The Energon Pub

News Credits: 5749 · Sat Feb 09, 2013 9:19 pm

2013 will see the release of an all new series of construction based Transformers know as Construct-bots. Unlike Kre-O, once these figures are assembled they are fully transformable, no need to disassemble. Fans can also mix and match parts to create their own unique custom characters. Transformers Construct-bots come in three classes: Scout, Elite, and Triple-Changer. The actual assembled figures will all be the same size, the three classes are distinguished by additional parts. The larger sets will come with red or purple plastic storage trays. Click here for the full gallery

News Credits: 2 · Sat Feb 09, 2013 9:21 pm

Wow, these actually look kinda cool. I'm really liking that Soundwave

.

Sat Feb 09, 2013 9:23 pm

From looking at them I'd guessed as much, but I LOVE the confirmation that they don't partsform! :grin:

Edit: Hey hey hey, I see a Thundercracker! Hasbro, Skywarp? Please? Skywarp??

I would love to make this my collection's Skywarp, totally digging on that seeker mold.

Sat Feb 09, 2013 9:26 pm

waste of plastic like kreo and botshots

News Credits: 2 · Sat Feb 09, 2013 9:28 pm

griftimus prime wrote:waste of plastic like kreo and botshots

Except for those who actually buy them and those who profit from them being purchased

.

News Credits: 10 · Sat Feb 09, 2013 9:30 pm

Was interested, now I'm not.

News Credits: 3 · Sat Feb 09, 2013 9:32 pm

So, 3 things surprised me.

Hound, Thundercracker, and a basic Bumblebee.

News Credits: 2 · Sat Feb 09, 2013 9:35 pm

Given the way these go together (parts over a basic skeletal frame), I wonder if you can mix and match parts. If so, that could be quite interesting. Kinda like a 'build your own protoform' line.

News Credits: 1 · Sat Feb 09, 2013 9:39 pm

Was considering getting some of these just for parts to use in future kitbashes, but after so much other unexpected awesomeness out of this year's Toy Fair, I think I'll have to pass...until they hit Marshall's at least. I mean, they're an improvement over building TFs that have come before, but some are just a mess. Is the green guy Hound or Bulkhead?

Sat Feb 09, 2013 9:39 pm

xyl360 wrote:Given the way these go together (parts over a basic skeletal frame), I wonder if you can mix and match parts. If so, that could be quite interesting. Kinda like a 'build your own protoform' line.

Of course you can. :grin:

They're just like Lego pieces, specifically comparable to Hero Factory or Bionicle.

News Credits: 8 · Sat Feb 09, 2013 9:43 pm

meh i really dont see the point, its better than kreo but its another pointless line. Hasbro needs to stop making so many sub lines and just focus on 1 or two main ones, maybe then the products wouldnt suffer from so many defects & QC issues.

News Credits: 251 · Sat Feb 09, 2013 9:43 pm

I am somewhat impressed, but unless they pull a McFarlane and make differently colored pieces so you can actually customize them, it will be a pass. >:oP

Sat Feb 09, 2013 9:58 pm

Mindmaster wrote:I am somewhat impressed, but unless they pull a McFarlane and make differently colored pieces so you can actually customize them, it will be a pass.

I'm not sure how you mean that, and I suspect you don't quite either. Each one is basically made from a selection of the same parts, in different colors. Like Hero Factory, there are a set number of parts and variations of those parts, and every set is built from those (save for a very few parts specific to one set but which usually get used in others down the road). So, all of the skeletons are built from the same parts, again, in different colors. There are only a handful of molds for the armor pieces, and they're re-used on most of them. To illustrate, take a look at some HF sets.

Both Splitface here:

And Jawblade here:

Are based on the same torso (albeit in black, not orange):

Splitface has three different armor piece molds. The 5-unit long armor pieces in dark grey and red, the 5-long wide armor pieces in dark grey, and the large turbine pieces in dark grey.

Jawblade has the same 5-long armor pieces in silver, one in translucent orange, and a few 3-long pieces in silver on his tail.

Same pieces, very different end result.

