The Energon Pub

[Till-all-R1]

Kingdom Magnus works just fine for me, and looks enough like UM from the movie so it works. I've no intention of pay $100 for yet another version that may or may not be more accurate. I didn't get into this line to repeat buy the same character at even higher prices because of whatever reasons.

I get that this was basically a release for the WCF Netflix show and they could possibly make a better version for Commander Class, I just rather have known ahead of time so I could have saved the $50 on Kingdom and just put it towards this new version. If indeed it turns out to be so much better.

I only recently got into the line because of how good the bots looked in Siege/ER compared to past versions of the early 2Ks or earlier. They finally looked like decent representations of the characters seen on screen, and some of them carried over to Kingdom with a fee great Highlights such as Blaster for example. To think that in a few years they'll redo them in the next class up for a more accurate look and to soak extra cash out of me for something I already have is asinine IMO.

The kicker, you can't wait for that better version because it may never come for the bot you're wanting it for, and in the mean time if you don't buy the existing one you'll end up paying through the nose later on when no longer at retail.

[Rodimus Prime]

Well we all have our preferences. I think Kingdom Magnus is great and represents Magnus on my movie shelf right now. If or when the SS86 figure comes out, I will buy it and replace this Magnus with it, and this one will move to my comics shelf.

I just hope he will be available easy enough, I never saw Motormaster and Rodimus in stores.

[-Kanrabat-]

Well we all have our preferences. I think Kingdom Magnus is great and represents Magnus on my movie shelf right now. If or when the SS86 figure comes out, I will buy it and replace this Magnus with it, and this one will move to my comics shelf.

I just hope he will be available easy enough, I never saw Motormaster and Rodimus in stores.

My only beef with Kingdom Magnus is that there's a section of the trailer missing for some bizarre reason, exposing the egregious "truck arms". The cherry on top is the two missing guns. At least the SG version compensate with a sword, a fan/sucker thing, and an extra head.

[LinaNui]

Looks like Amazon is about to start shipping out Freezer. Mine should be here Wednesday.

Same! I am excited to get him. Hopefully the rest will follow soon. I really need Battletrap and Scourge.

Man this thread has really devolved. If you want to keep discussing the SS86 things can you please move to the SS86 thread here: studio-series-86-discussion-t116421.php

Thanks

[EvasionModeBumblebee]

Over Christmas break I revisited my paint work on SS-49 to get him up to par with my later Bumblebee repaints, this mold is still my favorite deluxe class figure! (I think DOTM is my favorite of this mold, but they're all good).

I do hope to see a new TLK Bumblebee in the future that uses the engineering upgrades from this figure, especially with the chest. Not sure if a reshell would work or not since none of the alt mode parts could be reused because of how different the shaping and detail is on that version of the Camaro.

We're not 100% sure if the rerelease of TLK Bee as SS-25 counts as definitive or not, but since the rerelease of High Octane Bee as SS-79 is not considered definitive by Hasbro and a new version is still on the table, it's possible we could get a new TLK Bee too.

[chuckdawg1999]

My Freezer updated to tomorrow. Looking forward to getting it in hand.

[-Kanrabat-]

My Freezer updated to tomorrow. Looking forward to getting it in hand.

On my end, it's Cheetor that is due for tomorrow.

[Nemesis Primal]

It's nice to see more of Leader Snarl. But he's not due out until the end of this year, right? It's crazy that a reviewer is somehow getting hold of finished product almost ten MONTHS before they're supposed to be available to the public.

Snarl's initial release is Wave 2, the end of the year listing for him is him getting repacked alongside Primal's first release.

Also regarding the Shockwave alt mode discourse, in addition to the instructions thing, he was also the only Siege Leader to not advertise their unarmored alt mode on the box or in stock photos as well, which does seem to add to the idea that it was excluded intentionally.

[durroth]

I think the one thing bothering me about this is the weird choice to make the head and legs a fairly noticeable gold plastic. I assume it has good reasons, probably to do with rubbing and scuffing and such, but it stands out weirdly against the other dinobots.

