Walmart Opens Store Page For Retro G1-Inspired Seaspray, Plus Potential Brawn Leak

This is Cool

Very cool! He's a proper Seaspray! Will try to get him and that Brawn, though I've still no managed to get Gears. These head resculpts DO beg the question, why no toy head for Bumblebee?

~ Grim

Looks like Seaspray got fired from Domino's Pizza.

-Kanrabat- wrote:Looks like Seaspray got fired from Domino's Pizza.

Pardon?

~ Grim

Big Grim wrote:Very cool! He's a proper Seaspray! Will try to get him and that Brawn, though I've still no managed to get Gears. These head resculpts DO beg the question, why no toy head for Bumblebee?

~ Grim

Best guess is that the G1 reissue of Bee they released had the cartoon face so they were referencing that. But if that's the case they really should have given him blue eyes (and a silver bumper).




Emerje

Emerje wrote:

Big Grim wrote:Very cool! He's a proper Seaspray! Will try to get him and that Brawn, though I've still no managed to get Gears. These head resculpts DO beg the question, why no toy head for Bumblebee?

~ Grim

Best guess is that the G1 reissue of Bee they released had the cartoon face so they were referencing that. But if that's the case they really should have given him blue eyes (and a silver bumper).

Emerje

Yeah. Wish he'd have the toy face. I have a soft spot for the toy faces. I generally consider the toy designs and colours as correct (RIRFIB for me) but admit it does not always hold true. I prefer Dinobots with toy style red eyes but Swoop should always have a blue chest. It's weird how preferences work.

~ Grim

I found the answer for why Bumblebee didn't use the Goldbug head:

Sabrblade wrote:I found the answer for why Bumblebee didn't use the Goldbug head:

Got to love Evan's forthcomingness with answers.
Such a nice guy.

Big Grim wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:Looks like Seaspray got fired from Domino's Pizza.

Pardon?

~ Grim

Did you forgot the previous TR Seaspray? He was a pizza delivery guy.

-Kanrabat- wrote:Did you forgot the previous TR Seaspray? He was a pizza delivery guy.

Hah! Bloody hell! I DID forget about that, yes! Thank you for answering!

~ Grim

Sabrblade wrote:I found the answer for why Bumblebee didn't use the Goldbug head:

So the obvious question is, why did they move factories? Takara Tomy uses the same factory as Hasbro when it's a figure they share molds on. It's also weird that the head isn't with this mold when we've seen it used with both the VW mold and the Cliff mold. You'd think the head would go with a part the two types had in common.

BTW, Brawn is now on Walmart.com and the price jumped up to $30 since I wrote about Seaspray! https://www.walmart.com/ip/TRA-GEN-RETR?wmlspartner=FYAGeMjDX6c&=&affs=p&wid=5b6b4213e4b0bcb699adeb9f&u1=&oid=223073.10006940&sourceid=37141976172661509211&affillinktype=3&veh=aff ... pe=REGULAR

Emerje

Looks cool but I’d love a straight up G1 re-release of the original mold.

Emerje wrote:It's also weird that the head isn't with this mold when we've seen it used with both the VW mold and the Cliff mold. You'd think the head would go with a part the two types had in common.

Well, this is my guess, but recall that the mold was first released as Cliffjumper, and has had alternate heads for its releases as Bumblebee/Bug Bite, Hubcap, and SG/G1 Goldbug. I'd wager that the Cliffjumper and Bee/Bite heads were pretooled for the mold from the onset, while the Hubcap and Goldbug heads were later toolings created after the mold's initial tooling (which would include the two pretooled heads) and thus aren't attached to the mold inherently like the pretooled heads are.

Sabrblade wrote:

Emerje wrote:It's also weird that the head isn't with this mold when we've seen it used with both the VW mold and the Cliff mold. You'd think the head would go with a part the two types had in common.

Well, this is my guess, but recall that the mold was first released as Cliffjumper, and has had alternate heads for its releases as Bumblebee/Bug Bite, Hubcap, and SG/G1 Goldbug. I'd wager that the Cliffjumper and Bee/Bite heads were pretooled for the mold from the onset, while the Hubcap and Goldbug heads were later toolings created after the mold's initial tooling (which would include the two pretooled heads) and thus aren't attached to the mold inherently like the pretooled heads are.

If that's the case then I'd have to wonder why they moved just those molds to a different factory and not the whole set. Maybe they have plans to use them elsewhere. Also would have thought a G1 toy head would have been included as well considering how many "bonus" heads were being included with molds at the time. At least they thought ahead with the other three (I'm guessing Seaspray has a cartoon head in the mold with proper sculpted eyes, nose and fewer head details, sure hope so anyway).

