BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker?

Tuesday, March 5th, 2013 12:13PM CST

Categories: Event News, Collector's Club News
Posted by: El Duque Views: 23,229

Topic Options: View Discussion · Sign in or Join to reply

The official website for this year's BotCon has been updated with some of the exclusive apparel available for this year's convention. Among the items is a ball cap that features an alternate deco version of Machine Wars Skywarp from the Machine Wars: Termination box set. Is this possibly our first look at Machine Wars Thundercracker? Check out the image mirrored below.

Re: Botcon 2013 "Machine Wars: Termination" set revealed

Credit(s): BotCon

News Search

Got Transformers News? Let us know here!

Most Recent Transformers News

First Look at Extra Kibble that comes with AOTP Silverbolt to make Superion Frame and More

Posted 4 hours ago

First Look at Art for Solus Prime, G2 Grimlock, Wasp and More from Age of the Primes

Posted 12 hours ago

Click here to post your comment about this news story!

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1469345)
Posted by Va'al on March 5th, 2013 @ 12:20pm CST

Their official Twitter account just made a bad wordplay, which seems to confirm the rumour.

Transformers: BotCon wrote:Who needs one AWESOME BotCon 2013 hat? It's Thunderiffic!

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1469352)
Posted by Mkall on March 5th, 2013 @ 12:33pm CST

I'm guessing he'll be this year's "free" attendee figure.

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1469355)
Posted by SW's SilverHammer on March 5th, 2013 @ 12:44pm CST

How subtle Funpub.

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1469357)
Posted by Sabrblade on March 5th, 2013 @ 12:49pm CST

And now, Jet Mode Megaplex - http://www.botcon.com/BotCon2013/bc13megaplex.cfm

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1469360)
Posted by Jelze Bunnycat on March 5th, 2013 @ 12:57pm CST

Emblem on the starboard wing is off:

Minor nitpick though.

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1469369)
Posted by El Duque on March 5th, 2013 @ 1:28pm CST

And in our second piece of BotCon 2013 news for the day we have the official reveal of Machine Wars Megaplex in alt mode. The figure is redeco of the Transformers Prime Robots in Disguise Dreadwing/Skyquake mold. Image mirrored below.

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1469375)
Posted by King Slick on March 5th, 2013 @ 1:44pm CST

At first glance I thought it was the Free Masons compass super-imposed on top of the Decepticon logo. Thank goodness I was mistaken. Not that the Free Masons are "evil"....actually I really can't say if they are or not. Actually, if anything I would sooner suspect the Illuminati to link theemselves to the Decepticon cause.

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1469385)
Posted by Sabrblade on March 5th, 2013 @ 2:00pm CST

Always felt the stripes made him look like he was wearing pyjamas or a tacky suit. :oops:

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1469403)
Posted by Mkall on March 5th, 2013 @ 3:13pm CST

Sabrblade wrote:Always felt the stripes made him look like he was wearing pyjamas or a tacky suit.

Pinstripe suits never go out of style.

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1469420)
Posted by ILL-Star on March 5th, 2013 @ 4:00pm CST

As for the jet mode, I don't see how anyone can complain.... but they will. Maybe.

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1469438)
Posted by TK415 on March 5th, 2013 @ 4:42pm CST

Mkall wrote:
Sabrblade wrote:Always felt the stripes made him look like he was wearing pyjamas or a tacky suit.

Pinstripe suits never go out of style.

True, pinstripe suits look good. But Sabrblade said "stripes" and those are some big stripes. Pinstripes are thin and make the suit look good. Those look more like a jail suit, or a sailor outfit, or pajamas, or like Sabrblade said a tacky suit, but not pinstripes.

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1469449)
Posted by Henry921 on March 5th, 2013 @ 4:55pm CST

Mkall wrote:I'm guessing he'll be this year's "free" attendee figure.

That's what I've been saying basically since Skywarp was revealed. Way to piss off the fans even further, FunPub.

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1469450)
Posted by gothsaurus on March 5th, 2013 @ 4:57pm CST

Megaplex looks really good. Only minor complaint is the head. Plane mode looks spot on perfect.

And as said before, if they pull out a Jhiaxus from the mold — or some other equally awesome surprise... I'll let the whole head sculpt thing slide and forget all about it.

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1469457)
Posted by Mkall on March 5th, 2013 @ 5:08pm CST

Henry921 wrote:
Mkall wrote:I'm guessing he'll be this year's "free" attendee figure.

