The Energon Pub

Wouldn't the best situation be a release of stylised versions of the primes not included in the thrones set and the prime wars trilogy exclusives and any of the 12 that didn't see retail release I'm a different design so you could have a full throne and all 12 with their decoy suits?

Though this is all assuming people had onyx prime anyway

My Throne of the Primes came today. I must say I really do like how versatile the Optimal Optimus figure is. If it had the truck mode of the BW Optimal Optimus, it would be perfect. I don't care enough about it to buy the 3P extension set though.

I would love to see 3P do Pretender Shells for the remaining Prime Masters though. I could see the following:

Amalgamous Prime - Waverider
Prima - Skyhammer
Nexus Prime - Crossblades
Onyx Prime - Maybe a Pretender Beast like Chainclaw?

I matched them based on color, but I think they could work decently enough. Onyx is hard to place since orange is an uncommon color for Decepticons (and he would make the most sense as the 6th Decepticon Prime Master).

Crosscheck wrote:My Throne of the Primes came today. I must say I really do like how versatile the Optimal Optimus figure is. If it had the truck mode of the BW Optimal Optimus, it would be perfect. I don't care enough about it to buy the 3P extension set though.

I would love to see 3P do Pretender Shells for the remaining Prime Masters though. I could see the following:

Amalgamous Prime - Waverider
Prima - Skyhammer
Nexus Prime - Crossblades
Onyx Prime - Maybe a Pretender Beast like Chainclaw?

I matched them based on color, but I think they could work decently enough. Onyx is hard to place since orange is an uncommon color for Decepticons (and he would make the most sense as the 6th Decepticon Prime Master).

Onyx may not have an inherent Shell, since he's not designed after a Pretender, but rather his Covenant self. Yay for a blank canvas! We'd also need a Shell for the 13th Prime (who seems to be based on Marvel's Prima).

If there is a NYCC exclusive (last year Grotusque was revealed at the show but I don't think it was actually sold there) I'd like to see them finally us the CW Starscream head for themselves. Maybe as a 2-pack of Thundercracker and Skywarp or as just Starscream in proper colors (not clear or gold). I also wouldn't be against them using the Titan Master Starscream head (again, not clear) on the Blitzwing body (sort of like the Cloud version). These things will probably never happen, but it sure would be nice if they did.

Emerje

Emerje wrote:If there is a NYCC exclusive (last year Grotusque was revealed at the show but I don't think it was actually sold there) I'd like to see them finally us the CW Starscream head for themselves. Maybe as a 2-pack of Thundercracker and Skywarp or as just Starscream in proper colors (not clear or gold).

Emerje

Or they could give us the CW Sunstorm that Funpub was going to make.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

Crosscheck wrote:My Throne of the Primes came today. I must say I really do like how versatile the Optimal Optimus figure is. If it had the truck mode of the BW Optimal Optimus, it would be perfect. I don't care enough about it to buy the 3P extension set though.

I would love to see 3P do Pretender Shells for the remaining Prime Masters though. I could see the following:

Amalgamous Prime - Waverider
Prima - Skyhammer
Nexus Prime - Crossblades
Onyx Prime - Maybe a Pretender Beast like Chainclaw?

I matched them based on color, but I think they could work decently enough. Onyx is hard to place since orange is an uncommon color for Decepticons (and he would make the most sense as the 6th Decepticon Prime Master).

Onyx may not have an inherent Shell, since he's not designed after a Pretender, but rather his Covenant self. Yay for a blank canvas! We'd also need a Shell for the 13th Prime (who seems to be based on Marvel's Prima).

One idea I had for Onyx would be to give him shell based on Monstructor, or at least Slog and Birdbrain. The black and gold would be a nice contrast to the other Pretenders.

The 13th Prime could have a shell based on Hi-Q. It would link it to Optimus Prime without actually just being Optimus Prime.

