Things you never realised about Transformers (toys etc)

[GoktimusPrime]

Wait, my bad... Monzo will be Monxo's name in Japan (LG30), so evidently TakaraTOMY still has rights to both the name Weirdwolf and Monzo. Which is not surprising, as I believe trademark/copyright laws don't cross over languages. There are plenty of examples of names that Hasbro can use that TakaraTOMY can't and vice versa.

The weird one is Laserwave (Japanese name for Shockwave), because it seems that TakaraTOMY were able to secure the rights to that name when written in Katakana, but not when it's Romanised. If you look at MP Shockwave's box and instructions etc., it says "DESTRONLASERWAVE" whenever the name is Romanised, but just レーザーウェーブ (Laserwave) when the name is written in Katakana. :eek: And I'm not sure why there's no space between "Destron" and "Laserwave" either. Makes me wonder if the Japanese have separate registries for trademarks written in Japanese or Roman script.

Takara(TOMY) usually doesn't lose trademarks as often as Hasbro, probably because it's less likely for Anglophone names to be taken by someone else in a non-English speaking country. But there are a few including:
* Inferno ---> "Cybertron Inferno"
* Octane ---> "Destron Octone"
etc.

[Jetfire in the sky]

I didn't realise my own Generations Metroplex had a firing missile until I almost shot my eye out yesterday :p
I must have forgot I had displayed him like that.
Not the first time a TF has tried to take me out unexpectedly :D:eek:

[Zommael]

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. ;)

As I understand it, it's an odd little area of law in which there is not a lot of certainty. Long and consistent use certainly strengthens a trademark though: it's unlikely any company (even LG with their Optimus phone) would ever be able to use Optimus Prime as Hasbro have so consistently used and protected the trademark, and it's so strongly connected to the brand. I would imagine that even if they didn't reuse it for 10 years Optimus Prime would still be too strong a mark for anyone to challenge. On the other hand, a mark like Slugslinger might be a lot harder to hold on to since it doesn't have that prominent association. There's certainly no rule that says they must use the trademark at least once in one period of time.

It's also worth pointing out that trademarks can be held in different areas. Hasbro could stop releasing all Transformers toys tomorrow (DON'T GET ANY IDEAS HASBRO) and if IDW were still publishing the comics they would be able to hold on to the trademarks at least in the area of comic book publishing.

I know that a lot of the above has been stated before but it's always worth talking about this when it comes up, especially as I still see some fans talking about Hasbro "losing the copyright" and other uneducated responses when talking about name changes and other IP issues. I recently saw someone speculating that Titans Return Clobber is so named because Hasbro lost the trademark on Grimlock, which is very unlikely given how much they've used it lately. BTW, the more likely explanation is they're trying to avoid confusion between this version of Grimlock and ARID Grimlock.

[GoktimusPrime]

It's also worth pointing out that trademarks can be held in different areas. Hasbro could stop releasing all Transformers toys tomorrow (DON'T GET ANY IDEAS HASBRO) and if IDW were still publishing the comics they would be able to hold on to the trademarks at least in the area of comic book publishing.
Really? Because Hasbro were unable to even use "Autobot Jazz" for the Alternator toy and had to call it "Meister." I thought it was because Alternators were semi-classified as model cars rather than just action figures and maybe "Jazz" sounded too similar to the Honda Jazz. Also, writers are able to use trademarked names that are different to what Hasbro can use on product. e.g. in the films, cartoons, comics etc., characters like "Ratchet" and "Jazz" are just called that, not "Autobot Ratchet" or "Autobot Jazz." But on any packaging or tech specs bio, they always have to use "Autobot Ratchet" or "Autobot Jazz" etc. IDW were also able to use the name "Octane," and only started using the name "Tankor" after the Universe toy was released. Then Hasbro released Generations Tankor and IDW made up the nicknames "Fat Tankor" and "Tall Tankor" to distinguish them apart in the eyes of other characters. :p

Other discrepancies include:
* Noble/Savage ---> Beast Changer
* Tidal Wave ---> Shockwave (at the time Hasbro didn't have the trademark for Shockwave, hence some toys were called "Shockblast")
* Rodimus ---> Hot Rod (he later changed his name to Rodimus in the IDW comics; even his Spotlight issue was called "Hot Rod")

I can understand trademarking "Optimus Prime", but just "optimus"? :confused: 'Optimus' is simply the Latin word for "best," surely that should be considered too generic for anyone to trademark. If you're going to trademark "optimus," then what about "bonus" (good) or "melius" (better)? :confused:
bonus・melius・optimus = good, better, best


I recently saw someone speculating that Titans Return Clobber is so named because Hasbro lost the trademark on Grimlock, which is very unlikely given how much they've used it lately. BTW, the more likely explanation is they're trying to avoid confusion between this version of Grimlock and ARID Grimlock.
Or why can't Clobber just be a whole new character? ;)

[Zommael]

Really? Because Hasbro were unable to even use "Autobot Jazz" for the Alternator toy and had to call it "Meister." I thought it was because Alternators were semi-classified as model cars rather than just action figures and maybe "Jazz" sounded too similar to the Honda Jazz. Also, writers are able to use trademarked names that are different to what Hasbro can use on product. e.g. in the films, cartoons, comics etc., characters like "Ratchet" and "Jazz" are just called that, not "Autobot Ratchet" or "Autobot Jazz." But on any packaging or tech specs bio, they always have to use "Autobot Ratchet" or "Autobot Jazz" etc. IDW were also able to use the name "Octane," and only started using the name "Tankor" after the Universe toy was released. Then Hasbro released Generations Tankor and IDW made up the nicknames "Fat Tankor" and "Tall Tankor" to distinguish them apart in the eyes of other characters. :p

Other discrepancies include:
* Noble/Savage ---> Beast Changer
* Tidal Wave ---> Shockwave (at the time Hasbro didn't have the trademark for Shockwave, hence some toys were called "Shockblast")
* Rodimus ---> Hot Rod (he later changed his name to Rodimus in the IDW comics; even his Spotlight issue was called "Hot Rod")

I can understand trademarking "Optimus Prime", but just "optimus"? :confused: 'Optimus' is simply the Latin word for "best," surely that should be considered too generic for anyone to trademark. If you're going to trademark "optimus," then what about "bonus" (good) or "melius" (better)? :confused:
bonus・melius・optimus = good, better, best

In the case of Jazz, you're probably quite right about the Alternators=model cars thing. Just because there are areas doesn't mean a Trademark in one area can't be used to protect another. In the case of Jazz, Honda would hold the mark in the automobile area. Hasbro want to use it for a toy, that's fine, but marks for automobiles are also enforceable in the model car area, and therefore Hasbro are blocked.

In the case of the comics, the fact that they use the names doesn't mean they use the trademarks. The only trademarks that are probably held by Hasbro or IDW for the comic book area are probably "Transformers" "More Than Meets The Eye" and "Robots in Disguise". They wouldn't even need to trademark Optimus Prime in that area because their existing marks would already be enforceable. There very likely isn't a trademark for "Hot Rod" in the comic book area and therefore they can use the name with wild abandon. This happens all the time - Batman is definitely a trademark but ordinary names like Alfred Pennyworth, Jason Todd, Barbara Gordon are no doubt untrademarkable, because they're just people's names.

What I meant was, LG can use "Optimus" for their cell phones but I doubt they could use "Optimus Prime" for the new, improved model. In any case, while optimus is an ordinary Latin word, since Latin is a dead language, terms taken from it are probably viewed as esoteric enough to be used as Trademarks.


Or why can't Clobber just be a whole new character? ;)

Because Hasbro says he isn't, apparently. Why they thought "Clobber" was a good enough new name for G1 Grimlock is beyond me though.

[Jaxius._]

I didn't realise my own Generations Metroplex had a firing missile until I almost shot my eye out yesterday :p
I must have forgot I had displayed him like that.
Not the first time a TF has tried to take me out unexpectedly :D:eek:

He had a missile? Well there's another lost part lol

[GoktimusPrime]

What I meant was, LG can use "Optimus" for their cell phones but I doubt they could use "Optimus Prime" for the new, improved model. In any case, while optimus is an ordinary Latin word, since Latin is a dead language, terms taken from it are probably viewed as esoteric enough to be used as Trademarks.
Yeah, that's what I meant too. Cool. :) And Latin is "dead" because there are no longer any native speakers of it since the Middle Ages, but there are still plenty of people who speak it (it's the official language of the Vatican); it's just that it's only ever spoken as people's second language. A language which has absolutely no more speakers at all is an extinct language (like many Australian languages).


Because Hasbro says he isn't, apparently. Why they thought "Clobber" was a good enough new name for G1 Grimlock is beyond me though.
Okay, that is stupid. :rolleyes:

[Jaxius._]

I'd like to know how many people actually know latin in Australia? My small knowledge from Transformers and basic english does help with some (well little) latin.

[GoktimusPrime]

I'd like to know how many people actually know latin in Australia? My small knowledge from Transformers and basic english does help with some (well little) latin.
Replied here (http://otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?p=525552#post525552)

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

My thoughts in the Clobber situation. Perhaps just because he is a head, they didn't want to go all out and call him Grimlock. Maybe later on they'll release a Grimlock and the Clobber head is just a stand in.

Hopefully the character bios are interesting enough to be able to confirm to us.

In regards to Wolfwire, erm, wot? This seems to make no sense, as it has little relation to the type of character he is, ie crazy. Unless there is some new catch phrase I don't know about.

[Bato]

oops, wrong thread <<;

[GoktimusPrime]

Raoul got whitewashed between his appearance in "Make Tracks" (Hispanic skin tone) and "Auto-Bop" (Caucasian skin tone). :eek: Moreover, Raoul's lighter skin tone also appears to reflect his more heroic persona. In RPG terms, Raoul is basically Chaotic Neutral (http://easydamus.com/chaoticneutral.html) in "Make Tracks," but by the end of the episode he grows to become Chaotic Good (http://easydamus.com/chaoticgood.html), and in "Auto-Bop" he appears to have levelled up to Neutral Good (http://easydamus.com/neutralgood.html).
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/raoul_whitewash_zpsvvk5q3hm.jpg
And remember that the G1 cartoon was no stranger to racial undertones, as this was the very reason why Casey Kasem quit the show. :(

[Bidoofdude]

Raoul got whitewashed between his appearance in "Make Tracks" (Hispanic skin tone) and "Auto-Bop" (Caucasian skin tone). :eek: Moreover, Raoul's lighter skin tone also appears to reflect his more heroic persona.
And remember that the G1 cartoon was no stranger to racial undertones, as this was the very reason why Casey Kasem quit the show. :(

I had no idea the whole time thar they were the same guy.

[Jaxius._]

Racial undertones...
(http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Abdul_Fakkadi_(G1))

[Krayt]

God damnit!!!!

Why didn't tell me Screamer and friends (MP-11 onwards) had "heels"???

Have noticed them on Ramjet (and pics of thrust) and thought it was a conehead remould/extra. But looking at pics, MP-11 started it.

In my defense.... had 5 versions of Screamer v1 out and about for a long time... So MP-11, never looked at it, never even bothered to lift the engine covers! MP-Sunstorm has never been opened, nor has Hasbro TC.

And Tak MP-11SW and MP-11TC were opened, eyeballed, and packed away...

[GoktimusPrime]

Ken Jeong (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Ken_Jeong) is a qualified doctor! :eek: Source (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yAgUIAhmTQ)

[Deonasis]

Beast Wars Scourge is a cool looking Transformer in a wicked paint scheme that I didn't know existed until it was front paged on seibertron recently. http://www.seibertron.com/transformers-toys/gallery/beast-wars/scourge/4094/1/ :cool:

[GoktimusPrime]

Sadly the chrome quality on this toy is rubbish and highly prone to flaking. :( This toy was a bit of a peg warmer, so I'm surprised you never noticed before. :confused:

[Deonasis]

Sadly the chrome quality on this toy is rubbish and highly prone to flaking. :( This toy was a bit of a peg warmer, so I'm surprised you never noticed before. :confused:
I didn't get back into TFs until the year 2003.

[GoktimusPrime]

I don't own MP11 Starscream, but I just Google searched an image of his tech specs card and discovered that his function isn't Air Commander (航空参謀) but actually Neo Emperor of Destruction (新破壊大帝)! :eek: Which of course makes sense since he does come with the coronation kit... so ya know... Neo Emperor of Destruction for a whole minute. :p

For those who may not know, Megatron's function in Japan isn't Leader, but "Emperor of Destruction." Galvatron's function in Japan is not "City Commander," but "Neo Emperor of Destruction." So MP11's tech specs establishes Starscream as being Neo Emperor of Destruction for a brief moment before the title was taken by Galvatron. I guess this means Galvatron did attempt to fill in his shoes. :p

[Krayt]

Never saw this until Windsweeper arrived yesterday....

