Fansproject Intimidator and Motor Master Revealed

[CBratron]

Oh lord, this guy is frightening to transform the first time. Nice tight joints, FP's penchant for tabs everywhere and an unfamiliar transformation made me slow right down for fear of snapping something.

[Trent]

Yeah I got mine yesterday but due to life only got him into robot mode before bed.

All in all his transformation isn't that hard but there are just TOO MANY TABS!!! Seriously, this guy could lose half of the tabs and it wouldn't make a difference. Very impressive though. I quite like the transformation and will have a fully completed Menasor added to my combiner shelves tonight :D

Plus there will be pics.

[Hursticon]

I received my M3/Intimidator/Diesel last Monday and I must say that it's an amazing and fun figure to transform; it'll test your metal in transforming transforming-robot toys, but it's definitely no where near as difficult or scary as many have made it out to be. ;):cool:

The instructions DO NOT go far enough into detailing the steps of transformation nor does it appropriately point out the differing tabs that are employed, as this beast makes use of your everyday "friction" tabs, "Hooked" tabs & "Dove-tail" tabs! :eek:

In saying that though; if you take your time, pay a careful eye and avoid exerting too much force (As it is entirely un-required) you wont end up being one of the many tales of "Ham-fistedness" that permeates many an international thread on the matter. :)

I may do a more detailed write up at some point, as I've still yet to do a full photography shoot on this fantastic brute but in the meantime I'll just leave this here... :D:cool:

http://i1032.photobucket.com/albums/a409/Darkone666au/2014%20Acquisitions/12-02-14-03_zpsce69207d.jpg~original

[lancalot]

He does look good..!! more pic!! :)

[Trent]

I received my M3/Intimidator/Diesel last Monday and I must say that it's an amazing and fun figure to transform; it'll test your metal in transforming transforming-robot toys, but it's definitely no where near as difficult or scary as many have made it out to be. ;):cool:

The instructions DO NOT go far enough into detailing the steps of transformation nor does it appropriately point out the differing tabs that are employed, as this beast makes use of your everyday "friction" tabs, "Hooked" tabs & "Dove-tail" tabs! :eek:

In saying that though; if you take your time, pay a careful eye and avoid exerting too much force (As it is entirely un-required) you wont end up being one of the many tales of "Ham-fistedness" that permeates many an international thread on the matter. :)

I may do a more detailed write up at some point, as I've still yet to do a full photography shoot on this fantastic brute but in the meantime I'll just leave this here... :D:cool:

http://i1032.photobucket.com/albums/a409/Darkone666au/2014%20Acquisitions/12-02-14-03_zpsce69207d.jpg~original

Nice. I've been meaning to do a write up and photos for while now but just haven't had time. Maybe this arvo.

[spiderken17]

Why does my diesel come with a replacement gun?

[CBratron]

The original doesn't fit right in his hand.

[Hursticon]

The original doesn't fit right in his hand.

This is the case only with a certain batch of figures that seemed to of only have gone to BBTS; some more may of found their way to other stores but it's been a while since I last checked up on the issue so other stores may of been afflicted. :o

A certain batch (Likely the 1st) had the correctly molded gun handle but had an outdated mold used for the gestalt hands - As a quick remedy, a retooled version of the gun handle's mold was used to create a suitable replacement/fix - It also has the added benefit of allowing one to have both the large gun being wielded AND Last Chance's forearm being filled-in whilst in "Arm Mode". ;):cool:

Did that all make sense? - I hope it did. :o:p

[spiderken17]

mostly :)

[nofacej]

Has anyone been able to separate the barrel after making the gun? I've basically shredded my fingers to bits while trying to pull it apart. I'm thinking about sending a message to BBTS to see if I can get a replacement.

[Lord_Zed]

Has anyone been able to separate the barrel after making the gun? I've basically shredded my fingers to bits while trying to pull it apart. I'm thinking about sending a message to BBTS to see if I can get a replacement.

I've had no problems disassembling the gun, sounds like yours might be miss molded slightly.

[nofacej]

I've had no problems disassembling the gun, sounds like yours might be miss molded slightly.

Thanks. I'll send BBTS a message.
Edit: Good news. They've located a replacement part, confirmed that it separates, and will be sending it out to me free of charge.

[Hursticon]

Thanks. I'll send BBTS a message.
Edit: Good news. They've located a replacement part, confirmed that it separates, and will be sending it out to me free of charge.

Excellent to hear! - Much like Lord Zed though, I've not had any issues dismantling mine either, thankfully. ;):)

[Sky Shadow]

There's a very nice G2 Kar Krash being sold at TFCon.

http://s9.postimg.org/8ywk7vmkv/Bs_WHynu_Cc_AEyb3f_1405173539.jpg

With the excitement over the G2 Stunticons on eBay, this would be a perfect time to release the whole set in those colours.

[Trent]

I must applaud the makers for making it blindingly obvious that these are KOs. I mean, Ko of 3rd party and all but still.

[Sky Shadow]

I must applaud the makers for making it blindingly obvious that these are KOs. I mean, Ko of 3rd party and all but still.

