The Energon Pub

[TulioDude]

I'm just waiting for the Last Knight Hot Rod.

[EvasionModeBumblebee]

I'm just waiting for the Last Knight Hot Rod.

Same here! I’m focusing on the first 3 movies for the most part, but Hot Rod’s design fits in really nicely with the pre-AOE Autobots. A not-too-humanoid face and quite a bit of recognizable alt. mode kibble, it’s a really good design!

[Percepter]

He looks alright but the fact we're in a timeline where a basic car chest transformation is apparently too complex to pull off without resorting to faux-parts irks me something chronic.

Hot Rod in particular kinda has to have a fake chest in order to be animation accurate in either mode, in robot mode it's smaller and differently shaped than in vehicle mode. When he transforms from robot to vehicle, his chest/hood literally grows and changes shape. They can't do that on a physical figure.

Yeah, I really don't get why this bothers people so much... If having an alternate part helps make the proportions of the robot better, then what's the issue?
Why does it matter?? If someone wants to claim they'd rather have all alt mode parts used in the bot mode... WHY??? I'm really asking... Is it because that makes a figure have a "pure transformation"?
Again, I'd ask why does this matter...

Imo, I think it's an awesome part of the engineering design that a figure's parts appear to shape/size shift from one mode to the other.

It matters because there's no point in having something that looks like part of the alt mode that isn't. Just make it some neat looking robot chest or something, then. And MP-09 managed to cook in a way to make the chest shrink that served well enough, IMO, so it's not like this can't be done.

That being said, I think all of the positives of this toy greatly outweigh the fact that he has a fake chest. Is it mildly frustrating? Yea. Will it stop me from purchasing this toy? No way in hell.

-Percepter

[sol magnus]

Greetings Seibertronians! Fellow Seibertron user, Praxiusprime77 has let us know that YouTube toy reviewer, TonTon Reviews, has been at it again. This time, has produced a video review for the upcoming Transformers Studio Series 86 Voyager Class Hotrod!

This Hotrod is the first of the 86 movie releases for the line, and comes with several accessories to mimic what he used in the 1986 animated movie, such as his flip down goggles and the saw blade he wields at one point.

We have embedded the review below for your convenience:


What do you think of this version of the classic character? Will you be adding him to a Hotrod shrine? Let us know in the Energon Pub and stay tuned to Seibertron for all the latest news and reviews!

Wow! Just...wow.

[Sowndwave76]

It matters because there's no point in having something that looks like part of the alt mode that isn't. Just make it some neat looking robot chest or something, then. And MP-09 managed to cook in a way to make the chest shrink that served well enough, IMO, so it's not like this can't be done.

There is a point... Which most people understand-- making the hood of a vehicle fold in any way to make it smaller to fit the proportions of the robot mode involves more parts/pieces, seams in the figure, and just more to mess with both for the designer, and the consumer in terms of the transformation.
If the vehicle hood could be made as the figure's "neat looking robot chest" without any changes in design... They'd do that.
You're example of a MP figure doesn't quite apply because not only are those figures larger which literally gives more plastic to work with, they're given a larger budget as well.

[-Kanrabat-]

You're example of a MP figure doesn't quite apply because not only are those figures larger which literally gives more plastic to work with, they're given a larger budget as well.

There's also the fact that many MP figures DO use faux parts. Best example, Optimus Prime with his fake belly grill... ALL 3 versions.

[Tuned Agent]

Hot Rod looks pretty good. His robot mode looks quite nice. His headsculpt is amazing, and the filp-out shades are incredible. The alt mode is decent, though not as good as TR Rod's. The leg transformation looks really cool, like an improved version of the TR figure. The rest of the transformation looks interesting, if a bit fiddly, and the use of a fake chest is unfortunate. I really like my TR Hot Rod, though, so I feel no need to get this version. But overall, it's pretty good.

...But the way his hips are designed is really stupid. They almost completely restrict backward movement for no reason. Couldn't they have been designed like... pretty much every Earthrise figure?

Looks Cool, but not in my range of collecting. I am glad for those who are excited. I will make one observation however... I'm not sure where the idea started that SS 86 toys were intended for kingdom, but just wouldn't fit in that line up, but I think we can put that to rest. Like or hate them, it seems these toys were always intended for SS.

I've been given a lot of flak lately because I like to categorize my toys according to how they are released, but it is important. Of course liking toys from every line is ok, and display them how you want, it's your collection. But I can guarantee, a Kingdom Hotrod would have been very different than this one. Not saying better or worse, just obviously engineered differently.

