The Energon Pub

Maybe I just missed these pics earlier, but I noticed that TF Source has a few extra pics of Defender that I hadn't seen before. Notably one that shows him holding his sword with both hands, which promises some very nice poseability.



More pics at TFSource

What pics i've seen of this guy, posability and articulation is threw the roof!!!

God dammit, FP! >_< Stop making awesome things! ;>_> I didn't get my paycheck yet, and I'm already broke.

I am so happy that I pre-orderd this guy, this is all I have to look forward to since DL Blaster got shelved!

It's been said before, and I'll reiterate: How sad is it that we have to turn to third party companies like this for top of the line Transformers merchandise? Shouldn't the company that owns the property be able to produce items of this quality? Hasbro and Takara/Tomy should really be taking notes. I'd sh*t a brick if Hasbro announced a Springer figure this good, instead we get rumours of a Leader Class Bumblebee... In a perfect world, Hasbro would buy Fansproject and say "Here's a license, keep doing your thing."

Anyway, that being said, this proto looks fantastic, and I can't wait to see what a final version will look like.

- Sam

Not produce items of this quality?



Larger and cheaper. Even if they do make lemons sometimes, they have a great many gems. FP may bat 9 / 10, but they produce a LOT less and this is their very first full-fledged bot.

That said I am also glad I preordered this thing.

FP said in an interview that they break even on these things. Hasbro is out for profit. Obviously.

Another vote for being glad I pre-ordered! What a great looking piece--I'll be anxiously awaiting the Reprolabels set for this thing to make it a proper G1 homage!

Mykltron wrote:FP said in an interview that they break even on these things.

I love Fansproject products, but if you believe that...

I believe the statements were more along the lines of... they broke even sort of on the CJ set, CC was much better, and all profits are channeled back into development. Certainly they are profiting, and repaints/reissues are just as profitable for them as they are for Hasbro/Tak. They got 4 different paint schemes on the CC mold. That's a great return on that.

I hope they profit, because certainly they are doing good work, desired work, and are expanding their scope.

Currently they have Springer, Rodimus AND a beefy Bruticus including at least 1 entirely new toy mold. Tremendous if you ask me, I wonder how big their team is. Wish I could help

Counterpunch wrote:

Mykltron wrote:FP said in an interview that they break even on these things.

I love Fansproject products, but if you believe that...

I think what they actually said was any money they make from these figs goes back into R&D and manufacturing for future products.

Mkall wrote:

Counterpunch wrote:

Mykltron wrote:FP said in an interview that they break even on these things.

I love Fansproject products, but if you believe that...

I think what they actually said was any money they make from these figs goes back into R&D and manufacturing for future products.

I reiterate...

They are cool guys who make cool products...but NO ONE R&Ds a product, employs factory workers, goes to other countries to market a product, etc out of altruism.

Except Santa Claus.

The Chinese may be red, but they are not white, fat, and Christian.

Mkall wrote:I think what they actually said was any money they make from these figs goes back into R&D and manufacturing for future products.

With the Cliff Upgrade, I believe it. The R&D on City Commander eating up all the profits for the Cliff set is totally believable. But with 4 different versions, even with the new extras for each, profitability on CC is assured. The G3 Trailer, the Crossfires, the upcoming Protector and Defender and still being revealed Crossfire 2 (for Bruticus), the people are getting paid. The company profits may be going back into developement (not like they have to advertise or anything!) but people are still making money at this.

If the people in charge have themselves as salary, not paid by percentages, they'd technically be nonprofit.

zodconvoy wrote:If the people in charge have themselves as salary, not paid by percentages, they'd technically be nonprofit.

So if that were true can I write off my FansProject purchases? j/k

Oilspill wrote:Maybe I just missed these pics earlier, but I noticed that TF Source has a few extra pics of Defender that I hadn't seen before. Notably one that shows him holding his sword with both hands, which promises some very nice poseability.



More pics at TFSource

Ok, this picture may have sold me. That's really nice.

Counterpunch wrote:...out of altruism.

Except Santa Claus.

The Chinese may be red, but they are not white, fat, and Christian.

That has got to be the funniest thing I've heard all night.

And true.

Savage wrote:

Counterpunch wrote:...out of altruism.

Except Santa Claus.

The Chinese may be red, but they are not white, fat, and Christian.

That has got to be the funniest thing I've heard all night.

And true.

Not entirely. The concepts and base for what became Santa Claus and Father Christmas predate Christianity.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus

But yeah. The other part's right. They do turn some sort of profit. Some of it would go back into the business, but you are naive to think that the people that work for Fansproject don't pocket some of the profit for themselves. The thing is, they do outstanding work. And the quality is on par or superior to Hasbro's own quality. I don't know why Hasbro doesn't just buy them out, absorb them into their own staff, and make better toys that we're obviously willing to pay more to get.

Loki God Of Mischief wrote: I don't know why Hasbro doesn't just buy them out, absorb them into their own staff, and make better toys that we're obviously willing to pay more to get.

But the thing is, FP are selling only in limited production runs, at high expense and low profit to collectors. The fact that they produce figures of such quality is due to the fact that they don't have to play by Hasbro's rules. They can spend much more time producing just one mold while Hasbro create dozens, they don't have to obey safety laws, shelf scheduling or executive edicts. They make only a small profit, and have few of the overheads that Hasbro has. In short, Hasbro can't do what these guys do with their current business plan.

Looks good.

Yes please..

So what happened to Protector?

amcgrath929 wrote:Yes please..

So what happened to Protector?

That's my question as well...

Mkall wrote:

amcgrath929 wrote:Yes please..

So what happened to Protector?

That's my question as well...

As soon as I saw Images of the protector prototype I went out and tracked down a classics Hotrod just so i could have it ready for when protector released..I really hope they release it still...

Defender is the Sex...

Yikes! Temptation.. Lol.

Mkall wrote:

amcgrath929 wrote:Yes please..

So what happened to Protector?

That's my question as well...

They seem to be keeping him hidden like they did the G3 trailers gimmicks.

A few more teaser pics wouldnt hurt though haha