BotCon 2012 Coverage - Longarm Customizing Class
Wednesday, April 25th, 2012 6:02PM CDT
Categories: Site News, Toy News, Event News, Collector's Club NewsPosted by: Blurrz Views: 52,794
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Posted by daimchoc on April 25th, 2012 @ 6:16pm CDT
Posted by Autobot032 on April 25th, 2012 @ 6:16pm CDT
...9-5? The class is a full 8 hours??
Posted by craggy on April 25th, 2012 @ 6:18pm CDT
Posted by Autobot032 on April 25th, 2012 @ 6:19pm CDT
craggy wrote:there's no way it will take 8hours to cut if off a sprue, stick the appropriate parts together and do a tiny bit of colouring. people getting paid pennies manage to do it a lot quicker, fully fed and awake Botconners should surely be quicker!
Posted by AutobotMR2 on April 25th, 2012 @ 6:20pm CDT
Posted by DISCHARGE on April 25th, 2012 @ 6:43pm CDT
The class looks like fun
Posted by daimchoc on April 25th, 2012 @ 7:28pm CDT
Autobot032 wrote:Hmm. The Shockwave head looks much nicer than I expected. I'm still not sure on the choice of figure body, but the head's nice.
...9-5? The class is a full 8 hours??
Check this out:
http://www.collecticon.org/2012/01/awes ... ns-botcon/
Posted by WolfDawg on April 25th, 2012 @ 7:31pm CDT
Posted by Blurrz on April 25th, 2012 @ 7:31pm CDT
daimchoc wrote:Would it be possible to get some instructions? I have an extra Jazz that I'd like to make into LongArm as well. Thank you in advance.
Unfortunately the fans who get to go to the class are given sprues that are already colored appropriately from the factory. As in they don't start from a RTS Jazz from scratch, but rather pieces that are likely purple and light grey. I bet most of the time in the class is spent nailing in pins which is quite the pain!
Also never realized you were a user on the boards, Daimchoc. Just want to thank you for helping out with the news for a very long time
Posted by Autobot032 on April 25th, 2012 @ 7:33pm CDT
daimchoc wrote:Autobot032 wrote:Hmm. The Shockwave head looks much nicer than I expected. I'm still not sure on the choice of figure body, but the head's nice.
...9-5? The class is a full 8 hours??
Check this out:
http://www.collecticon.org/2012/01/awes ... ns-botcon/
That's pretty.
WolfDawg wrote:This is definitely a little confusing. I mean, the figure looks awesome, but I don't get the character association. He's shattered glass Longarm...that looks exactly like a Classic-ized Alternators Shockwave? This just seems like a case where fiction didn't need to be applied to a character. They should have just said "Hey, we're turning Jazz into Shockwave and giving him a new head" and been done with it.
I think it has something to do with Animated Longarm and how he was really Shockwave in disguise. Yeah, reaching, I agree.
Posted by Mindmaster on April 25th, 2012 @ 7:34pm CDT
Posted by Autobot032 on April 25th, 2012 @ 7:37pm CDT
Mindmaster wrote:So essentially... he's an evil version of Punch/Counterpunch?
...that fits. Wow, minus the gimmick, what a sucky idea. Fail, thy name is Longarm.
Posted by Burn on April 25th, 2012 @ 7:39pm CDT
Blurrz wrote:daimchoc wrote:Would it be possible to get some instructions? I have an extra Jazz that I'd like to make into LongArm as well. Thank you in advance.
Unfortunately the fans who get to go to the class are given sprues that are already colored appropriately from the factory. As in they don't start from a RTS Jazz from scratch, but rather pieces that are likely purple and light grey. I bet most of the time in the class is spent nailing in pins which is quite the pain!
And still I fail to understand why they call it a "customising" class.
Posted by Autobot032 on April 25th, 2012 @ 7:46pm CDT
Burn wrote:Blurrz wrote:daimchoc wrote:Would it be possible to get some instructions? I have an extra Jazz that I'd like to make into LongArm as well. Thank you in advance.
