The Energon Pub

[Wolfman Jake]

Apeface has similarly consolidated his robot mode legs with his gorilla forearms, vastly improving his own beast mode. And while his robot arms are still stuck on his gorilla hips, they at least hide the hands and fold up, making it look less blatant and more like he just has fat hips.

Those hips don't lie!

The Horrorcon bot modes are good. Jet modes, a swing (Snapdragon) and a miss (Apeface). The Beast Modes are not good enough and they are more than capable of being so. You would think given they are two unique molds, HasTak would have put the effort in to their complete designs. Instead they gave a clear focus on certain modes at the expense of others.

Yeah, that's just called being a triplechanger Transformer.

[ThunderThruster]

Controversial opinion:
I think T30 Hoist looks better in both modes than Earthrise Hoist.

Controversial? Yes. But I fully agree with you. I too think that T30 Hoist looks better in both modes over Earthrise Hoist.

[ZeroWolf]

Controversial opinion:
I think T30 Hoist looks better in both modes than Earthrise Hoist.

Controversial? Yes. But I fully agree with you. I too think that T30 Hoist looks better in both modes over Earthrise Hoist.

I suppose it depends on what you're looking for in a Hoist. If you want lavish G1 toon model, then Earthrise has you covered, you want a good representation of the character, no matter the source then T30 is the one to beat.

[ThunderThruster]

True. In my case I think I prefer the modernized design of the T30, as I was never that huge a fan of the G1 design.

[ZeldaTheSwordsman]

Controversial opinion:
I think T30 Hoist looks better in both modes than Earthrise Hoist.

Controversial? Yes. But I fully agree with you. I too think that T30 Hoist looks better in both modes over Earthrise Hoist.

I suppose it depends on what you're looking for in a Hoist. If you want lavish G1 toon model, then Earthrise has you covered, you want a good representation of the character, no matter the source then T30 is the one to beat.

I think the T30 one is ugly in both modes. Something about the shape of the truck cabin in vehicle mode and the way the hood looks in robot mode... It puts me off. That's not exactly the greatest-looking green either, and because of both that green and where they put the hood... he would really benefit from having the head be black like the cartoon. Trailbreaker I think wears the mold a bit better; the truck shape and hood disposition still bug me, but it's more palatable in his colors.

I agree with the sentiment that ROTF Hoist (a redeco of movie 1 Longarm) makes for a better-looking modernized Hoist than T30.

Aside from Arcee and Megatron, I'm really looking forward to collecting what Earthrise has on offer. Snapdragon and Scorponok are both "SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY".

[Autobot N]

Yeah, that's just called being a triplechanger Transformer.

Yeah, it seems really hard to make Triple Changers that have 3 good modes (like T30 Springer and Sandstorm)

[Rodimus Prime]

Yeah, that's just called being a triplechanger Transformer.

Yeah, it seems really hard to make Triple Changers that have 3 good modes (like T30 Springer and Sandstorm)

Yeah, I think they caught lightning in a bottle with that mold. I never owned any of them until I got Springer recently (thanks Zelda!) and now I want all the others, Sandstorm, Battletrap and most importantly Cloud Rodimus.

As for comparing Hoists, I think it's important to take into account the purpose for the figures. T30 was more like a reimaging for G1, just like Springer was. But the ER figure is a direct homage to the G1 figure itself, so it has to adhere to the original's design, whereas T30 didn't. It's the same reason why Metroplex was the way he was, and didn't look exactly like the G1. I hope Warden really does take his own shot at him.

[Sentinel_Primal]

T30 Hoist is a more interesting design imo, but I think ER Hoist is better because of vehicle mode scale (and also wheels that make more sense). Though, I think T30 just wins for me because of ER's clear plastic hood that's been painted over. I trust Hasbro's done all the QC they need to to make sure the plastic works, but it still makes me a tad nervous

[william-james88]

Also, so far, Selects HAS been limited to WFC molds for it's WFC Selects figures. The closest to an exception to that has been Lancer, but she still used Greenlight's tooling/version of the mold that only got released IN WFC.

How about not having a numbered release? Because those seem to be without rule.

Also, to answer a question that was asked, the only siege tetrajets that i think will be redone on esrthrise are the three main seekers we already know we are getting.

[ZeldaTheSwordsman]

Yeah, that's just called being a triplechanger Transformer.

