Things you never realised about Transformers (toys etc)

[Megatran]

Didn't realise there were so many Transformers insignia.

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Insignia

[rodent]

Mountain Dew Robot and Lunchables Brigade??

[SuspectimusPrime]

Aside from Autobot, Decepticon, Maximal and Predacon insignias everything else looks derpy :)

[DELTAprime]

Mountain Dew Robot and Lunchables Brigade??

They may as well include every product placement and actual government agency if these are included. So many real brands and organizations in those movies.

I have always liked the Rescue Bots insignia.

[DELTAprime]

I didn't realise how serious Takara was taking using Hasbro names for it's figures now. I knew that since 2007 they have been using Hasbro names on Bayverse, TFA and TFP figures. For CHUG characters they have normally gone with G1 names. But today I noticed they are using Hasbro names now on pre-2007 characters. My Legends Skyfire has Jetfire on the box and Legends Gel-shark has Sky-byte on the box. I can't wait to get my others in my POL to see if Rattle's Rattrap and Convoy's Optimus Primal.

[GoktimusPrime]

I knew about the Skyfire-->Jetfire thing, although they had previously done it before w/ Animated and ROTF Jetfire, but I must admit that I didn't know about Sky Byte! :eek: I guess that the Anglophone names have become increasingly popular in Japan since the 07 movie, and they're now more heavily targeting kids and newer fans who aren't familiar with the original 80s old school names.

Even with Masterpiece... despite trying to consistently use all the original Japanese names, the word "Autobot" (instead of "Cybertron") managed to creep into MP-13 Condor's tech specs! :eek:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/Masterpiece%20Soundwave/mpcondortechspecsx_zpsad9ad226.jpg

[GoktimusPrime]

Found this out yesterday when I got MP22... toy spoiler ahead (for those who can't deal with that now :p)





The faux wheels on the feet aren't just decorative, they also perform a practical function in preventing Ultra Magnus from rolling in robot mode and thus having that "roller skate" effect that you get on G1 Ultra Magnus (and even the City Commander 3P upgrade).

[DELTAprime]

I must confess. I liked giving him roller skates.:p

[UltraMarginal]

Finally the mystery is solved, I think...

The Rescue Bots Beam Box computer game (for the TV - you plug in figurines to play their characters), comes pre-installed with six characters. In other words, the game is not like Skylanders or Disney Infinity which has the characters downloaded into the game from the figurines. As such, it is possible to trick the Beam Box console into thinking you have bought and plugged in the characters.

The six characters in the game (on the main menu screen to activate)...
Optimus Prime - comes with console
Bumblebee - sold separately in wave 1
Boulder - sold separately in wave 1
Heatwave - sold separately in wave 1
Chase - SUPPOSED to be sold separately in wave 1
Blades - sold separately in wave 2
.

Ironic that the unobtainable 'chase figure' is called Chase... Hasbro just trolled us all hard.

on a side note, I don't think the skylanders or Disney infinity download anything from the toys, it's just an RFID tag inside the toy that when close enough to the RFID reader in the game base is read and unlocks the game character and data that is pre-installed on the game disk or downloaded from the interwebs as required by the game.
incredibly cheap to produce and a massive money spinner.

[GoktimusPrime]

I must confess. I liked giving him roller skates.:p
Luckily for you, that option is still there too! (just don't flip the wheels over) :D

Ironic that the unobtainable 'chase figure' is called Chase... Hasbro just trolled us all hard.
Bonus trollage points if the most common figure was called Searchlight. :p

[Seraphim Prime]

on a side note, I don't think the skylanders or Disney infinity download anything from the toys, it's just an RFID tag inside the toy that when close enough to the RFID reader in the game base is read and unlocks the game character and data that is pre-installed on the game disk or downloaded from the interwebs as required by the game.
incredibly cheap to produce and a massive money spinner.

Don't know about the Disney Infinity figures, but I remember one of the early selling points of the Skylanders figures was that they would level up and have unique stat improvements/weapons/clothes that would stay with the individual figure and could be carried between different games.

Admittedly, you could do a lot of that via an internet-based database, but you'd be dealing with a lot of unique codes.

[UltraMarginal]

Don't know about the Disney Infinity figures, but I remember one of the early selling points of the Skylanders figures was that they would level up and have unique stat improvements/weapons/clothes that would stay with the individual figure and could be carried between different games.

Admittedly, you could do a lot of that via an internet-based database, but you'd be dealing with a lot of unique codes.

Very interesting.

[griffin]

Ironic that the unobtainable 'chase figure' is called Chase... Hasbro just trolled us all hard.

It's actually been the curse of the Rescue Bots Chase character. The convertible figure in the first year (2011) was in the second wave with Blades, which saw very limited distribution. Then the Chase 2-pack figurine was in the first wave but was short-packed to make room for an extra Optimus figurine (the character is so "iconic" to adults, it was deemed more important to have it on the shelves in place of a cast character :rolleyes: ), so it was very rare in the first year. Fortunately it was re-released in a later wave, but it was demanding decent prices on ebay for a while.




on a side note, I don't think the skylanders or Disney infinity download anything from the toys, it's just an RFID tag inside the toy that when close enough to the RFID reader in the game base is read and unlocks the game character and data that is pre-installed on the game disk or downloaded from the interwebs as required by the game.
incredibly cheap to produce and a massive money spinner.

I had a feeling it was something similar to the Transformers one, but wasn't sure how they were able to keep releasing new character figurines over a long period of time. If they are all in the game to start with, there should be a way to unlock them all with something techy. Or if they are uploaded online into the game, that would mean the later figurines would need to come with a warning that they may not work if you don't have an internet connection.

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

The faux wheels on the feet aren't just decorative, they also perform a practical function in preventing Ultra Magnus from rolling in robot mode and thus having that "roller skate" effect that you get on G1 Ultra Magnus (and even the City Commander 3P upgrade).
That just seemed logical to me. Am I getting too old and grumpy nowadays

[griffin]

This has been around for a while, and probably even posted here before... but these things are always worth re-posting, for the new and old fans.
The 1985 Sears Christmas catalogue, featuring toys (https://www.flickr.com/photos/wishbook/sets/72057594129032698/page7/)... and it's a LOT of toys.
A couple pages of second year Transformers, plus MASK, MOTU, She-Ra, Voltron, GIJoe, GoBots.
The thing that always amazes me though is the GIJoe Flagg aircraft carrier... at four times the size of Fortress Maximus... it's over a foot taller/longer than me.

Now that's the sort of catalogue I'd love to shop from... I'd be so poor if I was this age back then. :p

Another retro catalogue (http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-toy-discussion/1018470-g1-argos-catalogue-uk-1984-1990-a.html), this time from the UK store Argos. Sounds like it might be a mail-order catalogue.

[millhouse]

Another retro catalogue (http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-toy-discussion/1018470-g1-argos-catalogue-uk-1984-1990-a.html), this time from the UK store Argos. Sounds like it might be a mail-order catalogue.

Coming from the UK, I remember being back their on holidays in 1993 aged 10 and visiting Argos.

You basically (as I remember) go in with a catalogue, and they get the stuff from the back for you. Not a big box self-service department store like Big W.

Actually, the TFW2005 board post mentions it as an "order & wait" store. A totally foreign concept these days - but I don't know how common it was around the world at the time. The same post mentions it was unique in the UK.

[M-bot]

Another retro catalogue (http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-toy-discussion/1018470-g1-argos-catalogue-uk-1984-1990-a.html), this time from the UK store Argos. Sounds like it might be a mail-order catalogue.

I flicked through a few pages and the page just prior to the TFs in the winter '85 catalogue has a pre-Transformers Omega Supreme! (called Convertors Omegatron). As soon as they invent the Delorean Time machine...:)

[Seraphim Prime]

Masterpiece Wheeljack has a mustached face hidden behind his mouthplate!

Like MP1 convoy before him, the MP designers have had a bit of fun and given Wheeljack an actual face behind the plate. I don't have a photo, but if you go to Seibertron, you'll see what I mean.

It appears you need to unscrew the two half of the heads to open it up and see.

[M-bot]

Masterpiece Wheeljack has a mustached face hidden behind his mouthplate!

Like MP1 convoy before him, the MP designers have had a bit of fun and given Wheeljack an actual face behind the plate. I don't have a photo, but if you go to Seibertron, you'll see what I mean.

It appears you need to unscrew the two half of the heads to open it up and see.

Something similar behind MP Ultra Magnus's face too.

[CoRDS]

That you can do this

http://i.imgur.com/V8qmdkU.jpg
edit: smaller darn image (sorry for that huge one)

[GoktimusPrime]

Mind blown (http://static.seibertron.com/images/toys/files/43/r_mp-20-wheeljack-211.jpg) :eek:

Something similar behind MP Ultra Magnus's face too.
More like MP1 Convoy/Optimus Prime (http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/vv80/zodconvoy/MPoptimusmouth.jpg) (and MP2 Ultra Magnus), as both require the faceplate to be unscrewed, whereas MP22's is more like Bumblebee's in that it can just be removed by hand (and more easily than Bumblebee's as UM's head is larger). ;) I took my MP22 shopping at Ikea today, and one staff member came up to have a look at MP22. I easily removed the face to show him the inner head and how the faceplate can be changed. :D

[CBratron]

Only just noticed that Windblade's scabbard pegs into her back. There's a notch just under the edge of the cockpit canopy that it pegs into. Every other picture or review I've seen just has it pegged into her leg or held in hand.

[SMHFConvoy]

On gen arcee there is square slot behind her belly when you transform her to car mode, the smaller pistol pegs into it and you can peg her hands to either side of the pistol. It isn't in the instructions but it gives her clearance to roll

[GoktimusPrime]

Cloud Shockwave (http://takaratomymall.jp/special/tfcloud/character.html)'s gun is called the Astro Magnum (http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_W2kDUOORbWY/TDps8q2y97I/AAAAAAAAFpE/fb6VFqsXxLs/s1600/4-changeable-toyco-astro-magnum.jpg)! Niiice. ;)
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/avatars/iseewhatyoudidthere.jpg

[prjkt]

I love little references like that

[ampoldj]

I knew about the Skyfire-->Jetfire thing, although they had previously done it before w/ Animated and ROTF Jetfire, but I must admit that I didn't know about Sky Byte! :eek: I guess that the Anglophone names have become increasingly popular in Japan since the 07 movie, and they're now more heavily targeting kids and newer fans who aren't familiar with the original 80s old school names.

Even with Masterpiece... despite trying to consistently use all the original Japanese names, the word "Autobot" (instead of "Cybertron") managed to creep into MP-13 Condor's tech specs! :eek:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/Masterpiece%20Soundwave/mpcondortechspecsx_zpsad9ad226.jpg

Just when i tought MP LINE are strict to old school Japanese terms ;)

[SuspectimusPrime]

Nice. Still not parting with my dough for a purple Whirl :p

[Handsprime]

Has anyone noticed the minicon ports on Ultra Magnus? Ok so they aren't minicon ports, but you could one on it if you please

[Deonasis]

This is only a preference and quite obvious but I see A LOT of pics with Ultra Magnus's shin guards placed like the left one below.. but by moving the white ramp past it's small stopper (for trailer mode) the shin will look less gappy (right side).

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8642/15809148274_fab6d60ba7.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/q611ZY)

[Firestorm]

So, in today's episode of "man, I was a STUPID kid..."
Until today I never realised that the thrusters on the bottom of Armada Jetfire's feet could be folded down so he can stand flat.
Looking at them I have absolutely no idea HOW I never noticed this, it's pretty obvious they rotate.
Now my Jetfire can actually stand flat on my shelf instead of being awkwardly drunken/ bow-legged. I may need to dig up my old Prime so I can combine them and actually have it STAND xD

[GoktimusPrime]

Cloud Roadbuster's weapons are called "Calibre Arms," which is a nod to G1 Roadbuster's pre-Transformers DORVACK name, Mugen Calibur (http://www.toyhell.com/images/mugen_calibur_small.jpg) (sic).

