The Energon Pub

I made my weekly Wal*Mart run this morning. Last Sunday morning they had just re-stocked the TFs and they had everything. This week: nothing buy Payload. About two dozen of them. So I bought one, and he's actually really cool! He's a nice, solid build, and fairly well articulated.

I've noticed this phenomenon at other stores: when everything else is gone, there are always a few Payloads left. Why doesn't anyone want Payload? Is it just because he looks so boring in the package, since his vehicle mode is basically a blue box on wheels? Maybe they should have packaged him in robot mode; he'd probably sell like hotcakes.

I'd gladly adopt a Payload ^^
(but I'm like lightyears away, in a galaxy far, far away, known to mankind as...NORWAY *gasp*)

GuyIncognito wrote: Why doesn't anyone want Payload?

Sometime in the future, I intend to grab an extra one or two to repaint into the funniest delivery trucks I can think of. I'm not huge on his design, but there's room to play with him a bit.

Most of the people buying these toys right now are parents/grandparents who have a list that says 'Bumblebee'. They can't pronounce 'Decepticon' and have no idea who Payload is or if their recipient kid would like him.

It's because almost everyone seems to hate the lensheads for some inexplicable reason. I love all three of them and Payload is pretty nifty. I love the grabber claw and his unique alt mode. (the lettering on the sides reads Armored Security Services. Or A.S.S. from top to bottom =D) The only things I don't really care for are the two kibble plates on his shoulders. But I guess they provide some more bulk to his silhouette, since Payload is pretty small for a Deluxe.

I renamed mine Monocle. B)

I hate Payload because he's a poopy figure. He's ridiculously small for a Deluxe, and he's just a stupid drone.

People prefer a toy with some character.

And a face.

Payload is a load of plastic junk. That stupid claw mechanism makes him fall backwards and like someone else said... he has no face.

The giant plunger sticking out of his back and loose parts give u any clue?

I just picked one up from wal mart too. its a really cool toy. but i dont like the huge claw thing that protudes from his chest. it makes it hard to pose him without falling over.

I've wonder if there is a way to remove his ''claw''?

Well, I like his head, and I think he's a cool-looking robot. As for his size, he's too small next to Bumblebee, Jazz, and Barricade, but his size is pretty much to scale with Bonecrusher, Brawl, and Blackout. The beam sticking out his back makes it a challenge to balance him, but with some creative posing it's not hard.

Well... some people don't just like robots with bizarre fetishes... *cough..Payload, behind plunger claw fetish*

I have him, but he is probably my least favorite movie toy. The capture claw gimick ruins the figure, and like so many other I hate the lack of face. It looks good on Shockwave, but that's about it.

lol, I'm loving the title of this thread. There are a TON of Payloads out there ... indeed.

He wasn't in the movie, so ... i guess that's one reason nobody wants him. If you went to an orphanage, would you take the cyclops child home with you?

It would be great if he was in the movie. 1 more comedic element. Everytime he transforms to bot mode ... coins could spew all over the place. Maybe that's what the claw is for .. picking up change while the rest of him fights autobots?

The length sticking out his back could be for sorting/rewrapping money for the next time he goes back to alt mode.

Hes not in the movie the people just want toys from the movie

GuyIncognito wrote:Maybe they should have packaged him in robot mode; he'd probably sell like hotcakes.

Hasbro could not do it without chucking him in a Voyager box. He would then take the mantle of "Smallest actual robot Voyager ever" from Movie Blackout who is smaller than almost any deluxe once his backpack is taken off.

Payload is not the greatest figure, but he most certainly is different, and only needs a proper head to mostly redeem himself. The Capture Claw is not the worst gimmick ever, it's a bit of fun really, it just detracts so much from his balance that in the end it is not quite worth the gimmick for the hassle it creates.

I'm still waiting for payload to show up over here.

Its not that everyone doesn't like Payload. It's just everyone likes all the other Transformers figures more.

*cradles the lens faces*

I shall love them and pet them and call them George...

I have Swindle, Payload and Dreadwing and each one of them has their positives and negatives. The positives far outweigh the negatives.

Great figures that are overlooked. I have a feeling they might become hot collectors items down the road.

Not cool. Armored truck doesn't real scream for me. Also, heard there was problems with him. I like the plane one though; although I am saving for the black one.

Robot mode problems aside, I would have bought payload if the armoured vehicle mode was as large, or preferably a bit bigger, than the other deluxe cars. But an armoured vehicle that's a lot smaller than a sports car. Very cheap Hasbro.

I can't transform mine without 80 pieces falling off of it.

voice of hoist wrote:Robot mode problems aside, I would have bought payload if the armoured vehicle mode was as large, or preferably a bit bigger, than the other deluxe cars. But an armoured vehicle that's a lot smaller than a sports car. Very cheap Hasbro.

The Deluxe vehicles aren't to scale with each other anyway. Bonecrusher and Brawl look pretty silly next to the "sports car" figures as well. Bonecrusher should be as big as a school bus, and Brawl should be much larger than a car. Payload's scale fits in nicely with the "military-themed" Decepticon figures.

Autobot032 wrote:Great figures that are overlooked. I have a feeling they might become hot collectors items down the road.

You're kidding right?

I love Payload's alt mode, even if it is tiny. And his robot mode is great, too, lots of nice detailing, and you can pose the shoulder kibble "wings" a couple different ways for variety.

Now that plunger: yes, there is a way to remove it, simply take the fig apart and remove the plunger. This has the effect of leaving a large hole in the middle of your robot, and no place to install your alt mode armored car's front grill and bumper. So here's what I did: I cut off the end of the plunger that holds the grill/bumper and removed the claw parts. After a bit of cutting, gluing, etc., you can install that part w/ bumper attached, into Payload's back in robot mode, and use the claws as indiviual weapons that attach to each arm. For alt mode, the claws store underneath and the grill/bumper/plunger stump assembly attaches back in place at the front.

It's a bit parts former-ish, but it gives a very nice, clean robot mode. I'll post a copy of the writeup I did (for one of the other TF sites) in the Kitbash section and link to it in this thread. Pls remind me if it's not up soon.

The Arc wrote:I've wonder if there is a way to remove his ''claw''?

I've seen it done. Check in the kitbash forums.

I'm waiting for him to be on sale, then I'll pick up one or 2.