The Energon Pub

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Bad news D-Max, I got Car Mode Drift and it's not great. The Transformation is cool and all modes look very nice but there are just so many pieces that fall off when I transform it. I was rather dissapointed. Heli Drift is great though.

You're one the first I've heard say anything negative. a lot of people I know who have gotten it have loved it, including non-movie fans

[PetesSuperRobots]

Isn't SS car mode Drift just a repaint of the deluxe Last Knight toy with some Dinobots thrown in? I have the original and while it's not Armada Sideswipe bad, it is sub-par. One big sticking point is the paint job, which the studio series version seems to have fixed, but there's no fixing the design which (in my opinion) is just borrowed from something we might expect from a more child-oriented line (put car up vertically and it is now a robot). It just doesn't fit in with the otherwise outstanding transformation quality that makes studio series the definitive movie toy line for giving us what no previous movie toys (with notable exceptions like ROTF leader Prime) gave us: real world vehicles turning into screen accurate Robots. I have my Drift so I will have to live with it, but just looking at the pictures it seems to me helicopter Drift is the better toy (unless it too is a repaint of some earlier Drift I was not aware of?)

[ZeldaTheSwordsman]

To be fair to the toy designers, Drift's film design is almost as bad as AoE Galvatrollop

[william-james88]

Isn't SS car mode Drift just a repaint of the deluxe Last Knight toy with some Dinobots thrown in?

Yes he is, but I meant to write car mode dropkick. I got both car mode dropkick and heli drift yesterday. I loved one and not the other.

[PetesSuperRobots]

I always thought Drift was conceptually going for something like Springer, who, if we look at his movie and G1 toy design is actually fairly reminiscent of a samurai (or some kind of armored up sword warrior), but Springer worked and works because he's a futuristic alt mode. Drift has trouble working as a toy for the same reasons Dropkick and ...um...the other one... the designers got ahead of themselves with the triple-changer concept applied to real world vehicles. It "worked" in G1 with Octane and Sandstorm largely because one mode was sacrificed or the vehicles were a bit of a stretch..

Anyways looking into it I noticed Drift is a retool of Dropkick. I love my Dropkick and Drift looks like a really nice retool, but I dunno if I care enough about the character to have it. I kind of regret having the Last Knight version already since of the two, studio series is superior...

Oh the dilemmas of Transformers fandom

[Sabrblade]

but just looking at the pictures it seems to me helicopter Drift is the better toy (unless it too is a repaint of some earlier Drift I was not aware of?)

It's an extreme retool of helicopter Dropkick.

I always thought Drift was conceptually going for something like Springer, who, if we look at his movie and G1 toy design is actually fairly reminiscent of a samurai (or some kind of armored up sword warrior),

Springer was more supposed to be like Han Solo, what with all the Star Wars analogies there were in the 1986 movie (e.g. - Hot Rod was Luke, Arcee had Leia's hair, both Kup and Optimus played parts of Obi-Wan's role, Unicron was a transforming Death Star, etc.).

[william-james88]

but just looking at the pictures it seems to me helicopter Drift is the better toy (unless it too is a repaint of some earlier Drift I was not aware of?)

It's an extreme retool of helicopter Dropkick.

honestly though, while I can see how its a retool, it feels like a completely new experience when playing with him, with just some hints to a previously seen transformation. But I could say the same about MP 10 reminding me of MP 01 or even G1 prime.

[ZeldaTheSwordsman]

I always thought Drift was conceptually going for something like Springer, who, if we look at his movie and G1 toy design is actually fairly reminiscent of a samurai (or some kind of armored up sword warrior),

Springer was more supposed to be like Han Solo, what with all the Star Wars analogies there were in the 1986 movie (e.g. - Hot Rod was Luke, Arcee had Leia's hair, both Kup and Optimus played parts of Obi-Wan's role, Unicron was a transforming Death Star, etc.).

Springer's resemblance to Han is more in terms of characterization and role, though. His visual design can be seen as a bit samurai-ish, especially with the cartoon paldrons.
And AoE Drift does borrow G1 Springer's car-helicopter Triple Changer swordsman schtick.
But triple-changing and the movieverse's complex robot mode aesthetic don't play nice, especially on Earth-mode characters. But even without the triple-changing, Drift's design is flawed because it heavily prioritized looking like samurai armor over transformability.

Speaking of the '86 movie's Star Wars influence... Wheelie is the Yoda analog.

[Stargrave]

Well, I mean, yeah...

[PetesSuperRobots]

Speaking of the '86 movie's Star Wars influence... Wheelie is the Yoda analog.

Yeah, except Wheelie is Luke's First Impression Yoda, an annoying little pest. He never turns out to be a Jedi master

[ZeldaTheSwordsman]

But he did help the group reunite and escape the swamp.

I think the original intent behind Wheelie in the movie was "Survivalist gone a bit 'round the twist from being stuck on Quintessa for years"

[EvasionModeBumblebee]

Kind of a long post, but this is something fun I worked on for a little bit.

One of the figures I'd like to see most from Studio Series is a DOTM version of Bumblebee, and I think the new SS Bumblebee mold could be tweaked into a really cool DOTM version.

Bumblebee in DOTM has a few major robot mode changes from the previous iterations, those being new collar pieces, a mostly changed chest section, and new lower wings formed by the spoiler. So, how can the new Bumblebee do all this?

The collar pieces (blue) are a simple remold (since the new Bee actually has collar pieces), the central chest piece (green) is also a remold of the original middle section. The red pieces are a bit more complex, however, but I have an idea as to how those could work.

