The Energon Pub

News Credits: 22 · by **Rodimus Prime** » Sun Jul 30, 2023 11:58 am

I also think Ratchet should have been a voyager to begin with. I know he was smaller than Ironhide but those 2 have always been pretty close. Even though Bayverse did Ratchet a disservice as he should have been a more prominent character than he was. Also had the saddest death scene IMO.

News Credits: 61 · by **EvasionModeBumblebee** » Sun Jul 30, 2023 12:23 pm

I really like our existing SS Ratchet, he scales perfectly in bot mode (though he is small in alt mode), despite the shared engineering I think it’s a huge upgrade over the DOTM deluxe. A new mold that uses some MPM engineering to get the torso and shoulders more accurate would be cool (and more Bayverse Ratchet in general would be cool), but I’m generally against redos of characters we already have new figures of in Studio Series, especially considering how many G1 redos are filling the line now.

I will say the exception to my preference for no redos is Crankcase because his studio series figure is literally not him. It’s like if Legacy Dirge was a standard seeker repaint rather than a conehead.

I was able to get a TLK Berserker and repaint it, but Crankcase needs an actual Studio Series figure. Especially with Hatchet (presumably) on the way.

News Credits: 1 · by **Rtron** » Sun Jul 30, 2023 5:36 pm

EvasionModeBumblebee wrote:I really like our existing SS Ratchet, he scales perfectly in bot mode (though he is small in alt mode), despite the shared engineering I think it’s a huge upgrade over the DOTM deluxe. A new mold that uses some MPM engineering to get the torso and shoulders more accurate would be cool (and more Bayverse Ratchet in general would be cool), but I’m generally against redos of characters we already have new figures of in Studio Series, especially considering how many G1 redos are filling the line now.

I will say the exception to my preference for no redos is Crankcase because his studio series figure is literally not him. It’s like if Legacy Dirge was a standard seeker repaint rather than a conehead.

I was able to get a TLK Berserker and repaint it, but Crankcase needs an actual Studio Series figure. Especially with Hatchet (presumably) on the way.

Exactly my thoughts. Ratchet as of right now is more than good enough, I'd rather see any other characters who haven't gotten a figure be done first (or Crankcase, who was just done wrong). Que, Protoforms, Dinobots, Frenzy, just to name a few.

News Credits: 7 · by **TulioDude** » Sun Jul 30, 2023 6:09 pm

Rtron wrote:
EvasionModeBumblebee wrote:I really like our existing SS Ratchet, he scales perfectly in bot mode (though he is small in alt mode), despite the shared engineering I think it’s a huge upgrade over the DOTM deluxe. A new mold that uses some MPM engineering to get the torso and shoulders more accurate would be cool (and more Bayverse Ratchet in general would be cool), but I’m generally against redos of characters we already have new figures of in Studio Series, especially considering how many G1 redos are filling the line now.

I will say the exception to my preference for no redos is Crankcase because his studio series figure is literally not him. It’s like if Legacy Dirge was a standard seeker repaint rather than a conehead.

I was able to get a TLK Berserker and repaint it, but Crankcase needs an actual Studio Series figure. Especially with Hatchet (presumably) on the way.

Exactly my thoughts. Ratchet as of right now is more than good enough, I'd rather see any other characters who haven't gotten a figure be done first (or Crankcase, who was just done wrong). Que, Protoforms, Dinobots, Frenzy, just to name a few.

Yeah, I think there others I character I think would benefit from a remake more.

News Credits: 61 · by **EvasionModeBumblebee** » Sat Aug 05, 2023 9:21 am

Got my Buzzworthy Grimlock in, I’m so glad they reissued this figure!

It’s a great mold! The sculpt and dry brushing are excellent. Now I really need the rest of those AOE Dinobots in Studio Series!

News Credits: 1642 · by **D-Maximal_Primal** » Sat Aug 05, 2023 9:34 am

Fully agreed on all of that! They did great with that Grimlock!

News Credits: 100 · by **-Kanrabat-** » Sat Aug 05, 2023 9:36 am

EvasionModeBumblebee wrote:Got my Buzzworthy Grimlock in, I’m so glad they reissued this figure!

