The Energon Pub

[D-Maximal_Primal]

I am going to jump on the EvasionModeBumblebee wagon here. movie Bumblebee is one of my absolute favorite characters in transformers, and to me is THE Bumblebee. I love so many things about the movies, much like EMBee said, with the action scenes, the awesome detailed designs, the integrated weapons, and the free for all for the new features that transformers never had before, like the RotF Constructicon bodies, Crosshairs trenchcoat, etc.

Simply put, Bayverse is why I am here and is my favorite part of Transformers.

On a toy related note, I did get BBM Arcee, and hopefully DotM Bee and BBM Ironhide should be shipping soon. I hope Sideways comes in stock soon too, I am stoked for him.

Arcee is pretty dang good. I love the heel wheels, and the design itself is so good. This is a great Arcee design

[-Kanrabat-]

(Bee Movie) Arcee is pretty dang good. I love the heel wheels, and the design itself is so good. This is a great Arcee design

I could add that it's one of the best Arcee ever. Perfect design all over, she got that overall G1 look, she got the perfect cyber vehicle mode, and she barely have any backpack.

Stellar.

[william-james88]

An online seller selling unreleased and even unrevealed toys currently has all the 15th Anniversary Autobot 5-pack for sale. BUT they also have a Megatron figure for sale, labelled as "Megatron pack 5" which is the same designation they give the figures from the Autobot 5-pack. Now this is not a guarantee that we are getting a Decepticon 5-pack, since this site is not reliable in the name of the toy and there are no other Decepticons listed. But it is a first sign that we may be getting a 5-pack, hence why we are sharing this with you. There is no picture of the actual Megatron toy, just a stock image of a previous release. The idea of a Decepticon 5-pack is interesting though since unlike with the Autobots, it isn't certain what this 5-pack would entail as there were more than 5 prominent Decepticons in the film.

[Spider5800]

I mean, assuming it's to match the Autobots from the first movie, we can probably guess by process of elimination, there was only 8 Decepticons. Frenzy doesn't even have an SS figure yet, Blackout is unlikely because he's a leader class, and Scorponok was an accessory for Blackout.

So would assume it's Megatron, Starscream, Brawl, Bonecrusher and Barricade. Pricing might be weird compared to the Autobot pack (since you're talking about 4 voyagers and a deluxe, as opposed to the Autobot's 2 voyagers and 3 deluxes), but its possible they offset the price somehow with less paint apps, less accessories compared to the original releases, etc.

If they AREN'T trying to match the first movie, but try to match the same sizes, could be more interesting. Megatron and Starscream are almost guarantees as the voyagers, so then it just becomes a question of who the deluxes are. Maybe Soundwave, Barricade and Sideways?

[Tracytron54321]

It doesn't really interest me personally, but it does make me extremely excited at the prospect of potential future multi-packs... Maybe an Animated Autobot and Decepticon multi-pack like these digibashes?

https://twitter.com/CookieBoy101/status ... 8cre2s0EkA
https://twitter.com/CookieBoy101/status ... 8cre2s0EkA

I'd buy them in an instant... Maybe they could even do a Unicron Trilogy Autobot and Decepticon 5-pack?

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Interesting listing, it has my interest. Though i wonder what they would do for the backdrop, since at most only 4 of the movie cons were ever together in 1 location during the movie.

[EvasionModeBumblebee]

I finished my paint work on SS DOTM Bumblebee! Very excited to finally have this guy painted up, this is my favorite design for Bee!

I added a few new DOTM details that the original was missing, like the collar pieces and the new yellow pieces that sit on the shoulders. Also painted the silver trim around the taillights, I really like how that turned out. As always, if you want to see more you can check out my customs page!

As for my thoughts on the figure as a whole, the retooling they did was pretty incredible. The only things carried over from SS-49/74 in alt mode were the doors and windshield/roof pieces. I love that they even added the new exhaust pipes! Bot mode retooling is good too, I really like how the new chest piece was done. The biggest issue with the figure is that it's pretty loose right out of the box, not just the ball joints but the whole door wing/shoulder wheel assembly as well. The paint fixed that all up, but it is a little weird since that isn't a problem I've had with the others I've had of this mold. They also reverted to the brighter rally yellow instead of SS-74's more accurate orange-yellow for some reason, but I was also able to (kinda) fix that. Besides that though, this is a great retool to the already phenomenal SS-49 mold and I'm so glad to finally have a Studio Series DOTM Bee in my collection!