Emerje

Emerje wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Emerje wrote:It's also weird that the head isn't with this mold when we've seen it used with both the VW mold and the Cliff mold. You'd think the head would go with a part the two types had in common.

Well, this is my guess, but recall that the mold was first released as Cliffjumper, and has had alternate heads for its releases as Bumblebee/Bug Bite, Hubcap, and SG/G1 Goldbug. I'd wager that the Cliffjumper and Bee/Bite heads were pretooled for the mold from the onset, while the Hubcap and Goldbug heads were later toolings created after the mold's initial tooling (which would include the two pretooled heads) and thus aren't attached to the mold inherently like the pretooled heads are.

If that's the case then I'd have to wonder why they moved just those molds to a different factory and not the whole set. Maybe they have plans to use them elsewhere. Also would have thought a G1 toy head would have been included as well considering how many "bonus" heads were being included with molds at the time. At least they thought ahead with the other three (I'm guessing Seaspray has a cartoon head in the mold with proper sculpted eyes, nose and fewer head details, sure hope so anyway).

Emerje

This makes me wonder if full molds with pretooled heads are manufactured at one factory while bonus retooled heads and other parts made for later releases not originally planned for each mold's first releases are manufactured at another factory, like if each factory is equipped for different manufacturing purposes.

Walmart.com has updated with new stock photos of Retro G1-Inspired Brawn from their exclusive Collector Con release this Friday. As we've already seen from the previous leak, Brawn will be fairly close to the original figure including a new head sculpt. Like Seaspray, Brawn is expected to release in October, and also like Seaspray his price has jumped up to $30.

Are you planning on getting these and is the price increase a deal breaker? Let us know in the Seibertron Energon Pub Forums!

So back when they teased that the Brawn mold could do something to look like the G1 figure, I thought it would be door wings or hook hands and not the long legs thing. Not exactly the part of the G1 design I would draw attention to but okay. And it's not even like it's intentional on this mold. The legs end up offset to the side in a goofy way due to how they're supposed to double up on themselves. It ends up looking like a joke someone made with a half transformed figure and they ran with it more than something intentional but I digress.

On a side note. I just opened a box from Target that was meant to contain the Devastation two pack.

It did not contain the Devastation two pack.

I went to Target.com to check my order and it said that the Devastation two pack was in fact delivered today.

Yet still it did not contain that particular two pack.

Which sucks because I got it for $10 off from one of those random Target sales.

However, I'm not mad about what happened.

That's due to what was actually in the box.

That being a SS86 Long Haul and Hook instead!

In total it was $12.50 total off the original price of the Devastation 2 pack. Ten dollars due to the sale and $2.50 for using my Target card. So it ended up being $51.86 after taxes. For something that should've been around $98.

So I cancelled my Pulse preorder for them and will wait to see if there's going to be another random Target sale and reorder the Devastation two pack of "Blackout" (until they actually make Blackout) and "Runafoul" (as a play on Runabout and Runamuck).

I bring all this up not to brag, but it was really cool to get a "bank error" in my favor for once.

I bring it up to draw the attention of others to see if this is a one off "cool story bro" or maybe something wrong with Target's system and that maybe anyone who is expecting the Devastation two pack these next few days will instead be receiving the SS86 two pack instead.

trailbreaker wrote:Looks cool but I’d love a straight up G1 re-release of the original mold.

Amen.
Hasbro started re-releasing G1 minibots a few years back... the stopped? Why?

megatran wrote:

trailbreaker wrote:Looks cool but I’d love a straight up G1 re-release of the original mold.

Amen.
Hasbro started re-releasing G1 minibots a few years back... the stopped? Why?

Because the Vintage G1 line was meant to celebrate the 35th anniversary, and it ended when the anniversary ended.

Besides, Walmart doesn't want to carry the same single store-exclusive line forever. Gotta vary things up to keep things fresh year after year.

Variety is how the Transformers brand itself has lasted so long, after all.

Sabrblade wrote:Variety is how the Transformers brand itself has lasted so long, after all.

Tell that to my combiner obsessed friend who wanted Combiner Wars to last 10 years.

Good luck with tolerating Seaspray preorders after the Sideways fiasco. This will be an embarrassment for Walmart.

had seaspray in my cart all the way to hitting the final pay confirmation, then he was sold out. Meanwhile on Pulse.com, he was sold out before the page went live. oh well, walmart would have cancelled my preorders anyway

Quantum Surge wrote:the Sideways fiasco.

