The Energon Pub

[Sigma Magnus]

...wait, what?

[Kurona]

Woah.
Raiden's like my least favourite combiner and that's still awesome

[Sabrblade]

...wait, what?

VERY impressive fan custom.

[william-james88]

This looks amazing (except for that voyager alt mode). I dislike remold use but I would definitely consider geting this if it were actually done by hasbro or Takara. I am very impressed with the feet and legs.

[no-one]

Yeah wow. I just breezed by at first. But then I read custom. Very impressive indeed.

[King Kuuga]

Man that's amazing. But I'm confused on something. The arms and legs are all based on the helicopter mold. But where do the arms go in alt mode!?

[william-james88]

Man that's amazing. But I'm confused on something. The arms and legs are all based on the helicopter mold. But where do the arms go in alt mode!?

That confuses me too.

[Agamemnon]

Man that's amazing. But I'm confused on something. The arms and legs are all based on the helicopter mold. But where do the arms go in alt mode!?

That confuses me too.

I think they fold up over the head and the train front/foot covers the arms. Indeed, impressive custom. Hasbro could totally do something like this, couldn't they? I mean, they did Liokaiser...

[no-one]

I think they fold up over the head and the train front/foot covers the arms. Indeed, impressive custom. Hasbro could totally do something like this, couldn't they?

Could they? Sure. Would they...

[Sjeng]

Hey everyone!
I've just recently discovered the Combiner Wars transformer range, and I was instantly in love with them.
I did some google searches, and found out there were several different versions of the same bots.
Most noticably was of course the difference between the Hasbro Combiner Wars and Takara's "Unite Warriors".
Now, after doing some research I've found out about the main differences, but there are still some questions I'd like to ask you, as you no doubt are all in the know

I've spotted these differences between CW and UW:
- Colour scheme differences
- Some combiners have different bots
* Bruticus UW has a space shuttle and a 4 bladed chopper, CW has a recoloured plane from the aerialbots (wth?) and a 2 bladed chopper.
* Defensor UW has the motorcycle from the cartoon, while CW has a new vehicle (which is cool, but not original)
- CW seems to have two colour schemes: one normal, and one bright as hell.
But I also noticed CW sometimes has more bots! Menasor has 6 bots instead of 5... I've even spotted a blog that talked about 7!
Overall, it seems Takara has the colour schemes that most/best fit the original series, and even better choices for the bots.

Some examples

Takara Bruticus (I like this one more than the Hasbro one)


Hasbro Bruticus


What were they thinking here? Hurts my eyes!


Takara Menasor:


Hasbro Menasor:


Again, what's with the colours??


And here's a Menasor that's very different too, another range?


Then there's these:


And both Computrons:

The Hasbro one is ugly as hell imo, while the UW Takara one is spot on colour-wise.


Well, long story short:
- what should I look out for when choosing what to buy?
- any topics you recommend?
- any stores you recommend?
- how to avoid customs (steep in the NL!)
- other tips?

Thanks!!

[william-james88]

Well, long story short:
- what should I look out for when choosing what to buy?
- any topics you recommend?
- any stores you recommend?
- how to avoid customs (steep in the NL!)
- other tips?

Thanks!!

Buy what you love. If you are more of a G1 person, go for Takara. If you dont care, go for what is cheaper.

Coming late into the series, I think going the Takara rout is the best way to go because the sets have not gone up in price much while some Hasbro individual members go for a nice little mint now on e-bay.

You can avoid customs by marking something as a gift on japanese sites. Some sites, like amiami do not agree to this while others, like Anime Export, do.

I am assuming NL means netherlands. I would suggest the Japanese retailers like Nippon Yassan and Tokyo Jungle. Tokyo Jungle does let you mark something as a gift with a low declared value, but I never dealt with Nippon Yassan so I do not know. One thing for certain, Nippon Yassan is NOT SAFE FOR WORK due to their anime dolls and such. If you venture on that site, dont do it in a public area

Nippon Yassan Combiners available: https://www.nippon-yasan.com/search.php ... rch=Search

Tokyo Jungle Combiners available: http://jungle-scs.co.jp/sale_en/?page_i ... e+warriors

It seems the standard non exclusive combiners are cheaper at Nippon Yassan while the exclusive ones (like Defensor and Galvatronus) are cheaper at the Jungle.

Hope that helps!

[Kurona]

Also, since you seemed to be confused over it; the colour schemes you marked as "WTF WERE THEY THINKING" are direct references to the colour schemes they had in G2 in the 90s.



They're stupid, glorious, insane, beautiful, gaudy, a work of art, terrible, amazing, the worst thing to happen to mankind and Hasbro's best idea ever in one package.

And also welcome to Seibertron

[Hellscream9999]

Hey everyone!

Welcome to the boards

First of all the neon ones are specific references to the G2 combiner releases, they are 6 packs released as boxsets for $100US. They aren't standard retail, so won't take up normal slots, basically they're there for the people who grew up with them, or want them.