[D-Maximal_Primal]

I finished my paint work on SS DOTM Bumblebee! Very excited to finally have this guy painted up, this is my favorite design for Bee!

I added a few new DOTM details that the original was missing, like the collar pieces and the new yellow pieces that sit on the shoulders. Also painted the silver trim around the taillights, I really like how that turned out. As always, if you want to see more you can check out my customs page!

Bee bot 1.jpg

Bee bot mask 1.jpg

Bee alt 2.jpg

Bee alt back.jpg

As for my thoughts on the figure as a whole, the retooling they did was pretty incredible. The only things carried over from SS-49/74 in alt mode were the doors and windshield/roof pieces. I love that they even added the new exhaust pipes! Bot mode retooling is good too, I really like how the new chest piece was done. The biggest issue with the figure is that it's pretty loose right out of the box, not just the ball joints but the whole door wing/shoulder wheel assembly as well. The paint fixed that all up, but it is a little weird since that isn't a problem I've had with the others I've had of this mold. They also reverted to the brighter rally yellow instead of SS-74's more accurate orange-yellow for some reason, but I was also able to (kinda) fix that. Besides that though, this is a great retool to the already phenomenal SS-49 mold and I'm so glad to finally have a Studio Series DOTM Bee in my collection!

Very well done! I am eager for Amazon to ship my DotM Bee!

[MaximalNui]

Yeah, not very interested in any of these multi-packs. Call me when it's an Infernocus that isn't one member short and 4/5ths of retools from a completely different line.

[EvasionModeBumblebee]

Very well done! I am eager for Amazon to ship my DotM Bee!

Thank you, hopefully Amazon sends yours soon! Hoping they get around to sending Sideways soon!

I've started work on Galvatron now and I'm liking it a lot more than I thought I would! The feet sticking out in alt mode are really rough, but bot mode is awesome!

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Yeah, not very interested in any of these multi-packs. Call me when it's an Infernocus that isn't one member short and 4/5ths of retools from a completely different line.

I have been championing for this for a while, still holding out hope for a good Infernocus

[TF-fan kev777]

So I found Sideways last week and, well, he's been a disappointment so far.

Dear Hasbro,
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD STOP IT WITH BALL JOINT ANKLES!!!!!!

I prefer my figures to be able to stand. Plus using ball joints for all the major bot joints (ankles, hips, elbows and shoulders) I'm sure is not going to age well. The transformation is interesting, but a bit fiddly to get everything in place.

We'll see if my feelings on him improve after a few more transformations (and some necessary floor polish).

[-Kanrabat-]

Dear Hasbro,
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD STOP IT WITH BALL JOINT ANKLES!!!!!!

I just got some MP-01 Optimus Prime flashbacks.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD STOP IT WITH BALL JOINT ANKLES!!!!!!

Sadly, that is the only way several bayverse figures have gotten ankles. They get jipped on the ankles a lot

[D-Maximal_Primal]

My BBM Ironhide and DotM Bee arrived finally last night, so now I only need Sideways to be up to date on SS figures.

Ironhide is a bit weak. I like the mold, and Ratchet was pretty good, but the arms sort of frustrate me, and Ironhide's legs are pretty noodly in several places. Not Selects Lift Ticket bad by any means, but it is loose enough to cause posing problems. I like the mold more in red though.

Bee is very solid. I really liked this mold when they created it for 07 Bee, and each remold has been solid as well. I like the new DotM tooling, even if I wish he had a little bit more tooling and paint. He is nice, and definitely the winner of the haul for me.

[EvasionModeBumblebee]

Bee is very solid. I really liked this mold when they created it for 07 Bee, and each remold has been solid as well. I like the new DotM tooling, even if I wish he had a little bit more tooling and paint. He is nice, and definitely the winner of the haul for me.

Very nice, glad you were able to get Bee!

PVP Review for SS TLK Hot Rod is up, it looks awesome!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMfQIieewDo&t=27s

The chest transformation has some pretty crazy engineering, can't wait to get this figure!

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Despite this being my 3rd of the mold, I am still getting a good kick out of this Bumblebee mold. They did a pretty dang good job on it, and I am greatly enjoying it. DotM is my favorite Transformers movie too, so it feels really fun to have that movie's tooling. Bee is fun to have. Only downside is he has a smidge of that issue ER Sunstreaker had with his yellows and pictures with certain lighting, bit it's a bit less egregious than Sunstreaker thanks to where it ends up in robot mode.