816394AA-66F9-4FE5-8564-5FEAB28A054E.jpeg

D111B8FC-67CF-4A3D-9F17-42E783159C0A.jpeg

It’s a great mold! The sculpt and dry brushing are excellent. Now I really need the rest of those AOE Dinobots in Studio Series!

You missed out on the initial SS Leader AoE Grimlock before?
I got mine as soon as it came out and it was worth the full price.

Glad you finally managed to get yours! ...and not a K.O.

News Credits: 61 · by **EvasionModeBumblebee** » Sat Aug 05, 2023 11:22 am

-Kanrabat- wrote:You missed out on the initial SS Leader AoE Grimlock before?
I got mine as soon as it came out and it was worth the full price.

Glad you finally managed to get yours! ...and not a K.O.

Yep, when Studio Series started I wanted to focus on just the first 3 movies, so I skipped on Grimlock/Lockdown and only got Stinger on sale. I'm now all in for the Bay movies though, so I'm happy I got this opportunity!

Actually, after finding Lockdown earlier in the summer and Rampage just the other week, I'm pretty much all caught up on the Studio Series figures I want! The only figure I don't have that I want is Shadow Raider, but I don't consider him a "need" for the collection.

Oh, and one more thing: Here's the 13th - 16th seeds for this year's Studio Series September fan tournament! I'll be revealing 4 of the tournament's top 16 each week until we start in September:

: 13to16reveal.jpg (241.85 KiB) Viewed 5391 times

News Credits: 1642 · by **D-Maximal_Primal** » Mon Aug 07, 2023 9:23 pm

I got the newest SS wave, along with buzzworthy Prime. Some thoughts:

Core bee is nice in yellow. I like his new mask too. I really hope we finally get some more bayverse core class figures that are core scaled.

Rhinox is pretty good. His rhino mode isn't really something to write home about, but his robot mode is pretty stout, and he stands with a presence for a voyager. I like him. He's a much improved robot, even if I think his alt mode is a smidge better on the mainline voyager.

Prime is also pretty good. This is one where I think he's good, especially with the integrated arm gun and sword integration, but I think the mainline voyager is actually a better more fun toy? they are both good though. Although I do hate the SS86 Hot Rod shoulders, hate that that keeps happening.

I also got an upgraded head for Scourge to make him movie accurate. I like how it turned out a lot.

MyFigureCollection.net collection · by **Emerje** » Tue Aug 08, 2023 3:42 am

Just got an email from Target saying SS ROTB Optimus Prime has been delayed to 8/22. It's a short delay so hopefully this doesn't turn into one of those perpetual delays that eventually gets canceled.

Emerje

News Credits: 4836 · by **william-james88** » Tue Aug 08, 2023 8:23 pm

Takara has a bunch of new figures available for preorder today, and many include figures that are released by Hasbro. The upcoming Noah in Exosuit, released as a core class figure in Studio Series, shows us new functionality. We can see that the humanoid figure seperates from the plane, giving us a more accurate figure.

You can see it below along with new shots of MPM Bonecrusher, the Lunar Optimus, the Beast Wars Returns sets and more.

News Credits: 100 · by **-Kanrabat-** » Tue Aug 08, 2023 8:27 pm

Is it just me, or SS Core Noah could be repainted/remolded into a Core Legacy Animated Sari Sumdac? :-?

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Tue Aug 08, 2023 8:28 pm

william-james88 wrote:Beast Wars Returns

Beast Wars Again

News Credits: 11 · by **Overcracker** » Tue Aug 08, 2023 8:51 pm

Um…, why does Bonecrusher have a burning crotch? :shock:

News Credits: 1642 · by **D-Maximal_Primal** » Tue Aug 08, 2023 9:15 pm

I am so happy Noah is getting a figure, and it's even cooler that he and Mirage are in the same wave.

Overcracker wrote:Um…, why does Bonecrusher have a burning crotch?

Look at my sig, that answers it.

News Credits: 2 · by **First-Aid** » Tue Aug 08, 2023 11:22 pm

Overcracker wrote:Um…, why does Bonecrusher have a burning crotch?

That one fling with Black Arachnia. Was burning when he leaked luibricant. He's getting treatment for it now.

