The Energon Pub

News Credits: 12 · by **Sentinel_Primal** » Fri Aug 19, 2022 3:37 pm

Wish they kept the JG1 connection option and the engine gun (that actually looks like a gun, unlike Sunstreaker's). It's cool seeing the notes on the prototype models though

News Credits: 6 · by **RodimusPrimeUkraine1** » Fri Aug 19, 2022 3:39 pm

Went to Walmart today.
Shelves have been updated.

The velocitron deluxe
Blurr, Burn out, and Road Rocket (which I dont care about)
A few Scourges like last time
No Cosmos or Nitronimus Prime, which were the only velocitron I care about

Soundwave and Jhiaxus are there now, so I bought Soundwave. Very cool.
Elita one not there, so I won't cancel the pre order just yet.

News Credits: 19 · by **blackeyedprime** » Fri Aug 19, 2022 4:19 pm

william-james88 wrote:It's interesting to see that the designer wanted to ensure a strong hinge for the clear plastic cockpit

For a car mode that cant even fit in a driver or have much reason to open it? No complaints about it back to being a regular size deluxe and standing same height as Crosshairs though.

News Credits: 4853 · by **william-james88** » Fri Aug 19, 2022 6:25 pm

blackeyedprime wrote:
william-james88 wrote:It's interesting to see that the designer wanted to ensure a strong hinge for the clear plastic cockpit

For a car mode that cant even fit in a driver or have much reason to open it? No complaints about it back to being a regular size deluxe and standing same height as Crosshairs though.

Doesn't the cockpit need to be handled during transformation?

News Credits: 101 · by **-Kanrabat-** » Fri Aug 19, 2022 7:35 pm

william-james88 wrote:
blackeyedprime wrote:
william-james88 wrote:It's interesting to see that the designer wanted to ensure a strong hinge for the clear plastic cockpit

For a car mode that cant even fit in a driver or have much reason to open it? No complaints about it back to being a regular size deluxe and standing same height as Crosshairs though.

Doesn't the cockpit need to be handled during transformation?

Yup, the cockpit window must be open as all the Siege Ironhides.
The irony is that a "driver" can fit inside only in bot mode.

News Credits: 48 · by **Nemesis Primal** » Fri Aug 19, 2022 10:52 pm

If this level of compromise is what comes from trying to pack in a single Targetmaster, they better not try this again with frickin' Needlenose, just stick to using whatever CAD work was done for him already for the fan votes please.

This is, of course, assuming most if not all of these "for cost reduction" comments were because of said Targetmaster and not someone else in this Deluxe wave also being overbudget, if it was a combination of both then I suppose I would feel less concerned.

News Credits: 4853 · by **william-james88** » Sat Aug 20, 2022 12:01 am

Nemesis Primal wrote:If this level of compromise is what comes from trying to pack in a single Targetmaster, they better not try this again with frickin' Needlenose, just stick to using whatever CAD work was done for him already for the fan votes please.

This is, of course, assuming most if not all of these "for cost reduction" comments were because of said Targetmaster and not someone else in this Deluxe wave also being overbudget, if it was a combination of both then I suppose I would feel less concerned.

The cost reduction isn't just for the targetmaster though, it's to strengthen other areas with more plastic. I think the targetmaster is just part of a slew of compromises with this toy.

by **Tracytron54321** » Sat Aug 20, 2022 1:55 am

Nemesis Primal wrote:If this level of compromise is what comes from trying to pack in a single Targetmaster, they better not try this again with frickin' Needlenose, just stick to using whatever CAD work was done for him already for the fan votes please.

This is, of course, assuming most if not all of these "for cost reduction" comments were because of said Targetmaster and not someone else in this Deluxe wave also being overbudget, if it was a combination of both then I suppose I would feel less concerned.

Absolutely agreed. I'd much rather just buy a targetmaster separately as a core class or as a third party upgrade kit or instead just bump it up to a voyager to upgrade the targetmaster, fill in the back of the legs, add a bicep swivel, add his shield/spoiler accessory, and maybe give him an alternate head.

MyFigureCollection.net collection · by **Emerje** » Sat Aug 20, 2022 2:53 am

-Kanrabat- wrote:
william-james88 wrote:
blackeyedprime wrote:
william-james88 wrote:It's interesting to see that the designer wanted to ensure a strong hinge for the clear plastic cockpit

For a car mode that cant even fit in a driver or have much reason to open it? No complaints about it back to being a regular size deluxe and standing same height as Crosshairs though.

