The Energon Pub

[Seibertron]

They screwed up Dragstrip!

[Sabrblade]

They screwed up Dragstrip!

How so?

[william-james88]

They screwed up Dragstrip!

How so?

So the black on the sides dont bother you?

[Seibertron]

They screwed up Dragstrip!

How so?

So the black on the sides dont bother you?

He's just bland yellow, has the silly gray chest piece, out-of-place black, etc.

[Wolfman Jake]

They screwed up Dragstrip!

How so?

So the black on the sides dont bother you?

He's just bland yellow, has the silly gray chest piece, out-of-place black, etc.

Such is the devil in the G1 cartoon accurate details.

The Hasbro version also has a gray chest piece/connector. The Takara version DOES have some nice red striping along the top and on the spoiler in vehicle mode, so it's not just plain yellow, though the striping detailing doesn't show up in much of the robot mode.

[shajaki]

If I buy this set, Dragstrip will totally be replaced by Hasbro's

[william-james88]

If I buy this set, Dragstrip will totally be replaced by Hasbro's

I absolutely adore the deco on the Hasbro version's face. Its odd but as much as I like Takara's Superion for being a perfect interpretation of the G1 cartoon model , I am starting to much prefer Hasbro's Menasor for taking the more classics route of being a G1 redux instead of just straight up G1.

[william-james88]

Fellow Seibertronian, Cyberpath, has informed us that Takara Tomy Mall now has some much clearer pictures of Takara's Unite Warriors Menasor and his individual components. All these images have been mirrored below and show quite a few differences compared to Hasbro's versions which can all be viewed here, in our galleries.











And to compare with Hasbro's version:


Transformers Generations Combiner Wars Dead End Gallery

[shajaki]

If I buy this set, Dragstrip will totally be replaced by Hasbro's

I absolutely adore the deco on the Hasbro version's face. Its odd but as much as I like Takara's Superion for being a perfect interpretation of the G1 cartoon model , I am starting to much prefer Hasbro's Menasor for taking the more classics route of being a G1 redux instead of just straight up G1.

Y'know, I wasn't looking to closely and comparing the two but damn.... you're right. The deco's on Hasbro's do fit that "neo" aesthetic pretty hard, and likewise Takara's hits the G1 just as hard. All that burgundy/maroon (or whatever that secondary color is) in Hasby's DS is really makes it stand out, but that color is present in the G1 figure as well... so it's "neo" but totally fits.

My biggest hangup is those black shoulders. If the yeollow plastic is the same shade between both versions, I'll swap parts. If not (and if he doesn't stand out too much) I'll simply replace Tak DS with Has DS.

[Cyberpath]

Bigger pix on AmiAmi: http://www.amiami.com/top/detail/review ... URE-011113

And one from HLJ:



Not even Takara managed to salvage that Menasor mold. (though I've seen some nice fans-setups.) But the individual cons do look better. Especially Motormaster.

I think the problem with Dragstrip is the design. Everyone but him pretty much has a cartoon-head. And the six-wheels was kind of his thing. He's a bit plain without.

[Autobot Roadburn]

I have to admit I love those colors on Motormaster (I'm not very knowledgable on G1 so I don't know what colors are more accurate), but I'm not particularly sold on the others. I agree that Dragstrip is too yellow, I don't see any noticeable differences on Breakdown aside from the windshield sticker and Wildrider has some grey/red swapping I wouldn't mind either way. I don't like the Takara Dead End as much though, I prefer the red chest to the bright silver and I really don't like the lack of a stripe on the car mode. I prefer the Hasbro version of the majority of Menasor, so I'll stick with the ones I've got.

[prjkt]

I have to admit I love those colors on Motormaster (I'm not very knowledgable on G1 so I don't know what colors are more accurate), but I'm not particularly sold on the others. I agree that Dragstrip is too yellow, I don't see any noticeable differences on Breakdown aside from the windshield sticker and Wildrider has some grey/red swapping I wouldn't mind either way. I don't like the Takara Dead End as much though, I prefer the red chest to the bright silver and I really don't like the lack of a stripe on the car mode. I prefer the Hasbro version of the majority of Menasor, so I'll stick with the ones I've got.

I'm the same here actually - if Motormaster was available separately I'd likely pick him up, but for me the Hasbro decos are, for the most part, superior imo. This doesn't happen very often for me, but it's a similar story with Superion too...

[Autobot Roadburn]

I have to admit I love those colors on Motormaster (I'm not very knowledgable on G1 so I don't know what colors are more accurate), but I'm not particularly sold on the others. I agree that Dragstrip is too yellow, I don't see any noticeable differences on Breakdown aside from the windshield sticker and Wildrider has some grey/red swapping I wouldn't mind either way. I don't like the Takara Dead End as much though, I prefer the red chest to the bright silver and I really don't like the lack of a stripe on the car mode. I prefer the Hasbro version of the majority of Menasor, so I'll stick with the ones I've got.