[84everfan]

The logic of everyone on this site.

[TOO MUCH ENERGON!]

I see. His alt mode is garbage. Someone designed that.

The character doesn't transform in the film

How do you know that?

[Rtron]

Over Christmas break I revisited my paint work on SS-49 to get him up to par with my later Bumblebee repaints, this mold is still my favorite deluxe class figure! (I think DOTM is my favorite of this mold, but they're all good).

Bee cannon.jpg

Bee bot 1.jpg

Bee alt 1.jpg

Bee alt 2.jpg

I do hope to see a new TLK Bumblebee in the future that uses the engineering upgrades from this figure, especially with the chest. Not sure if a reshell would work or not since none of the alt mode parts could be reused because of how different the shaping and detail is on that version of the Camaro.

We're not 100% sure if the rerelease of TLK Bee as SS-25 counts as definitive or not, but since the rerelease of High Octane Bee as SS-79 is not considered definitive by Hasbro and a new version is still on the table, it's possible we could get a new TLK Bee too.

Great work. I think it wouldn't be to crazy for them to use this mold as basis, they're pretty keen on sharing parts, even if it's a small amount.

[ZeroWolf]

I see. His alt mode is garbage. Someone designed that.

The character doesn't transform in the film

How do you know that?

The designers told us in recent behind the scenes post. They got free reign to make up alt modes for the little guy, hence they turned him into a target master of sorts (and a cannon for scourge's alt mode)

[-Kanrabat-]

The logic of everyone on this site.

LOL!

But to be fair, a huge corporation is like a 10km long heavy freight train. It's going strong but it's slow to start and slow to stop. Changing direction can't be instantaneous either.

But if anyone is paying attention, DOES listen to feedback and improve steadily over the years. In my over 13 years of collecting, some things got "worse" but the good things overshadowed the bad by a large margin.

Among the best:

-- We have so many "Mini Masterpieces" in Generations and Studio series.

-- Many characters that were never properly remade since G1 finally got their update.

-- Scale now matters, at least for the bot modes.

-- Botcon and FunPub are no longer a thing, being replaced by way more accessible store exclusives and the Select line.

-- The overall engineering is often mind-blowing.

The only true negative is the overall prices increase but that's a thing that affects everything so...

[Sabrblade]

-- Botcon and FunPub are no longer a thing, being replaced by way more accessible store exclusives and the Select line.

BotCon came back just last year.

[LinaNui]

Cheetor is so lonely on the RotB shelf. I can't wait to fill this shelf up over this year and the next.

[-Kanrabat-]

-- Botcon and FunPub are no longer a thing, being replaced by way more accessible store exclusives and the Select line.

BotCon came back just last year.

For real?
I strangely never heard of it.

Did they had Transformers exclusives that was only available there?

[Rodimus Prime]

-- Botcon and FunPub are no longer a thing, being replaced by way more accessible store exclusives and the Select line.

BotCon came back just last year.

For real?
I strangely never heard of it.

Did they had Transformers exclusives that was only available there?

From what I've seen its a continuation in name only. The exclusives and programming are inferior to FunPub's version, but I also didn't actually attend just read a lot about it and saw media. If you search for the figures at BotCon 2022 you'll see.

[Sabrblade]

-- Botcon and FunPub are no longer a thing, being replaced by way more accessible store exclusives and the Select line.

BotCon came back just last year.

For real?

I was there.

I strangely never heard of it.

There was a whole thread for it.

Did they had Transformers exclusives that was only available there?

Exclusives, yes. Transformers, no.

[Sabrblade]

From what I've seen its a continuation in name only.

For the record, BotCon was un-licensed for the first eight years of its existence. It wasn't until 2002 that Hasbro finally gave it the official Transformers license. This current situation is basically like how it was before, only without the convention-exclusive official Hasbro/Takara-made Transformers toys, which was not everyone's main draw for attending. For many, the experience itself, and the friendships people made with each other, was the main reason for attending.

The exclusives and programming are inferior to FunPub's version, but I also didn't actually attend just read a lot about it and saw media.