[Lint]

Has anyone noticed the minicon ports on Ultra Magnus? Ok so they aren't minicon ports, but you could one on it if you please

Yes :p

http://i.imgur.com/QJpvQpb.jpg



So, in today's episode of "man, I was a STUPID kid..."
Until today I never realised that the thrusters on the bottom of Armada Jetfire's feet could be folded down so he can stand flat.
Looking at them I have absolutely no idea HOW I never noticed this, it's pretty obvious they rotate.
Now my Jetfire can actually stand flat on my shelf instead of being awkwardly drunken/ bow-legged. I may need to dig up my old Prime so I can combine them and actually have it STAND xD

Love it when you figure out these things years later! Its happened to me a few times but I can't remember for the life of me a specific example.

[Golden Phoenix]

http://i.imgur.com/QJpvQpb.jpg

Guess neither of them can deal with that now.

[griffin]

The Gen2 Laser Rod Optimus (which was used for the Year of the Goat Optimus) can store the gun in the front of the trailer (the "cap" that has to be folded down before the trailer can auto-transform into weapons base).

The original toy is so old, it was probably in the original instructions... but I was amazed to see it stored inside the trailer while packed in the YOTG box.
That probably means all the MANY accessories can store in the alt-mode, which is pretty impressive for a trailer-toy that isn't a hollow trailer like Gen1 Optimus.

(and with those BRIGHT pink accessories of the YOTG Optimus, they NEED to be hidden :p )

[Seraphim Prime]

The Gen2 Laser Rod Optimus (which was used for the Year of the Goat Optimus) can store the gun in the front of the trailer (the "cap" that has to be folded down before the trailer can auto-transform into weapons base).

The original toy is so old, it was probably in the original instructions... but I was amazed to see it stored inside the trailer while packed in the YOTG box.
That probably means all the MANY accessories can store in the alt-mode, which is pretty impressive for a trailer-toy that isn't a hollow trailer like Gen1 Optimus.

(and with those BRIGHT pink accessories of the YOTG Optimus, they NEED to be hidden :p )

I can't say whether it was in the instructions, but that's where I always used to store mine! Whether it was designed that way or was just some happy accident, for someone who would get frustrated by having to keep the weapons in a separate bag, it was just perfect!

[Kapryiath]

I can't remember if it was in the instructions but I always assumed it was intended but there is a place for all the accesories to be stored, g2 laser prime is an amazing figure imo so well designed !

[Handsprime]

Yes :p

http://i.imgur.com/QJpvQpb.jpg

https://41.media.tumblr.com/c23ebc78bffef01d541d15fffded6f59/tumblr_njmtg9GrIm1roirsjo1_540.png

Also while looking carefully, you ever noticed how Tidal Wave can have boobs?
https://41.media.tumblr.com/3c01bd689ed4c5d34381ae6b4ed2e69e/tumblr_njmue3vyCR1roirsjo1_540.jpg
Tidal wave is a sassy teenager

[Krayt]

The original instructions show it was pegged in place during transformation.... Then to be removed and placed in Primes hand...

http://www.transformerland.com/wiki/toy-info/transformers-g2-leaders-laser-optimus-prime/4426/

[Mythirax]

Also while looking carefully, you ever noticed how Tidal Wave can have boobs?

He has so much more than just boobs.

[SuspectimusPrime]

He has so much more than just boobs.

He's got four udders.

[Mythirax]

He's got four udders.

Rofl, exactly.

[Lint]

He's got four udders.

And they jiggle if you rub his belly the right way :p

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

The gun was included in the instructions, I think it sort of sits there as a tower emplacement as well. IIRC, Laser Prime can store all his accessories, bar the extra pump missiles. I think he can only store one.

[GoktimusPrime]

RiD2015 One Step Changer Sideswipe has the Kanji 瞬速 (blinding speed) sculpted on both sides of the vehicle mode, as well as the kanji 速 (speed) sculpted on the bonnet! :eek:

[ampoldj]

RiD2015 One Step Changer Sideswipe has the Kanji 瞬速 (blinding speed) sculpted on both sides of the vehicle mode, as well as the kanji 速 (speed) sculpted on the bonnet! :eek:

Been bothering me what the kanji is (bet my Japanese is all rusty). Thanks for the info Gok...

[griffin]

RiD2015 One Step Changer Sideswipe has the Kanji 瞬速 (blinding speed) sculpted on both sides of the vehicle mode, as well as the kanji 速 (speed) sculpted on the bonnet! :eek:

Something you found out three weeks ago (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?p=454727#post454727)... ;)

[GoktimusPrime]

Something you found out three weeks ago (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?p=454727#post454727)... ;)
Okay, I found out, then completely forgot about it, then rediscovered it today. :o #gettingold

[griffin]

How did I miss this... former Hasbro designer Eric Siebenaler, left Hasbro in March last year (http://www.allspark.com/content/2014/03/eric-siebenaler-resigns-from-hasbro/) (almost a whole year ago). :(

I was just sending him an email to catch up, and it bounced back, so I had to find out why... and it seems that this flew under the radar.
He was the Hasbro designer who had ties to Australia, living here for a year, so I would have made mention of his departure if I'd known about it.
(the last thing he told me in late 2013 was that he'd just moved to the Littlest Pet Shop division from working on Star Wars, and was looking to do more things on his artist side outside of Hasbro... I just didn't imagine that he'd leave Hasbro about 6 months later.)

The various websites I could find with his artwork have been fairly dormant or sporadic, so has anyone been seeing him active on other social media circles recently?

[Krayt]

He has done a little bit of art for Play With This Too...

http://playwiththistoo.com/2015/01/14/new-art-from-designer-eric-siebenaler/

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

Just spied a takara Animated optimus in a box at a second hand shop. In australia It was the deluxe one that was in the battle pack with Megatron. I got very confused as looking at it, it looked a lot like a current sized voyager toy, but I knew it was the wrong figure. I sat there staring at it thinking, nah its the wrong you for voyager size... But it certainly looks bigger than a deluxe!

Have the current smaller deluxes warped my sense of TF size classes?:eek:

[Jetfire in the sky]

Out of two adult collecting phases I've had G1 Sixshot twice so all up I've had him for about 10 years in the last 15, and in those 10 years I always thought how stupid his legs were because they angled our from his waist/hips making his him rock side to side when lightly bumped on the shelf because his feet weren't flat.
So at the moment I'm in the midst of a remodel of the collection room and with that comes wonderful little discoveries here and there.
Turns out that I have never transformed Sixshot's legs right!! I found out last night that by pulling them out (sideways as you look at him) at the waist/hips area it makes them straight and the feet flat on the deck. (Insert facepalm emoticon)

[Krayt]

well what do you know....

i never knew MP-01 had the TEH typo.... finally found my box after it was said on the board the other day checking the legit-ness of an ebay auction.... huh...

[griffin]

Back on topic...

Of all the different things that deteriorate on Transformers toys (rust on MP Megatron's feet, Actionmaster Vehicle rubber going brittle, selective yellowing on some plastics), I didn't know that the rubber shells to the Monster Pretenders is known to have spots of discolouration (http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-toy-discussion/1034900-monstructor-size-pics-post12244152.html), even when left sealed. Either due to mould or discolouration in the added chemicals in the plastic that gives it the different colours... I'm not sure.

(I guess everything is going to degrade eventually... and maybe 30 years is already a good lifespan for plastic products/toys?)

[GoktimusPrime]

Slog and Bristleback's shells have certainly outlive the plastic of the actual inner robots! :p

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

Back on topic...

Of all the different things that deteriorate on Transformers toys (rust on MP Megatron's feet, Actionmaster Vehicle rubber going brittle, selective yellowing on some plastics), I didn't know that the rubber shells to the Monster Pretenders is known to have spots of discolouration (http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-toy-discussion/1034900-monstructor-size-pics-post12244152.html), even when left sealed. Either due to mould or discolouration in the added chemicals in the plastic that gives it the different colours... I'm not sure.

(I guess everything is going to degrade eventually... and maybe 30 years is already a good lifespan for plastic products/toys?)

A couple of the pretenders I have at home have that spotting on them, I was wondering what that spotting was. Kind of sad as it's on quite a few of the shell arms I have. Iguanas is the worst affected.

[UltraMarginal]

Back on topic...

Of all the different things that deteriorate on Transformers toys (rust on MP Megatron's feet, Actionmaster Vehicle rubber going brittle, selective yellowing on some plastics), I didn't know that the rubber shells to the Monster Pretenders is known to have spots of discolouration (http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-toy-discussion/1034900-monstructor-size-pics-post12244152.html), even when left sealed. Either due to mould or discolouration in the added chemicals in the plastic that gives it the different colours... I'm not sure.

(I guess everything is going to degrade eventually... and maybe 30 years is already a good lifespan for plastic products/toys?)

the few monster pretenders I have, their rubber shells have perished horribly to the point where they stick to your fingers. Its such a shame and I would love to see a gift set style reissue of the six a I only ever had 3 and really liked the inner bots.

[griffin]

Not toy related, but I don't think there is another non-toy topic of "things you didn't know about Transformers". (maybe I should edit the title of this one, to include non-toy things like comics and cartoons)

Published in England in 2009 was a "choose your own adventure" type of book for Animated called Time-Quake (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Time-Quake), that was written by someone who is said to write Dr Who books... and it is said that one of the human characters in this book (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Natasha_Pyraniac) was basically written as if it were The Rani from Dr Who.

Another possible linking of the two story universes... with the previous being Deaths Head meeting the Doctor on a few occasions in the Dr Who comic and Deaths Head comic.

[Firestorm]

Not toy related, but I don't think there is another non-toy topic of "things you didn't know about Transformers". (maybe I should edit the title of this one, to include non-toy things like comics and cartoons)

Yes Griffin, please change the thread title. when I made it I didn't think to make it about things outside of toys but I really should have. :o


Published in England in 2009 was a "choose your own adventure" type of book for Animated called Time-Quake (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Time-Quake), that was written by someone who is said to write Dr Who books... and it is said that one of the human characters in this book (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Natasha_Pyraniac) was basically written as if it were The Rani from Dr Who.

Another possible linking of the two story universes... with the previous being Deaths Head meeting the Doctor on a few occasions in the Dr Who comic and Deaths Head comic.

Dr. Who may not be my area of expertise but I believe there was also a transformer in the marvel UK comics that transformed into a Dalek

[5FDP]

(I guess everything is going to degrade eventually... and maybe 30 years is already a good lifespan for plastic products/toys?)

I'd hazard a guess that when they made these toys, having people play with them 30 years later didn't even enter their minds.

[GoktimusPrime]

Dr. Who may not be my area of expertise but I believe there was also a transformer in the marvel UK comics that transformed into a Dalek
Octus (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Octus_(G1))

[Firestorm]

Octus (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Octus_(G1))

Yes, that's the one.

also I see the thread title has been changed, thanks Bossbot

[Paulbot]

I'm going to put this down to the character never get much play in fiction before Robots In Disguise, but I've never made the connection between the function "thief" and the name "Chop Shop" before. 30 years late to the party :o

[SuspectimusPrime]

Never realised that Generations Seaspray had a fan combination mode (http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NjcyWDg5Ng==/z/MHwAAOSwR0JUMHqG/$_57.JPG) with Breacher (similar to Mindwipe and Skystalker). Image from eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Transformers-Voyagers-Seaspray-G1-and-Breecher-Combo-Lot-/291259839556?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43d0707444).

[GoktimusPrime]

Just found out today that there was a 30th anniversary Transformers exhibit in Singapore that finished yesterday. :o
http://www.science.edu.sg/exhibitions/Pages/transformers.aspx

[griffin]

It was in the news section in November (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=19716&highlight=singapore), and had a lot of discussion in January.