I'm the same here actually - if Motormaster was available separately I'd likely pick him up, but for me the Hasbro decos are, for the most part, superior imo. This doesn't happen very often for me, but it's a similar story with Superion too...

I'm actually completely fine with Superion, I far prefer the black hands/feet similarly to Generations Arcee - white may be more accurate, but the black looks nicer and breaks up the figure better, and the colors/paint apps are fine with me. Heck, I even like Alpha Bravo. I do like the breaking up of planes vs a helicopter and, as a huge Combaticon fan, I like how similar he looks to Vortex. I won't argue whether he or Slingshot is better than the other objectively, but I personally prefer AB appearance-wise. He, Dead End and both versions of Leader Megatron are my favorite Combiner Wars figures so far.

Maybe Reprolabels can help out with Motormaster eventually, and if not I might try some paint myself.

[william-james88]

It's like I explained it before but not with comparing images to show what I mean. While I went for Takara's Superion, I will actually go for Hasbro's Menasor with Offroad instead of Brake-neck. Here's why.

The way they made superion, the mold is more in line with G1 and having all the jets makes sense, hence why I went with takara. I was gonna do the same with Menasor and when I saw that brake neck was coming out I thought I would go the hasbro route with the G1 members instead of takara, saving me some money (I bought the Takara superion before the extra jet limb was anounced). But when I saw the takara pics of the Menasor team, I didnt feel the g1 theme played out too well and while 4 same looking jets worked, having a team of 3 very different molds with one repeated just looked off. While Superion was very G1, Menasor looked more like a classics take on the character where alt modes are updated and slightly changed (like Motormaster being just a cab). Added to the fact that brake neck would come out costing me 40$ canadian if I get it retail price US$ on a website, I am not saving that much money from achieving a G1 menasor the hasbro route, so I will just stick to the mass retail hasbro toys for menasor. Superion is G1 right off the screen but Menasor is more like G1 redux, like the nerf gun megatron. I dont see a point going for a more G1 deco and team when the toys themselves arent all that G1.

What I mean is I like this:



Better than this:



BUT I like this:


Better than this:

[Optimizzy]

It's like I explained it before but not with comparing images to show what I mean. While I went for Takara's Superion, I will actually go for Hasbro's Menasor with Offroad instead of Brake-neck. Here's why.

The way they made superion, the mold is more in line with G1 and having all the jets makes sense, hence why I went with takara. I was gonna do the same with Menasor and when I saw that brake neck was coming out I thought I would go the hasbro route with the G1 members instead of takara, saving me some money (I bought the Takara superion before the extra jet limb was anounced). But when I saw the takara pics of the Menasor team, I didnt feel the g1 theme played out too well and while 4 same looking jets worked, having a team of 3 very different molds with one repeated just looked off. While Superion was very G1, Menasor looked more like a classics take on the character where alt modes are updated and slightly changed (like Motormaster being just a cab). Added to the fact that brake neck would come out costing me 40$ canadian if I get it retail price US$ on a website, I am not saving that much money from achieving a G1 menasor the hasbro route, so I will just stick to the mass retail hasbro toys for menasor. Superion is G1 right off the screen but Menasor is more like G1 redux, like the nerf gun megatron. I dont see a point going for a more G1 deco and team when the toys themselves arent all that G1.

What I mean is I like this:



Better than this:



BUT I like this:


Better than this:

Thats a good argument. I bought the Hasbro version of both (I dont do imports very often) and I'd say that the Takara Superion is better, but Im so glad they are coming out with Quick-something...er..Slingshot over here. When he is released he will replace my Alpha Bravo. I'm not a Alpha Bravo hater by any means but I'd rather have a jet there. Hasbro Menasor is totally better though. Man, I really like offroad. He's one of my favorites for this wave.

[fenrir72]

Up at Amiami. ETA late August 2015

http://www.amiami.com/top/detail/review ... 3&page=top

















After Cyberpath.

Just got to think, if ETA late August, then maybe Devastar or Defensor late October 2015(?)

[Wolfman Jake]

I'm a bit surprised at all the disappointment with Unite Warriors Menasor, when Takara's Superion was so clearly superior for many fans. I think maybe the problem is that, with Hasbro's Superion versus Takara's, it's a case of tweaking some of the shades of color used (orange versus yellow) and remixing the applications a bit (stripes versus lightning bolts) on the alt-modes, where as with Menasor, Takara's G1 approach necessitates taking away detail and replacing it with...nothing, because that's how the characters looked on the show. So, the objection isn't so much with Takara's approach as it is with the way the Combaticons were drawn and colored on the original cartoon.

I know some people are also disappointed that Wildrider is just a repaint of Dead End with a new head, but I think that only really affects the bot modes. When you have Menasor combined properly, Wildrider is a Leg and Dead End is an arm, so the limbs will at least look quite a big different in how they are configured, even if the base mold is pretty much the same.

[Carnivius_Prime]

Not bad. Not my thing but as straight up updates of G1 while keeping the characters and alt-modes mostly the same the Stunticons do a good job.