Yeah, it seems really hard to make Triple Changers that have 3 good modes (like T30 Springer and Sandstorm)

Yeah, I think they caught lightning in a bottle with that mold. I never owned any of them until I got Springer recently (thanks Zelda!) and now I want all the others, Sandstorm, Battletrap and most importantly Cloud Rodimus.

You're welcome!

As for comparing Hoists, I think it's important to take into account the purpose for the figures. T30 was more like a reimaging for G1, just like Springer was. But the ER figure is a direct homage to the G1 figure itself, so it has to adhere to the original's design, whereas T30 didn't.

But even compared to the G1, the WFC versions have had refinements or even reinventions in their transfomation design while retaining the basic look - or coming closer to the cartoon's version of it (for example, SIEGE Springer's car mode has the fenders move past the hood like in the cartoon; really helps that mode).
That includes Apeface and Snapdragon: they've undergone serious limb consolidation that means neither of them has their robot legs hanging off their beast mode chests (immensely proving both robot and beast modes, although it does mean that Apeface lost his jet mode's sloped intakes because they'd restrict the movement of his gorilla shoulders), and gotten more articulate better-proportioned beast heads because the Titan Masters only complete the beast noggin rather than form its entirety. Snapdragon also has a neck that looks more like a neck and his head is mounted on it at a better angle, and his T. rex arms are actually attached to his dino torso instead of to panels that are part of his robot legs.
So it bugs me to see people talking like there haven't been substantial improvements.

It's the same reason why Metroplex was the way he was, and didn't look exactly like the G1. I hope Warden really does take his own shot at him.

Well, T30 Metroplex may not look exactly like G1 but he sure transforms almost exactly like G1 So that shot might be as simple as a re-shell.

[NTESHFT]

Yes, please, and thank you Mr. Skywarp!

This however does not make me think we will not be getting the other two coneheads in some form or the other down the line.

Never say never! There's still opportunity for the coneheads to come as either Amazon exclusives, or as Selects

LEt me reword that Z. I think we willl still get the other 2 coneheads. Eventually. Down the road.

Other 2 coneheads?...there's one coming out?

[ZeldaTheSwordsman]

Yes, please, and thank you Mr. Skywarp!

This however does not make me think we will not be getting the other two coneheads in some form or the other down the line.

Never say never! There's still opportunity for the coneheads to come as either Amazon exclusives, or as Selects

LEt me reword that Z. I think we willl still get the other 2 coneheads. Eventually. Down the road.

Other 2 coneheads?...there's one coming out?

Yes.

Someone please news the Thrust listing so that it trickles down faster.

[NTESHFT]

Yes, please, and thank you Mr. Skywarp!

This however does not make me think we will not be getting the other two coneheads in some form or the other down the line.

Never say never! There's still opportunity for the coneheads to come as either Amazon exclusives, or as Selects

LEt me reword that Z. I think we willl still get the other 2 coneheads. Eventually. Down the road.

Other 2 coneheads?...there's one coming out?

Yes.

Someone please news the Thrust listing so that it trickles down faster.

Much excited!!! Gotta bring the other 2 out, especially since Ramjet was my favorite....oh and the G2 version as well. Come on Hasbro, get the most out of those moulds...

[Nemesis Primal]

Also, so far, Selects HAS been limited to WFC molds for it's WFC Selects figures. The closest to an exception to that has been Lancer, but she still used Greenlight's tooling/version of the mold that only got released IN WFC.

How about not having a numbered release? Because those seem to be without rule.

Also, to answer a question that was asked, the only siege tetrajets that i think will be redone on esrthrise are the three main seekers we already know we are getting.

The non-numbered releases weren't WFC Selects though, they were PotP Selects, so my statement from last week is still true. Every WFC Selects figure both has been numbered and uses only WFC molds/tooling, with Lancer being the closest thing to an exception, whereas the PotP Selects are "without rule" because they merely follow different rules than the WFC releases since they aren't the same thing. The PotP guys are basically in their own line separate from everything called Selects that came after in terms of how they were handled, they were more of just post-launch DLC for PotP than an actual Selects lineup as we know it now from Siege. Basically, the way I look at it there's 2 and a half different Selects lines, since they all seem to follow different rulesets SO FAR: 1 and 2 being WFC Selects (Hasbro-initiated WFC repaints/new head retools) and Takara Selects (Takara-initiated extensive Prime Wars Trilogy retools), and the half being PotP Selects (Hasbro-initiated PotP repaints) since it was only two figures. I think y'all's holdup is that you're trying to treat all the Hasbro-initiated Selects as one continuous line of releases despite those different rules, which is why I keep having to point out my distinction of saying WFC Selects.

