In-Hand Images: Takara Tomy Transformers United Seekers: Aces Box Set
Saturday, December 15th, 2012 3:28PM CST
Categories: Toy News, AuctionsPosted by: El Duque Views: 55,520
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eBay seller highendtfs has acquired and listed the Takara Tomy Asian market exclusive Transformers United Seekers: Aces box set. The set features repaints of Classics Starscream, Thundercracker, and Skywarp with metallic paint. Check out the images mirrored below.
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Posted by Mindmaster on December 15th, 2012 @ 3:53pm CST
Retools on the missiles and faces, perhaps?
Posted by Nemesis Destron on December 15th, 2012 @ 3:58pm CST
Posted by Jelze Bunnycat on December 15th, 2012 @ 4:00pm CST
Mindmaster wrote:Anyone else notice that on the bottom of the box's back, on each of their profiles, it makes them look like they have different weapons and faces.
Retools on the missiles and faces, perhaps?
Not really. Nothing more than showing off their weapons and light-piping. The United line has done that for every single figure separately, even in multi-packs. Take Windcharger vs. Wipe-out for example:
Posted by Mindmaster on December 15th, 2012 @ 4:23pm CST
JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Mindmaster wrote:Anyone else notice that on the bottom of the box's back, on each of their profiles, it makes them look like they have different weapons and faces.
Retools on the missiles and faces, perhaps?
Not really. Nothing more than showing off their weapons and light-piping. The United line has done that for every single figure separately, even in multi-packs. Take Windcharger vs. Wipe-out for example:
Thought I was on to something.
Posted by Super Megatron on December 15th, 2012 @ 4:35pm CST
Posted by Jelze Bunnycat on December 15th, 2012 @ 4:51pm CST
Super Megatron wrote:Why would Starscream's intelligence, speed, and skill be less than Skywarp if he is supposed to be a crafty lieutenant, fastest flyer, and highly competent warrior in the Decepticon army?
O come on, are they still keeping that G1 mistake intact?
Indeed, the first G1 Seekers had their Tech Specs switched around. Skywarp got Starscream's numbers.
Posted by Wh33l Jck on December 15th, 2012 @ 5:49pm CST
I noticed the weird tech specs too...even if they weren't swapped it would still be off. Screamer's intelligence has to be very high, but courage very low...not real big deal though.
I would love to get the new ramjet coming out, but I don't really want to buy the entire 2nd set.
Posted by Sabrblade on December 15th, 2012 @ 5:53pm CST
Posted by Super Megatron on December 15th, 2012 @ 6:39pm CST
JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Super Megatron wrote:Why would Starscream's intelligence, speed, and skill be less than Skywarp if he is supposed to be a crafty lieutenant, fastest flyer, and highly competent warrior in the Decepticon army?
O come on, are they still keeping that G1 mistake intact?
Indeed, the first G1 Seekers had their Tech Specs switched around. Skywarp got Starscream's numbers.
They sort of fixed the tech specs - at least Starscream isn't ranked below Skywarp anymore.
Posted by Super Megatron on December 15th, 2012 @ 6:42pm CST
Mindmaster wrote:Anyone else notice that on the bottom of the box's back, on each of their profiles, it makes them look like they have different weapons and faces.
Retools on the missiles and faces, perhaps?
I also noticed that at the bottom of the artwork, you see a missile/gun pointing at Starcream and one of the "Seeker shoulder" art sticking out on the bottom. Looks like we'll also be getting a Dirge/Ramjet/Thrust 3 pack sometime soon.
Posted by Mindmaster on December 15th, 2012 @ 7:17pm CST
Super Megatron wrote:Mindmaster wrote:Anyone else notice that on the bottom of the box's back, on each of their profiles, it makes them look like they have different weapons and faces.
Retools on the missiles and faces, perhaps?
I also noticed that at the bottom of the artwork, you see a missile/gun pointing at Starcream and one of the "Seeker shoulder" art sticking out on the bottom. Looks like we'll also be getting a Dirge/Ramjet/Thrust 3 pack sometime soon.
That's been known for a while.
Posted by Sabrblade on December 15th, 2012 @ 7:21pm CST
Yup - http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/asian-market-deluxe-seeker-set-elite-revealed/26075/Super Megatron wrote:Mindmaster wrote:Anyone else notice that on the bottom of the box's back, on each of their profiles, it makes them look like they have different weapons and faces.
