The Energon Pub

So, I recently went out a bought myself a WFC Megatron. Prior to this, I was pretty happy having Universe Galvatron as the leader of my Classic 'Cons, but one thing about WFC Megs just screamed "must buy" to me:

He could stand up and stay balanced without assistance or awkward posing.

This got me thinking, and one of the things I greatly appreciate as a collector are figures that have feet/legs that can suitably support their weight. Nothing frustrates me more about a figure than finding it's fallen over everytime I leave the room, sometimes creating a domino effect that almost leads me to believe an epic battle took place while I was away (j/k, of course...)

So now that Megs is in town, he is proudly displayed at the front of my 'Con army, while Galvatron takes a break near the back where he can lean into a corner so he doesn't fall over like a drunken sailor.

That being said, Galvatron is far from the only figure I own who can't stand well on his own. One of my favorite Autobots, Prowl (represented by his Universe figure) can't seem to stand up right without looking like his knees are bent inward or his torso is leaned forward.

Now, on to the discussion of this topic:

1) Do you other collectors have similar figures that you really love but can't stand that they can't stand? (wow, that was actually un-intentional)

2) Does the fact that a figure can or can't (or appears able/unable to) stand balanced affect your decision to purchase?

3) Do you think that Has/Tak cares if their figures can stand up, when they are ultimately kid's toys?

4) What are your most stable and most unstable standing toys?

Thanks!

One of the better aspects of Animated's style is that it allowed for large feet. Wreck-gar has bell bottom legs that let him stand no matter what.

Conversly, Car Robots/RiD figures tend to get floppy quick, with Mach Alert/Prowl and Sky-byte being very back-heavy.

Quite a few G1 figures with their kibble hidden round the back are a pain for this. Snap Trap immediately springs to mind.

Loose legs from figures that are pull down to extend for robot mode also lead to this problem. My G1 pipes and Astrotrain suffer from this, they look like they've just finished a marathon if they aren't propped up properly.

Movie Sideswipe. Nigh-impossible to stand properly.

Animated Blackarachnia tends to fall on her face if the shelf is bumped because of her tiny feet.

Autobot Strider wrote:
1) Do you other collectors have similar figures that you really love but can't stand that they can't stand? (wow, that was actually un-intentional)

Leader Class Ironhide. I have to pose his feet just the right way, otherwise he falls over very easily. Now I have him on a hgh shelf so that he's looking down at me because I had to pose him so he's looking down.

2) Does the fact that a figure can or can't (or appears able/unable to) stand balanced affect your decision to purchase?

Not really. It is somewhat of a pain, but it's not the main reason for me to buy a figure, so I can get past it. Alternity Megatron is the only one I ever considered selling due to design.

3) Do you think that Has/Tak cares if their figures can stand up, when they are ultimately kid's toys?

Has/Tak cares about their bottom line. Everything else comes a distant 2nd.

4) What are your most stable and most unstable standing toys?

Bricks are usually very stable. For me, it's my PM Prime and my Brave Max that are the most stable. Most unstable? The above mentioned Ironhide and Alternity Megatron.

My most stable Transformers are Movieverse BB Optimus Prime and Cybertron Defense Scattershot

Runner up in stability is Movie Voyager Ice Megatron. Those spring articulated bird feet of his allow him to grab stability on most surfaces.


My most unstable figure is Movie Thundercracker(2007). On of his upper chicken leg ankles has gotten worn down and he's indeed a bit wobbly like a drunk hobo.

Runner up would be Movie 2008 Camara Concept Bumblebee. His balljoint hips make him unstable and if you don't pose him right then he'll ultimately lean over and knock anyone else down as well

My RTS Tracks has a trouble staying up, one of his lower legs is really loose (came that way). Gen Wheeljack is fine, though.

My vintage g1 Superion never was the most stable guy. All the other scramble city type combos I had were fine (g1 Defensor, g1 Menasor, g1 Onslaught with any other teams guys (never had g1 Bruticus), RID Ruination, knockoff RID Ruiniation in more cartoon accurate colors), but something about Silverbolt's legs just didn't hold up well when you shoved a couple of other guys heads up in there.

