The Energon Pub

Wed Aug 03, 2011 12:47 am

It looks good!

News Credits: 5749 · Thu Aug 18, 2011 4:47 pm

Seibertron.com member Venksta has updated the homepage of his garage kit company Renderform with the images that he displayed during the TFcon thrid-party panel. He notes that these are WIP images and finalized designs could be different and should address any QC concerns. For those of you who are interested the the Goldbug upgrade, RF-006 Gold Scout, orders will open next Tuesday, at 6:30pm PST, which is also when he will be posting the finalized designs for the set.

In addition to the Goldbug, Hubcap, and Bumper upgrade sets, he is also working on a more G1-esque set for Takara's DOTM Deluxe Vortex.

News Credits: 1082 · Thu Aug 18, 2011 4:53 pm

These look great! Will order!

Venks just sent me an e-mail telling me my most recent set was posted. Course now it's 2-3 weeks of waiting, but then, Darkwind!!!!

News Credits: 5749 · Thu Aug 18, 2011 5:03 pm

tigertracks 24 wrote:These look great! Will order!

Venks just sent me an e-mail telling me my most recent set was posted. Course now it's 2-3 weeks of waiting, but then, Darkwind!!!!

You're going to love the Darkwind set. I got mine a couple of days ago, and can't believe what a difference it makes. Dreadwind went from mediocre repaint to pure win.

News Credits: 402 · Updated Oct 21, 2022

Looks like there's multiple colours of each head to go with the different Bumblebees... how will I ever choose?

News Credits: 5 · Thu Aug 18, 2011 8:06 pm

El Duque wrote:
tigertracks 24 wrote:These look great! Will order!

Venks just sent me an e-mail telling me my most recent set was posted. Course now it's 2-3 weeks of waiting, but then, Darkwind!!!!

You're going to love the Darkwind set. I got mine a couple of days ago, and can't believe what a difference it makes. Dreadwind went from mediocre repaint to pure win.

I completely agree. The Darkwind set is fantastic.

Mkall wrote:Looks like there's multiple colours of each head to go with the different Bumblebees... how will I ever choose?

I'm going with blue Goldbug, yellow Bumper, & orange/yellow Hubcap as pictured in the first photo. I think that looks the best.

I also like what I see with Vortex. I hope it turns out to be a little more than a new head and weapons.

Thu Aug 18, 2011 9:00 pm

I'm totally diggin on the Goldbug & Hupcap. Don't know if I like the Bumper.

Also, the 'G1-esque set for Takara's DOTM Deluxe Vortex' doesn't look right for the body in some way. Not sure how exactly.

Thu Aug 18, 2011 9:36 pm

I need that Goldbug like nobodies business!!

Unfortunately i don't remember that particular gold release though....what is it again?

Thu Aug 18, 2011 9:52 pm

monstergrotusque wrote:I need that Goldbug like nobodies business!!

Unfortunately i don't remember that particular gold release though....what is it again?

Reveal the Shield. Just got one off of ebay!

News Credits: 3 · Fri Aug 19, 2011 12:23 am

Covenant wrote:
monstergrotusque wrote:I need that Goldbug like nobodies business!!

Unfortunately i don't remember that particular gold release though....what is it again?

Reveal the Shield. Just got one off of ebay!

Nope.

Reveal the Sheild BB is the one with the two black stipres going thorugh the chest.
2008 BB 3 pack had 2007 BB, Animated BB, and a yellow BB with black striping.
Classics Bumblebee
Gold Bumblebee is United BB

I have United and Classics.

News Credits: 5 · Fri Aug 19, 2011 1:00 am

bvzxa wrote:Reveal the Sheild BB is the one with the two black stipres going thorugh the chest.
2008 BB 3 pack had 2007 BB, Animated BB, and a yellow BB with black striping.
Classics Bumblebee
Gold Bumblebee is United BB

I have United and Classics.

Of course, there's also Henkei Bumblebee, which is the same lighter yellow as Classics and 3-Pack, with a chromed hood vent... (Technically, there are two MORE releases of this mold in the form of Cliffjumper and Bugbyte, but I don't think we're counting those right now).