The vertical fins on cw skydive/air raid/thrust/g2skydive/g2 air raid/cicadacon/terrorsaur/windsweeper can be folded down to the horizontal!

[Jaxius._]

CW Hound has nostrils

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

When playing as Swindle in FOC, his vehicle machine gun auto aims for you. I just discovered that yesterday. I never used the machine gun, always his missiles. Made me realise how little Swindle needed his vehicle mode in that game aside from the start of the level.

[GoktimusPrime]

This is why I'm appreciative of Devastation giving players a far greater impetus to switch between robot and alternate modes.

[liegeprime]

MP Grimlock has, in dino mode a snapping jaw button ... on his left cheek... I only learned of this after I was playing with my KO OS version and thought, hmmm if the OS version has it mebbe the original has it too? Checked the original and yep, its there..... albeit weak snapping action which is why I barely noticed there was one and just managed the jaw opening and closing manually when I played with it. ;p

[GoktimusPrime]

The first two series of Microman were called Microman Zone and Microman Victory respectively. The final two series of Transformers G1 in Japan were, of course, called Transformers Victory and Transformers Zone.

[GoktimusPrime]

Apparently Voyager Arcana can binary bond with G1 Brainstorm (http://sky.geocities.jp/gekirobogun/TFG/brainstorm17.jpg)! :eek: Which means that he should be able to binary bond with any 1987 Headmaster and any 1987 Headmaster Nebulan should be able to binary bond with Voyager Brainstorm!

Can't wait to try this out. ;)

[GoktimusPrime]

Unfortunately the head switch didn't work. That guy's G1 Brainstorm must have a defective spring mechanism. G1 Arcana's shoulder tabs (which activates Brainstorm's tech specs meter) makes it impossible for him to binary bond with Voyager Brainstorm.

:(

[SMHFConvoy]

Just realised that titans return has no spring loaded missiles and that CW megatron was the only toy to have a spring loaded missle :eek:

[Jaxius._]

There is an Arcee hand variant. So I haven't opened mine... was the closed hand one rare?

[SuspectimusPrime]

There is an Arcee hand variant. So I haven't opened mine... was the closed hand one rare?

Yeah that's the first release. It looks better/more natural (http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-toy-discussion/187048-post-your-most-recent-tf-purchase-4583.html?#post12385733) when she's holding her weapons.

[Krayt]

Unfortunately the head switch didn't work. That guy's G1 Brainstorm must have a defective spring mechanism. G1 Arcana's shoulder tabs (which activates Brainstorm's tech specs meter) makes it impossible for him to binary bond with Voyager Brainstorm.

:(

It's Generations Head with G1 body..... not G1 head with Gen Body as your post says you tried....

[SMHFConvoy]

There's 5mm hole under Skullsmasher's gator head!

[GoktimusPrime]

It's Wreck-Gar, not Wreck Gar.

P.S.: Just to make things clear, this comment was aimed at myself. I got CW Wreck-Gar yesterday and noticed it had a hyphen. I then went and checked and realised that Wreck-Gar has always had a hyphenated name! Made me feel like a massive dope for not noticing all this time! :p

[GoktimusPrime]

I've long known that Kasper Gutman (Maltese Falcon) was the inspiration for Gutt in G1's Matrix Quest story, "Bird of Prey" (as the references to that film abound ;)), but I didn't know that Gutman was also the inspiration for Deceptitran and Cryotek! :eek:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/kaspergutman_deceptitran_gutt_zpsef1hda5a.jpg

[DELTAprime]

I just took a look through TFwiki's list of G1 toys. To my surprise the vast majority of 84, 85 and 86 G1 toys have CHUG representations either released or coming soon.

Here are the ones that don't.

85 Bots
Slag, Sludge Snarl, Swoop, Topspin, Twintwist, Omega Supreme, Power Dashers and Omnibots

85 Cons
Barrage, Ransack, Venom

86 Bots
Hubcap and Outback.

86 Cons
Predacons and the individual robots that make Reflector.

87 has a lot more gaps but HasTak seems to be doing a good job of plugging the gaps with the Titans Return line.

[GoktimusPrime]

I just took a look through TFwiki's list of G1 toys. To my surprise the vast majority of 84, 85 and 86 G1 toys have CHUG representations either released or coming soon.
See this thread (http://otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=21027). :)

P.S.: Something I never realised before... if you negative-invert Omega Supreme's colours you end up with the colours for GADEP/Guardian Robot.

[Firestorm]

Until I was actually looking at the figure in hand, I didn't realise the single release repaint of RiD Sawtooth had different clear energon parts to the Battle Pack release
Sadly these parts can't be plugged into Strongarm. But it at least helps to give the single release Sawtooth more reason to pick it up if you already have the battle pack version
I've decided to rename the single release Ripjaws

[GoktimusPrime]

Daburu

TR Doublecross^Twinferno's Titan Master's name is Daburu, which is the Japanese version of the English※ word "double." Doublecross is called "Daburukurosu" (ダブルクロス) in Japanese, so really... Twinferno's Titan Master's name is literally "Double." And if you're having trouble pronouncing "Daburu" correctly (no stress on any syllable and all short vowels; which is hard for most English speakers) then just say "Double," because that's actually what it is. :)

I think that this is a neat nod to Doublecross' original name since Hasbro evidently weren't able to secure the rights to the name "Doublecross," they've instead homaged it by Anglocising the Japanisation of the Anglophone name! *phew* :o

Throttle

TR Getaway^Breakaway's Titan Master is called Throttle, which strikes me as odd because Throttle was originally Darkwing's Nebulan partner, and Getaway's partner was Rev. And Hasbro had the rights to the name Rev (or at least spelt as "R.E.V."). Granted it's been 13 years since they last used that name, so it's absolutely possible that Hasbro's lost the rights to that name, but I wonder why they couldn't have approximated it differently or just used a wholly different/new name? Heck, do another Japanese homage call it Lightfoot or Zetca. The problem with using the name "Throttle" is that if Hasbro ever decide to release a TR Darkwing^Darkwind later on, then what are they going to call his partner? :confused: Or does this mean that Hasbro have no intention of releasing a TR Darkwind? :(

Autobot Hot Rod

Eeeeeyyy! Hasbro's FINALLY managed to secure the rights to the name "Hot Rod," even if it's with "Autobot" in front of it! Huzzah! :D We've been waiting for this since 2002 when Hasbro released their version of reissue Hot Rod as "Rodimus Major," then just "Rodimus" which as become the staple and accepted Hasbro version of that character's name ever since. It even became canonically official that Hot Rod changed his name to just "Rodimus." Does this mean that The Last Knight's Hot Rod will actually be called (Autobot) Hot Rod and not Rodimus? Eeenteresting...

----------------------------------------------------------------
※From the French word "double" (say "doo'bl"), which came from the Latin word dūplus meaning "twice as many." The Latin word for "double" (as in "two of something" (e.g. having a spare)) is duplicātus and the word for "double" as in multiplying something by two is duplex.

[Sinnertwin]

That's the beauty of owning your own toys, you can toss officiality (ha! I made a new word!) out with the packaging and still call them by whatever name you choose.

Obviously you'd still call them by their designated names to avoid confusion when dealing with others, but if Hasbro were to release a Darkwind, I'd still call his partner Throttle. Just like I'd call Highbrow's partner Gort, rather than Ecks-ort :p , or however you'd pronounce Xort*.
*yes, I know it's pronounced with a Z.

[GoktimusPrime]

I actually pronounce "Xort" with an "X" (ksort). Some might argue that it's pronounced as "Short"; similar to how Xi'an (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xi'an) is pronounced "shee-ahn" and Prince Xizor from the now unofficial Star Wars EU is pronounced "shee-zor." Although a lot of Star Wars fans mispronounce it as "Zee-zor," or weirder still, "Zicks-zor." I don't know where they got the "cks" from. :confused:

I'm actually thinking about making a fan profile for the Emergency Green G1 Ratchet and calling him "Jeff." :)

[Sinnertwin]

lol @ Jeff.
Do eeet!

[GoktimusPrime]

lol @ Jeff.
Do eeet!
As soon as I finish writing these @#$%^&* yearly reports! :rolleyes: (so mebbe next week)

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

Just saw that FOC has a PS4 version, has anyone bought it? I was very surprised. $50 though. Yowsers

[prjkt]

The voice actor who played Ratchet in TF Prime also played Shran/Weyoun in Star Trek Enterprise/DS9

[MayzaPrime]

The voice actor who played Ratchet in TF Prime also played Shran/Weyoun in Star Trek Enterprise/DS9

Yeah its very cool... Jeff Combs what a legend :D

[Bidoofdude]

Today I learned that there was indeed a Bluestreak from the CW Prowl mould, from the TFSS. It's a blue Bluestreak however. Completely slipped my knowledge.

[GoktimusPrime]

I never knew this either. TFwiki states that the toy is still scheduled for release in 2016, but atm it looks like the release date will either be pushed back to 2017 or the toy may be cancelled.

[griffin]

The toy was part of series 4, which was released back in August.

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/collections/griffinofoz/1608g.jpg

[Bidoofdude]

At least someone thought to release one. It's weird to me, since I'd seen at least a few images of Impactor before/known of his existence. Still wish we got a cartoon/toy coloured Bluestreak from Dead End with the Prowl head though. One can dream.

[Slag]

Never knew that Takara Motormaster had a launching mechanism.!
or even that mode all together:rolleyes:

[Paulbot]

Cybertron Primus has little fold out "manipulator arms" on his legs! They are the instructions but I never noticed them before.

[GoktimusPrime]

I can't find DotM Deluxe Laserbeak's Decepticon insignia. Does he even have one? :confused:

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

I don't think he has an insignia on him anywhere...

[Raider]

I haven't tested this on the other MP cars but with MP Prowl there is a little spot on his back shoulder where you can slide the side handle of his gun into which lets the gun rest up against the back of his shoulder. It looks really cool if you don't want to display him holding the gun. It is not a tight fit so it can fall out if you move him too much but it looks nice for displaying. Will post a pic later in case my explanation is terrible to understand.

[BruiseLee]

I haven't tested this on the other MP cars but with MP Prowl there is a little spot on his back shoulder where you can slide the side handle of his gun into which lets the gun rest up against the back of his shoulder. It looks really cool if you don't want to display him holding the gun. It is not a tight fit so it can fall out if you move him too much but it looks nice for displaying. Will post a pic later in case my explanation is terrible to understand.

Yup, need to keep those hands free for table flipping! ;)

[GoktimusPrime]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/Summoner%20Geeks%20photocomic/mp_rpg6_zps416838a9.jpg :p ;)

[Raider]

I haven't tested this on the other MP cars but with MP Prowl there is a little spot on his back shoulder where you can slide the side handle of his gun into which lets the gun rest up against the back of his shoulder. It looks really cool if you don't want to display him holding the gun. It is not a tight fit so it can fall out if you move him too much but it looks nice for displaying. Will post a pic later in case my explanation is terrible to understand.

This is how it looks:

http://i473.photobucket.com/albums/rr100/Raiderxxii/Transformers/Sales/20170120_095624_zpsomlqbagt.jpg (http://s473.photobucket.com/user/Raiderxxii/media/Transformers/Sales/20170120_095624_zpsomlqbagt.jpg.html)

[SMHFConvoy]

Found out that CW Buzzsaw and TR Laserbeak's 3rd mode is an artillery platform for Titan Masters.

[UltraMarginal]

This is how it looks:

http://i473.photobucket.com/albums/rr100/Raiderxxii/Transformers/Sales/20170120_095624_zpsomlqbagt.jpg (http://s473.photobucket.com/user/Raiderxxii/media/Transformers/Sales/20170120_095624_zpsomlqbagt.jpg.html)

That's pretty cool

[Magnus]

I remember reading once that Michael Bay had the animators for the first movie model Optimus Prime's body language on Liam Neeson. Wanting to find out more, I typed 'optimus prime liam neeson' into a search engine. As it turns out, apparently quite a few people think, or thought, that Neeson voiced Optimus, since there were a couple of question pages asking if that was the case.

[FatalityPitt]

I remember reading once that Michael Bay had the animators for the first movie model Optimus Prime's body language on Liam Neeson. Wanting to find out more, I typed 'optimus prime liam neeson' into a search engine. As it turns out, apparently quite a few people think, or thought, that Neeson voiced Optimus, since there were a couple of question pages asking if that was the case.

