Ehobby exclusive Unite Warriors Grand Scourge

[griffin]

Some people have said that the Generations Voyager Optimus has a bit of an Energon Optimus look to it, particularly as a combiner... so it probably isn't surprising to hear that Ehobby in Japan have announced an exclusive redeco of the mould as Grand Scourge (http://www.e-hobby.co.jp/shopdetail/000000002824/), which homages the Japanese redeco of the Superlink (Energon) Optimus way back in 2004 (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Grand_Scourge). (which was actually a redeco of the Superlink Optimus model kit)

It is priced at 6,500yen (about AU$70) for release in September (May 26th is the pre-order date)... with a bonus sword, from the Beast Hunters Ultimate Optimus toy.

No mention of any redeco Deluxes to go with this figure, so it gives us another Voyager combiner without limbs.
(we need more Deluxe redecos to make up the difference)

[Sinnertwin]

with BH Ultimate Optimus' cleaver?
ok...

[griffin]

with BH Ultimate Optimus' cleaver?
ok...

Yeah, because having a black deco just doesn't say evil anymore... :p


Hehehe... I just scrolled down to the bottom of the ehobby page, and the character art calls the toy Grond Scourge. Maybe it's intentional, as he could be named after the LOTR Grond (http://lotr.wikia.com/wiki/Grond) and refer to him being a battering ram like Motormaster.

[FruitBuyer]

http://gigaplus.makeshop.jp/ehobbyshop/img_top/gs_comics_H1.jpg

That is a really sweet picture. Interested in seeing what he's like with some limbs since I prefer that deco greatly over the normal one.

[Zommael]

Just a correction: running the page through translate, I think they're taking orders from May 26th but not releasing until September. I could be wrong though.

He looks pretty cool, but is completely unnecessary with Motormaster being essentially a black redeco of Optimus already. On the other hand, he might make a cool alternate core to Menasor.

[Deonasis]

Look I love the idea of it as I think the Grand Scourge and Wingblade paint scheme absolutely rocked but sadly it was not made into a transformable toy.

It this was more faithful to that Pla-kit deco I would be VERY interested in this and if limbs recolored as the drones appeared I would lose my sh!t. BUT as it stands the legs should be grey and the cab front could be better.

At most right now i get more of a Megazarak vibe.

[Golden Phoenix]

I reckon a decent custom set of drones could be made from the current set of limbs. Some would need more work than others, and it is all easier said then done.

But....I reckon you could use:
Helicopter: Alpha Bravo/Blades painted Purple
Drill: Rook painted turquoise/aqua. You could use that "Balo (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Balo)" drill arms micron figure plugged into the front for the drill. If you are game it looks like you could also replace the front 2 wheels with fake tank treads without disturbing the transformation.
Firetruck: Maybe a Dark Yellow First Aid or another Rook with a ladder/water cannon on top.
Submarine: Would need the most work. Another Alpha Bravo/Blades pained Black. Ditch the helicopter blades, and mod the tail to look like a submarine propeller. Maybe replace the helicopter blades with a submarine tower if you are up for it.

[GoktimusPrime]

Hehehe... I just scrolled down to the bottom of the ehobby page, and the character art calls the toy Grond Scourge. Maybe it's intentional, as he could be named after the LOTR Grond (http://lotr.wikia.com/wiki/Grond) and refer to him being a battering ram like Motormaster.
It says "Grand" Scourge now.

[griffin]

Awww... I preferred Grond Scourge, as it sounded funny.
(though, it's probably not a good idea having a funny name for an evil character who is trying to instil fear in others... it'd be like sporting a pink (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Galvatron_%28BWII%29) deco)

[prjkt]

looks pretty cool. That weapon is a bit much imo

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

Just a correction: running the page through translate, I think they're taking orders from May 26th but not releasing until September.

26th of May is correct. Until 1pm Japanese time for ordering and toy is due September.

Meh, not really feeling those colours at all personally.

[llamatron]

He will always be Grond Scourge to me.

Matrix Breaker is a cool name for a decepticon sword.

[griffin]

Bring back the Grond!


(fixed up dates in first post)

[griffin]

I remember getting the JP Grand Scourge model kit at a toy auction and not being too keen to keep it because it was just a model kit... and I had little interest in non-toy merchandise and figured that there must be an actual toy of it for me to not keep a mere model kit.
But when I got it home I decided to have a bit of fun building it, and later found that there was no actual toy of this black version Superlink/Energon Convoy/Optimus... to go with the Japanese version of the large Energon Optimus in regular colours, so I decided to keep it because it was the only "toy" of Grand Scourge.
Until now that is.

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/collections/griffinofoz/0904a.jpg

[griffin]

The Grond is now listed on HLJ (http://www.hlj.com/product/TKTE-0042-TF/Act) if anyone was wanting one... as Ehobby don't ship to other countries. Since HLJ must be buying them from Ehobby like any other customer, their price is an extra thousand yen - making it 7400-7800yen (about AU$80-90).

[FruitBuyer]

Sheesh, I'd sooner get Nemesis Armour Knight than that.

[BigTransformerTrev]

The TFCC is taking pre-orders for the figure now.

Not my cup of tea personally but might be good for some

[griffin]

The TFCC is taking pre-orders for the figure now.

Not my cup of tea personally but might be good for some

I saw that email too... and when I looked at their pricing, I couldn't believe their markup (considering they are supposed to be in partnership with Ehobby, so are likely to be getting a discount).

The FunPub price is US$87, which equals about 10,300yen (about AU$110).

That compares to HLJ, who may be closer to Ehobby in Japan but is unlikely to be getting a partner discount like FunPub, and selling it at 7,400yen (about AU$80)... from the Ehobby price of 6,500yen (about AU$70).
If HLJ are making a profit from their price, it shouldn't be costing FunPub AU$160 per case of 4 to ship to America from Ehobby (which would be AU$40 shipping per unit on top of the Ehobby price of AU$70).

Then factor in FunPub's fraudulent over-charging of shipping, which is likely to come to about AU$160... and you could almost get two from HLJ at that price.

[Deonasis]

FP manage to blow my mind every single time -_-

[griffin]

Photos of the box have been released (http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/japanese-transformers-40/packaging-for-e-hobby-unite-warriors-grand-scourge-182554/). No window... :(

It's interesting to see that they are still using the 30th Anniversary logo... which I know that Transformers started in Japan in 1985 so it is actually correct now for Japan, but TakaraTomy started using the logo in April 2013 with the first wave of GO! toys, so they are now in their 3rd year of commemorating the anniversary year.

[prjkt]

I've got one on pre-order at HLJ. Not sure if I'll keep the order there due to the cost, but it's not a bad mould, and I really like those colours. I also need more "bad guys" to balance out my shelves.