The Energon Pub

megatronus wrote:

Arctorro wrote:UT did a great job naming themselves, their products are uniquely crap

The Sharkies are fun. Could be of slightly better quality, but for $30 a Sharkie, I'm not complaining.

Based on these images,





and part of what you said about them,

megatronus wrote:Got the Sharkies in yesterday. I have to say, they're really nice in person. The plastic on the body could be slightly thicker, and he does feel hollow - but that mainly has to do with how his transformation works. I really like the number of paint apps, and the chrome application to the beast-mode eyes.

Overall, very happy with the set, especially given the price. I've already ordered a second set to really round out my '86 movie display.

I'm thinking UT needed to spend more time engineering these (like with everything else they make). If having thin plastic and being hollow is required for transformation then, IM(NotSo)HO, any price is too much. UT has done a half-arsed job on everything they have released and people keep paying their inflated prices so they wont have any reason to improve. MMC, TW, and in the case of their Headmasters, FP give us much more for the same price or only a little more.

I'm surprised nobody is concerned about the alternators type restrictions in the walking hip joints. That front waist plate in robot mode is too big & doesn't appear to move out of the way. I don't see any pins or joints on that waist plate. This just seems like it'll prevent movement in the hips.

While the Mega Steele version might have the same hips restrictions movements. I think I might see some pin hinges on the waist plate that allows the tabs to flip up. The might all fully walking movements in the hips joints.

Arctorro wrote:

megatronus wrote:

Arctorro wrote:UT did a great job naming themselves, their products are uniquely crap

The Sharkies are fun. Could be of slightly better quality, but for $30 a Sharkie, I'm not complaining.

Based on these images,





and part of what you said about them,

megatronus wrote:Got the Sharkies in yesterday. I have to say, they're really nice in person. The plastic on the body could be slightly thicker, and he does feel hollow - but that mainly has to do with how his transformation works. I really like the number of paint apps, and the chrome application to the beast-mode eyes.

Overall, very happy with the set, especially given the price. I've already ordered a second set to really round out my '86 movie display.

I'm thinking UT needed to spend more time engineering these (like with everything else they make). If having thin plastic and being hollow is required for transformation then, IM(NotSo)HO, any price is too much. UT has done a half-arsed job on everything they have released and people keep paying their inflated prices so they wont have any reason to improve. MMC, TW, and in the case of their Headmasters, FP give us much more for the same price or only a little more.

I think it's hard to judge if you don't have them in hand. To address your points:

(1) The misalignment is not nearly as severe as the pictures here show, and isn't really noticeable.

(2) I have zero problems with the actual engineering of these guys. By design, Sharkticons have big round bodies, and I'd rather have the robot legs tuck inside and have a sleek alt mode than have the legs turn into a super-kibbly, FOC Grimlock-esque tail (which is what iGear seems to be doing). The hollowness would bother me if it had no purpose, but it does have a purpose (not to mention it helps the pose-ability).

(3) My thin plastic complaint has nothing to do with structural integrity. These aren't going to break on you. I daresay, the plastic might be thicker than most of the FP Stunticons'.

(4) On price, $30 a pop really isn't bad, and I'm not sure why you think it is. Australia import costs?

EDIT: Just want to make clear that this isn't a defense of UT by and large, just of the Sharkies. Their Predaking, Galvatron, and Blaster are all things I'm not at all interested with (especially since Blaster steals a bit from MP Soundwave).

megatronus wrote:I think it's hard to judge if you don't have them in hand.

Very true, but I'm told I'm mule headed, so...

megatronus wrote:To address your points:

(1) The misalignment is not nearly as severe as the pictures here show, and isn't really noticeable.

That may be so, but that is an issue that should never have made it past the QC checks.

megatronus wrote:(2) I have zero problems with the actual engineering of these guys. By design, Sharkticons have big round bodies, and I'd rather have the robot legs tuck inside and have a sleek alt mode than have the legs turn into a super-kibbly, FOC Grimlock-esque tail (which is what iGear seems to be doing). The hollowness would bother me if it had no purpose, but it does have a purpose (not to mention it helps the pose-ability).

That is a personal objection really, just doesn't work for me.

megatronus wrote:(3) My thin plastic complaint has nothing to do with structural integrity. These aren't going to break on you. I daresay, the plastic might be thicker than most of the FP Stunticons'.

Not difficult to out do FP's Stunticons on QC

This is responding to 2 & 3; any time Hasbro releases a small poorly engineered $12 toy made with thin plastic you'd think they had committed a capital offense with how everyone goes nuts, but everyone is ignoring that with UT

megatronus wrote:(4) On price, $30 a pop really isn't bad, and I'm not sure why you think it is. Australia import costs?

Nothing to do with import costs and everything to do with me thinking these just aren't worth it, especially with I compare them to Mech Ideas Apex & Geminus. Half an inch taller in bot mode, and just a few dollars more, and they are very well engineered and solid.

megatronus wrote:EDIT: Just want to make clear that this isn't a defense of UT by and large, just of the Sharkies. Their Predaking, Galvatron, and Blaster are all things I'm not at all interested with (especially since Blaster steals a bit from MP Soundwave).