Sideways is as of today showing as In-Stock and available to ship on Walmart's site, I just ordered one and it alleges he'll be here on Saturday.

That Seaspray's gonna make for some killer repaints.

Immortal Starscream wrote:had seaspray in my cart all the way to hitting the final pay confirmation, then he was sold out. Meanwhile on Pulse.com, he was sold out before the page went live.

Same experience. I finally was able to order on Pulse about thirty minutes after it went live though. Thankfully. Same thing happened with Bee last year too so it wasn't unexpected. lol

Nemesis Primal wrote:

Quantum Surge wrote:the Sideways fiasco.

Sideways is as of today showing as In-Stock and available to ship on Walmart's site, I just ordered one and it alleges he'll be here on Saturday.

That Seaspray's gonna make for some killer repaints.

sideways is out of stock for me. and my preorder was cancelled by walmart =P

I was able to get seaspray from pulse later on in the day. missed the cold slither set tho, was in a meeting =\

I got the Seaspray. As expected, it is a mini masterpiece. The vehicle looks perfect, and the bot looks perfect. Without any obvious gaps. However, I find the transformation difficult simply because of some fiddle factor and the fact that EVERYTHING IS SO THIGHT, it's hard to tell if something should move or not. Sure, I would have an easier time if I had looked at the instructions, but I love figuring out the transformation of my new Transformers. Also, there's a huge missed opportunity for the gun to be able to store in the huge gap under the vehicle mode. Overall, it is still a worthy buy.

So, how the new Seaspray hold up VS the old versions? It takes the crown for cartoon and G1 accuracy, but my personal champion is still the old 2009 HFTD voyager (with his son, Breacher.) This old voyager is just a genius design all over. Plus, even the vehicle is perfect looking, even from the underside! I would love a Leader priced 2 pack reissue in "cartoon accurate" colors of this voyager Seaspray and Breacher.

-Kanrabat- wrote:I got the Seaspray. As expected, it is a mini masterpiece. The vehicle looks perfect, and the bot looks perfect. Without any obvious gaps. However, I find the transformation difficult simply because of some fiddle factor and the fact that EVERYTHING IS SO THIGHT, it's hard to tell if something should move or not. Sure, I would have an easier time if I had looked at the instructions, but I love figuring out the transformation of my new Transformers. Also, there's a huge missed opportunity for the gun to be able to store in the huge gap under the vehicle mode. Overall, it is still a worthy buy.

So, how the new Seaspray hold up VS the old versions? It takes the crown for cartoon and G1 accuracy, but my personal champion is still the old 2009 HFTD voyager (with his son, Breacher.) This old voyager is just a genius design all over. Plus, even the vehicle is perfect looking, even from the underside! I would love a Leader priced 2 pack reissue in "cartoon accurate" colors of this voyager Seaspray and Breacher.

Thanks for sharing.

---

Perhaps a Kiss Player version down the road of a deluxe class G1 Powerglide to homage the girl who loved Powerglide. You know you want it.

Walmart has been improving on distribution this year for their exclusives. In the US, they got a massive collector oriented display for all collectible brands, and that includes Age of the Primes Transformers. And in Canada, well not only did they stock those same Age of the Primes exclusives but also the latest Retro figures, Brawn and Seaspray. Seaspray has been highly coveted since this exclusive release is a fully new mold to complete our minibot collection at this scale. And lucky for us, everyone who got him is raving about it. Below are video reviews along with a written review by fellow Seibertronian Kanrabat. Let us know if you'll be getting yours.

-Kanrabat- wrote:I got the Seaspray. As expected, it is a mini masterpiece. The vehicle looks perfect, and the bot looks perfect. Without any obvious gaps. However, I find the transformation difficult simply because of some fiddle factor and the fact that EVERYTHING IS SO THIGHT, it's hard to tell if something should move or not. Sure, I would have an easier time if I had looked at the instructions, but I love figuring out the transformation of my new Transformers. Also, there's a huge missed opportunity for the gun to be able to store in the huge gap under the vehicle mode. Overall, it is still a worthy buy.

So, how the new Seaspray hold up VS the old versions? It takes the crown for cartoon and G1 accuracy, but my personal champion is still the old 2009 HFTD voyager (with his son, Breacher.) This old voyager is just a genius design all over. Plus, even the vehicle is perfect looking, even from the underside! I would love a Leader priced 2 pack reissue in "cartoon accurate" colors of this voyager Seaspray and Breacher.

