The Energon Pub

Bounti76 wrote:So Needlenose is almost literally just his G1 figure with articulation? I guess the budget for Sunbeam and Zigzag ate up what might have otherwise gone to deco or more complexity in transformation.

100%, it's the same as what happened with Gen Scoop before him (not a bad toy, just rather simple and straightforward).

Nemesis Primal wrote:

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:So that Skar's a 6th Dinobot? Damn, so much for my hope that was gonna be re-do or 2-pack rerelease of Doubledealer's partners lol. Also, who not do Scorn? Oh well.

Because by doing Skar, who I've been told turns into an ankylosaurus, and making the torso out of Slug and Sludge as we've seen, they've now set themselves up with the necessary molds to repaint/retool this set of Core Dinos into the Dinoking crew. None of the Dinoking components turned into spinos like Scorn, but they did have an ankylosaurus.

While I see this too, I am tempering my expectations since this will be the SECOND time Hasbro teases a possible reuse of combining Dinobots into Dinoking. I still havent forgotten when they showed the weapon attachment on POTP Snarl to make him resemble Doryu and yet we never ever saw it again.

william-james88 wrote:

Bounti76 wrote:So Needlenose is almost literally just his G1 figure with articulation? I guess the budget for Sunbeam and Zigzag ate up what might have otherwise gone to deco or more complexity in transformation.

100%, it's the same as what happened with Gen Scoop before him (not a bad toy)

True. Though while I don't think Needlenose is a bad toy, I can't help but notice that at least Scoop's Targetmasters had arm articulation. They could have at least added that on Sunbeam and Zigzag (and Peacemaker). Truth be told, I wouldn't have minded at all if they'd bumped up Needlenose and Pointblank to Voyager Class, so there was more of an engineering budget for both those figures and their Targetmasters (and a toy head option for Pointblank).

Bounti76 wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

Bounti76 wrote:So Needlenose is almost literally just his G1 figure with articulation? I guess the budget for Sunbeam and Zigzag ate up what might have otherwise gone to deco or more complexity in transformation.

100%, it's the same as what happened with Gen Scoop before him (not a bad toy)

True. Though while I don't think Needlenose is a bad toy, I can't help but notice that at least Scoop's Targetmasters had arm articulation. They could have at least added that on Sunbeam and Zigzag (and Peacemaker). Truth be told, I wouldn't have minded at all if they'd bumped up Needlenose and Pointblank to Voyager Class, so there was more of an engineering budget for both those figures and their Targetmasters (and a toy head option for Pointblank).

Sure you wouldn't have minded, but it's easy to imagine all that whining coming from fans who just see a deluxe sized toy in a voyager box. Personally, I am glad they found a way for this to fit within the deluxe price point, it leaves slots open for other characters in the voyager class.

william-james88 wrote:

Bounti76 wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

Bounti76 wrote:So Needlenose is almost literally just his G1 figure with articulation? I guess the budget for Sunbeam and Zigzag ate up what might have otherwise gone to deco or more complexity in transformation.

100%, it's the same as what happened with Gen Scoop before him (not a bad toy)

True. Though while I don't think Needlenose is a bad toy, I can't help but notice that at least Scoop's Targetmasters had arm articulation. They could have at least added that on Sunbeam and Zigzag (and Peacemaker). Truth be told, I wouldn't have minded at all if they'd bumped up Needlenose and Pointblank to Voyager Class, so there was more of an engineering budget for both those figures and their Targetmasters (and a toy head option for Pointblank).

Sure you wouldn't have minded, but it's easy to imagine all that whining coming from fans who just see a deluxe sized toy in a voyager box. Personally, I am glad they found a way for this to fit within the deluxe price point, it leaves slots open for other characters in the voyager class.

Yeah, I got the feeling fans would be very upset about it. I could already imagine people feeling bummed out they're forking over Voyager price tag cash. Especially with Pointblank having already released at the Deluxe price tag.

I also wonder if non-hardcore fans would even care about the Targetmasters? I didn't see many people buying or caring about the Battle Masters alongside the Micromasters... (I loved both personally)

Cyber Bishop wrote:

Emerje wrote:

Till-all-R1 wrote:Next up is Needlenose, personally speaking I think the aesthetics on the CW version look better than this new version. I also think the timing if comical because I was just speaking about a potential Aerialbots redux and this bot certainly looks the part for reuse there.

