The Energon Pub

As I fiddle around with Henkei Hound I can't help but admire the engineering of the figure:

- The seats fold into his thighs seamlessly.
- The limited amount of kibble.
- The range of motion and ample amount of joints.

Transformers have certainly come a long ways over the past 25 years. So what figures are you impressed with when it comes to engineering?

Classics Optimus Prime, Universe Glavatron, all Animated deluxes.
MP Megatron.

Stormrider wrote:As I fiddle around with Henkei Hound I can't help but admire the engineering of the figure:

- He's awesome and t'ing.

Wow, I never really notice. I should'a played with him more.

Henkei Cyclonus impressed me masses though. I wasn't expecting much and I was very positively surprised.

MP prime (love the front wheel & grille transformations)
Anything with the word "Alternators" in the name

I think Cybertron Lugnuts has a pretty interesting transformation—for a scout class figure anyway.

Masterpiece Prime and Megs are probably the best engineered toys around. Classics prime comes in close behind them.

1) I think THS-02 is the best cos he's so tiny and compact but with the most articulation and poseability I've come across. The mold is detailed and the transformation intricate without being as fiddly (and scary!) as MP Megs.

2) MP Megs for the attention to tiny details in the transformation - like the little clips that fold into place.

3) TFA delux Prowl for the surprising articulation.

Uni/Henkei Hound and Cyclonus for sure, great designs. FP City Commander, I still can't put him down after two months

I'm still enamored with the Universe Sunstreaker/Sideswipe mold. It's one of the best Deluxe figures ever. They worked in dual robot modes, and a rock-solid alt-mode, an "automorph" that actually makes sense, 26 points of articulation, stored weapons/accessories, and character. My hair is still blown backward.

Other mentions are Cyclonus, Hound, Prowl/Bluestreak/Smokescreen molds are all well-executed. Voyager Inferno's simplicity is refreshing, and left him plenty of room for detail, articulation, and heft. Onslaught and Silverbolt are the Ultra-class kings, both superb representations of their origin characters, and excellent figures, to boot.

I also have to talk about Minicons, the underdogs of the TF fandom. Brilliantly engineered little figures. A tiny TF with a working winch? Firing cannons? Rolling gimmicks, combining gimmicks, weapon modes, companions to larger figures, etc?

Otherwise, several A/E/C figures, Masterpiece, BT/Alts, Classics, and yes, even some of the Movie figures deserve mention.

I got Universe Cyclonus last night and he blew my mind!!!! The way the legs are done when they could have just used the same old slider legs is just awesomesauce. Universe Inferno also does the same for me. I love that fig. I also think MP Grimlock will give me the same sensation! LOL!

the_dark_decepticon wrote:I got Universe Cyclonus last night and he blew my mind!!!! The way the legs are done when they could have just used the same old slider legs is just awesomesauce. Universe Inferno also does the same for me. I love that fig. I also think MP Grimlock will give me the same sensation! LOL!

To be honest, if they HAD done the old 'sliding leg', then the thighs would end up being a lot thinner.

Anyways, I remember being utterly blown away by the articulation in Classics Mirage, with that funky way his legs accordioned, and all that (ended up using it as the basis for a Devcon bash that turned out, IMHO, rather well).

The movie toys and most of Animated are triumphs, no matter whether you hate them or not, for managing to get those unusual designs out of actually transforming vehicles, and in the case of Animated being almost exact in all modes.

Universe Cyclonus, hands down. Many others, including Hound have great transformations, limited kibble, but Cyclonus is one step up from the rest. When you transform him, it's simply amazing. The little tricks, like the leg split, are spectacular. I really can't praise Cyc's engineering enough.

Hasbro, if you're listening, find the guy that designed Cyc's transformation and give that man a raise!

Though Animated really isn't my thing, voyager Bulkhead is damn impressive.

Although I know many hate the line, I've got to echo the votes for most, if not all, of the Animated figures. The designers went above and beyond the call of duty to get them cartoon-specific in both alt AND robot modes. I look at the alt mode of someone like Swindle, and think, "Now how are they getting a cartoon-accurate bot out of that?" Three minutes later, I'm staring at a replica of his cartoon self.

Incredible. And fun, too. Almost no sacrifice of articulation in these guys...

