The Energon Pub

[Autobot N]

Welcome Lunatic Prime!!!

It was noticed, and lightly discussed a few pages/posts ago, but it is an interesting mystery, no doubt. I'm thinking it is to play on the old G1 notion that Trail Breaker had the interchangeable hand and weapons gimmick. I'm also liking the above theories that it helps make it look more like a camper top in vehicle mode, and maybe pegs on his back some how in robot modefor a more G1 appearance.

Just thought of something:

Q: What might that foot look a little like if you can mount it metal side up with the thumb out?
A: A tow apparatus...

EDIT: Also explains why the arm-cannon is on the right...

I'm pickin' up what yer puttin' down. So a little pre-Hoist action, ya?

All of the other mold toolings seemed to max out at two heads. At first, I thought Trailbreaker just got the Victorion treatment to use up the remaining budget, but perhaps they went with full-on new mold plates with a new pair of heads.

It might be for release later on, but it may have just been part of a filler wave in case Titans Returns was delayed (along with the seeker heads revealed by Grand Galvatron) and one of any of the other pretooled heads we haven't seen yet (i.e. the alternate heads for First Aid, Wheeljack, Rook, and Brawl). All speculation, of course.

FOLLOW UP: I'll drop off these pictures I took of First Aid (sorry, I don't have any of the pickups) and leave it at that. Just imagine a more angular thumb and fingers that look like skid plate...

IMG_20151213_201040741.jpg

IMG_20151213_201117391.jpg

What alternate heads? If I have missed something, I would like to know (except for the Ratchet head on First Aid, as I already know about that).

[Gunmetal]

All of the other mold toolings seemed to max out at two heads. At first, I thought Trailbreaker just got the Victorion treatment to use up the remaining budget, but perhaps they went with full-on new mold plates with a new pair of heads.

It might be for release later on, but it may have just been part of a filler wave in case Titans Returns was delayed (along with the seeker heads revealed by Grand Galvatron) and one of any of the other pretooled heads we haven't seen yet (i.e. the alternate heads for First Aid, Wheeljack, Rook, and Brawl). All speculation, of course.

FOLLOW UP: I'll drop off these pictures I took of First Aid (sorry, I don't have any of the pickups) and leave it at that. Just imagine a more angular thumb and fingers that look like skid plate...

IMG_20151213_201040741.jpg

IMG_20151213_201117391.jpg

What alternate heads? If I have missed something, I would like to know (except for the Ratchet head on First Aid, as I already know about that).

Sorry, I might have gotten ahead of myself. Remember, I'm mostly just speculating, but there are some things that we do know:

• Back when we were speculating about the Demolishor head on Onslaught, someone in the know (I believe it was Yuki) confirmed that pretooled heads were the norm. They may never get used, but they are there just in case.
• We know that the Starscream head from Grand Galvatron was pre-existing, because it's the giant head from all the "Design Desk" pages since Wave 1.

Odds are, Armada Thrust's head is pretooled from his own respective mold. Those two plus Ratchet make 3 characters that didn't actually get places to sit, which leads to the possibility that there may be more for those whom we haven't seen other heads. I just think it's fun to speculate on what might have been or might still be.

One last point...Wheeljack...he looks kinda like Lightspeed...

[william-james88]

Sorry, I might have gotten ahead of myself. Remember, I'm mostly just speculating, but there are some things that we do know:

• Back when we were speculating about the Demolishor head on Onslaught, someone in the know (I believe it was Yuki) confirmed that pretooled heads were the norm. They may never get used, but they are there just in case.
• We know that the Starscream head from Grand Galvatron was pre-existing, because it's the giant head from all the "Design Desk" pages since Wave 1.

Odds are, Armada Thrust's head is pretooled from his own respective mold. Those two plus Ratchet make 3 characters that didn't actually get places to sit, which leads to the possibility that there may be more for those whom we haven't seen other heads. I just think it's fun to speculate on what might have been or might still be.

One last point...Wheeljack...he looks kinda like Lightspeed...