Walmart's distribution kicked it up a notch this year by having massive displays of their exclusives for collectors in stores. So people have been grabbing Age of the Primes Sideways and Excellion in both the US and Canada. You can check out the reviews for the others below if you want to know as much as possible about them.

Transformers Age of the Primes Excellion





Transformers Age of the Primes Sideways

Walmart’s exclusive Seaspray is getting all the attention and reviews but he’s just one of the two new toys in the retro series. The other is Brawn who cones with his toy accurate head. Below is a short review for those curious.
He was found, along with Seaspray, at Walmart in Canada. Distribution seems to be pretty good for this line in Canada so far.

They should have given Brawn claws if they really wanted to make him "retro".

Cyber Bishop wrote:They should have given Brawn claws if they really wanted to make him "retro".

Looks like the budget of the line only allowed a new head. Still, let's hope someone will think about making a claws upgrade kit.

Cyber Bishop wrote:They should have given Brawn claws if they really wanted to make him "retro".

Maybe for the crossover when they can put him in two-pack with Wolverine!

Got the email that my Top Spin and Spinister box has been dispatched. Rather looking forward to them.

~ Grim

Till-all-R1 wrote:

Cyber Bishop wrote:They should have given Brawn claws if they really wanted to make him "retro".

Maybe for the crossover when they can put him in two-pack with Wolverine!

Grabby claws vs. Slashy claws...

Till-all-R1 wrote:

Cyber Bishop wrote:They should have given Brawn claws if they really wanted to make him "retro".

Maybe for the crossover when they can put him in two-pack with Wolverine!

Emerje

Got both Seaspray & Brawn delivered the other day. Both are really nice toys. I think I like Seaspray a bit better because it's less hollow and deco is on point and I only have a few details I feel needed to paint on. However, the plastics on Seaspray are the more flexible type and nothing tabs tight except the back panel, the saving grace is all the joints are super tight though. Must get.

Initially only wanted the new non-car minibots (Warpath, Cosmos, Seaspray & Powerglide). But after getting the Retro Trio, now I wonder if I should chase down Beachcomber and upgrade all the rest my car minibots too.

cloudballoon wrote:Initially only wanted the new non-car minibots (Warpath, Cosmos, Seaspray & Powerglide). But after getting the Retro Trio, now I wonder if I should chase down Beachcomber and upgrade all the rest my car minibots too.

You should.
All of the deluxe minibots are worth it. Even if he's the weakest of them, try to also get Huffer.

I have no real interest in toy Brawn, and the Seaspray is cool looking, but I am happy with my TR one for now.

I got the Target Perceptor and Devastation pack (I am calling them Blackout and Runaround).

Perceptor is neat enough, but I am glad to have Ramhorn.

The Devastation guys are wonderful, the orange cell shading really does it for them. That orange is why I decided to jump actually.

I also got my Sideways and Excellion, both are real neat, and I don't own an OG Sideways, so nice to have one in the house.

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:Perceptor is neat enough, but I am glad to have Ramhorn.

At first, I too, bought the boxset only for Ramhorn. Then I noticed that Ratbat was actually "complete" with his jetpack. Plus this Perceptor got some GAINS compared to the previous SS86 original.

-Kanrabat- wrote:

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:Perceptor is neat enough, but I am glad to have Ramhorn.

At first, I too, bought the boxset only for Ramhorn. Then I noticed that Ratbat was actually "complete" with his jetpack. Plus this Perceptor got some GAINS compared to the previous SS86 original.

I could care less for the Perceptor, I got his mold in the black colors and TR still reigns supreme for me

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:Perceptor is neat enough, but I am glad to have Ramhorn.

At first, I too, bought the boxset only for Ramhorn. Then I noticed that Ratbat was actually "complete" with his jetpack. Plus this Perceptor got some GAINS compared to the previous SS86 original.

I could care less for the Perceptor, I got his mold in the black colors and TR still reigns supreme for me

Legacy Magnificus is indeed... magnifique, especially with the Reprolabels set.

For me, and the majority of people, the SS86 / PotP Perceptor is the "superior" one. And thanks to that, I could get back the still very solid Titan Return one for the price of a Core Class figure. I love how they all look together.

I took pictures some months ago, but I never managed to make the post, so might as well do it now. (Magnificus not present on the pictures)

All the Generations / G1 Perceptors so far:




The TR makes the best "tank" vehicle.

The "toy" group:



The "toon" group:



And bonus, the old RTS car in "microscope" mode: