The Energon Pub

I didn't have much interest in them based on the pics, but I was in TRU yesterday and they had Starscream and Ironhide, so I picked up SS just to check him out. (I passed on Ironhide because he just looks really boring.)

I was actually pleasantly surprised. Here's what I like:

1. Size: Considering the small box it came in (about the size of a Kreon Combiner set), I was shocked that the assembled figure was the size of a Voyager! (see pic below)

2. Value: A Voyager-sized toy for $10!

3. Quality: The parts are very solid, the joints are really tight, the rubber-coated ball joints are great, and everything fits together nicely. Very solid. (SS's helmet is half-black, as others have reported, so this is either a weird design decision or the factory messed up.)

4. Articulation/poseablity: Better than most Transformers!

5. Fun! Even though the assembly is simple, it was fun going from a pile of parts to a finished figure, and it's kind of neat how you start with a skeleton and then add the character parts.

So while I don't see myself building a collection of Constructbots, I do now plan on getting a few more.

I haven't picked up any Construct-Bots toys yet but I hope to see some soon in the toy aisles.

I think this product line has a lot going for it and it has more potential for the main market success that Kreos didn't quite achieve.

Ultimately, the popular consensus of these toys at this point is that they're fun. I like having a TF related branch of products that I can opt for when I'm looking outside of TF toys.

I like the idea. I mean effectivly its letting you build a transformer. Sure you can have soundwave and wheeljack but as the sdcc pics (pretty sure where I remember this from) why have soundwave and wheeljack displayed like the rest of your formers when you can have soundjack and wheelwave displayed I think the line is gonna be great when youve alot of characters you can just have a pile of parts and be creative!

Shall be picking a few up hope to see more of a retail release soon!

I might give these a try.

I go over Blitzwing pretty thoroughly in Episode 71 of the Twincast (shameless plug )

I've bought Starscream and Ironhide since then. I appreciate the complete lack of partsforming on them, it's great. That said, I'm disappointed that they all seem to transform the same way :/ I guess they really really are trying to just get everyone to customize the hell out of these, but honestly, to do that I'd need some sets that were just random extra parts in crazy colors.

Basically, I want neon pieces so I can make G2 Constructabots.

ScottyP wrote:Basically, I want neon pieces so I can make G2 Constructabots.

Hasbro please?

Especially given the gimmick (of creating custom 'formers), I would expect them to release some random armor packs at some point. They're doing that sort of thing for Kreons, so why not for Constructbots? Give it a few waves and we'll see what happens I guess.

ScottyP wrote:That said, I'm disappointed that they all seem to transform the same way :/ I guess they really really are trying to just get everyone to customize the hell out of these, but honestly, to do that I'd need some sets that were just random extra parts in crazy colors.

I think that the reason for no significant variance in transformation sequences for the Construct-Bots is that the primary intent of the toyline is to serve as build toys with extensive customization potential through the use of standardized connection points by way of 5mm pegs/ports and C-joint clips/3mm bars.

These are toys within the Transformers brand, and they do transform, but they're not Transformers, if that makes any sense.

The nature of build toys with customization potential using a single base body type doesn't allow for a significant degree of variance in transformation sequences. However, the Construct-Bots by the nature of being a build toy, could allow for some very interesting fanmoding.

I think the idea is that you buy a Construct-Bot, build it, see how it looks in its "normal" bot and alt modes, and then see what it looks like with other parts. The only way to get more parts is by buying more Construct-Bots toys.

RAcast wrote:

ScottyP wrote:Basically, I want neon pieces so I can make G2 Constructabots.

Hasbro please?

Especially given the gimmick (of creating custom 'formers), I would expect them to release some random armor packs at some point. They're doing that sort of thing for Kreons, so why not for Constructbots? Give it a few waves and we'll see what happens I guess.

It's a good idea for Hasbro to produce "parts" packs. I can see people getting hooked on Construct-Bots and their willingness to buy extra parts packages would be far more than buying entire Construct-Bots toys just for more parts.

I plan on picking these up, but first must come MP Soundwave, MP Acid Storm, Generations Wreckers, Generations Legends, IDW Deluxes, BH Megs, Metroplex, wave 2 micro changers and combiners, Ultimate Predaking, Predacons Rising stuff and which ever wave BH deluxes has Arcee, Croc-out, and that laser back repaint.

Convotron wrote:It's a good idea for Hasbro to produce "parts" packs. I can see people getting hooked on Construct-Bots and their willingness to buy extra parts packages would be far more than buying entire Construct-Bots toys just for more parts.

I know I would.

