The Energon Pub

Would like to see 3rd party pretender shells sculpted exactly like this Botcon gorilla pretender shell and the G1 shells aesthetics sculpts. but be fully articulated shells. With a inner cavity to fit a Legends class toy.

No need to create a third party inner robot. just use a HasTak legends class toy to stuff into the shell. This would work best for the, Classics Pretenders. As HasTak has already created CHUG Legends class toys for Bumblebee, Jazz, Starscream and maybe Grimlock.

Thinking the G1 Mega Pretenders can be done this way also. But with transforming shells like the G1 shells had. Maybe larger shells to fit a bigger toy inside the Transforming shell.

Didn't care for PWTT's pretender toys. As the pretender shells looked like MOTU Aesthetics sculpted toys on Steroids.

Doing update PWTT inner robots that can no longer fit in the shells made no sense. PWTT inner robots had less articulation than the originals toys. Don't need inner robots that can snap apart into Dozens of parts and decorate the Preteder shells.

Can we just use a previous thread instead of opening a new one?

http://www.seibertron.com/energonpub/how-should-a-3rd-party-pretender-be-done--t103829.php

I predict a lot of those ugly Botcon McGilla Gorillas will end up on e-bay and make their way into vintage G1 collectors hands who don't collect CHUG. The Botcon Gorilla figure is a total failure in my opinion from a CHUG perspective. That's 2 failures for Pretender shells in one month. It's time to give up trying to homage the "shell" concept and just stick with what Hasbro already started with Thunderwing, Skullgrin, Black Shadow, Bludgon, and Botcon Octopunch.

On a side note, why would you not want 3rd party robots that fit inside the shells ? A Hasbro Swerve or Cosmos does not belong inside a Skullgrin shell.

Don't think this is a one time character use for this Gorilla Pretender shell toy. Think TFCC needs to get their money back from creating this shell.

Think TFCC is going to repurpose this Mecha Gorilla shell into countless different characters toys. for Botcon, Club exclusives and subscription toys.

Would not be the least bit surprised to see a Botcon 2015 souvenir add on toy. Using this Mecha Gorilla shell for Beast Wars Optimus Primal. With a Legends class CHUG Optimus Prime toy as the inner robot. to spoof the, Trukk not monkey Beast wars fan joke.

Tsutsukakushi wrote:Don't think this is a one time character use for this Gorilla Pretender shell toy. Think TFCC needs to get their money back from creating this shell.

Think TFCC is going to repurpose this Mecha Gorilla shell into countless different characters toys. for Botcon, Club exclusives and subscription toys.

Would not be the least bit surprised to see a Botcon 2015 souvenir add on toy. Using this Mecha Gorilla shell for Beast Wars Optimus Primal.

Actually no. FunPub isn't as stringent as Hasbro when it comes to reusing custom assets. Most of the time they're only used once, maybe twice per venue and then locked away until who knows when.

Excluding same-year redecos of new BotCon toolings, the only reuses have been:

- TFSS 1.0 Breakdown from BotCon 2012 G2 Breakdown
- TFSS 3.0 Nacelle using BotCon 2007 Thrust's wings (not the Gen. ones)
- BotCon 2014 Pirate Hunter from TFCC Rampage

Again, FunPub is not Hasbro

Like I said in the last thread, it's nice enough, but you still get a small not-really-worth-it inner robot within your large shell.

The Botcon toy is killer for what it is. But a 3rd party toy, at 3rd party prices, should kill in ALL modes. And, yeah, using official Legends figures would be really, really dumb for a 3rd party to do. If I get a 3rd party Pretender Thunderwing, I don't wanna use Cosmos inside it.

This Botcon reveal changes nothing about my stance from the last thread. Nothing.

Gauntlet101010 wrote: it's nice enough, but you still get a small not-really-worth-it inner robot within your large shell.

A Deluxe class inner robot toy. Would require the update Pretender shell to be Leader class.

Thunderwing might be able to get a Leader class toy shell. As he was drawn as one of the much bigger guys in the Marvel G1 TF comics.

