The Energon Pub

[D-Maximal_Primal]

So I've had a little bit of downtime and I found a pretty cool limb configuration that works well with Defensor. With Rook and Streetwise as arms and Blades an First Aid as legs, he actually looks pretty even. Blades and First Aid are almost the same width so they look balanced and the both have the kneepad. The Rook and Streetwise combo makes the arms look much more even and bulkier, and to me it looks like the best balanced configuration

Hmm...not bad. I actually bought Prowl just to add to Defensor. he and Streetwise are the legs (and they look and are even, being the same mold) and Blades and First Aid are the arms, with Legends Groove on the chest. Rook just hangs out standing in front of them with his Hulk fists. Not sure who is more intimidating.

I think Hulk-Rook may win that battle

[Shockwave7]

I haven't seen anything new on hasbrotoyshop from the CW line in quite some time now. I know wave4 is out (at least at Target). I had hoped they'd put them up at HTS as well by now.

Looking at the Bruticus assembled pic, he looks great, but somehow the fists seem disproportionally large....

[D-Maximal_Primal]

I haven't seen anything new on hasbrotoyshop from the CW line in quite some time now. I know wave4 is out (at least at Target). I had hoped they'd put them up at HTS as well by now.

Looking at the Bruticus assembled pic, he looks great, but somehow the fists seem disproportionally large....

Well, he is a brute. he don't need no stupid gun or sword. he just needs his massive meaty fists!

[Jelze Bunnycat]

I haven't seen anything new on hasbrotoyshop from the CW line in quite some time now. I know wave4 is out (at least at Target). I had hoped they'd put them up at HTS as well by now.

Looking at the Bruticus assembled pic, he looks great, but somehow the fists seem disproportionally large....

Well, he is a brute. he don't need no stupid gun or sword. he just needs his massive meaty fists!

We've yet to see Swindle and Brawl as arms, and if Rook is any indication of how beefy they can be...

[D-Maximal_Primal]

I haven't seen anything new on hasbrotoyshop from the CW line in quite some time now. I know wave4 is out (at least at Target). I had hoped they'd put them up at HTS as well by now.

Looking at the Bruticus assembled pic, he looks great, but somehow the fists seem disproportionally large....

Well, he is a brute. he don't need no stupid gun or sword. he just needs his massive meaty fists!

We've yet to see Swindle and Brawl as arms, and if Rook is any indication of how beefy they can be...

I feel like 1 punch from an arm equipped with Rook is enough to knock a combiner back into his component parts. And based on my Defensor, Rook should only be an arm, not a leg, though with the looks of Swindle you may not have to pull up a large piece of altmode to create a big jutting lower leg right below the knee, which is a very good thing

[Rodimus Minor]

Triple post...I hate my computer

I don't think it's your computer. It's been happening to a number of people today.

Based on past experiences, I'd expect online retailers to get pre-orders up before too much longer. I make an educated guess that Hasbro will get Bruticus out for Christmas, based on last year's releases and news thus far this year.

Yeah and I'm getting UW Devastator hopefully in December. It'll take a bit for me to save back up for Bruticus, but I still gotta have it. Where the heck did this person get this WHOLE SET anyways???

Look at what we may be getting, I am not impressed with this thing

Demolishor.jpg

Are you saying that to us, or the toy?

To the toy, in an excited way. I love Demolishor (have three of the four variants) and would welcome the big lug into my home gladly. Now if only Cyclonus can be a thing.

I love Demolisher as a character, but COME ONNNN that is just NOT the right mould for him.
Just look at it!!! It'd not even the right vehicle!!!

I agree because the mold looks nothing like demolisher i would rather wait for a new mould meant for demolisher in all reality

I agree with you guys this Mould doesn't work for him, He is a Tank not an Artillery Truck, He needs his own mould because I would love a Generations Demolisher, If he is going to be a CW figure make him a Limb for Galvatronus not a Torso

[that1guysittingthere]

Where the heck did this person get this WHOLE SET anyways???

The photos had an watermark web address on them with the suffix .vn. I'm gonna take a guess here and go with, that stands for Vietnam. So to answer your question, THE FACTORY where they are made. Dude probably works there and wore a really big coat to work. 'cause it gets really cold in Vietnam.

The initial post said these were production samples. I guess that would mean factory samples. Kinda like what would happen with Lena back in the day when s/he would have stuff 2-3 months before release. They werent in package though

A whole set in package? Does anyone speak Tagalong? I think that's the official language of Vietnam, ChuckDaddy needs a full set.

Will! Where you at?