News Credits: 251 · Sat Feb 09, 2013 10:03 pm

RAcast wrote:
Mindmaster wrote:I am somewhat impressed, but unless they pull a McFarlane and make differently colored pieces so you can actually customize them, it will be a pass.

I'm not sure how you mean that, and I suspect you don't quite either.

If you are familiar with McFarlane's Halo: Reach line, there were customizable Spartans available.

There were several packs, each featuring different armor pieces. That's what I meant by McFarlane-style. I should have been more clear.

News Credits: 2 · Sat Feb 09, 2013 10:04 pm

Megatron Wolf wrote:meh i really dont see the point, its better than kreo but its another pointless line. Hasbro needs to stop making so many sub lines and just focus on 1 or two main ones, maybe then the products wouldnt suffer from so many defects & QC issues.

These are for a totally separate demographic I think (still kids of course) but the more creative types that like to build things. It's a completely different play scenario, much like Bionicle and Lego etc.

The QC issues with paint have to do with the factories. The QC issues with plastics have to do with cost cutting measures and their choices in the plastics, thicknesses (molds and engineering) and how they make the joints (i.e. loose ball joints etc. etc.).

I don't see making another line of toys like this affecting the QC for main line TFs. They're just expanding the brand more.

News Credits: 5 · Sat Feb 09, 2013 11:03 pm

Not sure what to think about these.

It does look like alot of them need a good meal, especially Wheeljack.

:MAXIMAL:

News Credits: 1 · Sun Feb 10, 2013 2:18 am

A swing and a miss ...

Sun Feb 10, 2013 4:59 am

So question,

do these constuct bots transform or is it like kreo

build the bot, then take apart and rebuild as the vehicle?

Sun Feb 10, 2013 5:44 am

Bumblevivisector wrote:Is the green guy Hound or Bulkhead?

Hound. Look at the cannon on the shoulder, and the head sculpt.

I'm hesitant to drop even more money this year, but I'll probably get that Soundwave. Everyone else is still up in the air.

News Credits: 251 · Sun Feb 10, 2013 8:38 am

lonrac wrote:So question,

do these constuct bots transform or is it like kreo

build the bot, then take apart and rebuild as the vehicle?

Supposedly, once you put the parts on, you don't have to disassemble them to transform. They're also "customizable", meaning you can swap parts. Honestly, I think if they wanted to make customizable Transformers, they should have armor packs with differently colored parts ala McFarlane's Halo toys.

News Credits: 1 · Sun Feb 10, 2013 9:21 am

At first, I didn't think much of them. But I took a look at the pics, and I saw something familiar that might(depending on various factors) tempt me into buying a couple for repurposing.

Look at the lanky, spindly robot modes, and the Cybertronian esque vehicle modes that are hardly a disguise. While doing so, think one word:

Pretenders.

Naturally none of them are a shoe in for chacter x,y, or z, but I personally see a similarity.

Sun Feb 10, 2013 10:15 am

Mindmaster wrote:
lonrac wrote:So question,

do these constuct bots transform or is it like kreo

build the bot, then take apart and rebuild as the vehicle?

Supposedly, once you put the parts on, you don't have to disassemble them to transform. They're also "customizable", meaning you can swap parts. Honestly, I think if they wanted to make customizable Transformers, they should have armor packs with differently colored parts ala McFarlane's Halo toys.

It says it right at the top of the article, they don't partsform. And how is this method any different from your "armor packs"? It's literally the same thing. For right now at least, they aren't putting out -just- the armor pieces/heads/etc. without the frames, but they may do that in the future. But seriously, it's the exact same thing.

News Credits: 1 · Mon Feb 11, 2013 8:51 pm

It's a good attempt at something I've foolishly wanted for some time now. Kind of halfway between Kreo and conventional Transformers. Bit of a shame all of the characters with wheels kind of look the same in vehicle mode.

How badass does Bumblebee look with that faceplate? And do we really need a 'Bee triple changer? :BANG_HEAD:

Blitzwing's car mode reminds me of Cybertron Megatron's car mode.

I probably won't be a completionist on this line, but may pick up a few select sets to create some custom pieces.