[Powered Convoy]

I don't see any noticeable differences on Breakdown aside from the windshield sticker

Blue hands on the UW one. Different placement and more Decepticon symbols. Blue limb connector instead of purple. Waist and elbow joints are white instead of blue (this is more cartoon accurate). Different fist / foot piece in order to match the other foot.

Red Mercury has some big group and combined pics.
http://redmercury.co.jp/shop/detail.php ... -RED-11847

Note that all the sites are lacking robot mode individual shots of Dragstrip, Wildrider, and Breakdown. Seems TakaraTomy didn't provide any.

Randy

[bluecatcinema]

Honestly, Unite Menasor's chest looks a little bare without Blackjack.

[Solus Prime]

The Hasbro version has his charm,
But this, man, it's just...
Bland... With the Cartoon Colours...
all over the place... It lacks
creativity in colors...

Takara had done better than the
original Hasbro colors in the past
(like the 90% of the time...)
But this time, Hasbro win
at the very last...




Conclusion: Takara Menasor It's neither good or bad, It's just a
MEH NASOR

[william-james88]

The Hasbro version has his charm,
But this, man, it's just...
Bland... With the Cartoon Colours...
all over the place... It lacks
creativity in colors...

Takara had done better than the
original Hasbro colors in the past
(like the 90% of the time...)
But this time, Hasbro win
at the very last...


Conclusion: Takara Menasor It's neither good or bad, It's just a
MEH NASOR

I can totally get behind that. The molds are mostly creative updates, so with the G1 colors it just looks a bit off. Also, am I the only one that finds it disconcerting to look at the Takara stunticons in robot mode and see 3 super different figures and then a pair of clones?

The G1 stunticons were all very samey in robot mode and they had a nice unifying look much like the arealbots:



But that's totally lost with these Generations Stunticon molds. Not a bad thing, but when you decide to make two figures alike when ignoring the rest, it just looks odd (at least to me). It's like G1 is clashing with classics instead of the the two concepts working together.



Also, I do not know what is wrong with me but looking at these G1 toys, I cant help but feel that if they were to have redeco'd a gen stunticon for Wildrider, it should have been Breakdown.

[Solus Prime]

nice point you've got there...



And yeah, Wildrider should have used the Breakdown mold OR even better... a mix n' match between Streetwise and Dead end , so, it would look diferent and better than grey dead end with Wildrider's head...

[Tigertrack]

:-? nice point you've got there...



And yeah, Wildrider should have used the Breakdown mold OR even better... a mix n' match between Streetwise and Dead end , so, it would look diferent and better than grey dead end with Wildrider's head...

I'm one of the few who actually likes this version more. I don't mind 2/5 looking the same, as in only changing head and colors. From my childhood many of them looked similar anyway. If you look at the G1 picture in bot mode, they look very similar, with wheels on shoulders, front of the car on the back, and a set of wheels in about the same spot on the legs. There are enough differences to tell the apart. In alt mode, yea, that will be something to get used to, but not a deal breaker.

I think Wildrider in the Breakdown mold would be much worse. I love the alt mode, but dislike the bot mode very much, which would make Wildrider a bad bot mode too. And it doesn't defeat the having two of the same mold and 3 other different molds on the team. Dead End has the best of both world's, nice bot mode, nice alt mode, and I think that's good reason to make it the one to re-use.

I actually do not hate Dragstrip. I think they should have painted a black windshield somewhere, but otherwise, his differences definitely get him very close to that cartoon look. I think he head might be one of my favorite changes.

Crazy, I know!

[william-james88]

I don't mind 2/5 looking the same, as in only changing head and colors. From my childhood many of them looked similar anyway. If you look at the G1 picture in bot mode, they look very similar, with wheels on shoulders, front of the car on the back, and a set of wheels in about the same spot on the legs. There are enough differences to tell the apart. In alt mode, yea, that will be something to get used to, but not a deal breaker.

Sure, but my problem was that I'd rather they all look very similar, like the G1 toys or Takara's UW aerialbots, instead of having only 2/5 being the exact same toy. It clashes too much for me and looks odd. Someone suggested just leaving them in alt mode but that defeats the purpose even more, as you mentioned. Glad you dont find it a deal breaker. For the extra cost this would entail of either going Takara or getting the exclusive Hasbro brake-neck, it totally was for me.

I think Wildrider in the Breakdown mold would be much worse. I love the alt mode, but dislike the bot mode very much, which would make Wildrider a bad bot mode too. And it doesn't defeat the having two of the same mold and 3 other different molds on the team.

Totally! My decision to stick to Hasbro mass retail was entirely based on the first point above. This was just an extra I noticed in terms of alt mode as I was looking at the pictures to include with the post. Once again, glad you like the mold theychose to duplicate. You better love it, because there is more of it coming your way

I actually do not hate Dragstrip. I think they should have painted a black windshield somewhere

I also noticed that when looking at these pics. It would also have helped break up the yellow.