The Energon Pub

[skywarp-2]

Here is the idea:

I was thinking, after all the images and customs and you name it.. there are a Bazillion cool things that this community does as far as Kitbashing goes..

But what if Hasbro saw a potential in Kitbashing as a Market for them to sell off Toy parts to create, color, customize and build your own transforming Transformer Toy?

They could offer up little boxes that fit that particular toy, with a blank name spot for the character.. the boxes could be faction specific, and that way you can put them in something as if you bought it at the toy store.. neat??

I think in the accessory category, going back to an earlier dsiscussion i had with quite a few of you here, they should release weapons packs as well, and armory sets to add to the customizing bots projects, or if to simply add more firepower to your already produced toys from Hasbro..

Another accessory would be lots and lots of Heads..let's say you want to customize Movie Ratchet into a G-1 Version and Ironhide as these guys have done:

http://tcrackertoyark.blogspot.com/2007 ... nhide.html

the problem is you would have to custom create a Head that fit that particular Mold, and looked somewhat professional.. and for many of us that's hard to do..






the solution, release a ton of Heads in Packs! These Custom Builder packs could include additional Hands and Leg sculpts or arms, shoulder pads, Faction Stickers and painting guides..

Similar to Lego in that there would be a page by page customizing guide to follow with 3 or 4 variations for you to go by if you wanted, or you could veer off and do your own.. but that Customizing guide would be there for support..

The bodies would be a range of Bodies from different series and cast in a prototype plastic Primed in white, and ready for whatever paint applications you choose.. Hasbro could cut a Deal with Testors paint and provide specialised colors for painting.. like Optimus Prime Blue, or Starscream Grey.. ect.. ect...

What about Leader class? Well the shelf space in the model and hobby section would be ideal, because the parts of the bot are in pieces and the packaging that is provided is broken down in the box.. so it really could be a wonderful toy market to explore for Hasbro...

this wouldn't effect their repaint and Botcon Merchandise becasue there will always be some people out there who are just not into Painting and customizing themselves... so they will always buy what's a manufactured release regardless...

What a wonderful toyline that would make.. the body cast and parts would be of the same plastic quality as their regular toys, and a little baggie of Screws would be included in the packages so that you could assemble to toy.. an assembly guide would be included for assmebling the different combinations and how to add additional hands and feet for the toy..

An additional parts list of heads and hands that are compatible with that particular toy would be included so you could go and get what you wanted as far as making the custom.. Imagine the possabilities!!!

They should really give me a Job there at Hasbro!!!

[Ramrider]

As ever, it's a nice idea for the hardcore fans, but I just don't think there'd be the market for mass retail, which would completely scupper the point of them doing it.

I still concur (as I did in the other thread) that packs of generic-looking weapons would be great, and might even sell in quantities worth bothering with. But not specially made ones; far more sensible and profitable would be to recast weapons from existing TFs (so they can be gangmoulded for the packs) and make them in vanilla colours like black and dark grey, so they match well with pretty much any bot.

As far as custom bots is concerned, I can see them possibly caving and releasing, say, an unpainted Seeker set and paints, possibly even for each mould (though more likely just the Starscream mould). I could maybe see a similar version of the Rodimus mould doing alright too, considering the number of repaints and bashes I've seen based on it.
But kitbashers are a niche market within a niche market, and I think that the amount of Leader-class Primes, for example, that they could sell would probably be talliable in double figures. And for the pricepoint of the figure, no frigging way are they gonna take that risk.

For custom heads and the like, there are already fans out there making them and casting them for sale (Shawn Bromen, for instance, with his Alternator-based head sculpts), and for the demand, I think outfits like his, producing smaller more specialised runs, are far more appropriate.

[Counterpunch]

Here is my overwhelming problem with custom figures (and hence why this would not work for me):

They either wear very poorly over time, or are untouchable.

