Third Party Hearts of Steel Insecticon Battle Train In The Making

Monday, December 27th, 2010 4:19AM CST

Categories: Comic Book News, Toy News, Unlicensed Products News
Posted by: Blurrz Views: 138,934

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Yes, you read right! The Insecticons haven't received much love in the form of a new figure for quite some time. But from the looks of it, it will be at the hands of a third party. It's still unclear as to who is headlining this project, and whether it will be mass produced like FansProject's work, limited to miniscule numbers like Mastercollectors' Nova Prime, or simply a project made for fun. Yet since it is based off Hearts of Steel work, it might just be Mastermind Creations. Enough jabbering though, behold Shrapnel, who also forms the front of the Battle Train!

(Courtesy of ACToys.net member zdszds198932)

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Credit(s): ACToys.net

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Re: Third Party Hearts of Steel Insecticon Battle Train In The Making (1162362)
Posted by Relic Dinobot on December 27th, 2010 @ 5:24am CST

That is amazing. :shock:

If they do make all three, I might just drop the cash for them all and get me that Insectrain.

Re: Third Party Hearts of Steel Insecticon Battle Train In The Making (1162364)
Posted by MINDVVIPE on December 27th, 2010 @ 5:46am CST

KILLER! Transformers figures are just gettin better and better everyday.

Re: Third Party Hearts of Steel Insecticon Battle Train In The Making (1162368)
Posted by rpetras on December 27th, 2010 @ 6:28am CST

These will be mine!

Oh YES, they WILL be mine!

(wrings hands)

:grin:

Re: Third Party Hearts of Steel Insecticon Battle Train In The Making (1162373)
Posted by ninoslow on December 27th, 2010 @ 7:05am CST

that insecticons look awesome i will get this version, when i see this insecticons is store , awesome

Re: Third Party Hearts of Steel Insecticon Battle Train In The Making (1162376)
Posted by DecepticonFinishline on December 27th, 2010 @ 7:35am CST

Yes, this will be mine. : D

Re: Third Party Hearts of Steel Insecticon Battle Train In The Making (1162377)
Posted by prowl123 on December 27th, 2010 @ 7:49am CST

Oh my God!

I don't ever get third party guys, but this will be mine.

YOU WILL BE MINE (SO WILL CROSSFIRE 02)! :twisted:

Re: Third Party Hearts of Steel Insecticon Battle Train In The Making (1162380)
Posted by Stormrider on December 27th, 2010 @ 7:55am CST

Looks very promising. I hope they can add a bit of detail/transformation and scale it to HOS Optimus Prime.

Re: Third Party Hearts of Steel Insecticon Battle Train In The Making (1162385)
Posted by RK_Striker_JK_5 on December 27th, 2010 @ 8:21am CST

I hope these guys are made by MMC. I love their HoS Prime.

Re: Third Party Hearts of Steel Insecticon Battle Train In The Making (1162398)
Posted by Chaoslock on December 27th, 2010 @ 8:59am CST

Any other people remember the time IDW had cool ideas like the Insectrain? They were so much more fun than the trainwreck they are publishing nowadays...

I want this set!!!

Re: Third Party Hearts of Steel Insecticon Battle Train In The Making (1162401)
Posted by Rated X on December 27th, 2010 @ 9:18am CST

If they dont transform into insects how are they "insecticons" ??? I would definitally consider buying them to display in robot mode. But am I the only one here who thinks the whole train gimmick is stupid ???

It's usually Hasbro who butchers the original G1 alt modes to make them more fun for kids. Im suprised a third party company wouldnt just do em the way they were originally intended to be. :BANG_HEAD:

Re: Third Party Hearts of Steel Insecticon Battle Train In The Making (1162406)
Posted by Mkall on December 27th, 2010 @ 9:27am CST

Jaw. Dropped.

This is Marvelous. Absolutely marvelous. I'll take one of each please.

Re: Third Party Hearts of Steel Insecticon Battle Train In The Making (1162412)
Posted by T-Macksimus on December 27th, 2010 @ 9:39am CST

Rated X wrote:If they dont transform into insects how are they "insecticons" ??? I would definitally consider buying them to display in robot mode. But am I the only one here who thinks the whole train gimmick is stupid ???

It's usually Hasbro who butchers the original G1 alt modes to make them more fun for kids. Im suprised a third party company wouldnt just do em the way they were originally intended to be.

Would you rather they had stagecoaches for alt. modes? That's the whole point of the HOS line, to be pre-G1 era transformers. No cars, trucks etc. Labeling these guys as "insecticons" just helps those who didn't follow the Hearts of Steel comic (and a lot of folks didn't) identify them a little easier since they will only vaguely resemble the forms we recognize them as. The whole Heart of Steel concept could be thought of in the same way as Marvel comics "What If...?" series. Myself, I want to see an entire line of Transformers set in the time frame of the classic roadsters. Late 1940's and 1950's thru 1960's muscle cars. Not gonna happen so instead I'll enjoy a similar concept only taken way further back in time. It's all done in fun anyways.