Retools on the missiles and faces, perhaps?
I also noticed that at the bottom of the artwork, you see a missile/gun pointing at Starcream and one of the "Seeker shoulder" art sticking out on the bottom. Looks like we'll also be getting a Dirge/Ramjet/Thrust 3 pack sometime soon.
Posted by El Duque on December 16th, 2012 @ 11:11am CST
Posted by Rated X on December 16th, 2012 @ 12:25pm CST
Posted by Mindmaster on December 16th, 2012 @ 12:41pm CST
But in regards to both boxes and sets of figures:
Posted by ausbot on December 16th, 2012 @ 8:38pm CST
Posted by Mindmaster on December 16th, 2012 @ 8:41pm CST
ausbot wrote:Rainmaker set please.
Acid Storm, Thundercracker-ish person, and Sunstorm.
Sounds legit.
Posted by Sabrblade on December 16th, 2012 @ 8:57pm CST
Sunstorm's more of a golden-orangish yellow than lemon/banana yellow.Mindmaster wrote:ausbot wrote:Rainmaker set please.
Acid Storm, Thundercracker-ish person, and Sunstorm.
Sounds legit.
Posted by Rated X on December 16th, 2012 @ 10:26pm CST
Sabrblade wrote:Sunstorm's more of a golden-orangish yellow than lemon/banana yellow.Mindmaster wrote:ausbot wrote:Rainmaker set please.
Acid Storm, Thundercracker-ish person, and Sunstorm.
Sounds legit.
Has/Tak couldnt top these if they tried...
Posted by El Duque on December 23rd, 2012 @ 1:48am CST
Posted by Fires_Of_Inferno on December 23rd, 2012 @ 3:14am CST
Ok, I guess I have no choice but to grab these guys, seeing as how my Classics Starscream is turning to crap and I never got the chance to get Skywarp and Thundercracker.
Posted by robotmel on December 23rd, 2012 @ 3:30am CST
"Oh my!"
Posted by Fires_Of_Inferno on December 23rd, 2012 @ 4:07am CST
robotmel wrote:
"Oh my!"
Posted by Nemesis Destron on December 23rd, 2012 @ 4:29am CST
Posted by robotmel on December 23rd, 2012 @ 6:20am CST
I still need a Classics Skywarp and a Ramjet!
Of all the reused molds this Seeker one covers a whole load of characters. Well done Hasbro!
Starscream, Thundercracker, Dirge, Thrust all accounted for plus Acid storm and an old CHMS yellow Rainmaker/possible Sunstorm clone?
Still wished they had made this mold slightly larger, just a touch.
Wasnt there a blue dude in the storyline called Ice Storm or was he just fanfiction/customs?
Posted by SKYWARPED_128 on December 23rd, 2012 @ 6:40am CST
The classics deluxe sizes don't scale so well with MP-10 Optimus.
I like these, but arm articulation sucks with the nul-rays attached.
Currently I've only got Generations Thundercracker.
Posted by robotmel on December 23rd, 2012 @ 7:13am CST
SKYWARPED_128 wrote:...but I don't know if I should save the cash for Takara's inevitable version 2 MP Skywarp and Thundercracker.
With the US retail version of new-mold V2 Thundercracker doing the rounds, it would be very lazy but inevitable of Takara/Hasbro to put out MP Skywarp again. Shame they dont put out the Coneheads.
Where the iGear Coneheads the exact same scale/height as the Hasbro ones?
Posted by SKYWARPED_128 on December 23rd, 2012 @ 7:39am CST
robotmel wrote:SKYWARPED_128 wrote:...but I don't know if I should save the cash for Takara's inevitable version 2 MP Skywarp and Thundercracker.
With the US retail version of new-mold V2 Thundercracker doing the rounds, it would be very lazy but inevitable of Takara/Hasbro to put out MP Skywarp again. Shame they dont put out the Coneheads.
Where the iGear Coneheads the exact same scale/height as the Hasbro ones?
I'm worried that with Hasbro's release of MP Thundercracker, Takara might skip him. Hopefully Takara will release all three V2 MP seekers. The local TRU sucks, and the wasn't a single Hasbro MP Thindercracker in sight.