MyFigureCollection.net collection · by **Emerje** » Wed Aug 09, 2023 2:58 am

I have to wonder when the design changed to have Arcee go from a pink face to a white one? All of the merch gives her a pink face like in the Bumblebee movie, but in ROTB it's white with pink "cheeks" and not a single figure reflects that. Even the stock figure packaging uses a pink face. I'm going to guess that's one of those things they refined during that year long delay, back when most of the toys were meant to be released. This standee I found looks more like the toys, all the way down to the headlight chest and seems to be what most of the toys are based on.

The final design used in the movie ended up like this:

So do you think we'll ever see a movie accurate Arcee toy? Would they even attempt it with an MP?

Emerje

News Credits: 11 · by **Munkky** » Wed Aug 09, 2023 9:34 am

Having looked into it, I may buy some of those Takara Beast Wars two-packs. Cheetor and Waspinator look so much better than the standard Kingdom versions, and the yellowing on my Tigatron is really bad now, so I'll most likely get that set to see if the plastic on Takara's Tigatron is any better. I'm also itching to get my hands on Ultra Magnus, Ratchet and Frenzy, but sadly pre-orders haven't gone up on any UK sites yet.

News Credits: 11 · by **Overcracker** » Wed Aug 09, 2023 1:18 pm

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:I am so happy Noah is getting a figure, and it's even cooler that he and Mirage are in the same wave.
Overcracker wrote:Um…, why does Bonecrusher have a burning crotch?

Look at my sig, that answers it.

Ahh.. Takara takes onscreen accuracy to the extreme.

First-Aid wrote:
Overcracker wrote:Um…, why does Bonecrusher have a burning crotch?

That one fling with Black Arachnia. Was burning when he leaked luibricant. He's getting treatment for it now.

News Credits: 4836 · by **william-james88** » Wed Aug 09, 2023 2:39 pm

Overcracker wrote:
D-Maximal_Primal wrote:I am so happy Noah is getting a figure, and it's even cooler that he and Mirage are in the same wave.
Overcracker wrote:Um…, why does Bonecrusher have a burning crotch?

Look at my sig, that answers it.

Ahh.. Takara takes onscreen accuracy to the extreme

It's a Hasbro initiative

News Credits: 30 · by **DeathReviews** » Wed Aug 09, 2023 2:55 pm

william-james88 wrote:Takara has a bunch of new figures available for preorder today, and many include figures that are released by Hasbro. The upcoming Noah in Exosuit, released as a core class figure in Studio Series, shows us new functionality. We can see that the humanoid figure seperates from the plane, giving us a more accurate figure.

You can see it below along with new shots of MPM Bonecrusher, the Lunar Optimus, the Beast Wars Returns sets and more.

Every time I see that transparent plastic, re-used from Voyager Ironhide to Ratchet, it fills me with anger and woe. They had a chance to fix that and use consistent plastic across the entire figure, and they FAILED. Looks like the paint discoloration will be as glaring and obvious on Ratchet....

And did they re-tool the Legacy Bomb-Burst mold for that Noah exo suit?

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Wed Aug 09, 2023 3:22 pm

DeathReviews wrote:And did they re-tool the Legacy Bomb-Burst mold for that Noah exo suit?

No? They look nothing alike.

News Credits: 61 · by **EvasionModeBumblebee** » Wed Aug 09, 2023 7:09 pm

Recently found the files to 3D print a Frenzy to scale with Studio Series, and took the opportunity to refresh my paint work on Barricade!

Really surprised we haven't seen a Frenzy pack-in figure yet in SS, he's one of the more prominent Decepticons in the 2007 movie.

News Credits: 100 · by **-Kanrabat-** » Wed Aug 09, 2023 7:24 pm

True!
Frenzy was even a pack-in gimmick with the original 2007 deluxe. The fact that a little Frenzy was never included with the SS release is baffling and disappointing.

Transformers (2007) Barricade Gallery

News Credits: 1 · by **Rtron** » Wed Aug 09, 2023 9:23 pm

Great work! I'm similarly surprised and disappointed by the lack of Frenzy... I remember thinking he would be packed in with 2007 Megatron in Studio Series, back before we got that figure.