The Energon Pub

[william-james88]

The 4th wave of Combiner War appeared at retail without warning even before the online retailers could send out their products. This was a pleasant surprise for fans who like the hunt and one such lucky fan, Seibertron's own Cobotron, has given us both a rundown of his impression on these versions of the molds as well as beautiful comparison shots with their previous CHUG incarnations.

From most fav, to least.
1. Mirage
2. Prowl
3. Sunstreaker
4. Ironhide (although the mold is still one of my favs from the line)





[about Prowl]
The mold looks really good in this deco, and the paint is nicely applied. Plus prowl and Streetwise can now walk the beat together keeping the mean streets free of crime.





[about Sunstreaker]To me the Classics Sideswipe/Sunstreaker mold's use of foresight to achieve two distinctly different results from the same figure is one of the smartest designs Has/Tak has ever developed. I do like this CW alt mode better. If nothing else it looks more like the '80s Countach the character originated from. One thing I like about the CW Sunstreaker is the bottom heaviness and bulk of his legs reminds me of the G1 toy and how clunky his legs were. Except now he has knees!





[about Ironhide]As much as the Classics Hide is disliked, I've never hated him. His alt mode is a mess, as is his transformation, but IMO his bot mode saves the day. He just looks so dam BAD ARSK!!! This CW Hide just seems scrawny, and the head sculpt is kind of weak. He makes a fantastic arm or leg though.





I will admit, I am really starting to feel the mold fatigue from this line, but this wave of deluxes and wave 1 Prime fulfills a childhood dream. I used to lay my G1 Autobots out on the floor on their backs and configure them into an Autobot Combiner. I would even use my brothers Predaking feet and fists to complete the puzzle. I am elated that that combiner can now stand up, and fight the good fight!

[Hellscream9999]

Has anyone else realize that the tabs on the side of breakdown/sunstreakers hand-foot gun can be slid down the sides of the bot mode back kibble (hard to explain, saw in vangelus' review) apparently it yields a more sunstreaker look; I think it will at any rate.

[Fox Thiagarajan]

I really love the molds for the characters. I hope I can track these guys down. Thanks for the pics C.

[Wolfman Jake]

I just picked up the '84 Autobot limbs from my local Target today (along with Legends Rodimus and Skywarp). I've transformed them all back and forth several times, building up Optimus Maximus (using the wave 1 red Prime) and breaking him up again. It's good fun. The truck cab torso IS the weakest of the three models so far, but I was able to get Optimus Maximus to stand with a fair bit of stability just from the official transformation set-up. Pro-Tip: save that clear rubber band that comes with Rodimus to hold him on as a chest piece. Optimus Maximus has the same problem that Menasor had with holding on to Blackjack (e.g., it doesn't hold at all).

[Flashwave]

I have a Sergent Kup figure I intended to paint as the yellow Turbomaster Dude, and with it a spare pair of Blaster Cannons. With any luck, they'll fit on the Offroad Mold painlessly. If so, that's reason 1 for getting this mold, a good Classics Ironhide with the yellow stripe, a solid truck bed, and his cannons.

[albnok]

I just picked up the '84 Autobot limbs from my local Target today (along with Legends Rodimus and Skywarp). I've transformed them all back and forth several times, building up Optimus Maximus (using the wave 1 red Prime) and breaking him up again. It's good fun. The truck cab torso IS the weakest of the three models so far, but I was able to get Optimus Maximus to stand with a fair bit of stability just from the official transformation set-up. Pro-Tip: save that clear rubber band that comes with Rodimus to hold him on as a chest piece. Optimus Maximus has the same problem that Menasor had with holding on to Blackjack (e.g., it doesn't hold at all).

Battle Core Optimus Prime fixes the waist problem though. Also I think the combined robot is named based on the torso - so your red Optimus Prime makes what you have, Ultra Prime. Which is why even with 3 Aerialbot limbs, Optimus Prime's box does not say it's Superion.

[Thadicon]

Will Takara possibly release these guys??

I got my hands on Ironhide today but if it turns out Takara will in fact release Ironhide and the rest then I will hold off on opening it up.

