The Energon Pub

Thu Apr 13, 2017 3:15 pm

I got my first Headmaster figure. I didn't want to get into those because I like Transformers that have their own heads, but it's the only way I can get triple changers at the store now. The one I have is Astrotrain. Dark Moon is a pain in the butt to get out. Is it that way for all Headmasters? I always have to use my teeth to remove the head since I don't have a pair of pliers.
God bless, Jason Scott Irelan

News Credits: 14 · Fri Apr 14, 2017 11:27 am

Don't have that particular mold, but for the ones I do have the headmasters come off the neck port just fine.

If anything complaints are about the looseness of the head sockets. Most notably Deluxe Scourge.

Are you sure you are connecting Dark Moon to the neck slot right? Tiny head facing forward, not sideways.

Fri Apr 14, 2017 3:49 pm

Yes I have the head pointed the right way. Since you don't seem to have trouble getting the heads off for deluxe figures, I'll rephrase the question by asking if all voyager class Headmasters are that difficult to get the heads off. Astrotrain is about $25 at Walmart, so if you can afford it and wouldn't mind having it in your collection, you can get it and let me know. I wish they would've made some button you can press and make the head pop off like toys are known to do with plastic missiles; or better yet, not forced people who want triple changers without having to pay tons of money for older versions to get Headmasters. I wouldn't have this problem if this was a normal Transformer. I've had two Astrotrains, the G1 version and this one; and the G1 version was a lot easier. Astrotrain isn't my favorite Transformer because I haven't got a favorite. The board asked me for one when I was joining the group, and I just went with the last one I got. Maybe I'll try to edit my profile sometime and put don't have one.
God bless, Jason Scott Irelan

News Credits: 2 · Fri Apr 14, 2017 5:02 pm

I don't have Astrotrain but I have the Sentinel version. It's hard to get his head in if you leave his little head as is, but if I turn his little head 180, so his small face is the same side as his big face, he slots in and out of the neck slot with ease, but isn't loose.

Fri Apr 14, 2017 5:32 pm

At first I thought you meant the sentinel version of Astrotrain and then remembered there was a Transformer named Sentinel Prime. I'm pretty sure I've tried pulling Astrotrain's head out from all angles and still had trouble. Next time I watch a movie, I'll try other angles; and if I still have trouble, you can bet I'll let you know. Is Hasbro going to be difficult by putting out nothing but Headmasters for triple changers forever?
God bless, Jason Scott Irelan

News Credits: 14 · Fri Apr 14, 2017 5:52 pm

Jason5billion wrote:At first I thought you meant the sentinel version of Astrotrain and then remembered there was a Transformer named Sentinel Prime. I'm pretty sure I've tried pulling Astrotrain's head out from all angles and still had trouble. Next time I watch a movie, I'll try other angles; and if I still have trouble, you can bet I'll let you know. Is Hasbro going to be difficult by putting out nothing but Headmasters for triple changers forever?
God bless, Jason Scott Irelan

The current line Titan's Return which your Astrotrain comes from is entirely centered around headmasters. So no surprise almost everything in it is a headmaster.

Once the line is over and Hasbro moves onto a different gimmick and a new line, you may find figures that are not headmasters.

Though it may be several years before we see a new non headmaster Astrotrain.

Fri Apr 14, 2017 7:36 pm

I can find figures that aren't Headmasters now because they're only doing that with ones that are deluxes or higher. It's triple changers that I'm after though. Also, Astrotrain is not my favorite Transformer, so I never had any intention of holding my breath until they came out with one that's not a Headmaster. I like Astrotrain but no more than I like other triple changers. How come Hasbro doesn't have catalogs in their packages like they used to. I don't mean literal catalogs like JCPenney catalogs. I mean those pamphlets that show what all the current figures to watch for in stores. I noticed however that Hasbro does have an 800 number. Can people call that number to order Transformers?
God bless, Jason Scott Irelan

News Credits: 226 · Fri Apr 14, 2017 7:46 pm

Jason5billion wrote:How come Hasbro doesn't have catalogs in their packages like they used to.

Because people use Google to find out what else is out there.

Plus the deluxe sized and up tend to have pictures of the other figures being released in that wave.

News Credits: 14 · Fri Apr 14, 2017 8:00 pm

Jason5billion wrote:I can find figures that aren't Headmasters now because they're only doing that with ones that are deluxes or higher. It's triple changers that I'm after though. Also, Astrotrain is not my favorite Transformer, so I never had any intention of holding my breath until they came out with one that's not a Headmaster. I like Astrotrain but no more than I like other triple changers. How come Hasbro doesn't have catalogs in their packages like they used to. I don't mean literal catalogs like JCPenney catalogs. I mean those pamphlets that show what all the current figures to watch for in stores. I noticed however that Hasbro does have an 800 number. Can people call that number to order Transformers?
God bless, Jason Scott Irelan

Yes, the current line is all Headmasters. That's the current gimmick. You need to wait until Titan Returns is over before you'll be able to find regular non-headmaster transformers.