That's what I've been saying basically since Skywarp was revealed. Way to piss off the fans even further, FunPub.

At least there will be a high quantity of him floating about. The "free" figures are usually pretty easy to find and comparatively affordable.

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1469587)
Posted by LiKwid on March 6th, 2013 @ 1:00am CST

That skywarp mold..... I mean...wow..Are they mad at us?

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1469633)
Posted by Jelze Bunnycat on March 6th, 2013 @ 6:57am CST

LiKwid wrote:That skywarp mold..... I mean...wow..Are they mad at us?

More like that's all they had. Most movie mold are licensed either as a character or as vehicle, so they're out of FunPub's reach.

Hey, let's make a drinking game out of this! Every time anybody says "licensed" we have a shot. Except for me, I can't have alcohol :oops:

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1469664)
Posted by Sabrblade on March 6th, 2013 @ 8:45am CST

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Hey, let's make a drinking game out of this! Every time anybody says "licensed" we have a shot. Except for me, I can't have alcohol

Pop open a can of soda. I'll do it with ya (since I don't drink either).

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1469679)
Posted by Manterax Prime on March 6th, 2013 @ 9:28am CST

I'll gladly take part in that drinking game!

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1469685)
Posted by gothsaurus on March 6th, 2013 @ 9:41am CST

As a G1er who hibernated through the movies and subsequent toy lines, can someone tell me which mold Skywarp-on-the-hat turned out to be? I'd like to look it up to mull over. Still on the fence about this year's set. Mixing Classics/Prime/Movie lines is still making my eye twitch. I want to see these guys lined up before committing to buy them, to make sure they all match okay.

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1469686)
Posted by Jelze Bunnycat on March 6th, 2013 @ 9:43am CST

gothsaurus wrote:As a G1er who hibernated through the movies and subsequent toy lines, can someone tell me which mold Skywarp-on-the-hat turned out to be? I'd like to look it up to mull over. Still on the fence about this year's set. Mixing Classics/Prime/Movie lines is still making my eye twitch. I want to see these guys lined up before committing to buy them, to make sure they all match okay.

Revenge of the Fallen Dirge:

Non-licensed jet, didn't appear in the movie or the game, he's fair game. :lol:

I should warn you his "nipples" turn when you raise or lower his arms. :oops:

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1469687)
Posted by Manterax Prime on March 6th, 2013 @ 9:43am CST

gothsaurus wrote:As a G1er who hibernated through the movies and subsequent toy lines, can someone tell me which mold Skywarp-on-the-hat turned out to be? I'd like to look it up to mull over. Still on the fence about this year's set. Mixing Classics/Prime/Movie lines is still making my eye twitch. I want to see these guys lined up before committing to buy them, to make sure they all match okay.

ROTF Dirge/HFTD Jetblade. Having Jetblade, I can verify how bad a mold it is. Jet mode is good. ROBOT MODE SUCKS!!!!

JelZe beat me to it....

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1469691)
Posted by Sabrblade on March 6th, 2013 @ 9:50am CST

gothsaurus wrote:Mixing Classics/Prime/Movie lines is still making my eye twitch.

Regarding this, the 2005 set was even more diverse in its mold choices. Within just its box set, there were molds from G2, Beast Wars, Robots in Disguise and Energon.

Speaking of RiD, that's another case like this as it used molds from G1, G2, Beast Wars, Beast Machines, and its own newer style molds, and that was a mainstream retail line.

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1469693)
Posted by gothsaurus on March 6th, 2013 @ 9:53am CST

And is BC13 Thundercracker a repaint of this one, or is he a different mold?

It does look like a pretty bad mold. The arm cockpit is painful. Still, I think the new head(s) will help this mold a lot. As is, the original looks like some kind of squid monster.

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1469694)
Posted by Jelze Bunnycat on March 6th, 2013 @ 9:59am CST

gothsaurus wrote:And is BC13 Thundercracker a repaint of this one, or is he a different mold?

Same mold, same head, just painted like this (we're assuming):

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1469697)
Posted by gothsaurus on March 6th, 2013 @ 10:14am CST

Ha. I do like that green and burgundy paint job, though I might keep him in plane mode ALL the time. Heh.

