The Energon Pub

[Wolfman Jake]

Also, from where on earth do Hasbro and Takara Tomy get the gray shin paint apps for Optimus Prime? They're not from the original toy or the original cartoon, but they're a staple of almost every "G1" Optimus Prime update for over 12 years now. Even MP-10 sports the gray shin vents.

MP-1 seems to be the originator of the gray vents, with lots of artists and designers just following in suit from MP-1's example with the vents being gray.

Now we're getting somewhere! Thanks, Sabr. I wonder why MP-1 became the "go to" character model for G1 Optimus Prime.

[william-james88]

Also, from where on earth do Hasbro and Takara Tomy get the gray shin paint apps for Optimus Prime? They're not from the original toy or the original cartoon, but they're a staple of almost every "G1" Optimus Prime update for over 12 years now. Even MP-10 sports the gray shin vents.

MP-1 seems to be the originator of the gray vents, with lots of artists and designers just following in suit from MP-1's example with the vents being gray.

Now we're getting somewhere! Thanks, Sabr. I wonder why MP-1 became the "go to" character model for G1 Optimus Prime.

I can answer that bit. It was the first full 3d rendering of G1 prime. And i believe it was even used in Beast Machines, so from the time it was made it became the go to design for both animation and toys.

[Sabrblade]

Also, from where on earth do Hasbro and Takara Tomy get the gray shin paint apps for Optimus Prime? They're not from the original toy or the original cartoon, but they're a staple of almost every "G1" Optimus Prime update for over 12 years now. Even MP-10 sports the gray shin vents.

MP-1 seems to be the originator of the gray vents, with lots of artists and designers just following in suit from MP-1's example with the vents being gray.

Now we're getting somewhere! Thanks, Sabr. I wonder why MP-1 became the "go to" character model for G1 Optimus Prime.

I can answer that bit. It was the first full 3d rendering of G1 prime. And i believe it was even used in Beast Machines, so from the time it was made it became the go to design for both animation and toys.

MP-1 came about in 2003, three years after Beast Machines ended.

What's more, the Optimus Prime CG model seen in Beast Machines was only ever seen first in solid blue-gray then in holographic green. And the properly-colored version from Beast Wars had blue leg vents.

[william-james88]

Also, from where on earth do Hasbro and Takara Tomy get the gray shin paint apps for Optimus Prime? They're not from the original toy or the original cartoon, but they're a staple of almost every "G1" Optimus Prime update for over 12 years now. Even MP-10 sports the gray shin vents.

MP-1 seems to be the originator of the gray vents, with lots of artists and designers just following in suit from MP-1's example with the vents being gray.

Now we're getting somewhere! Thanks, Sabr. I wonder why MP-1 became the "go to" character model for G1 Optimus Prime.

I can answer that bit. It was the first full 3d rendering of G1 prime. And i believe it was even used in Beast Machines, so from the time it was made it became the go to design for both animation and toys.

MP-1 came about in 2003, three years after Beast Machines ended.

What's more, the Optimus Prime CG model seen in Beast Machines was only ever seen first in solid blue-gray then in holographic green. And the properly-colored version from Beast Wars had blue leg vents.

I must have been mixing up some other bits of trivia together, sorry.

[Cyberpath]

What's up with the weathering specifically on the thighs of some of these figures in Siege? What kind of combat gets your thighs dirty but your shins pristine? Sideswipe has much more believable wear with it being mostly on his shins.

Also, from where on earth do Hasbro and Takara Tomy get the gray shin paint apps for Optimus Prime? They're not from the original toy or the original cartoon, but they're a staple of almost every "G1" Optimus Prime update for over 12 years now. Even MP-10 sports the gray shin vents.

From Studio OX most likely.

[fenrir72]

My guess is that vent, in general, aren't exactly known to be painted.

I'm not sure what you're trying to say here. The vents on the shins aren't supposed to be painted, from what I can see of the original toy and cartoon, but they almost always are, particularly by Hasbro, but even by Takara too. It's a weird "accepted" detail that kind of came out of nowhere and is based on nothing from the original source material.

Creative preference of the designers? Starscream too never had those breast turbines (Studio Ox I believe started the trend) yet here we have them.

It wasn't standard as some of their art had the shins full blue but this awesome image had it grayish

[Wolfman Jake]

Had no one else really noticed the gray shins thing until now? It's been bugging me for years. So strange that some 3rd party artwork detail worked itself into the design canon retroactively for Optimus Prime. Even Takara picked up on it somehow, and they're usually so good about "screen accuracy" in their paint operations. Heck, it's even weird for Hasbro to have picked it up, as they usually go with toy accurate details, which the gray shin vents are decidedly not.