Unfortunately the fans who get to go to the class are given sprues that are already colored appropriately from the factory. As in they don't start from a RTS Jazz from scratch, but rather pieces that are likely purple and light grey. I bet most of the time in the class is spent nailing in pins which is quite the pain!
And still I fail to understand why they call it a "customising" class.
From what I can tell, it's the painting aspect that falls under the custom label.
I would like to know, the paints they provide, are they the same quality as what's applied at the factory? If so, where do I get my mitts on some? I use paint pens and stuff like that, and they work well, but some of those factory apps look fantastic and my work just doesn't compare.
Posted by Burn on April 25th, 2012 @ 8:20pm CDT
Autobot032 wrote:From what I can tell, it's the painting aspect that falls under the custom label.
Yeah but even then you're using their paints. From what I can tell they're more about assembly than customising.
But eh, i'm probably just being grumpy and bitter again because I missed out on another BotCon.
Posted by Autobot032 on April 25th, 2012 @ 8:23pm CDT
Burn wrote:Autobot032 wrote:From what I can tell, it's the painting aspect that falls under the custom label.
Yeah but even then you're using their paints. From what I can tell they're more about assembly than customising.
But eh, i'm probably just being grumpy and bitter again because I missed out on another BotCon.
It could be as chintzy as this: Because it's a redeco/remold of an existing figure, assembling it could be considered working on a custom figure. (Now that I say it, I'm thinking that's exactly what it is....)
Posted by Burn on April 25th, 2012 @ 8:33pm CDT
Either way, it seems like false advertising, but damn those classes fill up fast each year.
Posted by daimchoc on April 25th, 2012 @ 8:36pm CDT
Blurrz wrote:daimchoc wrote:Would it be possible to get some instructions? I have an extra Jazz that I'd like to make into LongArm as well. Thank you in advance.
Unfortunately the fans who get to go to the class are given sprues that are already colored appropriately from the factory. As in they don't start from a RTS Jazz from scratch, but rather pieces that are likely purple and light grey. I bet most of the time in the class is spent nailing in pins which is quite the pain!
Also never realized you were a user on the boards, Daimchoc. Just want to thank you for helping out with the news for a very long time
I've been lurking since early 2K, but I wanted to be able to contribute. Might as well, right?
Regarding the instructions, it would just be nice to get all the locations of the pins that would be in the instruction book. Thank you sir.
Posted by Autobot032 on April 25th, 2012 @ 8:49pm CDT
Burn wrote:Oh it is, but to me, and this is strictly my interpretation because it's what i've done in the past, "customising" is taking an existing figure and modifying it, which can involve such things as disassembly, modification to existing parts, addition of new parts, painting, and reassembly.
Either way, it seems like false advertising, but damn those classes fill up fast each year.
8 hours, though? That's...dedication on a planetary level.
Mad props to those who can.
After 2.5 hours of "Now why the hell doesn't the arm bend THAT way?!", I'd be ready to throw up my white flag.
Posted by Burn on April 25th, 2012 @ 8:54pm CDT
Posted by Screamfleet on April 25th, 2012 @ 8:58pm CDT
I might have to get a jazz to make one myself.
Posted by Rated X on April 25th, 2012 @ 9:54pm CDT
And why in the blue hell is the guy in the last picture dressed like puss in boots ???
Posted by Autobot032 on April 25th, 2012 @ 10:00pm CDT
Rated X wrote:Im sorry, I just dont like the concept. Dumb. Just plain dumb. Especially with Generations Shockwave just a few months away. At least when Funpub made "young Kup" in 2009, they did it a couple years before Generations Kup came out. I dont see any people using this figure to stand in as Shockwave.
And why in the blue hell is the guy in the last picture dressed like puss in boots ???
I..uh..wow, that's a fancy hat.