[GoktimusPrime]

...that was kinda my point for posting my super-late realisation on this thread. :o

But anyway this thread is for posting things that you've only just now realised about Transformers toys you've had for ages (even if it's something that you think everyone else already knows about)

------------------------

Whoa... so G1 Ratchet was originally conceived to be female (https://twitter.com/tfwiki/status/572187864148148224?utm_source=fb&fb_ref=Default&utm_content=572211422509338624&utm_campaign=LukeABarnett&utm_medium=fb)? :confused: :eek:

[Lint]

Just found out today that there was a 30th anniversary Transformers exhibit in Singapore that finished yesterday. :o
http://www.science.edu.sg/exhibitions/Pages/transformers.aspx

That Roller guy went there on the opening day. Barrels of fun! Our grandkids will probably be adults before we ever see an exhibit like that down under.

[griffin]

I probably just forgot about this, but the 2014 Hero Mashers Drift was originally going to be Bludgeon (http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/transformers-movie-toys-products-30/transformers-hero-mashers-grimlock-starscream-optimus-prime-and-more-179195/)... to match the Gen1 theme of the other Hero Mashers.
A shame that we probably won't see that now. It's a bit of a tease for the Bludgeon fans.

[Bidoofdude]

This may seem stupid, but I did not realise until today that Generations Skid's shoulder sockets can extend from their awkward position. Looks much better.

[Firestorm]

This may seem stupid, but I did not realise until today that Generations Skid's shoulder sockets can extend from their awkward position. Looks much better.

If heard of this before but never tried it. I don't have access to my skids right now to try it. Any chance of some pics to show he difference?

As for my own realisation, I was fiddling with the deluxe movie Brawl earlier and finally discovered that his massive cannon can slide up his forearm so it's not quite so awkward.

[Bidoofdude]

If heard of this before but never tried it. I don't have access to my skids right now to try it. Any chance of some pics to show he difference?

As for my own realisation, I was fiddling with the deluxe movie Brawl earlier and finally discovered that his massive cannon can slide up his forearm so it's not quite so awkward.

I currently don't have any pictures, but you can't really notice it too much. He just holds poses much better and his shoulders look slightly broader.

[DELTAprime]

I got a rude reminder just now that every line has it's share of turds. I got TFA Swoop, Slag and Wreck-gar in the mail today. Slag is, OK. Swoop is, basic. And Wreck-gar is just plain bad. Oh well, I'm so close to having all the TFA characters now. Just 5 more toys to go and I'll have all the retail TFA characters, then I can start on those Club characters.

[prjkt]

Took me ages to figure out thar the feet of the classics Prowl/Bluestreak/Smokescreen mould can actually be extended a cm or so, really helps with posing so they don't fall over

[Paulbot]

Transforming Death Star Darth Vader for the first time in a long time, I found out about the opening parts in the shoulders and legs that can hold the pilots.

[Paulbot]

ROTF Nightbeat (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Nightbeat_%28ROTF%29) was originally meant to be Packrat (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Packrat)

I thought it was a poor movie version of Nightbeat, and would have liked it much more if it was a movie version of Packrat.

[GoktimusPrime]

I just made the connection today... the third part of the Transformers Prime franchise was called "Beast Hunters," and that name an homage to Beast Machines: Transformers as 'Beast Hunters' was the original working title for that franchise before it was later finalised as "Beast Machines." :eek:

"BEAST HUNTERS, the next evolution of the popular Beast Wars franchise, continue their fight against the evil dragon Megatron and his hordes of Predacons in 13 all-new episodes with cutting edge computer animation, action, adventure and humor, produced by Mainframe Entertainment."
Fox! Kids press release, 10/2/1999 (https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/rec.toys.transformers.moderated/BeidF5XZ9NY/-0DHDwElYpQJ)

Only took me 2 years to notice this. #slow :p Although it appears that TFwiki hasn't noticed it either, as it's not mentioned on the footnotes of their TFP: Beast Hunters page (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Beast_Hunters).

[SuspectimusPrime]

I just made the connection today... the third part of the Transformers Prime franchise was called "Beast Hunters," and that name an homage to Beast Machines: Transformers as 'Beast Hunters' was the original working title for that franchise before it was later finalised as "Beast Machines." :eek:

"BEAST HUNTERS, the next evolution of the popular Beast Wars franchise, continue their fight against the evil dragon Megatron and his hordes of Predacons in 13 all-new episodes with cutting edge computer animation, action, adventure and humor, produced by Mainframe Entertainment."
Fox! Kids press release, 10/2/1999 (https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/rec.toys.transformers.moderated/BeidF5XZ9NY/-0DHDwElYpQJ)

Only took me 2 years to notice this. #slow :p Although it appears that TFwiki hasn't noticed it either, as it's not mentioned on the footnotes of their TFP: Beast Hunters page (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Beast_Hunters).

Always easier to renew a trademark than to file a new one.

[GoktimusPrime]

The trademark for Beast Hunters may very well have expired considering, if it was ever filed at all. Even if they had filed it, TFPBH came out in 2013, and let's assume that the trademark was filed in 2012, that's still a good thirteen year gap. Surely any trademark would've expired by then. We didn't see Hasbro using the Beast Hunters name at any time between 1999-2013 so there doesn't appear to be any sign of them maintaining the trademark through usage. I suspect that the homage was done more out of opportunity.

[UltimateGalvatron]

Even if they had filed it, TFPBH came out in 2013, and let's assume that the trademark was filed in 2012, that's still a good thirteen year gap.

I believe you mean either 2002 or 2001 or something like that... :P

[GoktimusPrime]

I believe you mean either 2002 or 2001 or something like that... :P
Transformers Prime Beast Hunters (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Beast_Hunters) ran from 2013-2014, thus the trademark for that name would presumably have been filed in 2012. If Hasbro had trademarked the 'Beast Hunters' name for the Beast Wars sequel, then they would have done so in 1999. Beast Machines was already over by 2001-02 which were the Robots In Disguise years (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Transformers:_Robots_in_Disguise_(2001_franchise)) .

[UltimateGalvatron]

Sorry I thought you meant from 2013 BACK to Beast Machines :confused: :rolleyes:

[SuspectimusPrime]

The trademark for Beast Hunters may very well have expired considering, if it was ever filed at all. Even if they had filed it, TFPBH came out in 2013, and let's assume that the trademark was filed in 2012, that's still a good thirteen year gap. Surely any trademark would've expired by then. We didn't see Hasbro using the Beast Hunters name at any time between 1999-2013 so there doesn't appear to be any sign of them maintaining the trademark through usage. I suspect that the homage was done more out of opportunity.

Digressing here. They should be able to register them for 10-year periods, and even if after the trademark's expired, if it is unused by any other company then the original company has a choice of renewing it. Fees are usually involved, but they are negligible (at least in Australia) compared against the ridiculous 7 month waiting period of lodging a whole new trademark.

[UltraMarginal]

Digressing here. They should be able to register them for 10-year periods, and even if after the trademark's expired, if it is unused by any other company then the original company has a choice of renewing it. Fees are usually involved, but they are negligible (at least in Australia) compared against the ridiculous 7 month waiting period of lodging a whole new trademark.

That's quite interesting, hardly a digression, thank you.

[GoktimusPrime]

Digressing here. They should be able to register them for 10-year periods, and even if after the trademark's expired, if it is unused by any other company then the original company has a choice of renewing it. Fees are usually involved, but they are negligible (at least in Australia) compared against the ridiculous 7 month waiting period of lodging a whole new trademark.
C'est trés possible mon ami. ;) In which case, glad to see Hasbro finally using that trademark. :D

[Handsprime]

As seen in the Action Pose thread, Cybertron Metroplex does in fact, have a city mode. While it isn't offical (and it only kinda resembles a city), it can be a good place to put your mini-cons on.

https://40.media.tumblr.com/67277ca8bd485d62a53c9643a38ebb4e/tumblr_nm8d3bM93E1roirsjo5_1280.jpg

[griffin]

After seeing a group photo of the Q-Transformers toys in packaging, I didn't realise that they are a mix and match of Hasbro and TakaraTomy names in English on the packaging, but they all have the TakaraTomy names underneath in Japanese... and it doesn't seem to make much sense (to me).

The "Gen1" Bumblebee is labelled in English as Bumble, Sideswipe is labelled as Lambor... however, the "Gen1" Red Alert is not called Alert in English, Jazz is not called Meister, and Hot Rod is not called Hot Rodimus. And yet, the Japanese name is on the packaging in Katakana.

Why not have all the English names be their Hasbro names if they are different instead of just half of them, or have all of the Japanese names be the Hasbro names in katakana if they are different to the TakaraTomy names.

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c572.jpg

[Bladestorm]

I don't know why they do the strange inconsistent naming either but they have already used "Optimus" and "Optimus Prime" in the QT series thus far, so perhaps they are trying to avoid "english" confusion by calling the G1 version Convoy (and that's what he was called in the original 84 Japanese version right? so it would make sense)
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8709/17041123851_f1be13e0de.jpg

Similarly they've used Bumblebee with the Age of Extinction version so perhaps they want each vehicle to have it's own unique "english" name?

[griffin]

The influence of the Movies has indeed been affecting other non-Movie Transformers lately in Japan, but some of these were using their TakaraTomy names in English, while others were using Hasbro names in English... and I have a feeling that QT-19 will have "Convoy" on the packaging to differentiate it from the Optimus and Optimus Prime in your photo.
That in itself could be a reason for Optimus and Bumblebee (to have different names on each toy for Retailers & buyers to differentiate between toys that have the same character name), but the other ones I listed in my earlier post are the only toy of that character name... so that's not a consistent reason.

[GoktimusPrime]

Remember that the English language in Japan is mostly decorative. Most people in Japan don't speak English and wouldn't pay much attention to it. It's similar to how Hasbro (USA) uses the Japanese word for 'masterpiece' (傑作; kessaku) on their recent MP packaging despite the fact that most Anglophones don't speak Japanese, and also despite the fact that Masterpiece Transformers are never called kessaku in Japanese -- it's only ever called マスターピース (masutaapiisu: Masterpiece); if you look at any Japanese MP toy, they use only ever use the English word "Masterpiece" and never the Japanese word "kessaku." But both sides are doing this to give a foreign exotic appeal to their products.

Images
TakaraTOMY MP -- notice how "Masterpiece" is written in English or Katakana (masutaapiisu):
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-txFd5Fd_skw/VR6GHBWRDtI/AAAAAAAAUSI/E62htRd40zI/s1600/Star%2BSaber%2B-%2BPackaging%2BFront.JPG
http://static.seibertron.com/images/toys/uploads/1425842409_mp23%201.PNG
http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/transformers/images/b/b4/Mp01.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20101220211423&path-prefix=es
http://static.seibertron.com/images/news/889a187a4b1c3d8e119ececc8cb0e186.jpg
http://intl.rakuten-static.com/t/9db/247/2391/0ddc/800c/7a53/d2c3/11a8e4a2a5005056b7016d.jpg
Hasbro MP -- notice that the Japanese word 「傑作」 (kessaku) is used:
http://news.toyark.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2013/07/Transformers-Masterpiece-Soundwave-1.jpg
http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/attach/8/0/5/0/7/27433584d1398197645-hasbro-mp-prowl-offical-images-prowl-1_1398782759.jpg
http://www.actionfigurefury.com/wp-content/uploads/Transformers-Masterpiece-Acid-Storm-1-toys-r-us-sdcc-2013.jpg
http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/attach/8/0/5/0/7/603671_10152355759192726_1037439217044607061_n_139 8432652_1398955859.jpg
http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/attach/4/0/5/9/7/FF689B92-1711-452F-96B4-74EF02E1CD74_zpsdytrty2o_1406334294.jpg

Last year I saw someone wearing this shirt (http://a1.s6img.com/cdn/0019/v/6967877_2505458-tsrmw120_pm.jpg) -- 'glass stain' style image of Megatron with the Latin expression pax per tyrannis; an attempt at saying "Peace through tyranny" in Latin. But it's grammatically incorrect, as it's using the nominative case of 'tyrannis,' instead of the accusative case; thus the correct translation is pax per tyrannidem. I pointed this out to the person wearing the shirt -- he had a chuckle, but otherwise wasn't fussed by it. There's a group of Resident Evil Umbrella Corps cosplayers whose uniforms all have the word "Umbrella" incorrectly written as アンブしラ社 (Umbshilla Corps); evidently whoever made the logo confused the Hiragana character 'shi' (し) for the Katakana character for 're' (レ). I pointed this out to some of these Cosplayers, and again, they laughed it off but didn't really care. I also used to train with a Karate teacher whose name was also written incorrectly in Japanese on his black belt; I won't use his actual name, but it'd be the equivalent of a guy named "Bob" having his name written as "Bab" on his black belt. When I pointed this out to him, he was amazed... but didn't go ask for his black belt embroidery to be redone.

