The Energon Pub

[Cobotron]

The weapon mode is, however, not advertised on the packaging.

Is it in the instructions?

Dunno. Was going by the pics on BWTF, which include a scan of the cardback. Ben didn't post a scan of the instructions.

No, the instructions do not have a weapon mode shown. If no weapon mode was intended, then why those pegs on the butt of insect mode? Why the gun barrel looking fists? (Not trying to pick a fight. Just trying to infer the designer's intent.) I think this was clearly the intent in the design, even if not marketed that way. Or, perhaps this is an Easter Egg? Doesn't Hasbro have a pattern of providing us Easter Eggs (like the alternate heads on instructions)?

That's no Easter Egg (as it doesn't point to anything significant). Hasbro's tendency to drop or change intended features is a more likely explanation.

The instruction for Gen. Arcee didn't bother to mention anything about how her gun is used to hold her arms in place in Alt mode. which totally completes her transformation. As time wears on, instructions are becoming very unhelpful. They might as well just have a picture of both modes, and call it a day.

[MemphisR56]

The weapon mode is, however, not advertised on the packaging.

Is it in the instructions?

Dunno. Was going by the pics on BWTF, which include a scan of the cardback. Ben didn't post a scan of the instructions.

No, the instructions do not have a weapon mode shown. If no weapon mode was intended, then why those pegs on the butt of insect mode? Why the gun barrel looking fists? (Not trying to pick a fight. Just trying to infer the designer's intent.) I think this was clearly the intent in the design, even if not marketed that way. Or, perhaps this is an Easter Egg? Doesn't Hasbro have a pattern of providing us Easter Eggs (like the alternate heads on instructions)?

That's no Easter Egg (as it doesn't point to anything significant). Hasbro's tendency to drop or change intended features is a more likely explanation.

The instruction for Gen. Arcee didn't bother to mention anything about how her gun is used to hold her arms in place in Alt mode. which totally completes her transformation. As time wears on, instructions are becoming very unhelpful. They might as well just have a picture of both modes, and call it a day.

I can think of a few where that's totally the case PRiD Knockout anyone?

I don't even bother looking now. Figuring the toy out yourself usually yields better results. Half the fun is in the puzzle for me anyway.

[Dead Metal]

Likely a dropped feature, like Universe Galvatron's 3rd mode, or ROTF Sideways's motorized wrist gimmick on both arms.

It's very likely that Bombshell was intended to have a gun-mode, but it was later dropped, with its remnants too far in the design process to be removed entirely.

[Cobotron]

The weapon mode is, however, not advertised on the packaging.

Is it in the instructions?

Dunno. Was going by the pics on BWTF, which include a scan of the cardback. Ben didn't post a scan of the instructions.

No, the instructions do not have a weapon mode shown. If no weapon mode was intended, then why those pegs on the butt of insect mode? Why the gun barrel looking fists? (Not trying to pick a fight. Just trying to infer the designer's intent.) I think this was clearly the intent in the design, even if not marketed that way. Or, perhaps this is an Easter Egg? Doesn't Hasbro have a pattern of providing us Easter Eggs (like the alternate heads on instructions)?

That's no Easter Egg (as it doesn't point to anything significant). Hasbro's tendency to drop or change intended features is a more likely explanation.

The instruction for Gen. Arcee didn't bother to mention anything about how her gun is used to hold her arms in place in Alt mode. which totally completes her transformation. As time wears on, instructions are becoming very unhelpful. They might as well just have a picture of both modes, and call it a day.

I can think of a few where that's totally the case PRiD Knockout anyone?

I don't even bother looking now. Figuring the toy out yourself usually yields better results. Half the fun is in the puzzle for me anyway.

Totally agree. The puzzle is half the fun. Arcee was a good example of being bamboozled and needing to turn to the instuctions for answers. Of which there were none. Good thing we have JelZe and Sabrblade to turn to in a pinch.

[william-james88]

I can think of a few where that's totally the case PRiD Knockout anyone?

I don't even bother looking now. Figuring the toy out yourself usually yields better results. Half the fun is in the puzzle for me anyway.

Totally agree. The puzzle is half the fun. Arcee was a good example of being bamboozled and needing to turn to the instuctions for answers. Of which there were none. Good thing we have JelZe and Sabrblade to turn to in a pinch.

Totally agree. Although I find it sad the odd times that I need the instructions (simply because the joint can turn in a way that I dont know) and find them not helping me at all. Like with AOE Slog. I had tocreate a new thread just to know what I was supposed to do with the big flap in the front. Those instructions didnt help one bit.