For triple changers, currently there are quite a few out.

Sentinel Prime,

AstroTrain

Optimus Prime

Megatron

Alpha Trion

Galvatron

Upcoming ones include

Broadside (though he's already been spotted in stores)

Blitzwing

Octane / Octone

Tidal Wave

You may want to look on online stores such as bbts.com or tfsource.com if you are in North America

https://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/men ... 874&page=2

Fri Apr 14, 2017 8:27 pm

There's one triple changer you didn't mention, and that's Sound Wave. Googling for current Transformer releases is confusing, and a pamphlet would be easier. Plus the pictures they have on the packages don't show all of them. I had a thought. There's a Chuck Norris parody thing in one of the desktop calendars that says he can surf a sound wave. It so happens that Sound Wave is the name of a Transformer; and I know Chuck Norris can swim because he's done it on Walker, Texas Ranger, so if they put out a Sound Wave that turns into a normal size surf board, all he'd have to do is learn to surf if he hasn't already; and that statement would be true. Plus he'd be stepping on one of the bad guys.
God bless, Jason Scott Irelan

News Credits: 14 · Fri Apr 14, 2017 10:06 pm

Soundwave, Blaster, and Power Master Optimus Prime are leader class not voyager class like the ones I mentioned and the size and price you said you wanted.

And while they do have 3 modes, the base modes tend to not be as good of a third mode.

There's also Sixshot, and Quickswitch (six modes)

And more recently Sky Shadow

Fri Apr 14, 2017 10:29 pm

I should've said triple or more changers. I never had Quickswitch, so I'll try to watch for him when I can afford it. I knew about Sixhot but didn't get it because it's too expensive and looks a lot like the original G1 version. Well I tried taking the head off Astrotrain from all angles and can't decide it without using my teeth. I'd leave the head on all the time if it wasn't in the way when I want to turn it into a train. The original Astrotrain looked better because the alternate modes were totally different. I like Transformers for the same reason I like magic tricks. I get to learn something new when I get one that's not a kitbashed or repaint.
God bless, Jason Scott Irelan

News Credits: 226 · Sat Apr 15, 2017 12:13 am

Checked out my Astrotrain.

Yeah, the head is a bit tight, but if you give the head a good tug it'll pop in no time ...

Sat Apr 15, 2017 12:23 am

I can get it out with a good tug alright as long as I use my teeth. Too bad I can't afford a good gym membership since having a lot of muscle power might make it easier. How long is this Titan Returns gonna last? It would be nice if they went back to putting pamphlets in because it could increase sales and not force people to do Google searches. Sky Fall is a Transformer I've never heard of, so I'll have to do a Google search to see what the alternate modes are.
God bless, Jason Scott Irelan

MyFigureCollection.net collection · Sat Apr 15, 2017 12:33 am

If the head is giving you a hard time try spinning the little guy's head around backwards before inserting it. (Sorry if that was already suggested, I only glanced through the other posts.) There will be six waves total, we're currently on wave 4. Use this link to see what has been released and has been confirmed for future releases. The line replacing Titans Return, Power of the Primes, will be out in the winter and won't have the headmaster gimmick (though we don't know what type of gimmick that line will incorporate).

Emerje

News Credits: 241 · Sat Apr 15, 2017 12:40 am

Jason5billion wrote:I can get it out with a good tug alright as long as I use my teeth. Too bad I can't afford a good gym membership since having a lot of muscle power might make it easier. How long is this Titan Returns gonna last? It would be nice if they went back to putting pamphlets in because it could increase sales and not force people to do Google searches. Sky Fall is a Transformer I've never heard of, so I'll have to do a Google search to see what the alternate modes are.
God bless, Jason Scott Irelan

Titans Return is set to last until the end of the year, or at least until the holiday shopping season.

Pamphlets are so passe, getting your information from sites like this is the way to go!

And I think you meant Sky Shadow, aka Black Shadow.

Sat Apr 15, 2017 6:17 am

It worked just fine when I put the head in backward. Thank you kindly. I tried to change my profile, so I could put don't have one when it came to favorite Transformers but couldn't get to it. Does this mean I'm stuck with the profile I have forever so everyone will think Astrotrain is my favorite when they look at it?
God bless, Jason Scott Irelan

News Credits: 2 · Sat Apr 15, 2017 7:22 am

Yey. You'll find some of the titan masters are easier to go in that way. And others the proper way. But never at a 90 degree.

