The Energon Pub

News Credits: 1 · Thu Mar 24, 2022 8:34 am

I don't mind fake parts if it significantly improves the robot mode. But they can be overused. I'd much rather they be real than fake. I have to think about Blitz here. They didn't need to emulate that embarrassing part of the cartoon model.

With faux parts I headcannon it this way: it's robot fashion. They like how a design element looks, so they carry it through in their robot mode even if it isn't necessary for transformation.

News Credits: 30 · Thu Mar 24, 2022 9:05 am

I get G1 purism, but there has to be some limits. The G1 cartoon appearances were the result of the animators trying to keep the figure models close in appearance to the actual toys, while still simplifying them for hand animation, and compensating for the weaknesses in the toys' engineering.

If the cartoon models had been 100% toy accurate, most of the characters would not have been able to move properly, because they had no elbows, many had no pelvises, and many had no separated legs. Plus, Megatron and Shockwave would have had those questionable triggers jutting out of their groinal sockets. So we got weird animation 'fixes' (like Optimus Prime's crotch bumper) that tried to make the best of both worlds.

That's why the Blitzwing animation model had the cockpit front to the tank, because the figure kind of did, but there are obvious 'fixes' that the animators did (like to the robot feet). But just because the G1 and cartoon versions had those flaws doesn't mean we HAVE to perpetuate them for these remakes. This ought to have been a big opportunity for the designers to keep the G1 appearance, but also do things like fix the tank/cockpit mess by closing it over somehow. They could have included additional folding panels near the front or something that would cover it up neatly, and recessed it a bit further. Or included another plug in armor accessory for the front.

Honoring and giving tribute to the past shouldn't include a compulsion to replicate its' mistakes.

MyFigureCollection.net collection · Thu Mar 24, 2022 9:07 am

william-james88 wrote:this does make me wonder though, if they were to make a MP Blitzwing , does that mean it would also have that cockpit in the front of the tank?

That depends. If the Skids/City trio and the Raiden Trainbots are any indication they might go for realistic alt modes over cartoon alt modes. Main question is would they license both a Mig-25 (good luck with that right now!) and Type-74 tank for just one figure (that they might get two uses out of) seems pretty unlikely so realism probably isn't going to happen unless they pick a different jet mode, but they'd probably try to get both modes as accurate as possible. But if they go toy or cartoon accurate then that cockpit stub is definitely sticking around.

Just looking closer at the figure and noticed a couple thing. He doesn't appear to have any obvious limb gaps, his thighs are even screwed together which we don't see too often these days (his upper arm gaps are barely noticeable). His tank barrel folds in such a way that you can likely pose his bot mode with a short barrel in bot mode if you don't want a long one. The "Hulk Hands" have pegs on the back end that don't appear to be used on Blitzwing. Also the "fingers" can be folded all the way back just leaving the "thumbs", I wonder why? :-?

Those things are very mysterious.

Emerje

News Credits: 56 · Thu Mar 24, 2022 9:10 am

I just got an email from Walmart that says their "collector con is on"I guess several of their toy exclusives are available for pre order. I clicked on the TF link, and it shows only Buzzsaw ( not sure where the others are?) But he is available at $22.99 for release on 5/17. Of course we know their pre order system is garbage, so buyer beware. I would provide a link, but again, this is Walmart were talking about. Their site has no built in share links I can see, so happy hunting.

News Credits: 17 · Thu Mar 24, 2022 9:23 am

o.supreme wrote:I just got an email from Walmart that says their "collector con is on"I guess several of their toy exclusives are available for pre order. I clicked on the TF link, and it shows only Buzzsaw ( not sure where the others are?) But he is available at $22.99 for release on 5/17. Of course we know their pre order system is garbage, so buyer beware. I would provide a link, but again, this is Walmart were talking about. Their site has no built in share links I can see, so happy hunting.

Walmart link:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Transformers ... /464979475

News Credits: 4877 · Thu Mar 24, 2022 9:28 am

Seibertron wrote:Both should compliment each other, but at the end of the day, I'm not a fan of fake parts.

I am the same way with women. Fake parts might look nice, but there is no comparing to the real thing.

frogbat wrote:I feel both astro train and blitzing should be larger bots - leader if not commander scale for astrotrain.

That's why I like the Cyberverse Astrotrain concept. He was HUGE!!!!!! Would be cool for Hasbro to make a toy of him. Fans of cyberverse would have a blast and it would be a way for G1 fans to get a giant astrotrain too.

Big Grim wrote:I REALLY dig that Blitzwing! He looks great! I admit the giant gun hand confuse me (I mean, why?) but I can simply not use em, right?

~ Grim

Right, but I think the issue some have is that while you can simply not use them, you can't simply not pay for them. Though I don't think they add that much to the overall cost of the figure.

DeathReviews wrote:That's why the Blitzwing animation model had the cockpit front to the tank, because the figure kind of did, but there are obvious 'fixes' that the animators did (like to the robot feet).

