menasor is a fair bit more stable. I'm actually able to get the legs to stand fairly parallel to each other. There are still some balancing issues, but it's more about the upper part of the gestalt leaning forwards or backwards a bit than the whole thing toppling over. Also, in hand, Drag Strip looks very nice. It's not a solid yellow color throughout, but a two-tone yellow and yellow-orange spread out nicely in the vehicle and robot modes to make it a bit more dynamic. Motormaster looks GORGEOUS decked out all in black. It's not as great a set as the Aerialbots, but the Stunticons are a more than welcome part of my Classics collection.

So the legs are stable. Benefits from the added ratchets I guess and confirmed. Thanks.

[Sabrblade]

What's currently the cheapest place to get UW Menasor from?

[Sowndwave76]

I also received my UW Menasor set... Just opened it a little while ago.
LOVE IT, and I haven't even combined it yet!!

I really really dig the individual bots, and as lame as some think it is, I am so grateful to have this version, with the color schemes so close to the cartoon versions.
Motormaster and Wildrider may be my favorites.
It's so nice to have Dragstrip without that raspberry color all over the place...
Crazy to think some of us have waited almost 10 years (well, since the Classics line) to have a proper Stunticons set.

Tomorrow evening I'll combine them and add on the P.E. head/chestplate set.

Sabrblade, I don't know for sure.
Because of my order total, I went with TFSource for the free shipping.

[william-james88]

What's currently the cheapest place to get UW Menasor from?

Amiami: http://www.amiami.com/top/detail/detail?gcode=FIGURE-011113&page=top%2Fsearch%2Flist%3Fs_keywords%3Dmenasor%24pagemax%3D40%24getcnt%3D0%24pagecnt%3D1

Thats less than 100$ US.

[fenrir72]

What's currently the cheapest place to get UW Menasor from?

Amiami: http://www.amiami.com/top/detail/detail?gcode=FIGURE-011113&page=top%2Fsearch%2Flist%3Fs_keywords%3Dmenasor%24pagemax%3D40%24getcnt%3D0%24pagecnt%3D1

Thats less than 100$ US.

Get it soon Sabr! Amiami had 'em on back order. Good thing they got their second batch.