The Energon Pub

[Powered Convoy]

From Alfes':

Bumblebee Goldbug

Trailbreaker

Hoist

Some nice touches on Trailbreaker and Hoist. Lots of extra detailing on Trailbreaker, and both of them have painted eyes, rims, and tail lights.

Love Bumblebee's yellow plastic, but I'm not sure on that metallic yellow.

Randy

[Hero Alpha]

That Hoist is sweet looking. Sometimes I wish I hadn't looked at the Takara versions lol, it kinda spoils me. One thing I am starting to change my mind on though is painted transformers eye. I always liked the light-piping but now the painted eyes look great on more and more figures. Which do you prefer?

[Powered Convoy]

I tend to prefer the clear plastic, but if the plastic color isn't the correct (as it were) eye color or the light won't shine through the plastic well, then painting is certainly better.

Instances I can think of where paint was definitely better than plastic was United Tracks, United Scourge, TG Trailbreaker, etc.

Randy

[El Duque]

Our friend Alfes 2010 has posted galleries of Takara Tomy's recently released Transformers Generations TG-26 Bumblebee Goldbug and TG-27 Trailbreaker & Hoist. These images include comparison shots with their Hasbro counterparts. All feature alternate decos, which include metallic paint applications, but also some other notable differences. Bumblebee Goldbug comes with a blue head, but it's not the resculpted one found on Hasbor's Goldfire. A noticeable difference with Trialbreaker is his G1 toy accurate red visor. Hoist features a much darker shade of green. Check out the images mirrored below.

[MINDVVIPE]

I haven't opened my Trailbreaker, does the head have a screen in the back? wondering how easy it would be to paint my hasbro versions eyes red.

[durroth]

usually, I like takara's paint changes, but I'm just not digging bumblebee. I like the plastic color a bit better, but that could just be the camera (I noticed hoists coloring looks alot worse in those pics than it actually looks in person) but anyway, the gold paint just doesn't do it for me. It just doesn't quite fit with the rest of the figure. I'll be waiting for goldfire for my goldbug.

[fenrir72]

To those who have no interest getting them because the cosmetic changes don't justify the cost........well, good news is that the window of opportunity to score them cheap is still open. Online stores like hobbysearch has them still and amiami got them back ordered recently.

[Powered Convoy]

Someone missed that I posted this hours ago aye?

takaratomy-generations-tg26-bumblebee-and-tg27-trailbreaker-hoist-photo-galleries-t97641.php

Randy

[-Kanrabat-]

Look like Takara is back at being the superior version, well worth the money.

At least, compared to the Arms Micron line with their stupid and annoying stickers.

[T-Macksimus]

That's odd. My Hoist doesn't seem anywhere near as pale a shade of green as what those pictures seem to suggest it should be. If I were to adjust accordingly then Takara's version would be damn near Forest Green or British Racing Green by comparasion and I know damn well that my monitor is not out of calibration so somebody please explain the discrepancy. I have my Hasbro Hoist right next to me and it is NOT that pale, fugly color.
In fairness though, Takara's version, as usual, does look better regardless of whatever shade theirs is.

Also, I have to say that the 'Bee/Goldbug crossover is a serious "Fail" from my standpoint. Pick one color and stick with it. The two being mixed...yuck. They got the head right, I'll give them that and yeah, it certainly stands out more than the mono-tone (sans stripes) Bumblebee but I just don't think the concept works well. Just an opinion, I know most folks will love it but it's not for me.

TrailBREAKER kicks ass (Sorry, I don't care if IDW did give him a name change for image sake, he's Trailbreaker to me)
Not much else to say. He's just all around sharper looking just like the majority of Takara's reworks on our stuff.

So... 2 out of 3 rock. Not too bad an average.

[Sabrblade]

Aside from the eyes, I think I actually prefer the duller/brighter colors of the Hasbro Bumblebee. While the Takara one is pretty, it reminds me too much of the golden-yellow Movie and Prime Bees, whereas IDW G1 Bee was definitely yellow-yellow in the ongoing.

As for the other two, the Takara versions do look nicer, but I've already bought the Hasbro versions.

[Powered Convoy]

That's odd. My Hoist doesn't seem anywhere near as pale a shade of green as what those pictures seem to suggest it should be. If I were to adjust accordingly then Takara's version would be damn near Forest Green or British Racing Green by comparasion and I know damn well that my monitor is not out of calibration so somebody please explain the discrepancy. I have my Hasbro Hoist right next to me and it is NOT that pale, fugly color.
In fairness though, Takara's version, as usual, does look better regardless of whatever shade theirs is.

Just chalk it up to lighting. Other pictures of Takara Trailbreaker make his black look darker than Hasbro's and in these photos it looks the same. So I wouldn't count these photos as the be all end all of how they actual look in person.

Randy

[G1 Legacy]

The colors on the Bee/Goldbug figure seem a little off, especially considering its a Takara release. But I'm admittedly indifferent to that mold because I have no intention of purchasing it.

Regarding the Trailcutter (breaker) molds, I actually like both the Hasbro and Takara paintjobs for both versions of these figures so don't mistake the following because I can appreciate what they've attempted here, however I carry a lot of ambivalence toward the overall mold. I hate to rehash what many have said before but I firmly believe the designers (although talented) really missed an opportunity to please old and new fans alike here. I totally see the need for the updated alt mode (along with all the other classics & chug figs) but these left me craving more in the area of accessories, design, scale, and accuracy. The robot modes seem to match up ok on the shelf next to other Classics but the alt modes leave a lot to be desired. I don't like how you don't have the option to both hide and reveal "Cutters" weapons and generator in vehicle mode. And I dislike how his rear bed cover becomes a shield instead of being factored into the Transformation to add more "meat" in bot mode, and yes I'm aware that part of the reason of this design was to make it easier to implement Hoist as a tow truck using the same mold, but if they could do it back in 84-85 they should even more so be able to do it by todays design capabilities. And this is going out on a limb, but they also could have added accessories like a clear "bubble" force field (ala Halo 3) for Cutter and using the same amount of plastic for Hoist, a mockup of his (and Grapples) solar generator doohickey presented to Prime from the famous G1 episode would have been a priceless and hilarious nod to adult collectors as well as appealing extras for kids. I would gladly have paid a Voyager price of $20+ for each (I mean a special Deluxe with beefed up accessories, hell yea).
Whatever. They both just look woefully small next to the likes of Prowl & Jazz...drives me nuts. But I still bought them lol. And I plan to purchase the Takara's, probly in person at an upcoming Botcon etc. too much other stuff on the forefront at the moment though (curse you third party).

[El Duque]

Someone missed that I posted this hours ago aye?

takaratomy-generations-tg26-bumblebee-and-tg27-trailbreaker-hoist-photo-galleries-t97641.php

Randy

Fixed! Thanks!

[Sodan-1]

I find it odd how Hasbro's Trailcutter is more black than Takara's. Not sure which one I like more. Takara's Hoist is the clear winner for me though. As for Bumblebee, I'm not sure there's anything that could make me like this mould at this point. Maybe it's just these photos, but the gold paint looks a little off-colour, a little green. I suppose I could get a Hasbro version and give it my own paint job, but I think I'd rather skip it altogether.

[frogbat]

i have the the hasbro versions and I like them a lot except for the size - definitely should be larger in vehicle mode and thus chunkier in robot mode

other than that, there's a defect on my hoist's shoulder which basically impedes transformation. I pay through the nose for these toys due to high postage, so i'm not a happy bunny. Fortunately I keep mine displayed in robot mode and I had trailbreaker to get a kick out of...

hope it's not a common prob