[Sabrblade]

Had no one else really noticed the gray shins thing until now? It's been bugging me for years. So strange that some 3rd party artwork detail worked itself into the design canon retroactively for Optimus Prime. Even Takara picked up on it somehow, and they're usually so good about "screen accuracy" in their paint operations. Heck, it's even weird for Hasbro to have picked it up, as they usually go with toy accurate details, which the gray shin vents are decidedly not.

Just wait till the next MP Convoy with its super cartoon design that will undoubtedly restore the original blue vents.

[Bounti76]

I wonder why TT's Punch-Counterpunch comes with Solus Prime, when Hasbro's comes with Prima. Solus came with Blast Off.

Megatronus came with blast off.
But yeah, Prima comes with Punch, i will make the edit later

Oh, I legitimately thought that TT had changed it up just that bit. Thanks for the remind on Blast Off's PM.

[CircuitBreaker]

Had no one else really noticed the gray shins thing until now? It's been bugging me for years. So strange that some 3rd party artwork detail worked itself into the design canon retroactively for Optimus Prime. Even Takara picked up on it somehow, and they're usually so good about "screen accuracy" in their paint operations. Heck, it's even weird for Hasbro to have picked it up, as they usually go with toy accurate details, which the gray shin vents are decidedly not.

Just wait till the next MP Convoy with its super cartoon design that will undoubtedly restore the original blue vents.

Year of the Horse MP-10 has the blue vents

[fenrir72]

Had no one else really noticed the gray shins thing until now? It's been bugging me for years. So strange that some 3rd party artwork detail worked itself into the design canon retroactively for Optimus Prime. Even Takara picked up on it somehow, and they're usually so good about "screen accuracy" in their paint operations. Heck, it's even weird for Hasbro to have picked it up, as they usually go with toy accurate details, which the gray shin vents are decidedly not.

3rd party not in-house but Studio Ox was/is an officially Takara contracted company. Even their old G1 catalogs included Studio Ox artwork ( I still have those ). To name a few, there was Broadcast vs Soundwave with a tundra/plain at the background), Lambor and Alert (kicking the cockpit) vs the Seekers and Meister (kicking the cockpit) vs Starscream. So they were as official as can be.

Convoy's shins though, it varied from the metal blue to the one with gray from time to time.

[Wolfman Jake]

The more I think about it, the more I would be absolutely shocked if we didn't get a premium redeco of Siege Optimus Prime somewhere down the line. It's such a good looking G1 Optimus Prime in robot mode, it's hard to think Hasbro won't try to milk it as LEAST as much as they did the 2006 Classics Voyager Optimus Prime mold. A little minor retooling would bring the alt mode in line with his iconic Earth-based truck mode. Swap out the roof of the truck/back of the robot for a smaller piece without the flood lights. Maybe use different tires. Of course, loose the weathered paint apps. Touch up a few details on the front of the truck and on the robot mode. And voila! I bet we'll see something the next time we hit a big Transformers milestone, like the 35th anniversary of the 1986 movie, or the 40th anniversary of the franchise.

[fenrir72]

The more I think about it, the more I would be absolutely shocked if we didn't get a premium redeco of Siege Optimus Prime somewhere down the line. It's such a good looking G1 Optimus Prime in robot mode, it's hard to think Hasbro won't try to milk it as LEAST as much as they did the 2006 Classics Voyager Optimus Prime mold. A little minor retooling would bring the alt mode in line with his iconic Earth-based truck mode. Swap out the roof of the truck/back of the robot for a smaller piece without the flood lights. Maybe use different tires. Of course, loose the weathered paint apps. Touch up a few details on the front of the truck and on the robot mode. And voila! I bet we'll see something the next time we hit a big Transformers milestone, like the 35th anniversary of the 1986 movie, or the 40th anniversary of the franchise.

The "best" version of the original G1 mold was the iPod "Optimus Prime" version Takara. Despite it's limitation, it used the MP-01 head style on a ball joint, painted surfaces all over the existing red and blue ABS PVC plastic.

What you're suggesting is a nergasm dream for me if Takara or Hb implements a premium finish version somewhere along the road.

[Cyberpath]

Pre-ordered from AE!

Optimus Prime - cause he's my favourite and I've wanted a decent "Sunbow" Prime for the CHUG shelf in forever

Ultra Magnus - for the White Convoy gimmick.

Cog - the gimmick thing again. Kind of wish he had a Headmaster port though so I could use him as Cerebros. But I'll come up with a backstory for him.