Oh and speaking of instructions not helping, I have a fun story. A younger cousin of mine was having a tough time transforming a toy I had on the table (MP Wheeljack) and asked for the instructions. I GLADLY gave them to her and told her to make sure she read the words to make sure she understood what to do

[shajaki]

The instruction for Gen. Arcee didn't bother to mention anything about how her gun is used to hold her arms in place in Alt mode. which totally completes her transformation. As time wears on, instructions are becoming very unhelpful. They might as well just have a picture of both modes, and call it a day.

they gotta leave work for the youtube clowns y'know

[william-james88]

The instruction for Gen. Arcee didn't bother to mention anything about how her gun is used to hold her arms in place in Alt mode. which totally completes her transformation. As time wears on, instructions are becoming very unhelpful. They might as well just have a picture of both modes, and call it a day.

they gotta leave work for the youtube clowns y'know

You mean those guys who break figures on screen and dont bother mentioning it?

[Lordprime7755]

there needs to be a weapon mode for these legend class fiqures for the combiners. its no fun just for a alt and robot mode. :/ shrugs honestly it seems Optimus Prime needs a better weapon for his torso mode.

[Arctorro]

Oh and speaking of instructions not helping, I have a fun story. A younger cousin of mine was having a tough time transforming a toy I had on the table (MP Wheeljack) and asked for the instructions. I GLADLY gave them to her and told her to make sure she read the words to make sure she understood what to do

Bet the look on her face after seeing the instructions was priceless!


As for Bombshell, he's spent most of his time in 'gun mode' since my loot showed up the other day. Right now Optimus is hogging all the combiner bots (including Windcharger as a chest shield) and poor Silverbolt is forced to dogfight with Thundercracker.

[Cobotron]

As for Bombshell, he's spent most of his time in 'gun mode' since my loot showed up the other day. Right now Optimus is hogging all the combiner bots (including Windcharger as a chest shield) and poor Silverbolt is forced to dogfight with Thundercracker.

I'd like to see some pics of this. Got any extra time on your hands?

[Arctorro]

As for Bombshell, he's spent most of his time in 'gun mode' since my loot showed up the other day. Right now Optimus is hogging all the combiner bots (including Windcharger as a chest shield) and poor Silverbolt is forced to dogfight with Thundercracker.

I'd like to see some pics of this. Got any extra time on your hands?

Maybe...

[Dr. Caelus]

So. I was thinking about the CW Galvatron rumor...

Premise 1: Galvatron is a key player in the Combiner Wars story arc
Premise 2: Galvatron is rumored to appear in Combiner Wars toyline
Premise 3: Galvatron is rumored to combine with the other Combiner Wars figures
Premise 4: Ultra Magnus is rumored to appear in Combiner Wars toyline
Premise 5: Ultra Magnus is rumored to be sold as a Leader Class figure
Premise 6: Leaked pictures suggest that Ultra Magnus will somehow utilize the CW Truck Mold
Premise 7: The CW Truck Mold looks a LOT like "Galvatron" from Age of Extinction

Hesitant addition to my earlier speculation: Galvatron will be a retool of CW Ultra Magnus, giving him both a Voyager-scaled and Leader-scaled form, and the capacity to combine with other characters as a Voyager class figure. He'll dual homage the IDW form in his robot mode, and the movie form in alternate mode. I mean, it'd be pretty weird, but I could kind of see it working, especially if it ties into some of the hints that Galvatron may be a Prime.

My largest single reservation with this speculation, besides the massive redesign he'd have to have in the comics, is that Galvatron's current band of Decepticons wouldn't make for a good combiner. Given that, if Galvatron combines with anyone, it seems it'd be most likely to be the Constructicons (luring them away from Prowl). If that's the case, his toy may be uniquely engineered to interact with the rumored Titan Class Devastator.

[Cobotron]

Caelus - I am still way in line with your idea of Ult Mag being a repaint of Prime and having a trailer that works as city commander armor.

Now, I'm sorry to all for being a Negative Nancy here, but I feel like we have all had to lower our expectations so far, that we are all in a hypnotic daze. Since the dawning of this thread, we have all (including myself) speculated the re-use, re-paints of 10 toys 60 different ways this side of Sunday. Why have we all accepted this to be OK? Hasbro has us by the scrodallions.

Why can't we have new molds of different characters? What gives? Is this what this toy line has come to?

Who wants to meet me in Rhode Island for a demonstration?
My picket sign will read "Unhand our Taints - Stop the Repaints".
Who's with me?

[shajaki]

Why can't we have new molds of different characters? What gives? Is this what this toy line has come to?

Who wants to meet me in Rhode Island for a demonstration?
My picket sign will read "Unhand our Taints - Stop the Repaints".
Who's with me?

i see your point, i really do. but...

remember the days of AEC? figures being re-released as repaints, sometimes as completely different characters with no amount of retooling are largely over. just speaking for myself here, but if we're looking at chromia and sandstorm level retooling then im cool with that. hell, most times all i need is a new headsculpt to be happy.