Posted by triKlops on April 25th, 2012 @ 10:30pm CDT
however, regardless of definition of customizing, this is a cool toy to walk away with after the con
Posted by Tigertrack on April 26th, 2012 @ 7:45am CDT
After feeling shafted from having them do figures that would be great as collector's club, or exclusive releases; G2 Sideswipe, and Animated Minerva, I feel like this is a good choice.
If I were in the class, I would feel happy about being able to make a Shockwave, and cool that it refers to his Alternator/BT. As a collector, I don't feel like I got shafted because I am not there, because this is not a figure that is a MUST HAVE, like the other two.
Great choice, FunPub, HASbro, and Mr. Tessman.
Posted by Jelze Bunnycat on April 26th, 2012 @ 7:53am CDT
And get this: in the Classicsverse (which ignores the Marvel UK and G2 comics) the real Shockwave is nothing more than a head hooked on life support. So the disguise works as the real Shockwave is out of commission.
Posted by Kibble on April 26th, 2012 @ 9:12am CDT
tigertracks 24 wrote:I like this as a choice for them to do.
After feeling shafted from having them do figures that would be great as collector's club, or exclusive releases; G2 Sideswipe, and Animated Minerva, I feel like this is a good choice.
If I were in the class, I would feel happy about being able to make a Shockwave, and cool that it refers to his Alternator/BT. As a collector, I don't feel like I got shafted because I am not there, because this is not a figure that is a MUST HAVE, like the other two.
Great choice, FunPub, HASbro, and Mr. Tessman.
I said the same thing in a post elsewhere. This is a really cool figure I'd love to have if it were a half-way reasonable price, but at the same time, nothing that leaves a gaping hole in my collection by not having. And it has a bunch of cool references to other figures. Exactly what a figure of this nature should be IMO.
Posted by GuyIncognito on April 26th, 2012 @ 9:20am CDT
Posted by Tigertrack on April 26th, 2012 @ 9:31am CDT
GuyIncognito wrote:I love the addition of the Shockwave head as an homage to the Alternators figure. I'd buy this in a heartbeat if it was a retail release. But now I'm even MORE confused as to why they're calling it "Longarm". Did they just pull a random name out of a hat?
AS far as I know, without reviewing the fiction again, it is in relation to Animated's Shockwave being Autobot Longarm when he was infiltrating the Autobot Communications.
Why they did not just call it Alternators Shockwave or what not, has to do with that fiction piece that was brought up a few posts earlier.
Posted by RiddlerJ on April 26th, 2012 @ 9:33am CDT
Posted by Jelze Bunnycat on April 26th, 2012 @ 9:37am CDT
RiddlerJ wrote:Wait! So will the figure have an actual Shockwave head and gun or be a straight Jass repaint?
Both. The choice is up to the customizer:
Without added pieces: SG Longarm
With newly added pieces: G1 Shockwave
Posted by GuyIncognito on April 26th, 2012 @ 9:44am CDT
tigertracks 24 wrote:GuyIncognito wrote:I love the addition of the Shockwave head as an homage to the Alternators figure. I'd buy this in a heartbeat if it was a retail release. But now I'm even MORE confused as to why they're calling it "Longarm". Did they just pull a random name out of a hat?
AS far as I know, without reviewing the fiction again, it is in relation to Animated's Shockwave being Autobot Longarm when he was infiltrating the Autobot Communications.
Why they did not just call it Alternators Shockwave or what not, has to do with that fiction piece that was brought up a few posts earlier.
OK, I can see the connection to the Animated storyline, but in that storyline Shockwave disguised himself in a form that resembles the form Longarm usually takes: a crane. "Disguising" himself as a purple car and calling himself Longarm seems like a pretty lousy disguise.
Posted by Jelze Bunnycat on April 26th, 2012 @ 9:59am CDT
GuyIncognito wrote:tigertracks 24 wrote:GuyIncognito wrote:I love the addition of the Shockwave head as an homage to the Alternators figure. I'd buy this in a heartbeat if it was a retail release. But now I'm even MORE confused as to why they're calling it "Longarm". Did they just pull a random name out of a hat?
