The Energon Pub

[Evil Eye]

Haven't third parties been doing Bruticus over and over since, like, before the dawn of time?

Well one of FP's first releases was the upgrade set for Energon Bruticus. Unfortunately he's kinda small, and mine had appallingly iffy tolerances (though I have a feeling I got a bootleg). Warbotron's Bruticus is the only 3P Bruticus that isn't an upgrade kit and cool as he is he's just too big for CHUG.

Devastator has plenty of options (Maketoys, TFC, Generation Toy, DX9 and Toyworld have all released him at different scales) but for Bruticus it's either the Crossfire set, an upgraded FoC Bruticus (the vanilla set is just awful) or the official route for a CHUG collection.

[fenrir72]

Just picked up and opened Bruticus.

Iirc, issue against one of the components, Brawl was his transform sequence where his hips just lies folded. A feedback was just that, it just lies on the hips without no locking mechanism. If that is the case, UW Brawl does lock in place. Maybe a running change to the mold.

Blastoff on the other hand is funny that Takara included the error animation paint apps. Also, his panels doesn't lock up securely. Similar to some of Brawl's panels.

Onslaught's torso mode shoulder connectors are more secure when in combiner form. That is when you raise or lower his arms, the shoulder stays secure unlike his mold mate Hotspot.

[no-one]

[Agamemnon]

Wow, UW Onslaught seems very depressed. (Well, I mean, he's so blue!!!)

In this video, Brawl seems closer to the olive green I remember from my G1 toy.

I love the paint detailing!

I think I will be mixing and matching to make my ultimate Bruticus...

[fenrir72]

Also noticed in the instruction manual art. If I'm not mistaken, there's Lord Chumlee, another dictator general from B.O.T., the Scooby gang from B.O.T., the uncle of the Arabian Prince buddy of the Aerial bots and Countdown's mobile fortress(with a sign "next project", could that be a clue of more to come?) sans Countdown.

Swindle was selling off Brawl's (who was none too pleased) weapons and Onslaught gobbling up the bargain ammo.

[william-james88]

Iirc, issue against one of the components, Brawl was his transform sequence where his hips just lies folded. A feedback was just that, it just lies on the hips without no locking mechanism. If that is the case, UW Brawl does lock in place. Maybe a running change to the mold.

Hasbro Brawl locks fine. It was just the very early release that was loose but it wasnt many toys. However, that is what the early reviews were reviewing so the fear was set deep. But in the end, most Brawls out there work as intended and lock.

[fenrir72]

Iirc, issue against one of the components, Brawl was his transform sequence where his hips just lies folded. A feedback was just that, it just lies on the hips without no locking mechanism. If that is the case, UW Brawl does lock in place. Maybe a running change to the mold.

Hasbro Brawl locks fine. It was just the very early release that was loose but it wasnt many toys. However, that is what the early reviews were reviewing so the fear was set deep. But in the end, most Brawls out there work as intended and lock.

So there "was" a running change? Good for both sides (Takara and Hb) and Brawl, whether Hb or Takara looks BOSS too!

[william-james88]

Iirc, issue against one of the components, Brawl was his transform sequence where his hips just lies folded. A feedback was just that, it just lies on the hips without no locking mechanism. If that is the case, UW Brawl does lock in place. Maybe a running change to the mold.

Hasbro Brawl locks fine. It was just the very early release that was loose but it wasnt many toys. However, that is what the early reviews were reviewing so the fear was set deep. But in the end, most Brawls out there work as intended and lock.

So there "was" a running change? Good for both sides (Takara and Hb) and Brawl, whether Hb or Takara looks BOSS too!

You would call the faulty ones the "running change"?

[Evil Eye]

Damn, I really kinda want a Grand Galavtron set (not to combine but just to have as individuals), but it's so expensive on the aftermarket. Though seeing as I'm on a self-impose moratorium on buying TFs until I have more space, I suppose that's for the best...

[william-james88]

Damn, I really kinda want a Grand Galavtron set (not to combine but just to have as individuals), but it's so expensive on the aftermarket.

Its not, you just havet to look at the japanese aftermarket.

http://jungle-scs.co.jp/sale_en/?page_i ... 1000054533

[fenrir72]

Iirc, issue against one of the components, Brawl was his transform sequence where his hips just lies folded. A feedback was just that, it just lies on the hips without no locking mechanism. If that is the case, UW Brawl does lock in place. Maybe a running change to the mold.

Hasbro Brawl locks fine. It was just the very early release that was loose but it wasnt many toys. However, that is what the early reviews were reviewing so the fear was set deep. But in the end, most Brawls out there work as intended and lock.