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1470052)
Posted by Henry921 on March 7th, 2013 @ 10:21am CST

I was thinking about getting the two Seekers a la carte from ebay post BotCon, but I'm now seriously considering just getting the original Machine Wars basics. My original plan was to have them flank Jhiaxus, but as Jhiaxus is a deluxe mold -and he should be taller than his clone bodyguards- the scale might work for that. The only reason I haven't bit the bullet on that yet is because the at-show exclusives have yet to be revealed. If, by some miracle, we are indeed getting a new Jhiaxus mold I'll have to buy it and the two BotCon seekers, as their aesthetics will line up better, even if the scale is off.

So c'mon, FunPub, make some awesome at show exclusives. It's your last chance to get me to buy any of 'em.

Unrelated post script: I really wish Obsidian had been a helicopter or Megaplex had a more Megatron-ish head.

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1470057)
Posted by gothsaurus on March 7th, 2013 @ 10:40am CST

I'm sure something 3rd party will surface to make a new head for Megaplex. When it does, I'll bite — if it's a good sculpt.

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1470542)
Posted by KingJames on March 9th, 2013 @ 12:38pm CST

Does anyone think the troop builder would be the commander class sky quake mold seeing as they have a clone commander?

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1470544)
Posted by Jelze Bunnycat on March 9th, 2013 @ 12:47pm CST

KingJames wrote:Does anyone think the troop builder would be the commander class sky quake mold seeing as they have a clone commander?

Nope, as Commander Class is too small (and Voyager would be too big for that matter). Word has it though that will be something that fans of Classics will really like.

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1471638)
Posted by Henry921 on March 14th, 2013 @ 3:23am CDT

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:
KingJames wrote:Does anyone think the troop builder would be the commander class sky quake mold seeing as they have a clone commander?

Nope, as Commander Class is too small (and Voyager would be too big for that matter). Word has it though that will be something that fans of Classics will really like.

Well, if Dreadwing's mold is available, then presumably some other Prime molds are as well.

Maybe Sergeant Kup/Ironhide as Autotroopers?

My money's on another clone army from Jhiaxus, possibly some failed incarnations of other characters. My guess was Terradive for Starscream, but possibly some deluxe scale Optimuses as failed clones? There are plenty of molds to work with there.

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1471931)
Posted by RiddlerJ on March 15th, 2013 @ 8:27am CDT

I'm still betting on a Animated Arcee repaint as Nightracer G2

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Nightracer_%28G2%29

Though it may require a new head and I don't know if that's in the budget.

I wonder why FunPub has never done repaints as the E-Hobby sold characters. Detritus, Magnificus, Deep Cover and so on. There would be a good load of repaints that require no retooling and would probably make a lot collectors happy.

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1471940)
Posted by Jelze Bunnycat on March 15th, 2013 @ 8:49am CDT

RiddlerJ wrote:I'm still betting on a Animated Arcee repaint as Nightracer G2

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Nightracer_%28G2%29

Though it may require a new head and I don't know if that's in the budget.

I wonder why FunPub has never done repaints as the E-Hobby sold characters. Detritus, Magnificus, Deep Cover and so on. There would be a good load of repaints that require no retooling and would probably make a lot collectors happy.

Animated Arcee has already been used for 2011 Drag Strip (don't laugh).

And FunPub does seem to have some form of access to eHobby characters with BotCon 2007 Bug Bite, Magnificus being repurposed as SG Perceptor, and SG Tracks/Road Rage.

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1471949)
Posted by duo_maxwell_1017 on March 15th, 2013 @ 9:35am CDT

Do we know how many sets are made each year? Less than 10,000? I know the number is low but I dont know how many sets are made each year.

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1471952)
Posted by RiddlerJ on March 15th, 2013 @ 9:48am CDT

They have

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:
RiddlerJ wrote:I'm still betting on a Animated Arcee repaint as Nightracer G2

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Nightracer_%28G2%29

Though it may require a new head and I don't know if that's in the budget.

I wonder why FunPub has never done repaints as the E-Hobby sold characters. Detritus, Magnificus, Deep Cover and so on. There would be a good load of repaints that require no retooling and would probably make a lot collectors happy.

Animated Arcee has already been used for 2011 Drag Strip (don't laugh).

And FunPub does seem to have some form of access to eHobby characters with BotCon 2007 Bug Bite, Magnificus being repurposed as SG Perceptor, and SG Tracks/Road Rage.

They have reused molds more than once. I can't believe they redesigned Nightracer without considering a possible mold to use. If she doesn't appear this year, then I could see it down the line like they did with Thunderblast/Elita-One.

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1471953)
Posted by gothsaurus on March 15th, 2013 @ 9:49am CDT

Agreed about making a lot of fans happy with eHobby/Diaclone versions. That could be an entire SET and I'd be happy. New characters and story, but vintage classic toy models. That's a win-win.