The idea is that a part of the Camaro grill (highlighted in red for most of the steps) is a separate piece that can rotate, which allows for the new chest piece to rotate over the grill, as opposed to the original DOTM deluxe which had the new chest piece sit under the grill.

For the secondary wings, in the first 2 movies they're formed by these side pieces for the rear window (like we see in the TLK and SS deluxes)

However, in DOTM, these are formed by the spoiler. While it's not really feasible to use the real spoiler parts on the figure, this can be done with faux-parts. The idea is to leave those pieces (highlighted in blue) attached to the rear window, and replace it with these new pieces:

These new lower wings are on a hinge (maybe two) that allows them to fold up for vehicle mode, but then extend for robot mode.

Anyway, that's it! sorry for the not-great artwork, but I hope it gets the point across. This is just something I wanted to do for fun, and figured this would be the place to post it!

[ZeldaTheSwordsman]

It'd be cool and no mistake. Problem is, I'm not sure a Studio Series Deluxe would go to that level of complexity

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Scored the entire wave of current SS stuff tonight!



I've only opened them and put them in alt mode so far, but here are some first thoughts:

Hightower: he's bigger and chunkier than I thought, and surprisingly posable! He's enjoyable so far, I gotta merge him with Scrapmetal to form the hand.

Drift: I wasn't going to pick him up, but heard some good stuff over the past few days, and I am pleasantly surprised. He is leagues better than Dropkick as a helicopter and the black is really slick. he's pretty dang fun, and a lot better than his other SS self. Now I'm thinking about moving my AOE heli-Drift to my generations shelf or something.

Dropkick: this is the apology letter for Shatter and his first toy we needed. He is fantastic. This is the Dropkick we needed.

Long Haul: holy crap he is chunky. Pretty dang fun so far.

Prime: the robot is great, but the hollow jet parts and the trailer being too small hurt him, but he's not too bad. I like having the accessories.

[william-james88]

Glad to know your car dropkick is good. Sucks to know mine is indeed a dud and not only do I have to return it, but hope to find another one.

[PetesSuperRobots]

honestly though, while I can see how its a retool, it feels like a completely new experience when playing with him, with just some hints to a previously seen transformation. But I could say the same about MP 10 reminding me of MP 01 or even G1 prime.

Well that's good enough for me! Thanks. I will probably make him the older brother to my LK Drift, Swift in my comics. Or no, maybe he'll be the real Drift and LK Drift (who in my comics is a student of LKegatron the metalikato master) will be revealed as an impostor...

Studio series toys are fantastic:)

[Stargrave]

Scored the entire wave of current SS stuff tonight!

Madness!
Dude you can film your own movie with that stack right there.
And Cyberverse Ratchet.
Because hell yes that’s why.

[PetesSuperRobots]

Does the trailer for Studio series Prime also work with Studio series Bumblebee movie Prime's cab? Has anyone tried?

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Glad to know your car dropkick is good. Sucks to know mine is indeed a dud and not only do I have to return it, but hope to find another one.

Yeah dude, you must have had a dud. Mine is on Par with Rampage for best Studio Con, and he is infinitly better than any of the other muscle car-formers

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Does the trailer for Studio series Prime also work with Studio series Bumblebee movie Prime's cab? Has anyone tried?

I saw a review where it was tried, but the connection is a bit too tight to work I believe

[SGMLordMirage]

Hey D, alittle late but congrats on your latest finds.

SGM

[SGMLordMirage]

I was able to snag Studio Series 44 OP at a local Walmart. They had two on the shelf. Other than that, haven’t seen anything else in my AO.

SGM

[D-Maximal_Primal]

So, Let's talk some Dropkick.

This was a character i really enjoyed in the movie. I would argue he was my favorite of the 3 cons in the movie, even though all 3 were really cool and i loved all 3. I also love muscle cars, and his general Body-type. He deserved a good toy.

His first Studio self is pretty weak, the wrong color, skinny, and just feels too small. And then Shatter let us all down by literally coming to pieces like she did when smashed by a boat.

But this Dropkick. This is where the Bee movie cast in Studio Series was finally redeemed. He is nearly flawless. The only complaint I have, right out of the way now, is his doors needed to reverse so they could be movie accurate. But otherwise he is fantastic.

His robot mode is tight, streamlined, no extraneous kibble, the wheels end up in the spots they are supposed to, and he looks mean. Weapon is perfect as well, love the integration into robot mode. And the headsculpt is much better and more defined than his other toy.

Transformation is pretty dang involved, but it has some good tricks to it to ensure the wheels go where they are supposed to. I love how it all works.

Alt mode is so sweeeeeeeeeeeeeet. Finally a great robot that has a great transformation and a great muscle car mode. He does what Shatter and Bumblebee were unable to do properly, and he nails it. I love the wheels too, they really cool.

Overall, he is frikkin fantastic. Probably my 2nd favorite con of the line after Rampage. And he is certainly the classic muscle car transformer we have all longed for and needed.

[Stargrave]

Ok well now I’m just gonna have to have that...

Totally nailed it he was like my favorite Con in the movie too best lines best death. And that car mode is so rad my god.

I can’t wait for another BB movie so we can get more toys like this!! I can’t put my BB Prime down.

[SGMLordMirage]

In regards to Dropkick (vehicle version), he was one I was anxious to pick up. Agree, the Helicopter version, robot wise, sucks, being in the military i love his helicopter mode. Back to his vehicle version, love him side by side with Shatter. As I wrote last month i think, his transformation feels so much better than Shatter’s, or at least no parts falling off during the process.
I have him in robot mode in my display case, love him!

SGM