The Energon Pub

With so many things out or coming out for Metroplex, I thought I'd make a thread collecting them all in one place. A place for someone to have a quick guide on what is out there, and where debates on competing accessories can take place in neutral territory without bogging down the individual items' threads.

(Prices and links presented in this post are accurate as of the time of this writing, but are subject to change.)

So, here's everything worth note that I know about. This first post may be edited with updates if more items become available, or there is significant new or updated information about one of the already mentioned items.

Stickers:

Two options I know of here. The first is from the well known Reprolabels.



Available on the Reprolabels website for $35.00. For those who have a version of Metroplex that came with two large red guns, there is a supplemental sticker set for an additional $3.50.

The second is from a company called Eness. They have their own thread here.



Not sure where to buy these ones or for how much. There are a couple on eBay at the time of this writing for $50.00 - $70.00. If anyone can supply a link to somewhere else that sells them, I can edit this top post to include that, as well.

Six-Gun:

There are three main competitors here. Alphabetically, they are from Before and After, Iron Factory, and TFC Toys.

The Before and After one, which has a thread here, comes in two options.



The large black guns shown in the picture above are not included, as they are guns that come with Metroplex. The figure breaks apart to form two more guns and a turret for Metroplex's city mode. (There is one other item that comes with this figure, which will be discussed in more detail below.)

$82.99.

Big Bad Toy Store: Black Arm / Red Arm
TF Source: Black Arm / Red Arm

As a footnote, a company called Keith's Fantasy Club (KFC) sells fully articulated upgrade hands for MP-10 Optimus Prime. It has been discovered that, without any modification, these hands also can fit on Six Sigma. Thus, they can be an upgrade for your upgrade. $19.99, BBTS. $19.95, TFSource.

The Iron Factory option (see individual thread here) is a much different take on Six-Gun and is named Scamp. Being a Legends Class sized figure, he scaled to stand about the same height as Scamper. Rather then forming guns scaled to be hand held by Metroplex, he breaks apart into little weapon emplacements to attach to Metroplex's various modes. (Like the Before and After version, something else comes with this figure that will be talked about more below.)



Big Bad Toy Store, $54,99
TFSource, $54.94

The TFC Toys option (individual thread here):



Breaks apart into two black guns, two red guns, and one larger red and white gun that vaguely matches with the large red gun that comes with Metroplex.

$87.99. Big Bad Toy Store. TF Source.

Slammer:

There are three options for this one.

One of them actually comes with the Before and After Six-Gun. (See price and links above.) It can be a tank, a tower for Metroplex's city mode, or a weapon for Six-Gun to hold.



The second option also comes with a Six-Gun, the Iron Factory option. (See price and links above.) This one gives Slammer a robot mode! Together with the Six-Gun he is sold with and the Scamper that comes with Metroplex, it gives Metroplex a trio of Legends Class sized companions.



The final option, from X2 Toys, has an individual thread here.



It is a gun, designed to match with the large red gun that comes with Metroplex, which can transform into a tank. It will be available in two colours, red (to better match Metroplex's other gun) and white (as a better Slammer homage). Worth note is that the white one is being produced in lesser quantities, and unfortunately is thus being sold at a higher price.

Big Bad Toy Store: Red - $42.99 / White - $54.99
TF Source: Red - $42.95 / White - $47.95

Replacement Head, with Weapon Turrets:

From Unique Toys. Thread here.



A new head for Metroplex, along with small weapon turrets that can be plugged into various holes on Metroplex.

Big Bad Toy Store, $44.99. TF Source, $44.95.

MegaMoonMan Upgrades -- Hands, Knees, and Ramp Extensions:

Individual thread here.



A 3D printed set of accessories that give Metroplex more articulated hands that also transform to better hide in alt modes, new knees with an additional pivot point to provide for a more "G1" looking city mode, and ramp extensions to give you a ramp that can actually be useful.

Available by PM'ing MegaMoonMan on the TFW message board. $60 for a complete set, also available as individual pieces.

It was a clever idea to put everything into one thread.

Good idea, nice seeing everything together.

Thanks for putting everything together like this. It makes it a lot easier to see what's available for the Big Guy. Also makes me realize how little is needed for me to 'complete' him, too.

RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:Also makes me realize how little is needed for me to 'complete' him, too.

Yeah. I was trying to keep personal opinion out of the top post, but since we're past that...

All I'm planning on getting is the Before N After Six-Gun and Slammer, the Reprolabels, and maybe MegaMoonMan's knees and some ramp pieces.

(I've been weary thus far of jumping on the 3D printed bandwagon... but I desperately want a less pathetic ramp... and the knees are tempting, too. The hands... Well, everyone says they look better in person, but I can't get over how rough they look with the layering effect left over from the printing process. And some reviews I've watched make it seem like the joints on them can be inconsistent in their tightness or looseness.)