I'd love for Peter Cullen to voice Optimus Prime forever, but if they ever needed to hand the mantle down to someone younger, Liam Neeson would be my first choice.

[GoktimusPrime]

Cullen auditioned for the role of Optimus Prime, it wasn't simply given to him. Makes me wonder who else auditioned for Optimus Prime. Remember when George Clooney was widely speculated as playing the role of Optimus Prime? ;)
https://www.comicbookmovie.com/transformers/george-clooney-playing-optimus-prime-a1999
http://www.themovieblog.com/2005/george-clooney-is-optimus-prime-in-transformers/
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1531951

[Magnus]

I'd love for Peter Cullen to voice Optimus Prime forever, but if they ever needed to hand the mantle down to someone younger, Liam Neeson would be my first choice.

Neeson is 'only' 11 years younger than Cullen (Neeson was born in 1952; Cullen in 1941).

I can somewhat understand why some people would think Neeson voiced Optimus; if Neeson lowered his voice, spoke more slowly and put on a stronger American accent, he'd sound pretty close to Cullen's movie voice.


Cullen auditioned for the role of Optimus Prime, it wasn't simply given to him. Makes me wonder who else auditioned for Optimus Prime. Remember when George Clooney was widely speculated as playing the role of Optimus Prime? ;)
https://www.comicbookmovie.com/transformers/george-clooney-playing-optimus-prime-a1999
http://www.themovieblog.com/2005/george-clooney-is-optimus-prime-in-transformers/
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1531951

I don't remember any of that, but I can kind of imagine it. If Clooney lowered his voice...

[Sinnertwin]

Susan Boyle could play Optimus.




If she lowered her voice.

[BruiseLee]

Susan Boyle could play Optimus.




If she lowered her voice.

Transformers: The Musical

[GoktimusPrime]

Q Transformers Ultra Magnus (http://statici.behindthevoiceactors.com/behindthevoiceactors/_img/chars/ultra-magnus-q-transformers-mystery-of-convoy-returns-5.49.jpg)' packaging blurb states that this toy is based on Ultra Magnus (http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_W2kDUOORbWY/SDi8KGKbnpI/AAAAAAAAAXM/mAlVabtCh54/s400/ultra.JPG) from The Mystery of Convoy (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Transformers:_Mystery_of_Convoy)

Transformers: The Musical
*ahem* (http://otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php) ;)

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

Q Transformers Ultra Magnus (http://statici.behindthevoiceactors.com/behindthevoiceactors/_img/chars/ultra-magnus-q-transformers-mystery-of-convoy-returns-5.49.jpg)' packaging blurb states that this toy is based on Ultra Magnus (http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_W2kDUOORbWY/SDi8KGKbnpI/AAAAAAAAAXM/mAlVabtCh54/s400/ultra.JPG) from The Mystery of Convoy (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Transformers:_Mystery_of_Convoy)

The QT Transformers did have a phone game available for download, that was a re-skinned version of the Mystery of Convoy NES game. You could scan a code on the box of the toy and then play as that character.

Sadly they started dropping the scan codes with many characters, so you could't play as them. Rather nicely the diferent characters handled differently in game. Some ran faster than others etc etc. It didn't stop the game from sucking though.

[GoktimusPrime]

It didn't stop the game from sucking though.
Sounds fairly accurate to the original game then. :p

[SharkyMcShark]

Today in things I never realised but probably should:

The movie lines have given us a lot of amazing non-movie characters with realistic military plane/helicopter alt modes!

- Incinerator as a V-22 Osprey (vehicle seen in the movie, not as a Transformer)
- Breakaway/Thrust as an F-35 Lightning II
- Dirge/Jetblade as a Harrier (ish)
- Tomahawk as an amalgam of a bunch of different attack helicopters
- Terradive as a Su-47 Berkut
- Highbrow as a P-38 Lightning
- Skyhammer as a Mi-24 Hind (ish)
- Dreadwing as a Mig-29 Fulcrum
- Stratosphere as a mish mash of military transport planes (vehicle seen in the movie, not as a Transformer)
- Air Raid as an AWACS place
- Hatchet as a Eurofighter Typhoon (character was in DOTM but not transforming into a jet)
- Mindwipe as an F-117

Quite a lot of quality there.

EDIT: How did I forget Mindwipe?

[Thurmus]

I never realised that Transformers Prime Wheeljack was basically Drift and Wheeljack combined in to one bot.

http://i1372.photobucket.com/albums/ag353/Thurmus/Mixed%20Photos/20170207_124225_zpso0zvayja.jpg (http://s1372.photobucket.com/user/Thurmus/media/Mixed%20Photos/20170207_124225_zpso0zvayja.jpg.html)

[SharkyMcShark]

I think a lot of people did sarcastically refer to him as DriftJack at the time.

[Megatran]

Susan Boyle could play Optimus.




If she lowered her voice.
This guy too (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WJvpxUwMB8).

[Megatran]

Astrotrain (http://www.tfu.info/1985/Decepticon/Astrotrain/astrotrain.htm): Speed = 10

Galaxy Shuttle (http://www.tfu.info/1989/Cybertron/GalaxyShuttle/galaxyshuttle.htm): Speed = 6 (& he doesn't transform into a relatively slow moving toot frickin toot train)

[GoktimusPrime]

G1.5 Windbreaker/Zap was the first Transformer to transform into a Camaro.

[FatalityPitt]

Checking out the manga that will accompany the Takara LGEX Titan Master set ("Hasbro" versions of Brainstorm, Chromedome, Hardhead, Flywheels, etc).

Link: https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/manga-for-takara-lgex-exclusive-titan-master-set/37354/

Some spoilers ahead

It looks like these Titan Masters aren't just the Hasbro versions of these toys, but they represent the characters as well..

i.e. Even though the "Chromedome" Titan Master becomes Chromedome's head, it actually represents Stylor, not Chromedome himself - unlike the Takara continuity where Chromedome's head is Chromedome... I hope that made sense...

Basically; it looks to me like the Brainstorm, Chromedome and Hardhead in this set are actually Arcana, Stylor and Duros.

I find Arcana's choice of head-wear to be strange since I thought he was a magician in the US cartoon/Marvel Continuity, not a doctor.. I dunno, I can't read Japanese.. Maybe that's Teslor, and Teslor is a medic??

I think it's cool that Arcana, Duros and Stylor are being released and represented in the Takara market as separate characters from Brainstorm, Chromedome and Hardhead (so to speak). I also think it'd be cool if they did the same for Gort, Vorath, Monzo and Grax later down the road. From memory, Vorath was a mad scientist, Monzo was a Pro-wrestler/mobster, and Grax was a ruthless businessman. It'd be interesting to see how they're portrayed in the manga.

EDIT: Ah! I stand corrected; Arcana was a medic (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Arcana). Now the topic well and truly matches the thread :)

[Handsprime]

Just bought Titans Return Voyager Optimus from this guy in China and apparently it comes with 2 instruction manuals. 1 in Multi Languages (Like what we usually get) and 1 in Chinese.

[GoktimusPrime]

Yep, I've experienced that before from TFs bought in China, including toys that were resealed including resealed carded figures.

[UltraMarginal]

Today in things I never realised but probably should:

The movie lines have given us a lot of amazing non-movie characters with realistic military plane/helicopter alt modes!

- Incinerator as a V-22 Osprey (vehicle seen in the movie, not as a Transformer)
- Breakaway/Thrust as an F-35 Lightning II
- Dirge/Jetblade as a Harrier (ish)
- Tomahawk as an amalgam of a bunch of different attack helicopters
- Terradive as a Su-47 Berkut
- Highbrow as a P-38 Lightning
- Skyhammer as a Mi-24 Hind (ish)
- Dreadwing as a Mig-29 Fulcrum
- Stratosphere as a mish mash of military transport planes (vehicle seen in the movie, not as a Transformer)
- Air Raid as an AWACS place
- Hatchet as a Eurofighter Typhoon (character was in DOTM but not transforming into a jet)
- Mindwipe as an F-117

Quite a lot of quality there.

EDIT: How did I forget Mindwipe?

I Totally agree, except your going to have to change your

- Breakaway/Thrust as an F-35 Lightning II

to

- Breakaway/Thrust as an F-35 Lightning II (ISH)

the sail section is pretty much completely wrong.

I have really enjoyed a lot of the toys you've mentioned above, some excellent designs and excellent engineering. many trying things rarely done before in the toy line.

[Bladestorm]

Just bought Titans Return Voyager Optimus from this guy in China and apparently it comes with 2 instruction manuals. 1 in Multi Languages (Like what we usually get) and 1 in Chinese.

That's correct. They open the packaging and add the Chinese instructions so you get both.
I don't buy from China very often but when I do we always get 2 sets of instructions. It's also one of the ways to know you've a good chance it is the officially licensed stuff.

[GoktimusPrime]

Today in things I never realised but probably should:

The movie lines have given us a lot of amazing non-movie characters with realistic military plane/helicopter alt modes!

- Incinerator as a V-22 Osprey (vehicle seen in the movie, not as a Transformer)
- Breakaway/Thrust as an F-35 Lightning II
- Dirge/Jetblade as a Harrier (ish)
- Tomahawk as an amalgam of a bunch of different attack helicopters
- Terradive as a Su-47 Berkut
- Highbrow as a P-38 Lightning
- Skyhammer as a Mi-24 Hind (ish)
- Dreadwing as a Mig-29 Fulcrum
- Stratosphere as a mish mash of military transport planes (vehicle seen in the movie, not as a Transformer)
- Air Raid as an AWACS place
- Hatchet as a Eurofighter Typhoon (character was in DOTM but not transforming into a jet)
- Mindwipe as an F-117

Quite a lot of quality there.

EDIT: How did I forget Mindwipe?
This is true. One really good thing about the live action movie toyline is the number of licensed alt modes that it's given us, both with on-screen and non-screen characters. :) There are a few exceptions like TF1/ROTF Megatron, the Fallen etc., but on the whole we've gotten a whole lot of licensed and other realistic looking alt modes. It really creates the whole "robots in disguise" feel. Other alt mode highlights from Bayformers include:
* The twins. I really like how their alt modes are just hatchbacks. Not sports cars, muscle cars etc. - i.e. things that draw attention and stick out.
* Old school Aussie style ice cream truck - again, the twins - I kinda wish that they'd stayed that way. Also a neat nod to the G1 Combiners (not gestalts).
* Household appliances - e.g. Ejector and various other appliancebots (although Richardbot's phallic robot mode was stupid).

[GoktimusPrime]

Bumper Robinson (Animated Bumblebee) played Zammiss, the Drac child in 1985's Enemy Mine.

[GoktimusPrime]

Something that I had noticed, but then forgot about it, and only re-realised again (:p) - IDW Ratchet speaks with a non-American English accent. Not sure which exactly, I'm assuming British. But definitely not North American.

[FatalityPitt]

Something that I had noticed, but then forgot about it, and only re-realised again (:p) - IDW Ratchet speaks with a non-American English accent. Not sure which exactly, I'm assuming British. But definitely not North American.

How do you tell Transformer accents apart in the comics? Apparently it's obvious to some, but for me it's impossible. Some writers like Chris Claremont, Garth Ennis or Alan Moore make it obvious by having characters say words like "ain't", or "Mum" instead of "Mom" (for Brits), or "lad/lass" instead of "boy/girl" (again, also for Brits). But with IDW Transformers, I can't tell who's got which accent. When I read that Getaway was written with a Kiwi accent, I was gobsmacked, thinking; what gave it away?? Did he say "sux" instead of "six", or did he say he was "knackered" (tired)? I haven't read much of MTMTE, but from some of previews/scans I read from, nothing gave it away.

[GoktimusPrime]

(post contains spoiler tagged profanity)
IDW Ratchet says arse instead of ass. And I have never met an American or Canadian who's ever used that word, whereas in English speaking countries outside of North America we use the former all the time as an expletive reference to one's buttocks, and the latter in reference to a donkey. We use both words in reference to a foolish person although the former is far harsher than the latter.

Heh, didn't know that about Getaway... or should I say, "Geetaway." :p

[FatalityPitt]

(post contains spoiler tagged profanity)
IDW Ratchet says arse instead of ass. And I have never met an American or Canadian who's ever used that word, whereas in English speaking countries outside of North America we use the former all the time as an expletive reference to one's buttocks, and the latter in reference to a donkey. We use both words in reference to a foolish person although the former is far harsher than the latter.

