The Energon Pub

Ok, so ever since Classics came online a few years ago, there have been topics popping up almost monthly, occasionally more often, asking, "What toys from other lines can I use in my Classics display?"

This was something of a hobby of mine even prior to Classics. I bought into the Unicron trilogy in large part due to the rampant number of homages and the feeling that I was remaking a G1 cast.

So, for all of you who are into this kind of thing, who are looking for possible stand-ins, who want to compare where your collection is at, or who just want to see what all the fuss is about; this topic is for you.

I'm going to try and use this space on my post here as a continuing update for Neo G1 going all the way from the 84' line, the movie, Japanese series, through G2. Some side lines like Pre-Beast Wars and Shattered Glass will be included.

I imagine these initial year displays will look similar to what many of you already have as Classics/Universe has gone a long way to filling the shelves for many of us. As I get into Headmasters etc, it may get more interesting.

That being said, please post pictures of your displays or suggested figures. For that matter, tell me if I'm too far off in who I use for a stand in or question just who or what a specific toy is.

Without further ado:

1984-1985 Characters

Guide


Guide


Guide


Guide


Large characters that span lines/shows

Guide


Paradron

Guide

*A chance to use the numerous and cool redecos for the Energon Arcee mold.

86' Movie Autobots and Quints





Unicron and the movie villains








Headmaster Autobots

Guide
Hardhead: Universe Hardhead
Scattorshot: Energon Jetfire
Nosecone: Armada Smokescreen
Strafe: Gentai Strafe
Lightspeed: Universe Swerve
Afterburner: Cybertron Hightail
Pointblank: Override GTS
Raiden: RiD Railracer
Quickmix: Cybertron Quickmix
Elita One: Botcon Elita One
Scoop: Cybertron Landmine

Headmaster Decepticons

Guide
Soundblaster: Galaxy Force Soundblaster
Overkill: Special Edition Overkill
Ratbat: Universe Ratbat
Mindwipe: RotF Mindwipe
Vorath: RotF Skystalker
Weirdwolf: Botcon Weirdwolf
Misfire: Cybertron Skywarp
Needlenose: Cybertron Thundercracker
Slugslinger: Energon Slugslinger

Masterforce Autobots

Guide
Powermaster Optimus Prime: Galaxy Force Convoy
Catilla: Universe (2003) Cheetor
Nightbeat: Club Nightbeat
Hosehead: Energon Inferno
Waverider: a combination of RotF Depthcharge and Sonar
Landmine: Cybertron Breakdown
Cloudburst: Energon Skyblast
Getaway: Movie Breakaway
Backstreet: RotF Slapdash

Masterforce Decepticons

Guide
Overlord: Cybertron Megatron
Black Zarak: Cybertron Dark Scorponok
Darkwing: Universe Darkwing
Dreadwing: BotCon Dreadwing
Bludgeon: RotF Bludgeon
Bugly: BotCon Buzzclaw
Iguanus: Energon Sharkticon
Submarauder: Cybertron Shortround
Skullgrin: Movie Hardtop
Bombburst: Superlink Shadowhawk Cosmos Type
Carnivac: Universe (2003) Frostbite
Crankcase: Movie Crankcase
Piranicon: Club Seacons
Spiniser: Energon Blackout

Victory Autobots



Laster: Energon Hot Shot
Blacker: Energon K-Mart Prowl
Braver: Cybertron Excellion
Countdown: Universe 2.0 Countdown
Star Saber: Energon Wing Saber
Victory Leo: SoC Kurojishi
Galaxy Shuttle: Micron Legends Jetfire
Micromasters matched to appropriate Mini-Cons

Victory Decepticons




Zone



Battlestars



Generation 2

Guide
Over-Run: Energon Quickstrike
Scortch: BotCon Scortch/Turbomaster
Skram: Cybertron Hotshot
Pyro: BotCon Pyro
Thunderclash: BotCon Thunderclash
Rapido: BotCon Rapido
Streetwise G2: BotCon Streetwise/Streetstar
Windbreaker: TFCC Dion