[M. Spector]

I got Sideways last weekend. I'll get the grips out the way first, his ankle ball joints are mad loose, an easy fix for the initiated but for a normie it might be frustrating. Besides that, he's certainly one of the better movie car formers I've purchased/handled. Blaster arm is rad and hooks on smoothly, Transformation is neat and not too big a hassle, he does tab togather good and I like how much the car disappears or spreads out in robot mode. Plus he is one of the top five best rolling movie cars I have Of course it might just be my luck with this copy but I'd recommend em

[william-james88]

I'll be honest, I like the initial TLK Hot Rod we got. I thought it was one of the better examples of a retool we had ever had (along with that voyager TAV Grimlock) and I thought the alt mode was excellent. However, after seeing the images comparing it to the new Studio Series toy we will be getting, it's easy to see how this one is far more accurate to the character model, especially with the torso. While this is the third deluxe TLK Hot Rod toy we get, it is the first to have a fully dedicated mold and it shows. We also get comparisons between car modes though the differences there aren't as drastic.

Let us know if you'll be getting the new one and what you think. The review is from Prime vs Prime and the toy was orderable early on Shopee.

[Sabrblade]

That looks much nicer than the original.

[primalxconvoy]

As always, if this is not the official version, it would be prudent to wait for actual retail versions being reviewed by legit YouTubers before we jump to any conclusions regarding any possible faults or defects in this mold. For all we know, the retail versions might differ considerably to ones by those giving us peegey tips, however "helpful" they may seem. This might even be true if the unboxed versions are BETTER than the originals, and we get our hopes up.

[Emerje]

As always, if this is not the official version, it would be prudent to wait for actual retail versions being reviewed by legit YouTubers before we jump to any conclusions regarding any possible faults or defects in this mold. For all we know, the retail versions might differ considerably to ones by those giving us peegey tips, however "helpful" they may seem. This might even be true if the unboxed versions are BETTER than the originals, and we get our hopes up.

Don't these usually come right off the assembly line? Unless they have Hasbro's serial numbers printed directly on them they're probably final products. Do you have any examples of reviewed figures being different from the retail release (aside from blemishes and broken parts)?

Emerje

[primalxconvoy]

As always, if this is not the official version, it would be prudent to wait for actual retail versions being reviewed by legit YouTubers before we jump to any conclusions regarding any possible faults or defects in this mold. For all we know, the retail versions might differ considerably to ones by those giving us peegey tips, however "helpful" they may seem. This might even be true if the unboxed versions are BETTER than the originals, and we get our hopes up.

Don't these usually come right off the assembly line? Unless they have Hasbro's serial numbers printed directly on them they're probably final products. Do you have any examples of reviewed figures being different from the retail release (aside from blemishes and broken parts)?

Emerje

With 3P products, whenever they're reviewed, they're often accompanied by disclosures that they're pre-production samples (even if they're close to the final product or end up being exactly the same as the final product). This is how more honest YouTubers give us a look at such toys, while also giving us enough info to make more informed decisions prior to purchasing. In some cases, they even state that the companies are aware of certain faults and will (or already have) rectified them.

From personal experience, I've found some of the faults mentioned by those that have watched such unripe product reviews, don't always turn up in the Takara-Tomy versions, so I'm a little sceptical. That's why I usually only watch legit YouTube videos, as any faults mentioned in them might be more widespread.

I'm more interested in the facts, rather than "reviews" akin to fortune telling:

-

[EvasionModeBumblebee]

And here's PvP's review for Crosshairs. Important to note is that his copy is missing the spoiler, which we know the figure will include based on prior renders and in-hand pics from Hasbro.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25p8PqD8T88

Crosshairs definitely isn't as much of a win as Hot Rod, but the molded detail is pretty impressive.

[primalxconvoy]

And here's CvC's review for Crosshairs. Important to note is that his copy is missing the spoiler, which we know the figure will include based on prior renders and in-hand pics from Hasbro.

Crosshairs definitely isn't as much of a win as Hot Rod, but the molded detail is pretty impressive.

Well, this "kind-of" highlights my point, although not exactly. The copy in this "review" (sic) isn't the same as the proposed/actual retail version, for better or for worse.