The Energon Pub

[Cobotron]

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.

Ya, I would give anything for a ball joint on that ankle connection. It would work fine as a wrist too.

Your tweak to Mirage's front end fan mode makes it look better.
Sooooo Seibs, did you score the whole lot of Ark bots? Can't wait to see your galleries.

[Seibertron]

Sooooo Seibs, did you score the whole lot of Ark bots? Can't wait to see your galleries.

You bet I did ... at the half way point with the photoshoot. Just started working on their robot mode pics.

[Randomhero]

I found them last week. I really like them. Prowl is the best then Mirage. It's nice to have a classics prowl and ironhide with no sticky paint

[Hellscream9999]

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.

I both understand and respect where you're coming from (despite you're claim that classics mirage is 'real deal' since it looks nothing like G1 ), but I personally never cared for the over-sized chests of the classics figure's (especially sunstreaker's whose bib looks so strange and disproportionate) with the exception of the mirage mold

Despite what people say about these (myself included, as I still would have preferred some different figures ) I like the variety these offer, straying from the G1 designs that I dislike into something that I do like; And that's not to say that I don't think that not remolding the chest plates isn't lazy on hasbro's part, but I like them all well enough.

[Mindmaster]

Most likely will pick up Mirage as I'd like to not pay forty or more smackeroos for the actual legit non-combining Classics Deluxe.

Personal favor, Cobs: can you provide a side-by-side comparison image of Sunstreaker with Universe (2008) Sideswipe, if possible? He's another one I'm considering, since I don't have '08 Sunbro and would like Sideswipe to have his kin.

[Hellscream9999]

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.

I don't understand what you're getting at, is this in reference to the sunstreaker thing I posted (if so, it is backwards to what I was saying), or is this just a random thought you wanted to post?

As much as I would've like ball joints, I don't think many of the heavy combiners (menasor) would be able to stand without wearing them out at hasbros budgetary standards.

[Hellscream9999]

Most likely will pick up Mirage as I'd like to not pay forty or more smackeroos for the actual legit non-combining Classics Deluxe.

Personal favor, Cobs: can you provide a side-by-side comparison image of Sunstreaker with Universe (2008) Sideswipe, if possible? He's another one I'm considering, since I don't have '08 Sunbro and would like Sideswipe to have his kin.

The original is certainly worth owning in any capacity, so maybe keep an eye out for it, if you could get a fracture , that would be the best case scenario

[Cobotron]

Cobs: can you provide a side-by-side comparison image of Sunstreaker with Universe (2008) Sideswipe, if possible?

The Lambros? Suuuuuuuuuuuuuuure.
Do you mean like this...


Or lika dis...

[Counterpunch]

So, I think time and place are important considerations in the comparisons of these figures.

Direct comparisons are going to favor the originals pretty much in every regard. The Classics versions came during perhaps the single best period of Transformers engineering ever. Not only did the Classics versions hit the old design cues, they added the update "flare" of the line while implementing groundbreaking articulation for Transformers without sacrificing or resorting to ball-joints.

Mirage by ME_Counterpunch, on Flickr

Mirage is still an outstanding figure and is a slick update to modern F1 race cars.


Sunstreaker and Sideswipe by ME_Counterpunch, on Flickr

Sunstreaker epitomizes what was good about the initial Classics figures. Characterful, clever, well proportioned, and so well done that no 3rd party company even bothered to take a stab at him in the Classics scale.


Prowl by ME_Counterpunch, on Flickr

Prowl is frankly a little less inspired as his mold and mold brothers have a few issues that could have been improved upon, but he does the difficult task of replicating the car chest look without being terribly awkward.


All that being said, I think the current offerings are updates to the characters just as the Classics figures were updates to G1. I certainly don't think the new figures look better than the old, but the CW figures have their own charm. The CW versions all needed to reformat to take on their combiner aspects. Prowl is actually a good update. Ironhide isn't bad either and frankly, I like the change to Mirage. I think the chest re-configuration looks bad. Sunstreaker is the loser of the group, but even he isn't terrible.

[Mindmaster]

Cobs: can you provide a side-by-side comparison image of Sunstreaker with Universe (2008) Sideswipe, if possible?

The Lambros? Suuuuuuuuuuuuuuure.
Do you mean like this...


Or lika dis...

The former, smartass.

In any case... Yeah, I'm not feeling combining Sunstreaker. Looks like the '08 Deluxe will remain on my bucket list along with the other Seekers I've yet to get. Thanks, Cobs!

[peaces]

i'll take the cw over the classics anyday. the classics just weren't good figures. they almost feel like bayformers. the cw are much more solid figures.

[william-james88]

i'll take the cw over the classics anyday. the classics just weren't good figures. they almost feel like bayformers. the cw are much more solid figures.

Why cant we just get both. One to combine and another to leave solo? Also, the classics arent bayformers at all and have some of the best engineering ever found in TF history. The fact that these two below are the exact same car mold is INSANE!

