The Energon Pub

So it's about a decade too late to really ask this question, but I'm kinda curious - how do y'all feel about when Micromaster characters get larger toys or interpretations; mostly through redecoes?

This largely occured in the original Movieverse line and 2008 Universe with some Cybertron repaints.
To fill out it's larger size classes of which there were surprisingly few new molds, Universe 2008 elected to take a ton of Cybertron toys and repaint them - most of the time as Micromasters. So aside from some rather odd Ultra-Class choices of Powerglide, Onslaught and Silverbolt; a couple other random redecoes like Lio Convoy and a new 'con called Heavy Load and it's single new Voyager mold Inferno (aren't you so glad they chose him over Galvatron), Universe 2008 gave us:-

Treadbolt, a redeco of Classics Jetfire into the Autobot Air Patrol member.
Dropshot, a redeco of Cybertron Scattershot into the Decepticon Military Patrol member. This new toy also got him a surprising hi-and-die in AHM despite every other Decepticon in that comic being a G1 Season 1 guy.
Stormcloud, a redeco of Universe 2008 Powerglide into the Decepticon Air Strike Patrol member.
Flak Overload, another redeco of Cybertron Scattershot. While packaging - and Ask Vector Prime - identifies him as the Armada character Overload, the colours are in homage to the Autobot Battle Patrol member Flak; the character the toy in these colours was originally supposed to be.
Countdown, a redeco of Cybertron Cybertron (Cybertron) Defence Team Red Alert into the Autobot Rocket Base Commander.

Rather strangely - though happily - the 2007 Movie line continued this idea; this time of course being new characters as heavy homages to the micromasters.

Mudflap, a redeco of Cybertron Mudflap in homage to the Micromaster Transport Erector. Teehee.
Inferno, a redeco of Armada Red Alert whose many inspirations for the colouration include the Autobot Off Road Patrol member Tote.
Jolt, a redeco of Cybertron Crosswise in homage to the Decepticon Sports Car Patrol member Road Hugger.
Grindcore, a redeco of Cybertron Landmine in homage to the Japanese Autobot Sixbuilder member Crush-Bull.
Big Daddy, a redeco of Cybertron Downshift in homage to the Autobot Hot Rod Patrol leader Big Daddy.

In addition to everything above, Botcon also done a single release.
Flak, a redeco of Cybertron Scattershot. Once again, the same mold redecoed into the same character; the Autobot Battle Patrol member.

So... yeah! Tell me if I missed anything - not counting things like CW Blackjack; this is just for larger toys as Micromasters - but I'm pretty sure this is a full comprehensive list.

What are you guys' opinions of it? I'm a big fan - this meant some great molds could be incorporated into G1 collections and it's always nice to have some backup Autobots. Not to mention Countdown who makes a name for himself in Dreamwave and apparently did so in the IDWverse; it's great to have a toy representing him. And, of course; Erector. Love having a toy of him available.
Buuuut I can also see why it wouldn't be quite so enjoyable as the likes of CW Blackjack - part of the appeal of a Micromaster would be, well, their small size. In a lot of continuities that's what their characters are based around and what makes them particularly unique. Still, since barely any of them have a character, I find it fun to use these larger figures as a starting point.

... one more little aside, and the reason I was prompted to start this thread in the first place. Does anyone else feel that Cybertron Sky Shadow is a homage to the micromaster Sunrunner?





It's a similar enough aircraft to me, not to mention transformation in terms of where pieces of the jet go and general silhouette. Hell, if you modified him to have the wings tilted up and swept back the guy'd practically be a dead ringer for Sunrunner. And of course, the colour scheme seems to be a darker version of Sunrunner's; and there's even the detail of the red faceplate... I know of course that Cybertron Jetfire was an original design but maybe they realised it and drew inspiration from Sunrunner for the Sky Shadow recolour... am I the only one who sees it? eh, maybe I'm crazy but still

It doesn't really bother me that much. Depending on the series I can just assume they've been upgraded to a full sized body. I'm much more bothered by giant versions of the G1 mini-vehicles since they were already supposed to be "normal" sized, just shorter. Didn't stop me from buying Powerglide twice (and then again for Stormcloud), though.