Posted by Dyn@mo on December 23rd, 2012 @ 8:17am CST
His wings, arms and legs look like they're made of old soap.
Soapscream.
Thundercracker looks good.
Don't like the use of purple on Skywarp.
Posted by Powered Convoy on December 23rd, 2012 @ 8:35am CST
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set= ... 631&type=3
Randy
Posted by superchook6909 on December 23rd, 2012 @ 11:43am CST
I have all Classic/Generations Seekers through Retail.
Both Starscreams.
Skywarp without the Decepticon emblem.
And Thundercracker with the emblem reversed.
Posted by DinobotSix on December 23rd, 2012 @ 12:26pm CST
SKYWARPED_128 wrote:I'm worried that with Hasbro's release of MP Thundercracker, Takara might skip him. Hopefully Takara will release all three V2 MP seekers. The local TRU sucks, and the wasn't a single Hasbro MP Thindercracker in sight.
My local TRU has like 10 'crackers on the shelf. No MP10 Primes though...=(
They'll probably be dumping them next month on ebay or what not.
I guess nobody but me was crazy enough to spend $75 on a present for their nephew! =D
Posted by SKYWARPED_128 on December 23rd, 2012 @ 7:57pm CST
DinobotSix wrote:SKYWARPED_128 wrote:I'm worried that with Hasbro's release of MP Thundercracker, Takara might skip him. Hopefully Takara will release all three V2 MP seekers. The local TRU sucks, and the wasn't a single Hasbro MP Thindercracker in sight.
My local TRU has like 10 'crackers on the shelf. No MP10 Primes though...=(
They'll probably be dumping them next month on ebay or what not.
I guess nobody but me was crazy enough to spend $75 on a present for their nephew! =D
My local TRU doesn't bring in MP anything. All my MP TF's have to be purchased at a hobby store that sells Japanese imports.
Man, you're possibly one of the coolest uncles in the world!
Posted by Rated X on December 23rd, 2012 @ 10:23pm CST
Posted by Sabrblade on December 23rd, 2012 @ 10:27pm CST
It's due to mixture of the lighting and the arms being metallic paint rather than flat paint.Rated X wrote:Im good with my Henkei versions. The purple on skywarp just looks wrong. They should have went with a lighter shade of purple to match the fists.
Show-accuracy. That's how they were on the animation models.Rated X wrote:Plus I hate those backwards faction symbols. Upside down in robot mode, backwards in jet mode, whats the freakin point ???
And they're like that on the Henkei! Henkei! versions too.
Posted by Rated X on December 23rd, 2012 @ 10:40pm CST
Sabrblade wrote:It's due to mixture of the lighting and the arms being metallic paint rather than flat paint.Rated X wrote:Im good with my Henkei versions. The purple on skywarp just looks wrong. They should have went with a lighter shade of purple to match the fists.Show-accuracy. That's how they were on the animation models.Rated X wrote:Plus I hate those backwards faction symbols. Upside down in robot mode, backwards in jet mode, whats the freakin point ???
And they're like that on the Henkei! Henkei! versions too.
They could have found a lighter metallic purple paint. How hard could it be ? Just keep mixing and matching until you get the perfect shade. Or they could have made the purple plastic darker if working with chrome paint is really that hard. 3rd parties dont seem to have a hard time matching Has/Tak colors for add on sets.
On the faction symbols, I know it's cartoon accurate. But it's also pointless. What were the G1 animators thinking when they did that ? Did they even look at the toys back in 1984 ?
Posted by Sabrblade on December 23rd, 2012 @ 11:30pm CST
Again, it's probably due in part to the lighting of these pics. I've seen other gallery images of this set in which each part of the arms all look the same color shade.Rated X wrote:They could have found a lighter metallic purple paint. How hard could it be ? Just keep mixing and matching until you get the perfect shade. Or they could have made the purple plastic darker if working with chrome paint is really that hard. 3rd parties dont seem to have a hard time matching Has/Tak colors for add on sets.
I'm looking this up for ya, as i'm sure there's some reason for it.Rated X wrote:On the faction symbols, I know it's cartoon accurate. But it's also pointless. What were the G1 animators thinking when they did that ? Did they even look at the toys back in 1984 ?
Posted by DinobotSix on December 24th, 2012 @ 1:05am CST
SKYWARPED_128 wrote:My local TRU doesn't bring in MP anything. All my MP TF's have to be purchased at a hobby store that sells Japanese imports.
