The Energon Pub

[Evil Eye]

Prime looks good and basically solves my issues I had with the ROTF SS, which as mentioned before is a bit of a dick move but oh well.

Bonecrusher...sigh. I wish he was bigger. Granted he seems to be fairly bulky and massive (with his low height a result of his hunchback and abnormal anatomy) but somehow it seems...off. If I can get him though I will, he still looks awesome (though he may be destined to be repurposed and very lightly customized into an AU Strika) and the vehicle mode is brilliant.

Megatron I have mixed feelings on. Cape aside, he looks good, but he's definitely got some accuracy issues. However, given how the onscreen transformation was basically animation magic and completely physics defying, I can't see how anything smaller than MPM scale with a budget and partscount to match could make the transformation work. I don't think it's impossible to do (look at Unique Toys Challenger) but at retail price, I can forgive it. Whether I buy him or not is another matter.

Jetfire looks good. I still wish his jet mode had less undercarriage kibble (the fact the best, most streamlined SR-71 Transformer, official or otherwise, is a Minicon from the Armada era is ridiculous) but he does look exceedingly cool in robot mode and his jet mode isn't that bad.

What I really want though is a Nitro Zeus figure retooled from the TLK toy that gives him the correct head (which IIRC is similar, but not identical, to Shockwave's), the Graffiti tattoos he has all over him, and a neck chain accessory. I don't imagine for a moment it will happen but if it did I'd buy it.

[Jelze Bunnycat]

That new Optimus Prime looks epic,although I'm a little worried. The figure in the box is clearly misassembled. His pelvis is on backwords instead of forwards. Notice the easily visable screws, and stand port. I really hope this is an issue with only this figure and not the final product.

Good eye. I hadn't noticed that. Hopefully Hasbro have spotted it and taken any necessary action if required.

How do the legs attach to the pelvis? If they are simple ball joints, then the fix is easy-peasy, just pop them off, turn the pelvis around and re-attach. I had that happen with a Takara Legends Slipstream. But, I suspect for a voyager the hip joints are probably not simple ball joints.

Ball joints are hardly ever used on Voyager and up, opting for swivels and universal joints instead. SS Optimus Prime has the latter, but they can be unscrewed. Thankfully, it shouldn't be necessary as display samples are assembled correctly. Not the first time stock photos has had them misassembled if I may add.

[Carnivius_Prime]

Ball joints are hardly ever used on Voyager and up, opting for swivels and universal joints instead. SS Optimus Prime has the latter, but they can be unscrewed. Thankfully, it shouldn't be necessary as display samples are assembled correctly. Not the first time stock photos has had them misassembled if I may add.

Yeah it should be absolutely fine but just in case, I had a look at my SS Prime and looks like it's an easy swap of just some simple removal of screws and switching the legs round if necessary. But yeah the ones shown displayed at events and such have all looked correct so nothing really to worry about. Just a bad stock photo but the figure still looks great in it even with that error.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Thanks to Snakas Blog and TF-Factory on Weibo, we have some brand new images of the upcoming 2019 wave 1 Studio Series figures! These figures include the deluxe class Barricade, Sideswipe, World War II Bumblebee, Clunker Bumblebee, and Crankcase; Voyagers Bonecrusher and Optimus Prime, and Leader class figures Dark of the Moon Megatron and Jetfire!

TF-Factory gives us some great round the figure shots of Sideswipe, while Snakas covers the leaders, Optimus in his combined form with Jetfire, and the remaining deluxes minus Barricade. You can check out all the images attached below, and let us know what you think in the comments section below!

[-Kanrabat-]

Everything look pretty good! appart Megatron. What a blocky mess.

[ZeroWolf]

Howcome every time I see that jet Prime, the configuration looks slightly different?

[ZeldaTheSwordsman]

Jetfire looks to be just as messy on the underside as the original ROTF Leader figure and the combo isn't really much more accurate (also, way to forget the BFG again photographers!). But at least Jetfire's robot mode is cleaner. Face paint could use a bit of work though, too big a splash of silver.

[EvasionModeBumblebee]

Oh man, Megatron looks great! Can’t wait to pick him up. Kinda disappointed with Jetfire’s alt mode, I love the SR-71 and I understand that there’ll be some kibble with a figure like this, but his beard sticking out from the jet really doesn’t look good.

Edit: It’s hard to tell, but it looks like Clunker Bee’s hood/windshield assembly has a pin through it now! Glad they did fix it if they did, because SS Bee really is a great figure.

[Nemesis Maximo]

Might have to pick up that sideswipe, I always liked him in the films.

[Sentinel_Primal]

So far I'm really liking what this wave is going to be like. WWII Bee is probably going to end up being my Generations version of Bulkhead just because of the color and my lack of a Bulkhead for that display. But now I understand why Megs had his cloak in the movies. That face is ugly... Hope DNA Designs puts out a set for him with a better cloak and head mold, but if they don't I'm fine with using the stock head and covering it with the cloak

[ZeldaTheSwordsman]

So far I'm really liking what this wave is going to be like. WWII Bee is probably going to end up being my Generations version of Bulkhead just because of the color and my lack of a Bulkhead for that display. But now I understand why Megs had his cloak in the movies. That face is ugly... Hope DNA Designs puts out a set for him with a better cloak and head mold, but if they don't I'm fine with using the stock head and covering it with the cloak

That face is supposed to be hideous, remember? It was like that in the movie, because he was recovering from Optimus blasting half his face off in the final battle of the last one

[Carnivius_Prime]

I like all these. Megatron's detail and sculpt work looks nice. Yeah he looks a bit blocky overall but not too much to put me off (unlike most of Siege where it's blocky and then just overly detailed for the sake of being overly detailed) and I like that head sculpt and the truck is nice. Overall I far prefer it over the 2011 voyager.