Valandar wrote:The movie toys and most of Animated are triumphs, no matter whether you hate them or not, for managing to get those unusual designs out of actually transforming vehicles, and in the case of Animated being almost exact in all modes.

I agree with that completely...Even if you don't like the look of the Movie figures, MOST of them (Megatron and Scorpinoc, sit the hell down!) are pretty ingenius...Ironhide is just insane and Ratchet is a delightfully sturdy figure in both modes with a pretty intereting transformation...

The animated figures (again, even if you don't care for them) are very impressive in they way they transform from one mode to the other without losing any of the distinctive style of the cartoon's artwork...Before I ever saw the figures I wondered if they were going to be able to pull them off...And they did amazingly...I don't collect them to any great extent because I don't personally care for the style, but that makes their engineernig no less an impressive of a feat


Universe is typically more straight-forward, but no less impressive...Cyclonus is, of course, fantastic...The seekers are really well done (and still one of my favourite Classics molds)...Jetfire is awesome and several parts of his transformation are extremely inventive...And though many might disagree with me because of the shell/wings, Megatron is actually an amazing piece of enigineering...I LOVE transforming him and it still blows my mind looking at him right after opening the shell from gun-mode...

There's really no point in mentioning the Masterpiece figures because of course they are fantastic...That's the whole point...



The first figure I bought, after having been out of Transformers collecting since I was a kid during G1, was Deluxe Movie Brawl...I bought him just for s&g's and even though he isn't the GREATEST figure in the world, it really really floored me how far engineering had come since the G1 figs I remembered...And THOSE were pretty damn amazing for their time...

I love Classics Prime and Megatron...
Imo, most of the Universe figures are outstanding as well.

I know this isn't the subject of this thread, but man I hope the line continues after ROTF...
These figures are superb.

I think I'd have to go with MP Prime and the Animated line. Show accurate robots from those alt modes? Impressive.

Since we're talking engineering, I was recently looking at some old Gobots. There isn't really anything clever about the design, and naturally enough the transformation is basic. But what impressed me is that some of the joints had really pleasing clicks when you fold them out. Smooth movement, then a nice amount of tension, then click! It really took me back. A lot of modern transformers can be kind of awkward in this regard. It also rolled really well in vehicle mode. Rubber wheels, and die-cast in the right places seem to make all the difference.

I realise the trade off we make with modern transformers is mostly for the best, but there's always a few things that are lost in the process.

Counterpunch wrote:Though Animated really isn't my thing, voyager Bulkhead is damn impressive.

Fully agree. It has accuracy in both modes, it has an inventive transformation. What most impressed me was just how well put together it is. It's a really solid piece of work. Very well thought through.

Most transformers will have a few minor aspects of the design that didn't quite work out. If there's anything like that with Bulkhead it must be very minor indeed.

I have a stinking strong suspicion that Alex Kubalsky is also responsible for Henkei Cyclonus.

Anyways MP Convoy and THS02 Convoy really are a marvel in engineering design. Leader Movie Optimus Prime too is very well designed (except for the "accurate" head and blade).

MP Starscream and Megatron though the latter I never transformed due to the breakage horror stories. Ironhide (with the "bowed head syndrome) is also a good design.

i really like the Universe Cyclonus mold a lot. They did a great job on that. Also, i might get slammed, but the Powerglide mold is good too. the alt/plane mode is awesome, and the robot mode actually looks like his character from the G1 cartoon. of course the color is off, but i think they did a good job on the shape.

Prime Riblet wrote:The alt/plane mode is awesome, and the robot mode actually looks like his character from the G1 cartoon.

Really? I don't seem to remember Powerglide having a massive upper torso. He looks like he could take on a dinobot for goodness sake (with a deluxe Grimlock though, it might not be too unbelievable).

To echo others, Universe Cyclonus.

Lately, I would say Cyclonus for sure, I was quite impressed with him. However I might have preferred sliding legs if it would've made for a sleeker vehicle mode, but it turned out pretty darn awesome regardless.

It goes without saying that the Commander upgrades are amazing. But yeah, the Classics/Universe line is just amazing, and usually does a good job with scale. The MP, Alt/BT, and the aftermarket add-ons for both lines are equally amazing.