One of the few restrictions I place on my toys is that they must be able to change, robot to alt mode and still hold up. I doubt I will ever buy Black Zarak for fear of him crumbling at my touch.

To this end, most, if not all customs suffer from a problem where the paint is destroyed (scraped, scuffed, marked) by changing them. TFs have slight tolerances, even fractions of an inch can mess up the amount of room available. Putting paint on a figure is like deciding to make a statue in my opinion. It's going to look great (if you can paint), but it's not going to be able to transform anymore without damaging the hard work put into it.

Of course there are exceptions to this, but the average "kitbasher" isn't going to take the time to sand down any friction points prior to painting and isn't going to account for the fact that paint and seal actually do enlarge the parts they are applied to.

[Ramrider]

And yet more excellent points from the Douchemeister...

I do try to faile down any rubbing parts before repainting, but even that doesn't guarantee anything.

And of course, you'd still have the mould release problem that repainters have to deal with anyway - You need to wash or otherwise buff the parts before painting them so your paint will stick.

It's not like buying a model aircraft where once you've painted up and sealed it you just leave it for display. TFs need to be able to handle a lot more.

If custom TFs were available on the market, it might prove a big disappointment to a lot of people as they buy the sets thinking they'll be able to produce a factory-quality TF with the equipment provided, only to find that the paint falls off the first time they transform it. Even repainting a figure requires a lot more work than repainting.

[skywarp-2]

Ahh but there is a solution...

colored mold casting.. whereby the custom parts released are in different colors, basic colors like red, blue, green, black and white.. that would solve it.. kinda like they did with those Precolored molded Gundam Kits, only these are the actual toys..

not to mention the fact that if you have like 2 copies of a particular figure who was already produced as a toy, you could take from that toy to add to the basic custom toy your building..

that would also make the Loose toys on thwe market more valuable for trading and selling off parts as well..

like the figure could be reelased in a series of 4 each..like the ratchet mold above, could come in 6 different colors, the custom heads 6 different colors, the hands and other items the same.. and I'm not talking about model quality, I'm, talking unassembled toys from Hasbro, prepackaged with instructions and not clipping from a molding bar.. they are already out and ready for assembly.. but you mix and match the colors you want.. now I admit that even with color molded parts that you mnay want to do a little painting in some of the detail areas, but that is a minimal risk of wear during play and transformation..

what they could also do is release only the most popular molds in different colors, and then on the back of the packaging show a customized robot with a mixmatch of different partts from some of the colored packs to show what can be done.. then the different heads have different colors too, mostly except the faces which will more then likely be silver and have blue or red clear plastic for the eyes...

Still as a viable market, Modeling is a Hobby market that is huge, and Transformers Properties have been slowly on the rise amongst the masses.. to say that this is a Niche Market is kinda silly when you consider that there really isn't a concensus on how many Transformers fans and collectors are out there across the U.S...

I think it would be an excellent way to bridge the gap between the toy section and the hobby modeling section.. granted these are just unassembled toys in a box, but the different colors and compatible hands in molded colors would be a great way to make your own bot..which could be used for play.. and or you could slightly detail..

and there will always be customizers who will want to repaint the entire mold..with diffrerent color plastic molds of that figure available they can still do an entire repaint if they want.. the option is there..

And to be really cool, Hasbro could release a special parts pack of Metallic silver parts for the under arm places and leg joint, ect.. that would be cool too!!


I would love to see them release a Head Sculpt that can have a face sheild come down over an autobot face, that was clear like a riot helmet, and I'd totally do a Police Riot gear Autobot..witha Big Shield for him to carry with a huge Autobot symbol on it..and a Sticker above it that says Protect..

that's another thing stickers would be cool for the added customizer.. and they actually stay longer then decals if you place a clear coat of paint over them..but stickers that say "Hybrid Technology" or "Protect" or "destroy" or faction symbols.. ect.. and why stop at vehicles they could release Beast Wars toys as well..