Guide
Gutcruncher
Double Punch: BotCon Double Punch
Bonzaitron: BotCon Banzaitron
Clench: BotCon Clench
Breakdown G2: BotCon Breakdown
Slicer: BotCon Slice
Skyjack: WalMart exclusive Skyjack
Skyquake: BotCon Skyquake
Skybyte: BotCon Skybyte
Flamefeather G2: Energon Cruellock
Sparkstalker G2: Superlink Magma Type
Cindersaur: BotCon Cindersaur


Dead Universe

Guide
Top left to bottom right:
OTCC Megazarak
Energon Galvatron
Universe (2003) Razorclaw
Micron Legends Doubleface
Universe (2003) TRU Exclusive Ramjet
Universe (2003) Target Exclusive Nemesis Prime
Armada Nemesis Prime
Armada Cheetor
Armada Airrazor
Armada Rhinox
Armada Terrorsaur


Shattered Glass

Guide


Guide


Pre-Beast Wars

Guide

*Note Longrack and Buzzsaw showing up

Now we're talking!

This is a topic i have great interest in, and i've been trying to build a collection much like yours.

Oddly enough, i love G1 but am not crazy about the general blockiness of G1 toys - hence my love for the classics line.

Really nice display there sir - i'll have to take a few pics of mine soon.

Nice picture show CP.

While pre-Beast Wars has never really been an interest to me, I think that is my favorite shot of yours.

What is the yellow tiger mini-con next to Cosmos? That is one of my fav mini-cons (that isn't/aren't (a) weapon/s).

DISCHARGE wrote:What is the yellow tiger mini-con next to Cosmos? That is one of my fav mini-cons (that isn't/aren't (a) weapon/s).

Apexus, I'm using him as Steeljaw.

He was released as a part of the fourth series of Micron Boosters in Japan in 2007.

I think animated molds just dont work for anything but an animated display. The aesthetic is too stylized, Blitzwing sticks out like a sore thumb. As does reissue Soundwave, should be replaced by Music Label SW.

need a SL Wheeljack in there as well.

Love the use of energon Swoop, Grimlock and animated Snarl as stand-ins.

Who is just behind Bumblebee?

And whose axe is Prime holding?

Sid Burn wrote:...reissue Soundwave, should be replaced by Music Label SW.

IMO, reissue Soundwave works just fine as a stand-in (especially scale wise)

Jetfire73 wrote:Who is just behind Bumblebee?

And whose axe is Prime holding?

Looks like ED Ligier, and the axe is Roadbuster Wild's from Superlink.

Sid Burn wrote:I think animated molds just dont work for anything but an animated display. The aesthetic is too stylized, Blitzwing sticks out like a sore thumb. As does reissue Soundwave, should be replaced by Music Label SW.

need a SL Wheeljack in there as well.

TRU reissue Soundwave is the official Classics toy. Like it or not, it was confirmed by Archer at Botcon. Besides, Classics Ravage turns into a tape and using Music Label Soundwave would be a bit of discontinuity.

Also, I have a Superlink Wheeljack in there. And I do mean Superlink.

Razorclaw0000 wrote:

Jetfire73 wrote:Who is just behind Bumblebee?

And whose axe is Prime holding?

Looks like ED Ligier, and the axe is Roadbuster Wild's from Superlink.

No one is behind Bumblebee, what you're seeing is his jetski backpack. You're right about the axe.

Nice to see such a collection. I have something similar (probably like many fans), but it's good to see something more complete all together like that.

Incidentally I like to use Label Soundwave, but to each his own! After all, our own toy setups aren't hard and fast rules.

Very nice stuff CP! I'm surprised by the use of Police Type Gasket is it? as Groove. But it definitely works.