[Cobotron]

Why can't we have new molds of different characters? What gives? Is this what this toy line has come to?

Who wants to meet me in Rhode Island for a demonstration?
My picket sign will read "Unhand our Taints - Stop the Repaints".
Who's with me?

i see your point, i really do. but...

remember the days of AEC? figures being re-released as repaints, sometimes as completely different characters with no amount of retooling are largely over.

I do. And I thought it was weak than too. The advantage for me was that I got to catch up on a lot of Cybertron toys I missed. And I will point out my own hypocrisy here.http://www.seibertron.com/energonpub/transformers-toy-haul-thread-t13s10300.php#p1641047

just speaking for myself here, but if we're looking at chromia and sandstorm level retooling then im cool with that. hell, most times all i need is a new headsculpt to be happy.

This is preferable for sure.

OK, Thanks Shaj, for talking me off my soap box. I was just getting sea sick on the ocean of repaints. Like these...

Silverbolt - Ronald McDonald
Firefly - Grimace
Dragstrip - The Hamburglar
Alpha Bravo - Birdie the Early Bird
Offroad - Mayor McCheese


I'm done. Cheers everybody. have fun with your toys. I will

[shajaki]

I was just getting sea sick on the ocean of repaints. Like these...

Silverbolt - Ronald McDonald
Firefly - Grimace
Dragstrip - The Hamburglar
Alpha Bravo - Birdie the Early Bird
Offroad - Mayor McCheese

[Arctorro]

@Cobotron; no way I'm flying to the U.S. for a demonstration




Fireflight is slightly mis-transformers to make a better proportioned arm, not perfect but I'm happy with it. I really think the jet/copter limbs would've been much better if the legs were designed like Dragstrip. The simpler design would've allowed for a better arm mode and left parts over for hands that fold away.

[ZeroWolf]

If that was ever made then macdonalds have revealed their hand in their bid for world domination...

Anyways...I know it's backtracking slightly but with regards to the lack of instructions for bombshell's gun mode could it have anything to do with the fact that bombshell won't be taking part in the combiner wars fiction? (Unless he finds a way to cheat death)

I mean it's a bit strange in of itself that they would release two thundercrackers as part of the line.

[Dr. Caelus]

just speaking for myself here, but if we're looking at chromia and sandstorm level retooling then im cool with that.

I definitely agree. I'd love to know what percent of the cost of a new mold is in the initial concept design, the engineer's CADing it, the casting of the mold, and the engineering/configuration of a new assembly line.

There's a lot of hidden costs I've only become more aware of in recent years. Sandstorm looks so drastically different from Springer, you'd think they might as well have generated new CAD models and cast a new mold, and though I'm sure that's probably an exaggeration, something it certainly doesn't consider is the fact that their extraordinarily similar construction means the factory layout for manufacturing Springer was probably reused with Sandstorm, saving HasTak a lot of costs with mechanical engineers and Industrial/Organizational consultants. Reusing designs probably shaves some time off training the workers to assemble the figures correctly, which given the Brainstorm debacle is clearly a significant concern.

[Cobotron]

@Caelus - I hope you didn't think I was singling you out. And, I welcome Galvatron to the fracas.

@Arctorro - THANKS! for the pic. It helped bring me down off my bad trip. What makes Bombshell's handle? How is Windcharger attached?

@shajaki - you did like my picket sign idea though, din'cha?

and

R.I.P. Party Warrior

[Dr. Caelus]

@Caelus - I hope you didn't think I was singling you out. And, I welcome Galvatron to the fracas.

No worries.

I'll admit I also like repaints/redecos/retools because I'm not a completionist (I haven't the money for that), forcing me to be really picky, and then I and am often be in the situation of thinking, 'man, I like that design, but I've no interest in that character' - a dilemma which is often resolved when a second version of the mold is released. Though I probably have much less patience than I should, and too often wind up with both versions of the mold.

[shajaki]

@shajaki - you did like my picket sign idea though, din'cha?

[william-james88]

Mine will be "Too much redeco is muy loco!"
Cause its an international company

[Lordprime7755]

@Cobotron; no way I'm flying to the U.S. for a demonstration




Fireflight is slightly mis-transformers to make a better proportioned arm, not perfect but I'm happy with it. I really think the jet/copter limbs would've been much better if the legs were designed like Dragstrip. The simpler design would've allowed for a better arm mode and left parts over for hands that fold away.

loved what u did there. but doesnt Optimus get his own? i thought i saw a picture showing he would. and another thing, is there a way to get a bot to be his new chest in torso mode? i thought the legends were ment for that or to be target masters? ( weapons )

[Cobotron]

Mine will be "Too much redeco is muy loco!"
Cause its an international company

Nice.