Don't need a new head, or all of those mini turrets. And the Before N After Six-Gun and Slammer look better (in my opinion) then the other Six-Gun and other Slammer, and costs a heck of a lot less then the both of them together or slightly less then the other Six-Gun by itself. (Besides which, the TFC Six-Gun and the X2 Slammer are kind of redundant in both making additional large red guns.)

Yeah, good idea Yotsuyasan.

This is what I like about large figures; it feels like there's more scope for meaningful modifications.

So far the only thing I've bought are some ramp extensions from MegaMoonMan, and I desperately need to get back in touch to order some of his knee joints.

I've been a little unsure about the Unique Toys head upgrade. I quite like the aesthetic design of the standard head, but its execution I think is poor. The way it pops off its pivot point every time I tilt it forward really bugs me.

so I read that the red arm six sigma is meant to go with the takara metroplex while the black arm is meant to go with the Hasbro metroplex. is there something different about the shades or color patterns of the two versions of plex that I don't know?

Starting this thread was a great idea

First up I'll say that the 3D knees are MUCH better than the ones Metroplex comes with and are a must have in my opinion. The hands are a bit hit and miss to be honest. They are good when transformed, but only average when in bot mode, mainly due to slightly lose joints. I also see the ramp pieces as a must have.

In some ways I believe the TFC Sixgun is better value as he includes new shoulder canons where as B&A's doesn't, but having an included Slammer actually makes B&A's better value. I'm going with B&A myself and will consider Metro complete with it in hand.

Passing on additional stickers and the UT head, just cannot put money down on anything UT makes.

Arctorro wrote:In some ways I believe the TFC Sixgun is better value as he includes new shoulder canons where as B&A's doesn't, but having an included Slammer actually makes B&A's better value. I'm going with B&A myself and will consider Metro complete with it in hand.

Really, it is all subjective based on what you want, I suppose. Do you really hate the black shoulder guns that came with Metroplex, and want a new pair that looks a lot more G1? Then for $5.00 more, the TFC option isn't bad. Of course, if one of the things that bug you are wanting things to be more G1, then your out of luck as far as Slammer is concerned, as the only other option (from X2 Toys) is a lot less G1, and will set you back another $43.00... Starting to look like a lot less of a value, if having all of Metroplex's minions is something you're keen on.

The Before N After version... Well, if you can be happy with the black guns that Metroplex came with, then you can save about $48.00 all together, with the price difference between Six-guns and with not having to buy a separate Slammer. If your thinking aligns with mine (that's a general "your," not specifically to you, Arctorro... especially since you've already said you've been swayed to the Before N After option) then it is hard to not see this as the clearly better option based on value.

Yotsuyasan wrote:

Arctorro wrote:In some ways I believe the TFC Sixgun is better value as he includes new shoulder canons where as B&A's doesn't, but having an included Slammer actually makes B&A's better value. I'm going with B&A myself and will consider Metro complete with it in hand.

Really, it is all subjective based on what you want, I suppose. Do you really hate the black shoulder guns that came with Metroplex, and want a new pair that looks a lot more G1? Then for $5.00 more, the TFC option isn't bad. Of course, if one of the things that bug you are wanting things to be more G1, then your out of luck as far as Slammer is concerned, as the only other option (from X2 Toys) is a lot less G1, and will set you back another $43.00... Starting to look like a lot less of a value, if having all of Metroplex's minions is something you're keen on.

The Before N After version... Well, if you can be happy with the black guns that Metroplex came with, then you can save about $48.00 all together, with the price difference between Six-guns and with not having to buy a separate Slammer. If your thinking aligns with mine (that's a general "your," not specifically to you, Arctorro... especially since you've already said you've been swayed to the Before N After option) then it is hard to not see this as the clearly better option based on value.

Personally I could care less about G1 accuracy (that's what MP's are for) and I like the shoulder guns Metro comes with, was just pointing out that TFC's technically replaces all of Metro's guns while B&A's uses some of em. What convinced me was getting Slammer without having to pay for another 3P product. TFC's being one gun handle short, not having the tab for connecting to the back and the uncertainty of the forearms were also great reasons to pass on their version.

Although I suppose one down side of passing on the TFC version, is not having more monkey arms for your signature photo...

Yotsuyasan wrote:Although I suppose one down side of passing on the TFC version, is not having more monkey arms for your signature photo...

That is a down side, the up side is that won't have to dig most of my Primals out of storage again! (My beast era figs are packed away atm due to lack of space )

articulated-hands-for-generations-metroplex-matrixoffans-t97490.php

What about he articulated hands for Mestroplex by Matrixoffans?

Gauntlet101010 wrote:http://www.seibertron.com/energonpub/articulated-hands-for-generations-metroplex-matrixoffans-t97490.php

What about he articulated hands for Mestroplex by Matrixoffans?