I must say, the uniform color scheme of Throne Primal is really helping me like this figure. The skateboard mode even looks more intentional this way. I would have actually liked to have seen a color scheme based completely on his Transmetal form (brown, gray, and blue). It would have worked in all modes to look good, and that way the Optimus Primal figure wouldn't be an almost straight copy of his general release. It also would have had the Optimus Primal figure be an homage to his Universe figure, sort of. Using the Transmetal color scheme would have also made the Scepter even more fitting for the figure.

At any rate, I am pleased with my Primal, though I need to look at his shoulder ratchets. One doesn't go up as far as the other for some reason. I decided that I don't really like Primal to have the plain flat mode, so I told him in half and turn him into a sort of hover tank instead of a surfboard.

One question I have though, was there ever a spot where the crown can be stored?

You know, it just hit me: the new Optimal Optimus is the first mainline release of a 'Transmetal' design since the Beast Era, barring redeco in Universe. It's a shame Hasbro doesn't do vacuum metallizing and chose to not make an exception for this guy because it occured to me that the mass retail version would have look cool with the chrome back on and that extra 'ooh shiny' could have made it appealing both to kids (as it's a unique design and color scheme) and to the nostalgic Beast Wars grognards like me. Anyone who complain about how weird/funky the Optimal Optimus colo scheme forget it was designed with metallic colors+flat orange in mind.

That said I don't know how much it would have raised the cost to give him chrome. My guess is that, just like diecast construction, vacuum metallized chrome is now a 'lost art'.

I have the Power of the Primes







And finally, how they are all going to be displayed

AWESOME D-MAX!!!!
Look at that spread!
Just awesome.

More Primal anyone?

At first I was feeling real underwhelmed with the Throne of the Primes Primal figure, but after a little time, imagination, and play, I warmed up to him. He certainly isn't the original Tansmetal toy, but he is still a pretty darn fun toy in his own right. And in his own way. He's a cool and interesting representation of the character.


That's more like it!



Because somebody had to do it.








These two are definitely going to be spending a lot of time together.

More thoughts and pics here

Oh yeah, going to have to agree with everybody on here. OpOp is fantastic, & Throne OpOp is outstanding. I just got him today & I could not believe how good of a figure he is. All of the extra accessories he comes with, his paint job, everything is great... except for his joints. My figure has a pretty weak right arm so he can't hold the staff of sparks very well. But otherwise, this is an amazing box set.

Now I just need to get my hands on the small few other Generations Beast Wars figures but until then, Collectors Club Transmutate makes a good companion piece for the king.

I really hope a version of Amalgamous with the Waverider/Diver Decoy Armor does come out, to complete the main Masterforce Autobot Pretender team.

Has anyone else done this with their Decoy Armor?


The story behind this is, I want to build hands and feet based on those of the G1 toy for my CW Menasor (and want to do them Prime Armor style, in the wake of the advent of PotP). But that will take time. And in the mean time, I'll need surrogate feet because I only have two HFGs - Dead End and the Sunstreaker I'm repainting into Breakdown were incomplete. My original plan was to use PotP Starscream's feet, but then I thought of doing this silliness.

Those skullgrin feet actually work quite well

D-max@ that's a pretty awesome display

Cobotron wrote:

Because somebody had to do it.

I love this pic, because I love that film. This pic also makes me sad, because it reminds me Primal himself doesn't have a gorilla mode.

I finally tracked down a Novastar on lunch today. Now I just have to wait for Wreck Gar and then all my PotPie combiners will be incompletely complete.

I have to echo what others have said about Throne Primal, he is great and looks awesome. Mine has all tight joints, connection/tabs all good and good paint. Dont know about the retail version but mine has some heft to it, I mean the plastic feels really thick and high quality. Holding it and shaking it nothing moves at all. Throne Primal feels more like a 3rd party figure when holding, looking at it. Comparing it to Planet X Grimlock, they feel a lot alike in heft and quality, without the cheap and hollowness of most retail ones. More like the plastic on Prime First edition Optimus. Plus I do like all the extra stuff; the throne is pretty sweet to be cardboard and the extra titan masters are cool. My plan was to sell the mace, throne and prime masters, but now I am debating it.