Speaking as one who did attend, those BeastBox toys are high quality and very intricate. And the events were no different than in the Fun Pub years: Voice actor panels, TF toy panels, TF lore panels, autograph sessions, a script reading, a cosplay contest, customization classes, raffle drawings, and more. Same as any past BotCon.

[william-james88]

-- Botcon and FunPub are no longer a thing, being replaced by way more accessible store exclusives and the Select line.

BotCon came back just last year.

Pretty sure he meant Botcon as an official Transformers convention partnered with Hasbro since 2002.

The kinds of Transformers exclusives we'd get then are now the kind we get in those Buzzworthy multipack sets.

[-Kanrabat-]

Got my ROTB Cheetor.

He's a big boy. But a simple one. His transformation is very reminiscent of that big "deluxe" Transmetal Cheetor. But in cheeta mode, he's seriously limited in articulations. Other than that, he's pretty awesome.

I'm looking forward SS Rhinox and Primal.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

My Freezer updated to tomorrow. Looking forward to getting it in hand.

I ordered the wave from Pulse on Friday, waiting for it to ship. I should have all of mine this week as well.

Over Christmas break I revisited my paint work on SS-49 to get him up to par with my later Bumblebee repaints, this mold is still my favorite deluxe class figure! (I think DOTM is my favorite of this mold, but they're all good).

Bee cannon.jpg

Bee bot 1.jpg

Bee alt 1.jpg

Bee alt 2.jpg

I do hope to see a new TLK Bumblebee in the future that uses the engineering upgrades from this figure, especially with the chest. Not sure if a reshell would work or not since none of the alt mode parts could be reused because of how different the shaping and detail is on that version of the Camaro.

We're not 100% sure if the rerelease of TLK Bee as SS-25 counts as definitive or not, but since the rerelease of High Octane Bee as SS-79 is not considered definitive by Hasbro and a new version is still on the table, it's possible we could get a new TLK Bee too.

Looks fantastic! well done!

I enjoy that mold a lot. I hope we get the 2 AOE Bees and TLK Bee with new molds, all 3 of those guys need it.

[Rodimus Prime]

From what I've seen its a continuation in name only.

For the record, BotCon was un-licensed for the first eight years of its existence. It wasn't until 2002 that Hasbro finally gave it the official Transformers license. This current situation is basically like how it was before, only without the convention-exclusive official Hasbro/Takara-made Transformers toys, which was not everyone's main draw for attending. For many, the experience itself, and the friendships people made with each other, was the main reason for attending.

I was really thinking mainly of the corporate aspect of it I guess. I understand there are a lot of different facets to a convention. Good to know it's kept up its community-oriented spirit.

The exclusives and programming are inferior to FunPub's version, but I also didn't actually attend just read a lot about it and saw media.

Speaking as one who did attend, those BeastBox toys are high quality and very intricate. And the events were no different than in the Fun Pub years: Voice actor panels, TF toy panels, TF lore panels, autograph sessions, a script reading, a cosplay contest, customization classes, raffle drawings, and more. Same as any past BotCon.

Not exactly the same, though. It doesn't involve official Hasbro representation, it's back to being strictly a fan convention. Which does have a lot of positives over being corporate-sponsored.

Anyway, BotCon has its own thread, so back to Studio Series. Is there any inclination how long this line will last? At least until every character gets a figure at least once? In the meantime new movies are released, the video game designs are added and I'm sure Bee will get revisited 600 more times. Probably all before we get the rest if the AoE Dinobots.

[EvasionModeBumblebee]

Great work. I think it wouldn't be to crazy for them to use this mold as basis, they're pretty keen on sharing parts, even if it's a small amount.

Thanks! Yeah, some of the internal structure could probably be reused even if the Camaro parts couldn't be

Looks fantastic! well done!

I enjoy that mold a lot. I hope we get the 2 AOE Bees and TLK Bee with new molds, all 3 of those guys need it.

Thank you! Really hoping we get one of the AOE Bees in 2024, it'd be nice to coincide with AOE's 10th.