- what should I look out for when choosing what to buy?

Get whichever version you want. If you want near-absolute G1 cartoon accuracy (for better or worse) go UW, if you want 'modernized' deco's go CW, if you have the budget, you can even buy figures from both lines and mix and match them.

*One thing to note is that the initial release of Optimus and Motormaster have 'bad' thigh ratchets that keep the combined mode from standing straight, however the UW, and second run of the CW Motormaster have fixed thigh joints - as does the Battle-Core O/P.*

But mainly, which figure you get is pretty much up to what you want from your combiners. I personally like the modern update (i.e. no shuttle) and muted colors of CW Bruticus, so I went CW for the whole line. Cyclonus is a definite figure you should check out, it's excellent, and works well with the Stunticons, so check him out, the Grand Galvatronus set looks excellent.

- any topics you recommend?

Not sure what you mean by this, other than the CW/UW Devastator thread, this is the only thread that deals with the CW topic.

- other tips?

Ask us anything, and enjoy your Transformers

[no-one]

Well, long story short:
- what should I look out for when choosing what to buy?
- any topics you recommend?
- any stores you recommend?
- how to avoid customs (steep in the NL!)
- other tips?

Thanks!!

Welcome to the boards. You're hitting CW/UW a little late, so it's a little hard to give a good answer.

There is a lot of mold reuse so it really depends on what your going for here. If it's just fun figures then nab a few single releases, just enough to make a combiner. If it's full pre defined combiner you're looking for then go for the ones you like.

The Hasbro CW figures can mostly be found separate with the exceptions of some of the boxed set where Takara's UW figures are all sold as a sets.

There has been a lot of sales for the crazy colored G2 sets, but I don't know if those are available to you.

Like Will said buy what you love. It may take a good bit of research on your part this late in the game to decide what you want. Going back a few hundred pages in this thread will probably answer all your questions. The TFWiki is also a solid place to start.

Good luck and happy hunting

[Kurona]

Oh yeah, one more thing.

And here's a Menasor that's very different too, another range?


Then there's these:

The Menasor on the right in the first picture is an unliscened product by a third party that was not produced or licensed by Hasbro or Takara.
The upgrades shown in the bottom picture are also made by a third party - known as Perfect Effect - and were not produced or licensed by Hasbro or Takara.

If this is your first time hearing about third parties; know that full figures - and ESPECIALLY combiners - can cost an absolute fortune. Like, that third party menasor would cost you about five times as much as the official version.
Upgrade kits are much less costly - for instance, here in the UK Perfect Effect's hands and feet pack is £25 compared to a Deluxe costing £16 and a Voyager costing £23 - and in cases like this can really go a long way in improving a figure. It's up to your discretion whether you think they're necessary or are improvements or not of course. Just know they have nothing to do with Hasbro or Takara officially whatsoever

[Tyrannacon]

Actually I'm liking Takara's UW releases for the combiners more than Hasbro's releases. I'm more inclined to get UW Bruticus (with shuttle Blast Off) than Hasbro's, but the price is a deterrent for Takara's release. I want to find it for a decent amount somewhere that isn't like 3 or 4 times the value.

Between Bruticus and Devastator those both are my favorite combiner teams. Was never really too big on the Stunticons/Menasor.

[no-one]

Actually I'm liking Takara's UW releases for the combiners more than Hasbro's releases. I'm more inclined to get UW Bruticus (with shuttle Blast Off) than Hasbro's, but the price is a deterrent for Takara's release. I want to find it for a decent amount somewhere that isn't like 3 or 4 times the value.

Between Bruticus and Devastator those both are my favorite combiner teams. Was never really too big on the Stunticons/Menasor.

I'm kind of hit or miss out the UW vs CW. I like probably 80% of the Hasbro better.

I actually like the CW Menasor a lot and this is my first stunticon interaction. The combiner are a lot of fun and there doesn't seem to really be a wrong answer.

[william-james88]

I'm more inclined to get UW Bruticus (with shuttle Blast Off) than Hasbro's, but the price is a deterrent for Takara's release. I want to find it for a decent amount somewhere that isn't like 3 or 4 times the value.

Right here:

https://www.nippon-yasan.com/figures/15 ... ticus.html

Its 100$ plus shipping, so the same price point as Hasbro's. And if you are in the US then you have no taxes or duty to pay when it comes in. Get it now before the only options left really are 3 or 4 times that price.

[no-one]

I'm more inclined to get UW Bruticus (with shuttle Blast Off) than Hasbro's, but the price is a deterrent for Takara's release. I want to find it for a decent amount somewhere that isn't like 3 or 4 times the value.

Right here:

https://www.nippon-yasan.com/figures/15 ... ticus.html

Its 100$ plus shipping, so the same price point as Hasbro's. And if you are in the US then you have no taxes or duty to pay when it comes in. Get it now before the only options left really are 3 or 4 times that price.

Not quite, Hasbro is $85 at retail.

[Tyrannacon]

I'm kind of hit or miss out the UW vs CW. I like probably 80% of the Hasbro better.