All those points are correct, the only thing I want to add is that it was John Warden who said that about pretooled heads. The interview is here: http://www.tfu.info/issue14/hasbronycc15.htm

And from that it would really seem like Hasbro is very much in the know of the possibilities out there with preconcieved heads designed but somehow it is Takara who is making the most of these designs. The only head confirmed to be inhouse Takara is the Devastator head (both the Hasbro and Takara version which are different toolings).

[Hellscream9999]

I kinda like the make-shift tow truck mode, but, I am supremely interested in the brand new hand design on trailbreaker; between that, the new arm, and decent mold, I might just have to get him along with Hound

[Hellscream9999]

Sorry, I might have gotten ahead of myself. Remember, I'm mostly just speculating, but there are some things that we do know:

• Back when we were speculating about the Demolishor head on Onslaught, someone in the know (I believe it was Yuki) confirmed that pretooled heads were the norm. They may never get used, but they are there just in case.
• We know that the Starscream head from Grand Galvatron was pre-existing, because it's the giant head from all the "Design Desk" pages since Wave 1.

Odds are, Armada Thrust's head is pretooled from his own respective mold. Those two plus Ratchet make 3 characters that didn't actually get places to sit, which leads to the possibility that there may be more for those whom we haven't seen other heads. I just think it's fun to speculate on what might have been or might still be.

One last point...Wheeljack...he looks kinda like Lightspeed...

All those points are correct, the only thing I want to add is that it was John Warden who said that about pretooled heads. The interview is here: http://www.tfu.info/issue14/hasbronycc15.htm

And from that it would really seem like Hasbro is very much in the know of the possibilities out there with preconcieved heads designed but somehow it is Takara who is making the most of these designs. The only head confirmed to be inhouse Takara is the Devastator head (both the Hasbro and Takara version which are different toolings).

Pfft, yeah. Leave it to hasbro to put in the seeker head into a line made up of repaints, but not take advantage of it

[Alpha Dominus]

Oooh look. They even come with the same weapons as previous combiners. Repaint Wars.

I don't get the whole thing about people complaining about repaints, especially when the moment Starscream comes out theres always a "when will we see Thundercracker\Skywarp". Like - c'mon - the seekers even have the same heads

Transformers and repaints go hand-in-hand and its been stuffed full of them since the very first wave in 1984

And that's the most obvious argument for calling out fans over the hypocrisy of repaint bashing. The seekers, rewind and eject, rumble and frenzy are examples of exceptions to the lack of retools in the OG line. The Constructicons, Dinobots, Combaticons, Omega Supreme, Insecticons, Protectobots, Predacons, Technobots, Terrorcons had all new molds if not shared but a few spare parts. Now it's (repaints are) the rule. I can't walk five steps without bumping into a frankensteined transformer that masquerades as a new character when all the designer did was give it a new paint job and stick on a new head. I know I'm in the vast minority here in my opinion but yeah the repaint/retool overload is getting a bit much nowadays. But hey, they're not all lazy repaints right? Right?!

[Hellscream9999]

Oooh look. They even come with the same weapons as previous combiners. Repaint Wars.

I don't get the whole thing about people complaining about repaints, especially when the moment Starscream comes out theres always a "when will we see Thundercracker\Skywarp". Like - c'mon - the seekers even have the same heads

Transformers and repaints go hand-in-hand and its been stuffed full of them since the very first wave in 1984

And that's the most obvious argument for calling out fans over the hypocrisy of repaint bashing. The seekers, rewind and eject, rumble and frenzy are examples of exceptions to the lack of retools in the OG line. The Constructicons, Dinobots, Combaticons, Omega Supreme, Insecticons, Protectobots, Predacons, Technobots, Terrorcons had all new molds if not shared but a few spare parts. Now it's (repaints are) the rule. I can't walk five steps without bumping into a frankensteined transformer that masquerades as a new character when all the designer did was give it a new paint job and stick on a new head. I know I'm in the vast minority here in my opinion but yeah the repaint/retool overload is getting a bit much nowadays. But hey, they're not all lazy repaints right? Right?!