[Ramrider]

I dunno. Maybe if they could chart what would be the most likely characters for a given mould and produce them in appropriate colours (say, red, white and blue for the Movie Ratchet mould, since I'm thinking the most popular bashes would be Ironhide, Ratchet and Soundwave), they could package them de-sprued but loose, with assembly instructions and fixings.

Still sounds completely impractical to me, especially from their point of view. I'd love it to happen, but I really don't think it'd be profitable enough to bother.

[MegaDave]

generics based around a standardised alternator or seeker body type could work with the options for customisation on the colour decals weapons and heads i could see working but i couldnt see a line developing out of it.

What lines can you think of that offer such customisation potential, they dont generally start with a concept so complex as transformation.
Gundams for example are generally based around a standardised template and can thus be customised due to their similaritys and compatibilities within the line.

Transformers are the polar opposite with so many unique body types, transformations and weapons that creating parts that would fit all of them would be near impossible as much as id like to see it.

Custom head may fit in robot mode but make transforamtion to alt mode impossible. a piece of armour that you may want to change for aesthetics in one mode may be integral in another etc.

The downfall of tfs in this repect is their amazing variety
- which as far as im concerned is not a bad thing

[Gauntlet101010]

This idea might work for a small line of seekers though.

The 'cons could be seekers with similar heads. And the 'bots could be "Arealbots" with more unique heads. And then there could be small, but unique, different bodies .... it'd work if the transformation was simple enough and the parts complex LOOKING enough.

I mean, if you look at the G1 molds you can see the variety they could pull off by just changing the wings. So if you had a few different wings and a more standardized color scheme it might work.

[skywarp-2]

generics based around a standardised alternator or seeker body type could work with the options for customisation on the colour decals weapons and heads i could see working but i couldnt see a line developing out of it.

What lines can you think of that offer such customisation potential, they dont generally start with a concept so complex as transformation.
Gundams for example are generally based around a standardised template and can thus be customised due to their similaritys and compatibilities within the line.

Transformers are the polar opposite with so many unique body types, transformations and weapons that creating parts that would fit all of them would be near impossible as much as id like to see it.

Custom head may fit in robot mode but make transforamtion to alt mode impossible. a piece of armour that you may want to change for aesthetics in one mode may be integral in another etc.

The downfall of tfs in this repect is their amazing variety
- which as far as im concerned is not a bad thing

well there are many parts out there that are able to fit other Toy molds that customizers have already figured out.. certain hands and heads fit certain characters, and so on.. but as far as different armor fittings and overhauling the overall bot's basic design, I know that isn't a possibility.. i agree on that, but lets use the ratchet Design from above as an example.. they could make about 4 versions of that mold in different colors.. like red, Blue or White.. and maybe even a black version..all the different colors are sold separate in their own small box..

then they could release 4 head variations, hands and lower arms and legs, (when I say legs and arms, I mean only those spots that could fit and work in well with the transformations and attach to the outer shell) in a separate box or bubble packaging, each with different faces, and sculpts that fit that particular toy's transformations..

each variations pack comes with a particular color... so lets say you buy the red version of the toy which comes with the basic and "usual" Ratchet legs..with a standard head sculpt and arms..then you decide to buy the upgrade packs that are in let's say blue, so then you create a toy that has a blue head, arms and legs.. then maybe yo decide to buy the white packs parts and give the hands a white color and the weapons a white color.. or a rocket pack in white..ect.. the options are endless in configurations..

Now let's pick some other bots that would be perfect for customization and variations, and try to go from there as well..

take Landmine for example from the upcoming Allspark line.. I mean get a new molded colored version with a different head sculpt and wolla!! you have beachcomber!!! nice.. or you could get a totally new guy from different colors and similar but variant sculpts of the arms and legs..

not to mention the potential for even more detailed designs through purchases from http://www.reprolabels.com

again the biggest selling points for me are:

1. Creating your own personal Transformer character that you build an actually transforms!

2. endless custom possibilities!!

