The Energon Pub

I realized that for such an important character, I have very few figures of him, just the Animated, Classics and MP Hot Rodimus (MP Hot Rod V2). Are there any other good ones out there still owning or does it not get better than those 3?

Well, I have the originals. They're bricks among bricks, but they look pretty good and the only real breakage worry is Hot Rod's roof pivot (and even then it's not too bad. And easily fixed if it does break). For Hot Rod, I would specifically recommend the Takara book box reissue because that one comes with 5mm peg versions of his guns as well as Firebolt.

I don't think there are many of them, while I enjoy the buff Energon Truck version, it isn't very good... I'd say nab the TR and Legends Hot Rod if you really want good versions of them

Hellscream9999 wrote:I don't think there are many of them, while I enjoy the buff Energon Truck version, it isn't very good... I'd say nab the TR and Legends Hot Rod if you really want good versions of them

Are those both the same toy?

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:Well, I have the originals. They're bricks among bricks, but they look pretty good and the only real breakage worry is Hot Rod's roof pivot (and even then it's not too bad. And easily fixed if it does break). For Hot Rod, I would specifically recommend the Takara book box reissue because that one comes with 5mm peg versions of his guns as well as Firebolt.

Cool. Among the originals is Hot Rod a better toy than G1 Rodimus Prime?

william-james88 wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:I don't think there are many of them, while I enjoy the buff Energon Truck version, it isn't very good... I'd say nab the TR and Legends Hot Rod if you really want good versions of them

Are those both the same toy?

Well, yes, but the deco differences could end up being as different as tr blurr and legends blurr... plus, it's not likely we'll get another hot rod this nice for a while

william-james88 wrote:

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:Well, I have the originals. They're bricks among bricks, but they look pretty good and the only real breakage worry is Hot Rod's roof pivot (and even then it's not too bad. And easily fixed if it does break). For Hot Rod, I would specifically recommend the Takara book box reissue because that one comes with 5mm peg versions of his guns as well as Firebolt.

Cool. Among the originals is Hot Rod a better toy than G1 Rodimus Prime?

Eh. They're honestly about even. Hot Rod can't move his arms at the shoulder, Rodimus Prime can't move his at the elbow. Hot Rod has a Targetmaster retool as far as extra gimmicks go, Rodimus Prime has his battle station camper shell. Each toy has a distinct robot mode; Hot Rod's is stocky and has a youthful face (which the Classics headsculpt does not), Rodimus Prime's is stately and has a more aged-looking face. G1 Rodimus Prime is also one of the few toys of him to actually turn into the futuristic camper from the movie, the others being MP09 and Titanium Series Rodimus. So I would recommend them both.

Yeah, it's slim pickings when it comes to Roddy. I also think the TFA figure is probably the best. I have the original G1 Hot Rod and I like it in both modes. G1 Rodimus looks good in vehicle mode, but the robot is not that good. The arms don't bend and the 2 legs are stuck together. I was really hoping for a Leader Class version of him either in CW or TR, but I guess I'll settle for what we got. I think both MP versions nailed his look, but for display purposes only. MPs aren't for playing. I like the Energon truck, but just because I got 2 of them and combined them, so Rodimus is the top and bottom of the combined figure. Just makes a bigger and better looking Rodimus. The Titanium is pretty cool, and it manages to incorporate the trailer into the figure. That's why I was so hyped about the 3rd party figure that came out last year, it did the same.

Rodimus Prime wrote: I like the Energon truck, but just because I got 2 of them and combined them, so Rodimus is the top and bottom of the combined figure.

AWESOME!

Wheeljack likes to sport a pair of Hot Pants.


I always liked the G1 toy, but lots of good memories attached to that toy. What about Alternators Rod? I don't have him but is he any good? Another I don't have but would like to is the Legends/Legions version. He seemed to have a cool looking robot mode.

Actually, Energon Rodimus might be my favorite Roddy. I remember being absolutely floored to finally have a new version of the character and even with his limitations I was (and am still) in love. He was decently posable and his truck mode is SICK. And I still feel if Classics Rod is a C/G Hotrod, then E.Rod can easily be a good C/G Rodimus Prime.

This is interesting. It seems the pickings are indeed slim but there are some standout toys afterall like the MP, the Energon and the animated one. I am eager to see how the new TR one stacks up to those. Maybe then we will have enough to make a solid top five

And while you guys might find the pickings slim, it was just as slim for Grimlock. He has more toys, but its not like they are any better. Its like MP and then...

Cobotron wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote: I like the Energon truck, but just because I got 2 of them and combined them, so Rodimus is the top and bottom of the combined figure.

AWESOME!

Wheeljack likes to sport a pair of Hot Pants.

I like to make Rodimus the shirt and the deluxe Optimus the pants. Makes him Rodimus Prime. No? Well, it's amusing to me anyway.

I'm a big Hot Rod fan and have many versions including homages.

There's the main ones, but the rub is: which version of the Classics mould do you like? I think Henkei is the best one, but how about that eHobby blue version? It's pretty slick. The Sons of Cybertron is also nice, but the blue one is better, IMO. Something about how the colors work together holds up more and the chrome on SoC is a bot of a nightmare. I had some serious damage to mine and rebought it because it bugged me so much ... only to damage the tailfin on that one! Swapped it so now I have one that just bugs me a lot.

I also like the Shattered Glass repaint, but it's powered by unobtanium.

I know this is official stuff forums, but the Protector add-on is something I really like a lot and adds much to Classics Rodimus. I'm a sucker for armor.

The Classics mould gets a lot of crap, but I dunno. I like it.