If I cared about the characters, I'd probably agree, but since I care about cool, solid, and poseable combiners, I want what works to make my combiners whole.

But hey, they're not all lazy repaints right? Right?!

Rook => Swindle

Breakdown => Wheeljack

Offroad => First-Aid => Trailbreaker

Dead End => Prowl

Silverbolt => Cyclonus

Hotspot => Onslaught

etc.

Most of the figures have been reshells, then repaints, the tail end ones are pretty woeful. The way I see it, if they put enough effort into giving it a new head and paint job, it can't be all that lazy;

My biggest problem with the line is that I want a third combiner out of the line (preferably an evil and cool looking sky lynx repaint), but the chances of that are looking pretty slim now.

[william-james88]

One thing we should remember though, while G1 combiners all had unique components (aside from the jets, which were retools), their Transformation was pretty much the same. They were extremely simple toys with some of the worst articulation ever.

[Hellscream9999]

One thing we should remember though, while G1 combiners all had unique components (aside from the jets, which were retools), their Transformation was pretty much the same. They were extremely simple toys with some of the worst articulation ever.

Exactly, I would never want/own them for how immobile they were

[King Kuuga]

People seem to forget that it was a lot easier to churn out 30 or so unique combiner molds when they were all so small and simple. Now we expect them to have full articulation and be affordable and we still want 30 unique molds. Some mold-sharing was to be expected, and honestly I don't mind that Vortex pretended to be an Autobot first, or was also used as Blades. The Autobot cars bother me a bit, because they could absolutely have been new combiners with new molds, and I'm not completely immune to mold fatigue.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Alright, I'm gonna make 2 posts here, one for each combiner we are discussing to avoid a long ass post:

Sky Reign:

Wheeljack would look soooooo much better with a painted faux windshield, but the alt mode is Gorgeous. Hound is the winner here. Smokescreen is alright, nothing for me to complain about. Trailbreaker I am so excited for. He is my favorite and I am glad they did some retooling to the arms and the hand is new, and it looks like he can pull off the classic look there. Really glad they went with that idea. Wheeljack used up much of the retooling for the wave, but at least Trailbreaker got his fair share. I'll be happy to have all except Wheeljack as separate characters, and Jackies white will look good replacing Mirage on Optimus Maximus

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Second post:
I'm gonna give an opinion here: Bruticus is the best regular sized combiner we have gotten from this line overall.

Here me out, this is why:

1) The Firetruck torso is the best since it gives very beefy legs and proper proportions, plus a good broad chest. Superion has skinny thighs that are good with me but are still a wee bit too small but still good proportions overall. truck mold has weird thighs and proportions.

2) Balance of limbs: Superion has a great set of limbs that make his combined mode look amazing and sleek, as he should be. Truck mold has weird shoulders that don't flatter the arms and the legs are just too long. firetruck mold has proper thick and shorter thighs that when the legs are added work out. And the Legs on Bruticus are nick and thick, and while they do not provide knee pads the combiner does not have robot mode feet to hide and the legs dont have lots of kibble on the lower legs that make it look strange (like breakdown).

3) arms: Superion would win this category with his twin jet arms. Defensor would lose this since he has a skinny and bulky arm, and the hands look strange on the car molds for arms and much better on the planes. Bruticus has planes for both arms, giving him sleeker arms that match the hands better.

Overall, Bruticus wins because he has excellent proportions, lack of kibble, solid legs, sleek arms that match the hands, bulk, beef and yet he can be sleek where he needs to. and he does not have any robot mode feet obtrusively sticking out that need hid. Superion would win if his thighs were a bit thicker and the back kibble was slightly better. Any combiner with the truck mold would need a whole new torso. Defensor would win if it weren't for Blades compared to the rest and the large torso robot mode feet (which kills victorion since she cannot hide those), and Sky Reign I cannot judge yet, but I still feel Bruticus is the best overall

[Autobot N]

So when is the eye-searing neon G2 Superion supposed to come out? I would very much like to get my hands on that.