Isn't his transformation upside down from the Aerialbots? Plus I don't think his wings can fold.

The CW Needlenose is a straight re-deco of Deluxe Class CW Firefly and that is exactly why I passed on him, wasn't impressive at all.

This new needlenose looks almost exact to his G1 counterpart.

https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Needlenose_(G1)

Ill take something original instead of a straight repaint anyday.

I think you might have glossed over the part where he said Legacy Needlenose would make a good base for a future Aerialbot, I was just pointing out that transformation is upside down and wouldn't really work for a properly accurate Aerialbot.



This hasn't grown on me at all. I think if they painted the eyes in it would look a little better, but that's not something they really do aside from Primal. Maybe the white plastic just isn't letting the camera pick up the details? Needs a wider muzzle like the box art.

Emerje

Scraphook looks quite good, Tarn is AWESOME!

Yeah, till now I've been easily avoiding the Junkions simply because I wasn't ever that big a fan of them and the whole limited space issue. But that Scraphook is definitely growing on me and might very well be my first Junkion purchase!

I'm also going to go out on a limb and say since a lot of these reveals are slated for 23 that we probably won't be getting anymore reveals until next year? Officially anyway. That way it gives them ample time to get shipped out before moving on to the next thing.

william-james88 wrote:

Bounti76 wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

Bounti76 wrote:So Needlenose is almost literally just his G1 figure with articulation? I guess the budget for Sunbeam and Zigzag ate up what might have otherwise gone to deco or more complexity in transformation.

100%, it's the same as what happened with Gen Scoop before him (not a bad toy)

True. Though while I don't think Needlenose is a bad toy, I can't help but notice that at least Scoop's Targetmasters had arm articulation. They could have at least added that on Sunbeam and Zigzag (and Peacemaker). Truth be told, I wouldn't have minded at all if they'd bumped up Needlenose and Pointblank to Voyager Class, so there was more of an engineering budget for both those figures and their Targetmasters (and a toy head option for Pointblank).

Sure you wouldn't have minded, but it's easy to imagine all that whining coming from fans who just see a deluxe sized toy in a voyager box. Personally, I am glad they found a way for this to fit within the deluxe price point, it leaves slots open for other characters in the voyager class.

For the record, when I say Needlenose should be voyager, I mean he should be physically bigger. I don't really care if his transformation doesn't change much. May be flatten out the underside kibble some? And I actually prefer battle-master-sized Targetmasters instead of what we'll be getting here. Same with Pointblank. I wouldn't have minded paying voyager price for a deluxe plus battlemaster in the same package. Should have gotten a BM Targetmaster, like Crosshairs did and Spinister did, even if they were parts of exclusive sets. Yes, I know that would open a whole new can of worms.

Considering the scalped to hell prices of the Phantomstrike Squadron and Pinpointer being locked behind yet another Siege Megs repaint, I think I'm very much grateful we're getting the Targetmaster buddies bundled in so we don't have to track them down...
Hell, it was annoying even getting Singe, and he wasn't in either of those sets! He was regular retail and I couldn't find a single store that had any in stock.

I likewise prefer Needlenose being deluxe size rather than bigger - I think it'd make him look out of place amongst his Targetmaster buds. Cyclonus is allowed that because he was always shown to be taller than his mates.

Well, I've finally seen something about Breakdown that I can say was a bad idea.


Taking some of his stock photos on a white background! Not as dumb as doing that with Skyfire, but still.

By the way, has anyone pointed out yet that poster!Hot Shot is blatantly based on the original toy? He's got car roof panels on his forearms and red Mini-Con hardpoints coming out of the spoiler.


Which are things that did not carry over to this version.

Speaking of him, I cannot agree in the slightest with this version of Hot Shot being called "mid". It's more accurate overall than the Universe deluxe was, it actually comes with weapons no matter which country you get it from, it retains a Mini-Con hardpoint between the spoilers (so if we get Jolt & they don't botch his transformation like the Universe version did, or possibly also if you have the original Jolt, you can do the propeller thing), and it retains the axlezooka. My only gripe with the design is that he can't use the engine blaster as chest armor. I wish he was a Voyager so that he'd size better with OG Armada toys, but I love the design.

Something the stock images didn't show but very obviously exists: Lio Convoy's Energon Matrix.