For yout profile, click on User Control Panel up at the top of the page. Then click on the profile tab and scroll down. You can edit it there. And you don't need to fill it out. Most of my profile is left blank.

Sat Apr 15, 2017 7:36 am

That link sucks compared to pamphlets. I may try to call Hasbro's toll free number and hike their phone bill up complaining about them not putting out pamphlets.
God bless, Jason Scott Irelan

Sat Apr 15, 2017 5:32 pm

The reason that link sucks is because it's hard to figure out what the little ones look like. Plus I have to go all the way out and go back on to see what another figure looks like after looking at one because my mobile phone, which is my only way of getting on the internet without a time limit doesn't have a back button.

They should do photographic directions for the figures. It took me several days to figure out you're supposed to make Astrotrain's hands go in.

Both Transformers and Honors released figures that turned into Volkswagens. The difference is that Bug Bite was evil while Bumblebee was good. Now if they did a crossover with the two, it's probably a safe bet that Bug Bite could kick Bumblebee's butt in battle; but who would win after Bumblebee got upgraded to Goldbug?
God bless, Jason Scott Irelan

News Credits: 241 · Sat Apr 15, 2017 5:47 pm

Funny you should mention Gobots, as Hasbro now owns the general IP. Not the toy molds however, those were licensed by Bandai, now a major competitor.

Back in the 90's, Gobots creator Tonka was bought out by Hasbro, settling the Transformers vs. Gobots rivalry. And some Gobots were homaged in Transformers, including Bug Bite, plus the Club had them meet eachother in fiction. No Bumblebee vs. Bug Bite however

Sat Apr 15, 2017 7:48 pm

Actually machine robot has released Gobots again recently. They just don't call them Gobots. There are four out that are larger versions of what was released before, but Bug Bite isn't in the group. Leader One, Cykill, Tank, and Swoop are available; and they're five inches high, which is about the size of the Bug Bite that was first released since Bug Bite was a more expensive Super Gobots. Bug Bite is such an easy one to figure out how to transform that I didn't even need instructions. I don't have that one anymore, but I wish I did.
God bless, Jason Scott Irelan

News Credits: 60 · Sat Apr 15, 2017 10:13 pm

Jason5billion wrote:I can find figures that aren't Headmasters now because they're only doing that with ones that are deluxes or higher. It's triple changers that I'm after though. Also, Astrotrain is not my favorite Transformer, so I never had any intention of holding my breath until they came out with one that's not a Headmaster. I like Astrotrain but no more than I like other triple changers. How come Hasbro doesn't have catalogs in their packages like they used to. I don't mean literal catalogs like JCPenney catalogs. I mean those pamphlets that show what all the current figures to watch for in stores. I noticed however that Hasbro does have an 800 number. Can people call that number to order Transformers?
God bless, Jason Scott Irelan

Cost concerns.

And the Darkmoon type Hm is indeed a pain as it relies on a thin peg to keep his legs in place. Others have metal pins.

Sun Apr 16, 2017 5:42 pm

Between Bug Bite and Bumblebee, I like Bug Bite better because the toy looks a lot more like a Volkswagen. Apparently both toy companies didn't get the rights to do exact Volkswagen lookalikes at first. I would like to cLear up one thing about Bug Bite. Honors were known to throw in females once in awhile, and they didn't do pictures or specs that did a good job of telling what they were, so is Bug Bite a male Gobot?
God bless, Jason Scott Irelan :KREMZEEK:

News Credits: 241 · Sun Apr 16, 2017 5:53 pm

Jason5billion wrote:Between Bug Bite and Bumblebee, I like Bug Bite better because the toy looks a lot more like a Volkswagen. Apparently both toy companies didn't get the rights to do exact Volkswagen lookalikes at first. I would like to cLear up one thing about Bug Bite. Honors were known to throw in females once in awhile, and they didn't do pictures or specs that did a good job of telling what they were, so is Bug Bite a male Gobot?
God bless, Jason Scott Irelan

Using exact car models without licensing was perfectly fine in the 80's, but that changed somewhere in the late 1990's to 2000, when Car Robots Speedbreaker required licensing upon being imported as Robots in Disguise 2001 Side Burn.

No, Bumblebee and the other Minibots Cliffjumper, Huffer, Gears and Brawn came from Microman, with a supposed 1:1 scale. To be exact, they were originally part of the Mini-Car Robo series, and designed like Super-Deformed Penny Racers, hence their cartoony proportions.

And Bug Bite is a male Gobot in all appearance, even as the white Bumblebee in Transformers fiction.

btw What's with the "Honors"? Gobots was done by Tonka, licensing molds from Bandai.