Heh, didn't know that about Getaway... or should I say, "Geetaway." :p

As Getaway would say (after a few shots of nightmare fuel); yeh nah brah, I found out reading huz tee-uff-wiki (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Getaway#cite_note-1) profile.. Ok, I'll stop before I get called out for political incorrectness.

It's interesting the things you pick up when you read closely. I figured Ratchet would sound formal and educated, but I always imagined him as American-sounding (been watching too much of the original cartoon, lol). A British-sounding Ratchet is an interesting twist :)

[GoktimusPrime]

I quite like TF Prime's Ratchet southern American accent with the hypercorrected /hʍ/ pronunciation of "wh." King of the Hill's Hank Hill also speaks with the same accent - hence his pronunciation of "whipped" is "hwipped," and Ratchet pronounces "what" as "hwat" etc. But believe it or not, "wh" was originally pronounced as "hw" in English, but the sound shifted when English rounded its vowels in the 15th Century. e.g. the Old English word for "who" is "hwā." But although the sounds have shifted, we still retain the "h" in 'wh' words as a vestigial remnant of how this phoneme used to be pronounced. The American "hw" trend is still technically a hypercorrection because they still use Modern English vowels. Strangely enough, words like "which," and "what" didn't undergo such notable vowel shifts, only really the shift from 'hw' to 'wh,' so the way that Ratchet says "hwich" and "hwat" is actually more closer to the way that these words were pronounced in Old English! :eek:

[Jellico]

Colonies are great for that. Australia and New Zealand are great little time capsules while in many ways US spelling is more pure because it is contemporaneous with the standardisation of English spelling which was a complete farce.

[GoktimusPrime]

Colonies are great for that. Australia and New Zealand are great little time capsules while in many ways US spelling is more pure because it is contemporaneous with the standardisation of English spelling which was a complete farce.
Continued here (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?p=552588#post552588) :)

[Raider]

My son showed me something new today, TR Headmasters fit perfectly into the scope of Machine Wars Starscream so that it is like a cockpit.

He was also using Legends CW Rodimus in Full-Tilt's spot on G1 Trypticon's chest.

Just shows with a little imagination you can have different generations intermingling :p

[GoktimusPrime]

Just don't ever try connected a G1 Predator Jet with MW Starscream's scope. It works just fine on Skyquake, but for some reason MW Starscream's is just way too tight. I haven't been game to try it on King Atlas. :o

[FatalityPitt]

Dark of the Moon Guzzle (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Guzzle_(DOTM)#Dark_of_the_Moon) could pass off as a CHUG G1 Guzzle (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Guzzle_(G1)#Generation_1). The resemblance is uncanny.

[GoktimusPrime]

"Decepticon" basically translates as "You are being deceived" - Megatron's call to arms. :eek:

"Decepticon" itself is obviously an invented word that comes from 'deception.' But 'deception' comes from the Old French word decepcion, which looks and sounds more like "Decepticon." And "decepcion" comes from the Latin word dēcipiō ("to mislead").

For those who may not know, Latin words transform in order to denote variations in meaning. We call these different modes "declensions." Dēcipiō is the Third Conjugation (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-NJWLqZiio) of the word "dēceptus" (deceived, cheated). But of course, Megatron isn't saying that people have been deceived, he's saying that they are being deceived, and for this we need to look at the second-person plural present passive imperative form of dēcipiō, which is DECIPIMINI. Translation: "You are being deceived." :eek:

Now I'm under no illusion that Bob Budiansky had any of this in mind when he made the word "Decepticon" back in 1984. They're deceptive Evil Decepticons(TM), boo! And obviously "Autobot" was simply a portmanteau of "automobile" and "robot" (since all the first year Autobots were automobiles), but of course in the IDW universe it initially was a shortening of "automaton robots," then "autonomous robots." But I think it is cool that current continuity has given these names far greater depth in their meaning than initially intended. :)

[Megatron]

"Decepticon" basically translates as "You are being deceived" - Megatron's call to arms. :eek:

"Decepticon" itself is obviously an invented word that comes from 'deception.' But 'deception' comes from the Old French word decepcion, which looks and sounds more like "Decepticon." And "decepcion" comes from the Latin word dēcipiō ("to mislead").

For those who may not know, Latin words transform in order to denote variations in meaning. We call these different modes "declensions." Dēcipiō is the Third Conjugation (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-NJWLqZiio) of the word "dēceptus" (deceived, cheated). But of course, Megatron isn't saying that people have been deceived, he's saying that they are being deceived, and for this we need to look at the second-person plural present passive imperative form of dēcipiō, which is DECIPIMINI. Translation: "You are being deceived." :eek:

Now I'm under no illusion that Bob Budiansky had any of this in mind when he made the word "Decepticon" back in 1984. They're deceptive Evil Decepticons(TM), boo! And obviously "Autobot" was simply a portmanteau of "automobile" and "robot" (since all the first year Autobots were automobiles), but of course in the IDW universe it initially was a shortening of "automaton robots," then "autonomous robots." But I think it is cool that current continuity has given these names far greater depth in their meaning than initially intended. :)

I disagree with your interpretation. (Who is doing the deceiving and who is being deceived?) There are other possible interpretations for the word "Decepticon" that haven't even been considered yet (also for "Autobot"). It's not important what those other possibilities are at this time so I won't mention them here, as my only intention is to point out that your translation is not final or absolute, though you make it sound like you have authority on the issue, when you do not.

[GoktimusPrime]

I'm only talking about the definitions of "Autobot" and "Decepticon" as explicitly stated in the IDW comics. I realise that other continuities do not share this definition, which I also explicitly disclaimed.

References:
Chaos Theory, Part 2 (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Chaos_Theory_Part_2)
Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Shadowplay,_Part_1:_Post_Hoc)

Now I'm under no illusion that Bob Budiansky had any of this in mind when he made the word "Decepticon" back in 1984. They're deceptive Evil Decepticons(TM), boo! And obviously "Autobot" was simply a portmanteau of "automobile" and "robot" (since all the first year Autobots were automobiles), but of course in the IDW universe it initially was a shortening of "automaton robots," then "autonomous robots." But I think it is cool that current continuity has given these names far greater depth in their meaning than initially intended. :)
IDW's G1 continuity has no relation to any other continuity. It is not a retcon.

[griffin]

I disagree with your interpretation. (Who is doing the deceiving and who is being deceived?) There are other possible interpretations for the word "Decepticon" that haven't even been considered yet (also for "Autobot"). It's not important what those other possibilities are at this time so I won't mention them here, as my only intention is to point out that your translation is not final or absolute, though you make it sound like you have authority on the issue, when you do not.

Setting aside the more recent retcons, Bob Budiansky is an authority, for creating the original names and story, and I recall somewhere (probably BotCon) him saying that Autobot was derived from automobile, and Decepticon was derived from deception. Which was why they were also labelled as "heroic" and "evil", and characters like Megatron were given negative or evil sounding names (remember the story about Hasbro wanting Bob to rename Megatron because they thought it sounded too evil for a kids toyline and cartoon).
And as we also know, Bob loved to use Latin and Greek with his Transformers names and places. I remember writing an essay back in the 90s about all the names of Greek and Latin origin in an attempt to solve the debate (at that time) of the spelling of Elita-1.

[Raider]

I remember writing an essay back in the 90s about all the names of Greek and Latin origin in an attempt to solve the debate (at that time) of the spelling of Elita-1.

I am unfamiliar with this debate. Were you right?

[GoktimusPrime]

Elita is obviously taken from the word "elite" which is actually French (élite) but descendant from the Latin word 'eligere,' which - to make a long story short - is a variation of the word 'electum' (to choose or elect).

But yeah, Budiansky certainly did have a penchant for Greek-Latin names...
Cybertron, Auto(bot), Decepticon, Optimus Prime, Megatron, (Wind)charger, Trail(breaker), Barr(age), Shrapnel, Mir(age), Inferno, Perceptor, Metroplex et al. And it's a trend which IDW have followed as well with names like Caminus, Aequitas, conjunx amicus/amica, conjunx endura, empurata, Pyra Magna, Victori(on), Pharma et al.

[Megatran]

I disagree with your interpretation. (Who is doing the deceiving and who is being deceived?) There are other possible interpretations for the word "Decepticon" that haven't even been considered yet (also for "Autobot"). It's not important what those other possibilities are at this time so I won't mention them here, as my only intention is to point out that your translation is not final or absolute, though you make it sound like you have authority on the issue, when you do not.
Dem fighting words. :p


Setting aside the more recent retcons, Bob Budiansky is an authority, for creating the original names and story, and I recall somewhere (probably BotCon) him saying that Autobot was derived from automobile, and Decepticon was derived from deception. Which was why they were also labelled as "heroic" and "evil", and characters like Megatron were given negative or evil sounding names (remember the story about Hasbro wanting Bob to rename Megatron because they thought it sounded too evil for a kids toyline and cartoon).
And as we also know, Bob loved to use Latin and Greek with his Transformers names and places. I remember writing an essay back in the 90s about all the names of Greek and Latin origin in an attempt to solve the debate (at that time) of the spelling of Elita-1.
Come to think of it, I've never thought of the name Megatron as a negative or evil sounding name. To me, it ilicits a figure of strong & immense stature such as a leader.

Negatron, on the other hand, does sound very negative. And fortunately Negatron only appears very briefly ... in an episode of Family Guy.

[griffin]

I am unfamiliar with this debate. Were you right?

Back when the internet was new for Transformers fans (mid 90s) and there was little or no access/interaction with official sources (or resources like the Original Series Bible), the online fandom would debate topics, like the colour of Rumble and Frenzy, where does Optimus' trailer go when he transforms, and what is the spelling of Elita-1 (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Elita_One#Notes).
Because in the Original series cartoon, her name was pronounced two different ways, depending on the voice actor and what vowels are emphasised. Either it was Elita/Eleeta (pronounced as "elite" at the start of the name, but was said by Starscream with heavy sarcasm, leading many to believe that it wasn't her actual name), or Aleta/Alita (pronounced with "ah" on the front, which was the majority of the times it was spoken in the cartoon).

At the time, (and before the Bible had the name in print to end the debate), neither spelling seemed to be derived from anything that I thought made sense (based on her character traits and powers), so I looked for an alternative spelling... which I can't actually remember, but it meant something like a burst of power - something that her character did in one episode to stop time.
(this was all about 20 years ago now, so I'm guessing a lot of it now)

Suffice to say, my third spelling didn't get picked up by anyone, and within a few years we had the official spelling revealed/confirmed, ending all future debates on the matter.

[GoktimusPrime]

I used to switch between Alita-1 and Elita-1 until 1996 when that Japanese garage kit came out and since then I've used Elita One.

[GoktimusPrime]

Tokyo Disneyland's Western River Railroad ride is presented by TakaraTOMY. :eek:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/disneyland_westernriverrailroad_zpswxhiuali.jpg

[Krayt]

Thanks FunPub!!!

Once again I've gotten a "new" g1 figure and realised I had overlooked something fro day 1!!!

This time it's Grand Max's she'll related.... I never realised Grand could keep Gran in place when in the shell! Only realised when I grabbed Brave's head to have a look with TFSS Megs shell.

But in my Defense... I try not to play with Grand too much :p

[GoktimusPrime]

MP36's plastic laser prop has a 5mm wide post (which plugs into the sword handle). Thus...
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/Masterpiece%20Megatron/mp_megatron32_zps8cqcpe7p.jpg
Unfortunately it doesn't fit on CW Megatron because the raised thumb base gets in the way. Because the "handle" is quite short it only works on figures whose fists are fairly flat. I don't have TR Megatron, so would anyone care to try it?

[GoktimusPrime]

TR Roadburn is a blend of Chase, Freeway and Searchlight. He has:
* Chase's colours (and coincidentally the larger grill/bumper makes the vehicle look more Chase-like)
* Freeway's face and helmet horns
* Searchlight's helmet crest and brow

So Roadburn mould could be potentially repainted as Freeway and Searchlight without any further retooling.

[GoktimusPrime]

TR Roadburn is a blend of Chase, Freeway and Searchlight. He has:
* Chase's colours (and coincidentally the larger grill/bumper makes the vehicle look more Chase-like)
* Freeway's face and helmet horns
* Searchlight's helmet crest and brow

So Roadburn mould could be potentially repainted as Freeway and Searchlight without any further retooling.
Actually, on closer inspection the head's "just" being show-accurate, and the Marvel/Sunbow head just coincidentally happens to have similar features to Freeway and Searchlight's toys. :o

[Paulbot]

AOE Junkheap is three robots with a shared alt mode (https://goo.gl/images/hK274f), Reflector-style.