3. different colors of molded plastic parts, and the ability to take the already released versions from the actual toyline and gut them for use..

4. Decals, stickers or reprolables

5. accessories, guns, backpacks, capes, chest-plates, shields, ect.. ect..

6. the quality of the toy and the plastic is just like that which comes from the factory, only unassembled and slightly modified for use with additional designed parts and upgrade packs..

As a viable toy market, no one really knows how well they would sell.. it seems here in the U.S. we like everything already done for us.. but in Japan I can see this being a huge market.. and they have kinda already started to go that way with the protoforms with attachable armor things that are coming out soon.. so it could be a possibility in the future..

I just would love to get my hands on an already molded red version of the truck and get an already molded red version of a new head sculpt like that one picture of Ironhide above, that toy would be awesome on my shelf!!!

[5kywarp]

A big bag of heads would be cool.

[skywarp-2]

A big bag of heads would be cool.

just having that option alone is one of the reasons I say Hasbro should do it..

But I still say molded parts in different colors would make the customizing thing even better..
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l262/ ... idebot.jpg
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l262/ ... atchet.jpg

variations are what would make the toys really easy to mod..

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l262/ ... /ridbr.jpg
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l262/ ... oldabs.jpg

what about accessories, like different Bumpers, headlights, rims and tires??

[MegaDave]

what about accessories, like different Bumpers, headlights, rims and tires??

Pimp my autobot!

seriously tho it would be great fun to assemble my own figure based on a HMW creation or a fan bio, your suggested way of doing it seems a little excessive tho buying wise. If i want a mix of coloured parts im going to have to buy the figure in as many colours as i want the molded parts for.
Perhaps ordering the parts individually would be better and would add to the experience.

Ever used the creator on the lego site - you make your own models online and you can buy your creation and receive all the parts with which to make it.
Fans could post their own 'schematics' for their creations if you see something cool you wish to recreate

[Ramrider]

That actually seems like a vaguely feasible way of going about things. It would probably require a big chunk of dedicated website, but maybe a selected a range of figures could be available in a selected range of colours. You may be limited in terms of which parts are gang-moulded together, but it could offer a better range of customisability. Maybe you'd be able to order a sprue's worth (or whatever a 'gang' is moulded as) of bits in a given colour.

[skywarp-2]

what about accessories, like different Bumpers, headlights, rims and tires??

Pimp my autobot!

seriously tho it would be great fun to assemble my own figure based on a HMW creation or a fan bio, your suggested way of doing it seems a little excessive tho buying wise. If i want a mix of coloured parts im going to have to buy the figure in as many colours as i want the molded parts for.
Perhaps ordering the parts individually would be better and would add to the experience.

well, It does seem a little more involved, but it's kind of an easier way to get those parts to the masses.. See the beauty of the whole project will be that the parts themselves in the individual boxes are unassembled, which will reduce factory costs considerably, because all they have to do is place those parts in baggies with instructions and the necessary screws and a bingo!! instant success..

so you have a choice in series 1 of about 3 to 4 different color variations, and a choice of 4 compatible upgrade packs, each with multiple colored parts that correspond to that particular mold..it'll take you awhile customizing as many autobots or decepticons you want based on just one mold.. then when series 2 hits, you have a whole new mold to work on.. and some of the upgrade packs for that mold may be compatible with the series one bot.. through forums and discussions there may be even more bot parts that someone has gotten to work with that series 1 mold!!

I can't stress this enough, the possibilities are endless!!

Ever used the creator on the lego site - you make your own models online and you can buy your creation and receive all the parts with which to make it.
Fans could post their own 'schematics' for their creations if you see something cool you wish to recreate

That would be a nice idea, but I doubt Hasbro will ever go that route or this one either, but i believe the "build your own Transformer" concept with packs in the stores is a more likely and believable scenario.. because you see, LEGO is set up for that type of system by the very nature of the idea and toy brand.. whereas Hasbro is not..so even though you'd have to buy all the color variations over and over again to make the customs you want, that just means extra revenue for Hasbro!! But a cheaper cost for us because we are the assemblers and final inspections, ect.. ect..