Skipped Sideswipe because he looks almost "identical" to MP-12 in look, articulation and whathaveyou. It's not a bad thing, on the contrary, but he's simply not my all-time favourite and I have to draw the line somewhere. (Apparently that line doesn't stop with another Ultra Magnus, but oh well. )

It came out $18 cheaper than my usual place, so it's kind of like a free figure!

[President-prime]

I agree with you 100 % Wolfman. I hated the line when I first looked at it. But after some thought, I looked at those figures again and you said exactly what I thought. Some chrome, better paint apps and get rid of those weathering marks. One good looking line

[Sentinel_Primal]

Just wondering, but have we heard anything else about Sixgun and Flywheels/Skytread? Or are these going to be the Repugnus and "PotP" Blast-off again where it takes a year to find out anything?

[william-james88]

Just wondering, but have we heard anything else about Sixgun and Flywheels/Skytread? Or are these going to be the Repugnus and "PotP" Blast-off again where it takes a year to find out anything?

All we know is that both of those have a deluxe price point. That is all.

[TF-fan kev777]

Just wondering, but have we heard anything else about Sixgun and Flywheels/Skytread? Or are these going to be the Repugnus and "PotP" Blast-off again where it takes a year to find out anything?

All we know is that both of those have a deluxe price point. That is all.

However, a deluxe price point should mean a regular release and not and exclusive.

[CircuitBreaker]

Not really, Studio Series Thundercracker and numerous other releases come out to the same price point as their wavemates. Only the "box set" exclusives really have different pricing but some other figure or accessory to compensate. So they may be exclusive but not a weird special release like repugnus p/cp and blastoff

[Skritz]

I agree with you 100 % Wolfman. I hated the line when I first looked at it. But after some thought, I looked at those figures again and you said exactly what I thought. Some chrome, better paint apps and get rid of those weathering marks. One good looking line

It had a pretty 'meh' reveal but I think stuff like Magnus and Cog won people like me over.

[X3ROhour]

all.

must acquire all.

[Agamemnon]

all.

must acquire all.

As much as I am trying to cut back as I have good representations of nearly all G1 characters....this is my feeling too...

[TF-fan kev777]

all.

must acquire all.

As much as I am trying to cut back as I have good representations of nearly all G1 characters....this is my feeling too...

I'm actually the opposite. I've been a near completionist since T30 and this is the first line where I'm going to pick and choose what I buy. (At least that is what I'm currently telling myself.) Voyager OP is a pass for me (far too many OP's already). Sideswipe is a must, as is Cog. The micromasters are probably going to be a pass as well. Everything else is really up in the air for me.

[Skritz]

This is absolute wishlist speculation but...

One thing I've noticed with Sideswipe is that he seem to have ports under his feet to allow him to combine with Weaponizers, using a part of their bulk has a pair of 'shoes' which add to his height while the Weaponizer cobble itself around him as a backpack and gun. Now the odds of this happening are probably 0% but does that seem like it would be a way to release Star Saber and Victory Leo? Now we don't know for sure if there will be non-deluxe Weaponizers (as they are called 'Deluxe Weaponizers' which can mean either those reveal are specifically deluxe price point weaponizer or if the gimmick is limited to said price point) but I could totally see Victory Leo working as maybe a Voyager Weaponizer for a Leader-class Star Saber. Alternatively, he'd be a deluxe and Star Saber would be a Voyager which would be a bit Leader-ish in size when combined.

Will it happen? I doubt it but I know it's doable in theory.

[Sentinel_Primal]

This is absolute wishlist speculation but...

One thing I've noticed with Sideswipe is that he seem to have ports under his feet to allow him to combine with Weaponizers, using a part of their bulk has a pair of 'shoes' which add to his height while the Weaponizer cobble itself around him as a backpack and gun. Now the odds of this happening are probably 0% but does that seem like it would be a way to release Star Saber and Victory Leo? Now we don't know for sure if there will be non-deluxe Weaponizers (as they are called 'Deluxe Weaponizers' which can mean either those reveal are specifically deluxe price point weaponizer or if the gimmick is limited to said price point) but I could totally see Victory Leo working as maybe a Voyager Weaponizer for a Leader-class Star Saber. Alternatively, he'd be a deluxe and Star Saber would be a Voyager which would be a bit Leader-ish in size when combined.

Will it happen? I doubt it but I know it's doable in theory.

I'd love it if we got a new Star Saber release. He'd be great as a new leader class figure. I don't really know much about Victory Leo, but I'm all for bigger weaponizers and releasing updated Japanese fiction characters because it wouldn't be more of the same American G1 we've been getting