The Energon Pub

News Credits: 1350 · by **ZeroWolf** » Sat Jul 28, 2018 5:08 pm

You know that chart might be the first time I've seen what the arcee sisters combined form looked like

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Sat Jul 28, 2018 5:24 pm

ZeroWolf wrote:You know that chart might be the first time I've seen what the arcee sisters combined form looked like

About that, since it didn't end up happening in the film, there only exists preliminary conceptual art for the combined form that doesn't really resemble the finalized designs for the three Arcees, as the idea was dropped before the designers were able to try to make it work with the finalized designs of the three.

News Credits: 54 · by **Deadput** » Sat Jul 28, 2018 8:04 pm

Sabrblade wrote:
ZeroWolf wrote:You know that chart might be the first time I've seen what the arcee sisters combined form looked like
About that, since it didn't end up happening in the film, there only exists preliminary conceptual art for the combined form that doesn't really resemble the finalized designs for the three Arcees, as the idea was dropped before the designers were able to try to make it work with the finalized designs of the three.

I think the combined form would of helped with scale issues with her compared to the rest of the cast, maybe even give her Sidedwipe like legs so she could be taller.

I mean they didn't care about the character at all (basically only in the movie so she could be killed off so they wouldn't have to use her basically) but still.

News Credits: 4835 · by **william-james88** » Sat Jul 28, 2018 9:27 pm

Pics from Wonderfest

https://hobby.dengeki.com/event/605650/

News Credits: 6 · by **RotorstormNZ** » Sun Jul 29, 2018 2:54 am

Aw, no star appearance from my boy SuperCobra-mode Dropkick?

News Credits: 6188 · by **Va'al** » Sun Jul 29, 2018 4:01 am

Some official images!

https://www.seibertron.com/transformers ... 18s/41738/

by **ZeldaTheSwordsman** » Sun Jul 29, 2018 4:46 am

IMO, trying to make a Jetfire that combines with Optimus is foolhardy. Yes, Leader Jetfire and Voyager Optimus gets the size difference better. But that isn't the only issue. Jetfire's parts are distributed very differently in his actual robot mode than they are when rebuilt into the powerup armor for Optimus. Trying to make them configurable both ways would involve a heavy amount of fiddly partsforming at best IF it was even doable at all - which is a big "if" - and would still end up hurting the looks of both the combination and Jetfire's robot mode. I would vastly prefer them to just make a Jetfire that's focused on being a good, more accurate toy of Jefire.

Also, Evasion Mode Optimus needs to be delayed so that they can fix his deco. The G1 Optimus deco is utter bullshit on him. I realize that the full-on weather-beaten look is beyond the Studio Series' paint budget, but they could at least get the smegging plastic colors right and put on some of the flames. I'm also annoyed that the muzzle of his BFG is apparently camera-shy so I can't tell if they got that right or not.

News Credits: 1350 · by **ZeroWolf** » Sun Jul 29, 2018 5:07 am

That evasion mode prime isn't likely to be part of the studio series as it is just being advertised as part of the Bumblebee line itself. So on wounldnt worry about it.

News Credits: 54 · by **Deadput** » Sun Jul 29, 2018 6:10 am

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:Also, Evasion Mode Optimus needs to be delayed so that they can fix his deco. The G1 Optimus deco is utter bullshit on him. I realize that the full-on weather-beaten look is beyond the Studio Series' paint budget, but they could at least get the smegging plastic colors right and put on some of the flames. I'm also annoyed that the muzzle of his BFG is apparently camera-shy so I can't tell if they got that right or not.

He's not brown because it's not based on his AOE appearance but his look in the Bumblebee movie, you can mostly tell with the head which is a tinge different from his previous movie appearances, being a little more "boxy".

Even the description for the figure backs this up.

This is also a perfect deformation figure of Optimus Prime of the new movie "Bumblebee". Vehicle mode is as you can see! If it is a transformer fan influenced by the first animation, it will take in the hand without hesitation, a nostalgic "box type" tractor head. Transform from robot mode to vehicle mode! The whole body is fully movable in robot mode. You can also reproduce the state of the battle mask on and off.
* Containers that are towing in the vehicle mode are those of the MP-10 Convoy. Actual product is not included.

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Sun Jul 29, 2018 11:00 am

That Optimus isn't Evasion Mode. It's a larger new mold and named Legendary Optimus Prime.