AS far as I know, without reviewing the fiction again, it is in relation to Animated's Shockwave being Autobot Longarm when he was infiltrating the Autobot Communications.
Why they did not just call it Alternators Shockwave or what not, has to do with that fiction piece that was brought up a few posts earlier.
OK, I can see the connection to the Animated storyline, but in that storyline Shockwave disguised himself in a form that resembles the form Longarm usually takes: a crane. "Disguising" himself as a purple car and calling himself Longarm seems like a pretty lousy disguise.
You're missing the point here: his real name is Longarm, he uses the name Shockwave for his disguise, seemingly reversing what Animated did. See my post on the previous page.
Posted by gavinfuzzy on April 26th, 2012 @ 10:10am CDT
Burn wrote:Blurrz wrote:daimchoc wrote:Would it be possible to get some instructions? I have an extra Jazz that I'd like to make into LongArm as well. Thank you in advance.
Unfortunately the fans who get to go to the class are given sprues that are already colored appropriately from the factory. As in they don't start from a RTS Jazz from scratch, but rather pieces that are likely purple and light grey. I bet most of the time in the class is spent nailing in pins which is quite the pain!
And still I fail to understand why they call it a "customising" class.
I guess it started with a regular retail figure and you had to paint it yourself, hence the "custom" part... But then I guess anyone could do it at home, since you're not provided with airbrushes but regular paints and brushes.
Along the line they started casting the whole figure in different colours, I think it started with G2 sideswipe, cast in black, requiring little to no paint. Dammit, I still would love a black sideswipe.
Posted by RiddlerJ on April 26th, 2012 @ 10:59am CDT
JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:RiddlerJ wrote:Wait! So will the figure have an actual Shockwave head and gun or be a straight Jass repaint?
Both. The choice is up to the customizer:
Without added pieces: SG Longarm
With newly added pieces: G1 Shockwave
Now I want it.
If I didn't have the consolation that a Classics Shockwave was coming soon anyway, I'd be crying my little eyes out over missing this.
Posted by GuyIncognito on April 26th, 2012 @ 3:49pm CDT
JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:
You're missing the point here: his real name is Longarm, he uses the name Shockwave for his disguise, seemingly reversing what Animated did. See my post on the previous page.
Oh, so it's not Shockwave disguised as Longarm, it's Longarm disguised as Shockwave. NOW I get it! Sorry for being so dense! I don't follow the fiction very closely.
Posted by Tigertrack on April 27th, 2012 @ 8:46am CDT
GuyIncognito wrote:JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:
You're missing the point here: his real name is Longarm, he uses the name Shockwave for his disguise, seemingly reversing what Animated did. See my post on the previous page.
Oh, so it's not Shockwave disguised as Longarm, it's Longarm disguised as Shockwave. NOW I get it! Sorry for being so dense! I don't follow the fiction very closely.
And I've got it now too. Thanks.
Posted by Jelze Bunnycat on April 27th, 2012 @ 10:43am CDT
tigertracks 24 wrote:GuyIncognito wrote:JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:
You're missing the point here: his real name is Longarm, he uses the name Shockwave for his disguise, seemingly reversing what Animated did. See my post on the previous page.
Oh, so it's not Shockwave disguised as Longarm, it's Longarm disguised as Shockwave. NOW I get it! Sorry for being so dense! I don't follow the fiction very closely.
And I've got it now too. Thanks.
Any time guys. Just don't expect any Sabrblade antics from me
Posted by SJ21 on April 27th, 2012 @ 1:48pm CDT
I am not going to get one, but some people will be very pleased.
Posted by Tigertrack on April 27th, 2012 @ 2:02pm CDT
Posted by Dead Metal on April 27th, 2012 @ 2:30pm CDT
Also
tigertracks 24 wrote:$1,000 on eBay right now.
Posted by Kibble on April 27th, 2012 @ 4:17pm CDT
Dead Metal wrote:I keep hearing talk of an optional gun arm for this guy, but so far I haven't seen it. Or does the blaster confuse people?