Alternators Hot Rod is indeed quite nice. I was inspired to break mine out. Unlike some Alts he's pretty poseable. Even though he's a mirage repaint he's done really well. The new MP is better of course, but this is a solid installment.

How about Cybertron Excelleon? He's very much his own guy while being a solid homage to Hot Rod.

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked G1 Rodimus Prime. Maybe it's just because I always wanted it as a kid. It didn't blow me away or anything, but it was vintage nice. I still like G1 Hot Rod. I wish I got the book version, but I already had the original reissue and not enough $$$ to grab a repeat.

Super Speedbreaker from the original Robots in Disguise is pretty cool for a shellformer. One of my first when I started collecting.

Don't forget the oddballs!

The ChronoQ Rodimus Prime is funky and the more recent Q version of Hot Rod is a nice companion to it.

Micromaster Hot Rod and World's Smallest? Those guys are also neat. I have no place for them ATM, but still.

The upcoming Headmaster looks nice.

Ones I don't care for? Many classics repaints. I mean, geez. This mould has had some bad repaints. United Rodimus, Battle in Space, and the upcoming Platinum one. I don't get hoe you can get the guy's deco so wrong .... and those fire designs look terrible.

The repaint of Armada Hot Rod can go in a corner and cry he's so bad.

You know what? I know lots of people love him to bits, but Cloud Rodimus just looks like Springer to me.

I also don't care for either Legends version of the character. The Generation or the Combiner Wars repaint.

If we're talking about Energon Rodimus ... well, I'm not a fan. I feel like Titanium Rodimus is better of our two choices for a Rodimus Prime toy for the Classics collector. The original, not the repaint. The original's fire patters just looks nicer. That said it's a pretty mediocre toy. I mean, it's one of the better Titaniums, but that just means he's not utterly terrible. Still, worth a mention, I guess. It's so weird that there hasn't been a good Classics Rodimus Prime.

That about covers it.

Energon Rodimus is pretty great actually. The vehicle is awesome, the robot mode is pretty decent, plus he's an amazing pair of pants for Energon "Ironhide". Make me wish to have the botcon version of this Ironhide hommage so the colors match better.



BTW, I have a spare Energon Rodimus, 100% complete, that I could trade you when the time come.

I give you my siggy for a look in vehicle mode, of several Hot Rods, Rodimii, and clolse homages to them that have been released through the years.

Also the tiny Hot Rodimus that came with Star Convoy, is pretty cool.

Beyond that, I think the best ones are still Animated, MP V2, and Energon. With Classics Roddy close behind.

Of course if you want to find some rarer homages look for Cybertron Excellion.

Overcracker wrote:Beyond that, I think the best ones are still Animated, MP V2, and Energon. With Classics Roddy close behind.

Of course if you want to find some rarer homages look for Cybertron Excellion.

I thank you greatly. I own most of those already so I guess I have the best then. You didn't mention anything from the G1 era, titanium, or Alternators so I assume they don't make the cut for you right?

william-james88 wrote:

Overcracker wrote:Beyond that, I think the best ones are still Animated, MP V2, and Energon. With Classics Roddy close behind.

Of course if you want to find some rarer homages look for Cybertron Excellion.

I thank you greatly. I own most of those already so I guess I have the best then. You didn't mention anything from the G1 era, titanium, or Alternators so I assume they don't make the cut for you right?

Well, I love my G1 Hot rod, and as you can see in the pic, it has seen better days. But generally speaking that's purely my nostalgia speaking. G1 is not a bad toy, but it's a toy of its era. He is pretty cool for what he is, but i think the other 3 are just better all around. Never owned G1 Rodimus Prime, but his robot mode is not appealing not me. Titanium is o.k. A little hollow but a good representation of Rodimus Prime none the less if you want one. Its just simply not as good as the 3 I mentioned.

Alternators/Binaltech Ford GT Rodimus is an option if you like fiddly transformations, and awkward looking robot modes. He's just not quite as good as the other 3 in my opinion. And is significantly larger than all of them so ends up looking a little awkward.


Beyond that, Car Robots / 2001 R.I.D. Super Speedbreaker / Sideburn is a great homage, I love him to bits and sits proudly with his autobot brethren in my TV room. But of course, he is more Side Burn than Hot Rod. Though I do love that Viper alt mode.

Excellion should be one to try to find unless you are looking for actual Hot Rod / Romdimus named TFs.

Overcracker wrote:Beyond that, Car Robots / 2001 R.I.D. Super Speedbreaker / Sideburn is a great homage, I love him to bits and sits proudly with his autobot brethren in my TV room. But of course, he is more Side Burn than Hot Rod. Though I do love that Viper alt mode.

Excellion should be one to try to find unless you are looking for actual Hot Rod / Romdimus named TFs.

Thanks. I was doing a round up of all the Rodimus/hot Rod toys, while anticipating the newer one coming next year and you helped greatly. Would you be ok if I quote anything you wrote in a site article (if ever I do one about hot rod toys)? And as for excellion, I agree, he is a phenominal homage, he even has those wings in the back. But I already own hotshot. Actually, I did write about him specifically in an article already and how he was a great homage:

http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/ ... oys/32491/

william-james88 wrote: Would you be ok if I quote anything you wrote in a site article (if ever I do one about hot rod toys)?

Of course. Go ahead. I'd be honored you think my opinions are worthy of being highlighted in one of your articles.

Also Cybertron Swerve while not a direct Hot Rod or even a homage at all its one of those toys, you wonder why it was not repainted as Hot Rod at any point.