That's how I read it Personally I'm blasting everything they've teased/released to date (except that Metroplex head, like the look of it eve if I wont get it) because they seem more interested in releasing as many things as possible as quickly as possible without taking the time to make them as good as what the competition is doing

Arctorro wrote:This is responding to 2 & 3; any time Hasbro releases a small poorly engineered $12 toy made with thin plastic you'd think they had committed a capital offense with how everyone goes nuts, but everyone is ignoring that with UT

Ha yea - a lot of people get like that. I tend to give Hasbro a lot of leeway on that issue.

Arctorro wrote:

megatronus wrote:(4) On price, $30 a pop really isn't bad, and I'm not sure why you think it is. Australia import costs?

Nothing to do with import costs and everything to do with me thinking these just aren't worth it, especially with I compare them to Mech Ideas Apex & Geminus. Half an inch taller in bot mode, and just a few dollars more, and they are very well engineered and solid.

That, my good sir, is a fair point. MMC (Mech iDeas is theirs, right?) tends to price their products really, really well for the value you're getting. God bless them.

KFC's Micro Robo MC20 came with the Sharkies, and it bugs me to know that for the price of that piece, I could get both Apex AND Geminus.

Arctorro wrote:

megatronus wrote:EDIT: Just want to make clear that this isn't a defense of UT by and large, just of the Sharkies. Their Predaking, Galvatron, and Blaster are all things I'm not at all interested with (especially since Blaster steals a bit from MP Soundwave).

That's how I read it Personally I'm blasting everything they've teased/released to date (except that Metroplex head, like the look of it eve if I wont get it) because they seem more interested in releasing as many things as possible as quickly as possible without taking the time to make them as good as what the competition is doing

To be perfectly honest, I agree wholeheartedly with the criticism that UT is rushing stuff out. Thinking more about it, my defense of the Sharkies might be so... assertive... because my money's in a hole, and I feel the need to justify my purchase.

megatronus wrote:

Arctorro wrote:This is responding to 2 & 3; any time Hasbro releases a small poorly engineered $12 toy made with thin plastic you'd think they had committed a capital offense with how everyone goes nuts, but everyone is ignoring that with UT

Ha yea - a lot of people get like that. I tend to give Hasbro a lot of leeway on that issue.

Same, though it does also make me more willing to buy 3P offerings.

megatronus wrote:

Arctorro wrote:

megatronus wrote:(4) On price, $30 a pop really isn't bad, and I'm not sure why you think it is. Australia import costs?

Nothing to do with import costs and everything to do with me thinking these just aren't worth it, especially with I compare them to Mech Ideas Apex & Geminus. Half an inch taller in bot mode, and just a few dollars more, and they are very well engineered and solid.

That, my good sir, is a fair point. MMC (Mech iDeas is theirs, right?) tends to price their products really, really well for the value you're getting. God bless them.

KFC's Micro Robo MC20 came with the Sharkies, and it bugs me to know that for the price of that piece, I could get both Apex AND Geminus.

I can never keep up with the alliances between companies. If MC20 was $25 cheaper I might think about it, but that guy is way to expensive!

megatronus wrote:

Arctorro wrote:

megatronus wrote:EDIT: Just want to make clear that this isn't a defense of UT by and large, just of the Sharkies. Their Predaking, Galvatron, and Blaster are all things I'm not at all interested with (especially since Blaster steals a bit from MP Soundwave).

That's how I read it Personally I'm blasting everything they've teased/released to date (except that Metroplex head, like the look of it eve if I wont get it) because they seem more interested in releasing as many things as possible as quickly as possible without taking the time to make them as good as what the competition is doing

To be perfectly honest, I agree wholeheartedly with the criticism that UT is rushing stuff out. Thinking more about it, my defense of the Sharkies might be so... assertive... because my money's in a hole, and I feel the need to justify my purchase.

Can't help thinking we've all done that at some point! I know I have If UT put a bit more effort into engineering their products I'd be willing to give them a chance, but right now they make TFC's prices look fantastic

Scaleface wrote:

daimchoc wrote:

Now up for preorder - Unique Toys Soundmixer! Preorder yours at TFSource here: http://tfsource.com/uniquetoys/soundmixer/

Fully transformable, figure stands 17CM/6.7" tall, approximately the same height as MP-17. Scheduled for release in March!

You started a thread for this guy 2 months ago Daimchoc!

uniquetoys-blaster-t96991.php

Thank you for the heads up. Merged. daimchoc, in the future, please reuse an existing thread if possible. Thanks.

That black gear on the robot chest looks like a brace lock of sorts. this must be some type of curfew lock that Blaster implemented to prevent the cassettes-bots from sneaking out while he's sleeping.