Thanks for the shout out Cobo, I do speaking a tiny bit of vietnamese, which is the language spoken in Vietnam.

I'm actually surprised that Hasbro's getting involved in Vietnam. Last time I was there, all I saw were knockoffs.

KOs have nothing to do with it. They are sold everywhere around the world, including the states and canada and that doesnt stop hasbro from dealing with us.

The reason Hasbro is in vietnam because it has a cheaper workforce than china. The reason you only see KOs (I had spotted quite a bunch on my trip there last year) is because the people there cant afford transformers so there is no point in Hasbro distributing it there widely (if at all). It's a very sad image to think of people making things they cant afford with the money they are given to make them. However, this is bringing industry to vietnam and adding infrastucture (needed for big companies to operate, such as stopping lights, roads, and such) and one day it too will rise from poverty as china did and they too will be able to afford those toys.

Are you able to read Quoc Ngu? I could speak Vietnamese fine (but with little vocabulary and manners), but I always found reading and writing to be way too difficult. Probably because I was never taught at a young age. Anyway, with these factory samples, I wonder if they do that with all the figures they're working on. Do you think Hasbro will one day bring their products there? Something like a GDO line in the future?

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Ok, funny story. so originally I only wanted to get Mirage and Sunstreaker, then decided to get all 4 limbs, then finally decided to get BC Optimus.

Well, Ebay has a thing for its 20th anniversary where you get $20 off any order $100 or more. There was an Optimus Maximus set with all 6 components on there for $110 and free shipping. Submitted a $100 offer and it was immediately accepted!! Bought the whole combiner for $80 and he is using super shipping so he'll be here Tuesday!!!! I'm so excited to get him!!

Unfortunately this means that I own every transformer I want coming out this year, so i'll have to wait till Christmas to get Devy from my parents as a gift and my birthday to get Bruticus.

On the plus side, using smart shopping I have yet to pay more than $80 for a combiner and I now own 4

[Cobotron]

There's two things in this world that are pretty sweet.
1. Saving money.
2. Combining transforming robots into one giant super robot.

You NAILED it, D! Well done.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

There's two things in this world that are pretty sweet.
1. Saving money.
2. Combining transforming robots into one giant super robot.

You NAILED it, D! Well done.

Thanks

I am so excited to get these guys. and my mistake: supposed to come Friday, not tuesday, but Friday is better since I get all afternoon free of distractions to enjoy those guys and open them up

[william-james88]

I am so excited to get these guys. and my mistake: supposed to come Friday, not tuesday, but Friday is better since I get all afternoon free of distractions to enjoy those guys and open them up

Yeah, and the week-end too Congrats on finding the most optimal way to get all these great toys!

Are you able to read Quoc Ngu? I could speak Vietnamese fine (but with little vocabulary and manners), but I always found reading and writing to be way too difficult. Probably because I was never taught at a young age. Anyway, with these factory samples, I wonder if they do that with all the figures they're working on. Do you think Hasbro will one day bring their products there? Something like a GDO line in the future?

I am learning to read, write and speak it simultaneously. Reading is actually the easiest of the three for me because I can actually see the tones being used. I cant distinguish tones when heard and I suck at using different tones in my speech (PS to those who arent familiar with the word "tones", it doesnt mean speaking loudly or softly or angrily, it reffers to different levels of pronounciation at different parts in a word, as well as pitches)

Also, I might have confused with this talk of robots being in asia. These are not asia releases. Its just that all TF toys these days (probably since the begining actually), are made in factories in Asia. They are made there but sold here, like every other big mainstream toy (like Marvel toys for instance). So these arent made for vietnam (they sadly couldnt afford these anyways), they are made in vietnam but for us in the west.

[RAR]

A little off Topic but Gi Joe used to be made in Mexico and it's European Cousin Action Force was made in Northern Ireland.
Some toyline were for a while still actually made in Japan and Biklon is Made in Korea.

Chinese sellers I've communicated with tell me getting Transformers samples these days is pretty difficult as they are making most of it in Vietnam now - the only times not is if the mould is stored in China then a repaint/remould would be done in china as it's cheaper to do that that move the mould. Funpub is increasingly having to deal with Vietnam based manufacturing now rather than China I'll be curious to see how that pans out for them. I guess Takara still does some of the leg work for them though.

I wish I'd know about the 20% off offer for EBay that would have been useful as heck.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

I wish I'd know about the 20% off offer for EBay that would have been useful as heck.