Interesting to note that the other 2 closest TRU stores have ZERO MP Thundercrackers, combined.
I've no idea why the one store has 10 while the other two have zero, but of the 3, the one with 10 of 'em IS in a wealthier area.
That's the only reasoning I can come up with.
Have you tried searching on TRU's website? You can locate a toy at another store and have it shipped for FREE to your local store and even
buy it online to pick up later at that store.
Maybe by doing so, that would also tip their management/purchasing that there's interest in the masterpiece level TFs for customers of that location.
------------
Getting back to the topic at hand though...I like this set, myself.
The box art is GLORIOUS!
It's a good way to pick up a nice matching set, even if Skywarp does look a bit off.
Personally, I don't mind the purple nearly as much as the bulky null-ray cannons.
Posted by SKYWARPED_128 on December 24th, 2012 @ 1:46am CST
DinobotSix wrote:SKYWARPED_128 wrote:My local TRU doesn't bring in MP anything. All my MP TF's have to be purchased at a hobby store that sells Japanese imports.
Interesting to note that the other 2 closest TRU stores have ZERO MP Thundercrackers, combined.
I've no idea why the one store has 10 while the other two have zero, but of the 3, the one with 10 of 'em IS in a wealthier area.
That's the only reasoning I can come up with.
Have you tried searching on TRU's website? You can locate a toy at another store and have it shipped for FREE to your local store and even
buy it online to pick up later at that store.
Maybe by doing so, that would also tip their management/purchasing that there's interest in the masterpiece level TFs for customers of that location.
Sorry I forgot to mention this, but I'm living in Malaysia. No online purchasing services for TRU's here.
There's a healthy number of hobby stores here that carry both Hasbro and Takara stuff, but almost all MP's are Takara, as they are generally more popular. In the past, Hasbro MP's tend to have stuff like G1 sticker homages, battle damage and weathering, which most collectors don't like.
The recent Hasbro MP-10 and Thundercracker have eschewed the usual BD and weathering (thought the tampos on TC are kind weird), but the trend of importing only Takara MP's doesn't seem to have changed.
Posted by STngAR on December 24th, 2012 @ 8:14am CST
Posted by Sabrblade on December 26th, 2012 @ 10:12pm CST
Hey X, I got a response for ya (didn't think I forgot, did you?).Sabrblade wrote:I'm looking this up for ya, as i'm sure there's some reason for it.Rated X wrote:On the faction symbols, I know it's cartoon accurate. But it's also pointless. What were the G1 animators thinking when they did that ? Did they even look at the toys back in 1984 ?
From what I can gather, the reason the Seekers have the Con logos faced the way they are in the animation models is due to that simply being standard protocol for military aircraft that have insignia adorning their wings.
It's so that when there are two jets flying in the same direction, with one flying above the other, the pilot of the higher jet can look down to view the logo on the wings of the lower jet and use that logo to identify the allegiance of the lower jet. And to do so with ease. Otherwise, the logo would appear upside-down to the pilot of the higher altitude and would make things more difficult for the pilot, especially during aerial combat situations.
And if the higher jet were flying in the opposite direction of the lower jet, the pilot wouldn't be able to easily spot the logo on the lower jet's wings what with them both going at such high speeds in opposing directions.
Therefore, the logos on military aircraft must face towards the rear of the craft and, evidently, the cartoon animators were merely following this logic, regardless of the orientation the original toys' instructions said to apply the Con logos in (and since they were stickers anyway, any kid could ignored the instructions and applied them however they wanted to, or even choose not to apply them).
Posted by Pretender Skywarp on December 27th, 2012 @ 1:14pm CST
But damn, they look smart.....
The box art making a montage too, that's just the icing on the cake. Well Played TT.
Now please, get that Rainmaker set into prodcution...
Posted by Jelze Bunnycat on December 27th, 2012 @ 1:43pm CST
Pretender Skywarp wrote:I'm lucky enough to have the Classics releases and the Generations releases of these sets and can't justify the premium for shiny paint jobs
But damn, they look smart.....
The box art making a montage too, that's just the icing on the cake. Well Played TT.
Now please, get that Rainmaker set into prodcution...
I agree! One more squeeze out of that milk cow of a mold before retiring it completely! The 3 Rainmakers and Sunstorm!