Classics: Yellow with white detailing
Henkei: Yellow with chrome engine
3-Pack: Yellow with thin black stripes
RTS: Yellow-Orange with thick black stripes
United: Gold paint

News Credits: 1 · Fri Aug 19, 2011 7:16 am

Almost makes me wanna grab several versions of this mold.

Fri Aug 19, 2011 7:44 am

See, this is why I wish all 3rd parties would just focus on upgrades to existing figures instead of making their own figures.

I don't know why, but I would prefer to spend my money on upgrades to Hasbro/Takara figures than to buy some 3rd party joe schmoe's figure. Both upgrades and figures are usually more expensive than they need to be. I suppose I just prefer the formula of let the tried and true toymakers make the toys, let the 3rd parties make them better.

The others I'm not so high on but that Goldbug head is spot on. I don't have any version of the classics bee mold yet but when the day comes I might have to get more than one now.

News Credits: 6 · Fri Aug 19, 2011 3:54 pm

I want those guns and a goldbug head, how much are we talking here? Iv'e got RTS Bee', and It looks like one of those GB Heads were made for it.
ALSO, That head for Whirl or Vortex whoever looks awesome, but I don't own the mold, so I'm not biting, but seriously, for a goldbug head and rifles, how much?

News Credits: 5749 · Thu Aug 25, 2011 10:24 pm

Seiberton.com member Venksta has updated the homepage of his garage kit company Renderform with finalized images of his next project, RF-006 Gold Scout, and opened preorders. The kit is designed to upgrade Takara's United Bumblebee into a Classics Universe Goldbug, and features a new head mold plus two new hand guns. The set is also available in multiple color options for collectors who may not have the United version.

Images mirrored below, the kit can be preordered by clicking here.

Below are the test castings of the final RF-006 Gold Scout upgrade kit. This kit was created to make one of your extra Bumblebee figures into Goldbug. As not everyone has a United Bumblebee, I have decided to offer the RF-006 kit in 4 different colors, to help you make your ideal classics Gold Bug figure, out of whichever spare Bumblebee figure you have. The main RF-006 kit is the G1 version, which comes in the navy blue color. However, since none of the figures have navy blue present, the color might seem out of place. So you might find one of the other colors work better for you.

News Credits: 1235 · Thu Aug 25, 2011 10:32 pm

Man, just fixing to news this but was busy ordering mine first. These kits are looking great and will be my first Renderform product.

Thu Aug 25, 2011 11:05 pm

I popped on the blue one. Saving the RTS body for Hubcap and Classics for Bumper. This guy does some great work !

News Credits: 1 · Fri Aug 26, 2011 4:53 am

Am I right in thinking that this set hasn't always had interchangable visors? The solid visor on the earlier photos looked more integrated. To be able to pick and choose which colour head to have is a nice touch, and it's admirable for Renderform to want to please everyone with the different visors, but I feel the final product has suffered for it.

News Credits: 402 · Updated Oct 21, 2022

Sodan-1 wrote:Am I right in thinking that this set hasn't always had interchangable visors? The solid visor on the earlier photos looked more integrated. To be able to pick and choose which colour head to have is a nice touch, and it's admirable for Renderform to want to please everyone with the different visors, but I feel the final product has suffered for it.

Maybe the visor has always been detachable and we just hadn't seen it until today?

Either way it looks really neat. I got the standard Goldbug head for my United Bumblebee

News Credits: 23 · Fri Aug 26, 2011 10:17 am

This is my 2nd Renderform purchase. It was hard for me to decide between the blue head and black. I went against the grain and choose black. I'm still excited none the less and as if things couldn't be timed any better, United BB just arrived in my BBTS account this morning! Whoooo!!! :grin:

News Credits: 5 · Fri Aug 26, 2011 3:45 pm

Prime Evil wrote:This is my 2nd Renderform purchase. It was hard for me to decide between the blue head and black. I went against the grain and choose black. I'm still excited none the less and as if things couldn't be timed any better, United BB just arrived in my BBTS account this morning! Whoooo!!!

I was all about this until I saw the price. $30 plus shipping is a bit much for that tiny head and 2 little guns, especially since the Headrobots Blood set with head and 2 swords was almost half the price. I know the circumstances and why it could be priced high, and I picked up a United BB assuming this set would be made by someone, but that's a bit much for me.