Yes, they confirmed they are releasing them.

This is a bit of a random question about the new Buzzsaw that is coming out but what is the mode with the wheels supposed to be?

Like He turns into a tablet and bird mode but what is the other mode supposed to be? A skateboard or something?

A taser on wheels, so he can irritate 's by poking their ankles, obvoiusly

It was referred to as a "tank mode" (cough cough)

Really is that what Hasbro said it was? a tank mode?

[Carnivius_Prime]

All of them have their distinctive chest designs replaced by those ugly combiner pegs. Sunstreaker looks the worst of them in my opinion. Prowl's not far behind. It's just far too obvious they were never meant for these characters. Nothing memorable about these molds at all.

[Noideaforaname]

Those comparison shots make me miss clear plastic parts. Sure most of the time you'd just see a jumble of robutts and whatnot, but it gave the illusion of being made of different material, which was pretty cool.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Has anyone else realize that the tabs on the side of breakdown/sunstreakers hand-foot gun can be slid down the sides of the bot mode back kibble (hard to explain, saw in vangelus' review) apparently it yields a more sunstreaker look; I think it will at any rate.

I did see that in a review for Streaker. Didn't realize it but it does look the figures look tons better

[william-james88]

Really is that what Hasbro said it was? a tank mode?

Yes, if i recall correctly.

Those comparison shots make me miss clear plastic parts. Sure most of the time you'd just see a jumble of robutts and whatnot, but it gave the illusion of being made of different material, which was pretty cool.

Clear Plastic is alive and strong in the Robots in disguise line I recomend you get that Drift!

[Rated X]

Wow these Repaint Wars figures are like the ultimate downgrade. I already knew I wouldnt be buying these, but these comparison shots really put the nail in the coffin. For $10-20 more you can get the real deal Universe/Generations figures on e-bay. I would encourage everybody to let these things shelf warm to send a message to Hasbro not to go this route again. Victorion is cool, but these repaints are a joke.

[Alpha Dominus]

Wow. The more I see of these figures the less I'm inclined to buy them. Message to Hasbro: Shoehorning new heads onto previously-used molds over and over again is not the way to maintain the brand.

[Absolute Zero]

Can Prowl roll, or does his chest piece pegs get in the way in alt mode like on the previous mold?

[Editor]

As I already plan to just display these guys in gestalt mode any issues for their bot looks can be ignored.

That said they will be sitting for a while as I plan to have Prime paired with Ironhide, Trailbreaker, Prowl and Hound. That way Sky Reign will be a speed team with Mirage, Wheeljack, Smokescreen and Sunstreaker.

At least that's my plan up to the point they tell us if they are releasing a wave with the missing 4 from '84. If they do that then I'd swap Sunstreaker with Jazz, Prowl with Ratchet and have the Lambo and Fairlady twins on the 3rd "original" combiner.

[Nemesis Destron]

Will Takara possibly release these guys??

I got my hands on Ironhide today but if it turns out Takara will in fact release Ironhide and the rest then I will hold off on opening it up.

Yes, they confirmed they are releasing them.

Excellent, thanks for that word WJ. Looks like it's back to the peg for you Ironhide IF your Takara counterpart is superior.

[CrankyOldTruck]

I just picked up the '84 Autobot limbs from my local Target today (along with Legends Rodimus and Skywarp). I've transformed them all back and forth several times, building up Optimus Maximus (using the wave 1 red Prime) and breaking him up again. It's good fun. The truck cab torso IS the weakest of the three models so far, but I was able to get Optimus Maximus to stand with a fair bit of stability just from the official transformation set-up. Pro-Tip: save that clear rubber band that comes with Rodimus to hold him on as a chest piece. Optimus Maximus has the same problem that Menasor had with holding on to Blackjack (e.g., it doesn't hold at all).

Since I have the Legends Class Optimus Prime that came out prior to the CW line I'm just using him instead of Rodimus. It's not as eye wrenching as the Huffer repaint and it makes for a less "Menasor repaint" look. If you have that figure, I'd recommend going that route instead.