What about the inverse, when normal transformers are sold alongside smaller characters? For example in RID2001 we got all those Spy Changer versions of the main Autobot cast (and Scourge). A little more recently we had we had the Micromaster partners in the Legends line which included the likes of Reflector and Chopshop as Micromasters for no real reason. That's to say nothing of Optimus, Megatron, and Bumblebee all being the same size. Then there's the Titans Return stuff where some Titan Masters are just partner characters, but others like Nightbeat, Apeface, and Brawn are supposed to apparently be the original characters instead. Not Everyone can be Hot Rod and just decide one day to be a Micromaster.

As for Sunrunner, I can see it. If the colors were lightened up on the movie figure the color layout would be fairly similar. Green arms, body, and thighs, and sandy chest and lower legs, plus a red face. Sounds about right to me.

Emerje

You forgot Movie Inferno's wave mate, Mudflap (not Skids's twin), as an homage to Erector *giggle*


Transformers (2007) Mudflap Gallery

Plus, the Movie redecos were originally for Universe 2008

I love Micromasters, so any homage to them is fair game for me.

Glad I have most of these mentioned; now I know a few more I have to look out for.
Thought this link might add some relevancy to the topic as well.
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=105017

Blackjack's based on a Micromaster too.

As long as the Micromasters are getting toys, I'm happy. Many of those larger "updates" really do work for the characters, and I don't mind them beefing it up some. Maybe they can afford to be less energy efficient now or something

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:As long as the Micromasters are getting toys, I'm happy. Many of those larger "updates" really do work for the characters, and I don't mind them beefing it up some. Maybe they can afford to be less energy efficient now or something

Or they're like a transector for the smaller versions. I used to use minicons paired with them as the minicon was 'the real' micromaster and the bigger ones were, as said, just a bigger power up for playing with the bigger guzzlers.

Tigertrack wrote:

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:As long as the Micromasters are getting toys, I'm happy. Many of those larger "updates" really do work for the characters, and I don't mind them beefing it up some. Maybe they can afford to be less energy efficient now or something

Or they're like a transector for the smaller versions. I used to use minicons paired with them as the minicon was 'the real' micromaster and the bigger ones were, as said, just a bigger power up for playing with the bigger guzzlers.

Pretty neat idea

With all the giggles over Erector, I have to wonder, does anyone remember Erector sets anymore?

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:You forgot Movie Inferno's wave mate, Mudflap (not Skids's twin), as an homage to Erector *giggle*


Transformers (2007) Mudflap Gallery

Plus, the Movie redecos were originally for Universe 2008

I love Micromasters, so any homage to them is fair game for me.

Actually I ah, do have him listed

RAR wrote:Blackjack's based on a Micromaster too.

True, though as the title implies; the theme of this is more about the Micromasters who got toys that, well, aren't micro.

Optimum Supreme wrote:With all the giggles over Erector, I have to wonder, does anyone remember Erector sets anymore?

Oh this guy does. Still have them and assemble them too. Most recent creation: A space bridge.


I love those sets. They are so much fun. I still find them and buy occasionally

Optimum Supreme wrote:With all the giggles over Erector, I have to wonder, does anyone remember Erector sets anymore?

They still make them.

Emerje

Emerje wrote:

Optimum Supreme wrote:With all the giggles over Erector, I have to wonder, does anyone remember Erector sets anymore?

They still make them.

Emerje

And if I may add, they're the reason why Erector needs a name change

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

Emerje wrote:

Optimum Supreme wrote:With all the giggles over Erector, I have to wonder, does anyone remember Erector sets anymore?

They still make them.

Emerje

And if I may add, they're the reason why Erector needs a name change

That was always hilarious to me. They can't use Erector not because of... teehee giggle, but because someone else is using it.
It's my favourite thing.