Novastar just showed up on tha West Coast!

Am I the only one dissapointed by the Optimal Optius mold now that i have him in hand? I know many of you have the black version, but its the same toy so we can all discuss it. I dont mind having bought him (came out to $15 USD)but this is not an easy winner of the 3 POTP leaders. I find him very flimsy and he feels very cheap. All leaders feel that to a certain extent (very hollow) but I think this one feels cheapest. The thumbs keep popping off and those wings are loose. Plus that connection for flight mode is ultra weak. Granted, its not a mode I like but I would like to choose not to use it rather than not be able to use it due to pegs not working properly. I will say taht the robot mode for Optimus Primal looks cool, I like it. Nice headsculpt. Actually, all the headsculpts are nice, they are the best part of this toy.

So what are your thoughts?

william-james88 wrote:Am I the only one dissapointed by the Optimal Optius mold now that i have him in hand? I know many of you have the black version, but its the same toy so we can all discuss it. I dont mind having bought him (came out to $15 USD)but this is not an easy winner of the 3 POTP leaders. I find him very flimsy and he feels very cheap. All leaders feel that to a certain extent (very hollow) but I think this one feels cheapest. The thumbs keep popping off and those wings are loose. Plus that connection for flight mode is ultra weak. Granted, its not a mode I like but I would like to choose not to use it rather than not be able to use it due to pegs not working properly. I will say taht the robot mode for Optimus Primal looks cool, I like it. Nice headsculpt. Actually, all the headsculpts are nice, they are the best part of this toy.

So what are your thoughts?

Dont know if u read my post 2 posts up, but its pretty much the exact opposite of urs. Sorry ur not digging it.

bodrock wrote:

IMG_5130.JPG

Novastar just showed up on tha West Coast!

May I ask where specifically?

I'm loving my Throne of the Primes Optimal Optimus as well. He just looks so damned cool in his "traditional" Optimus Primal colors. It's also nice to have a "black redeco" that's NOT an evil twin of a normally good character (Sorry, not sorry, Sabr ). I've got no issues with my copy, as far as tight joints and such. Heck, the joints that collapse the legs for Gorilla mode are so tight that the first time I transformed him, I was legitimately worried I was going to break my $70 figure. All of the modes peg together for me pretty well too, even the "flight" mode, easily the least interesting one of all. My only gripe is, again, that it looks like two different shades of red paint on his knees, but I'll live with it.

Also, question for those who also have one: do you have any issue with getting the Scepter of Primes to peg into Optimal Optimus' hand in robot mode? You can see where the pegs are on the scepter and where they should fit in the inside of the palm, but the tolerance seem off. The holes are just a bit too small and the pegs don't want to stay in there and get squeezed back out. Luckily, wrapping the fingers and thumb around tightly holds the scepter well enough, but I think being able to take advantage of the pegs would allow for some more dynamic poses, like swinging the scepter overhead to crack some Decepticons and Predacons over the head.

william-james88 wrote:Am I the only one dissapointed by the Optimal Optius mold now that i have him in hand? I know many of you have the black version, but its the same toy so we can all discuss it. I dont mind having bought him (came out to $15 USD)but this is not an easy winner of the 3 POTP leaders. I find him very flimsy and he feels very cheap. All leaders feel that to a certain extent (very hollow) but I think this one feels cheapest. The thumbs keep popping off and those wings are loose. Plus that connection for flight mode is ultra weak. Granted, its not a mode I like but I would like to choose not to use it rather than not be able to use it due to pegs not working properly. I will say taht the robot mode for Optimus Primal looks cool, I like it. Nice headsculpt. Actually, all the headsculpts are nice, they are the best part of this toy.