Apparently he does split into his three components (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Junkheap_(AOE)) in the movie. I didn't notice.

[griffin]

AOE Junkheap is three robots with a shared alt mode (https://goo.gl/images/hK274f), Reflector-style.

Apparently he does split into his three components (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Junkheap_(AOE)) in the movie. I didn't notice.

I never realised that as well, and I never noticed that on the TFWiki... I mustn't have ever gone to that page either.

Now I'm gonna have go and look at the TF4 movie, to look for that scene...

[GoktimusPrime]

I noticed it, but I don't blame you guys for not noticing it considering that weird "flying blocks" transformation that they used in the film. Guh. They should release a special edition of AoE where:
1/ All the Decepticons actually transform, not disintegrate and reintegrate as floating sugar cubes.
2/ Just delete 'that' scene. It's so freaking useless and won't be missed.

[Geminii]

I've never thought of the name Megatron as a negative or evil sounding name.

The last I heard, it was meant to evoke "megaton", as in atomic weaponry, which had negative connotations due to the Cold War being less than a generation old when the name was created.

[FatalityPitt]

Just looking at pictures of Legends Godbomber. My gosh, it has thumb and finger articulation!

[griffin]

Ten years of movie toys with hundreds of Bumblebees, and I only realise today that none are Voyagers.

[Sinnertwin]

Can we count the Human Alliance version as one? :p

[GoktimusPrime]

TF2010 Deluxe Bumblebee was redecoed and released in Japan at the Voyager price point as AD08 Battle Blade Bumblebee (http://www.takaratomy.co.jp/products/lineup/detail/tf-movie809760.html). So technically speaking there has been a Voyager Movie Bumblebee as there was a toy released at the Voyager price point. And the AoE Flip-and-Change Bumblebee was Voyager-sized, but I'm assuming not Voyager priced (I don't pay attention to these figures). But as far as a Movie Bumblebee toy that ticks all of the following boxes:
□ Voyager size
□ Voyager price
□ Voyager-level design and engineering
No, I do not believe that there has been a movie Bumblebee that fulfills all of those criteria.

[griffin]

Can we count the Human Alliance version as one? :p

I was looking for a recent Voyager Bumblebee to photograph next to the Cyber series Bumblebees (for size/price comparisons), and just couldn't find one.
I saw the HA one, and thought about using it, but then thought that it would be hard to equate price-points, and it looks bigger than a Voyager anyway.

I was just amazed at the realisation that we've had 10 years of Movie toys, and the main feature character hasn't been released by Hasbro in Voyager class packaging/pricepoint by Hasbro in all that time.
They don't mind inundating us with endless Deluxe and gimmick Bumblebee toys, as well as one-off over-sized (and over-priced) large size toys, but one of the main price-points has not been utilised (yet).

There is a suggestion that there might be a Voyager Bumblebee for TF5, and if that happens, it would be the first... but still, you'd think that with so many Bumblebee Movie toys, there would be one of every size class by now.
I should do a count of the Movie Optimus and Bumblebee toys, to see who has the most over the last ten years.

[Borgeman]

I randomly watched Unicron death in the movie on youtube recently, and only on that viewing did I notice (for the first time ever) all of the autobots flying in space past Unicron's left shoulder after they exit his eye.

Gobsmacked I was :p

[Sinnertwin]

I randomly watched Unicron death in the movie on youtube recently, and only on that viewing did I notice (for the first time ever) all of the autobots flying in space past Unicron's left shoulder after they exit his eye.

Gobsmacked I was :p

Heh... I'd never noticed that either. But there they are, floating away.
I was always taken back by the sexy little reverse and peel Jazz does, even though there was nothing in front of him.

[Borgeman]

Heh... I'd never noticed that either. But there they are, floating away.
I was always taken back by the sexy little reverse and peel Jazz does, even though there was nothing in front of him.

Jazz just looked like he chucked it in reverse instead of first, too much of a rush to gtfo

[Holdobot]

Was just browsing BBTS contemplating G2 Superion for the 20th time, as you do, and just noticed for the first time that the gun mode was Powerglide attached to the gun. I always assumed that Powerglide and the gun were multiple weapons on one super weapon. Needless to say my display with regular vanila Superion is now fixed. :D

[griffin]

I never watched the movie "Ted 2" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_2) (the first one was too crude to want to see the second one), but I found out today from comments about Mark Wahlberg being a guest at this year's Hascon, that him and Ted were trashing the actual Hasbro exhibit at NYCC in 2014 for that sequel film.
I looked up some clips on youtube, but won't post up any links, as there is some coarse language in most of them... but if you want to have a look, do a search for something like "Ted 2 comic con". You can actually see the Transformers toy displays, with the TF4 movie toys and the giant Bumblebee statue.

Reading up on the plot synopsis, there is a big subplot involving Hasbro in the film, relating to the "toy" of Ted... fascinating. I think I'll have to see this movie now.

[Paulbot]

Reading up on the plot synopsis, there is a big subplot involving Hasbro in the film, relating to the "toy" of Ted... fascinating. I think I'll have to see this movie now.

We've discussed this in the Sightings in Media thread. There's quite a lot of Hasbro product placement - with plenty of Tfs - even though Hasbro is kind of the villain!

(It's not a bad movie either although the first is better!)

[GoktimusPrime]

I only recently Googled "WTB." Didn't know what it meant before. :p

[Polursine]

Only just now realised that the TR Topsin collector card has the misspelling of "Autbot Topspin" lol

[GoktimusPrime]

Recently discovered that TLK Voyager Megatron and Nitro have 3mm ports that allow a 3mm flight stand (e.g. MP Tracks' stand) to support them. Just discovered one on TR Metalhawk (which means that TR Triggerhappy probably has one too) and TR Pounce! :eek: Someone told me that this has been fairly common on toys for the last couple of years!

[klystron]

Recently discovered that TLK Voyager Megatron and Nitro have 3mm ports that allow a 3mm flight stand (e.g. MP Tracks' stand) to support them.... snip

Dude, you hurt my feelings. I mentioned that in my comments on the TLK Megs Review thread, and now I know you didnt read it... *sniff* :(

[GoktimusPrime]

I just realised that it's meant to be a dot point list. I thought it was a really badly put together paragraph, so uh... I skipped past it. :o I suggest that you actually use bullet points or even the board's [ list ][ /list ] tags (without the spaces) to make it clearer to read (example below). :)

Anyway, something else that I noticed before but then totally forgot about it but just noticed again -- the Last Knight Premier Edition figures have what appear to be Functions (or maybe just whacky character descriptions, but I'm treating them Functions :p). They're on the side flap of the boxes.

e.g.
Optimus Prime (Voyager) = Earth's Greatest Protector
Berserker = Raging Destroyer
Barricade = Sinister Trickster
Nitro Zeus = Lethal Hunter
Hot Rod = Brash Warrior
Megatron (Voyager) = Merciless Tyrant
Sqweeks = Autobot Amigo

They are pretty lame Functions, but not as lame as Robots In Disguise! Cos RiD Bruticus' Function is Predacon Dog. :p

[GoktimusPrime]

I've been pronouncing Paul Eiding's surname incorrectly for over 30 years.
I've been mispronouncing it as "Eeding," but it's "Eye-ding." Or "Ei" as in Einstein (not "Eensteen"). :o

[griffin]

Apparently all Titans Return Kup (https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/all-transformers-titans-return-and-legends-kup-toys-are-revealed-to-be-misassembled/39710/) (and JP Chaar) toys have a part wrongly assembled on them, and no one noticed... because it doesn't affect the transformation or look too out of place.
The part on the inside of each lower leg, is apparently on the wrong legs, as the two "panels" on that part are not the same size, so the line between them doesn't line up with the one on the adjoining part.

[UltraMarginal]

Apparently all Titans Return Kup (https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/all-transformers-titans-return-and-legends-kup-toys-are-revealed-to-be-misassembled/39710/) (and JP Chaar) toys have a part wrongly assembled on them, and no one noticed... because it doesn't affect the transformation or look too out of place.
The part on the inside of each lower leg, is apparently on the wrong legs, as the two "panels" on that part are not the same size, so the line between them doesn't line up with the one on the adjoining part.

I checked last night and it's on the Orion Pax as well.

[SuspectimusPrime]

Bumblebee's always had horns. In this Bumblebee head, bust his head (http://tformers.com/herocross-transformers-g1-portrait-series-1-images-devastator-arcee-soundwave-more/32668/news.html) looks comparatively bigger compared with Prime's - eyes are a few mm/cm higher, and his head/helmet is wider. This is obviously not to scale, however the comparison next to Prime makes his head more imposing.

The imposing head, in yellow, with horns, gives off a strong (http://www.tf-toy.com/unicron-head-p-7623.html) Unicron vibe (http://www.tf-toy.com/images/tftoy20160604/3011/7623.jpg) to me. Maybe Bumblebee is actually a sleeper Acolyte of Unicron* (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Acolyte_of_Unicron)?! :eek:

* Note: Wayyy behind in the IDW comics, so if it's has already happened, then that's just awesome!

[MayzaPrime]

Bumblebee's always had horns. In this Bumblebee head, bust his head (http://tformers.com/herocross-transformers-g1-portrait-series-1-images-devastator-arcee-soundwave-more/32668/news.html) looks comparatively bigger compared with Prime's - eyes are a few mm/cm higher, and his head/helmet is wider. This is obviously not to scale, however the comparison next to Prime makes his head more imposing.

The imposing head, in yellow, with horns, gives off a strong (http://www.tf-toy.com/unicron-head-p-7623.html) Unicron vibe (http://www.tf-toy.com/images/tftoy20160604/3011/7623.jpg) to me. Maybe Bumblebee is actually a sleeper Acolyte of Unicron* (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Acolyte_of_Unicron)?! :eek:

* Note: Wayyy behind in the IDW comics, so if it's has already happened, then that's just awesome!

Ummm... yeah you are... well its been over 12months so its no longer a spoiler. He is dead

[GoktimusPrime]

In Japanese Exo Suits (エクソスーツ) are called Excel Suits (エクセルスーツ) -- I've known this for aaages but only today did I realise why. The 'xo part of "Exo" sounds like a bad word in Japanese. :o

[GoktimusPrime]

The G1 Trainbots were originally going to have Western names, not Japanese ones. They would have been...

[* (JP name) (<meaning>) = (PROTOTYPE WESTERN NAME)]

* Getsuei <Moonshadow> = NIGHT
* Kaen <Blaze> = POWER
* Seizan <Blue Mountains> = PLANE
* Shouki <Shouki (http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/shoki.shtml)> = MACH
* Suiken <Hydrosphere> = STORM
* Yukikaze <Snow-Wind> = SNOW
* Raiden <Raiden (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raijin)> = GRAND LINER

[FatalityPitt]

I was just watching someone on Youtube transforming Masterpiece Star Saber. The transformation and 'Evolution' gimmick (as they'd call it in PotP) reminds me of G1 Powermaster Optimus Prime (the original from 1988, not TR). Even the way Saber (the small robot) folds up to form the torso of the bigger robot is similar to the Optimus Prime. I've never owned a Star Saber toy in any form before, so I've only just realised this.

[griffin]

Someone noted on Seibertron the other day, that the Japanese Legends versions of Misfire and Slugslinger, have their waist/crotch pieces swapped over (JP Misfire has TR Slugslinger's crotch, and JP Slugslinger has TR Misfire's).
I guess they are exactly the same to fit with either toy, and just have some surface resculpting on them... so I wonder if there was a reason why TakaraTomy decided to swap them around.

[GoktimusPrime]

Stripes' function is "Battle Beast." :D

[Paulbot]

All these years watching Transformers The Movie and it's never occured to me before today that the gun emplacement above Blurr's parapet might actually be manned.

I've always thought of it as an automated gun, but maybe some unseen Autobot was inside and died when Devastator crushed it.

https://i.imgur.com/M5efjs3m.pnghttps://i.imgur.com/aTyr7Mpm.pnghttps://i.imgur.com/pl0YUOVm.png

[Borgeman]

Iv'e always considered its non specific/errating firing and aiming to point to it's automation.

[DELTAprime]

Considering how few Autobots we actually see in the city in the movie I always thought the city was mostly empty. After all it was only a handful of Decepticons that attacked Autobot city yet they nearly won. Sure Devastator was key, but if the city was full of Autobots you would expect at least one Autobot combiner to be present.

[MayzaPrime]

Considering how few Autobots we actually see in the city in the movie I always thought the city was mostly empty. After all it was only a handful of Decepticons that attacked Autobot city yet they nearly won. Sure Devastator was key, but if the city was full of Autobots you would expect at least one Autobot combiner to be present.