[Wolfman Jake]

I just picked up the '84 Autobot limbs from my local Target today (along with Legends Rodimus and Skywarp). I've transformed them all back and forth several times, building up Optimus Maximus (using the wave 1 red Prime) and breaking him up again. It's good fun. The truck cab torso IS the weakest of the three models so far, but I was able to get Optimus Maximus to stand with a fair bit of stability just from the official transformation set-up. Pro-Tip: save that clear rubber band that comes with Rodimus to hold him on as a chest piece. Optimus Maximus has the same problem that Menasor had with holding on to Blackjack (e.g., it doesn't hold at all).

Battle Core Optimus Prime fixes the waist problem though. Also I think the combined robot is named based on the torso - so your red Optimus Prime makes what you have, Ultra Prime. Which is why even with 3 Aerialbot limbs, Optimus Prime's box does not say it's Superion.

I'll call my plastic robots anything I want, thank you very much!

[no-one]

Has anyone else realize that the tabs on the side of breakdown/sunstreakers hand-foot gun can be slid down the sides of the bot mode back kibble (hard to explain, saw in vangelus' review) apparently it yields a more sunstreaker look; I think it will at any rate.

Yes, if I'm remebering correctly; it goes in thumb out with the thumb folded up and to the side a bit. Tucks in nice and tight.

[Seibertron]

Well, this certainly looks more like G1 Mirage than Classics Mirage did (not my pic, BTW):



Just needs his arms (or at least his hands) swapped.

would it still transform correctly if you pop out the arms and swap it? hmm..

I thought this looked so amazing and made Mirage look much more like "Mirage", so I bought an extra Combiner Wars Mirage last night at Target so that I could pop out the pins on his hands, swap them, and do this right. I also used some mounting putty to create a new "peg hole" in the space above the actual peg hole so that the front of the car will sit lower to give his head more clearance. Pics in a moment.

[Seibertron]

Well, this certainly looks more like G1 Mirage than Classics Mirage did (not my pic, BTW):



Just needs his arms (or at least his hands) swapped.

would it still transform correctly if you pop out the arms and swap it? hmm..

I thought this looked so amazing and made Mirage look much more like "Mirage", so I bought an extra Combiner Wars Mirage last night at Target so that I could pop out the pins on his hands, swap them, and do this right. I also used some mounting putty to create a new "peg hole" in the space above the actual peg hole so that the front of the car will sit lower to give his head more clearance. Pics in a moment.

And here are my pics! Thanks to whoever Saberblade borrowed a pic from originally. Please provide credit so that I can properly credit that person. Thanks!

[peaces]

i prefer my tfs with hoods in front like g1

[Railbomb]

Well, this certainly looks more like G1 Mirage than Classics Mirage did (not my pic, BTW):



Just needs his arms (or at least his hands) swapped.

would it still transform correctly if you pop out the arms and swap it? hmm..

I thought this looked so amazing and made Mirage look much more like "Mirage", so I bought an extra Combiner Wars Mirage last night at Target so that I could pop out the pins on his hands, swap them, and do this right. I also used some mounting putty to create a new "peg hole" in the space above the actual peg hole so that the front of the car will sit lower to give his head more clearance. Pics in a moment.

And here are my pics! Thanks to whoever Saberblade borrowed a pic from originally. Please provide credit so that I can properly credit that person. Thanks!

That's David Willis' pic. Saw it on his Tumblr a few hours ago.

[Cobotron]

Has anyone else realize that the tabs on the side of breakdown/sunstreakers hand-foot gun can be slid down the sides of the bot mode back kibble (hard to explain, saw in vangelus' review) apparently it yields a more sunstreaker look; I think it will at any rate.

Hey HS, thanks for the tip. It sits higher and looks really good.


It fills out the back pack, and with the nice sculpted engine parts facing out looks a lot cooler.

You can see on the right side how it clips in.

[Seibertron]

From Breakdown's gallery ...



My biggest complaint about the Combiner Wars line are the hands and feet. It tries to do 3 things as a hand, foot or a gun for the individual robots but fails to be truly successful at any one of those things. I'd rather it excel at one thing than fail at all 3.