I have only found a couple of my TFormers difficult to keep stable standing up.

ROTF Sideways is the one that is the worst, with those tiny little feet.

Classics Grimlock was the all time worst for me. Loose hip joints i guess, along with only two little tiny purchase points for each foot. The very tip of the front tooth on his upper jaw and the very tippy tip of the front tooth on his lower jaw for him to stand on. That there is a recipe for disaster.

My most stable.....Animated Blurr. I am very impressed with his stability. I've had him on one foot in a running pose ever since i bought him at retail and he's NEVER fallen over.
I mean....he's splayed out in a full on sprint stance and twisted this way and that and he still won't fall over. I've tried stomping on the floor. Iv'e hit the bookcase with my bike and he remains standing.

The only time he's ever fallen over is if i hit him with my sleeve or something moving figures around.

Universe Hound and Classics Jetfire are a couple more bad ones' for not holding a lot of poses and just straight up wiping out. I find them a bit bothersome but nowhere near as bad as Grimlock.

The award for most stable TF on display has to go to ROTF deluxe Rampage. I mean, his weight is distributed over four legs. It's damn near impossible to topple him over, short of bitch-slapping him across the shelf.

The TF with the weakest feet in my collection has to be Classics Red Alert. Just a slight nudge on the bookcase is enough to topple him over.

Autobot Strider wrote:
3) Do you think that Has/Tak cares if their figures can stand up, when they are ultimately kid's toys?

4) What are your most stable and most unstable standing toys?

Thanks!:

Here goes my opinion. I state nothing as fact below.

3- No,Hasbro/Takara cater the polly pocket type smaller TF toys like minicon,legends,basics,scouts,deluxes,towards a toddler under 5 years age group. these toddler intended toys are not meant to be displayed on shelves. as most toddlers under 5 don't go over board by setting up book shelves full of toys.

4- the most stable TF toys are the bigger ones like voyagers,ultra's,leaders & supremes. hasbro/takara aims these bigger TF toy towards older teenagers & adults. because adult fans do go out & buy cheap book cases that they use to display their toys on in robot display poses.

Tidalwavex wrote:
4- the most stable TF toys are the bigger ones like voyagers,ultra's,leaders & supremes. hasbro/takara aims these bigger TF toy towards older teenagers & adults. because adult fans do go out & buy cheap book cases that they use to display their toys on in robot display poses.

My Universe Powerglide is another one i forgot to mention. He's damn near impossible for me to get standing....period. He's so top heavy that he just does the splits every time. Speaking of Ultra class and larger TF's. I keep him boxed up for that reason.

1) Do you other collectors have similar figures that you really love but can't stand that they can't stand? (wow, that was actually un-intentional)

FP Springer has problems but he'd be great if it wasn't for that. His joints are loose (I've fixed the worst but he needs more work) and you all know that he can't stand up straight.

2) Does the fact that a figure can or can't (or appears able/unable to) stand balanced affect your decision to purchase?

Probably. I can't think of a recent example of a figure with that trouble.

3) Do you think that Has/Tak cares if their figures can stand up, when they are ultimately kid's toys?

Probably not. They seem to pass over some glaring errors of design sometimes.

4) What are your most stable and most unstable standing toys?

Classics Jetfire isn't a good stander. WFC MEgatron must be the most stable cos his joints are stiff and his feet are huge.

though rotf sideswipe is mentioned a lot, i don't see anybody talk about sideways from the same series. he's even worse than sideswipe, and he's got ridiculous legs

I forgot Animated Lugnut. Has to be propped against something behind him to stand up. Usually a larger bot. Right now he's leaning against a stuffed dead cat. With sunglasses on. (The cat, not Lugnut.)

1) Do you other collectors have similar figures that you really love but can't stand that they can't stand? (wow, that was actually un-intentional)

i really want to love my classics galvatron but i have the same problem as you. also the classics prowl mold. also my WFC prime figures. very tiny feet supporting a lot of bot.