Re: Third Party Hearts of Steel Insecticon Battle Train In The Making (1162422)
Posted by Lord Onixprime on December 27th, 2010 @ 10:08am CST

Very very cool.

I loved the whole premise of HOS and loved all of the characters designs. The Insecticons were always one of the cooler ones as well. If this is reasonably priced, I don't think I will be able to resist getting one.

Re: Third Party Hearts of Steel Insecticon Battle Train In The Making (1162435)
Posted by phoenix88 on December 27th, 2010 @ 10:42am CST

really really digging the resin cast and the concept art. barring high price this set will be mine! the insectrain looks awesome

Re: Third Party Hearts of Steel Insecticon Battle Train In The Making (1162437)
Posted by LOST Cybertronian on December 27th, 2010 @ 10:45am CST

The HOS insecticons are a great design. They will be mine especially if they are made by MMC. I hope some new upstart 3rd party isn't out to step on MMC toes. They did a fine job on KMC and they can only get better with each new release.

Re: Third Party Hearts of Steel Insecticon Battle Train In The Making (1162439)
Posted by Rated X on December 27th, 2010 @ 10:50am CST

T-Macksimus wrote:
Rated X wrote:If they dont transform into insects how are they "insecticons" ??? I would definitally consider buying them to display in robot mode. But am I the only one here who thinks the whole train gimmick is stupid ???

It's usually Hasbro who butchers the original G1 alt modes to make them more fun for kids. Im suprised a third party company wouldnt just do em the way they were originally intended to be.

Would you rather they had stagecoaches for alt. modes? That's the whole point of the HOS line, to be pre-G1 era transformers. No cars, trucks etc. Labeling these guys as "insecticons" just helps those who didn't follow the Hearts of Steel comic (and a lot of folks didn't) identify them a little easier since they will only vaguely resemble the forms we recognize them as. The whole Heart of Steel concept could be thought of in the same way as Marvel comics "What If...?" series. Myself, I want to see an entire line of Transformers set in the time frame of the classic roadsters. Late 1940's and 1950's thru 1960's muscle cars. Not gonna happen so instead I'll enjoy a similar concept only taken way further back in time. It's all done in fun anyways.

Oh I see. So this is part of thew samer storyline with the Knight Morpher Optimus Prime figure ? Honestly, I dont read comics. I just collect anything G1 or movie. I mean the prototype pics, look great. I just would love to see the insecticons re-done in a G1 theme to go with the classics/generations lines.

Re: Third Party Hearts of Steel Insecticon Battle Train In The Making (1162443)
Posted by craggy on December 27th, 2010 @ 10:59am CST

I'm not a huge fan of the train gimmick myself, but those designs are awesome, and any version of the Insecticons getting some love is good news. Hope it sells well and someone takes on the G1 designs (or the War Within ones)

Re: Third Party Hearts of Steel Insecticon Battle Train In The Making (1162455)
Posted by DavidT on December 27th, 2010 @ 11:57am CST

Excellent! These shall be mine!!!! =P~

Re: Third Party Hearts of Steel Insecticon Battle Train In The Making (1162472)
Posted by Primacron's Little Helper on December 27th, 2010 @ 12:52pm CST

Trains and Insecticons are much much awesome!!!

After Prime and Shockwave, I guess the Seekers or Bumblebee are next most likely to be made.

I'd really like to see Scourge made (he has a Zeppelin alt mode), does anyone remember the TMNT blimp toy? A Scourge with a similarly inflatable section would be fantastic.

Re: Third Party Hearts of Steel Insecticon Battle Train In The Making (1162497)
Posted by Sodan-1 on December 27th, 2010 @ 1:45pm CST

I'm not particularly a fan of this whole Hearts of Steel thing so this'll inevitably be a pass for me. But these designs are all pretty cool. I realise it's just a prototype figure, but I would hope there will be more detail on the finished version. The concept art is very nice indeed.

Re: Third Party Hearts of Steel Insecticon Battle Train In The Making (1162506)
Posted by AshesOfPain on December 27th, 2010 @ 2:18pm CST

I'm very intrigued. I thinks they would look very nice, especially if they are scaled to fit on the standard hobby train tracks. Not that I collect model trains, but I think it would allow for some unique displays.

If finances allow I will be acquiring this set.

