The Energon Pub

AcademyofDrX wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:

Sowndwave76 wrote:I’ll keep an eye & ear out because I’d like a new Astrotrain & Reflector, but assuming I can check those characters off my list by the end of 2023, I’ll be pretty much done collecting.

We've just had two reflectors, (one for cartoon fans
, one for toy fans) I doubt hasbro will look at them for a while yet. Astrotrain is more likely to happen, given how many people were unsatisfied with the Siege/Earthrise version but that is definitely 2023 and beyond.

Even though some fans were hating on Astrotrain, I'm not sure what obvious improvements there could be. Maybe they'll go for a much larger scale, but I think the Voyager+ will be the standard for that size for more than just a couple of years.

The same argument made before: lose the launchpad/caboose and put that plastic towards a larger (actual leader size) figure. One that has a finished back half in shuttle mode. They wouldn't even have to alter the transformation much, though I expect there will be some changes.

Rodimus Prime wrote:

AcademyofDrX wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:

Sowndwave76 wrote:I’ll keep an eye & ear out because I’d like a new Astrotrain & Reflector, but assuming I can check those characters off my list by the end of 2023, I’ll be pretty much done collecting.

We've just had two reflectors, (one for cartoon fans
, one for toy fans) I doubt hasbro will look at them for a while yet. Astrotrain is more likely to happen, given how many people were unsatisfied with the Siege/Earthrise version but that is definitely 2023 and beyond.

Even though some fans were hating on Astrotrain, I'm not sure what obvious improvements there could be. Maybe they'll go for a much larger scale, but I think the Voyager+ will be the standard for that size for more than just a couple of years.

The same argument made before: lose the launchpad/caboose and put that plastic towards a larger (actual leader size) figure. One that has a finished back half in shuttle mode. They wouldn't even have to alter the transformation much, though I expect there will be some changes.

Appart the junk back of the shuttle, I really hate that tiny nose of the train engine. This would require a 4 rails train track and it's dumb.

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:

AcademyofDrX wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:

Sowndwave76 wrote:I’ll keep an eye & ear out because I’d like a new Astrotrain & Reflector, but assuming I can check those characters off my list by the end of 2023, I’ll be pretty much done collecting.

We've just had two reflectors, (one for cartoon fans
, one for toy fans) I doubt hasbro will look at them for a while yet. Astrotrain is more likely to happen, given how many people were unsatisfied with the Siege/Earthrise version but that is definitely 2023 and beyond.

Even though some fans were hating on Astrotrain, I'm not sure what obvious improvements there could be. Maybe they'll go for a much larger scale, but I think the Voyager+ will be the standard for that size for more than just a couple of years.

The same argument made before: lose the launchpad/caboose and put that plastic towards a larger (actual leader size) figure. One that has a finished back half in shuttle mode. They wouldn't even have to alter the transformation much, though I expect there will be some changes.

Appart the junk back of the shuttle, I really hate that tiny nose of the train engine. This would require a 4 rails train track and it's dumb.

Yeah, WFC Astrotrain was a mediocre design.

Rodimus Prime wrote:

AcademyofDrX wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:

Sowndwave76 wrote:I’ll keep an eye & ear out because I’d like a new Astrotrain & Reflector, but assuming I can check those characters off my list by the end of 2023, I’ll be pretty much done collecting.

We've just had two reflectors, (one for cartoon fans
, one for toy fans) I doubt hasbro will look at them for a while yet. Astrotrain is more likely to happen, given how many people were unsatisfied with the Siege/Earthrise version but that is definitely 2023 and beyond.

Even though some fans were hating on Astrotrain, I'm not sure what obvious improvements there could be. Maybe they'll go for a much larger scale, but I think the Voyager+ will be the standard for that size for more than just a couple of years.

The same argument made before: lose the launchpad/caboose and put that plastic towards a larger (actual leader size) figure. One that has a finished back half in shuttle mode. They wouldn't even have to alter the transformation much, though I expect there will be some changes.

Was his robot mode ever bigger than Megs or Galvatron on the show? I onmy remember him being the same size.

william-james88 wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:

AcademyofDrX wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:

Sowndwave76 wrote:I’ll keep an eye & ear out because I’d like a new Astrotrain & Reflector, but assuming I can check those characters off my list by the end of 2023, I’ll be pretty much done collecting.