I can just see those executives now... "heck, those Transformers fans are a crazy lot, they just want us to mold the parts and shove em in the box, and they'll still pay us for it!!"

Hells yeah man!! Custom fanfic characters added to the Mythos of your own collection!! That's a freaking awesome idea!! We have the imagination, if only Hasbro can provide the tools..

[Ramrider]

I think Dave's idea would be far more likely, to be honest, although still not very.

The benefit of his plan over yours is that of minimal risk for Hasbro. Thing is, your way, they'd need to produce runs of various coloured figs (with no idea of what will sell), and even though they don't have to worry about assembly, they've still got to package them - they can't just ship them out to stores in baggies.

With Dave's idea, all that's basically required is an extra bit of website containing the options and an order system, and they can determine what will sell by what's actually ordered. And they can ship them out in baggies, because they'll be able to just package them up and send them straight to your door.

[skywarp-2]

I think Dave's idea would be far more likely, to be honest, although still not very.

The benefit of his plan over yours is that of minimal risk for Hasbro. Thing is, your way, they'd need to produce runs of various coloured figs (with no idea of what will sell), and even though they don't have to worry about assembly, they've still got to package them - they can't just ship them out to stores in baggies.

With Dave's idea, all that's basically required is an extra bit of website containing the options and an order system, and they can determine what will sell by what's actually ordered. And they can ship them out in baggies, because they'll be able to just package them up and send them straight to your door.

hmmmm that does sound a lot easier then trolling Wal-mart looking for a particular color of the Ratchet mold that's popular with the customizer crowds..no hunting just website ordering.. shoot, I'd order the parts and accessories by the case loads..

Still i think the general idea is pretty cool.. I think the accessory packs with the armaments and back packs upgrades should be sold in stores, that they can use for any autobot or decepticons.. but building your own figure could be online orders and work that way.. but you have to have a product in the store promoting the "Build your own" website..

only I don't think schematics would be the way to go.. rather they have a select set of parts and color variations to choose from in an interactive menu, and once you got your guy designed using this 3D menu, you order the parts and they ship them and the assembly guide to you.. the ASSEMBLY GUIDE COULD BE GENERIC, because at anyone time they will only have 3 molds available with 3 or 4 variation parts that work for that particular mold and still allow it to have an altmode and workable transformation..

then if you want to add weapons and additional parts like shields and back packs you have to go to the online store or the local Wal-Mart and buy that separately.. if they did the build your own online, I wonder if they would give you decal selections?? or could you order extra heads and hands?? what about posable open hands that could replace the fist with the whole in it??

[MegaDave]

only I don't think schematics would be the way to go.. rather they have a select set of parts and color variations to choose from in an interactive menu, and once you got your guy designed using this 3D menu, you order the parts and they ship them and the assembly guide to you.. the ASSEMBLY GUIDE COULD BE GENERIC, because at anyone time they will only have 3 molds available with 3 or 4 variation parts that work for that particular mold and still allow it to have an altmode and workable transformation..

then if you want to add weapons and additional parts like shields and back packs you have to go to the online store or the local Wal-Mart and buy that separately.. if they did the build your own online, I wonder if they would give you decal selections?? or could you order extra heads and hands?? what about posable open hands that could replace the fist with the whole in it??

Schematics i only meant in the sense that a sot of user gallery where you can go - hey that guys custom is pretty cool, what did they use to make that. Not everyone has a limitless imagination.

Characterisation is the biggest problem i can see with a line like this - what sells transformers has allways been in part down to the characters, making your own is great but people will fall over themselfs to buy a tf that represents a fan favorite pre-existing character.