News Credits: 19 · by **Carnivius_Prime** » Mon Jul 30, 2018 1:31 pm

Sabrblade wrote:That Optimus isn't Evasion Mode. It's a larger new mold and named Legendary Optimus Prime.

Yeah it's not part of the Studio Series at all at present (and I can't see it ever being so since it's too large for the scale) It's just heavily based on Evasion Prime and a G1-esque Movie Prime figure for the Bumblebee movie with all it's G1-stuffs.

News Credits: 1642 · by **D-Maximal_Primal** » Tue Jul 31, 2018 4:30 pm

So I got Lockdown on Saturday, and I have to say: best deluxe of the line so far. like, easily.

The attention to detail is fantastic!!! the robot mode is gorgeous enough I overlook the backpack. Alt mode is killer too. And the weapons are great.

News Credits: 19 · by **Carnivius_Prime** » Wed Aug 01, 2018 9:57 am

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:So I got Lockdown on Saturday, and I have to say: best deluxe of the line so far. like, easily.

The attention to detail is fantastic!!!

Yeah he is insanely detailed for a Deluxe figure.

News Credits: 293 · by **shajaki** » Sun Aug 05, 2018 11:55 am

I've done a mini write up for all the Studio Series figures so far, so why not keep the ball rolling with Megatron and Brawl. Pics first? Pics first.

Brawl's up. He's an odd duck....
Tanks mode looks fine enough, but the main turret, y'know, the big gun you'd want to move, doesn't move. Even though there's a joint in the transformation that could totally allow it (though at the wrong axis, and would expose a huge hole). The turret above however, does move. Transformation about the right level of complexity you'd want. Bot mode is posable, enough, I guess. Nothing crazy, but not particularly limited like Blackout. His main issue, I'd say is his size. Shoulda been a Leader *tsk tsk*. If you need a Brawl, go for it. But if you got the OG Leader, stick with him.

Megatron. If you need an ROTF one, this is likely your best bet.
His, thing... mode, sure is a thing. He's a bit uneven in the rear, and my turret is bent (from storage in bot mode, which I don't see how is unavoidable). But the thing is a thing, so *shrug*. Transformation fools you, but its all that tricky. Once you got it, it's like "oh". Bot mode is pretty good! The right proportions, posable (ankle tilts!), and no kibble. The previous Leader is only good with upgrades, and the old Voyager (looking particularly at Movie the Best) might be painted to the nines, but he's got some crazy back kibble. I thought this new one was pretty plain-jane in pics, and while he does look better in hand, could really use some more paint. Other than that, he's pretty cool. Recommended ;)^

News Credits: 48 · by **Nemesis Primal** » Sun Aug 05, 2018 5:12 pm

Just saw the latter end of AoE on tv, still didn't see a single blue Trax/KSI Sentry. Why is the figure blue, as opposed to the red, black, and silver ones in the movie? Who knows, I guess all of them are too close to Stinger. Still seems weird to take a character that actually was in the movie and just make it a different color for the toy though.

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Sun Aug 05, 2018 7:09 pm

Nemesis Primal wrote:Just saw the latter end of AoE on tv, still didn't see a single blue Trax/KSI Sentry. Why is the figure blue, as opposed to the red, black, and silver ones in the movie? Who knows, I guess all of them are too close to Stinger. Still seems weird to take a character that actually was in the movie and just make it a different color for the toy though.

Think about it. It started as a red car toy (Stinger), so making it a different color (blue) serves as a way to prevent the "You already have that one!" excuse parents use to avoid buying their kids the same mold again, even if the blue color results in the figure resembling none of the onscreen robots the toy is meant to represent.

If anything, the Trax-based KSI prototypes from the movie and Stinger himself really shouldn't have been the same color in the film to begin with, as their both being red honestly did make the two kinds of robots look so identical in the film to begin with that one really has to pay close attention to all the hectic carnage of the movie in order to recognize which ones are which, until Stinger has his final fight with Bumblebee and Strafe, that is.

News Credits: 48 · by **Nemesis Primal** » Sun Aug 05, 2018 9:15 pm

Sabrblade wrote:
Nemesis Primal wrote:Just saw the latter end of AoE on tv, still didn't see a single blue Trax/KSI Sentry. Why is the figure blue, as opposed to the red, black, and silver ones in the movie? Who knows, I guess all of them are too close to Stinger. Still seems weird to take a character that actually was in the movie and just make it a different color for the toy though.
Think about it. It started as a red car toy (Stinger), so making it a different color (blue) serves as a way to prevent the "You already have that one!" excuse parents use to avoid buying their kids the same mold again, even if the blue color results in the figure resembling none of the onscreen robots the toy is meant to represent.