Does Blazemaster count? They really didn't improve on the original there. There was PCC Stakeout too, but that's maybe just a name reuse. A couple more PCCs (Sabrblade'll know the names!) were meant to homage Mudslinger and the white one from the Hot Rod Patrol, or so I heard. HFTD(?) Oil-Pan was also said to be a nod to Skystalker. Oh, and that white Universe Powerglide looked a lot like Hothouse.

Mr O wrote:Does Blazemaster count? They really didn't improve on the original there. There was PCC Stakeout too, but that's maybe just a name reuse. A couple more PCCs (Sabrblade'll know the names!) were meant to homage Mudslinger and the white one from the Hot Rod Patrol, or so I heard. HFTD(?) Oil-Pan was also said to be a nod to Skystalker. Oh, and that white Universe Powerglide looked a lot like Hothouse.

Bah, how did I forget the PCC ones? Specifically the United EX releases? All charaters were based on existing characters, even Micromasters:

Jetmaster (redeco of Skyburst): Tread Bolt
Choppermaster (redeco of Searchlight): Blaze Master
Airmaster (redeco of Skyhammer): Sky High

Name reuses in the PCC line include:

Bombshock
Stakeout
Mudslinger
Sledge

Kurona wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

Emerje wrote:

Optimum Supreme wrote:With all the giggles over Erector, I have to wonder, does anyone remember Erector sets anymore?

They still make them.

Emerje

And if I may add, they're the reason why Erector needs a name change

That was always hilarious to me. They can't use Erector not because of... teehee giggle, but because someone else is using it.
It's my favourite thing.

Interesting thing is they probably were only able to use the name Erector at the time because the toy brand kept getting juggled from one toy company to another thanks to rapid buy outs.

-Early '80s the brand was bought by Ideal Toys
-'82 Ideal was bought by CBS Toys
-'87 Ideal was sold to View-Master International forming View-Master Ideal
-'89 VMI was bought by Tyco Toys
-'90 Meccano bought the Erector brand

If things weren't so crazy there's a chance that Hasbro wouldn't have gotten away with it.

Emerje

I rather like them. Clever use of existing molds. I always figured them to be their bodies before miniaturization.

Emerje wrote:

Kurona wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

Emerje wrote:

Optimum Supreme wrote:With all the giggles over Erector, I have to wonder, does anyone remember Erector sets anymore?

They still make them.

Emerje

And if I may add, they're the reason why Erector needs a name change

That was always hilarious to me. They can't use Erector not because of... teehee giggle, but because someone else is using it.
It's my favourite thing.

Interesting thing is they probably were only able to use the name Erector at the time because the toy brand kept getting juggled from one toy company to another thanks to rapid buy outs.

-Early '80s the brand was bought by Ideal Toys
-'82 Ideal was bought by CBS Toys
-'87 Ideal was sold to View-Master International forming View-Master Ideal
-'89 VMI was bought by Tyco Toys
-'90 Meccano bought the Erector brand

If things weren't so crazy there's a chance that Hasbro wouldn't have gotten away with it.

Emerje

Even so, back then trademark laws weren't as strict (or they just didn't pay as much attention) as there are some namesakes between Transformers and main rival Gobots, at the same time:

- Blaster (1985)
- Rumble (1985)

Here's a head-scratcher, ROTF Detour.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Even so, back then trademark laws weren't as strict (or they just didn't pay as much attention) as there are some namesakes between Transformers and main rival Gobots, at the same time:

- Blaster (1985)
- Rumble (1985)

Funny thing about that. Rumble is classified as a Boomer Vehicle instead of a robot toy so Hasbro's TM probably wouldn't have held anyway. As for Blaster, it seems like Tonka relied a lot on generic names and terms for their characters, they only bothered with TMs on a few of them like Cy-Kill and Spay-C. Or maybe they just didn't know they had to TM the names since this was their first character driven line. Don't know, the '80s were weird.

Emerje