But who's movie Crosshairs(in the 1984-85 group) supposed to be? Since Fallback=Outback, it can't be him.

Also, ROTF Shadow Striker standing in for Runabout? I won't deny it works to a certain extent, but once I got Runamuck I knew I HAD to have a Runabout, and Legends Sideways fits nicer, in my opinion:





Granted the colors are a few hairs lighter, but the motif fits moreso.

Unless I'm wrong, and their supposed to be other characters....

Oh, and the bugger under Silverstreak, Roller? That 3rd party Roller stand in? Hard to tell what it is, mostly cause I don't have it.

Duke of Luns wrote:Very nice stuff CP! I'm surprised by the use of Police Type Gasket is it? as Groove. But it definitely works.

But who's movie Crosshairs(in the 1984-85 group) supposed to be? Since Fallback=Outback, it can't be him.

Also, ROTF Shadow Striker standing in for Runabout? I won't deny it works to a certain extent, but once I got Runamuck I knew I HAD to have a Runabout, and Legends Sideways fits nicer, in my opinion:





Granted the colors are a few hairs lighter, but the motif fits moreso.

Unless I'm wrong, and their supposed to be other characters....

Oh, and the bugger under Silverstreak, Roller? That 3rd party Roller stand in? Hard to tell what it is, mostly cause I don't have it.

oops, forgot to take Crosshairs out, I was comparing him to Fallback.

I did use the Legends figures as Runabout and Runamuck, forgoing the Cybertron Runabout.

Under Silverstreak is the Roller that comes with the G3 trailer. He's pretty good actually.

Thanks the comments all. 86' Movie, Season 3, and Headmasters are the next on tap.

I love these kinds of threads. Looks great, CP.

Wondering if you have bigger pics on photobucket or some-such (it's hard for me to identify everyone), or if you could list the stand-ins you have for non-Classics figures in your neo-G1 displays? It'd be a great help to thread readers.

Wow, I like this....almost makes me willing to start buying Classics stuff....
But...why's Animated Slag or Snarl there? The Animated faces kinda ruin the Classics aesthetic to me...

Any suggestions for a Trypticon? No mold really comes to mind to me....
Of course, I'm fairly new and under-knowledged...

Counterpunch wrote:
TRU reissue Soundwave is the official Classics toy. Like it or not, it was confirmed by Archer at Botcon. Besides, Classics Ravage turns into a tape and using Music Label Soundwave would be a bit of discontinuity.

Also, I have a Superlink Wheeljack in there. And I do mean Superlink.

Official or not, looks misplaced. Music label SW with Device label Ravage and Real Gear Booster are perfect classic stand ins.

To be honest, I couldnt care less who a high level employee of hasbro tells me to display. You dont either, otherwise you wouldnt buy FP customs, they are not "official"

missed SL wheeljack, nice. Much better than the energon version everyone uses.

goshjosh95 wrote:I love these kinds of threads. Looks great, CP.

Wondering if you have bigger pics on photobucket or some-such (it's hard for me to identify everyone), or if you could list the stand-ins you have for non-Classics figures in your neo-G1 displays? It'd be a great help to thread readers.

I added thumbnail images which link to the larger versions on Photobucket. (My account is already getting murdered, this thread may be the end of it lol)

zenosaurus_x wrote:Wow, I like this....almost makes me willing to start buying Classics stuff....
But...why's Animated Slag or Snarl there? The Animated faces kinda ruin the Classics aesthetic to me...

Any suggestions for a Trypticon? No mold really comes to mind to me....
Of course, I'm fairly new and under-knowledged...

Animated Snarl is there because I felt it was more important to have three Dinobots than to avoid the difference in style. A lot has been made about the aesthetic differences between Animated and other lines. I share that sentiment to some degree and in the past, I shared it to a large degree.

Then I looked at the 86' Movie figures compared to the 84' toys and let the argument go once and for all. If G1 Blurr can exist next to G1 Hound, then Animated can exist next to Classics.