Note the hinge.
His stock photos do show more of the same idiocy seen in Breakdown's though!

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:Speaking of him, I cannot agree in the slightest with this version of Hot Shot being called "mid". It's more accurate overall than the Universe deluxe was, it actually comes with weapons no matter which country you get it from, it retains a Mini-Con hardpoint between the spoilers (so if we get Jolt & they don't botch his transformation like the Universe version did, or possibly also if you have the original Jolt, you can do the propeller thing), and it retains the axlezooka. My only gripe with the design is that he can't use the engine blaster as chest armor. I wish he was a Voyager so that he'd size better with OG Armada toys, but I love the design.

The Universe one was so close to nailing it IMO, as an older toy I'll at least give it the kudos that it was a nice update for the time - and as such I think the Legacy figure does a nice job at giving us an update for the now. Honestly if they included Jolt it would've already cemented itself as superior over the Universe version. Can't wait to see Jolt come out elsewhere and complete the set, though.

SpaceEagle wrote:

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:Speaking of him, I cannot agree in the slightest with this version of Hot Shot being called "mid". It's more accurate overall than the Universe deluxe was, it actually comes with weapons no matter which country you get it from, it retains a Mini-Con hardpoint between the spoilers (so if we get Jolt & they don't botch his transformation like the Universe version did, or possibly also if you have the original Jolt, you can do the propeller thing), and it retains the axlezooka. My only gripe with the design is that he can't use the engine blaster as chest armor. I wish he was a Voyager so that he'd size better with OG Armada toys, but I love the design.

The Universe one was so close to nailing it IMO, as an older toy I'll at least give it the kudos that it was a nice update for the time - and as such I think the Legacy figure does a nice job at giving us an update for the now. Honestly if they included Jolt it would've already cemented itself as superior over the Universe version. Can't wait to see Jolt come out elsewhere and complete the set, though.

Given how much this Hot Shot wrung out of the Deluxe budget as it is, it's probably for the best they didn't try to force Jolt as part of him. I think we are likely to see Jolt as part of a pack of some sort (most likely an SSROTF Arcee-type deal), especially with them having gone to the trouble of that Mini-Con hardpoint between the spoilers.

Will, regarding Dinoking... I think we do stand a decent chance of them actually going there this time. Doing Dinoking from the PotP Dinobot molds had PotP's truncation, the PotP molds (being four Deluxes and a Voyager) making for a costlier set, and people's dissatisfaction with CW Liokaiser working against it. This time around we're working with more momentum, and cheaper figures. Plus Selects is a thing that exists and has proven itself now.

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:

SpaceEagle wrote:

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:Speaking of him, I cannot agree in the slightest with this version of Hot Shot being called "mid". It's more accurate overall than the Universe deluxe was, it actually comes with weapons no matter which country you get it from, it retains a Mini-Con hardpoint between the spoilers (so if we get Jolt & they don't botch his transformation like the Universe version did, or possibly also if you have the original Jolt, you can do the propeller thing), and it retains the axlezooka. My only gripe with the design is that he can't use the engine blaster as chest armor. I wish he was a Voyager so that he'd size better with OG Armada toys, but I love the design.

The Universe one was so close to nailing it IMO, as an older toy I'll at least give it the kudos that it was a nice update for the time - and as such I think the Legacy figure does a nice job at giving us an update for the now. Honestly if they included Jolt it would've already cemented itself as superior over the Universe version. Can't wait to see Jolt come out elsewhere and complete the set, though.

Given how much this Hot Shot wrung out of the Deluxe budget as it is, it's probably for the best they didn't try to force Jolt as part of him. I think we are likely to see Jolt as part of a pack of some sort (most likely an SSROTF Arcee-type deal), especially with them having gone to the trouble of that Mini-Con hardpoint between the spoilers.

Will, regarding Dinoking... I think we do stand a decent chance of them actually going there this time. Doing Dinoking from the PotP Dinobot molds had PotP's truncation, the PotP molds (being four Deluxes and a Voyager) making for a costlier set, and people's dissatisfaction with CW Liokaiser working against it. This time around we're working with a fresher start, more momentum, and cheaper figures.

Yeah, personally I'd like that SSROTF Arcee type approach because that means updated minicons, and who doesn't want more minicons?

But, yeah, I still think this is a very nice Hot Shot update, and I am honestly glad they actually got the Axelzooka in it as well.