Doesn't the cockpit need to be handled during transformation?

Yup, the cockpit window must be open as all the Siege Ironhides.
The irony is that a "driver" can fit inside only in bot mode.

They're talking about Pointblank.

I don't know if it was actually necessary for the cockpit to open, though, I'm sure they could have designed it so it wasn't necessary if they didn't want it to. Potential retool hint?

Emerje

News Credits: 19 · by **blackeyedprime** » Sat Aug 20, 2022 3:45 am

Just got the creatures collide set and minerva.

The creatures collide sets accessories are in a paper bag which wouldn't be a problem if the box didn't have bee hive holes... My parcel was rattling more than a lego set as one of the skis and a weapon for gold bug had escaped the box. Fortunately all complete.

News Credits: 19 · by **blackeyedprime** » Sat Aug 20, 2022 4:13 am

A braver man than me can try removing her head first.

by **Tracytron54321** » Sat Aug 20, 2022 4:18 am

blackeyedprime wrote:A braver man than me can try removing her head first.

Nice! I'm so jealous. I really hope I'll be able to secure one for myself

News Credits: 101 · by **-Kanrabat-** » Sat Aug 20, 2022 6:08 am

Tracytron54321 wrote:
blackeyedprime wrote:A braver man than me can try removing her head first.

Nice! I'm so jealous. I really hope I'll be able to secure one for myself

I too, would love to see if she's moddable into a standard modern headmaster.
Also, I think you can check out right now if a standard headmaster can fit inside the empty space of the cockpit in vehicle mode. I think I can check it out with Elita-1 later today.
:-?

News Credits: 19 · by **blackeyedprime** » Sat Aug 20, 2022 6:33 am

-Kanrabat- wrote:Also, I think you can check out right now if a standard headmaster can fit inside the empty space of the cockpit in vehicle mode. I think I can check it out with Elita-1 later today.

It would have to be done mid transformation, not sure I want to risk scratching clear plastic or the paint of the titan master. Might be easier if the waist did not have to be rotated as it takes up a lot of room. Really like how the tabs make use of existing holes (mushroom peg slots and the elbow) to tab together.

*Elita 1 with loads of titan masters looking like the are coming out of a clown car would be a great photo hahaha. Might have to round my little guys up for a photo with minerva.

by **Tracytron54321** » Sat Aug 20, 2022 8:57 am

blackeyedprime wrote:A braver man than me can try removing her head first.

Somebody whose good at sculpting probably could, and I wouldn't be surprised if someone makes a new chest piece for her with a slot for a headmaster with a headmaster included

by **MaximalNui** » Sat Aug 20, 2022 10:17 am

Nemesis Primal wrote:
MaximalNui wrote:Also wonder why they used a new "mold" for Peacemaker instead of a Battlemaster retool, or even the Legends mold. Are plastic prices really that high?
Well every single Deluxe-and-higher figure that has included a Battlemaster mold has been an exclusive, and all but one of them have had prices higher than/outside the normal retail price points, so....

Ah, gotcha! Guess between that and the obvious head retool, we have one possible Selects for the future (I mean, they already did toy-accurate Galvatron and Cyclonus and those just needed a recolor and Nightstick for the latter).

Sabrblade wrote:Confirmed by Mark Maher: The Energon Monsters were dropped at the last minute and replaced by Skullgrin and most likely Bomb-Burst.

Did he say why they were cancelled in the first place?

Tracytron54321 wrote:
Nemesis Primal wrote:If this level of compromise is what comes from trying to pack in a single Targetmaster, they better not try this again with frickin' Needlenose, just stick to using whatever CAD work was done for him already for the fan votes please.

This is, of course, assuming most if not all of these "for cost reduction" comments were because of said Targetmaster and not someone else in this Deluxe wave also being overbudget, if it was a combination of both then I suppose I would feel less concerned.

Absolutely agreed. I'd much rather just buy a targetmaster separately as a core class or as a third party upgrade kit or instead just bump it up to a voyager to upgrade the targetmaster, fill in the back of the legs, add a bicep swivel, add his shield/spoiler accessory, and maybe give him an alternate head.

Yeah, I'm starting to think most Deluxe-with-partner Transformers like -masters and Pretenders are gonna need to be Voyager or up for a better representation of the smaller bots.

I guess this also means we're not gonna see any more Micromaster/Mini-Con team with more than 2 members in the forseeable, like the combiners from Armada or the Six-Teams from G1?

