The Energon Pub

News Credits: 127 · by **Counterpunch** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 5:27 pm

Here's a look at the recent Clara Hobby exclusive Wildrider release from Japan. I had promised this from a while back, but my delivery of the item was delayed for a few weeks.

Enjoy, this is one of those figures who I think is going to disappear and be hard to find in a year or so.

Click the links if the page breaks the pictures. (arg...)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/ ... tMode3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/ ... tMode5.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/ ... tMode2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/ ... tMode4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/ ... tMode8.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/ ... tMode6.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/ ... tMode9.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/ ... tMode2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/ ... tMode3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/ ... tMode4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/ ... tMode5.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/ ... tMode6.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/ ... tMode7.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/ ... tMode9.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/ ... Mode10.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/ ... tMode8.jpg

by **Free Fall 19** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 5:32 pm

has anyone heard of when pre-orders will be up at all??

by **SentinelA** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 5:47 pm

I don't like him. He should've been a repaint of Sunstreaker w/ a new head.

News Credits: 1082 · by **Tigertrack** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 5:52 pm

SentinelA wrote:I don't like him. He should've been a repaint of Sunstreaker w/ a new head.

Nope that should be Breakdown.
:-B

News Credits: 387 · by **Nekoman** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 6:05 pm

The Kidd approves of this stylish and charming toy.

Thanks for the pictures CP, I had been looking forward to seeing your pictures of him. How much is he going for? I want one, but the budget may forbid…

News Credits: 127 · by **Counterpunch** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 6:06 pm

Free Fall 19 wrote:has anyone heard of when pre-orders will be up at all??

Well, there won't be any...

But the ones that did exist have come and gone.

News Credits: 1082 · by **Tigertrack** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 6:18 pm

Nekoman wrote:The Kidd approves of this stylish and charming toy.

Thanks for the pictures CP, I had been looking forward to seeing your pictures of him. How much is he going for? I want one, but the budget may forbid…

I have a source, $130 shipped!!! :shock:

News Credits: 127 · by **Counterpunch** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 6:22 pm

tigertracks 24 wrote:
Nekoman wrote:The Kidd approves of this stylish and charming toy.

Thanks for the pictures CP, I had been looking forward to seeing your pictures of him. How much is he going for? I want one, but the budget may forbid…

I have a source, $130 shipped!!!

heh, that's the good price now.

He's around $150 shipped on eBay.

News Credits: 12 · by **robofreak** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 6:31 pm

I like it, but I don't think it's worth $150. Why does it cost so much?

News Credits: 127 · by **Counterpunch** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 6:34 pm

robofreak wrote:I like it, but I don't think it's worth $150. Why does it cost so much?

It's a Japanese import, from a convention with a very limited supply (1000? no more than 1200 I don't think)

News Credits: 12 · by **robofreak** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 6:44 pm

I see. It's possible this could end up being a figure that may lose value after a while, but then suddenly become valuable again in the future. I've seen several convention figures do that. Sentinel Maximus is one of them. You would'nt happen to know where I could get a Sentinel Maximus without having to give up my arms and legs would you?

by **breakthru** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 6:44 pm

Good pics! thanx for these

I'm just about to open my one :grin:

News Credits: 9 · by **Sowndwave76** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 7:08 pm

Thanks for sharing the pix.

I'm just hoping Hasbro delivers something like this.
With all the car alt modes that are coming out, I don't see why they wouldn't.
Otherwise this is a guy won't make it into my collection.

News Credits: 10 · by **Lapse Of Reason** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 8:07 pm

Do you have any pics compared to the Botcon Hot Rod figure?

News Credits: 127 · by **Counterpunch** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 8:34 pm

Lapse Of Reason wrote:Do you have any pics compared to the Botcon Hot Rod figure?

There are like 3 of them in there. Click on the links for the pictures if they are cut off in your browser.

by **Maldroth** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 9:03 pm

I can't wait for mine to get here, I hope it's soon. Yeah seeing the price now I'm glad I paid when I did.

by **Dagon** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 9:37 pm

Counterpunch wrote:
tigertracks 24 wrote:
Nekoman wrote:The Kidd approves of this stylish and charming toy.