[King Kuuga]

Spring-summer 2016, I think.

[Hellscream9999]

So when is the eye-searing neon G2 Superion supposed to come out? I would very much like to get my hands on that.

No one knows, hasbro has elected to give no details on when or where we can buy these

[william-james88]

So when is the eye-searing neon G2 Superion supposed to come out? I would very much like to get my hands on that.

No one knows, hasbro has elected to give no details on when or where we can buy these

We now know where though

[Autobot N]

So when is the eye-searing neon G2 Superion supposed to come out? I would very much like to get my hands on that.

No one knows, hasbro has elected to give no details on when or where we can buy these

We now know where though

Courtesy of moi (and that guy on TFW2005).


Anyway, if there are G2 sets of Superion, Menasor, and Bruticus, how likely is it that there will be one for Defensor?

[william-james88]

So when is the eye-searing neon G2 Superion supposed to come out? I would very much like to get my hands on that.

No one knows, hasbro has elected to give no details on when or where we can buy these

We now know where though

Courtesy of moi (and that guy on TFW2005).


Anyway, if there are G2 sets of Superion, Menasor, and Bruticus, how likely is it that there will be one for Defensor?

I might be selfish, but I dont want one for Defensor... yet. Because if they come out with one now, it means that they wouldnt have had time to get the Groove deluxe mold. The fact that they havent announced one yet is the only sign of hope left that they might use the groove deluxe mold. Remember that it was not finalized until only half a year ago and that mold may only have been available for someone else than Takara to use only recently.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Spring-summer 2016, I think.

This would be my guess. The botcon stuff that had the G2 sets and Victorion had May 2016 as the release dates

[Autobot N]

So when is the eye-searing neon G2 Superion supposed to come out? I would very much like to get my hands on that.

No one knows, hasbro has elected to give no details on when or where we can buy these

We now know where though

Courtesy of moi (and that guy on TFW2005).


Anyway, if there are G2 sets of Superion, Menasor, and Bruticus, how likely is it that there will be one for Defensor?

I might be selfish, but I dont want one for Defensor... yet. Because if they come out with one now, it means that they wouldnt have had time to get the Groove deluxe mold. The fact that they havent announced one yet is the only sign of hope left that they might use the groove deluxe mold. Remember that it was not finalized until only half a year ago and that mold may only have been available for someone else than Takara to use only recently.

I don't really want Defensor or most of the other G2 sets either, but my reasoning is just that they are different colored versions of previous combiners. Superion, however, is the exception, as he has always been my favorite combiner and he looks very eye-searing good in that blue color scheme.

[Crosscheck]

I just received my Legends Shockwave today. Overall he is a good figure, poseability is typical for the range. He has a ball joint head, which is atypical for a figure his size. Colors are good. He does look a little weird with the clear pink plastic. I think They could probably have used a clear smoke colored plastic instead. Would have resembled the original character better. It isn't a big deal though.

He does look good in all three forms (2.5 forms...). The robot mode is a very good rendition of the character and even sports his little gun arm. The spaceship mode is fairly basic, but the transformation to it is unique. The gun mode(a single step transformation from the spaceship) is nice enough, but it has one giant flaw. The grip has a plastic chunk in front of it. I assume this was so it would be steady in the hands of Bruticus, but it also makes it so only CW combiner fists can hold him. Want Leader Megatron to hold Shockwave as a weapon? Nope! The plastic chunk gets in the way. Same goes for every other Leader class or Voyager class figure I have tried to use. Very disappointing. Made even annoying by the fact that other figures that turn into rifles, such as Powerglide or Bombshell, do not suffer this problem and function just fine in weapon form.

I give him a solid 9/10. He loses a full point for his limited weapon mode.

[Hellscream9999]

I just received my Legends Shockwave today. Overall he is a good figure, poseability is typical for the range. He has a ball joint head, which is atypical for a figure his size. Colors are good. He does look a little weird with the clear pink plastic. I think They could probably have used a clear smoke colored plastic instead. Would have resembled the original character better. It isn't a big deal though.