News Credits: 6 · by **RodimusPrimeUkraine1** » Sat Aug 20, 2022 11:22 am

Optimus needs to go on diet

News Credits: 101 · by **-Kanrabat-** » Sat Aug 20, 2022 11:51 am

Or rather, Optimus got BONKED with a Looney-Tunesque end result! :lol:

News Credits: 6 · by **RodimusPrimeUkraine1** » Sat Aug 20, 2022 12:12 pm

-Kanrabat- wrote:Or rather, Optimus got BONKED with a Looney-Tunesque end result!

Optimus has made some friends.

News Credits: 6 · by **RodimusPrimeUkraine1** » Sat Aug 20, 2022 12:14 pm

I think we need a new disscussion for this insanity.

News Credits: 101 · by **-Kanrabat-** » Sat Aug 20, 2022 3:02 pm

RodimusPrimeUkraine1 wrote:I think we need a new disscussion for this insanity.

Already exist.
Check out the "Cool poses" thread. ;)^

News Credits: 6 · by **RodimusPrimeUkraine1** » Sat Aug 20, 2022 3:20 pm

-Kanrabat- wrote:
RodimusPrimeUkraine1 wrote:I think we need a new disscussion for this insanity.

Already exist.
Check out the "Cool poses" thread.

Q
Thank you, I was sure it was somewhere

News Credits: 331 · by **chuckdawg1999** » Sat Aug 20, 2022 6:06 pm

william-james88 wrote:As you may recall, Siege Crosshairs was releaed with no Targetmaster and one of Hasbro's main designers, Mark Maher, did not want that to repeat for Pointblank. At the same time, they wanted to also give fans a deluxe class figure of similar standards, so that's why below you will see a bunch of notes related tocost when designing a figure. It's interesting to see that the designer wanted to ensure a strong hinge for the clear plastic cockpit, so wrist articulation was removed in favour of that. Hasbro is sparing nosecrets from us here and you can see how everything was decided to bring you the toy you'll get.

One very interesting note is that the person who designed the transformation is Shogo Hasui, the same legendary designer who gave us MP-10, MP Sideswipe, CW Devastator, HFTD Starscream, Prime Starscream and even the classics seeker mold. It was his idea to give Pointblank his comic head rather than his Headmasters head. So if you don't like the final resulting headsculpt, you can blame Takara. The full post is after these images.

"Deluxe Legacy Pointblank and his Targetmaster Peacemaker are finally here to hop into your collection! . Had to break out my mint Crosshairs to showcase how both of these bots looked together.

I had the pleasure of doing the deco for Crosshairs and I was kinda bummed I wasn’t able to get Pinpointer in there. This time around since I lead the design of this guy I thought it was essential to add in Peacemaker. I soon realized how cost challenging it was to include a target master at a Deluxe scale and pricepoint. . The first image is my own redraw concept art of Pointblank and Peacemaker. Ive been really using alot of reference art that everyone already knows and loves, especially with tight schedules, they seem to be great for kicking off the project. You can see the reuse of the comics art alt mode here was perfect to use. I absolutely love this rendition of his cybertronian race car alt mode.

Hasui san took the reigns and made the great suggestion of doing the fin styled head that was never made in toyform. Anything that is in the g1 cartoon is a go for me even if its from the later seasons. . You can see an additional weapon engine accessory was costed out along with a bunch of other comments made to fine tune this guy. Hasui really had so many tweaks in order to fix up this guy, I just couldn’t find a way to showcase them all here. I added my comments to ensure we were aligned on trying to make this the best version of Pointblank ever.

You can see the targetmaster is blast effect compatible. There is elbow swivel on Pointblank for those that have been asking, but the articulation range on this guy really gives you a plethora of posing options and is really fun to tinker with. The arm transformation was a treat and I can’t wait for yall to get these guys!

Have a great weekend and thank you all for bringing your passion and support to the Transformers universe!"

Yeah, I have been one of the people criticizing Hasbro for years over their secrecy and non-answers, it's not like we're talking about Nuclear launch codes, but after reading this and a few other posts I'm starting to think this is like Professional Wrestling and well, for lack of a better term, ignorance is bliss.

Instead of being excited for Pointblank and Inferno, all I feel is regret and disgust over being nickel and dimed by a billion-dollar company. Inferno lost a somewhat iconic weapon because of some trivial paint app? The cost of making sure Pointblank's canopy didn't BREAK means it loses a simple wrist swivel? Could you imagine if the wrist swivel was deemed more important and people got Pointblanks with broken canopies in the BOX? All I can do is shake my head.