And that's pretty much how most Japanese people feel about English -- if you point out that something may be incorrect, ultimately, most won't care. The language use is ornamental, nothing more. I'm not saying that I agree or approve of this, but it's what it is. :o

What I find more interesting are:
* Bluestreak -- he's actually called ブルーストリーク ("Bluestreak") instead of just 'Streak', which is his Japanese G1 name. It seems that the toy is based on Binaltech Bluestreak (http://www.toy-toraya.com/mtimg/1205323-2.jpg). I don't think it's a trademark issue, as TakaraTOMY used the name 'Streak' for the Masterpiece toy, so I'd say it's directly based off the BT figure.
* Jazz -- is called オートボットマイスター ("Autobot Meister") instead of just 'Meister.' This suggests that TakaraTOMY may have lost the trademark to the name 'Meister,' and has thus tacked 'Autobot' in front of it. This certainly isn't the first time that this has happened -- Henkei Inferno is called サイバートロンインフェルノ ("Cybertron Inferno"), and Henkei Octane is called デストロンオクトーン ("Destron Octone"; bearing in mind that "Octone" is Octane's JP G1 name).

[GoktimusPrime]

Generations Gears... his instructions show photos of Generations Swerve, and got a Decepticon purple background! :eek:
http://www.transformerland.com/image/archive/instructionscans/full/Gears%20and%20Eclipse_instructions-68500.jpg

[aduthie1980]

Apologies for the lighting, but just found out Universe Galvatron had a third mode
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa468/Andrew_Duthie/Transformers/Ozformers/061E6D6E-094C-4F36-AEEB-99CE3BD4A25B_zpswf05xl7b.jpg (http://s1199.photobucket.com/user/Andrew_Duthie/media/Transformers/Ozformers/061E6D6E-094C-4F36-AEEB-99CE3BD4A25B_zpswf05xl7b.jpg.html)

And also never realised that G1 Ultra Magnus's legs clipped into his arms in trailer mode
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa468/Andrew_Duthie/Transformers/Ozformers/934BB10E-81A8-45CD-9414-6222AEE439DA_zpser0qh2lu.jpg (http://s1199.photobucket.com/user/Andrew_Duthie/media/Transformers/Ozformers/934BB10E-81A8-45CD-9414-6222AEE439DA_zpser0qh2lu.jpg.html)

[MissDaria]

Digressing here. They should be able to register them for 10-year periods, and even if after the trademark's expired, if it is unused by any other company then the original company has a choice of renewing it. Fees are usually involved, but they are negligible (at least in Australia) compared against the ridiculous 7 month waiting period of lodging a whole new trademark.

I think that the USA has a higher degree of 'use it or lose it' with regards to trademarks.

[Zommael]

I just discovered that CW Legends Thundercracker's wings can actually be positioned in such a way in robot mode that they are much more secure and less likely to flap about, if you simply push the whole assembly down so that the connecting strut is on an angle. Works much better in my opinion.

[Handsprime]

I just discovered that CW Legends Thundercracker's wings can actually be positioned in such a way in robot mode that they are much more secure and less likely to flap about, if you simply push the whole assembly down so that the connecting strut is on an angle. Works much better in my opinion.

Funny cause I've always been doing this and I never really noticed.

[UltraMarginal]

that third mode for Galvatron is pretty neat, I might have to try it out.

[griffin]

I think this is actually new, but if it isn't, I didn't realise it before - the RID Titans are made in Indonesia, which is a country that I don't recall seeing before on a Transformers toy.
It seems rather odd though, as they are still getting toys produced in China and Vietnam, so I wonder why they need another location to make toys... and the most gimmicky ones at that.

[GoktimusPrime]

IIRC some G2 toys like 1993's Megatron was made in Indonesia

[Bidoofdude]

Is the Universe Galvatron actually designed to allow for that 3rd mode, or is it a happy accident?

[Sinnertwin]

Is the Universe Galvatron actually designed to allow for that 3rd mode, or is it a happy accident?

#5
http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/10873.shtml

[UltraMarginal]

Is the Universe Galvatron actually designed to allow for that 3rd mode, or is it a happy accident?


#5
http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/10873.shtml

Thanks For Sharing that Sinnertwin, that was a very interesting little read and the sketches were pretty cool. That toy would have been so awesome as a voyager or even Ultra.

[The Scream Man]

I was just watching Thews review of Generations Jetfire, and he showed the backpack swiveling around. i had NO idea it could do that!

[Handsprime]

Today I learnt that with AOE drift, you can store all his swords in his bugatti mode. While the swords are stored at the bottom, the daggers are stored inside from the ceiling of the car.

[UltimateGalvatron]

Only just realised Sinnertwin's Username was based on a real transformer :confused:

Sorry I guess...:confused:

[Ravagecat]

Only just realised Sinnertwin's Username was based on a real transformer :confused:

Sorry I guess...:confused:

If you're a child of the 90's or 00's I guess we can forgive you :D:p

[UltimateGalvatron]

If you're a child of the 90's or 00's I guess we can forgive you :D:p

00s, so yeah. :o

[UltraMarginal]

00s, so yeah. :o

:(that means I'm literally at least 20 years older than you...

I have wisdom though , years and years of wisdom:rolleyes::D

[GoktimusPrime]

00s, so yeah. :o
:eek: You must still be in school!

Please forgive us G1 old timers. We are the children of the 80s. :o

[UltimateGalvatron]

:eek: You must still be in school!

Please forgive us G1 old timers. We are the children of the 80s. :o

LOL! Yeah I am.

My dad grew up with G1! :O :eek: He had a huge collection of G1 figures and sold them off a few years after they were married. He said that TFs aren't worth anything any more and he only got about $150 for almost all of the Season 1 cast and most of Season 2 and some of 3. He must have kicked himself in the butt a few years after I was born and showed me the 80s movie and I started wanting the toys. He started buying some G1 figures online. I had Hoist, Wheeljack, Prowl, Seaspray, Beachcomber, Brawn and Wheelie. Then I got some Transformers Cybertron Legends, Some Movie Legends, Scouts and Deluxes, and my last TF before I lost interest was Animated Bulkhead and the Jetfire/Jetstorm pack.

And because of Age of Extinction I got back into Transformers.

Yeah. I got drawn back in THAT easily. :D :p

[GoktimusPrime]

LOL! Yeah I am.

My dad grew up with G1! :O :eek:
:eek: http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/avatars/omg_zps183477eb.jpg :eek:

You're in the same generation as our children! (T-T) Maaaan... where's my Seniors Discount Card?! :p

[UltimateGalvatron]

:eek: http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/avatars/omg_zps183477eb.jpg :eek:

You're in the same generation as our children! (T-T) Maaaan... where's my Seniors Discount Card?! :p

I LOLed at this

[Magnus]

Was reading TFWiki recently, and I found apparently you're meant to fold the cab panels from RotF Leader Optimus up against Jetfire's torso with Jetpower Optimus:

http://i.imgur.com/UZz8en5.jpg

Folding the cab panels on Optimus like so makes a subtle but noticeable change to the silhouette. It's not well shown in this photo, but the Blackbird engine nacelles stand out more, which is more screen-accurate.

http://i.imgur.com/h2ZIQ7J.jpg

[Zommael]

Was reading TFWiki recently, and I found apparently you're meant to fold the cab panels from RotF Leader Optimus up against Jetfire's torso with Jetpower Optimus:


Folding the cab panels on Optimus like so makes a subtle but noticeable change to the silhouette. It's not well shown in this photo, but the Blackbird engine nacelles stand out more, which is more screen-accurate.



!!!!

As someone who likes to combine my leader movie Primes with Jetfire, I'd never done this before. Having to resist the urge to go do it now and continue working!

[nsm034]

only realised the other day that all decepticons end with con eg constucticon, insecticon and autobots end with bot, dinobot ,arialbot. lol

[GoktimusPrime]

only realised the other day that all decepticons end with con eg constucticon, insecticon and autobots end with bot, dinobot ,arialbot. lol
There are several faction-exclusive sub groups that buck this trend, including...
* Jumpstarters
* Battlechargers
* Junkions
* Lightformers
* Trakkons
* Motorvators
* Turbomasters
* Predators
* Stormtroopers
* Axelerators
* Aquaspeeders
* Brainmasters
* Breast Force
* Multi Force
* Powered Masters
etc.

And there are obviously other sub-groups which aren't bound by faction, such as Headmasters, Targetmasters, Action Masters, Micromasters, Pretenders, Clones, Powermasters, Power Masters, Godmasters, Obliterators, Transmetals, Fuzors, Mini-Cons etc. :)

[Seraphim Prime]

There are several faction-exclusive sub groups that buck this trend, including...
* Jumpstarters
* Battlechargers
* Junkions
* Lightformers
* Trakkons
* Motorvators
* Turbomasters
* Predators
* Stormtroopers
* Axelerators
* Aquaspeeders
* Brainmasters
* Breast Force
* Multi Force
* Powered Masters
etc.

And there are obviously other sub-groups which aren't bound by faction, such as Headmasters, Targetmasters, Action Masters, Micromasters, Pretenders, Clones, Powermasters, Power Masters, Godmasters, Obliterators, Transmetals, Fuzors, Mini-Cons etc. :)

The way I justify that in my head is that those teams which you have suggested Gok are teams defined by a technology, rather than a theme (ie: Dinobots are a team of Autobot Dinosaurs, whereas the Lightformers are a jeep and a plane who use light based weapons).

[Magnus]

I just found out that RotF deluxe Ratchet has an Automorph-type transformation on his grille-mounted lamps: they shift up or down depending on the position of his bumper when you transform his torso.

[UltraMarginal]

I just found out that RotF deluxe Ratchet has an Automorph-type transformation on his grille-mounted lamps: they shift up or down depending on the position of his bumper when you transform his torso.

that is cool, is that the same as the dark of the moon deluxe of ratchet, if so I think I might finally get around to opening my one of these this weekend.

[Yongeltron]

No, DotM deluxe Ratchet is a new mould. No automorph or mech-alive on that one, just his mech-tech. Sill a good mould though.

[CHILENO20]

Rather obscure but I just noticed CW Optimus Maximus's limb layout is very similar to Energon Optimus Prime. Cool

[DELTAprime]

I just got RID Warrior Optimus. I didn't know Hasbro had gone back to putting instructions on the back of the packaging. It's good to cut down on paper used, but also means they are cheaping out even furtherer.