We've just had two reflectors, (one for cartoon fans
, one for toy fans) I doubt hasbro will look at them for a while yet. Astrotrain is more likely to happen, given how many people were unsatisfied with the Siege/Earthrise version but that is definitely 2023 and beyond.

Even though some fans were hating on Astrotrain, I'm not sure what obvious improvements there could be. Maybe they'll go for a much larger scale, but I think the Voyager+ will be the standard for that size for more than just a couple of years.

The same argument made before: lose the launchpad/caboose and put that plastic towards a larger (actual leader size) figure. One that has a finished back half in shuttle mode. They wouldn't even have to alter the transformation much, though I expect there will be some changes.

Was his robot mode ever bigger than Megs or Galvatron on the show? I onmy remember him being the same size.

Most of season two he was taller than Starscream but still a bit shorter than Megatron.

sol magnus wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:

AcademyofDrX wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:

Sowndwave76 wrote:I’ll keep an eye & ear out because I’d like a new Astrotrain & Reflector, but assuming I can check those characters off my list by the end of 2023, I’ll be pretty much done collecting.

We've just had two reflectors, (one for cartoon fans
, one for toy fans) I doubt hasbro will look at them for a while yet. Astrotrain is more likely to happen, given how many people were unsatisfied with the Siege/Earthrise version but that is definitely 2023 and beyond.

Even though some fans were hating on Astrotrain, I'm not sure what obvious improvements there could be. Maybe they'll go for a much larger scale, but I think the Voyager+ will be the standard for that size for more than just a couple of years.

The same argument made before: lose the launchpad/caboose and put that plastic towards a larger (actual leader size) figure. One that has a finished back half in shuttle mode. They wouldn't even have to alter the transformation much, though I expect there will be some changes.

Was his robot mode ever bigger than Megs or Galvatron on the show? I onmy remember him being the same size.

Most of season two he was taller than Starscream but still a bit shorter than Megatron.

Even if they got rid of the tender and retooled the figure to clean up the rear of the shuttle mode a bit better, the figure would still be Voyager sized, just intricately engineered with a higher parts count, like Commander Rodimus Prime in Kingdom or the upcoming Leader Blitzwing in Legacy.

Fair enough, keep him as a voyager. As long as those faults are fixed.

The narrow pilot on the Steam Engine mode was neccesitated by the need to collapse into the smokebox and tuck into the leg. No I didn't like it and would like to see it on a longer slide if possible, and would be unforgivable on a Masterpiece toy but for the pricepoint of this its livable. Your G1 Astrotrain is not any better looking.

And thr grey thing it came with is called a tender. Its where the locomotive keeps its water and coal/oil/rocket fuel. And that a designer decided to come up with one for Astrotrain at all was awesome. I will never stop thanking them for taking a step outside the box with it. I wish it sat flat or had a launch tower or something, and a better use for Robot mode than becoming a pair of slippers and a wierd scorpion tail, but they reached for something new and that is awesome.

Actually the most heinous mistake they made with Astrotrain was that I never got a black and white redeco.

One question on Blaster: will ue still be cross-compatible with the Siege Tape designs? There is room for some redeco potential still (Stripes vs Buzzsaw two pack to get around the shared mold issue for example)

Flashwave wrote:And thr grey thing it came with is called a tender. Its where the locomotive keeps its water and coal/oil/rocket fuel. And that a designer decided to come up with one for Astrotrain at all was awesome. I will never stop thanking them for taking a step outside the box with it.

Pretty sure the idea was lifted from a third party toy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3XPEgL5MyQ

blackeyedprime wrote:

Flashwave wrote:And thr grey thing it came with is called a tender. Its where the locomotive keeps its water and coal/oil/rocket fuel. And that a designer decided to come up with one for Astrotrain at all was awesome. I will never stop thanking them for taking a step outside the box with it.