That all being said, Hasbro could release a Selects Primal Prime or something from the PotP mold tomorrow and prove all of that wrong for all I know, I'm just going off of what they've done so far and so far this has all been consistent.

I'm really hoping you're right about the lack of Seeker repeats, for me the 3 main guys again this early are already too many repeats...

Someone please news the Thrust listing so that it trickles down faster.

The Thrust listing, and all the other listings from that set of leaks, were already news'd back in late February, I just went back and checked.

[sol magnus]

2. Bear in mind the fact that Apeface and Snapdragon have the constraint of still needing to look like their G1 selves, whereas the Beast Warriors had more organic limb shapes.

That is also a redundant excuse. They still have to strictly adhere to their 80's designs, yet Generations Springer, Trypticon, Omega Supreme or even Earthrise Prime don't? Why is that??

He didn't say "strictly", you did.

They don't "strictly" adhere to 80's designs, but I certainly don't see why you'd be bringing up non-Siege figures into a comparison about Siege figures which are trying to (at least spiritually) resemble their G1 selves, updated for today - y'know, the entire CHUG concept just distilled more into an 'accuracy' perspective.

[BERSEKAEL]

why is he wearing blue socks lol

[sol magnus]

I picked up Moist...er, Hoist today. It's weird how the photographs in the gallery show the clashing greens like they do, because the toy looks fine. You have to be trying for it to be obvious.

I initially was going to skip him, but it's a slow month. He's better than I thought, or I'm just easy to please.

[Jelze Bunnycat]

Yeah, that's just called being a triplechanger Transformer.

Yeah, it seems really hard to make Triple Changers that have 3 good modes (like T30 Springer and Sandstorm)

The trick is proper repurposing of parts that appear in more than one mode, and hiding ones that don't. Depending on the modes chosen, easier said than done.

[Emerje]

Takara Tomy is starting to take pre-orders for their next batch of Transformers War for Cybertron: Earthrise figures. This time around it's ER-08 Doubledealer hitting mass retail while the Takara Tomy Mall will be getting their exclusive ER EX-09 Roller Force & Groundhog and ER EX-10 Snapdragon (thanks to Sentinel_Primal for posting some photos in the forums). As usual these will be identical to the Hasbro releases just with some slight changes to the packaging. The EX figures are only available for pre-order in Japan until May 7 with all three (Doubledealer included) released in September.

More importantly we have new stock photos of the actual figures in what may be their final form baring some slight changes.













































I'm personally happy to see painted cockpit details in Snapdragon, I hope they stick around for the final release. But what are your thoughts on the latest galleries? Let us know in the Energon Pub forums!

[angtre]

I can't help but feel Snapdragon a little cheap, if compared to other toys of this and previous more recent lines. The jaw of its monster form is particularly bad, shouldn't this be its final look.

[Sentinel_Primal]

I just realized that Snapdragon has a waist swivel. So that's a pretty nice feature that Apeface lacked. I will say though, that Apeface's beast mode head feels better proportioned than Snapdragon's

[ZeroWolf]

I can't help but feel Snapdragon a little cheap, if compared to other toys of this and previous more recent lines. The jaw of its monster form is particularly bad, shouldn't this be its final look.

That might be because of the Titan master forming the lower jaw. I'm not bothered by how it looks, and I like this idea that the Titan Masters have only formed part of the beast mode heads, it leads to better results then the G1 toys. A much better representation of the characters.

[blackeyedprime]

Robot head could have benefitted from the tr spring ups or had a bit of a wider face to incorporate the yellow detail parts. Nice to have painted details inside the titan masters seating area.

Not sold on double dealer and I'm not sure why but if he drops to voyager prices at some point I'll probably pick him up. Side foot flaps are a poor excuse for ankle tilts

[sol magnus]

For sentimental reasons, Doubledealer is a buy. For Apeface reasons, Snapdragon is a buy. As much as I like Micromasters and the Weaponizer/Micromaster bases, they just don't fit into my collection, so I gotta skip em.

[Microbot]

Do you think it could do other titans after Scorponok?(Unicron not count is another class I think...)a new one? Maybe redo Metroplex or a new version? Or update Fortress?