So what are your thoughts?

I'll give you the bit about the jet mode (the tabs on mine are a bit too tight), but I can't agree with the other stuff. Mine feels very solid and all of the joints are nice and tight (some are a bit too tight, in fact). My only real issue with him is the stickers (which is not a problem exclusive to Primal).

william-james88 wrote:Am I the only one dissapointed by the Optimal Optius mold now that i have him in hand? I know many of you have the black version, but its the same toy so we can all discuss it. I dont mind having bought him (came out to $15 USD)but this is not an easy winner of the 3 POTP leaders. I find him very flimsy and he feels very cheap. All leaders feel that to a certain extent (very hollow) but I think this one feels cheapest. The thumbs keep popping off and those wings are loose. Plus that connection for flight mode is ultra weak. Granted, its not a mode I like but I would like to choose not to use it rather than not be able to use it due to pegs not working properly. I will say taht the robot mode for Optimus Primal looks cool, I like it. Nice headsculpt. Actually, all the headsculpts are nice, they are the best part of this toy.

So what are your thoughts?

Pretty much the same experience with my TotP version. Arms are loose, one of the wings doesn't like staying up as well as the other, little Primal detaches from the rest of the figure super easily in all modes, and the arm shields aren't secured all that great. I was already fairly nonplus about this mold and all of it's compromises compared to the original, but now I can't see myself paying full price for the retail version. Hopefully he'll eventually hover around the $30 mark for a while like TR Overlord still does on Amazon. Being a fan vote figure you just know they'll over produce him.

Emerje

Cobotron wrote:AWESOME D-MAX!!!!

Thanks!!! Nice shots yourself!!!

I like where I have the Halo of Primes placed because Onyx and Nexus are my 2 favorite Primes, and they are both visible where the Halo is now, so I love that.

And Will, in what is unfortunately becoming the norm, I fully disagree with everything you said. My Primal is good and tight and is by far the best of the 3 Prime molds. I place them by order of being the best as

1) Optimal
2) Rodimus
3) Optimus

With Rodimus Unicronus being my favorite of those 2 mold uses. Primal is loads of fun, and to me is far better than the other 2. Posable, lots of different modes, and thanks to the Throne a lot of extra cool stuff. I can't wait to get the retail version for my Beast shelf.

Also completed Hun Gurr late last night. I will be taking pics of him with his daddy tonight at some point

william-james88 wrote:Am I the only one dissapointed by the Optimal Optimus mold now that i have him in hand? I know many of you have the black version, but its the same toy so we can all discuss it. I dont mind having bought him (came out to $15 USD) So what are your thoughts?

A couple of questions...

1. Do you have the regular standard release?
2. If so how'd you get it (I didn't think it was sighted anywhere yet...)
3. how'd you get it for $15??/ That's some extreme couponing right there...

Lastly, My son got his *Throne* today, but is probably not going to be able to have any time with it for a couple days (school, life etc...). This is TRULY his toy, I'm not taking any ownership of it, unlike most of our shared collection. I figure, through the eyes of a 12 year old, might bring a fresh perspective, he's seen all of BW, multiple times, but never handled or seen the original toy except from pictures in books and online.

I'll throw my 2 cents in for Primal. I have the throne version and everything is nice and tight. Mine is like Wolfman's, legs were so tight I was afraid I was about to break it. It also feels nice and solid to me, and I've had none of the QC issues anyone else has.

But, I'm still really just meh on the toy overall. The spacelog and flight modes are pretty weak, but both robot modes are fantastic. The main downer for me is that the transformation is just boring. Not as bad a Fort Max boring, but still pretty meh. The transformation is the number one draw for me overall, so that's what kills it for me.

Honestly, having the Throne version is what saved this mold for me overall. The mace is sweet, and the throne is a nice touch. Plus now I know I will be skipping the regular release unless I find it on clearance.