Re: Third Party Hearts of Steel Insecticon Battle Train In The Making (1162512)
Posted by Blurrz on December 27th, 2010 @ 2:43pm CST

Rated X wrote:Oh I see. So this is part of thew samer storyline with the Knight Morpher Optimus Prime figure ? Honestly, I dont read comics. I just collect anything G1 or movie. I mean the prototype pics, look great. I just would love to see the insecticons re-done in a G1 theme to go with the classics/generations lines.

Quit being so oblivious to your surroundings. We get it. You like G1. You don`t need to blast it out in every single toy thread that has a G1 character that doesn't look G1 enough for your tastes. This is a good design and shouldn't be blasted because it's not G1. That era ended 21 years ago. I apologize if some fans had to move on to other things.

Re: Third Party Hearts of Steel Insecticon Battle Train In The Making (1162525)
Posted by WarGraver on December 27th, 2010 @ 3:18pm CST

These make me so very happy. I must have them.

If they are not by Mastermind Creations... that's actually fine. There are enough HoS designs that it would take one 3rd party group too many years to produce them all. However, if it IS a different group, I hope they are least communicate with MC to make sure they aren't being redundant, and additionally to make sure that Insectitrain can attach to Optimus' hitch.

Re: Third Party Hearts of Steel Insecticon Battle Train In The Making (1162626)
Posted by Fistful of Energon on December 27th, 2010 @ 7:10pm CST

WANT!

I will so own this set :shock:

Re: Third Party Hearts of Steel Insecticon Battle Train In The Making (1162630)
Posted by alexison on December 27th, 2010 @ 7:27pm CST

Very cool. I want to see more of this.

Re: Third Party Hearts of Steel Insecticon Battle Train In The Making (1162734)
Posted by Rated X on December 28th, 2010 @ 12:58am CST

Blurrz wrote:
Rated X wrote:Oh I see. So this is part of thew samer storyline with the Knight Morpher Optimus Prime figure ? Honestly, I dont read comics. I just collect anything G1 or movie. I mean the prototype pics, look great. I just would love to see the insecticons re-done in a G1 theme to go with the classics/generations lines.

Quit being so oblivious to your surroundings. We get it. You like G1. You don`t need to blast it out in every single toy thread that has a G1 character that doesn't look G1 enough for your tastes. This is a good design and shouldn't be blasted because it's not G1. That era ended 21 years ago. I apologize if some fans had to move on to other things.

All I can say is Im old school buddy. A "G1 character that doesn't look G1 enough" is kind of annoying to me. I said I might buy em, so saying Im blasting them is a little bit of an exaggeration. I just wont be displaying them as the midnight express. So Prime and the Insecticons get a train mode. What happened to Astrotrain ??? That would have made more sense for this line.

Re: Third Party Hearts of Steel Insecticon Battle Train In The Making (1162735)
Posted by Blurrz on December 28th, 2010 @ 1:04am CST

Astrotrain was in Hearts of Steel so a figure for him is also a possibility.

Re: Third Party Hearts of Steel Insecticon Battle Train In The Making (1162770)
Posted by El Duque on December 28th, 2010 @ 6:04am CST

Rated X wrote:
Blurrz wrote:
Rated X wrote:Oh I see. So this is part of thew samer storyline with the Knight Morpher Optimus Prime figure ? Honestly, I dont read comics. I just collect anything G1 or movie. I mean the prototype pics, look great. I just would love to see the insecticons re-done in a G1 theme to go with the classics/generations lines.

Quit being so oblivious to your surroundings. We get it. You like G1. You don`t need to blast it out in every single toy thread that has a G1 character that doesn't look G1 enough for your tastes. This is a good design and shouldn't be blasted because it's not G1. That era ended 21 years ago. I apologize if some fans had to move on to other things.

All I can say is Im old school buddy. A "G1 character that doesn't look G1 enough" is kind of annoying to me. I said I might buy em, so saying Im blasting them is a little bit of an exaggeration. I just wont be displaying them as the midnight express. So Prime and the Insecticons get a train mode. What happened to Astrotrain ??? That would have made more sense for this line.

But these aren't G1 characters, they're Hearts of Steal Characters. That's like saying Cybertron Optimus Prime isn't G1 enough. It's a different continuity all together.

Re: Third Party Hearts of Steel Insecticon Battle Train In The Making (1162790)
Posted by Flux Convoy on December 28th, 2010 @ 6:47am CST

I really like the idea here. MMC KMC was a pretty good first offering. Here's to hoping this is their work. Although, truth be told, I thought HOS was garbage. I'd rather be getting figures based on the dead animal TFs that were in the first handful of pages. My two cents.

Re: Third Party Hearts of Steel Insecticon Battle Train In The Making (1162799)
Posted by AshesOfPain on December 28th, 2010 @ 7:06am CST

HoS Astrotrain pulling the Insecticon train would be very nice I think. I hope it happens.