IDW answered that when they did the Movie comic... Menasor and Bruticus were attacking the ark when Defensor, Superion and Omega Supreme were defending it.

[Ravagecat]

IDW answered that when they did the Movie comic... Menasor and Bruticus were attacking the ark when Defensor, Superion and Omega Supreme were defending it.

That's Awesome! I did not know that... I really need to catch up on my IDW comics :o

[Paulbot]

Iv'e always considered its non specific/errating firing and aiming to point to it's automation.

Well that's always been my thought too, but since we other Autobots manning weapons (Blaster's tower is very similar) maybe it's not?


Considering how few Autobots we actually see in the city in the movie I always thought the city was mostly empty. After all it was only a handful of Decepticons that attacked Autobot city yet they nearly won. Sure Devastator was key, but if the city was full of Autobots you would expect at least one Autobot combiner to be present.

When it comes to assumptions, I always figured any of the 1984/85 Autobots we didn't see in season 3 was there... and died. The mausoleum ship in Dark Awakening is fairly large.


IDW answered that when they did the Movie comic... Menasor and Bruticus were attacking the ark when Defensor, Superion and Omega Supreme were defending it.


That's Awesome! I did not know that... I really need to catch up on my IDW comics :o

It's only in the collected edition, and it's not much better than a fanfic explanation really, but it's there. And you can see a scan here: http://tfwiki.net/wiki/File:TAM_TPB_Gestalt_Fight.jpg

This has made me wonder if the current G1 collection will have a volume that includes both the Marvel and IDW adapations of TFTM. Doesn't seem to be a place for it though.

[Ravagecat]

It's only in the collected edition, and it's not much better than a fanfic explanation really, but it's there. And you can see a scan here: http://tfwiki.net/wiki/File:TAM_TPB_Gestalt_Fight.jpg

This has made me wonder if the current G1 collection will have a volume that includes both the Marvel and IDW adapations of TFTM. Doesn't seem to be a place for it though.

Thanks for the link. Glad I've seen it now :)

[GoktimusPrime]

Of course the reality is that the script for TFTM was written in 1985. Hasbro themselves probably hadn't fully developed the 1986 line up and Sunbow were just going off what toys they knew that Hasbro were planning on releasing, as well as a few figures that Hasbro were developing based on Sunbow's designs (e.g. Galvatron, Rodimus Prime, Cyclonus etc.).

And we know that there were scenes that would've showcased more 1985 characters but they were cut. Such as the scene where Ultra Magnus carries a bunch of Autobot Cars including Tracks, Red Alert, Hoist etc. in his car carrier mode before deploying them in front of an advancing Devastator. It is this attack which forces Devastator to separate into the Constructicons with Megatron close behind them, but then Megatron is stopped as Optimus Prime steps in behind him. This is why in TFTM we see Megatron turning around as he faces Prime, because he was previously watching the Constructicons pursuing Ultra Magnus and the '85 Autobot Cars (and Sideswipe). This piece of animation still made it into the final cut even though the scene before it was cut.

But yeah, I'd say the reason why a lot of 1986 toys didn't appear in the movie was because they hadn't been developed or decided yet. Writers like those who worked in the IDW adaptation have basically retconned what happened, which as Paulbot said is basically what fanfic writers do, but it certainly was never the intention of the original writers. And the retcon only exists in the IDW TFTM adaptation universe anyway - just as Ultra Magnus being drawn and quartered by the Sweeps only exists in the Marvel TFTM comic adaptation (it was also originally in the script, but Sunbow decided to change it to Ultra Magnus just blowing up -- I guess because being drawn and quartered would been too violent?).

[DELTAprime]

I guess because being drawn and quartered would been too violent?).

Too bad they still decided to traumatise a generation of children with all the other deaths.;)

[GoktimusPrime]

It was the 80s. People didn't care about traumatising us. They sold us toys based on Robocop! :eek:

[DELTAprime]

It was the 80s. People didn't care about traumatising us. They sold us toys based on Robocop! :eek:

Robocop 1 or the watered down 2nd and 3rd movie or the even more watered down saturday morning cartoon?:p

[GoktimusPrime]

All of the above! They even had a cartoon, comic books and a really weird live action TV series based on it too. Talk about marketing a franchise to the totally wrong audience. As a kid Robocop was just a really cool^super violent cybernetic cop! I was way too young to properly understand and appreciate the story with all of its poignant social themes and motifs - something that a lot of critics have said are sorely missing from the new Robocop remake. The remake is fine as an action film, but as a piece of film literature it is but a shadow of its original namesake. And the over-the-top violence was a deliberate part of the story. I was a uni student when Starship Troopers came out and I was able to better understand and appreciate that story, and of course, go back and appreciate the original Robocop. :) Definitely things I'd buy for a dollar.

[CHILENO20]

All of the above! They even had a cartoon, comic books and a really weird live action TV series based on it too. Talk about marketing a franchise to the totally wrong audience. As a kid Robocop was just a really cool^super violent cybernetic cop! I was way too young to properly understand and appreciate the story with all of its poignant social themes and motifs - something that a lot of critics have said are sorely missing from the new Robocop remake. The remake is fine as an action film, but as a piece of film literature it is but a shadow of its original namesake. And the over-the-top violence was a deliberate part of the story. I was a uni student when Starship Troopers came out and I was able to better understand and appreciate that story, and of course, go back and appreciate the original Robocop. :) Definitely things I'd buy for a dollar.

Made by the same director if I'm not mistaken

[GoktimusPrime]

Correct, and also the same writer. :) And Starship Troopers starred Michael Ironside who would later go on to play Ultra Magnus in Transformers Prime. :D And Transformers Animated's automated police robots (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Police_drone) were clearly inspired by Robocop's ED-209. ;)

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

A The remake is fine as an action film,
No its not. Man I disliked that film intensely.:p
Just my opinion. ;)

[griffin]

Seibertron have posted up another one of their top-5 postings (https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/top-5-most-confusing-vestigial-parts-in-transformers-toys/40562/), and this one is actually interesting enough to mention here.
It features some of the confusing or redundant parts that are on Hasbro Transformers toys, and even though I already knew why almost all of these exist (except Optimus Minor, whom no one probably knows why it has extra arms), I thought that there might be some people here who might be enlightened by some of these.

It includes...
- BW Transmetal Optimus Minor having split arms in robot mode (no one knows why... probably so that it wasn't criticised for having no "transformation" element to all of its limbs).
- Gen1 Dinobots having seats (left over from the pre-Transformers Diaclone versions, which had pilots).
- Universe Galvatron having legs (a well documented story about how this toy was originally designed to have three modes and a Voyager size... but then scaled down to Deluxe size, and having the third mode abandoned without removing all of the parts that only apply to the third mode).
- BW Transmetal Ultra toys having cockpits (another story revealed at the time, about the toys intending to have pilots, but the concept was dropped by Hasbro, but later included when TakaraTomy released the blue Cryotek in Japan).
- Gen1 Perceptor having an extra wheel on its back (similar to the Dinobot seats, as it was for a pre-Transformers tank mode that Hasbro didn't officially document with their release of Perceptor).

[Jellico]

The seating arrangements on most of 84/84. I had no idea about Microman back then. At the same time a lot of the seats were barely seats so I had the feeling of am I looking a seat or not?

G1 missile springs. All these awesome weapons and none of them work. What's up with that?

G1 Megatron. He had that much disabled on him. And what was with the stock and extra weapons? An awesome toy with all these hints of even more awesomeness.

[Paulbot]

The Japanese opening for Transformers Animated (https://youtu.be/m8GDArLUf2E) is great.

But I never knew there was an alternate version (https://youtu.be/_aaDKMixGJY) featuring some different Decepticons (including Swindle and Soundwave)

There's also a third version with the cast singing the song (https://youtu.be/wNb29DoNk6Y).

"All I can do, and all you can do, habatake transform!" :D

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

The Japanese opening for Transformers Animated (https://youtu.be/m8GDArLUf2E) is great.

"All I can do, and all you can do, habatake transform!" :D

Damn, that is amazing!
Tobitate Transform.

:D

I had no idea the Animated opening was so rocking!

[GoktimusPrime]

It's JAM Project! It features the voices of legendary anime singers like Kageyama Hironobu (The☆Headmasters opening/closing themes, CHA-LA-HEAD-CHA-LA etc.) and Mizuki Ichiro (Zone opening/closing themes, Science Ninja Team Gatchaman etc.)! :D You should see how these guys perform live (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaqbVzDbHrs). :D

I really love how the Japanese actually create new music for Transformers instead of constantly rehashing the G1 theme which is what we all we get from the American series (Beast Wars is Canadian ;)). Just look at the RiD theme... every time I hear I just think that the lyricist must've spent a whole 30 seconds coming up with those words. :rolleyes:

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

I just realised that there's a Cybertronian martial art called "Tekkaido," which in Japanese means "Way of Withdrawal" (撤回道). :o So do they beat their opponents by running away? Works for Sir Robin the Brave I suppose. :p This name seems to be coined from Anglophone canon, not Japanese canon. And my guess is that they wanted to make it sound like "Taekwondo," but then they used more Japanese sounding phonology and uh... yeah. Way of Buggering Off! :p

G1 Cartoon Megatron must be a black belt in Tekkaido. "DECEPTICONS, RETREAT!"

[Firestorm]

I just realised that there's a Cybertronian martial art called "Tekkaido," which in Japanese means "Way of Withdrawal" (撤回道). :o So do they beat their opponents by running away? Works for Sir Robin the Brave I suppose. :p This name seems to be coined from Anglophone canon, not Japanese canon. And my guess is that they wanted to make it sound like "Taekwondo," but then they used more Japanese sounding phonology and uh... yeah. Way of Buggering Off! :p

G1 Cartoon Megatron must be a black belt in Tekkaido. "DECEPTICONS, RETREAT!"

As amusing as “the way of fleeing like a coward” sounds. I had assumed that the “Tekkai” in Tekkaido was meant to be read with the same kanji as the Tekkai technique in the anime One Piece 鉄塊 which I believe means Iron Body (and would thus be read as 鉄塊道) quite fitting for a race of mechanical beings.

[GoktimusPrime]

Sounds more plausible. :p Although unless an official source provides the Kanji then it's impossible to definitely rule out what the actual meaning is supposed to be. ;)

This sometimes happens in canonical material from Japan too where names are only ever officially written in Katakana. One example is the character "Akira" from Transformers Zone. Phonetically "Akira" can be a boy or girl's name, the difference lies in which Kanji is used (similar to say Tony vs Toni etc.). Since the name is only ever written in Katakana, it's impossible to tell if Akira is meant to be a boy or girl. And the Akira character is incredibly androgynous in TF Zone!

The Japanese fandom may not have FIRRIB but one endless fan debate that does exist there is whether or not Akira is male or female. :p

[DELTAprime]

Speaking of Japanese stuff. I just found out that Takara and Takara Tomy have developed a bunch of video games over the years (most non Transformers related) dating back as far as 1987 when they made Transformers: Headmasters for the Famicom Disk System (Not to be confused with the cartridge based Famicom AKA the NES).

[BigTransformerTrev]

My son noticed (quite impressively I thought considering how tiny it is and is the same orange colour as the shoulder) that the RID Blind Bags version of Unicron has a Decepticon symbol on his right shoulder. I've had one of these figures 10 times longer than him and I never noticed! :eek:

Anyone know if this is the only Unicron that has - on the toy, not the packaging - been identified as a Decepticon? I've got quite a few Unicrons now but as far as I can remember none have a Con symbol on them.

[UltraMarginal]

I'm not sure, if I remember I'll check my unicron when I get home tonight. There have definitely been cases in the past of non-aligned characters being given a decepticon or autobot insignia on the toy. Animated Lockdown is an example I believe.

[GoktimusPrime]

G1 Gnaw
G1 Wreck Gar
G1 Unicron (never produced but prototypes had a Decepticon rub sign)
G1 Sixshot (Japan - does LG50 Sixshot have any Decepticon logos?)
Cybertron Unicron
ROTF The Fallen*
RtS Wreck Gar
AoE Lockdowns
AoE Steeljaw
RiD Megatronus*
Titans Return/LG Gnaw

*Subjective -- the Fallen was initially not a Decepticon. In some continuities he's never a Decepticon, but in the Bayverse he influences Megatron to create the Decepticon faction and in the Aligned universe he claimed to be the first Decepticon but there's no canonical evidence to back this claim.