Kinda disappointed now.

News Credits: 1235 · Fri Aug 26, 2011 6:08 pm

--B-- wrote:I was all about this until I saw the price. $30 plus shipping is a bit much for that tiny head and 2 little guns, especially since the Headrobots Blood set with head and 2 swords was almost half the price. I know the circumstances and why it could be priced high, and I picked up a United BB assuming this set would be made by someone, but that's a bit much for me.

Kinda disappointed now.

You can always go for the Growing Pains Custom Kit with a tiny head and 1 gun for the much lower price of $29.99.

News Credits: 5 · Fri Aug 26, 2011 7:57 pm

LOST Cybertronian wrote:
--B-- wrote:I was all about this until I saw the price. $30 plus shipping is a bit much for that tiny head and 2 little guns, especially since the Headrobots Blood set with head and 2 swords was almost half the price. I know the circumstances and why it could be priced high, and I picked up a United BB assuming this set would be made by someone, but that's a bit much for me.

Kinda disappointed now.

You can always go for the Growing Pains Custom Kit with a tiny head and 1 gun for the much lower price of $29.99.

Not helping

Edit: Do any of these smileys do what they picture?

News Credits: 5 · Fri Aug 26, 2011 9:16 pm

--B-- wrote:
Prime Evil wrote:This is my 2nd Renderform purchase. It was hard for me to decide between the blue head and black. I went against the grain and choose black. I'm still excited none the less and as if things couldn't be timed any better, United BB just arrived in my BBTS account this morning! Whoooo!!!

I was all about this until I saw the price. $30 plus shipping is a bit much for that tiny head and 2 little guns, especially since the Headrobots Blood set with head and 2 swords was almost half the price. I know the circumstances and why it could be priced high, and I picked up a United BB assuming this set would be made by someone, but that's a bit much for me.

Kinda disappointed now.

Eh, this price is pretty standard for all of his kits. If you are one of the first 150 you get a third gun and it's almost guaranteed you will receive a surprise weapon. That helps a little.

I'm pumped for this set along with the Bumper and Hubcap upgrades. United, RTS, and Classics Bee are ready to receive some characterization!

News Credits: 6 · Fri Aug 26, 2011 9:39 pm

amcgrath929 wrote:
--B-- wrote:
Prime Evil wrote:This is my 2nd Renderform purchase. It was hard for me to decide between the blue head and black. I went against the grain and choose black. I'm still excited none the less and as if things couldn't be timed any better, United BB just arrived in my BBTS account this morning! Whoooo!!!

I was all about this until I saw the price. $30 plus shipping is a bit much for that tiny head and 2 little guns, especially since the Headrobots Blood set with head and 2 swords was almost half the price. I know the circumstances and why it could be priced high, and I picked up a United BB assuming this set would be made by someone, but that's a bit much for me.

Kinda disappointed now.

Eh, this price is pretty standard for all of his kits. If you are one of the first 150 you get a third gun and it's almost guaranteed you will receive a surprise weapon. That helps a little.

I'm pumped for this set along with the Bumper and Hubcap upgrades. United, RTS, and Classics Bee are ready to receive some characterization!

The only way I could make my stuff cheaper is going through a factory for production. But that easily means I'd be living under a bridge within a year. :lol:

Most factories require a minimum of 1000 pieces to be made, if lucky. And if you could find one that is willing to make less, you still have to split the tooling cost among the amount made, and risk the fact the quality won't be great. So far, only my red alert kit has sold out, except for the black version. So going through a factory for my stuff really would be a total loss, as not enough people would be interested to buy the entire run, and help make back the money spent on the tooling and other costs. Making them by hand is the best way to make them available. Especially since there is only a small crowd interested. Prices will be high, but thats the reality of making these by hand. I'd actually prefer to make only 100 sets each for every project. That way I can move onto something else quicker. But with the demand, I'm doing my best so everyone who is interested, can have a chance to get it.

If you want a factory finished item, complete with actual packaging (which will probably have a cool box art), go with the Growing Pains kit. That is actually a cheaper kit, compared to mine. If I sold mine through an online retailer, it would cost at least $10 more, than what I'm selling it directly.