[GoktimusPrime]

Hook and Mixmaster's elbows are actually double jointed! :eek: Until now, I thought that they could only swivel up and down, but they can also rotate left and right! So cool! :cool:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/Combiner%20Wars/cw_constructicon_hook01_zpsol2drvjw.jpg

[Firestorm]

Hook and Mixmaster's elbows are actually double jointed! :eek: Until now, I thought that they could only swivel up and down, but they can also rotate left and right! So cool! :cool:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/Combiner%20Wars/cw_constructicon_hook01_zpsol2drvjw.jpg

They stole their extra joints from Scrapper and Long Haul :p

[liegeprime]

Dunno if anyone's posted it before but I never knew there was Blaster has wrist articulation!!:eek::eek::eek:... goodness after all these years you still find something with G1 figures

I only discovered it when I was trying to transform the Encore Blaster recolour (billy) and then his fist suddenly turned when I pressed on it, I thought I broke it, but then the other one did as well, I thought then, must be an improvement to the mold so I got my original G1 Blaster and did it to his fists... they rotated, viola!!! something new, well for me that is...


http://i1379.photobucket.com/albums/ah155/liegeprime1/2015%20Acquisitions/20150704_171555_zpsztqkhkze.jpg (http://s1379.photobucket.com/user/liegeprime1/media/2015%20Acquisitions/20150704_171555_zpsztqkhkze.jpg.html)

[griffin]

Dunno if anyone's posted it before but I never knew there was Blaster has wrist articulation!!:eek::eek::eek:... goodness after all these years you still find something with G1 figures

The fists actually rotate because the arms are meant to be rotated for robot mode (http://tfwiki.net/mediawiki/images2/thumb/f/fe/G1_Blaster_toy.jpg/300px-G1_Blaster_toy.jpg)... which is something I didn't realise for a looooong time, because the arms looked stupid being thick, instead of thin (not rotating them to see the shoulder stickers like in that image link).

[Paulbot]

When I used to play with Blaster I gave him what I thought of as "regular mode" (on the left) and "super mode" (on the right - thicker arms / longer legs)

http://i.imgur.com/G19Wjzkm.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/TdeuFfjm.jpg

(I think transforming him for these photos is the first time he's been transformed in over a decade. One of those arms was really tight and in need of excessive force!)

[liegeprime]

I've always just done the regular mode Paulbot , Bossbot which is prolly why I haven't rotated those wrists and never knew of the articulation hahahah - as you can very well see in that pic I have attached, Im still doing it even to the new version. Doh!! :o:o:o I gotta play with these figures more often....

[Jaxius._]

:eek: http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/avatars/omg_zps183477eb.jpg :eek:

You're in the same generation as our children! (T-T) Maaaan... where's my Seniors Discount Card?! :p



*Born in 00's grew up with G1 DVD's*

[Handsprime]

So apparently the Optimus Prime that comes with Stratosphere is small enough to fit into Combiner Wars Devastator's hands! Also I think Optimus is Micro Machine size

I would take photos, but I'm pretty buggered at the moment so I can't be bothered.

UPDATE: Actually it's not only Devastator who can hold him. I tried it on a few figures (Titan Metroplex, MP10 Optimus, Armada Tidal Wave) and they all can hold Optimus Prime. In fact Stratosphere can also hold him.
Hope you didn't lose your lil' Optimus Prime, because a lot of bots can in fact, hold him.

[Bidoofdude]

*Born in 00's grew up with G1 DVD's*

Fist bump (born in '99 but still).

[Jaxius._]

I read this whole thread i need a life xD

[Zommael]

I read this whole thread i need a life xD

So obviously you've realised you need a life, but is that technically connected to Transformers? :p

[UltraMarginal]

*Born in 00's grew up with G1 DVD's*


Fist bump (born in '99 but still).

I started Uni before both of you were born. ... MP3 players didn't exist and everyone still used floppy disks.

[Demonac]

*Born in 00's grew up with G1 DVD's*


Fist bump (born in '99 but still).

You guys are both closer in age to my daughter than to me. I think I need to go and get some air now.

[UltimateGalvatron]

*Born in 00's grew up with G1 DVD's*

Same, but also watched Armada and Cybertron

[Firestorm]

You guys are both closer in age to my daughter than to me. I think I need to go and get some air now.

If it helps any, I was born in the early 90's and grew up with the beast era

[VERT]

I started Uni before both of you were born. ... MP3 players didn't exist and everyone still used floppy disks.

Haha yeah me too. Did tafe after I finished school in 1993 then Uni Started in 1996 lol. Im so old
.

[Jaxius._]

making you guys feel old

[griffin]

I never thought about attaching Combiner Wars Powerglide to Superion's gun, to form a super gun (http://news.tfw2005.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/07/B3774-SUPERION.jpg).

[Handsprime]

I should be feeling young with all the people here talking about how old they are, and I'm just here feeling old amongst all the teenagers on the forum.

[Jaxius._]

I never thought about attaching Combiner Wars Powerglide to Superion's gun, to form a super gun (http://news.tfw2005.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/07/B3774-SUPERION.jpg).

hm that looks coolish

I hope alpha bravo comes with the set as gold dust in a snap lock back

[aduthie1980]

Just noticed the ports on Superions thighs, perfect for weapon storage.http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa468/Andrew_Duthie/Transformers/Ozformers/0E56F576-8A4C-4F07-ACCF-52C50858EED3_zps2v7a5zpy.jpg (http://s1199.photobucket.com/user/Andrew_Duthie/media/Transformers/Ozformers/0E56F576-8A4C-4F07-ACCF-52C50858EED3_zps2v7a5zpy.jpg.html)

[Paulbot]

United Superion points that out on the box, and I thought I had just not noticed it on all the pics I've seen all year of people's Hasbro Aerialbot.

[Zommael]

I have them pointed forward on mine. Thigh cannons are the next best thing to knee cannons!

[prjkt]

I have them pointed forward on mine. Thigh cannons are the next best thing to knee cannons!

I've been doing that for ages too, have to store the bot mode weapons somewhere

[CHILENO20]

Didn't realise that Generations Streetwise is based on a R35 GTR! My fav car! :D:D:D

[philby]

I never thought about attaching Combiner Wars Powerglide to Superion's gun, to form a super gun (http://news.tfw2005.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/07/B3774-SUPERION.jpg).

i saw that from one of the takara guy's twitter not too long ago, that's how i've got mine


Didn't realise that Generations Streetwise is based on a R35 GTR! My fav car! :D:D:D

a nismo gtr won bathurst 12 hour this year, i didn't watch it but saw on youtube not long ago the last few laps were pretty hectic!

[griffin]

I only found out today that all of the Japanese Masterpiece Thundercracker toy (from a few years back now), has it's robot chest halves (the "boob" rocket covers) are on the wrong sides, so that the flat edge is on the outside instead of the angled edge.
It's a very slight angled edged, so it is hard to even notice it unless you have another Masterpiece toy to compare it to.... but it is rare to have a Japanese Transformers toy to have a construction error like that and not get noticed before it was boxed up and sold to stores.

[DELTAprime]

I only found out today that all of the Japanese Masterpiece Thundercracker toy (from a few years back now), has it's robot chest halves (the "boob" rocket covers) are on the wrong sides, so that the flat edge is on the outside instead of the angled edge.
It's a very slight angled edged, so it is hard to even notice it unless you have another Masterpiece toy to compare it to.... but it is rare to have a Japanese Transformers toy to have a construction error like that and not get noticed before it was boxed up and sold to stores.

I just had a look at mine and yep they are swapped. It's very subtle and I'd never have noticed if you didn't point it out.

[griffin]

At least the official images of the upcoming JP Thundercracker look to have it fixed... it would be a shame if they did it twice.


A new discovery for me, thanks to TFWiki - the current Universal Studios (Movie) ride is not the first Transformers themed event at the themepark (in California), as there was some sort of exhibit or event way back in 1985 (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/The_Transformers_Universal_Studios_Tour). The specific details are vague, but the surviving photos look like it would have been fun for a kid back then.

[Jaxius._]

FOC shockwave has his head molded into his chest when you flip it for alt mode

[GoktimusPrime]

Didn't realise just how many voice actors have worked on both Transformers and Dragonball!
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/seiyuudbz_zpsiun2n4xw.jpg

[Mythirax]

Didn't realise just how many voice actors have worked on both Transformers and Dragonball!

Wow, that's a heck of a lot.

[Firestorm]

indeed, quite a lot.

and quite surprised by bumbleBeerus lol

[DELTAprime]

Wait, does Bumblebee speak in Japan?

[GoktimusPrime]

Wait, does Bumblebee speak in Japan?
Yamadera Kouchi is the dub of Bumblebee's radio voice (otherwise the sound bytes would make no sense to the audience).

[liegeprime]

Armada Airazor was a Decepticon :eek::eek:.... Only found out when I was transforming the figure yesterday to pack in storage... yet there it was a big embossed decepticon insignia in her innerback.... geez you think you know a figure... :p

[griffin]

Armada Airazor was a Decepticon :eek::eek:.... Only found out when I was transforming the figure yesterday to pack in storage... yet there it was a big embossed decepticon insignia in her innerback.... geez you think you know a figure... :p

Yeah, the Dreamwave comic has the four Beast Wars Armada toys/characters be soldiers of Unicron (the four horseman of the apocalypse) . You'd have to look up the tfwiki for the full story as it has been about 11 years since I read those comics.
I guess since Hasbro changed the moulding of those 4 Deluxe Transmetal Beast Wars toys to add in the minicon ports, they changed the moulding to add in a sculpted Decepticon symbol.

For those curious, the four Deluxe Transmetal Beast Wars toys were Airazor, Cheetor, Terrorsaur and Rhinox (each with a minicon)... with Voyager Megatron (with two minicons).

[MayzaPrime]

For those curious, the four Deluxe Transmetal Beast Wars toys were Airazor, Cheetor, Terrorsaur and Rhinox (each with a minicon)... with Voyager Megatron (with two minicons).

Atleast that Armada Transmetal Megatron (Predacon) didnt have the GPS that the Beast Wars version has...

I believe all the above figures were just fillers as Hasbro didnt anticipate how popular the Armada line was going to be and needed extra figures.

[Firestorm]

Random discovery of the day. There's a packaging variant for legion RiD night ops Bumblebee.
One with his default character art. And one recoloured to match the toy

http://i59.tinypic.com/wvtru8.jpg

I'm assuming it's just a variant and not a packaging error
Either way was a random find

[griffin]

Yep, it's a running change that some countries didn't get.
A lot of the RID redecos in different size classes were lazy with the recycled art on the packaging, but eventually had some of them changed to reflect the actual toy in the pack.

[BigTransformerTrev]

I just realised...

The previous Transformers game made by Activision was Rise of the Dark Spark. At the end of the credits you see a G1 Optimus on Earth watching something fly across the sky. That must have been their little teaser that Devastation was in the works :)

[griffin]

I've had a suspicion a couple months ago, leading me to check a youtube review last week, but now that I finally got one in hand, I now know for sure... the QTransformers crossovers toys are not based on an existing QTransformers toy (specifically the Gen1 Optimus figure). They (the crossover ones) are all the same mould with different heads, but Hello Kitty was the first with that mould and all the ones since are based on that toy, not a pure Transformers QTransformers toy.

They don't even transform the same, which I feel stupid about. The Transformers QTs stay facing up when transforming them from car to robot mode with the top flipping back to reveal the head, while the Crossover QTs are actually facing down when in truck mode with the back splitting in half to reveal the head.
It's one of those things that was probably obvious to others, but they are all so small and look so similar.
(I've updated the Checklist now, to fix up that mistake.)

:o:o:o:o

[Bladestorm]

I've had a suspicion a couple months ago, leading me to check a youtube review last week, but now that I finally got one in hand, I now know for sure... the QTransformers crossovers toys are not based on an existing QTransformers toy (specifically the Gen1 Optimus figure). They (the crossover ones) are all the same mould with different heads, but Hello Kitty was the first with that mould and all the ones since are based on that toy, not a pure Transformers QTransformers toy.

They don't even transform the same, which I feel stupid about. The Transformers QTs stay facing up when transforming them from car to robot mode with the top flipping back to reveal the head, while the Crossover QTs are actually facing down when in truck mode with the back splitting in half to reveal the head.
It's one of those things that was probably obvious to others, but they are all so small and look so similar.
(I've updated the Checklist now, to fix up that mistake.)

:o:o:o:o

I'm not collection the QT variants because of that. To me, in hand the variants actually look more like a garbage truck and remind me more of Junkheap than Optimus (Convoy).

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

I just realised that Animated Blackarachnia (and now legends BA)'s robot legs are supposed to be split for better balance.....

Shame it looks really crap. I'll just stick with being careful on the posing and keep the leg as one.

[davieanix]

I feel silly.