Speaking of Japanese stuff. I just found out that Takara and Takara Tomy have developed a bunch of video games over the years (most non Transformers related) dating back as far as 1987 when they made Transformers: Headmasters for the Famicom Disk System (Not to be confused with the cartridge based Famicom AKA the NES).
They made Mystery of Convoy in 1986, although that was cartridge game.
The Famicom Disk System isn't a stand-alone console on its own, it's a add-on disk drive that attaches to your Famicom console.

I used to own both an NES and Famicom back in the day. :)
I didn't own the Disk System but I knew other kids who did.

[DELTAprime]

Errrr....

I think I got my Famicom Disk mixed up with my Twin Famicom. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin_Famicom

God I'm finding it hard keeping facts straight in my head these days.

But Convoy No Nazo was published by Takara, not Developed by them. Headmasters was the first developed. Huge difference between being a developer and a publisher.

Also what are you talking about Six Shot not being a Decepticon? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtLpwtwqaak

[GoktimusPrime]

Also what are you talking about Six Shot not being a Decepticon? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtLpwtwqaak
I said...

G1 Sixshot (Japan - does LG50 Sixshot have any Decepticon logos?)
i.e. Only talking about Sixshot in G1 Japanese continuity, not Anglophone continuity. Thanks.

[DELTAprime]

I said...

i.e. Only talking about Sixshot in G1 Japanese continuity, not Anglophone continuity. Thanks.

??? Sorry but most people don't know anything about Japanese G1. Are you saying Takara made him a different faction?

Here's the link the Giant Bomb page for Convoy no Nazo. As you can see it was not developed by Takara. https://www.giantbomb.com/transformers-convoy-no-nazo/3030-15638/

A developer makes games, a publisher publishes them. I was referring specifically to developing games. Any businessman with some financing can be a publisher. Being a developer takes artistic and programing skill.

[GoktimusPrime]

In Japanese G1 Sixshot was a factionless mercenary, much like Lockdown. Yet the toy was packaged as a Decepticon and had Decepticon logos. In the anime and manga he had no logos.
https://image.ibb.co/m2E3mS/temp.jpg

[Bidoofdude]

In Japanese G1 Sixshot was a factionless mercenary, much like Lockdown. Yet the toy was packaged as a Decepticon and had Decepticon logos. In the anime and manga he had no logos.


This doesn't seem to hold very well. He was pretty much the Japanese city commander, emphasised even more by his rivalry with Ultra Magnus.

TFwiki lists his function (presumably from the Headmasters cartoon itself) as "Decepticon Dinobase Ninja Staff Officer." Though he may have been his own bot prior to its events, he seems to be a Decepticon in the time of the show.

[DELTAprime]

Ah, thanks for the explanation.

I tried to watch the Headmasters and within a couple of episodes I gave up thanks to that really crappy english dub. I wish Hasbro would do a proper dub of the Japanese only episodes.

[Raider]

Was messing around with the new Trypticon with my son and just found that there is a button behind the head to pop open the cap and reveal the gun on his nose. I've been opening it by the cap :p

[DELTAprime]

Was messing around with the new Trypticon with my son and just found that there is a button behind the head to pop open the cap and reveal the gun on his nose. I've been opening it by the cap :p

And that button has a Titan Master port on it. You're meant to put the Titan Master that came with Trypticon in that port making him the second Titan Class Titan Master.

[BigTransformerTrev]

Had no idea that the JP G1 Dai Atlas toy turned into a MM base.

I’m quite digging these JP G1 characters getting new toys - I hope they make one of him at some point! Though not MP - I love my legends Overlord way more than my MP Star Saber, in part due to price.

[DELTAprime]

Had no idea that the JP G1 Dai Atlas toy turned into a MM base.

I’m quite digging these JP G1 characters getting new toys - I hope they make one of him at some point! Though not MP - I love my legends Overlord way more than my MP Star Saber, in part due to price.

Maybe it's because my early exposures to seeing Transformers in stores was the Micromasters and Action Masters on pegs, but I really hope we get Micromasters and Micromaster bases in a future CHUG line. A modern Dai Atlas and Star Convoy with modern Micromasters would be amazing to me.:D

[GoktimusPrime]

I'd completely forgotten that Armada Optimus Prime has a movable mouthplate :p

[philby]

I thought I read somewhere that you can move the windscreen wipers on MP-10. I just had a go on mine and they don't budge...I certainly wasn't going to force it though... :confused:

[DELTAprime]

I thought I read somewhere that you can move the windscreen wipers on MP-10. I just had a go on mine and they don't budge...I certainly wasn't going to force it though... :confused:

I've never heard that one.

[griffin]

I never realised that the fan-vote combiner Victorion, has some Easter egg nods to the original series cartoon episode "Cosmic Rust" (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Victorion#Generations), with each toy having Cybertronian writing on it that adds up to the entire warning rhyme spoken in that episode, and part of the combined sword is sculpted to homage the Lightning Bug that Megatron found and used.

[Lint]

If his legs/feet are set correctly, G1 Sky Lynx can actually walk around in circles. (on a smooth timber floor). I discovered this when Sky Lynx circumnavigated my coffee table after tripping over an object that offset one of his legs.

I've not successfully replicated this effect since though.

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

It never really registered to me before, but after watching Human Error, I realised why Optimus' main weapon is an axe. Beccause he's a fire fighter/truck.

WOW, clever!:D

Why did it take me so long...:o

[GoktimusPrime]

You also do know that the human avatars are all modelled after the voice actors too, right?
e.g. Optimus Prime = David Kaye, Bumblebee = Bumper Robinson etc.

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

It never really registered to me before, but after watching Human Error, I realised why Optimus' main weapon is an axe. Beccause he's a fire fighter/truck.

WOW, clever!:D

Why did it take me so long...:oWell, that plus the G1 reference.

You also do know that the human avatars are all modelled after the voice actors too, right?
e.g. Optimus Prime = David Kaye, Bumblebee = Bumper Robinson etc.That's pretty cool. :cool:

[griffin]

I never realised that the same person voiced Gen1 Scorponok AND Fortress Maximus (Stephen Keener).
It's rare that major rivals are voiced by the same person, as it would be difficult to do lines so aggressively at yourself (as opposed to just general conversation between allies like Cullen doing Optimus and Ironhide in the original cartoon).

[GoktimusPrime]

Scott McNeil. :)

Any time Rattrap, Dinobot and/or Silvebolt argued with each other or if either character fought Waspinator. ;)

[griffin]

I don't remember if this was posted here as news two years ago when it was first found (I didn't want to waste time searching), but there was a second standby comic issue done up based on a cartoon episode... but unlike Big Broadcast of 2006, this one didn't end up being needed (produced just in case they were running late for the month's deadline, just needing a quick splash of colour - which is a lot of work to not be needed, and probably annoying to the artists who never saw it in the hands of fans).
The episode was Dweller from the Depths (the one about the vampire monster released from the centre of Cybertron), and three pages of the black-and-white inks was found in 2015 from the Marvel artist Dave Hunt (https://www.facebook.com/pg/The-Roboplastic-Apocalypse-166738590031466/photos/?tab=album&album_id=897077043664280).

[Paulbot]

which is a lot of work to not be needed, and probably annoying to the artists who never saw it in the hands of fans

I doubt it's annoying to the artist who got paid. Marvel did these "inventory stories" all the time in the 70s and 80s and it gives the low ranking artist some extra expierence. Some ended up being printed in other books if they didn't (or couldn't) get used in the main title. They are usually pretty rubbish and inconsequential.

[GoktimusPrime]

Fire Convoy/RID Optimus Prime's torso is ridiculously easy to open open. Just two screws below the armpits.

Overall Fire Convoy is a better toy that RID OP but one flaw with Fire Convoy is that the chrome is far more susceptible to chipping. My Fire Convoy has suffered from a really badly scratched up chest, and in 2002 I bought RiD OP. While RiD OP has a nice shiny chrome chest, the rest of the colours on the toy are inferior to FC's (not to mention those stupid split tyres thanks to Hasbro's choice of cheap rubber). Today I opened both toys up and swapped their chest plates, so now my Fire Convoy has a new shiny chrome chest with the rest of the figure sporting superior colours to RID OP. :)

Kinda tempted to see if anyone has a junker RID OP torso for me to salvage the chest plate from. I just need the chrome to be in good nick and couldn't care less about the rest of the figure. Hhmmm...

[Paulbot]

Marvel TF comic book creator surnames I’ve been getting wrong for 30 years!

Legendary Tf creator Bob Budiansky is pronounced boo-dee-ANN-skee
Artist Herb Trimpe is TRIM-pee
Writer Jim Salicrup I got right: SAL-i-krupp
Letter Jim Massara is ma-SAR-a
Editor Ralph Macchio (no relation to the Karate Kid) is MA-kee-o

[1AZRAEL1]

Rearranging my collection, I discovered that MP Ravage has a nose bit that folds out to fill in the gap in the face. Always thought it looked weird but never looked into it further until I realised my YOTG version had the nose filled out

[GoktimusPrime]

I didn't know about "Trimpe" being "Trim-pee," but the others seem obvious to me. Although as a kid I used to mispronounce Budiansky as "Bud-DAN-skee." :p Of course, I used to mispronounce Grotusque as "Grow-tuss-kew" and Kylie Minogue was Kylie "Minnow-gew." :p

[UltraMarginal]

Rearranging my collection, I discovered that MP Ravage has a nose bit that folds out to fill in the gap in the face. Always thought it looked weird but never looked into it further until I realised my YOTG version had the nose filled out

It certainly looks lot better with the nose folded out.

[bowspearer]

The Dinobot Enigma is actually designed to slot into the open T-Rex maw on Volcanicus' chest.

[Jetfire in the sky]

Rearranging my collection, I discovered that MP Ravage has a nose bit that folds out to fill in the gap in the face. Always thought it looked weird but never looked into it further until I realised my YOTG version had the nose filled out

:eek::eek:
Yes!! Looks great now. Always learning. :)

[philby]

Rearranging my collection, I discovered that MP Ravage has a nose bit that folds out to fill in the gap in the face. Always thought it looked weird but never looked into it further until I realised my YOTG version had the nose filled out

photo?

[1AZRAEL1]

photo?

I'll post one up a bit later. Only just seen this thread again

[snaketales]

I never knew the Pretender Beasts were so large - the only pics I'd seen had no scale reference - until I saw Slag's impressive collection.

[GoktimusPrime]

I never knew the Pretender Beasts were so large - the only pics I'd seen had no scale reference - until I saw Slag's impressive collection.
Huh? Oh, you mean the shells. The bots themselves are pretty puny. :o

[Tabias Prime]

I never realized until today that my Prime Ratchet has waist articulation...

[Paulbot]

Got Landmine/Alpha Trion over the weekend. I'd not paid attention before to notice that it's a retool of Metalhawk/Vector Prime - with only some of the body of the shell and the "face/engine" part being different.

[griffin]

Got Landmine/Alpha Trion over the weekend. I'd not paid attention before to notice that it's a retool of Metalhawk/Vector Prime - with only some of the body of the shell and the "face/engine" part being different.


I didn't notice that it had reused parts from a previous PrimeMaster shell (when I got Landmine on the weekend too), but I did look at it and had the thought that all but the front panel could have been recycled to give us most of the Autobot Pretenders, by just swapping out the front panel... which I guess they actually did, if Metalhawk is just that.

[Paulbot]

Metalhawk and Landmine have the same pretender shell arms, weapon, inner robot, back part of the shell (all the bits I can see without opening) and the knees down.

Cloudbust/Micronus is completely different mold and it would be weird for it to not get a remold too (I'd hope for Waverider) except the Decepticon molds don't seem to share any parts from the stock photos.

[DELTAprime]

I really hope they can uses the minimal retooling needed to give us a full set of humanoid Pretenders as a SDCC set or something.

[FatalityPitt]

What's something that voice actors Don Messick (G1 Ratchet and Gears), Corey Burton (G1 Spike, Shockwave and Sunstreaker), and Jeffrey Combs (RiD Prime Ratchet) have in common?

They voiced Scarecrow, the Batman villain, at some point in their careers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uu2tGYB5fjI

[Firestorm]

POTP Jazz actually CAN wear his prime armor on his chest.
I never realised he could since there wasn’t a peg hole on his chest for the “wrist” of the armor
But after getting Moonracer and seeing how her armour attaches I gave Jazz another look, and yep, the pegs on the “thumbs” can wedge into the gaps on his headlights.
Should have figured there’d be a way for him to wear it

[techx]

Just watching Darkness Riding Part 1 and Cliffjumper sounded awfully like Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and lo and behold, it was him voicing Cliffy 😁😁😁.