How would a Kingdom Hot Rod have been any different? This figure strongly reminds me of ER Optimus Prime, a figure who got more complex engineering due to being placed in a larger size class with extra stuff. As far as I can tell, this is exactly what a voyager Hot Rod would have looked like in Kingdom, except for maybe some extra 5mm ports or something.

[Sowndwave76]

You're example of a MP figure doesn't quite apply because not only are those figures larger which literally gives more plastic to work with, they're given a larger budget as well.

There's also the fact that many MP figures DO use faux parts. Best example, Optimus Prime with his fake belly grill... ALL 3 versions.

Exactly... & again, even though we could all suffice without faux parts, tons & tons of us would then be crying out for more accurate robot proportions...
After all, most of us agree that’s the most important aspect to get right... Especially now that technology really allows that to be possible.

Yeah, faux parts..... Of almost any complaint about these toys, that’s one I really really don’t understand.

[o.supreme]

Hotrod would have been a deluxe not a Voyager class in Kingdom (should have been also in SS but that's beside the point), whatever different level of engineering you want to make of that. I actually look at ER Prime and SS 86 Hotrod and see no similarities, they look like they belong in completely different lines because they are.

[Sowndwave76]

Hotrod would have been a deluxe not a Voyager class in Kingdom (should have been also in SS but that's beside the point), whatever different level of engineering you want to make of that. I actually look at ER Prime and SS 86 Hotrod and see no similarities, they look like they belong in completely different lines because they are.

Although I can’t speak to Leader Prime, I tend to agree with o.supreme...
If for no other reason, this SS Hotrod isn’t a “gimmick” figure— no stupid 5mm ports in every limb, or extras or weird paint apps based on a theme that’s outside of the character itself.

[Sabrblade]

I actually look at ER Prime and SS 86 Hotrod and see no similarities, they look like they belong in completely different lines because they are.

Heh, one could say the exact same thing about these two toys.

[AcademyofDrX]

Exactly... & again, even though we could all suffice without faux parts, tons & tons of us would then be crying out for more accurate robot proportions...
After all, most of us agree that’s the most important aspect to get right... Especially now that technology really allows that to be possible.

Yeah, faux parts..... Of almost any complaint about these toys, that’s one I really really don’t understand.

"Everyone knows the only thing that matters is screen accuracy, and the best way to get screen accuracy is fake parts, how could anyone think otherwise."

I don't think your problem is "understanding," it seems like you can't even conceptualize that someone might care about other things. Personally, I don't consider robot mode appearance the most important factor. By that standard, RED would be the best. There are a lot of compromises in this figure to get that appearance. For example, instead of having a rear bumper, his knees are just hanging out the back. I would rather have stubbier legs or miscolored parts or something to have it look like an actual car.

Ordinarily, anyway, but this is Studio Series. It's a trade-off. I still have the TR and PotP figures, so I think this one will be a good complement.

For all the criticism of G1 taking over so many product lines, I think it's impressive that they're releasing so many different styles of figures. SS, WFC, and Prime Wars are all clearly Generations but have different priorities and service different types of collections.

[Nemesis Destron]

Okay so I was late to the meeting, but why is this Hot Rod under the Studio series/brand?

[grimdragon2001]

to celebrate the 1986 movie

[Sabrblade]

Okay so I was late to the meeting, but why is this Hot Rod under the Studio series/brand?

Studio Series is gonna start having toys of characters from the 1986 movie. We think it's so that Kingdom can make room for its Beast Wars toys in addition to the updated G1 toys that it's also going to have.

[Emerje]

Really thought I would see more complaints about how terrible the back of Hot Rod's car mode looks. Everyone seems to be really upset about Ironhide's feet sticking out the back of the van mode, but I guess big gray knees hanging out the back of a car is OK. I think they missed the mark there, surely there's something they could have done to either pull the legs in further or collapse them more. Very unfortunate because the rest of the figure is pretty much immaculate. Definitely going to be posing him on the shelf with the Matrix in hand, that effect part is perfect!

Emerje

[Nemesis Destron]

to celebrate the 1986 movie

So we can expect other '86 characters not yet released like Kup, Cyclonus, Galvatron...? As oppose to some that have recently been released...UM, Arcee, Springer.

[Gauntlet101010]

I can't say this looks like it belongs to a different line than ER Prime. They're both very screen accurate depictions of their characters and seem to be in the same scale. Aside from not having a bunch of nubs for blast effects anyway.

I'm not a fan of fauz parts if they seem egregious. But the car mode hood is well hidden in robot mode. And the end result is just fantastic.