I actually like the CW Menasor a lot and this is my first stunticon interaction. The combiner are a lot of fun and there doesn't seem to really be a wrong answer.

Yeah. I mean I can see why Hasbro's versions would be preferred in some ways. So I definitely understand what you're saying.

Right here:

https://www.nippon-yasan.com/figures/15 ... ticus.html

Its 100$ plus shipping, so the same price point as Hasbro's. And if you are in the US then you have no taxes or duty to pay when it comes in. Get it now before the only options left really are 3 or 4 times that price.

Bookmarked. Thankie thankie.

Not quite, Hasbro is $85 at retail.

Well it's not at Amazon at least. I added it to my wish list and it's like 110 or 120 last I looked. That is getting it altogether instead of individually though.

[william-james88]

I'm more inclined to get UW Bruticus (with shuttle Blast Off) than Hasbro's, but the price is a deterrent for Takara's release. I want to find it for a decent amount somewhere that isn't like 3 or 4 times the value.

Right here:

https://www.nippon-yasan.com/figures/15 ... ticus.html

Its 100$ plus shipping, so the same price point as Hasbro's. And if you are in the US then you have no taxes or duty to pay when it comes in. Get it now before the only options left really are 3 or 4 times that price.

Not quite, Hasbro is $85 at retail.

1. I said price point, not price
2. Depends where. I was doing 18$ per deluxe and 26$ for a voyager which is 98, I thought that was totally fair.

[Sjeng]

Well, searching for these, I happened upon an ad for a Bruticus and Computron by Warbotron. Pictures look nice enough, but I never heard of Warbotron before. How are they compared to UW/Takara?
I feel quality is certainly important, as I'd like to actually be able to give these to my son once he's old enough, so he can actually transform them and play with them without them breaking apart easily.
I can get them for slightly under regular retail prices I think, but I have no idea how much these are/were at retail.

Same person is also offering a TFC "Hercules", looks like Devastator? 6 boxes and another box, presumably with parts to form Devy. And a Galvatron by Unique Toys.

Any insights are highly appreciated, thanks!

[Kurona]

Well, searching for these, I happened upon an ad for a Bruticus and Computron by Warbotron. Pictures look nice enough, but I never heard of Warbotron before. How are they compared to UW/Takara?
I feel quality is certainly important, as I'd like to actually be able to give these to my son once he's old enough, so he can actually transform them and play with them without them breaking apart easily.
I can get them for slightly under regular retail prices I think, but I have no idea how much these are/were at retail.

Same person is also offering a TFC "Hercules", looks like Devastator? 6 boxes and another box, presumably with parts to form Devy. And a Galvatron by Unique Toys.

Any insights are highly appreciated, thanks!

All these companies are third parties. If you're looking for something partly for your kids to play with, absolutely do not go for third parties. 99% of the time they have incredible quality in appearance, transformation, attention to detail, solidity etc; but they are absolutely in no way toys. They're high-end collector's items that should never be in the hands of a child.

Also, at retail their prices far exceeded the official hasbro/takara versions. As I said, their combiners are like... five times the price of an official counterpart.

[Sigma Magnus]

Well, searching for these, I happened upon an ad for a Bruticus and Computron by Warbotron. Pictures look nice enough, but I never heard of Warbotron before. How are they compared to UW/Takara?
I feel quality is certainly important, as I'd like to actually be able to give these to my son once he's old enough, so he can actually transform them and play with them without them breaking apart easily.
I can get them for slightly under regular retail prices I think, but I have no idea how much these are/were at retail.

Same person is also offering a TFC "Hercules", looks like Devastator? 6 boxes and another box, presumably with parts to form Devy. And a Galvatron by Unique Toys.

Any insights are highly appreciated, thanks!

Generally, third-party products are meant for collectors, not children. If you wanna give them to your kid one day, go with Hasbro/TakaraTomy.

[william-james88]

Well, searching for these, I happened upon an ad for a Bruticus and Computron by Warbotron. Pictures look nice enough, but I never heard of Warbotron before. How are they compared to UW/Takara?
I feel quality is certainly important, as I'd like to actually be able to give these to my son once he's old enough, so he can actually transform them and play with them without them breaking apart easily.
I can get them for slightly under regular retail prices I think, but I have no idea how much these are/were at retail.

Same person is also offering a TFC "Hercules", looks like Devastator? 6 boxes and another box, presumably with parts to form Devy. And a Galvatron by Unique Toys.

Any insights are highly appreciated, thanks!

If you want durability and a fun transformation then dont even look at anything outside of Hasbro and Takara. Everything else is far more delicate and not fun to transform in the least. Everyone will agree that toys like Warbotron adn the like are made for display purposed only. I doubt anyone out there routinely transforms their 3p combiners, I know i dont. But may of us couldnt stop playing with our Combiner Wars toys when they initially came out. You have arrived late to the party. I highly suggest, you just buy the takara boxsets now before they are sold out and double the price within a year from now.