Gauntlet101010 wrote: The Botcon toy is killer for what it is. But a 3rd party toy, at 3rd party prices, should kill in ALL modes.

Think similar scaled 3rd party toys cost less than similar scaled Botcon gift set toys do.

The Botcon gift set charges over $400 plus $20 in tax plus $20 shipping for Five toys comes to $440. $440 divided by Five toys comes to $88 for each toy.

Third party TF deluxe class toys sell on Average for around $60. Third party Voyager toys sells on average under $80.

Gauntlet101010 wrote:And, yeah, using official Legends figures would be really, really dumb for a 3rd party to do. If I get a 3rd party Pretender Thunderwing, I don't wanna use Cosmos inside it.

This idea of mine was meant only for the 1989 Four Classics Pretenders toys. That were Jazz, Bumblebee, Grimlock and Starscream. As these guys have CHUG Legends class toys. That can pass for their orinal inner robots 1989 toys.

Did not mean this idea for every G1 Pretender update toy. Did not mean stick any random CHUG Legends toy inside any random G1 Update pretender shell.

It's a little off topic, but ... why do you never use the word "I" in your sentences? It's so very strange.

Anyhow, the old Legends figures are kinda hard to find now, so it isn't worth it. They may as well make all new figures for Classics Pretenders. If we limited it to just Classics Pretenders then, well, I guess Legends sized figures would be fine.

But other Pretenders were lanky and mid sized. That wouldn't really work.

I couldn't imagine price. For a fully articulated Pretender "shell"? That may be more than you figure. Even for one with only decent articulation.

Anyhow, we're going right back to the old thread where I've stated all my points before.

Gauntlet101010 wrote:It's a little off topic, but ... why do you never use the word "I" in your sentences? It's so very strange.

Anyhow, the old Legends figures are kinda hard to find now, so it isn't worth it. They may as well make all new figures for Classics Pretenders. If we limited it to just Classics Pretenders then, well, I guess Legends sized figures would be fine.

But other Pretenders were lanky and mid sized. That wouldn't really work.

I couldn't imagine price. For a fully articulated Pretender "shell"? That may be more than you figure. Even for one with only decent articulation.

Anyhow, we're going right back to the old thread where I've stated all my points before.

That's the question I have been wanting to ask him as well. It looks like you are writing the comment to your self Tsu.

3rd party pretenders are going to be way too expensive and a legends scale figure just doesn't seem worth it. Just stick with the Hasbro pretender/robot merge it is way better.

The only thing i can think of that would make it worth it would be to not have a hatch at the back of the pretender shell and have a scout class robot that is half inside the shell and half outside.
Oh and the shell would have to be articulated considering it would be a third party pretender other wise no go.

using "I" would maybe confuse us into thinking Tsu's posts were opinions, when they're actually facts.

Some times i think Tsu is Rated X

Autobot Genocide wrote:Some times i think Tsu is Rated X

Ouch, that hurt. I cant even spell that guys name...

Rated X wrote:

Autobot Genocide wrote:Some times i think Tsu is Rated X

Ouch, that hurt. I cant even spell that guys name...

How is it pronounced lol?

Think this Botcon 2015 mecha gorilla shell. would make a nice Transmetals I Optimus Primal repurposed toy. Would like to see a CHUG Legends class Optimus Prime toy put inside this gorilla shell. To spoof the, Trukk not monkey, fan joke. Think the Grorlla fur needs to be grey not black to look different than the box set figure.

Going to be blunt, toughen up Tsutsukakushi. We all have little digs at each other, a lot of them can be laughed off, you should try laughing some of them off, unless profanity is used and it's a blatant hate filled attack.

'cause honestly, I can't pronounce your name either and I need to copy and paste to spell it correctly. Nothing insulting about that!

I do see some problems with the FunPub gorilla shell. I wish the arms and legs had a bit more articulation. Elbow joints, wrists that were 5mm pegs, etc. This one is nice looking, but they could improve on the G1 engineering a little. That said I will be picking it up if it's available.