I think the lion head can be "saved" if I add some extra paint details:

- Light greenish/blueish-grey eyes, with black "mascara" and pupil with highlight (closer to the original toy, rather than the MP or cartoon version).

- Metallic gold paint on the yellow parts.

- Black velum on the inside of the lips and between nose and mouth.

- dark grey wash and lighter white highlights around eyes

- Metallic silver teeth

Here's a quick and dirty digital mock-up:

I am looking forward to the nemisis recolor.

Sculyblast wrote:I am looking forward to the nemisis recolor.

That's not the Nemesis version, but rather the "Galva-Convoy" version:

- https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Galva_Convoy

The "Nemesis" version is actually a black version called "Black Lio Convoy" :

-
https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Black_Lio_Convoy

"A redeco of Lio Convoy, Black Lio Convoy sports the now-familiar black, silver, and teal color scheme which was later used for Robots in Disguise Scourge, Alternators Nemesis Prime and many, many other "evil" Optimus Primes. There is also a variant of this toy that comes with gold claws, which is harder to find than the normal version.Black Lio Convoy was a Toys"R"Us exclusive and came in a Lio Convoy box with a sticker indicating that it was "Black Lio Convoy". A special Lucky Draw version limited to 10 pieces was also released through Comic Bom Bom, which featured "BL-00" painted in white on his robo-butt.This toy is also used to represent the separate character of Black Lio Convoy..."

I wouldn't mind the anime version colours, which are inverted from the toy's colours.

Has anyone pointed out Chopshop flying in among the Insecticon swarm? I'm guessing he'll be part of the next Buzzworthy 'collide' four-pack.

*edit: name of the four-pack

MCutter wrote:Has anyone pointed out Chopshop flying in among the Insecticon swarm? I'm guessing he'll be part of the next Buzzworthy 'across' four-pack.

Yeah, there was a mention about how all 7 of the Insecticons are there. I agree that they might make a pack of the remaining Deluxe Insecticons.

It looks like the A-Team got a hold of Mater and did their thing to beef him up for a confrontation and now we got Scraphook!




But if someone offered me this Legacy Needlenose or the impressive looking one from before then what's to think about? But this Legacy version got shafted over the potential that could have been. Look how awesome Spinister turned out for the club release and his targetmasters/minions looked a hell of a lot better....'nuff said!

Sculyblast wrote:I am looking forward to the nemisis recolor.

He'll be black and silver/grey

william-james88 wrote:
He'll be black and silver/grey

Personally, if the budget from other toys were taken to ensure the awesomeness of the new junkion system, I'd say it was worth it

I'd prefer a bigger toy for him, but I can totally see a Thunderwing out of that Needlenose. (different head and chestpiece)

I feel like at the current price point, I'm not really impressed.
It would have been nice if they could have moved Sludge's Back Dino legs somewhere else instead of giving him those thick meaty thighs.
I am curious on how the core Dinos combined look will well, look. So far I have not been impressed by the Dinobots combiner modes they've tried. I think they need to go more for a Prediking look with the wings at the back.
I'm not sure how I feel about Lio Convoy. Someone mentioned the beats eyes earlier and I agree, they don't look right. At least give him some pupils.
We're getting pretty good Updates to G1 and Armada. Mediocre updates to Transformers Prime. I'm terrified to see what they might do with animated.
I feel like I'm really starting to loose interest in TF collecting.

Rodimus Prime wrote:For the record, when I say Needlenose should be voyager, I mean he should be physically bigger. I don't really care if his transformation doesn't change much. May be flatten out the underside kibble some?

I'm curious since it's already been stated here several times that Voyager doesn't mean "bigger bot" but simply more "engineering", so I'm not sure what you're getting at. Obviously Hasbro felt it was a better fit as a Deluxe bot for some reason, possibly because their Voyager slots were full and they wanted to get Needlenose out and had an open slot in Deluxe or they felt his transformation wasn't quite that complex. IDK TBH half the time I don't know how they arrive at their decisions as it seems mostly trivial as if they simply want to charge more for a certain mold, because to me a lot of the Voyager bots could pass for DLX based on some comparisons.

IMO I think one possibility is that they did intend for Needlenose to eventually become an Aerialbot because it would then fit the combiner structure of four DLX and one Leader, if there were a couple that were Voyagers it would seem to throw thing off a bit, right?