What makes this even more unfortunate is that the original figure had that cockpit in the back! Moving it to the back in this toy would at least be better and be a nod to the toy. And anyone wanting to replicate the G1 cartoon could move the turret around.

Emerje wrote:Main question is would they license both a Mig-25 (good luck with that right now!) and Type-74 tank for just one figure (that they might get two uses out of) seems pretty unlikely so realism probably isn't going to happen unless they pick a different jet mode, but they'd probably try to get both modes as accurate as possible.

They wouldn't need to ever license the Mig-25. Nomatter how good the jet mode would look, there would always be enough bits from the other modes to make the plane different enough to not need a licence.

o.supreme wrote:I just got an email from Walmart that says their "collector con is on"I guess several of their toy exclusives are available for pre order. I clicked on the TF link, and it shows only Buzzsaw ( not sure where the others are?) But he is available at $22.99 for release on 5/17. Of course we know their pre order system is garbage, so buyer beware. I would provide a link, but again, this is Walmart were talking about. Their site has no built in share links I can see, so happy hunting.

You can't just copy paste the URL here?

News Credits: 56 · Thu Mar 24, 2022 9:38 am

AcademyofDrX wrote:https://www.walmart.com/ip/Transformers ... /464979475

Thank you. Unfortunately I was looking at this on my phone and the email takes me straight to the Walmart app,not in a web browser. Also my work has greatly restricted our internet access lately. I can't even get on this site now. Only through my phone, or when Im on my own personal laptop.

News Credits: 3646 · Thu Mar 24, 2022 11:13 am

My biggest gripe with Blitzwing is why not have the tank turret be a rounded shape like it was with the G1 toy and the cartoon model? I could easily have done away with the goofy jet cockpit showing in tank mode. This is where common sense should prevail.

I couldn't remember seeing the cockpit in tank mode in the awesome scene from Transformers the Movie where Kup takes on Blitzwing, but sure enough it's there. And unfortunately it sticks out. Just something I'd definitely like to see this character move past. Animation accuracy shouldn't mean we should be stuck honoring things like this.

Unfortunately, it looks like he oddly has the visor made from two mold pieces so there is an unsightly horizontal line through the middle of his visor, similar to some of the Combiner Wars Constructicons who also suffered from that design flaw.

Blitzwing looks great overall despite his flaws. Odd choices.

News Credits: 10 · Thu Mar 24, 2022 11:19 am

Seibertron wrote:Blitzwing looks great overall despite his flaws. Odd choices.

The part, at the end of the day, I'm going by. I'll buy my Blitzwing and be happy with it, even if it's not 'perfect'.

News Credits: 12 · Thu Mar 24, 2022 11:23 am

I think a good compromise for the nosecone could have been to throw in a shield piece (heresy, I know). In this case though, the shield would (technically) be like the big hands and could be stored away without really changing too much about the figure, but if you want a cleaner tsnk mode, you'd have the option. For jet mode, they could make it peg onto the back of the jet like Star Saber's, and obviously robot mode it'd be a shield. Plus, I think a lot of people like when bots with swords, also get shields, but that could also just be me

News Credits: 17 · Thu Mar 24, 2022 12:16 pm

All of the Walmart exclusive Legacy figures are up at Pulse, but only available for Premium subscribers right now.

(Also the vintage beasts, R.E.D., and other Walmart Hasbro exclusives.)

https://hasbropulse.com/collections/partner-exclusives

News Credits: 10 · Thu Mar 24, 2022 12:20 pm

AcademyofDrX wrote:All of the Walmart exclusive Legacy figures are up at Pulse, but only available for Premium subscribers right now.

(Also the vintage beasts, R.E.D., and other Walmart Hasbro exclusives.)

https://hasbropulse.com/collections/partner-exclusives

Pre-ordered the Joes. LOL

News Credits: 149 · Thu Mar 24, 2022 12:39 pm

DeathReviews wrote:Honoring and giving tribute to the past shouldn't include a compulsion to replicate its' mistakes.

Tell that to the Masterpiece range as it stands at the moment.

~ Grim

News Credits: 19 · Thu Mar 24, 2022 2:19 pm

I'm guessing legacy boxes have more parts and are more complex hence kingdom blaster being £27 and Legacy blaster being £30 XD

News Credits: 3646 · Thu Mar 24, 2022 2:46 pm

blackeyedprime wrote:I'm guessing legacy boxes have more parts and are more complex hence kingdom blaster being £27 and Legacy blaster being £30 XD

Price increases across the board due to ongoing supply-chain issues.

News Credits: 56 · Thu Mar 24, 2022 2:49 pm

It's the Titan price hike at $190 USD that really made me :shock:

even though I shouldn't be surprised. To be honest though, I've been pretty vocal about Legacy Cybertron Metroplex being the first Titan I pass on. This only reinforces that decision.

News Credits: 19 · Thu Mar 24, 2022 2:52 pm

Seibertron wrote:
blackeyedprime wrote:I'm guessing legacy boxes have more parts and are more complex hence kingdom blaster being £27 and Legacy blaster being £30 XD

Price increases across the board due to ongoing supply-chain issues.

not just that though, SS/SS86 voyagers have been at £35 past year but it makes some repacks of X figures pricing just look out of place and absurd.