These are looking more and more tempting. I REALLY need to stop watching Transformers toy reviews on YouTube. It just makes me want to buy whatever is reviewed >.<

Quick question, is the painting "error" on Starscream's head endemic to ALL samples of the toy, or do some retail samples come with the helmet fully painted black and red/yellow eyes instead of blue?

Wolfman Jake wrote:These are looking more and more tempting. I REALLY need to stop watching Transformers toy reviews on YouTube. It just makes me want to buy whatever is reviewed >.<

Quick question, is the painting "error" on Starscream's head endemic to ALL samples of the toy, or do some retail samples come with the helmet fully painted black and red/yellow eyes instead of blue?

ALL of them so far, as I've heard.

I think if they sell well, we'll see parts packs and things like that to expand upon the concept. If they don't do well, expect to see these on clearance around Christmas.

And yes, all Starscreams in this run have had messed up paint on the head.

I wonder if Hasbro will make an official statement about the error. Getting replacement heads would be a show of good will of Hasbro's part, but I'm not holding my breath. I recall they said a running change would correct Universe 2008 Ironhide's blue face, but as far as I can tell, it never really happened.

these things are getting attictive! here is my ironhide, blitzwing. and starscream.

i gave ironhide cannons on his forearms to simulate his movieverse self.

blitzwing i gave him two extra weapons.
and starscream is is customized. having the kre-o head replacment, placing his wings on his back and giving him his G1 null rays (from the generations line)

in sort these construcbots have alot of playability and fun! customizing is alot funner than i thought it would be. truely hasbro has something here! thank god for those ports!

Wolfman Jake wrote:I wonder if Hasbro will make an official statement about the error. Getting replacement heads would be a show of good will of Hasbro's part, but I'm not holding my breath. I recall they said a running change would correct Universe 2008 Ironhide's blue face, but as far as I can tell, it never really happened.

For a minor cosmetic mistake on a cheap $10 toy, I don't think they owe anyone anything. Factories mess things up. Companies don't issue statements every time a factory paints a part the wrong color. Same thing with replacements. This isn't a $10,000 car with a faulty part; it's a $10 toy with a mispainted head.

Yes, I know Hasbro doesn't owe us. I'm saying it would be nice on their part. Hasbro has made comments about product-wide screw-ups before, hence my reference to 2008 Universe Ironhide with a blue painted face.

KREOFAN85 wrote:these things are getting attictive! here is my ironhide, blitzwing. and starscream.

i gave ironhide cannons on his forearms to simulate his movieverse self.

blitzwing i gave him two extra weapons.
and starscream is is customized. having the kre-o head replacment, placing his wings on his back and giving him his G1 null rays (from the generations line)

in sort these construcbots have alot of playability and fun! customizing is alot funner than i thought it would be. truely hasbro has something here! thank god for those ports!

I'm liking the minor but effective changes. Thanks for sharing your pictures.

The use of connection points shared with Transformers toys make Construct-Bots so appealing.

Finally found some of these at my local TRU. They only had the first two "Scouts" available, Ironhide and Starscream. They are pretty fun so far. The customization potential is amazing, though if you want to make sure the figures transform properly, your options are a LOT more limited, which is a shame. I haven't found a better place to permanently attach Starcream's wings, for instance, besides his arms. BTW, my Starscream's head is also half painted.

I've put together "Starhide" and "Ironscream," as suggested by the back of Starscream's and Ironhide's manuals respectively. They both convert into vehicle mode, but Starhide on wheels is a lot more believable as a vehicle than Ironscream with wings and a huge red bumper under the nose of the plane.

Every piece for each kit has a numeric code, listed at the end of the instruction manual. That should make ordering replacement parts easy, should you lose any.

I've only got Starscream so far, but I like it so much I might get the entire line.

Is anyone else thinking how awesome combiners would be?

Evil_the_Nub wrote:I've only got Starscream so far, but I like it so much I might get the entire line.

Is anyone else thinking how awesome combiners would be?

Ohh...yes.
Yessss.
Yeeeeesssssss!

i got starscream in the hopes of using its parts to make a normal transformer into a combiner limb and to use their weapons for normal transformers. at first when i put starscream together i though he was ugly as hell. when i got back home and started to play with it i liked it a lot more. i just put the wings some where else in his robot and alt mode. i like him but i wont be getting a lot of them. i want the unicron megatron and ripclaw i know that. and ironhide.

I got Ironhide yesterday. Now) I'm seeing the potential. Here are two quick mods I came up with, just by swapping the wheels/wings and rotating the feet/bumpers. I call them Blast-Hide and Scream Racer.

Very nice mods. I must get me some of these toys ASAP.

I like how Construct-Bots are basically meant to be fan moded in order to experience a fuller extent of their play potential.