Pretty sure the idea was lifted from a third party toy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3XPEgL5MyQ

Because there's only so many things you can do with a tender

Jelze Bunnycat wrote:

blackeyedprime wrote:

Flashwave wrote:And thr grey thing it came with is called a tender. Its where the locomotive keeps its water and coal/oil/rocket fuel. And that a designer decided to come up with one for Astrotrain at all was awesome. I will never stop thanking them for taking a step outside the box with it.

Pretty sure the idea was lifted from a third party toy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3XPEgL5MyQ

Because there's only so many things you can do with a tender

Swipe left or swipe right?

Just to clarify my previous post, because the wording was a bit confusing,
I meant that most of what was on my want list should be released this next year or a bit after.
After that list of characters joins my collection I'll keep tabs on what's going on and possibly stick it out until we get another Astrotrain and Reflector.
I would never assume we'd get new versions of those two guys in the next two years.

I just can't stand the Siege greebling on Astrotrain... I don't think he should be a huge figure despite his alt modes.
But I have considered going back for Refraktor. I've recently sold items on ebay, so the money aspect isn't an issue.
In fact, I won't doubt if I end up doing this; boredom with collecting is starting to set in a little bit, and that's when I start letting my purchasing guard down.

Sowndwave76 wrote:Just to clarify my previous post, because the wording was a bit confusing,
I meant that most of what was on my want list should be released this next year or a bit after.
After that list of characters joins my collection I'll keep tabs on what's going on and possibly stick it out until we get another Astrotrain and Reflector.
I would never assume we'd get new versions of those two guys in the next two years.

I just can't stand the Siege greebling on Astrotrain... I don't think he should be a huge figure despite his alt modes.
But I have considered going back for Refraktor. I've recently sold items on ebay, so the money aspect isn't an issue.
In fact, I won't doubt if I end up doing this; boredom with collecting is starting to set in a little bit, and that's when I start letting my purchasing guard down.

When you say "Siege greebling," what are you referring to? Because if you're talking about the battle damage you can get that off pretty easily.

Sowndwave76 wrote: most of what was on my want list should be released this next year or a bit after.
After that list of characters joins my collection I'll keep tabs on what's going on and possibly stick it out until we get another Astrotrain and Reflector.
I would never assume we'd get new versions of those two guys in the next two years.

Just go third party for reflector, the mech fans toys is legends sized class and better scale anyways. Even the other heavilly stylised offering is pretty good -we've been pretty spoilt for reflectors over the past decade with Hasbros WFC 9toy, toon, Netflix), the botcon shockwcve alt ones, the minicon/accessorie with the generations insecticon, KO g1 and tht's even with out all the MP sized ones or even the accessories in camera mode.

Even Astrotrain hasnt faired that badly with Henkai, TR and WFC all having something good about them -I'd be tempted to go third party MP scale to fit in with the WFC figures as I like him being a bit biggger (I'd happilly have a child sized ride along version ) hopefully cyberverse will get a toy of him at some point too/soon.

sol magnus wrote:

Sowndwave76 wrote:Just to clarify my previous post, because the wording was a bit confusing,
I meant that most of what was on my want list should be released this next year or a bit after.
After that list of characters joins my collection I'll keep tabs on what's going on and possibly stick it out until we get another Astrotrain and Reflector.
I would never assume we'd get new versions of those two guys in the next two years.

I just can't stand the Siege greebling on Astrotrain... I don't think he should be a huge figure despite his alt modes.
But I have considered going back for Refraktor. I've recently sold items on ebay, so the money aspect isn't an issue.
In fact, I won't doubt if I end up doing this; boredom with collecting is starting to set in a little bit, and that's when I start letting my purchasing guard down.

When you say "Siege greebling," what are you referring to? Because if you're talking about the battle damage you can get that off pretty easily.

They aren't talking about the battle damage paint, this has come up before. What they mean when they say that seems to be "If a figure has more molded surface detail than SS86 Wreck-Gar or Kingdom Cyclonus, I don't want it".

Nemesis Primal wrote:

sol magnus wrote:

Sowndwave76 wrote:Just to clarify my previous post, because the wording was a bit confusing,
I meant that most of what was on my want list should be released this next year or a bit after.
After that list of characters joins my collection I'll keep tabs on what's going on and possibly stick it out until we get another Astrotrain and Reflector.
I would never assume we'd get new versions of those two guys in the next two years.