I do like the suggestion of customising a store bought figue further with add on packs but i think it would need dare i even suggest, supporting fiction as to why this tf needs these extra accessories.~

If pulled off right open ended customisation of figures could be a great gimmick to build a toyline/fiction around

[craggy]

wow skywarp2 you really do love your improbable ideas don't you?

I don't see it happening at all, and it's even a pretty difficult thing to imagine as everyone will have their own ideas of what sort of designs.

Best idea I can think of would be a website where you build your creation and have it mailed to you. There couldn't really be too much variation to start with. Maybe G1 combiner limb style transformations, or something like the Axelerators and Skyscorchers. Basically a robot's torso and upper legs with add on fold down top of the vehicle making the chest and fold down back of the vehicle making the legs.

They could offer a few different bodies, heads and arms, a couple of different jet types and a few different car models. Add in a choice of colours and weapons and there you go. If the project was successful then they could add more models and maybe transformations, but at first it'd kinda be a mix and match service.

Of course even with these basic options I'm sure there'd be a lot of us who'd take advantage of the offer, especially if you could get your own officially printed tech-specs like the old GI Joe Steel Brigade figures' file cards.

[Wes Crayon]

I think that this would be awesome -- if they could pull it off. The major problem -- and the major difference between this and LEGOs, as skywarp-2 (I think?) noted -- is that Transformers are complete robots that need to transform. So while a bag of heads in different colors could be kinda neat, I got the impression that your original idea involved assembling complete robots that transform -- which would be *very* difficult to do in an interchangeable parts line.

But then again, maybe not. Suppose it was set up such that the front parts of vehicles all change into robot torsos and the hind parts all turned into robot legs, and that these parts were all interchangeable. So you might end up with a vehicle that has the front half of a sportscar and the back half of a monster truck -- which would naturally transform into a robot with a comparatively lithe upper body and some really chunky legs. Would these vehicles and robots be seamless? No. But it could be kinda neat, and they'd be very reminiscent of some of the robots that you can build in video games. Throw in interchangeable heads, hands, and other parts that would ostensibly be hidden inside the vehicles anyway and you'd have some pretty nifty combinations. And of course, ideally, they'd set it up so that it would be possible for you to create fairly good representations of G1 characters. Maybe not perfect -- and hopefully a little closer to the animated renditions than these! -- but you get the idea:



I have no idea how well a line like that would sell, but I know I'd be loving my airplane-cargo van hybrids and half-tank half-mechanical frog abominations.

[SovereignII]

Hasbro, Takara could use Barricade from the movie as a model. for cars.
http://www.seibertron.com/toys/gallery. ... =0&start=0
You would buy it in parts
1: Car vehicle parts witch would reflect the chosen vehicle form.
2: Robot skelaton
3: Robot head
4: Robot Arms
5: Robot Legs
Why barricade? Just look
http://www.seibertron.com/toys/fullsize ... 1&image=79
Snap on arms
The back windshield will just need some rework.

Now for the big semi Transformers
I think Laser Optimus Prime would be perfict!
http://www.seibertron.com/toys/gallery. ... =0&start=0
For the devloper to start from!
Sections for kits
1: Shoulders/ semi cab nose.
2: Robot Chest "Faces gound in vehicle form.
3: Robot arms folds into semi cab sides.
4: Legs semi cab aft section
5: Main Cab windows and doors etc...
6: Smoke stacks attack to main Cab section.
!Plus option trailors could be aviliable!

!The following ideas are not as good as the above two but hey they can't be all winners right?!
The Following transformer is from Machine Wars Transformers
This one could be used for most jets but it just won't work for jets like the SR-71 Black bird
http://www.seibertron.com/toys/gallery. ... =0&start=0
Now howit could work
1: Jet parts nose and main jet part.
2: Robot
3: Head

!MISC STUFF!
1: Emblem packs with 300+ diffrent Autobot and decipticon emblems.
Optinal Booster packs
2: Heads booster pack with 20 diffrent heads.
3: Weapons pack with firing missiles.