It was $20 off and it was email only. Some of my friends who have ebay accounts did not get the email, so I assume it is for regular shoppers who don't have emails like that sent straight to the junk folder. Either way, it was very helpful

[Hellscream9999]

So, of course, I go out and get UM today, unfortunately, the right lower-leg transformation assembly is completely screwed up, something internally cracked when transforming it into vehicle mode, and now it won't go into leg mode

And, of course, the leg is made entirely of pins, so I can't even open it up to fix it; thanks hasbro, you always come through in the end

EDIT: So I ran out an got the other one that was at my Target, and he had the problem in both legs! I immediately returned it, and got my other on ready to return

Now, I'm really jaded and wary towards getting a replacement for him; it's sad, cuz I really wanted to like him, but he might be too much of a hassle to get a 'good' one

[ScottyP]

So, of course, I go out and get UM today, unfortunately, the right lower-leg transformation assembly is completely screwed up, something internally cracked when transforming it into vehicle mode, and now it won't go into leg mode

And, of course, the leg is made entirely of pins, so I can't even open it up to fix it; thanks hasbro, you always come through in the end

EDIT: So I ran out an got the other one that was at my Target, and he had the problem in both legs! I immediately returned it, and got my other on ready to return

Now, I'm really jaded and wary towards getting a replacement for him; it's sad, cuz I really wanted to like him, but he might be too much of a hassle to get a 'good' one

You could spend a little extra and get the pretty version: http://www.hlj.com/product/TKT83173/Act Mine came in yesterday and was put together perfectly, unlike my Hasbro one.

Although no Minimus Ambus with it, which is a bummer.

[Hellscream9999]

So, of course, I go out and get UM today, unfortunately, the right lower-leg transformation assembly is completely screwed up, something internally cracked when transforming it into vehicle mode, and now it won't go into leg mode

And, of course, the leg is made entirely of pins, so I can't even open it up to fix it; thanks hasbro, you always come through in the end

EDIT: So I ran out an got the other one that was at my Target, and he had the problem in both legs! I immediately returned it, and got my other on ready to return

Now, I'm really jaded and wary towards getting a replacement for him; it's sad, cuz I really wanted to like him, but he might be too much of a hassle to get a 'good' one

You could spend a little extra and get the pretty version: http://www.hlj.com/product/TKT83173/Act Mine came in yesterday and was put together perfectly, unlike my Hasbro one.

Although no Minimus Ambus with it, which is a bummer.

I don't care about minimus, but what was wrong with your magnus? I don't mind paying a bit more for TT figures if part of that money is for much, much higher qc.

[william-james88]

I don't care about minimus, but what was wrong with your magnus? I don't mind paying a bit more for TT figures if part of that money is for much, much higher qc.

I can tell you that QC on takara is (on average) better than Hasbro's. And with the article scotty posted recently, I am amazed they are still in business with the low prices takara toys sell at retail.

[RiddlerJ]

Triple post...I hate my computer

I don't think it's your computer. It's been happening to a number of people today.

Based on past experiences, I'd expect online retailers to get pre-orders up before too much longer. I make an educated guess that Hasbro will get Bruticus out for Christmas, based on last year's releases and news thus far this year.

Yeah and I'm getting UW Devastator hopefully in December. It'll take a bit for me to save back up for Bruticus, but I still gotta have it. Where the heck did this person get this WHOLE SET anyways???

Look at what we may be getting, I am not impressed with this thing

Demolishor.jpg

Are you saying that to us, or the toy?

To the toy, in an excited way. I love Demolishor (have three of the four variants) and would welcome the big lug into my home gladly. Now if only Cyclonus can be a thing.

I love Demolisher as a character, but COME ONNNN that is just NOT the right mould for him.
Just look at it!!! It'd not even the right vehicle!!!

I agree because the mold looks nothing like demolisher i would rather wait for a new mould meant for demolisher in all reality

I agree with you guys this Mould doesn't work for him, He is a Tank not an Artillery Truck, He needs his own mould because I would love a Generations Demolisher, If he is going to be a CW figure make him a Limb for Galvatronus not a Torso

They could've at least remolded Brawl into Demolisher.

[ScottyP]

I don't care about minimus, but what was wrong with your magnus? I don't mind paying a bit more for TT figures if part of that money is for much, much higher qc.

Double of the inside left shoulder part (where shoulder connects to torso), I tried to "fix it" and uh, well I guess I did but it didn't go so well! He can transform now, which he couldn't out of the box, but he's got quite an ugly spot or two of mangled plastic. When I got mine, it was one of the first ones that Amazon got in, and there wasn't an option to exchange it anywhere :/

[Hellscream9999]

I don't care about minimus, but what was wrong with your magnus? I don't mind paying a bit more for TT figures if part of that money is for much, much higher qc.

