The Energon Pub

Here's something that I've been finding myself getting into more often recently. Now I've seen quite a few fanmodes that look pretty cool and some are far out like improvised combiners. However, I personally like to put a fanmode twist on some of my Transformers more often than not simply to make them look more aesthetically pleasing to me.

I don't indulge in extensive fanmodes too much. The only figure/set in my collection at this time that has such a thing done to it is RotF Superion. Aside from that, I'll normally tweak the configurations for display. Alternity Convoy, for example, has its door-wings folded back at an angle instead of being parallel to the front of the figure. I also angle up the arms of Build Boy in my Build King combined form to be more show accurate as the documentation shows the arms perfectly horizontal.

For the most part, though, I find the official configurations just fine and dandy.

So do any you indulge in a lot of tweaking of configurations or go full on fanmode on your Transformers? Is it simply to explore the possibilities of what you can do with a figure or to make it look better in your eyes or both?

I merely tweak with my toys as some toys have (un)documented configurations that hardly anybody follows. A good example is BW Magnaboss, specifically the tusks. Anywhere I go, I see them in the most awkward positions. With me, they end up like in the BWII anime: roughly where his ears should be, and sticking out sideways. Makes him look like a bull

I do display my henkei jetfire with the wings down in "armored up" mode. It just sees to feel better that way

I also got an idea for an alternate "Full Blast Mode" for displaying Micron Legend Megatron from Ryan's photo gallery:



I have Megatron's face protector/concealer shield up too to go for an extra touch of "going all out" mode. It's such a fun figure to play around with.

1) Before I moved, i usually kept my classics Jetfire sitting on top of the TV, and for a good chunk of that time he was in "Gerwalk" mode.

2) I always would put G1 Silverbolt in robot mode with the Superion chest plate, as he just looked silly (IMO) without it.

3) I was given Energon Tow-line as a gift. I honestly would never had bought him, but i am quite glad I do have him. That said I have never used his "Battle Platform" as such, so I just have it attached to his energon weapon as a huge shield.

When we were kids, my friend and I decked Scattershot, Hun-gurrr, Hotspot, Motormaster and Onslaught out with their combiner parts and created a new line called Armourmasters.

The Collectors Club Mag back in 2004 came with instructions for converting Dreadwing and Smokejumper into armour for Armada Megatron.

There's also pics floating about for a gestalt formed from numerous Energon Terrorcons.

Windsweeper wrote:When we were kids, my friend and I decked Scattershot, Hun-gurrr, Hotspot, Motormaster and Onslaught out with their combiner parts and created a new line called Armourmasters.

The Collectors Club Mag back in 2004 came with instructions for converting Dreadwing and Smokejumper into armour for Armada Megatron.

There's also pics floating about for a gestalt formed from numerous Energon Terrorcons.

Oh, I'd love to see how Dreadwing and Smokejumper can combine with Armada Megatron since I have those figures.

I've seen an Energon Terrorcons fanmode Gestalt. Looks very cool.

Editor wrote:2) I always would put G1 Silverbolt in robot mode with the Superion chest plate, as he just looked silly (IMO) without it.

Same with me. I felt that the animation model of Silverbolt looked like he had that chestplate on.

warwik311 wrote:I do display my henkei jetfire with the wings down in "armored up" mode. It just sees to feel better that way

I feel classics Jetfire looks a little odd with the wings up, a bit like a big robotic butterfly. I know that is how he appears in the cartoon and comics, but it just doesn't look right on the toy for some reason.

The only other toy I can think of that I deliberately mistransform is Classics Galvatron. I rip the back kibble clean off. It makes him a lot more stable and poseable.

Edit: Just thought of another. When I transform Henkei Dinobot, I use the tip of the tail to hold the spring-loaded face panel back as I fold the head/chest in. It allows the head to sit a bit tighter into the chest cavity.

You know, there was a thread kicking around once (waaaay too lazy to find it) of mistransformed and custom transformations, there were some really cool ideas. Everything from Cybertron Shortround's infamous "Toilet Mode" to crazy city configurations, odd combinations (RiD Hightower as a shoulder mounted weapon system for RiD Prime?!) If you ever get bored enough, go looking through the pages of old threads. I'm not sure how many of the images still exist, but it's worth a look.

- Sam

Edit: Actually the Hightower weapon system was one of mine...

I think the only figures I have tweaked are Optimal Op, Superion, ROTF Skywarp and Alternity Prime (since you suggested folding his doors back to make the upper arms look better). I don't think other figures really lend themselves to it. For example, how can you tweak TFA Leader Meg's robot mode?