Sid Burn wrote:Official or not, looks misplaced. Music label SW with Device label Ravage and Real Gear Booster are perfect classic stand ins.

G1 Soundwave was used in the Games of Deception comic and story and I think he scales better to Henkei Megatron being slightly taller.

Have you considered cutting over to all Animated for the Dinobots? It gives them a consistent look, and better sizing for Grimlock. Additionally, the differences in aesthetics can be accounted for by being "built" on Earth.

Razorclaw0000 wrote:Have you considered cutting over to all Animated for the Dinobots? It gives them a consistent look, and better sizing for Grimlock. Additionally, the differences in aesthetics can be accounted for by being "built" on Earth.

I considered it and as they are a seperate group, there would be cause for them to look entirely different.

However, I really like Energon Swoop. Shoulders aside, he's the bee's knees.

Also, I expect new Dinobots in the Generations line. It's been a long time coming.

I was using G1 Soundwave in my Ulitmate/Neo G1 line as well. Uuuup until recently though. I decided to go with a more aggressive looking GF Soundwave. I flip flopped between the two occasionally and I probably will continue to do so. But I prefer my SW to be close to scale with Megs. I don't have ML Soundwave and I have no intentions on getting him. I like him, but I think what we have out is better.

Gah, I've yet to post pics of my collection, but seeing CP pics...I might have to do a photo shoot, maybe after botcon. I still want some figs to buy.

Man, I'm soo up in the air with Energon Swoop too. I want him, but don't know if he is actually worth getting.

*I've since edited my neo g1 to Ultimate/Neo because I do put in characters from all TF universes in to one cohesive one*

I am vastly interested in this topic, but alas my workplace blocks anything linked from photobucket. Ah well, tomorrow.

86' Movie
Season 3
Headmasters
Masterforce

All added to the first post.

Some of those will take a bit of explanation, and I'll get to that later.

Hm, your movie Autobots look similar to mine. Although I've got Titanium Rodimus also up there, alternating with Alternators Hot Rod (holding the Matrix) as a leading figure. And what's Alpha Q doing up there?? I thought the Quints were Decepticon allies!

Man, those Sweeps make me want some of my own. Although seeing Superlink Galvatron there makes me want him less. To me, Universe Galvatron looks nicer standing with Scourge and Cyclonus. SL Galvy is still too tall ...

Ghost Screamer is a nice touch.

I like it. Though Im very reserved on not using anything form animated, I prefer to use the other lines. I don't have quite an impressive Neo G1 collection, but I have enough to go up to '86.

Lately I have been shucking my original classics after watching the G1 season1 for fun last night. My henkei toys make better stand ins. I have Prime, Ironhide, Ratchet, Bluestraek, Classics Hot Rod, Classics Mirage, Classics Sunstreaker, Classics Sideswipe, Classics Hound. I want to get Henkei Hor Rod and I'm preordering H Hound. I have Universe Energon Wheeljack...but I spy my eye on....

I have the Target excl. Devastor u sold me as Devastator, and I kept the Walmart Exclu from 07 in MIB.

So your telling me Cybertron Megatron is Thunderwing?

*Thinks a second*

Oh my gosh, your right! Bravo CP, bravo. Even the jet modes correspond.

Sad Hasbro hasn't made a decent Siren stand in. Closest I can think of is Energon Prowl, but the colors and alt. mode are just too off putting.

Oh, and Override GTS....Pointblank? Grapple...Nosecone? Interesting choices to be sure.

There's a few others I'm not to sure about, but I'd think it's rather fun figuring it out and realzing "Hey, yeah!".

Duke of Luns wrote:Sad Hasbro hasn't made a decent Siren stand in. Closest I can think of is Energon Prowl, but the colors and alt. mode are just too off putting.

Generations Red Alert may fit the bill for that one.