I have had G1 Buzzsaw for like 20 years and it wasn't until I received a Laserbeak the other day (thanks Zippo!) that I realised just how far his wings extend! I probably only ever had them out half the length that they could go!

[doublespy]

Generations voyager Sandstorm's legs. On the inside of the legs there's a cavity and a tab, which serves no obvious purpose. But if you take the wings off from the mushroom peg, it fits perfectly in that leg cavity (clearly design for it to fit), with a slot to fit the tab. It looks silly though with the wheel on the inside of the leg.

Has this been discovered already? Maybe from unused design, or an easter egg transformation feature?

[Seraphim Prime]

Generations voyager Sandstorm's legs. On the inside of the legs there's a cavity and a tab, which serves no obvious purpose. But if you take the wings off from the mushroom peg, it fits perfectly in that leg cavity (clearly design for it to fit), with a slot to fit the tab. It looks silly though with the wheel on the inside of the leg.

Has this been discovered already? Maybe from unused design, or an easter egg transformation feature?

I hadn't heard of this before! Do you have pics? Perhaps it was an idea to allow for a more G1 silhouette.

All my Generations figures are at my parents' place atm. Do you know if Springer has the same cavity?

[doublespy]

I hadn't heard of this before! Do you have pics? Perhaps it was an idea to allow for a more G1 silhouette.

All my Generations figures are at my parents' place atm. Do you know if Springer has the same cavity?

I will take a photo after work. Problem is, the wheels are so big if you fit two on the legs he can't stand straight.

No Springer has the wheels on his legs.

EDIT: Never mind. Don't what I was thinking..Those are the spots for buggy mode:(:(:(:(

[UltimateGalvatron]

AoE Deluxe Crosshairs has flip out heels...
Oh.

[DELTAprime]

I just realised today when I put CW Groove onto UW Defensor that the Hasbro HK collector coin packaging for UW Defensor is actually based on Hasbro's Groove instead of Takara's Groove. Good work Hasbro HK!:p

[Jaxius._]

I just realised today when I put CW Groove onto UW Defensor that the Hasbro HK collector coin packaging for UW Defensor is actually based on Hasbro's Groove instead of Takara's Groove. Good work Hasbro HK!:p

I was looking at mine, your right.

[CBratron]

I was going through my tub of TF Prime and noticed Beast Hunters Voyager Ultra Magnus has molding to accommodate smokestacks but no smokestacks themselves. Searched through the tub to make sure they hadn't just fallen off.
A quick google reveals put my fears to rest.

[DELTAprime]

Wow, even looking at the box for CW Devastator at work I didn't realise how huge UW Devastator would be. Also Scrappers arms are scary to unlock. Super strong tabs and weak feeling plastic.

[Jetfire in the sky]

I've had a G2 Prime in the past and have had an RiD Scourge now for some time but I don't play with my toys unlike some *looks Gok's way*
I just acquired a G2 Prime and was doing some cleaning and checking of weapons and I had never realised how eye gougingly powerful G2 Prime's multi missile launcher is!!
The days when a toy could put someone into the emergency department are gone for a good reason :p (well mostly gone) ;)

[Paulbot]

While sorting out my movieverse toys today, I noticed the hinges on the wings of Booster X10 for the first time. Can't believe I've played with him so often and never realised the extra range of movement.

http://i.imgur.com/414JwTGl.jpg

[GoktimusPrime]

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Classicsverse! :D
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/avatars/meme_chugurluw_zpsjjhdmu9s.jpg

[prjkt]

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Classicsverse! :D
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/avatars/meme_chugurluw_zpsjjhdmu9s.jpg

I think we need to add a "CW" in there somewhere

And this series of lines is what makes up almost all of my collection

[Ultra Mackness]

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Classicsverse! :D
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/avatars/meme_chugurluw_zpsjjhdmu9s.jpg

What do all of those stand for now?

And can't believe it's been 10 years! Classics probably started my collecting off again when I found Classics starscream at Target.

[DELTAprime]

I think we need to add a "CW" in there somewhere

Don't forget "TR" and "TAV".

[prjkt]

TAV is a stretch, as only a few of the releases are classics verse moulds...
As for what they all stand for:
Classics Henkei Universe Generations United Reveal the shield Legends Unite Warriors

[DELTAprime]

TAV is a stretch, as only a few of the releases are classics verse moulds...

It's a split line, some are CHUG figures some are RID figures. But I'm hoping that Skids being in LG means they are stopping putting CHUG figures in TAV tho. I'm over RID.

I would go for the most letters in the acronym as possible for comedic effect.

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

Platinum technically counts now too.

[GoktimusPrime]

What do all of those stand for now?

And can't believe it's been 10 years! Classics probably started my collecting off again when I found Classics starscream at Target.
CHUGUR = Classics, Henkei, Universe, Generations, United, Reveal the Shield
The "LUW" was put in because I made that image a while back because someone else jokingly said that with all the new names that Hasbro keeps giving to Classicsverse, it's going to end up sounding like "CHUGURLUW," which I responded with that pic saying that it sounds like someone vomiting. But since Classicsverse is so awesome, they'd be vomiting a rainbow. ;)

CW didn't exist when I made that pic, although CW is technically a sub-branch of Generations. :o

[prjkt]

CHUGUR = Classics, Henkei, Universe, Generations, United, Reveal the Shield
The "LUW" was put in because I made that image a while back because someone else jokingly said that with all the new names that Hasbro keeps giving to Classicsverse, it's going to end up sounding like "CHUGURLUW," which I responded with that pic saying that it sounds like someone vomiting. But since Classicsverse is so awesome, they'd be vomiting a rainbow. ;)

CW didn't exist when I made that pic, although CW is technically a sub-branch of Generations. :o

I think that was me, and I'd said the "LUW" for Takara's Legends and Unite Warriows, at the time lumping CW in as a Generations subline (like FOC and Thrilling 30 - the acronym could be stupid huge eventually)

Hence why I just call it "Classics-verse"

It's a split line, some are CHUG figures some are RID figures. But I'm hoping that Skids being in LG means they are stopping putting CHUG figures in TAV tho. I'm over RID.

I would go for the most letters in the acronym as possible for comedic effect.

Would probably only qualify as an "A" based on the others' naming criteria - as Adventure.

Could work though

CHUGURFOCT30CWLUPWATR

[Paulbot]

CHUGURFOCT30CWLUPWATR? Even though the sound of it is something quite atrocious, if you say it loud enough you'll always sound precocious!

[Mythirax]

All I can think of when I read it now is this:


http://i.imgur.com/Xr9nxAo.png

[DELTAprime]

Just made the link in my head that MP Bluestreak's HK coin is not Transformers related at all. It's an Nvidia stock cooler.

http://images.anandtech.com/doci/9306/980Ti_Car_678x452.jpg

http://tfwiki.net/mediawiki/images2/thumb/7/75/MP_Bluestreak.jpg/610px-MP_Bluestreak.jpg

[Mythirax]

Just made the link in my head that MP Bluestreak's HK coin is not Transformers related at all. It's an Nvidia stock cooler.

Good spot! It has multiple uses now!!

[Lint]

Not strictly a never-realised-about-transformers moment but I recently shepherded my TRU MP(03) Starscream from Perth to Melbourne and started to re-appreciate the effort the designer put into the underside of the Jet mode. Its well sculpted and sleek in comparison to MP-11 and especially more recent Combiner Wars stuff (lookin at you Silverbolt!).

[Zommael]

CHUGURFOCT30CWLUPWATR? Even though the sound of it is something quite atrocious, if you say it loud enough you'll always sound precocious!

Let's just call it Classicsverse from now on, eh?

[UltraMarginal]

Not strictly a never-realised-about-transformers moment but I recently shepherded my TRU MP(03) Starscream from Perth to Melbourne and started to re-appreciate the effort the designer put into the underside of the Jet mode. Its well sculpted and sleek in comparison to MP-11 and especially more recent Combiner Wars stuff (lookin at you Silverbolt!).

While I think your comparison between a Masterpiece and a retail Voyager is unfair. . .
I completely agree with you on the Jet mode of MP-03 Starscream. It's beautiful, from pretty much any angle, something that the newer design does not achieve.

[Lint]

While I think your comparison between a Masterpiece and a retail Voyager is unfair. . .

It is unfair, especially since he's a combiner. But he looks truly terrible from the underside :p

[UltraMarginal]

It is unfair, especially since he's a combiner. But he looks truly terrible from the underside :p

If you think about it, pretty much all transformers look awful from the underside, it's just that the cars and trucks and similar vehicles have more 'skin' to hide the ugly truth. :D.

the aircraft, like MP Screamer and friends, Lugnut, movie dirge and others that actually look whole in their Vehicle modes are truly marvellous feats of engineering.

[Bladestorm]

Is warrior class Megatronus supposed to be a triple changer?

While at lunch my son created this to fly around the Yum Cha table...
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1654/25025450892_258e9678b9.jpg

"Hey mum, look Megatronus is a jet as well!"

Is that just his creative imagination or do you think there is something to it?
First thing that came to mind when I saw it was a simplistic version of the jet Megatron turned into in Transformers Prime.

[UltraMarginal]

Not having the toy myself, I'd suggest a grade A1 imagination, poor buggers probably going to end up an engineer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qDSvfpaGiI).

[Mythirax]

Not having the toy myself, I'd suggest a grade A1 imagination, poor buggers probably going to end up an engineer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qDSvfpaGiI).

Lmao! Memories!

[Bladestorm]

Not having the toy myself, I'd suggest a grade A1 imagination, poor buggers probably going to end up an engineer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qDSvfpaGiI).

Hahaha - LOVE EEET!
Given he currently wants to be a pilot, I wouldn't complain about him being an engineer. Aeronautical engineers earn more AND get to fly the planes in a more relaxed manner (relatively speaking). ;)

At the end of the day, Transformers is all about imagination, so either way (jet mode or imagination), I'm a proud mum!

[GoktimusPrime]

Geordi LaForge (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/LeVar_Burton) is Doc Greene in Rescue Bots?! :eek:

[griffin]

Geordi LaForge (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/LeVar_Burton) is Doc Greene in Rescue Bots?! :eek:

Yes, and Luke Skywalker is Chief Burns' brother.

[UltraMarginal]

Hahaha - LOVE EEET!
Given he currently wants to be a pilot, I wouldn't complain about him being an engineer. Aeronautical engineers earn more AND get to fly the planes in a more relaxed manner (relatively speaking). ;)

At the end of the day, Transformers is all about imagination, so either way (jet mode or imagination), I'm a proud mum!

Pilot is a great career path, perhaps not as glamorous as a lot of people think but still a good one. I know a couple pilots, one even flies international for Qantas. I can tell you that if your statement above is true, Pilots don't earn much in Australia and he'd be better off working in retail:eek:. When I moved from the Aerospace sector to Mechanical, my wage increased significantly and it was only because of the market needs for mechanical over aero.

[UltraMarginal]

Geordi LaForge (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/LeVar_Burton) is Doc Greene in Rescue Bots?! :eek:

I know right, how awesome is that! I wish he'd been part of the Rescue bots panel at Botcon 2014.



Yes, and Luke Skywalker is Chief Burns' brother.

I didn't know that, I almost expect Hamill to be the new Welker in 20 years or so. guy is everywhere.

[Metallikato]

Just noticed Brawl's handgun in his character model is based on an M2. I can't remember how well that actually translated into the animation of the G1 cartoon, but it's a nice touch.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/metal/Brawl-G1MT.jpg

[CoRDS]

mp28 can store his guns on his back in robot mode just behind his shoulders

[Paulbot]

Pretenders, hey? Would be a logical progression of the Prime Trilogy gimmicks.

1. Combiners
2. Headmasters/Targetmasters
3. Pretenders

There's an inter-playability theme to all of them.

Huh. Until Verno's comment tonight I have never thought about putting first year Pretender inner robots into other Pretender shells. In theory Cloudburst might fit in Skullgrin's shell? Carnival could sit in Catilla's. And so on right? I had several as a kid but never even thought to put Landmine in Sky High's shell.