So there "was" a running change? Good for both sides (Takara and Hb) and Brawl, whether Hb or Takara looks BOSS too!

You would call the faulty ones the "running change"?

From no locking feature to one with the lock is to me a running change. That or there were really crappy first releases.

[MemphisR56]

Iirc, issue against one of the components, Brawl was his transform sequence where his hips just lies folded. A feedback was just that, it just lies on the hips without no locking mechanism. If that is the case, UW Brawl does lock in place. Maybe a running change to the mold.

Hasbro Brawl locks fine. It was just the very early release that was loose but it wasnt many toys. However, that is what the early reviews were reviewing so the fear was set deep. But in the end, most Brawls out there work as intended and lock.

So there "was" a running change? Good for both sides (Takara and Hb) and Brawl, whether Hb or Takara looks BOSS too!

You would call the faulty ones the "running change"?

From no locking feature to one with the lock is to me a running change. That or there were really crappy first releases.

I personally wouldn't call it a running change unless there was a change in the shape of the part, colour of plastic or paint applications. A tweak in the tolerances on the same tab I'd just put down to a different production run.

[william-james88]

From no locking feature to one with the lock is to me a running change. That or there were really crappy first releases.

There were really crappy first releases. A runnign change would be if something changed from the initial design. But this was just that the first batch (and only the first batch) was looser than the others.

[Agamemnon]

From no locking feature to one with the lock is to me a running change. That or there were really crappy first releases.

There were really crappy first releases. A runnign change would be if something changed from the initial design. But this was just that the first batch (and only the first batch) was looser than the others.

This could simply be a change in how much plastic was injected in the mold. It is amazing how much variance there can be in a mold to go from a short shot (not all of the cavity is filled) to over-packing the mold to the point of getting flash (can actually split the mold open slightly, causing extra tabs of plastic at the mold joins). Plastic temperature and speed can all impact this as well. So, there doesn't necessarily need to be a mold change in the instance of Brawl. It could have all been just adjusting settings with the injection process.

I have no specific knowledge on the actual molds and tooling, just some general injection molding background.

[Evil Eye]

Damn, I really kinda want a Grand Galavtron set (not to combine but just to have as individuals), but it's so expensive on the aftermarket.

Its not, you just havet to look at the japanese aftermarket.

http://jungle-scs.co.jp/sale_en/?page_i ... 1000054533

Huh, why did I never think of looking on Mandarake/Jungle for Transformers before? I'm an idiot. Shame the Pound is weak at the moment (such is the price of freedom I suppose), but still, better than paying over £200. Thank you very much!

[william-james88]

just some general injection molding background.

Really? I couldnt tell

Thanks man, that was very interesting!

Huh, why did I never think of looking on Mandarake/Jungle for Transformers before? I'm an idiot. Shame the Pound is weak at the moment (such is the price of freedom I suppose), but still, better than paying over £200. Thank you very much!

No problem, happy to help

[fenrir72]

From no locking feature to one with the lock is to me a running change. That or there were really crappy first releases.

There were really crappy first releases. A runnign change would be if something changed from the initial design. But this was just that the first batch (and only the first batch) was looser than the others.

This could simply be a change in how much plastic was injected in the mold. It is amazing how much variance there can be in a mold to go from a short shot (not all of the cavity is filled) to over-packing the mold to the point of getting flash (can actually split the mold open slightly, causing extra tabs of plastic at the mold joins). Plastic temperature and speed can all impact this as well. So, there doesn't necessarily need to be a mold change in the instance of Brawl. It could have all been just adjusting settings with the injection process.

I have no specific knowledge on the actual molds and tooling, just some general injection molding background.

Was your Brawl version UW or Hb. Did you notice whether it was the fixed version? ( Torso locks properly)

Btw, I have another issue with my UW Blastoff, the head keeps on popping out in arm mode.

[Jelze Bunnycat]

Btw, I have another issue with my UW Blastoff, the head keeps on popping out in arm mode.

Funny you should mention that, there seems to a clearance issue with a hinge when you straighten out that arm. Fortunately, there's a fix:

UW-07 Bruticus: Space Soldier Blast Off on Alfes2010's blog

Warning: As it uses a sharp object (an exacto knife) and the fix involves disassembly, only attempt this fix if you have prior experience in customizing!

[Rainmaker]

[snip]

Yes! I've been waiting for that video, it's nice that he included all of Blast Off's transformation. Weird how they coloured between his optics the same colour, Blast Off didn't have a visor.

[Agamemnon]

From no locking feature to one with the lock is to me a running change. That or there were really crappy first releases.