No, it's Fansproject, they're just having fun - presumably about the fact that it's an exclusive for an unofficial Transformers convention. The back of the package has a 'checklist' of knockoffs of Fansproject toys:

http://s29.postimg.org/d2hzuugbb/10516603_520605984705576_6748335756822446980_n.jpg

[Hursticon]

Here's more from the card. ;):)
http://i1032.photobucket.com/albums/a409/Darkone666au/Crap/BsXkgIUCQAAGyNYjpglarge_zpsd9ca44de.jpg

[Trent]

Oh wow. Way to have a bit of fun FP! So are they releasing the lot of them in those horrible G2 colours or just Breakdown like they did at Botcon?

[Oberon Sexton]

FP seem pretty chill, but honestly, I don't really understand why third parties don't reissue more often. I realise that there needs to be a certain amount of demand before it becomes a worth while venture, but surely doing a pre-order to test the demand (and being upfront with the test) is a viable solution. I would have been more than happy to pay retail price for the City Commander trailer over getting a cheaper KO, but since it wasn't available at retail and now that I have my $40-50 ko trailer I'm not sure I'd get it any more. I mean, if the preorder popped again, I'd definitely still give it a consideration, but it would have been a definite "yes" if the preorder was available before I bought the KO. :(

[Sky Shadow]

Oh wow. Way to have a bit of fun FP! So are they releasing the lot of them in those horrible G2 colours or just Breakdown like they did at Botcon?

They are apparently releasing them all. Hopefully it's just the packaging that's exclusive to TFCon, otherwise it's going to be a difficult gestalt to complete.

[SuspectimusPrime]

Good old eBay with impatience tax generously applied (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/G2-Kar-krash-TFCon-2014-exclusive-deco-brand-new-unopened-breakdown-n-USA-/131241654669?pt=US_Action_Figures&hash=item1e8e9cb98d&_uhb=1).

[Paulbot]

They should only make one set of the other four in G2 colours, put them in bags and list it on ebay. That could make them good money!

[SuspectimusPrime]

They should only make one set of the other four in G2 colours, put them in bags and list it on ebay. That could make them good money!

According to Peaugh's vid review (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaCCtbNQTnQ&list=UUt6y380FcB6E4rdLae4o2sA) (colour on these guys look great) there are no plans on releasing the other 4. However there is a little card you're supposed to mail back to them with a photo of yourself and the figure.

An old school form of market gauging demand for the full set? Maybe recent FP repaints has not done too well - Colossus Cartoon colours, Code Virus Edition, Causality Deluxe not-Insecticons? Whether it's popularity or price, seems like in general there are fewer acquisitions of these.

[kaiden]

According to Peaugh's vid review (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaCCtbNQTnQ&list=UUt6y380FcB6E4rdLae4o2sA) (colour on these guys look great) there are no plans on releasing the other 4. However there is a little card you're supposed to mail back to them with a photo of yourself and the figure.

An old school form of market gauging demand for the full set? Maybe recent FP repaints has not done too well - Colossus Cartoon colours, Code Virus Edition, Causality Deluxe not-Insecticons? Whether it's popularity or price, seems like in general there are fewer acquisitions of these.

because people have already bought the originals... and 3P prices as they are, its hard to justify getting the same items again in a different colour/slight remold.

[SharkyMcShark]

So I finally sat down with the whole bunch to properly get to grips with them. When I received Diesel (the final figure released) in January I was massively impatient, mistransformed the combined mode and just gave up as it turned into a floppy mess. It took me about 80 minutes to properly teach myself how to transform Diesel into bot mode and then Intimidator into gestalt mode, but my word was it worth it!

When properly transformed the figure is quite solid - just when I finished my cat came into the room and decided to investigate Intimidator by bumping it with her head over and over (which made for some lovely small scale kaiju v giant robo imagery) and even when she knocked it over everything stayed in place. I love the colours and the articulation, which I feel works a lot better when than on the Colossus.

I do have a minor gripe list

- I don't think having the truck can sides lock into the bottom of the thighs is the best way to secure the weight of everything below the knee to the upper legs. This is obviously a lot more solid than when I thought (in January when I was being captain impatience) that it was just a really loose dangly joint that didn't lock, but it's still a bit weak
- the Down Force/DragStrip arm is the only one that can hold the sword (the box of plugged together gun bits that attaches to the other forearm blocks the handle if you try to hold it straight). Wouldn't mind normally but the wrist joint is prone to flopping here under the weight of the sword as only friction really holds it in place.
- Car Crash/T-Bone (breakdown and wild rider) have really really really tight transformations that require a bit of plastic bending, and I'm not sure how this will hold up with time. To be entirely fair I've transformer Car Crash about 40 times and T Bone maybe 20 and I've not noticed any kind of stress mark yet.

As above, these are minor issues. On the whole this is a fantastic set (you know, once you figure out how to put it together). I need to sit down tomorrow for about 30 minutes and learn how to get Diesel back into truck mode - I know how to combine all the accessories into the back truck half but have struggled with turning the robot into the front half in the past.

The only properly disappointing part of this experience was finding that one of Down Force's feet had popped off its ball joint without me noticing and gone walkabout :(

[SuspectimusPrime]

- Car Crash/T-Bone (breakdown and wild rider) have really really really tight transformations that require a bit of plastic bending, and I'm not sure how this will hold up with time. To be entirely fair I've transformer Car Crash about 40 times and T Bone maybe 20 and I've not noticed any kind of stress mark yet.


My main gripe - bending is not a long term solution. Car Crash and T-Bone they just took the transformation process a step above intricate and into complicated. Does not appear to be absolutely necessary as well, I'm sure there were ways of making minor sacrifices to the robot mode's style without the need for plastic bending.