[Krayt]

mp28 can store his guns on his back in robot mode just behind his shoulders

Pic?

[GoktimusPrime]

Huh. Until Verno's comment tonight I have never thought about putting first year Pretender inner robots into other Pretender shells. In theory Cloudburst might fit in Skullgrin's shell? Carnival could sit in Catilla's. And so on right? I had several as a kid but never even thought to put Landmine in Sky High's shell.
I used to do this when I was a kid, but the interchangeability on Pretenders varies. Some can change shells better than others, because the shells are essentially form-fitted to the individual robot. Some make it difficult to close the shell halves while others fit in snugly. So it's not quite as universally interchangeable as the Headmaster, Targetmaster and Powermaster gimmicks; those gimmicks were intended to be interchangeable ("Cross Head On!") whereas if any Pretender can fit in another's shell, it's more of a happy accident. :)

[SuspectimusPrime]

Huh. Until Verno's comment tonight I have never thought about putting first year Pretender inner robots into other Pretender shells. In theory Cloudburst might fit in Skullgrin's shell? Carnival could sit in Catilla's. And so on right? I had several as a kid but never even thought to put Landmine in Sky High's shell.


I used to do this when I was a kid, but the interchangeability on Pretenders varies. Some can change shells better than others, because the shells are essentially form-fitted to the individual robot. Some make it difficult to close the shell halves while others fit in snugly. So it's not quite as universally interchangeable as the Headmaster, Targetmaster and Powermaster gimmicks; those gimmicks were intended to be interchangeable ("Cross Head On!") whereas if any Pretender can fit in another's shell, it's more of a happy accident. :)

Sounds like an unused/missed opportunity for the fiction?

It would have been very advantageous for Pretenders to be capturing and hijacking opposing faction's shells and then impersonating them. Headmasters swapping out heads and gaining even more awesome powers and strength increases makes zero sense.

[prjkt]

Sounds like an unused/missed opportunity for the fiction?

It would have been very advantageous for Pretenders to be capturing and hijacking opposing faction's shells and then impersonating them. Headmasters swapping out heads and gaining even more awesome powers and strength increases makes zero sense.

I kinda imagine that to be similiar to the "body-gloving" used in IDW/MTMTE - gain the advantage of a new alt-mode...

And while the original pretenders weren't designed to be interchanged, who's to say any potential new attempt wont be different and operate on this interchangeable concept.

With a heavily modified Dead End/Streetwise mould being used for Chromedome, I'm not imagining a combining headmaster in a pretender shell. And it's be someone stupid too, either totally obscure, or Bumblebee.

[GoktimusPrime]

Sounds like an unused/missed opportunity for the fiction?

It would have been very advantageous for Pretenders to be capturing and hijacking opposing faction's shells and then impersonating them. Headmasters swapping out heads and gaining even more awesome powers and strength increases makes zero sense.
The Pretenders' shells were psychically synced with their host Transformers. This allowed the hosts to remotely control their shells as extensions of themselves, so if they were separate from their shells, it would act as their own personal backup. The downside to this was that whatever damage was done to the shell would be felt by its owner, and critical damage was so intense that it could render the owner unconscious. The greater the critical damage, the greater the mental feedback. Bumblebee was knocked out for some time after Thunderwing blasted his shell. Carnivac allowed Spinister to destroy his shell (to make the Mayhem Attack Squad believe that they had killed him), and the pain that he felt from the destruction of his his shell was so intense that it nearly killed him.

So I doubt that, canonically speaking, Pretenders can swap shells since they seem to be 'imprinted' onto their owners. In G1 Anglophone continuity anyway.

[Verno]

What do we have here? Looks like a kicked off a little debate :p

As much as I'd like the third part of the Prime Wars trilogy to be all about beasts (and I don't just mean Beast Wars characters -- the Dinobots and G1 Predacons are long-overdue for the Generations treatment), I'm becoming more inclined to think it would be a gimmick-based line like Combiners and Headmasters, with an interchanging playability, and the only real G1 gimmick for them to draw on is Pretenders.

Given the technology available and design prowess these days, I'd be inclined to think they'd be along the lines of the Mega Pretenders and Ultra Pretenders, with both the external shell and inner robot having the ability to transform.

The sometimes organic or bestial nature of the Pretenders would be a logical segue into a line of Dinobots, Predacons and more Beast Wars toys!

But this is all just the musings of a madman.

[MayzaPrime]

What do we have here? Looks like a kicked off a little debate :p

As much as I'd like the third part of the Prime Wars trilogy to be all about beasts (and I don't just mean Beast Wars characters -- the Dinobots and G1 Predacons are long-overdue for the Generations treatment), I'm becoming more inclined to think it would be a gimmick-based line like Combiners and Headmasters, with an interchanging playability, and the only real G1 gimmick for them to draw on is Pretenders.

Given the technology available and design prowess these days, I'd be inclined to think they'd be along the lines of the Mega Pretenders and Ultra Pretenders, with both the external shell and inner robot having the ability to transform.

The sometimes organic or bestial nature of the Pretenders would be a logical segue into a line of Dinobots, Predacons and more Beast Wars toys!

But this is all just the musings of a madman.

Well Grimlock was a pretender... So you might not be as mad as you think :p

[Verno]

Well Grimlock was a pretender... So you might not be as mad as you think :p
I think there'd be an uproar if Grimlock got a Pretender toy before a proper T-Rex :p

[MayzaPrime]

I think there'd be an uproar if Grimlock got a Pretender toy before a proper T-Rex :p

Lol, you are probably right but maybe your idea of a Transforming shell could be implemented :D

[Verno]

Lol, you are probably right but maybe your idea of a Transforming shell could be implemented :D
Something along the lines of Generations Ultra Magnus?

[griffin]

After all the times I've seen CW Trailbreaker on display (at BotCon or in stores in Melbourne) or the images online, I never noticed that the right arm has been replaced with a gun arm like Shockwave.
I haven't seen what he currently looks like in the IDW comic (if in it at all), so I guess it is to replicate the original cartoon/comic that had him with his toy missile plugged into the wrist like a pointy gun... this one looks weird for being a big barrel gun.
So I'm surprised I never noticed it before.

I had just thought it was only a redeco of Ironhide with a new head (it should have been a redeco of Firstaid though, as the original Trailbreaker had a canopy tray not an open tray).

[Paulbot]

It's an original G1 homage. IDW Trailbreaker has two hands.

[prjkt]

It's an original G1 homage. IDW Trailbreaker has two hands.

Gen. Thrilling 30 Trailcutter is based on the IDW design, the CW version homages the G1 version, at least sort of.

Kinda cool that two releases of the same character so close together went for different source material.

[Krayt]

Been so long since I got cw aerialbots.... And never opened my uw set... That transforming the individuals of the G2 set had me questioning if I'd even had the originals in bot mode! What's with skydives arms?

But reaffirms my stance.... No way are skydive and air raid remoulds in my mind...

[1AZRAEL1]

Never realised how much Actionmaster Sideswipe is worth due to his rarity :eek:

[prjkt]

Been so long since I got cw aerialbots.... And never opened my uw set... That transforming the individuals of the G2 set had me questioning if I'd even had the originals in bot mode! What's with skydives arms?

But reaffirms my stance.... No way are skydive and air raid remoulds in my mind...

Look at the legs, contour of the lower arms (although the detailing has been changed) along with the rear fins, and you'll see the shared history. This is quite an extreme re-mould/re-tool scenario, more than Spring/Storm levels.

[GoktimusPrime]

Never realised how much Actionmaster Sideswipe is worth due to his rarity :eek:
Weird considering how he was a massive pegwarmer. But then again, that may be why he's so rare -- few people bothered to purchase him from stores, thus leading to fewer numbers on the secondary market. Many earlier G1 toys may often fetch relatively cheaper prices because they were more popular, thus larger numbers of them exist on the aftermarket. Later G1 toys were probably manufactured in far fewer numbers too.

Eh... IMO one would be better off just spending the money on an MP Lambor, even off the secondary market or even from TRU. Still way better value than the non-transformable rubbish that is AM Sideswipe (although as AMs go, Sideswipe's pretty nice :o).

[1AZRAEL1]

He is pretty cool. After I spent the long time completing him, it'll be kinda sad to see him go.

[GoktimusPrime]

The voice actor for G1 Hound passed away back in 2012. :(
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Ken_Sansom

[Jaxius._]

The voice actor for G1 Hound passed away back in 2012. :(
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Ken_Sansom

Never knew that :(

[griffin]

Yep, he died a little while ago... joining the growing list of Gen1 voices who are now not with us (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/botcon.html#7)... :(

Roger C. Carmel - Bruticus, Cyclonus, Motormaster, Unicron (post movie)
Phillip Clark - Dead End, Tantrum, Abdul Fakkadi, Auggie Cahnay
Rege Cordic - Menasor, Quintesson Judge (movie)
Scatman Crothers - Jazz
Walker Edmiston - Inferno
Ron Feinberg - Headstrong
Ron Gans - Dragstrip
Linda Gary - Chromia
Ed Gilbert - Blitzwing, Thrust, Shawn Berger
Jim Gosa - Abominus
Johnny Haymer - Highbrow, Swindle, Vortex
Buster Jones - Blaster
Stan Jones - Scourge, Pounce, Weirdwolf, Lord Zarak
Casey Kasem - Bluestreak, Cliffjumper, Dr Archeville, Teletran 1
Aron Kincaid - Sky Lynx
Bert Kramer - Computron
Chris Latta - Starscream, Defensor, Reflector, Skullcruncher, Wheeljack, Sparkplug, Snake
Don Messick - Gears, Ratchet, Scavenger
Jeff McKay - Fireflight
Leonard Nimoy - Galvatron (movie)
Tony Pope - Wreck-Gar (post movie)
Ken Sansom - Hound
Tony St James - Blot, Brawl, Cutthroat
Robert Stack - Ultra Magnus (movie)
Lionel Stander - Kup (movie)
John Stephenson - Huffer, Windcharger, Thundercracker, Alpha Trion, Kup (post movie)
Orson Welles - Unicron (movie)


It sort of gives you an idea of the generational change in the Voice Actor industry in the 80s to the 90s, with a lot of the 80s cartoons being voiced by the veterans of the industry and most are now gone or close to it... but just 10 years later with the Beast Wars cartoon, we've only lost one person so far (Cambell Lane, the voice of Rampage), because that new batch of Voice Actors that came in around then who are still around today, were all fairly young (20s-30s).

[Jaxius._]

I just hope i get to meet Frank Welker and Peter Cullen....

[Metallikato]

Yep, he died a little while ago... joining the growing list of Gen1 voices who are now not with us (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/botcon.html#7)... :(

Roger C. Carmel - Bruticus, Cyclonus, Motormaster, Unicron (post movie)
Phillip Clark - Dead End, Tantrum, Abdul Fakkadi, Auggie Cahnay
Rege Cordic - Menasor, Quintesson Judge (movie)
Scatman Crothers - Jazz
Walker Edmiston - Inferno
Ron Feinberg - Headstrong
Ron Gans - Dragstrip
Linda Gary - Chromia
Ed Gilbert - Blitzwing, Thrust, Shawn Berger
Jim Gosa - Abominus
Johnny Haymer - Highbrow, Swindle, Vortex
Buster Jones - Blaster
Stan Jones - Scourge, Pounce, Weirdwolf, Lord Zarak
Casey Kasem - Bluestreak, Cliffjumper, Dr Archeville, Teletran 1
Aron Kincaid - Sky Lynx
Bert Kramer - Computron
Chris Latta - Starscream, Defensor, Reflector, Skullcruncher, Wheeljack, Sparkplug, Snake
Don Messick - Gears, Ratchet, Scavenger
Jeff McKay - Fireflight
Leonard Nimoy - Galvatron (movie)
Tony Pope - Wreck-Gar (post movie)
Ken Sansom - Hound
Tony St James - Blot, Brawl, Cutthroat
Robert Stack - Ultra Magnus (movie)
Lionel Stander - Kup (movie)
John Stephenson - Huffer, Windcharger, Thundercracker, Alpha Trion, Kup (post movie)
Orson Welles - Unicron (movie)


It sort of gives you an idea of the generational change in the Voice Actor industry in the 80s to the 90s, with a lot of the 80s cartoons being voiced by the veterans of the industry and most are now gone or close to it... but just 10 years later with the Beast Wars cartoon, we've only lost one person so far (Cambell Lane, the voice of Rampage), because that new batch of Voice Actors that came in around then who are still around today, were all fairly young (20s-30s).