News Credits: 1350 · Thu Mar 24, 2022 2:55 pm

Seibertron wrote:
blackeyedprime wrote:I'm guessing legacy boxes have more parts and are more complex hence kingdom blaster being £27 and Legacy blaster being £30 XD

Price increases across the board due to ongoing supply-chain issues.

A lot of hobby prices have gone up as well, so it's not like it's just hasbro doing this.

News Credits: 17 · Thu Mar 24, 2022 2:56 pm

blackeyedprime wrote:
Seibertron wrote:
blackeyedprime wrote:I'm guessing legacy boxes have more parts and are more complex hence kingdom blaster being £27 and Legacy blaster being £30 XD

Price increases across the board due to ongoing supply-chain issues.

not just that though, SS/SS86 voyagers have been at £35 past year but it makes some repacks of X figures pricing just look out of place and absurd.

If you compare the year-on-year rate of inflation and the cost increases between repacks across yearly release gaps, they're probably pretty close.

News Credits: 10 · Thu Mar 24, 2022 3:03 pm

Amazon charged my card 24.37 last night for Skids, although it doesn't show that in Amazon. He's the only thing I have pre-ordered, there's nothing else.

News Credits: 42 · Thu Mar 24, 2022 3:25 pm

sol magnus wrote:Amazon charged my card 24.37 last night for Skids, although it doesn't show that in Amazon. He's the only thing I have pre-ordered, there's nothing else.

I haven't check my card, but on my order, Amazon separated Skids and Arcee from Dragstrip, Kickback and Blaster. They all still say the same day, July 5th, but Skids and Arcee now say arriving July 5th instead of pre-ordered like the other 3.

I suspect they both will be shipping soon. Probably get the notice tomorrow.

News Credits: 42 · Thu Mar 24, 2022 3:32 pm

Here are the links to all 3 Walmart Exclusives for anyone looking for them, all 3 should be available now.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Transformers ... hbdg=L1100

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Transformers ... hbdg=L1100

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Transformers ... hbdg=L1100

News Credits: 4877 · Thu Mar 24, 2022 4:10 pm

Walmart is getting 3 exclusives from the Legacy line this year, Sandstorm, Nightprowler and Buzzsaw. These are now available to order online, here are the links:

Sandstorm: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Transformers ... hbdg=L1100

Nightprowler: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Transformers ... hbdg=L1100

Buzzsaw: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Transformers ... hbdg=L1100

For those skeptical on Walmart fulfilling these orders, Hasbro Pulse also has preorders for these though the quantity is very limited (they might be sold out by the time you read this). They also have preorders for the other Walmart exclusives like Beast Wars Reissue Wolfang and Cybershark along with the RED Galvatron and Cyclonus.

You can find all of those at this link: https://hasbropulse.com/collections/new

We thank fellow Seibertronians Death reviews, TFfankev and O.Supreme for all of this.

News Credits: 4877 · Thu Mar 24, 2022 4:46 pm

Legacy Blitzing has gotten the Transformers community very engaged and a big part has to do with the front of the tank mode. The first instinct was that the toy was mistransformed. Why would a tank mode have this purple cockpit extending beyond the treads? Well, as even die hard G1 fans forgot, that is very much part of the G1 model. In the 86 film, Blitzwing's most memorable moment is of him in tank mode, when Kup springs into action and bends the cannon up just in time to save Hot Rod. In that shot which I know I have seen countless times, I never noticed just how prevalent that purple extension is. But yeah, it's right there, and made even more obvious in the shot right after when Blitzwing is toppled, showing the length.

Also, to add to anyone thinking it is mistransformed, the Hasbro team went out of their way for this piece by actually making a fake canopy. You see, the actual jet canopy is an uninterupted red piece, but this fake canopy, which is only used for the tank mode, has extra purple paint segmenting it, to create some segments like the G1 model.

But can it be pushed in more? Well, look at the photo below which shows the underside, it really seems like it can't. Nor should it since it is close to the length we see in the G1 model. Of course, there is the option of rotating the turret and have that protruding purple piece go to the back. Well, as you can see below, that just means now you trade in one extending purple piece for two. So instead of a phallic shape a lot of fans made fun of, you now have a pointy bosom.

Thu Mar 24, 2022 5:12 pm

Given that the details seen on top in the cartoon end up looking more like blue markings, I still say it's dumb that they bothered making a transparent faux canopy. Especially since his clear plastic is *red* (also questionable, perhaps they'll be able to change that?). Altogether it makes the area look less like the cartoon.

I'm more irked at how pulling a TR Mindwipe with the jet wings for.... reasons? led to him having an even-more-cluttered undercarriage than the G1 Blitzwing design already has, especially with how the tread pieces end up just hanging there. It's ROTF Jetfire territory. We saw with TR that they can do better while still giving us a super-GEEWUN Blitzwing.

I reiterate my hope that this guy deflates the eBay price of the TR version.