Thanks for the pictures CP, I had been looking forward to seeing your pictures of him. How much is he going for? I want one, but the budget may forbid…

I have a source, $130 shipped!!!

heh, that's the good price now.

He's around $150 shipped on eBay.

We are the lucky ones who got one early.

News Credits: 402 · by **Mkall** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 9:53 pm

Well, that settles it. BBTS has until Oct 1 to get a preorder up, otherwise I'm hitting ebay.

by **Skullcrunchberries** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 11:34 pm

Excellent pics, CP. I'd say the only complaint is that some might want some comparison pics with Henkei Rodimus, but that's Seibertron's job

Actually holding the figure in my hands, I'm rather impressed with the paint and stickers. I'm worried that the heat of my room (San Diego blows) might cause the stickers to peel after a while, but maybe Takara injected some micro-ninjas or something to keep it held down. Initially, I was worried about the chrome looking too gaudy, but the simple silver chrome they used actually works pretty well with the figure. Love the painted face, too :3

Here's to having awesome things

News Credits: 127 · by **Counterpunch** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 7:02 am

Mkall wrote:Well, that settles it. BBTS has until Oct 1 to get a preorder up, otherwise I'm hitting ebay.

I expect BBTS to be more expensive than eBay...

Sgt. Grumbles wrote:Here's to having awesome things

Yea buddy.

Today's bizzaro Japanese release is tomorrow's Black Zarak.

News Credits: 349 · by **Bed Bugs** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 7:13 am

I'll feel bad for those that paid those high prices, but it would be sweet to get an American release through HTS like Dragstrip.

News Credits: 127 · by **Counterpunch** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 7:16 am

Fender Bender wrote:I'll feel bad for those that paid those high prices

No you won't.

Don't lie.

News Credits: 349 · by **Bed Bugs** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 7:43 am

Counterpunch wrote:
Fender Bender wrote:I'll feel bad for those that paid those high prices

No you won't.

Don't lie.

Well, I'll feel bad for most.

It just sucks that every exclusive purchase has become a risk now. Hasbro could announce this in a month as a domestic release. So that's potentially $50-100 wasted (depending on the collector). For me, I'd rather save the money, and I'd sympatize with others who felt the same way. On the other hand, Hasbro may not release it and now the chance to save $50-100 by pre-ordering has passed.

In either case, the uncertainty ticks me off. I love the Classics and would love to buy this figure as cheap as possible as would many others.

What a wonderful world this would be if Hasbro released a yes or no statement about Takara exclusives upon release and vice-versa.

Many dollars could be saved and demand could adjust correctly for supply.

News Credits: 1082 · by **Tigertrack** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 7:55 am

If HASBRO did it, they would not pimp it out with chrome--most likely.

So there would still be some exclusivity to it. I don't know if I see them doing this. Dragstrip was meant for Asian release, I believe is what they are saying in the product description. So technically, he is another not US market exclusive.

Which is why I think if we see Breakdown, and Dead End, they will be exclusives of some sort as well.

Motormater could be an exclusive repaint, but with the leaders being released in Voyager/Ultra remake versions maybe he will get his own mold.

Hot Spot very likely will be a repaint of 25th Inferno, or Cybertron Optimus, or RID Optimus (GASP!!!!). Scattershot, still waiting...could have been VPrime, HunGrr, probably could have been CYbertron Scourge if he had not already had a repaint done to him.

Snap Trap is just not going to get any love, unless they do his own, or maybe make a Cybertron form for him.

News Credits: 349 · by **Bed Bugs** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 8:12 am

You do make a point about there being differences, but as a cheapskate, I would go the cheaper option, as would some others. That would reduce demand on the pricier figure and that would translate to money saved. Likewise, some that buy the pricier version will skip the cheaper one. There will still be those that buy both, but it spreads demand out.

Sorry, I'm on an Economics kick from helping my sister with her homework.