He does look good in all three forms (2.5 forms...). The robot mode is a very good rendition of the character and even sports his little gun arm. The spaceship mode is fairly basic, but the transformation to it is unique. The gun mode(a single step transformation from the spaceship) is nice enough, but it has one giant flaw. The grip has a plastic chunk in front of it. I assume this was so it would be steady in the hands of Bruticus, but it also makes it so only CW combiner fists can hold him. Want Leader Megatron to hold Shockwave as a weapon? Nope! The plastic chunk gets in the way. Same goes for every other Leader class or Voyager class figure I have tried to use. Very disappointing. Made even annoying by the fact that other figures that turn into rifles, such as Powerglide or Bombshell, do not suffer this problem and function just fine in weapon form.

I give him a solid 9/10. He loses a full point for his limited weapon mode.

It's a faux handle; it's designed to look like the combiner is holding it by a handle, that was it's primary purpose, so, others not being able to hold it is just a side effect. But I totally get ya.

[fenrir72]

So when is the eye-searing neon G2 Superion supposed to come out? I would very much like to get my hands on that.

No one knows, hasbro has elected to give no details on when or where we can buy these

We now know where though

Courtesy of moi (and that guy on TFW2005).


Anyway, if there are G2 sets of Superion, Menasor, and Bruticus, how likely is it that there will be one for Defensor?

I might be selfish, but I dont want one for Defensor... yet. Because if they come out with one now, it means that they wouldnt have had time to get the Groove deluxe mold. The fact that they havent announced one yet is the only sign of hope left that they might use the groove deluxe mold. Remember that it was not finalized until only half a year ago and that mold may only have been available for someone else than Takara to use only recently.

This might be a longshot and bleeds into the UW territory but if Guardian/Defensor was a limited exclusive, I wouldn't put this far from TT (maybe Hb.......yeah sure) to release an apple red version of Hotspot and the gang for a Guard City remake?

[D-Maximal_Primal]

I just received my Legends Shockwave today. Overall he is a good figure, poseability is typical for the range. He has a ball joint head, which is atypical for a figure his size. Colors are good. He does look a little weird with the clear pink plastic. I think They could probably have used a clear smoke colored plastic instead. Would have resembled the original character better. It isn't a big deal though.

He does look good in all three forms (2.5 forms...). The robot mode is a very good rendition of the character and even sports his little gun arm. The spaceship mode is fairly basic, but the transformation to it is unique. The gun mode(a single step transformation from the spaceship) is nice enough, but it has one giant flaw. The grip has a plastic chunk in front of it. I assume this was so it would be steady in the hands of Bruticus, but it also makes it so only CW combiner fists can hold him. Want Leader Megatron to hold Shockwave as a weapon? Nope! The plastic chunk gets in the way. Same goes for every other Leader class or Voyager class figure I have tried to use. Very disappointing. Made even annoying by the fact that other figures that turn into rifles, such as Powerglide or Bombshell, do not suffer this problem and function just fine in weapon form.

I give him a solid 9/10. He loses a full point for his limited weapon mode.

It's a faux handle; it's designed to look like the combiner is holding it by a handle, that was it's primary purpose, so, others not being able to hold it is just a side effect. But I totally get ya.

At least this is better than Menasor. It doesn't even look like he is holding the sword! All the others work for me and actually make sense, but Menasor was the one that never looked that good with the combined mode gun. I also put Defensors guns on his back and gave him Cyclonus's weapon, that's why that one is not a bother

[Crosscheck]

I make it a point to limit each combiner to one Legends-size figure. This prevents poor Menasor from getting a ranged weapon. I could put Breakdown's rifle in his hand (I give all of the Stunticons their melee weapons in robot form), but it looks hilariously dumb with him having a pea-shooter. If I could give Shockwave to Megatron (which I can't due to the stupid design of his weapon peg), I would give Viper to Bruticus.