Also S. Marc Jordan, Onslaught's voice actor died in 2014.

On that list, Philip Clarke was the only one I didn't know about. The deadpan delivery of Dead Ends line:"Face it, we're doomed" is one of my favourite G1 moments...

[griffin]

Also S. Marc Jordan, Onslaught's voice actor died in 2014.

Thanks for that.
I didn't have him on my list, and I had Onslaught credited to someone who only did his voice in a single episode.

[Metallikato]

Thanks for that.
I didn't have him on my list, and I had Onslaught credited to someone who only did his voice in a single episode.

Yar I believe it was Steve Bulin who filled in Onslaught's lines in The Rebirth: Part 3.
Earlier Onslaught's opening line in FFOD: Part 1 sounds more like Terry "Wildrider" McGovern. Given the nature of the animation of FFOD it's quite possible the animators just drew entirely the wrong character rather than the wrong actor being cast.

Either way, yes, unfortunately this list will only get bigger. I was bummed about John Stephenson is particular (who I just looked up and by coincidence it was a year ago today he died) as Windcharger was favourite as a really young kid. Plus he was the last survivor of the original Flintstone's cast.

[5FDP]

Wow... reading through that list just makes me sad :( So many talented people gone.

[MayzaPrime]

I had no idea that Chris Latta did Wheeljack... :confused:

How did I miss that for all of these years? :eek::p

[Firestorm]

Bit of a different thing I never realised this time
Was fiddling with AOE deluxe Lockdown today after having him on the shelf for ages
And was getting frustrated by how wobbly his stance was
Looking at his feet, it turns out that they were in back to front!
Swapped them and now he stands just fine.
Don't know how I didn't notice this when I first got him.

[M-bot]

Thanks to Paulbot (and my awesome new TF tee - see this (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?p=525148#post525148) thread), I have just discovered G1 Blurr doesn't have wheels.

I've always assumed that he had them, just not visible viewing him from the top.

[GoktimusPrime]

Thanks to Paulbot (and my awesome new TF tee - see this (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?p=525148#post525148) thread), I have just discovered G1 Blurr doesn't have wheels.

I've always assumed that he had them, just not visible viewing him from the top.
You mean that you didn't watch TFTM a million times as a kid and memorised the entire thing off by heart?! :p :p </cheek>

Blurr is a futuristic hover car in canonical appearances, but of course the toy does have small wheels to help it roll. But no visible wheels. He's easily the weakest toy of the 1986 Autobot Cars. Hot Rod's my favourite (I actually prefer him over Rodimus Prime). :)

[M-bot]

You mean that you didn't watch TFTM a million times as a kid and memorised the entire thing off by heart?! :p :p </cheek>

Blurr is a futuristic hover car in canonical appearances, but of course the toy does have small wheels to help it roll. But no visible wheels. He's easily the weakest toy of the 1986 Autobot Cars. Hot Rod's my favourite (I actually prefer him over Rodimus Prime). :)

I think the tiny wheels on the Blurr toy is what threw me. Also, I've always associated Blurr with Arcee (in that they have similarish alt modes) and even Kup to a lesser extent, and Arcee and Kup have wheels.

Strangely enough, I DID have TFTM pretty much memorised after practically wearing the video out when I was a boy. Actually, I never owned a copy - I insisted my dad hire it from the local video shop virtually every time I was with him for the weekend. I reckon we hired that video more than everyone else who hired the film from that shop put together. I even taped it onto cassette tape by holding the recorder up to the TV speakers so I could listen to it between hiring occasions.

Despite seeing the movie more times than I've seen any other movie, I've missed Blurr floating! Feeling quite silly about it now.;):)

Time to watch the movie again I think. Clearly it's been too long... ;):cool:

[CHILENO20]

Time to watch the movie again I think. Clearly it's been too long... ;):cool:

Sit down with the kids dude :D I did that with my niece & nephew a few years back, lots of fun and very retro for them, hahahahaha

[Megatran]

Doing a bit of research on the JP 2002 reissue 'New Year Special' Alert (Red Alert) & Lambor (Sideswipe). Found out they are cosmetically slightly different to the standard G1 reissues.

Courtesy of tfwiki (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Sideswipe_(G1)/toys):

Lambor (Sideswipe) and Alert (Red Alert) were once again re-released together in January 2002 as an e-HOBBY exclusive "New Year Special" set, with several factory-applied decals replaced with paint operations, the "CAR MACHINE" plate-decal now blank, plus an additional recolored alternate sticker sheet for each one and bio cards with new art by Hidetsugu Yoshioka.

Again, courtesy of tfwiki (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Red_Alert_(G1)#Toys):

For 2002, Alert was again released with Lambor, this time as "New Year Special" editions available through Takara's e-HOBBY online shop. This latter version featured yellow instead of blue stickers for his shins and feet.

Image of 2002 New Year Special Red Alert courtesy of TFU.INFO (http://www.tfu.info/2002/Cybertron/NYRedAlert/redalert.htm)

[UltraMarginal]

Thanks to Paulbot (and my awesome new TF tee - see this (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?p=525148#post525148) thread), I have just discovered G1 Blurr doesn't have wheels.

I've always assumed that he had them, just not visible viewing him from the top.

I too have never realised this. well, job done, I've leaned something new, time to go home.

[GoktimusPrime]

Doing a bit of research on the JP 2002 reissue 'New Year Special' Alert (Red Alert) & Lambor (Sideswipe). Found out they are cosmetically slightly different to the standard G1 reissues.

Courtesy of tfwiki (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Sideswipe_(G1)/toys):


Again, courtesy of tfwiki (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Red_Alert_(G1)#Toys):


Image of 2002 New Year Special Red Alert courtesy of TFU.INFO (http://www.tfu.info/2002/Cybertron/NYRedAlert/redalert.htm)
I've seen both of these toys in hand and I wrote up comparative reviews for them back in 2002... but I've long lost them. :p I've been trying to find my old reviews (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=16887), but alas I think my G1 reviews have been lost. :(

[Metallikato]

An odd little factoid I just ran across. Was reading the wikipedia page for the movie American Graffiti and noticed Terry McGovern (G1 Wildrider) was part of the cast so I read his page too. Apparently it was him who coined the term "Wookiee".

[GoktimusPrime]

^I did not know that, that's awesome! :D

-----------------------------
Just noticed that Titans Return Weirdwolf will be called Wolfwire. Two questions come to mind:

1/ Does this means that Hasbro were unable to register a closer approximation to the name, like "Decepticon Weirdwolf"? I take it that names like "Strangewolf" or "Oddwolf" are also undoable. :confused: What about "Weirwolf"? I know that it doesn't make much sense (a wolf who lives by a weir?), but Hasbro have certainly given us far more ridiculous names like that in the past (e.g. Wind Sheer :rolleyes:).

2/ This means that somewhere out there, someone else is holding the trademark for "Weirdwolf." :eek: I must say that I didn't see that coming. :o

And what's up with Wolfwire coming with "Monxo," but there's a separate Titan Master called "Monzo"? :confused:

[Handsprime]

1/ Does this means that Hasbro were unable to register a closer approximation to the name, like "Decepticon Weirdwolf"?

I read that as Doctor Werewolf, which most of you probably have no idea who or what that is, unless you like Dubstep :p

[Deonasis]

^ Or..

3/ Someone at Hasbro doesn't like the name.

Name changes happen aaalllllllllllllllllll the time.

[GoktimusPrime]

Archer's back?! :p

[Krayt]

Just a case of PC strikes again....


Not the good PC that sends us toys from QLD.... The bad one where you can't call anyone weird any more....

[Zommael]

^I did not know that, that's awesome! :D

-----------------------------
Just noticed that Titans Return Weirdwolf will be called Wolfwire. Two questions come to mind:

1/ Does this means that Hasbro were unable to register a closer approximation to the name, like "Decepticon Weirdwolf"? I take it that names like "Strangewolf" or "Oddwolf" are also undoable. :confused: What about "Weirwolf"? I know that it doesn't make much sense (a wolf who lives by a weir?), but Hasbro have certainly given us far more ridiculous names like that in the past (e.g. Wind Sheer :rolleyes:).

2/ This means that somewhere out there, someone else is holding the trademark for "Weirdwolf." :eek: I must say that I didn't see that coming. :o

And what's up with Wolfwire coming with "Monxo," but there's a separate Titan Master called "Monzo"? :confused:

It's possible that someone else isn't holding the trademark for Weirdwolf, but that it's felt by the trademark office to be too close to a generic term which would not be trademarkable (i.e werewolf) or too similarly to a term which another company has trademarked. In this latter case, what immediately springs to mind is "warg wolf" from Lord of the Rings, which might well be held by whoever the licensee for that franchise is. Trademark law is complex and nuanced, and just because one trademark can't be used by one company doesn't mean another is using it.

[GoktimusPrime]

Fair point, although it's not unheard of for people to "trademark squat" by taking trademarks and doing nothing with them (but continuing to register them so noone else can use them). Kinda like a form of intellectual property hoarding. *cough*HarmonyGold*cough* :p

[Zommael]

Fair point, although it's not unheard of for people to "trademark squat" by taking trademarks and doing nothing with them (but continuing to register them so noone else can use them). Kinda like a form of intellectual property hoarding. *cough*HarmonyGold*cough* :p

Not unheard of, but difficult. If say a company called Symphony Bronze was squatting on the Weirdfwolf name, Hasbro would be able to take action against them, and they would have to prove either that they have used the trademark recently or have definite plans to use it - this is how Hasbro were able to lose names like Bumblebee back in the 90s, since they couldn't prove recent use or that they were about to use it. It's also bad for the company who holds the trademark as it may force them to give away their plans - for example Hasbro might have been forced into revealing the existence of the movie if someone had challenged their registration of Bumblebee back in 2004.

[GoktimusPrime]

I wonder how quickly a company can lose a trademark after disuse. It might be as quickly as a year (which would explain why Hasbro are so keen on releasing lots of toys named "Optimus Prime" and "Megatron" every year; although I think they've gone a tad overboard (they would only need to release one of each per year) :p).

e.g. Bumblebee and Hound; the last time Hasbro used these names before they lost them was in 1995; G2 Go-Bot Bumblebee and the never released G2 Autoroller Sgt. Hound. My presumption has been that toys like BW Buzz Saw and K-9 were assigned these names because Hasbro had lost the rights to Bumblebee and Hound by this stage. Although those toys were released in 1997, Hasbro would've needed to register the names in 1996 well before their release, so their application for those names may have been knocked back as early as just one year after having registered them for the final year of G2 in '95.

Hasbro last used the name "Laserbeak" in 1985 and had lost it by 1997, hence the BW character's name had the cringeworthy spelling of "Lazorbeak." Hasbro last used the name "Weirdwolf" in 2007, which feels like yesterday to me, but was actually 9 freakin' years ago. :p So yeah... definitely possible that they might've lost the rights to the name in the meantime.

But it's also interesting to imagine why they can't just keep it a "less intrusive" variation, like "Decepticon Weirdwolf" or "Decepticon Weirdwulf" (wulf being German for wolf), or "Oddwolf" or "Oddwulf" or something like that. Wolfwire... Okay, he's a wolf. Wire? :confused: Still, I'll take Wolfwire over Tankor or Scattorwolf. ;)

[griffin]

And what's up with Wolfwire coming with "Monxo," but there's a separate Titan Master called "Monzo"? :confused:

There is???