Alsotigertracks 24 wrote:$1,000 on eBay right now.
I've seen the gun arm, it's not confusion.
Hopefully this thing keeps selling for ridiculous prices...that way it'll be KOed in no time. I want the Shackwave/blast configuration, though.
Posted by Optimum Supreme on April 30th, 2012 @ 7:33pm CDT
Burn wrote:Blurrz wrote:daimchoc wrote:Would it be possible to get some instructions? I have an extra Jazz that I'd like to make into LongArm as well. Thank you in advance.
Unfortunately the fans who get to go to the class are given sprues that are already colored appropriately from the factory. As in they don't start from a RTS Jazz from scratch, but rather pieces that are likely purple and light grey. I bet most of the time in the class is spent nailing in pins which is quite the pain!
And still I fail to understand why they call it a "customising" class.
Because if they called it a "3rd world toy factory worker simulator" attendance would be pretty low.
Posted by gavinfuzzy on May 1st, 2012 @ 1:00am CDT
Optimum Supreme wrote:Burn wrote:Blurrz wrote:daimchoc wrote:Would it be possible to get some instructions? I have an extra Jazz that I'd like to make into LongArm as well. Thank you in advance.
Unfortunately the fans who get to go to the class are given sprues that are already colored appropriately from the factory. As in they don't start from a RTS Jazz from scratch, but rather pieces that are likely purple and light grey. I bet most of the time in the class is spent nailing in pins which is quite the pain!
And still I fail to understand why they call it a "customising" class.
Because if they called it a "3rd world toy factory worker simulator" attendance would be pretty low.
Posted by Screamfleet on May 1st, 2012 @ 10:43am CDT
tigertracks 24 wrote:$1,000 on eBay right now.
geez, I wonder if I could buy some jazz's and make some customs and ask for 200 bucks.
Posted by Kung Fu Man on May 1st, 2012 @ 10:59am CDT
I keep hearing talk of an optional gun arm for this guy, but so far I haven't seen it. Or does the blaster confuse people?
It's a gun tip on a ball joint. There was a guy selling it and the Shockwave head on eBay just recently.
Posted by Anonymous on May 1st, 2012 @ 11:09am CDT
Optimum Supreme wrote:Because if they called it a "3rd world toy factory worker simulator" attendance would be pretty low.
Posted by Bullycon on May 2nd, 2012 @ 1:57pm CDT
Autobot032 wrote:Hmm. The Shockwave head looks much nicer than I expected. I'm still not sure on the choice of figure body, but the head's nice.
...9-5? The class is a full 8 hours??
Actually, a few of us were there until after 8 p.m. And then I still had to come back the next day, find a corner out of the way, and finish the toy. Altogether, I'd say I spent 13 hours on the toy.
I don't know what it was about the Jazz mold, but this sucker was a pain to put together. One major issue was they sent pins instead of screws for the shoulders. One of the people helping in the class had to take a power drill to each person's figure to get the pins to go in. Unfortunately, the pins were then too loose on mine to stay in.
For those saying it isn't really a customization, that may be true. The idea of the class is to let the person get a little bit of experience with fitting parts together, learning what goes where, and how to paint the toys. In that sense, it's mainly for beginners to learn about what it takes to customize a toy.
The problem is that this figure has now become a super-exclusive. So about 90% of the first day's class were repeat enrollees. How many were there for the class, and how many were there for the figure? FunPub really needs to figure out a way to make this figure available to everybody, so that seats in the class open up to those who have never been in it before.
Posted by DISCHARGE on May 2nd, 2012 @ 2:02pm CDT
Bullycon wrote:
The problem is that this figure has now become a super-exclusive. So about 90% of the first day's class were repeat enrollees. How many were there for the class, and how many were there for the figure? FunPub really needs to figure out a way to make this figure available to everybody, so that seats in the class open up to those who have never been in it before.
Or offer the toy as the free attendee toy, only as the custom class version there could be exclusive parts\colors\stickers etc...