[william-james88]

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.

I don't understand what you're getting at, is this in reference to the sunstreaker thing I posted (if so, it is backwards to what I was saying), or is this just a random thought you wanted to post?

I think Ryan was a bit confused and though you guys were just talking about putting the hand/foot in the back. Ryan, they are saying that there are 2 tabs that can make you place this foot the other way so that the motor sticks out of the back. Not sure if it holds as well. You could give it a shot in the sunstreaker gallery and show the 2 options.

[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.

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.

Exactly, as you can see, the engine molding is facing the opposite direction; hope this helps

[Seibertron]

I tried this on mine but it wasn't stable at all and it was at an odd angle. I prefer it with the non-finger side facing forward.

[Madeus Prime]

If somebody could take a pic of Prowl's headsculpt I'd really appreciate it!

[Seibertron]

If somebody could take a pic of Prowl's headsculpt I'd really appreciate it!

Ask and you shall receive!

[SW's SilverHammer]

you know, for being a repaint and retool of streetwise, that's a pretty dank prowl.

[Seibertron]

you know, for being a repaint and retool of streetwise, that's a pretty dank prowl.

Ack! I haven't heard the term "dank" used in this context before. And I'm really confused after looking up "dank" on Urban Dictionary.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Dank

Does your usage mean good or bad?

[Mindmaster]

you know, for being a repaint and retool of streetwise, that's a pretty dank prowl.

Ack! I haven't heard the term "dank" used in this context before. And I'm really confused after looking up "dank" on Urban Dictionary.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Dank

Does your usage mean good or bad?

As a twenty-year old, I can confirm that the usage of the word "dank" in this context is a good thing!

[Hellscream9999]

I tried this on mine but it wasn't stable at all and it was at an odd angle. I prefer it with the non-finger side facing forward.

It certainly won't be parallel to the body, but I could slide it down about half way along the tracks i the shell, but it pushing it this far results in it getting jammed sometimes; just fidget with it some more, You've got plenty of time to mess with it

[SW's SilverHammer]

you know, for being a repaint and retool of streetwise, that's a pretty dank prowl.

Ack! I haven't heard the term "dank" used in this context before. And I'm really confused after looking up "dank" on Urban Dictionary.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Dank

Does your usage mean good or bad?

As a twenty-year old, I can confirm that the usage of the word "dank" in this context is a good thing!

What i'm trying to say is, prowl's a stoner... wait...
Ah there it is.

[Burn]

So I'm just going to throw my thoughts out there.

From the time these figures were announced, I wasn't impressed. Seeing the comparison pics, still not impressed.

I'll take the Classics versions (which I think are really good figures) over the CW versions. At least the Classics versions are original moulds and not just repaints.

[Tigertrack]

So, I think time and place are important considerations in the comparisons of these figures.

Direct comparisons are going to favor the originals pretty much in every regard. The Classics versions came during perhaps the single best period of Transformers engineering ever. Not only did the Classics versions hit the old design cues, they added the update "flare" of the line while implementing groundbreaking articulation for Transformers without sacrificing or resorting to ball-joints.

Mirage by ME_Counterpunch, on Flickr

Mirage is still an outstanding figure and is a slick update to modern F1 race cars.


Sunstreaker and Sideswipe by ME_Counterpunch, on Flickr

Sunstreaker epitomizes what was good about the initial Classics figures. Characterful, clever, well proportioned, and so well done that no 3rd party company even bothered to take a stab at him in the Classics scale.


Prowl by ME_Counterpunch, on Flickr

Prowl is frankly a little less inspired as his mold and mold brothers have a few issues that could have been improved upon, but he does the difficult task of replicating the car chest look without being terribly awkward.


All that being said, I think the current offerings are updates to the characters just as the Classics figures were updates to G1. I certainly don't think the new figures look better than the old, but the CW figures have their own charm. The CW versions all needed to reformat to take on their combiner aspects. Prowl is actually a good update. Ironhide isn't bad either and frankly, I like the change to Mirage. I think the chest re-configuration looks bad. Sunstreaker is the loser of the group, but even he isn't terrible.

I agree that the Classics still hold up well. When CW Hound comes out, the Classics version will still hold up well, maybe still even top it too.

I really like the CW Prowl. The Mirage is so-so, the chest trick makes me think Machine Wars/Robotmasters and I feel like the head sticks up too much. The regular CW transformation still bothers me some. Classics Mirage is still my go to.

CW Sunstreaker is okay, and cW Ironhide looks pretty good, but it's not too hard to beat his classics version.

They are nice updates for those that don't have the Classics and don't want to pay. I will get these to experience them as these characters, but most won't replace my Classics/Henkei versions.

Cool pictures Mike and Ryan!

[OptimalOptimus2]

I hate these repaints. Everyone, except Sunstreaker look terrible.