I just can't stand the Siege greebling on Astrotrain... I don't think he should be a huge figure despite his alt modes.
But I have considered going back for Refraktor. I've recently sold items on ebay, so the money aspect isn't an issue.
In fact, I won't doubt if I end up doing this; boredom with collecting is starting to set in a little bit, and that's when I start letting my purchasing guard down.

When you say "Siege greebling," what are you referring to? Because if you're talking about the battle damage you can get that off pretty easily.

They aren't talking about the battle damage paint, this has come up before. What they mean when they say that seems to be "If a figure has more molded surface detail than SS86 Wreck-Gar or Kingdom Cyclonus, I don't want it".

Yeah, that's not clearing it up, then. Astrotrain the figure doesn't have much in the way of 'greebling.'

I got my Ravage set, and I was excited, and then immediately disappointed.



Mine came with 2 right hands. Dammit.

I need to contact Pulse still to resolve this. He is such a fun looking figure and handles well, and the retooling is incredible. But, the hands create issues for the cat mode and the looks of robot mode.

QC bit me twice in that same haul too. Got a JPIII Raptor with a broken tail in box.

sol magnus wrote:

Nemesis Primal wrote:

sol magnus wrote:

Sowndwave76 wrote:Just to clarify my previous post, because the wording was a bit confusing,
I meant that most of what was on my want list should be released this next year or a bit after.
After that list of characters joins my collection I'll keep tabs on what's going on and possibly stick it out until we get another Astrotrain and Reflector.
I would never assume we'd get new versions of those two guys in the next two years.

I just can't stand the Siege greebling on Astrotrain... I don't think he should be a huge figure despite his alt modes.
But I have considered going back for Refraktor. I've recently sold items on ebay, so the money aspect isn't an issue.
In fact, I won't doubt if I end up doing this; boredom with collecting is starting to set in a little bit, and that's when I start letting my purchasing guard down.

When you say "Siege greebling," what are you referring to? Because if you're talking about the battle damage you can get that off pretty easily.

They aren't talking about the battle damage paint, this has come up before. What they mean when they say that seems to be "If a figure has more molded surface detail than SS86 Wreck-Gar or Kingdom Cyclonus, I don't want it".

Yeah, that's not clearing it up, then. Astrotrain the figure doesn't have much in the way of 'greebling.'

His robot mode surface area is STUFFED with extra sculpting details absent from the show model.


As for me, my ideal astrotrain will never happen (well not from Hasbro). The original toy had a really cool concept of going from space shuttle to locomotive to robot, but the space shuttle frobt suffered from the triple changer concept and was too squarish. The animation model copied that and niw its part of the Astrotrain look. So if you want G1 accuracy, you get that innacurate shuttle mode. I would preffer we get a toy that rights that wrong where we get a mire accurate shuttle mode, a good locomotive mode and an accurate robot mode.

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:I got my Ravage set, and I was excited, and then immediately disappointed.



Mine came with 2 right hands. Dammit.

I need to contact Pulse still to resolve this. He is such a fun looking figure and handles well, and the retooling is incredible. But, the hands create issues for the cat mode and the looks of robot mode.

QC bit me twice in that same haul too. Got a JPIII Raptor with a broken tail in box.

Well, just return them to Hasbro. With holy goodness from their heart, they will give you something of EQUAL VALUE.
You'll enjoy the Disney Princess playset with a Rescue Bots "shampoo bottles"!

$50 can get you a LOT of Botbots

You do realize they'll typically go for something of the same pricepoint from the same line, right?
The current manufacturing paradigm forbids a lot of companies from making pools of spare parts (seen as flushing money away and taking up production cycles that could go to salable full units)...
We need some of the 3P clowns to turn their attention away from random weapon supplements and towards making spares. Also the people with modelling programs and 3D printers.

Sabrblade wrote:

AcademyofDrX wrote:I know a lot of people wanted the CW system retained, but I don't get it.

A lot of people just want Motormaster and want to use the existing CW Stunticon limbs with him, rather than having to rebuy the whole team all over again since it was mainly just the torso that was wrong with CW Menasor.