Same for a new Nightracer, which would go great with the G2 lineup. With that being an early signature character, I'd PRAY they'd do a custom head sculpt for that.

But yeah, any femmebots are going to get a resounding echo of "yes" from the fans, IMHO.

I still hope we get maybe one Shattered Glass character slipped in... like, one a year, if it's a good repaint option. SG Magnificus would be fantastic. (looks great in black) Still trying to think of any other major show characters that were left out of the SG universe... and one's that would have an interesting Machine Wars alter ego if repainted. Hmmm.

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1473906)
Posted by Henry921 on March 24th, 2013 @ 10:28am CDT

Despite the fact I've been blasting this set for weeks, rereading through this thread and reexamining the figures has left me feeling... interested.

Today, I almost considered buying an Iacon Package. I think it's because Megaplex is actually growing on me a bit, even if I wish he had a more traditional Megatron-y head sculpt.

I'm losing it. I need someone to remind me of FunPub's abysmal track record and poor planning. Where is Burn when you need him?

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1478301)
Posted by El Duque on April 11th, 2013 @ 6:51pm CDT

The official BotCon 2013 website has posted new images of Obsidian in his new updated color scheme. Obsidian will join Strika, Hoist, Megaplex, and Skywarp in this year's convention exclusive Machine Wars: Termination box set. Check out the images mirrored below.

For comparison here's a side by side with the initial reveal:

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1478304)
Posted by Rated X on April 11th, 2013 @ 7:01pm CDT

I do like this much better. Although it is very similar to G2 Powerdive, they wont be on the same shelf.

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1478305)
Posted by Mkall on April 11th, 2013 @ 7:02pm CDT

I like this a lot better. Finally, The Club scores some positive points.

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1478310)
Posted by Poyguimogul on April 11th, 2013 @ 7:23pm CDT

I honestly wanted the green one... I have never seen the BM show so I have no connection to those colors...

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1478311)
Posted by Noideaforaname on April 11th, 2013 @ 7:23pm CDT

Much better.

Didn't notice it before, but the rotors are evidently translucent.

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1478315)
Posted by TK415 on April 11th, 2013 @ 7:46pm CDT

Old color scheme = hurts my eyes
New color scheme = beautiful!

Lime green can make a fun toy but it’s a bit bright on the screen, though it has been a long day at work. He looks pretty wicked in dark green. And I don't mean "wicked or wizard," I mean he looks intimidating. You don't get intimidating from lime green. Rated X is right, he is now pretty similar to Powerdive, but the purple guns on Powerdive’s hips work to diminish his wickedness.

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1478325)
Posted by RAcast on April 11th, 2013 @ 8:32pm CDT

I still have a soft spot for the toy's colors, but it makes more sense to do the screen-accurate colors I suppose.

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1478326)
Posted by Henry921 on April 11th, 2013 @ 8:45pm CDT

And his eyes turned green. Um, why?

While I like the new color scheme better overall, I do think the head looks a bit less menacing now.

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1478329)
Posted by Bumblevivisector on April 11th, 2013 @ 8:54pm CDT

Poyguimogul wrote:I honestly wanted the green one... I have never seen the BM show so I have no connection to those colors...

Well, I DID see all of Beast Machines, and therefore have trouble saying anything about BM that doesn't turn into some sort of incitement to violence, so I'll just leave it at that...

...but before I watched the show all the way through, Obsidian was one of the few toys I had from the line, and there was something I always liked about it, so I would've really preferred the bright green too. I guess it came out around the time he debuted on the show, but because his toy came out so long before Strika's, his blinding color scheme carries a prehistory connotation in my mind, like black Ironhide, so it would've made more sense to me in that respect if these are Obsidian and Strika's bodies back in G1-ish days. Despite how much happier I'd be if the 'toon never existed, I did sort of appreciate the later toyline's attempts at show-accuracy out of general principle, but a show-accurate color scheme on a mold that's not exactly more show-accurate isn't necessarily better...but the new head makes it work, I suppose. I don't have Power-sack yet, but I was also looking forward to an Obsidian as different from him as possible. But again, the new head compensates...is three approaching a record for the number of different official heads a mold has had? I've lost track of all the new heads Fun-Pub has done.

Re: BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Thundercracker? (1478334)
Posted by Sabrblade on April 11th, 2013 @ 9:56pm CDT