There were really crappy first releases. A runnign change would be if something changed from the initial design. But this was just that the first batch (and only the first batch) was looser than the others.

This could simply be a change in how much plastic was injected in the mold. It is amazing how much variance there can be in a mold to go from a short shot (not all of the cavity is filled) to over-packing the mold to the point of getting flash (can actually split the mold open slightly, causing extra tabs of plastic at the mold joins). Plastic temperature and speed can all impact this as well. So, there doesn't necessarily need to be a mold change in the instance of Brawl. It could have all been just adjusting settings with the injection process.

I have no specific knowledge on the actual molds and tooling, just some general injection molding background.

Was your Brawl version UW or Hb. Did you notice whether it was the fixed version? ( Torso locks properly)

Btw, I have another issue with my UW Blastoff, the head keeps on popping out in arm mode.

Were you asking me? I have one of the first Brawls that BBTS shipped out, I believe. UW Bruticus is sitting in my POL (just waiting on TR deluxes to ship) so when he comes in, I'll compare the two Brawls. My Hasbro one seems to stay in place pretty well, but it might be more noticeable with the two together.

[Autobot Roadburn]

Just got my Unite Warriors Bruticus in today and had a few issues - I got the neck and peg issues on my Blast Off (not that bad, I really like him), a loose rotor on Vortex that isn't awful but annoying, and what I believe is a pretty unique problem - Onslaught's left elbow was glued in place. It was really weird, I literally had to unscrew his arm and shove an x-acto knife in there to get it loose. He works fine now, but has an ugly spot of dried glue on his elbow. I have no idea how it happened. I love the set - this guy holds together better at the joints than my Hasbro Bruticus - but I wish I'd gotten better quality control. I would have considered exchanging him, but as of this afternoon BBTS was already sold out.

[fenrir72]

From no locking feature to one with the lock is to me a running change. That or there were really crappy first releases.

There were really crappy first releases. A runnign change would be if something changed from the initial design. But this was just that the first batch (and only the first batch) was looser than the others.

This could simply be a change in how much plastic was injected in the mold. It is amazing how much variance there can be in a mold to go from a short shot (not all of the cavity is filled) to over-packing the mold to the point of getting flash (can actually split the mold open slightly, causing extra tabs of plastic at the mold joins). Plastic temperature and speed can all impact this as well. So, there doesn't necessarily need to be a mold change in the instance of Brawl. It could have all been just adjusting settings with the injection process.

I have no specific knowledge on the actual molds and tooling, just some general injection molding background.

Was your Brawl version UW or Hb. Did you notice whether it was the fixed version? ( Torso locks properly)

Btw, I have another issue with my UW Blastoff, the head keeps on popping out in arm mode.

Were you asking me? I have one of the first Brawls that BBTS shipped out, I believe. UW Bruticus is sitting in my POL (just waiting on TR deluxes to ship) so when he comes in, I'll compare the two Brawls. My Hasbro one seems to stay in place pretty well, but it might be more noticeable with the two together.

We await your feedback. Nice to know if both Hb and Takara "fixed" those issues.

Just got my Unite Warriors Bruticus in today and had a few issues - I got the neck and peg issues on my Blast Off (not that bad, I really like him), a loose rotor on Vortex that isn't awful but annoying, and what I believe is a pretty unique problem - Onslaught's left elbow was glued in place. It was really weird, I literally had to unscrew his arm and shove an x-acto knife in there to get it loose. He works fine now, but has an ugly spot of dried glue on his elbow. I have no idea how it happened. I love the set - this guy holds together better at the joints than my Hasbro Bruticus - but I wish I'd gotten better quality control. I would have considered exchanging him, but as of this afternoon BBTS was already sold out.

Same here with Blastoff. It's annoying that the head keeps popping out, though overall, he is a great mold, as in a great new mold.

[Va'al]

With Wonderfest Summer 2016 having taken place over in Japan, TFYuki was attending the event and plugged some of the new products from the Takara Tomy Transformers area - but also managed to sneak in another look at Lynx Master, the Sky Reign set in the Unite Warriors line. Check out the image below, and let us know if you're headed for this set, the Hasbro one -- or Liokaiser!

[steals_your_goats]

I find it a bit odd that it's been really quiet on the Unite warriors front lately. It's nearly August so Computron comes out in about a month and there hasn't been any word on the next set. The was that small tease for a unite warriors "Victorion" but no standard silhouette teaser reveal. Makes me wonder if they're working on something special or if the line is just done and they just haven't said anything yet.

[Decepticon Stryker]

Looks good! Shame that Ratchet wasn't a (official) figure in Combiner Wars.