I can tell you that QC on takara is (on average) better than Hasbro's. And with the article scotty posted recently, I am amazed they are still in business with the low prices takara toys sell at retail.

Yeah, hasbro seems to be cutting every corner possible to widen their profit margins; shame really; ~$70 is a little too much for magnus for me, so, since I've experienced him, I can probably go without him

[Hellscream9999]

I don't care about minimus, but what was wrong with your magnus? I don't mind paying a bit more for TT figures if part of that money is for much, much higher qc.

Double of the inside left shoulder part (where shoulder connects to torso), I tried to "fix it" and uh, well I guess I did but it didn't go so well! He can transform now, which he couldn't out of the box, but he's got quite an ugly spot or two of mangled plastic. When I got mine, it was one of the first ones that Amazon got in, and there wasn't an option to exchange it anywhere :/

Yeah, that sucks, well mine can't form it's legs

I do feel, that this 'new' or 'cheap' plastic, while seeming to remain sturdy while being nearly translucently thin, is much more prone to stressing and having qc issues, can't believe I paid $45 for him, he feels like he should be $40 at most

[william-james88]

I don't care about minimus, but what was wrong with your magnus? I don't mind paying a bit more for TT figures if part of that money is for much, much higher qc.

Double of the inside left shoulder part (where shoulder connects to torso), I tried to "fix it" and uh, well I guess I did but it didn't go so well! He can transform now, which he couldn't out of the box, but he's got quite an ugly spot or two of mangled plastic. When I got mine, it was one of the first ones that Amazon got in, and there wasn't an option to exchange it anywhere :/

Yeah, that sucks, well mine can't form it's legs

I do feel, that this 'new' or 'cheap' plastic, while seeming to remain sturdy while being nearly translucently thin, is much more prone to stressing and having qc issues, can't believe I paid $45 for him, he feels like he should be $40 at most

I believe all these leaders should be 40 at the most. I mean, think about it, they are currently priced at the same price of this bad boy below, something doesnt add up.




I paid 30$ for Jetfire and 41$ (30$ US) for Ultra magnus and I find that perfectly fair. I think I paid the same for Leader Grimlock too from AOE (who started this whole new trend in leader class figures).

Oh man, this makes me think of the fun Ultra and Leader figures we had in the past. Like Cybertron Jetfire, now that was a fun toy worth his retail price.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

I guess I'm fortunate my Magnus came in good condition. It was one of the first hasbro toy store ones, and it was fine. Now emgo316, whose reviews i watch often, his came with 2 left biceps so the one arm could not pose at all, and it was missing a missile pod. Sounds like Magnus just has a slew of qc problems. Probably cause they aren't used to making complex cheaply-constructed leaders anymore

[Hellscream9999]

I don't care about minimus, but what was wrong with your magnus? I don't mind paying a bit more for TT figures if part of that money is for much, much higher qc.

Double of the inside left shoulder part (where shoulder connects to torso), I tried to "fix it" and uh, well I guess I did but it didn't go so well! He can transform now, which he couldn't out of the box, but he's got quite an ugly spot or two of mangled plastic. When I got mine, it was one of the first ones that Amazon got in, and there wasn't an option to exchange it anywhere :/

Yeah, that sucks, well mine can't form it's legs

I do feel, that this 'new' or 'cheap' plastic, while seeming to remain sturdy while being nearly translucently thin, is much more prone to stressing and having qc issues, can't believe I paid $45 for him, he feels like he should be $40 at most

I believe all these leaders should be 40 at the most. I mean, think about it, they are currently priced at the same price of this bad boy below, something doesnt add up.




I paid 30$ for Jetfire and 41$ (30$ US) for Ultra magnus and I find that perfectly fair. I think I paid the same for Leader Grimlock too from AOE (who started this whole new trend in leader class figures).

Oh man, this makes me think of the fun Ultra and Leader figures we had in the past. Like Cybertron Jetfire, now that was a fun toy worth his retail price.

It adds up to corporate greed (or something similar) They use as few a paint apps and colors as possible, they make the figures as hollow as possible, they cashed in on cw repaints instead of making several new figures, they inflate the prices all while making them as cheaply and as hollow as possible, now they're turning up with a slew of qc issues for it. And they've long since ceased to use electronics and 'firing' missles, while I don't miss them, it does make you wonder what else is going to go before they can't raise their prices any higher and still sell them

[Rodimus Prime]

So who exactly is Minimus Ambus? Is he the sentient being inside the body, and Magnus is just his transtector?