Re: Third Party Hearts of Steel Insecticon Battle Train In The Making (1162950)
Posted by WarGraver on December 28th, 2010 @ 5:11pm CST

Unlike a handful of the other characters, Astrotrain didn't get a full design shown. Leaving a lot of details for a 3rd party to figure out and fill in. They COULD do it, of course, but I expect he would be further down on the list of 'to do' than all the ones that do have full designs.

Re: Third Party Hearts of Steel Insecticon Battle Train In The Making (1162977)
Posted by Stormrider on December 28th, 2010 @ 6:22pm CST

Primacron's Little Helper wrote:Trains and Insecticons are much much awesome!!!

After Prime and Shockwave, I guess the Seekers or Bumblebee are next most likely to be made.

I'd really like to see Scourge made (he has a Zeppelin alt mode), does anyone remember the TMNT blimp toy? A Scourge with a similarly inflatable section would be fantastic.

So is Shockwave a definite green light now?

Re: Third Party Hearts of Steel Insecticon Battle Train In The Making (1162981)
Posted by El Duque on December 28th, 2010 @ 6:43pm CST

Stormrider wrote:
Primacron's Little Helper wrote:Trains and Insecticons are much much awesome!!!

After Prime and Shockwave, I guess the Seekers or Bumblebee are next most likely to be made.

I'd really like to see Scourge made (he has a Zeppelin alt mode), does anyone remember the TMNT blimp toy? A Scourge with a similarly inflatable section would be fantastic.

So is Shockwave a definite green light now?

God I hope so =P~

Re: Third Party Hearts of Steel Insecticon Battle Train In The Making (1163050)
Posted by alexison on December 28th, 2010 @ 10:37pm CST

Shrapnel looks great in these photos. Excellent detail for a smaller scale figure. I wonder if they are making Bombshell and Kickback at the same time as this fella or they will release them one at a time?

Re: Third Party Hearts of Steel Insecticon Battle Train In The Making (1163112)
Posted by Primacron's Little Helper on December 29th, 2010 @ 3:51am CST

Stormrider wrote:
Primacron's Little Helper wrote:Trains and Insecticons are much much awesome!!!

After Prime and Shockwave, I guess the Seekers or Bumblebee are next most likely to be made.

I'd really like to see Scourge made (he has a Zeppelin alt mode), does anyone remember the TMNT blimp toy? A Scourge with a similarly inflatable section would be fantastic.

So is Shockwave a definite green light now?

Sadly I don't know anything that you don't!

I was just going through my HOS TPB and seeing which characters seemed likely.

Having said that, when the Prime prototype was first shown I emailed the guy who designed it a few times (before Mastermind Creations was founded), very nice guy, and he was very determined to get the figure made (he had quite a few problems with some shady characters wanting to buy multiple sets of the kit). If he's still involved then I have every faith in him.

Re: Third Party Hearts of Steel Insecticon Battle Train In The Making (1163365)
Posted by DecepticonFinishline on December 29th, 2010 @ 8:03pm CST

I had read something here on Seibertron that had said that the guys that did Hearts Of Steel Optimus/Nemesis are, in fact, working on Shockwave. If I remember correctly, they said that we would see designs later this year (2011).

Re: Third Party Hearts of Steel Insecticon Battle Train In The Making (1163471)
Posted by AshesOfPain on December 30th, 2010 @ 8:41am CST

DecepticonFinishline wrote:I had read something here on Seibertron that had said that the guys that did Hearts Of Steel Optimus/Nemesis are, in fact, working on Shockwave. If I remember correctly, they said that we would see designs later this year (2011).

Very interesting. Now I am truly coming to regret my financial mistakes of years past. Ah well, live and learn. Can't wait to see the sketches for Shockwave.

Re: Third Party Hearts of Steel Insecticon Battle Train In The Making (1163627)
Posted by Stormrider on December 30th, 2010 @ 4:25pm CST

DecepticonFinishline wrote:I had read something here on Seibertron that had said that the guys that did Hearts Of Steel Optimus/Nemesis are, in fact, working on Shockwave. If I remember correctly, they said that we would see designs later this year (2011).

That's awesome. Thanks! I vaguely remember reading in an interview that Shockwave was being planned down the road, but didn't know the time frame.

I give Mastermind and give the creator a lot of credit. The creator had originally designed HoS Optimus Prime as a limited-run garage kit resin. The original was a lot larger too. He started off designing Transformers as a hobby. Anyway, people really liked his designs and encouraged him to mass produce them. With that he started his own business.

Re: Third Party Hearts of Steel Insecticon Battle Train In The Making (1950317)
Posted by Targetmaster Kup on April 2nd, 2018 @ 9:08pm CDT

So why did this never come out?