[Sabrblade]

to celebrate the 1986 movie

So we can expect other '86 characters not yet released like Kup, Cyclonus, Galvatron...? As oppose to some that have recently been released...UM, Arcee, Springer.

Hot Rod, Kup, Blurr, Slag w/ Daniel, Grimlock w/ Wheelie, Jazz, Astrotrain, Gnaw and Scourge are rumored for Studio Series.

Cyclonus, Galvatron, Ultra Magnus (Earth Mode retool of Siege), and Rodimus Prime are rumored for Kingdom.

[Rodimus Prime]

Don't forget Wheelie with Grimlock.

[bacem]

Really thought I would see more complaints about how terrible the back of Hot Rod's car mode looks. Everyone seems to be really upset about Ironhide's feet sticking out the back of the van mode, but I guess big gray knees hanging out the back of a car is OK. I think they missed the mark there, surely there's something they could have done to either pull the legs in further or collapse them more. Very unfortunate because the rest of the figure is pretty much immaculate. Definitely going to be posing him on the shelf with the Matrix in hand, that effect part is perfect!

Emerje

Me personally, i complaint about feet in ER itonhide because the car is supposedly an earth vehicle, which makes the feet looks out of place. Hot rod on the other hand, is cybertronian vehicle, as far as i know, so there's no need to follow any norm of earth vehicle, same case i never complaint about feet hanging on siege megs and siege ironhide.

[Wolfman Jake]

We're getting a Studio Series release of Astrotrain!? This is the first I've heard of that.

I'm secretly hoping we get a re-release of Siege Springer in the Studio Series, minus the battle damage paint apps, and just putting in that little extra more in the paint details to make him as screen accurate as possible. While they're at it, maybe they can redeem the Earthrise Arcee figure with a perfect Arcee cartoon paint job?

[Seibertron]

I think Studio Series Hot Rod might be the first figure that I've ever thought ... "wow, this $20 Transformers toy looks way better than the $100+ Masterpiece figure." I have never cared for the Masterpiece Hot Rod / Rodimus Prime figures (not to mention the not-so-great Titans Return figure) ... but this Studio Series Hot Rod looks amazing. Hopefully the vehicle mode is mistransformed and the gaps under the side windows can be resolved. They even got the chest right (finally!) and it doesn't have the shoulder pylons in the way of his yellow wings/shield thing on his back like the Masterpiece toy did (which screwed up his color silhouette). Nice work, Hasbro and Takara Tomy.

Only complaint I have so far, assuming the gaps in vehicle mode are a mistransformation, is that the yellow on the roof of the car mode should have been fixed. But fairly minor, and something that a little ReproLabels/ToyHax sticker can't take care of (not to mention some custom solution).

[Sabrblade]

We're getting a Studio Series release of Astrotrain!? This is the first I've heard of that.

According to this news post (unless a mistake was made).

[Percepter]

There is a point... Which most people understand-- making the hood of a vehicle fold in any way to make it smaller to fit the proportions of the robot mode involves more parts/pieces, seams in the figure, and just more to mess with both for the designer, and the consumer in terms of the transformation.
If the vehicle hood could be made as the figure's "neat looking robot chest" without any changes in design... They'd do that.
You're example of a MP figure doesn't quite apply because not only are those figures larger which literally gives more plastic to work with, they're given a larger budget as well.

If the Studio Series was specifically targeted toward children, your argument about transformation complexity would have merit. But it isn't. This line is obviously targeting adult fans, who can either figure it out on their own or follow an instruction manual just fine.

As for the designer needing to do more work: Who cares? It's his job to figure out how to make a transformation work. It's not like we are requesting Soundwave become the size of a weapon when he transforms into his cassette player here.

As for the argument that MPs are larger and thus can be more complex: This is true to an extent. However, the mechanic used by MP-09 for the chest is not very complex and does not need small parts to pull off in the WFCT/SS86 size profile. And we've seen previous toys (like THS-02 Prime) prove that MP transformation techniques can be adapted for much smaller form factors.

There's also the fact that many MP figures DO use faux parts. Best example, Optimus Prime with his fake belly grill... ALL 3 versions.

"MP does it" is not a good excuse. There are plenty of bad decisions in the MP line. Also, MP-01's grill is not fake.

I'm not a fan of fauz parts if they seem egregious. But the car mode hood is well hidden in robot mode. And the end result is just fantastic.

I agree that the way they hide away the real hood is really impressive. They did a similar good job of hiding the grill on ER OP that makes me really like the figure despite it using a fake grill.

-Percepter