2) Does the fact that a figure can or can't (or appears able/unable to) stand balanced affect your decision to purchase?

hell no, if it did then i would not have half the figures i do now. i use handy tack to keep my unstable TFs up.


3) Do you think that Has/Tak cares if their figures can stand up, when they are ultimately kid's toys?

yeah i think they do. if the figure is unstable then i think they messed up somewhere. its not often we get an unbalanced figure.

4) What are your most stable and most unstable standing toys?

the most stable i would have to say is WFC megatron and many of my classics. and most of my other toys, if i dont mention it then i dont have a problem with it.

most unstable: classics galvatron, classics prowl molds, WFC prime, movie sideswipe, ROTF sideways, DOTM jolt, armada wheeljack, armada scavenger, G1 megatron (very loose leg joints), generations wheeljack/tracks, unicron, all my minicons, classics jetfire (with jetpack on), ROTF scalpel, ROTF breakdown, TFA swindle, ROTF demolisher,

Sometimes, I like to play a little game I call "Pose the Transformer in the most ridiculous way possible".

See, every toy has a centre of gravity, and it's a rare one indeed that can't be made to stand at all. So, take advantage of those tiny feet or ridiculous proportions!

I put them into wild, breakdancing-like positions and poses, or even stand them on their hands. Animated toys are great for wacky kung-fu. I often balance Jazz on one foot, with his other leg straight up in the air (so his feet are at 12 and 6 o'clock).

Why don't you try this? Get your most unstable, poorly-designed Transformer, and tweak and adjust his limbs to achieve a stable centre of gravity. You'd be amazed at what poses they will hold.

wilcosu35 wrote:though rotf sideswipe is mentioned a lot, i don't see anybody talk about sideways from the same series. he's even worse than sideswipe, and he's got ridiculous legs

True. I think we all just forgot he exists! Try rotating one of the leg panels down.

AdamPrime wrote:Sometimes, I like to play a little game I call "Pose the Transformer in the most ridiculous way possible".
You'd be amazed at what poses they will hold.

Yes, I too like dynamic poses but sometimes you just want the figure to stand to attention.

I wonder... How many of you, as children, had a level, solid play surface to stand your figures on? I sure didn't. The bedroom or living room carpet was the primary warzone, followed by the bed itself for those rugged, alien landscapes.

I would argue that most children don't have hardwood floors to play on, so the ability of the toy to support itself is considered secondary to the look or function.

Again, this is a generalisation. I love it when my figures can stand up straight and hold dignified poses, but I guess there's always going to be that toy which refuses to stand up due to a giant backpack or skinny legs or whatever. The problem is much less of an issue these days, I think. Most all of recent lines can stand up fine.
Now Beast Wars/Machines! Sheesh! Most of the Maximal-Predacon warfare I witnessed was conducted lying down! It was a relaxed, easy-going war.

Oddly, my Classics Hound is one of my most stable.

The least stable I have purchased recently is Cannon Force Ironhide, the red repaint of DOTM Voyager Ironhide. In addition to being REMARKABLY brick-ish, his feet are so floppy he can't stand at all. When I get around to it, I guess I'll get out the superglue and tighten up those joints...

Valandar wrote:Oddly, my Classics Hound is one of my most stable.

Yeah, I was gonna say. I think he's perhaps the most stable Classics toy. The dual hinge on his feet, plus the large surface area, means he can't really fall over at all.
Maybe if his knees or hips were really loose.....

Classics Galvatron is the only one I have to keep propped against something to get to stand. Everything else I really have no trouble with.

Beast Wars Inferno is the most difficult for me to get to stand up right in bot mode. The thin ball-jointed legs and large ass make it hard to keep him standing.

Leader Sentinel Prime and HA Soundwave comes to mind, both of them need to put in proper position to be able to stand properly.

What's worst is HA SW Target Master adds additional weight backwards to the already top heavy SW, but at least in another position it is still able to stand, but if there's any "shakes" down he goes..