Didn't realise it the last time I watched TF: Prime it was him. Too bad Cliffjumper didn't last long.

[UltraMarginal]

Just watching Darkness Riding Part 1 and Cliffjumper sounded awfully like Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and lo and behold, it was him voicing Cliffy ������.

Didn't realise it the last time I watched TF: Prime it was him. Too bad Cliffjumper didn't last long.

I was rather upset when they killed off cliffjumper in the first episode. I liked the character and I have a bit of a man crush on The Rock for some reason. They never could have afforded him for the series as a regular though.

[TaZZerath]

I was rather upset when they killed off cliffjumper in the first episode. I liked the character and I have a bit of a man crush on The Rock for some reason. They never could have afforded him for the series as a regular though.

I think most fans as shocked at CJ's death as they were about the initial announcement. It was a pretty brutal way to go.

Prime was definitely one of my favourite series though. Arcee and WheelJack ('Jackie') were my favourite Autobots followed closely by Ratchet. Knock Out, Starscream and Soundwave as the top three 'Cons.

[UltraMarginal]

Bulkhead was one of my favourites, him and Breakdown, their rivalry was fantastic.

[Raider]

Just realised that the MP cars (prowl et al) have little holes on rear sides in car mode where you can clip the shoulder cannons into so you dont have to store them

[DELTAprime]

I just put together my first POTP combiner, Abominus. Before now I had no idea that the hands included with the leg bots form heel spurs.

Note I have the Dinobots and Fembots, I just have no intention of ever using their combined mode so Abominus was the first.

[SharkyMcShark]

I just put together my first POTP combiner, Abominus. Before now I had no idea that the hands included with the leg bots form heel spurs.

Note I have the Dinobots and Fembots, I just have no intention of ever using their combined mode so Abominus was the first.

How is Abominus? He's the only one of the POTP combiners I've considered getting.

[SuspectimusPrime]

Note I have the Dinobots and Fembots, I just have no intention of ever using their combined mode so Abominus was the first.

A wise decision!

[DELTAprime]

How is Abominus? He's the only one of the POTP combiners I've considered getting.

He's excellent for the most part. Only complaints I have is Cutthroat has a jaw that pops off extremely easy so could be lost easily and there is no large gun for Abominus' combined mode.

[VERT]

Cutthroat got my metal pin treatment to fix that.

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

Just discovered potp Blots' Monster legs can swing open on a hinge. Yay extra articulation!

[griffin]

(noted by Justowen yesterday) On the instructions for POTP Blackwing (and probably Dreadwind too), it is called a Duocon... probably because like Battleslash & Roadtrap, the toys combine, making the term a 2-bot combiner gimmick name in POTP, rather than a subgroup name like in Gen1.

[FatalityPitt]

Not sure if anyone's called this out yet, but Cog's guns look very similar to G1 Cerebro's gun

http://news.tfw2005.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/07/Siege-Cog.jpg

https://tfwiki.net/mediawiki/images2/5/59/G1Cerebrostoy.jpg

That's pretty cool.

[GoktimusPrime]

Nice. Well spotted. :)

[FatalityPitt]

Nice. Well spotted. :)

Cheers :)

I skipped out on TR Fort Max (and subsequent Titan Class figures) due to a lack of space in my home. At least with this version of Cog coming out, I'll be able to own a part of Fort Max that's updated (or CHUG-erised). If you have TR Fort Max, Cog's guns should add more incentive to get Cog when he comes out. He'd go well with TR Fort Max and Cerebros.

EDIT: I also like some of the paint apps on Cog, like the red stripes on the shins. They're reminiscent of the red double-barrelled cannons on Fort Max's shins. Even though it wouldn't be faithful to the original, I think it would have been good to add more paint to the face.

[SharkyMcShark]

I was fiddling with HFTD Ironhide over the weekend and managed to find actual incredibly solid locking points for the hood/chest halves in robot mode, about 8 years after the fact (and unfortunately long after I'd lost the turret cannon thing).

What a fun little mold that one is.

[Lint]

You learn a lot when you actually play with your toys, especially with kids.

I discovered that the roll cage of Potp Beachcomber slots perfectly into UW Hook's hook. It actually looks pretty neat, a beach buggy being hoisted around by a crane.

[KELPIE]

Cutthroat got my metal pin treatment to fix that.

Please explain?

[VERT]

Please explain?


All the points on his bird head that fall apart. Like the jaw and bit on top of his head. Drilled them out and inserted a metal pin to hold it all together. Like what Hasbro should have done. Did the same with studio series Bees roof hinges.

[DELTAprime]

All the points on his bird head that fall apart. Like the jaw and bit on top of his head. Drilled them out and inserted a metal pin to hold it all together. Like what Hasbro should have done. Did the same with studio series Bees roof hinges.

I wish I was that handy, but I'd just end up destroying toys if I tried to mod them.

[KELPIE]

All the points on his bird head that fall apart. Like the jaw and bit on top of his head. Drilled them out and inserted a metal pin to hold it all together. Like what Hasbro should have done. Did the same with studio series Bees roof hinges.

Wow nice work.

A bit too involved for my ability, but Cutthroats beak is the only negative in all of the Terrorcons for me.

[GoktimusPrime]

Nobody knows the identity of the Hasbro staffer who attended the 1983 Tokyo Toy Show by him/herself other than this person being from one of Hasbro's European branches. It was this person who saw Takara's Diaclone and Micro Change toys, and then had the idea that Hasbro could release these products to the West. S/he would've subsequently contacted Hasbro USA and forwarded his/her ideas/suggestions to them, and the rest is history.

Man, I would love to know who this person is, because the Transformers would likely not even exist if not for him/her! Whoever you are, I salute you!

[UltraMarginal]

Nobody knows the identity of the Hasbro staffer who attended the 1983 Tokyo Toy Show by him/herself other than this person being from one of Hasbro's European branches. It was this person who saw Takara's Diaclone and Micro Change toys, and then had the idea that Hasbro could release these products to the West. S/he would've subsequently contacted Hasbro USA and forwarded his/her ideas/suggestions to them, and the rest is history.

Man, I would love to know who this person is, because the Transformers would likely not even exist if not for him/her! Whoever you are, I salute you!

I always thought is was a Hasbro US person. that makes the story even more interesting.

[Deonasis]

I always thought is was a Hasbro US person. that makes the story even more interesting.

Are you and Gok thinking about Henry Orenstein? If you liked The Toy That Made Us then this is a fascinating read..
https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/www.newsweek.com/henry-orenstein-israel-ronald-reagan-transformers-535517%3famp=1

Also.. https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Henry_Orenstein

[TaZZerath]

Are you and Gok thinking about Henry Orenstein? If you liked The Toy That Made Us then this is a fascinating read..
https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/www.newsweek.com/henry-orenstein-israel-ronald-reagan-transformers-535517%3famp=1

Also.. https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Henry_Orenstein

That really is a fascinating read. I love little gems like these! Thanks for sharing :)

[UltraMarginal]

I guess that's him. we always hear of the Hasbro employee that went to the toy expo in Tokyo and saw the transformers and brought the idea back to Hasbro.

It could be the same guy.

[GoktimusPrime]

He was also a Holocaust survivor (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4060162/Amazing-story-Holocaust-survivor-narrowly-escaped-death-hands-Nazis-went-wealthy-toy-inventor-televised-poker-pioneer.html)! :eek:

[BigTransformerTrev]

Watching the Energon cartoon with my son and they showed a black and white image from Rodimus’ past. It clearly showed him surrounded by G1 Bumblebee, Gears, Ratchet, Ironhide and a bunch of others.

Never noticed that scene before - pretty cool Easter Egg :D

[MayzaPrime]

Watching the Energon cartoon with my son and they showed a black and white image from Rodimus’ past. It clearly showed him surrounded by G1 Bumblebee, Gears, Ratchet, Ironhide and a bunch of others.

Never noticed that scene before - pretty cool Easter Egg :D

It was one thing that the Unicon Trilogy did well... Armada had some cool flashback scenes as well

[GoktimusPrime]

Still find it funny that the original voice actor for Rodimus didn't even remember the show (http://otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=25348&page=2). Not a great sign of a show's quality when cast members struggle to recall working on it! :D

[snaketales]

Robot heroes movie Optimus (thanks1Azrael1!) has waist articulation!

I didnt collect the movie ones, so it's news to me :o

[GoktimusPrime]

An MP Conehead's box and CW Lio Kaiser's box have different dimensions and different surface areas, but the same volume. Feel free to re-check my calculations.

[TaZZerath]

An MP Conehead's box and CW Lio Kaiser's box have different dimensions and different surface areas, but the same volume. Feel free to re-check my calculations.

I think I'll just take your word for it :D

[Bidoofdude]

POTP Swoop and Cutthroat share arms.

[M-bot]

POTP Swoop and Cutthroat share arms.

*mic drop*

[GoktimusPrime]

Siege Lionizer is my first CHUG Transformer whose name begins with the letter L. I wonder if he is the first CHUG ever to do this. Are there any other CHUGformers whose name starts with L? (I don't claim to have a complete CHUG collection)

[Paulbot]

Siege Lionizer is my first CHUG Transformer whose name begins with the letter L. I wonder if he is the first CHUG ever to do this. Are there any other CHUGformers whose name starts with L? (I don't claim to have a complete CHUG collection)

Well let's see, do you have: Long Haul, Laserbeak, Lightsteed, Leo Prime (legend or voyager) or Lugnut?

[SuspectimusPrime]

Well let's see, do you have: Long Haul, Laserbeak, Lightsteed, Leo Prime (legend or voyager) or Lugnut?

I've completely forgotten about Lugnut. A great Animated toy and even better RTS toy. Really liked how he was one of the originals from the Animated cartoon that got enough character development and fanfare that they decided to carry over his signature elements (the single eyeball a la HAL from 2001 Space Odyssey, claws hands, giant bomber alt mode) to other lines - like Bulkhead and Lockdown.

[GoktimusPrime]

Siege Lionizer is my first CHUG Transformer whose name begins with the letter L. I wonder if he is the first CHUG ever to do this. Are there any other CHUGformers whose name starts with L? (I don't claim to have a complete CHUG collection)
Oh wait. I just realised that I have others alphabetised separately by faction and sub-group which is why it's not appearing alongside Lionizer on my spreadsheet. :p

[klystron]

Thanks to youtube autoplay, I accidentally saw part of a video review for ROTF Stratosphere the other day. Had no idea it had a teeny-weeny Optimus toy with a launching gimmick (just like in the movie). Actually thought that was pretty nifty.

[griffin]

I didn't realise that legendary Transformers writer Simon Furman was now doing Robotech comics (https://previewsworld.com/Article/222107-Ramping-Up-Robotech) (since 2017 by the looks of it)... which would be a good fit for him, but just feels weird seeing his name on one of the rivals to Transformers in the 80s.

[Sinnertwin]

If you turn POTP Snarl around, you end up with the base engineering model that became POTP Sinnertwin.

https://i.imgur.com/EtuO649.jpg?1

[klystron]

I didn't realise that legendary Transformers writer Simon Furman was now doing Robotech comics (https://previewsworld.com/Article/222107-Ramping-Up-Robotech) (since 2017 by the looks of it)... which would be a good fit for him, but just feels weird seeing his name on one of the rivals to Transformers in the 80s.

Wow, me either. Love a good Macross / Robotech comic... Quick! To the Internet!

[DELTAprime]

Just got my Leader Class Shockwave. I never realised WFC Leaders had shrunk so much from POTP.

This is disappointing.:(

[Sinnertwin]

Just got my Leader Class Shockwave. I never realised WFC Leaders had shrunk so much from POTP.

This is disappointing.:(

If only there was a way we could search for an image somewhere and compare... :p

All smarty bum comments from me aside, I hear ya & mentioned the same thing in the review thread.

[DELTAprime]

If only there was a way we could search for an image somewhere and compare... :p

All smarty bum comments from me aside, I hear ya & mentioned the same thing in the review thread.

I try not to look at review images and videos. I like to be surprised, but this was a bad surprise.

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

Playing with Flywheels from siege last night (carefully checks spelling) and put the tank turret on his back. Looks cool like blitz wing. Also a tank and a jet. Also one of the comics mentioned dioxins being prototype triple hangers that failed.

Tetsaverse now has flywheels being a little bit related to blitzwing. Yay

[GoktimusPrime]

Never noticed that The_Damned kinda looks like Judd Nelson. ;)
https://i.ibb.co/sjMYGFH/temp.jpg
(Judd Nelson photo by Benson Yee)