Plus, the CW system was overall good and a very effective modernization of the "Scramble City" system of old. Giving Menasor a proprietary system instead of retaining and adapting CW takes him out of that loop.

I will say that I'm not opposed to also getting a redone Drag Strip, since the CW mold was a bit naff (ESPECIALLY wrt looking like his G1 self design-wise; makes him stick out pretty badly when next to the others). But I'm very much opposed to the dumb proprietary system. Especially if Hasbro tries to replicate the animation f***up "Drag Strip and Dead End as Motormaster's Mini-Cons" depiction.

williamjames88 wrote:As for me, my ideal astrotrain will never happen (well not from Hasbro). The original toy had a really cool concept of going from space shuttle to locomotive to robot, but the space shuttle frobt suffered from the triple changer concept and was too squarish. The animation model copied that and niw its part of the Astrotrain look. So if you want G1 accuracy, you get that innacurate shuttle mode. I would preffer we get a toy that rights that wrong where we get a mire accurate shuttle mode, a good locomotive mode and an accurate robot mode.

Given that 3P go for the cartoon as well, I doubt you'll see it fully realized from them either.
I don't think what you want is physically possible while keeping the JNR steam loco mode AND meeting the articulation demands people have without having extra-complex and delicate transformation jointing. The best we can get without going into that territory while still having the steam loco mode would be making the outer part of the lower legs particularly thin so that the squareness isn't as noticeable (and that'd still be compromising durability)..
Triple changers with Earth modes are probably always gonna suck in some way, tbh. Especially at the retail level.

Where do you rate Classics Astrotrain? I realize there's an obvious compromise on shuttle accuracy at the aft, but he is fairly smooth.

Rodimus Prime wrote:The same argument made before: lose the launchpad/caboose and put that plastic towards a larger (actual leader size) figure. One that has a finished back half in shuttle mode. They wouldn't even have to alter the transformation much, though I expect there will be some changes.

Translation: WAAA WAAA I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT DESIGN OR TRAINS AND BLAME THE NEW PIECE FOR EVERY FAULT AND IGNORE THE REAL CAUSES (the biggest being robot mode cartoon accuracy to a fault (same principle that ruined Kingdom Tracks); in this case, it resulted in the shuttle fin folding away into his chest behind a panel instead of working like the G1 toy, which had the knock-on effect of meaning that space couldn't be use for his head in any way; the change in the leg transformation to accommodate full-length feet with ankle tilts may also have played a role).

And I reiterate that doing the tender is probably a big part of why he was even @#$%ing made in the first place, since it gave the Decepticons a platform that can work with bases (as ER Optimus' trailer does for the Autobots).

Flashwave wrote:One question on Blaster: will ue still be cross-compatible with the Siege Tape designs? There is room for some redeco potential still (Stripes vs Buzzsaw two pack to get around the shared mold issue for example)

I believe it is. At the very least, size wise we know that Eject is the same thickness because of the shared shin pieces, even if they transform differently.

That said, I'd love a set like the Spy Patrol Gen Selects set with Flip Sides, Rosanna, Sunder, and either Black Cat or Stripes. Ideally we'd also get a Steeljaw mold so that his main cassettes (Rewind, Ramhorn, and Steeljaw) could be retail releases either in core (Ramhorn and Steeljaw), or as pack ins (Rewind with Twincast), with the repack of Soundwave coming with a Buzzsaw and if we have to include the extra, we could make it a brand new Cassette or use Garbroil, with the rumored SG Soundwave coming with an SG Laserbeak and SG Ravage/Glit

While I'm agreeing with a lot you're saying Zelda, you won't change minds with getting frustrated at them. With an issue like this, I don't think minds would change anyway. Best to do is ignore those that dump on the mold (for whatever reason, for most it seems it just wasn't what they were looking for in their collections). Focus on what you enjoy about the toy. Thus is the perfect example of agreeing to disagree and letting the subject lie.

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:You do realize they'll typically go for something of the same pricepoint from the same line, right?

They will if they have it. They DID NOT have something of the 'same line' when I got my first '86 Scourge with one of his wing guns missing.