I already have all 6 Seekers, Classics and Generations, but I wouldn't mind a more G1 accurate Starscream.
Posted by Pretender Skywarp on December 27th, 2012 @ 2:14pm CST
JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Now please, get that Rainmaker set into prodcution...
I agree! One more squeeze out of that milk cow of a mold before retiring it completely! The 3 Rainmakers and Sunstorm!
I already have all 6 Seekers, Classics and Generations, but I wouldn't mind a more G1 accurate Starscream. [/quote]
I've always been surprised that the "Club" didn't get onto the Rainmakers. You'd have thought the two "missing" ones and Sunstorm would have been right up their street. It's a shame that KO's are a fans best bet
As for Starscream, I've always ummedd and aaahd over the Classics V Universe one, but settled for Classics purely on the basis that I bought it first!!
Posted by Kibble on December 27th, 2012 @ 2:38pm CST
Sabrblade wrote:Hey X, I got a response for ya (didn't think I forgot, did you?).Sabrblade wrote:I'm looking this up for ya, as i'm sure there's some reason for it.Rated X wrote:On the faction symbols, I know it's cartoon accurate. But it's also pointless. What were the G1 animators thinking when they did that ? Did they even look at the toys back in 1984 ?
From what I can gather, the reason the Seekers have the Con logos faced the way they are in the animation models is due to that simply being standard protocol for military aircraft that have insignia adorning their wings.
It's so that when there are two jets flying in the same direction, with one flying above the other, the pilot of the higher jet can look down to view the logo on the wings of the lower jet and use that logo to identify the allegiance of the lower jet. And to do so with ease. Otherwise, the logo would appear upside-down to the pilot of the higher altitude and would make things more difficult for the pilot, especially during aerial combat situations.
And if the higher jet were flying in the opposite direction of the lower jet, the pilot wouldn't be able to easily spot the logo on the lower jet's wings what with them both going at such high speeds in opposing directions.
Therefore, the logos on military aircraft must face towards the rear of the craft and, evidently, the cartoon animators were merely following this logic, regardless of the orientation the original toys' instructions said to apply the Con logos in (and since they were stickers anyway, any kid could ignored the instructions and applied them however they wanted to, or even choose not to apply them).
Much more detailed than what I would have assumed, that it's more accurate to real jet signage. Interesting reasoning...thanks.
I personally like them this way (toon accurate) and I hate when they do them the other way. They only thing worse, though, is when they do a couple one way and then do the third of the crew the other.
Posted by Anonymous on December 28th, 2012 @ 1:24am CST
Sabrblade wrote:It's so that when there are two jets flying in the same direction, with one flying above the other, the pilot of the higher jet can look down to view the logo on the wings of the lower jet and use that logo to identify the allegiance of the lower jet. And to do so with ease. Otherwise, the logo would appear upside-down to the pilot of the higher altitude and would make things more difficult for the pilot, especially during aerial combat situations.
The majority of Military Aircraft Insignia are in the form of a circle to avoid such issues. Although other shapes such as pentagons and squares etc are used, the most common shape is the circle as the shape and colors can be identified from any direction. The US military for instance have had the Stars and Bars Roundel in use from 1918 (i think). Pilots in a dogfight aren't allowed the luxury to circle back and check which way the logo was facing.
Sabrblade wrote:Therefore, the logos on military aircraft must face towards the rear of the craft and, evidently, the cartoon animators were merely following this logic, regardless of the orientation the original toys' instructions said to apply the Con logos in (and since they were stickers anyway, any kid could ignored the instructions and applied them however they wanted to, or even choose not to apply them).
Possible, but unlikely. If we were to follow this logic to it's conclusion, all the jets in the animated series should have their emblems facing the same way. Ramjet, Thrust and Dirge all have their emblems facing forward, the four Aerialbots (Silverbolt is excluded as he's a passenger craft) vary between episodes, sometimes between scenes. And they're all fighter jets, so it would stand to reason that if the animators were following aviation models, this standard should have been followed across the board.
I suspect that a Hasbro rep bought a Starscream toy with the stickers applied facing the rear to the animation studio and they just ran with it. Considering all three original Seekers were identical except for coloring, it was purely an aesthetic decision.
Posted by Sabrblade on December 28th, 2012 @ 11:07pm CST