The Energon Pub

In the world of third-party toy makers that specialize in Transformers, none generates more fan excitement and respect than Fansproject. After teasing us with computer renders and prototype images for nearly two years, they've finally released their next masterpiece: TFX-04 Protector! In keeping with Fansproject's Parallax series, the set takes a standard Transformer figure, in this case deluxe Rodimus, and provides the trailer/armor to upgrade him to Rodimus Prime (aka Rodimus Convoy in Japan). Seibertron.com has been fortunate to get one of these newly released upgrades and has created yet another comprehensive photo gallery to give you the absolute best look at this set yet.

This 431-photo gallery features the TFX-04 Protector armor on nearly all of the Rodimus figures available including Classics, Henkei, and the newly released Challenge at Cybertron/Battle in Space version. It also highlights the trailer's tank and cannon modes, shows off his gun extension and new roller companion, and features images of Protector ready to charge into battle with past Fansproject favorites WB001 Warbot Defender and TFX-01 City Commander.

And of course, no gallery of TFX-04 Protector would be complete without a good look at his Targetmaster companion TFX-05 Sidearm, available separately from Fansproject. Sidearm is an homage to G1 Hot Rod's Targetmaster partner Firebolt.

So while you're still patiently waiting your TFX-04 Protector and TFX-05 Sidearm to show up at your door, our amazing galleries should hold you over until it arrives! Click on one of the images below to get started.

TFX-04 Protector (Rodimus Prime)







TFX-05 Sidearm (Firebolt)

Holy crap in a hat.

A redesigned head can not come fast enough.

Adam's apple right?


Wonder how it looks without the new head?



Maybe not.

Ryan, as i can see u have problem fitting the head properly....
Do u know that the Protector face plate u can pull it out and reinstall back again?
After u pull it out, do not plug in fully.... Leave some space for his "eyebrow"....
Then u try to fit the head again onto Rodimus....
U will see that the protector head will fit in better....

Mach wrote:Ryan, as i can see u have problem fitting the head properly....
Do u know that the Protector face plate u can pull it out and reinstall back again?
After u pull it out, do not plug in fully.... Leave some space for his "eyebrow"....
Then u try to fit the head again onto Rodimus....
U will see that the protector head will fit in better....

??? The instructions make no mention of this, at least not that I can see. Vangelus also had the same problem that I had in his video review.

I was on the fence hardcore about this. I even canceled my preorder twice, But God**mn he gets way bigger than his original figure and that was what I feared the most was a slight change in size, but damn! I'm gettin this. Who was the hidden dark bot in the comic?

Awwww... No pictures of the Season 3 FP boys with one of the Arcees and Blurr? Or are you waiting until Kup and Perceptor come out for that one?

Midnight_Fox wrote:Awwww... No pictures of the Season 3 FP boys with one of the Arcees and Blurr? Or are you waiting until Kup and Perceptor come out for that one?

I'll do an update with a few extra pics when Kup comes out, but those pics might just end up in Kup's gallery. I also wanted to do a pic of FansProject City Commander, Protector, and Optimus Prime (with FansProject trailer) in vehicle mode, but didn't think of it until late last night. I might add that pic as well in the future.

Can Classics Hot Rod hold TFX Sidearm (Firebolt)?

Edit: Nevermind. I just answered my own dumb question (:

Edit 2: Is Firebolt too big for Hot Rod to hold with his arm extended? It looks that way from the pictures.

It Is Him wrote:Can Classics Hot Rod hold TFX Sidearm (Firebolt)?

Edit: Nevermind. I just answered my own dumb question (:

Edit 2: Is Firebolt too big for Hot Rod to hold with his arm extended? It looks that way from the pictures.

Yep. I was really disappointed with that because Sidearm should be partnered with Rodimus, not Protector.

I'm glad the gallery shows off all the "red" versions with the trailer and armor. Battle in Space Rodimus is so no doing it for me. He's going to me my "Hot Rod" so I have a version Sidearm can ride with.

Of course, there's also the old rule: "if you can't match it, clash it", I wonder what TFCC Side Burn would look like after a taste of the Artifact.

Requiem Prime wrote:I'm glad the gallery shows off all the "red" versions with the trailer and armor. Battle in Space Rodimus is so no doing it for me.

I tried to tell a certain Twincast host that would be how it ended up and he was all a digital rage of disbelief.

It it missing a paint decal on the top back portion of the trailer?