Just to bang on about the Sharkies again, I firmly believe the these 3 guys represent good value for money, especially for a 3rd party item. Regarding quality, I don't have any major qualms about them. I think that the Unique Toys aesthetic probably works better for these characters than any of their other attempts so far. I'm not interested in any of their other projects - Predacons are too simplistic, conversely Galvatron is over-complicated to the point of being ugly. Their Blaster effort on the other hand seems to strike the right balance, IMO. I'm just not convinced that it warrants swapping out my device label Blaster for.

Autobot032 wrote:
Thank you for the heads up. Merged. daimchoc, in the future, please reuse an existing thread if possible. Thanks.

I usually do, though, this time I did forget.

Banjo-Tron wrote: Just to bang on about the Sharkies again, I firmly believe the these 3 guys represent good value for money, especially for a 3rd party item.

Are these priced low for a 3rd party item? lets do the math. Each Hasbro Commander sized toy cost $7.99 at Walmart. $8 times 4 equals $32. This seems about the four times price some 3rd party companies are charging for non-combiners voyagers. this is 20% off of what some buyers are charging for 3rd party deluxes. this is 30% less off what each commander sized FP Insecticon cost.

To make this fair,other things needs to be factored in. like the simplier transformation of the sharks. the quality control issue of the sharks regarding the plastic not lining up on parts. The overall plastic quality. Since all of this has been reported as bad & low,this effects the deal price. as buyers are paying less due to inferior product.

daimchoc wrote:

Interesting,looking good. I gotta ask the million dollar questions? what parts form the big gun? what parts form the cassette? does the small gun that looks like TM1 Primal's gun,form any part of the cassette,big gun or armor on the robot?

daimchoc wrote:

Great looking boom box radio mode. This & the mega steele version both look like nice 3rd party toys.

daimchoc wrote:

The scale in this picture makes me want to cancel my pre-order. I thought this figure was supposed to be the same height as classics Prime ? Now all of a sudden it scales with MP figures ? Exactly how small is MP Prowl ?

Rated X wrote:

daimchoc wrote:

The scale in this picture makes me want to cancel my pre-order. I thought this figure was supposed to be the same height as classics Prime ? Now all of a sudden it scales with MP figures ? Exactly how small is MP Prowl ?

That looks about right. I just stood my Classics Prime next to MP Prowl, and the height difference is about the same.

So, does this mean he can use G1 tapes? Kinda wish these guys would show off if that's possible or if they plan on just making their own line of tapes for him to use.

Okay, I would guess this puts UT Soundmixer/Blaster around the same height as Classics Voyager Optimus, a touch smaller than Classice Voyager Jetfire and a head smaller than Classics Voyager Inferno/Hotspot?
Im happy to introduce a smallish Voyager Blaster into my Classics/Neo-Classics collection at that scale.
I just hope Unique Toys have gained some new guys on their Q.C. dept!

megatronus wrote:

Rated X wrote:

daimchoc wrote:

The scale in this picture makes me want to cancel my pre-order. I thought this figure was supposed to be the same height as classics Prime ? Now all of a sudden it scales with MP figures ? Exactly how small is MP Prowl ?

That looks about right. I just stood my Classics Prime next to MP Prowl, and the height difference is about the same.

So I guess I'm safe. Wow the MP line is like super small now. I have never seen the Sideswipe or Prowl molds in person.

Rated X wrote:

megatronus wrote:

Rated X wrote:

daimchoc wrote:

The scale in this picture makes me want to cancel my pre-order. I thought this figure was supposed to be the same height as classics Prime ? Now all of a sudden it scales with MP figures ? Exactly how small is MP Prowl ?

That looks about right. I just stood my Classics Prime next to MP Prowl, and the height difference is about the same.

So I guess I'm safe. Wow the MP line is like super small now. I have never seen the Sideswipe or Prowl molds in person.

haven't got my Prowl yet (waiting on Santamus Prime) but MP Sideswipe is shorter than FOC Grimlock. if you squint a bit he almost fits with Classics. Almost. Until you bring out Hot Rod or someone like that. Classics Seekers reach up to Sideswipe's lights in bot mode.

seems like a fine size for a Classics Blaster. I'd like to know the tape situation first, but worst case scenario I can forego the gimmick of fitting the tapes inside the actual bot.

daimchoc wrote:

That just looks plain awesome. Unique Toys is doing big things in 2014. The poor reviews on their Predacons has really made them step up their game. If they can pull of a success with both Blaster and Galvatron, they will be right up there with Toyworld in my opinion.

Rated X wrote:

daimchoc wrote:

That just looks plain awesome. Unique Toys is doing big things in 2014. The poor reviews on their Predacons has really made them step up their game. If they can pull of a success with both Blaster and Galvatron, they will be right up there with Toyworld in my opinion.

Where's the sculpted boom box cassette buttons? So unique toys went the cheap-o route & painted on the cassette buttons detail for the Play,stop,rewind,eject & fast forward.

If I get any 3rd party Blaster,It's going to be the Mega-Steel version.