As for the idea of using Legends toys, sure. You can actually do that now with Jazz and Bumblebee, their smallest Legends toys fit inside their G1 shells.



If you do make new shell, make the Classic Pretenders AND make other similar guys. If you make a new shell that fits Legends Bumblebee inside, why not repaint/remold it a bit to make Pretender Cliffjumper? Why not make all the Decepticon Legends jets with the Starscream mold. Lots of cool repaints is one of the things PWTToo had right.

I am still hoping we see some stuff from PWTToo, maybe they will get the hint and redesign the inner robots to have more articulation and sell them as Legends to Scourt sized toys. Then someone else can make a larger outer robot to match those inner robots?

That picture perfectly illustrates the problem with oldstyle shells and most inner robots.

The inner robots extend into the waist and legs, nullifying all dynamic articulation. It's just impossible to have articulated shells and inner robots (that are worth anything) using that old shell method. The new gorilla shell is different. Gorillas have stubby legs and massive chests - kinda perfect for oldstyle shells (better since this one has a large backpack; something a guy like Skullgrin couldn't have).

Gauntlet101010 wrote:That picture perfectly illustrates the problem with oldstyle shells and most inner robots.

The inner robots extend into the waist and legs, nullifying all dynamic articulation. It's just impossible to have articulated shells and inner robots (that are worth anything) using that old shell method. The new gorilla shell is different. Gorillas have stubby legs and massive chests - kinda perfect for oldstyle shells (better since this one has a large backpack; something a guy like Skullgrin couldn't have).

I wonder what it would look like to have bodies like the G1 Pretenders, but with heads and arms from the PWTToo toys. Sure, it would be a brick with articulated arms, but I'd rather have than than the G1 toys.

Let me get this straight Tsu...You create a thread saying 3rd parties should create pretenders using the BotCon Oilmaster pretender shell as an example after saying Funpub was "desperate" and "trying to keep up with 3rd parties" for making this toy and generally putting down the whole concept. Sounds hypocritical to me.

Scaleface wrote:

Gauntlet101010 wrote:That picture perfectly illustrates the problem with oldstyle shells and most inner robots.

The inner robots extend into the waist and legs, nullifying all dynamic articulation. It's just impossible to have articulated shells and inner robots (that are worth anything) using that old shell method. The new gorilla shell is different. Gorillas have stubby legs and massive chests - kinda perfect for oldstyle shells (better since this one has a large backpack; something a guy like Skullgrin couldn't have).

I wonder what it would look like to have bodies like the G1 Pretenders, but with heads and arms from the PWTToo toys. Sure, it would be a brick with articulated arms, but I'd rather have than than the G1 toys.

I wouldn't mind semi-articulated statues if they were along the same level of detail in McFarlane's toys, if that's comparable.

But there were a lot of good suggestions in the old thread.

Think if Legends Jazz was in car mode inside the shell. It might fill up less of the height of the inner shell. Which might enable articulated legs and arms on the shell.

If not, Then increase the pretender shell to a bigger size class.

Tsutsukakushi wrote:Think if Legends Jazz was in car mode inside the shell. It might fill up less of the height of the inner shell. Which might enable articulated legs and arms on the shell.

If not, Then increase the pretender shell to a bigger size class.

So you are saying have a Leader class shell for a legends class robot. You end up getting more shell than robot and that doesn't seem worth it to me.

Thadicon wrote:So you are saying have a Leader class shell for a legends class robot. You end up getting more shell than robot and that doesn't seem worth it to me.

I think any version of an inner robot with a shell will have more shell than robot, that is pretty inevitable.

Smaller things fit inside bigger things unless we get some Time Lord technology.

Using Legends sized inner robots is a good idea. I say someone just make shells that work with existing 3P and Hasbro Legends size toys. Let's see a shell for Bumblebee and Cliffjumper.

Scaleface wrote:Using Legends sized inner robots is a good idea. I say someone just make shells that work with existing 3P and Hasbro Legends size toys. Let's see a shell for Bumblebee and Cliffjumper.

Glad that is appears we both agree on this idea.