Mach wrote:Ryan, as i can see u have problem fitting the head properly....
Do u know that the Protector face plate u can pull it out and reinstall back again?
After u pull it out, do not plug in fully.... Leave some space for his "eyebrow"....
Then u try to fit the head again onto Rodimus....
U will see that the protector head will fit in better....

After looking at the figure again, this isn't a problem that I had. It's a problem with the design of the toy. It's correct how I have it in the gallery. I don't want to have its face pulled part way down to expose a "brow" area on his forehead to make his face longer to cover up the "neck" (aka Rodimus' chin). I don't think that's what FansProject's designer had in mind. I have it the same way that FansProject did at BotCon and as far as I can tell in their previous pictures.

If the head went all the way down, he'd have no neck and it would look weirder. He would be peeking over his own engine block! I for one can live with the Adam's apple.

Now, it's just a race between BBTS and my paycheck on Friday! I've never wanted to wait longer for something so bad in my life!

any news on TFX-04B Shadow Scyther coming soon? and another question for us that have wildrider will we have to buy sidearm and chrome the spoilers silver ourselves?, since it looks like the figure comes with gray to match sg roddy

dirkmagirk1 wrote:any news on TFX-04B Shadow Scyther coming soon? and another question for us that have wildrider will we have to buy sidearm and chrome the spoilers silver ourselves?, since it looks like the figure comes with gray to match sg roddy

That's a good question. I imagine Sidearm will be released separately again with silver chromed wings.

Seibertron wrote:

dirkmagirk1 wrote:any news on TFX-04B Shadow Scyther coming soon? and another question for us that have wildrider will we have to buy sidearm and chrome the spoilers silver ourselves?, since it looks like the figure comes with gray to match sg roddy

That's a good question. I imagine Sidearm will be released separately again with silver chromed wings.

Actually, Scyther comes with both sets of spoiler add-ons:

http://www.fansproject.com/?p=548

FP wrote:Special Thank you:
FansProject would like to thank you all for the feedback!!!
As requested by our Fans, we had added new extra bonus.....
-Additional pair of:
"Chromed dark color add-on wings and spoiler".

All, in all, awesome. But that means there'll be no Sidearm for Scyther, probably to further differentiate them.

I already have a Henkei Rodimus, but I'm keeping that intact, as he's a perfect opponent to Galvatron on the shelf. I just ordered the Battle in Space giftset for the Rodimus I'll be pairing with the Protector set. Thanks to these pictures I see they fit reasonably well together (although the colorscheme for that giftset Rodimus is terrible).

I'll probably give him the chrome wings from Sidearm to give him a little extra class and polish. I wonder how the chrome wings and Battle in Space Rodimus would look together on Protector

Also, I'll be placing him opposite D.I.A. Commander, as he had chrome details too. I bet they'll look cool together on the shelf

Hans wrote:I already have a Henkei Rodimus, but I'm keeping that intact, as he's a perfect opponent to Galvatron on the shelf. I just ordered the Battle in Space giftset for the Rodimus I'll be pairing with the Protector set. Thanks to these pictures I see they fit reasonably well together (although the colorscheme for that giftset Rodimus is terrible).

I'll probably give him the chrome wings from Sidearm to give him a little extra class and polish. I wonder how the chrome wings and Battle in Space Rodimus would look together on Protector

Also, I'll be placing him opposite D.I.A. Commander, as he had chrome details too. I bet they'll look cool together on the shelf

No bets, there.

Oh, he is gorgeous! I cannot wait to get those two! FP, take my paycheck and give me more awesome!

thanks for the info (i cant believe i overlooked that..im such an idiot ).

I've been a solid proponent of FansProject. Its really tough for me to say it, but the head design is really a downer. They're usually on point with the details. Considering the engineering aptitude of these guys, how could such a major aesthetic flaw be overlooked (edit: the base figure's head visibility in combined mode). A simple small piece of plastic with a hinge at the bottom of the face sculpt could have done wonders for the set - something I hope Shadow Scyther remedies. It's an awesome set, no doubt. But what a glaring flaw. Kills me. I'm buying it, but it would have been nice to not have to buy an upgrade to the upgrade like the missile launchers add on set. Sigh... oh well.

You Know The Fins On Rodimus Figures Are Not On Pins.So,You Could Take The Ones From Battle At Cybertron Set And Switch The Fins With A Classics Rodimus, So The Wing Extensions For The Protector Would Not Look As Weird On A Battle In Space Rodimus.

"...to battle an illusive enemy..."

What, they aren't really there? The enemy is only an illusion?