Oh, I'd forgotten those exist. (I must have known at some point, since I'd posted in that thread.) Did anything ever come of these? I can't find any pricing info or any pre-orders anywhere.

Yotsuyasan wrote:

Gauntlet101010 wrote:http://www.seibertron.com/energonpub/articulated-hands-for-generations-metroplex-matrixoffans-t97490.php

What about he articulated hands for Mestroplex by Matrixoffans?

Oh, I'd forgotten those exist. (I must have known at some point, since I'd posted in that thread.) Did anything ever come of these? I can't find any pricing info or any pre-orders anywhere.

Probably wasn't enough interest. Paying 3P prices for hands with slightly more articulation that still just sit there in both alt modes isn't exactly a great idea.

Arctorro wrote:Probably wasn't enough interest. Paying 3P prices for hands with slightly more articulation that still just sit there in both alt modes isn't exactly a great idea.

'Tis probably the case. If anything more does come of these, I shall update the top post accordingly. But as things stand now, I shall just leave things as they are.

It's only been 4 months. Unique Toy's head upgrade also hasn't seen updates in progress or preorders.

Gauntlet101010 wrote:Unique Toy's head upgrade also hasn't seen updates in progress or preorders.

Everything in the top post is either available for sale or pre-order. The closest to an exception is the Eness stickers, for which I could not find a specific store that was selling them, but people do seem to have them and I did see some on eBay.

The head upgrade has preorders available at both Big Bad Toy Store and TF Source. (Possibly other places as well, but I've mainly been using those two places as reference for this thread.) Is there a pre-order available anywhere for these hands? I've not seen one, although I shall be happy to be shown otherwise.

Edit: Actually, I just found a store for the Eness stickers. Anyone familiar with a store called Aliexpress? Are they reputable? (Not being familiar with them, I'd like a few opinions before updating the top post.)

Thanks for putting this thread together Yotsuyasan!
[Just noticed that your handle begins with Year of the Snake }

The only thing I thought necessary was a bit of bling and shimmer, so I purchased is the Reprolabels set. Might go for the Before & After Six Sigma because it's two birds with one stone (Six Gun & Slammer), but I've seen little reason to purchase a straight up functional upgrade.

I'll add my appreciation to this thread too! It certainly makes it easier to collect everything together.

I'm fine with Metroplex's head except for that part about popping off. I'm pooping off on it now and am looking forward to the UT upgrade. It's a little sleeker in city and carrier mode, anyway. (Besides, UT impressed me with the quality of ManiaKing. I'm willing to give them another shot.)

The Before and After... While I think I prefer the cleaner and more cartoon accurate look of the red arms, I do like the two tone red look of the black armed legs. As far as I can see, unless the red more closely matches the Takara big gun (and I don't remember any differences in the red between Hasbro and Takara versions) there really isn't a true connection to one over the other. Perhaps it is a reference to Takara's tendency to match the anime?

Again, thanks for this thread, Yotsuyasan!

Tsutsukakushi wrote:It was a clever idea to put everything into one thread.

mooncake623 wrote:Good idea, nice seeing everything together.

RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:Thanks for putting everything together like this.

Sodan-1 wrote:Yeah, good idea Yotsuyasan.

Arctorro wrote:Starting this thread was a great idea

megatronus wrote:Thanks for putting this thread together Yotsuyasan!

Agamemnon wrote:I'll add my appreciation to this thread too! It certainly makes it easier to collect everything together.

Thought I should take a moment to reply to all of those who have expressed the above sentiments. Thank you for your kind words! It is nice to feel appreciated.

I've noticed TFSource now has a pre-order for the white version of the X2 Toys gun/Slammer. Curiously, it seems to be priced for $5.00 more then the red version. I don't see a pre-order on BBTS yet.

I'll wait a day or so to see if the price on either color changes to match the other one, and to see if BBTS gets a pre-order up as well, and then I'll update the top post accordingly. But for those interested, here's TF Source's pre-order of the white version.

BBTS now has the white version of the X2 Toys gun, too... And for even more! They're listing it at $54.99, compared to the red version for $42.99.

Curiouser and curiouser...

I'll wait until around this time tomorrow to see if all of the pricing (for both versions, and between both of these retailers) remains consistent or if there are any changes, and then I'll update the top post.

TF Source, to whom I'd sent an inquiry, confirmed that the white X2 Toys gun is being produced in lesser quantities, hence the higher price. (Although I still think what BBTS is charging is ridiculous! Makes me glad this is not something I want.)

Anyway, having confirmation, I've updated the top post accordingly.

All I really need is the Before And After Six-Gun and Slammer. That will pretty much 'complete' Metroplex for me. Overall he really is a great figure already.