Now this one the Child would need parental help
Target master booster pack
Yes I am talking about the little gun transformer
http://www.seibertron.com/toys/gallery. ... =0&start=0

-With some work
Part 1 Gun barrel
Part 2 Legs
Part 3 Arms
Part 4 torso
Part 5 head
"!So that the parent could drill a hole for the target master to mount in vehicle mode!"

Ok I that is evry thing I could think of. Sorry for any typos but it's late and this took longer then I thought it would of. Have fun.

Oh yeah I agree with the idea of having the parts pre painted and avalible in a varity of colors such as
Black, Red, Green, Blue you know what ever.

Hmm not bad I have attached an example of Barricade

[skywarp-2]

yeah so take the Barricade example here, and make different sculpted arms and legs, which when combined witht he core body could still make the Saleen Mustang.. you couldf even do a different head..once complete you ahve a different bot, all custom..

I agree characters drive the brand, and creating your own guy with a fanfic is the first thing I'd do but I'd also what head sculpts like the Ironhide custom and ratcher customs I have seen on the first page..why should customer kitbashers have all the fun with molded heads, when Hasbro could use this market niche to market their Transformers as a customizable toyline.. I mean there are enough of us in the fandom whohave dreamed of doing customs from certain molds that we all know could be like 50 or so known chacters if only minor modifications were done to the toy...

why not do those minor mods with the ability to mass produce them for the masses.. kinda like the Stinkfas toys..

[skywarp-2]

OOops double post!! oh well..

I guess I'll make it useful..

Ok take this image as an example..


Ok, so the toy parts would be this bot but disasembled.. in a baggie..

Arms:
you could have the option of 3 different arm sculpts.. they both fit the same way, and both have the same sized door panels, but the details inside the arms are different..maybe round instead of Blocks..

and the hands could be sculpted different or fingers that may move.. versus the blocks with wholes in them..

Legs:
In this part you could have the option of rounder leg sculpts and different detailings..or maybe the legs are longer to accomodate a different foot design, because the feet are the front end of a slender porshe like design..longer and sleeker which would necessitate the longer legs sculpts..


Back section:
Like wise the rear sections would also be changable for different trunk sections as well.. ones with spoilers or ones without..or ones that have a slot built into them to accomodate a Rocket Pack..or a storage pack for extra weapons..or a Chain gun housing for bullet chains..

The Head:
Well here you could have the Classics Bumblebee head.. or you could get different head designs that are interchangable..if they are on a Ball joint then they could just pop right off, or maybe there is a screw in the back of the head that holds the head together.. so all you hav to sdo is unscrew it, and then rescrew the new head on.. ..either way, the head could be substituted for a different face and helmet that suites the design.. once completed, it can truly transform into what ever you decided it to be..

[bigbadbarron]

what hasbro should do is make a tf custom buy on there website where you pick a car, boat, or airplane model from molds they currently have and choose the head, weapons, labeles, name, and color

this would never happen though because it would cost a lot more and the posabilitys would be so limitless the there would be no collectability.

[skywarp-2]

what hasbro should do is make a tf custom buy on there website where you pick a car, boat, or airplane model from molds they currently have and choose the head, weapons, labeles, name, and color

this would never happen though because it would cost a lot more and the posabilitys would be so limitless the there would be no collectability.

Actually the collectibility would be in the actual parts.. they would be highly sought after by people looking to customize and make a transformer that they can call their own.. The collectible markets would be in high gear with people trying to buy substitute parts for their molds..

See I don't think Hasbro should release a whole bunch of different figures all at once.. which is why I think it could work.. just one body mold.. like pick a certain character that has the best customizing ability to be turned into other G-1 characters.. and has a good altmode..

now release a car and release a Jet design Basic Body..one could be decepticon or Autobot.. but it's your choice..

so with only 2 versions on the market and loads of customizable parts available, anyone could make a character they want...Reprolabels would have a clear advantage as a helper to make those customs more G-1 in design, if a person so chose...