...I think you misunderstand the point of my statement. I understand why they changed it from a business/to-sell-toys standpoint, there's no reason to repaint an evil red guy into...an evil red guy. My complaint is why they picked a color for the figure that doesn't match a single Decepticon in the movie, when there were Sentries in the movie who weren't red and at least two non-red car Decepticons who didn't even transform, and therefore Hasbro could easily claim looked like Stinger or the Sentries in robot mode. Plus, the Sentry figure is going to be sold in the same wave as Dropkick, ANOTHER blue Deluxe-class Decepticon, so making it any other color would have helped distinguish the two figures and probably make parents who were uninformed/skeptical/not paying attention from writing them both off as too similar to warrant buying them both. It seems to me like their only thought behind it was:
Designer 1: "We need to repaint it, what color should we make it?"
Designer 2: "Well, it used to be red...blue is the counterpart of red, right? Just make it blue."
Designer 1: "Sure, why not."

News Credits: 19 · by **Carnivius_Prime** » Mon Aug 06, 2018 12:58 pm

shajaki wrote: His main issue, I'd say is his size. Shoulda been a Leader *tsk tsk*. If you need a Brawl, go for it. But if you got the OG Leader, stick with him.

No, Studio Brawl is correct scale now since he's only supposed to be about 26 feet tall (and look at the scene when Jazz jumps onto him both in tank and robot mode, Jazz doesn't look particularly tiny in relation to Brawl's size). The Leader is far too large.

News Credits: 4835 · by **william-james88** » Mon Aug 06, 2018 9:46 pm

We have new stock images of the upcoming Transformers Studio Series deluxe figures. These images come from Weibo and are mostly of in-package images.

Below you will see SS-16 Ratchet, SS-17 Shadow Raider and SS-18 Bumblebee with Volkswagon alt mode. Ratchet has a new weapon while Shadow Raider has a new weapon and different headsculpt from the previous Lockdown mold.

There is also an extra image of this same Bumblebee figure showing its size. This is the main retail release of this figure but as we all know this same figure will also be available in different exclusive sets packaged with other figures. We also have what appears to be the back of the instructions for these figures which show these same figures again along with SS-22 Dropkick and SS-23 KSI Sentry.

News Credits: 22 · by **Rodimus Prime** » Mon Aug 06, 2018 9:54 pm

I just found SS Megatron at Target, and I must say he's probably the best looking SS figure so far. Kinda like a smaller, sharper version of RoTF leader figure. He was on the shelf with SS Brawl and Cyberverse Megatron, but I passed on Brawl. Maybe I'll get him later.

News Credits: 6 · by **RotorstormNZ** » Mon Aug 06, 2018 10:29 pm

@william-james88: it's spelled Volkswagen! I've noticed this typo a few times in your stories.

As excited as I am to see SS Bug Bee in package, bring on my helicopter hero Dropkick!

by **Nemesis Maximo** » Tue Aug 07, 2018 8:44 pm

Oh man, Shadow Raider looks rad! That orange will look sweet in alt mode.

News Credits: 4835 · by **william-james88** » Sat Aug 11, 2018 7:15 am

While not a review per se, we do have a video demonstrating the Transformers 2018 Bumblebee Movie Studio Series SS18 Deluxe Bumblebee figure which turns into a Volkswagen beetle. As the lengthy title says, this is the deluxe class Bumblebee figure we are getting for the movie and all non gimmick toys for any other movie character will also be part of Studio Series. The figure in the video is a factory test, as we can tell from the serial numbers written across the figure, but it is the final collours. We get to see all the accessories used and, of course, the transformation.

Unlike the other Studio Figures we got so far, this Bumblebee is not based on the final CG models, as is made apparent with his wings no longer being as prominant in recent screen shots.

Let us know your thoughts on it and if you will be getting this one or one of the many other releases of this mold.

News Credits: 19 · by **Carnivius_Prime** » Sat Aug 11, 2018 7:17 am

It's a great looking TF figure.

I shall be buying at least one version of it.

by **Agent 53** » Sat Aug 11, 2018 8:06 am

Is it ridiculous that SS Beetle!Bumblebee looks better in vehicle mode that MASTERPIECE Bumblebee?
Also do we know if the rumors of Movie Masterpiece Beetle!Bee are true or not. I would throw money at that.