I think the bumper parts of Barricade's chest have been shown to tilt angled in other photos but they're straight here so hoping that's just been missed out by whomever transformed him.

Jetfire's jet mode does show whiskers for some reason but eh it's fine I guess, the robot mode is what I'm wanting though which is a huge improvement over the RotF figure.

Sideswipe is nice. Still would prefer it to be his roofed RotF car mode though.

Clunker Bee annoys me in that they STILL haven't painted his shoulders properly but hey that's fine I corrected it on my SS01 version anyways. Don't need this one.

Not massively fussed by WWII Bee if I'm honest. Probably one I'll get if I can find it cheaper than normal. I prefer the third party one that's based on the actual car he turns into in the movie.

Optimus just looks lovely but again will need Toyhax stickers and a bit of paint like I did with my first release.

[PetesSuperRobots]

I gotta admit I like that Megatron. He isn't much of an iconic Megatron in either robot or vehicle mode (design wise) but he is a fantastic villainous design. I think I will get him and use him as a different character. Love the Mad Max truck, the hood and Igor I'd a great touch!

[PetesSuperRobots]

I really like Megatron. While this design has very little to do with what I typically associate with a Megatron design in either mode, the design itself is fantastic with the mad max truck, the hood and the Igor. I am tempted to get him as a different character for mysteries:)

[D-Maximal_Primal]

I can't wait to get these guys. Megs looks awesome, and I really look forward to combining Jetfire and Prime. Bonecrusher is a given cause he's my favorite movie con, and I have been looking forward to him so badly

[D-Maximal_Primal]

So i picked up this guy on the way home from work today



Gonna come right out and say it: He is not very good. I think a majority of his problems would be solved if they did his muscle car form. This chopper mode, it just doesn't work. It's really fiddly and has a lot of clear plastic parts. and it's nowhere near dark blue enough. The arms don't looks really good, I'm not a fan of how wide his crotch is, and his posability is limited in ways I don't really like either.

To keep this coptor mode, he needed to be like 15-20% larger, have no clear plastic, and have some better arms. I really hope they do his muscle car form so we get that mode and give him some justice.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Thanks to TonTon Reviews on Youtube and a heads up from Seibertronian What's Crackin'?, we have a pair of nice video reviews for the upcoming Transformers Studio Series deluxe class Barricade and Sideswipe!

Starting with Barricade, we have a nice look at the figure that utilizes some of the transformation tricks his MPM self had, and we also see that his chest is mostly real car parts in robot mode, with only the center moving out of the way to allow for the angry chest slant. He is also unique in that he is a Barricade figure that ends up with the hood as the outside piece of his back complete with a bumper-butt.

Up next, we have a nice look at Sideswipe, based on his Dark of the Moon form. The toy switches back to having the movie accurate rear end of the car become the chest (something the Dark of the Moon deluxe did not do), and he comes with a pair of blasters and a fair of detachable swords that peg into his hands. He is also the first Sideswipe figure to actually have the sides of his chest (the rear fenders and tail lights) slant in in a movie accurate style.

Check out the reviews below, and let us know what you think in the comments section below!

[President-prime]

Nice reviews. It why ss barricade when masterpiece barricade in $45 on Amazon

[What's Crackin'?]

Thanks for the news credit! I didn't even notice the sideswipe figure review!

[What's Crackin'?]

did anyone else notice that the guy in the reviews would start breathing real heavy? I hope he's okay.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Thanks for the news credit! I didn't even notice the sideswipe figure review!

Found that review while Watching Barricades! Just added it to the story! Both look pretty decent. Will probably get both

[Amelie]

New Deluxe Class Studio Series #28 Transformers 2007 Barricade and Deluxe Class Studio Series #29 Dark Of The Moon Sideswipe in-hand pics have surfaced by Weibo user NOTRAB. We have mirrored the images below, and the original gallery can be found on NOTRAB's wall.






































These are due to hit mass retail early next year along with Voyager Class 2007 Movie Optimus Prime, Bonecrusher and Leader Class Revenge of the Fallen Jetfire, Leader Class Dark of the Moon Megatron.

Have you ordered yours yet, waiting to catch one in the wild at retail or have something else to say about the Studio Series line? Join in the discussion at the Engergon Pub forums!

[Amelie]

:edit: Combined into one post.

I'm amazed at the rate these releases are coming at, really. Sometimes the wait between Generations figures feels like an age, yet these feel like a pretty steady beat.

[Hellscream9999]

Man, these look great, I cannot wait for these two, gold-bar though...

[KVO Prime]

I mean, I guess it could work for SS if I take his ROTF toy head and put it on this body. I thought they were going for more of a high quality paint and scale standard for this Studio Series line. For the most part they're great, but when I see lacking qualities on the face especially, it bothers me. Like with Movie 1 Ratchet's face.