I for one would make the jets the aerial Bots and the Car molds Decepticons..


So here's what it would be like for an inventory:

Wave 1 of the Transformers Customizers series:

Wave 1 Main Box sold in the stores Basic "Autobot"
contents:

2 Heads (Black, White)
2 Basic Body (Black, White)
4 arms ( Black, White)
4 legs ( Black, White)
2 weapons
3 sticker sheets


Wave 1 Upgrade Packs:

Pack 1:
2 Alternate heads (Yellow, Blue) Note, these heads could resemble already known characters..
2 Alternate Basic Body (Yellow, Blue)
4 arms (Yellow, Blue)
4 legs (Yellow, Blue)
2 BFG weapons
2 sticker sheets

Pack 2:
2 Alternate heads (Green, Red)Note, these heads could resemble already known characters..
2 Alternate Basic Body (Green, Red)
4 arms (Green, Red)
4 legs (Green, Red)
2 BFG weapons
2 sticker sheets


Wave 2 Main Box sold in the stores Basic "Seeker"
contents:

2 Heads (Black, White)
2 Basic Body (Black, White)
4 arms ( Black, White)
4 legs ( Black, White)
2 weapons
3 sticker sheets


Wave 1 Upgrade Packs:

Pack 1:
2 Alternate heads (Yellow, Blue)Note, these heads could resemble already known characters..
2 Alternate Basic Body (Yellow, Blue)
4 arms (Yellow, Blue)
4 legs (Yellow, Blue)
2 BFG weapons
2 sticker sheets

Pack 2:
2 Alternate heads (Green, Red)Note, these heads could resemble already known characters..
2 Alternate Basic Body (Green, Red)
4 arms (Green, Red)
4 legs (Green, Red)
2 BFG weapons
2 sticker sheets


Wave 1 and 2 Accessory Packs:

Pack 1:
4 Assorted Guns
2 Back Packs (one a weapons storage pack, the other a Rocket Pack compatible with the Basic Autobot, and seeker..)
2 helmet goggles or head attachments, Snap ons..
4 pieces of Snap on armor
2 sheilds, one clear plastic with handle, the other a mechanical sheild design with vents..can also double as a hover board..


Pack 2:
2 Missile upgrades for the Basic seeker
2 spoiler upgrades fot the Basic Autobot
4 wheel upgrades fro the Basic Autobot
4 wing upgrades for the basic Seeker (to include the jet propeller wings on the coneheads)
4 sanp on shoulder pad upgrades for the seeker or autobot body..
1 coronation crown....


thats pretty much what I had envisioned could work..
the Basic Pack would be in a large box similar to what you see Models being released in, with the upgrade packs released in bubble type packaging so you can see the additional parts, and as well as the accessory packs..that way after customizing your intial bots, you can basically make more then one bot.. and subsequent additional upgrade packs could include different basic colored arms and legs or body pieces depending on hasbro's choices.. or maybe Customizers will start selling their own ingenius parts that fit that particular Basic bot, whether it be seeker or Autobot.. and then there will always be parts from previous released toys that you could gut and give a go at combining into the basic bot design as well..

[Wes Crayon]

Hrm, apparently I misunderstood your original idea -- as you've revised it, I doubt this would be all that successful at all. The interchangeable heads/hands/weapons thing could work, but if you want the parts to be interchangeable and still have them turn into relatively seamless alt modes (barring potential color clashes), you're basically suggesting that they sell disassembled regular figures for people to assemble themselves. That being the case -- and given that the only room for individual customization here is significantly limited -- I think most people would rather just buy the assembled figures. It could work as something on the Internet -- and if the sticker sheets took top focus, like if Hasbro had a program that would essentially let you draw your own decals for the figure and then order them (which would be easy enough to do), that could be neat -- but yeah otherwise I don't think this would do all that well.

I still like the idea of wacky Frankenstein robots and alt modes, though. :mrgrin: