Encore 18 is.....Skids.

[sideswipes brother]

Hey guys according to seibertron.com the encore 18 is Skids.
Kinda predictable and i truly believe that 19 will be Sideswipe and 20 will be Devastator. Yeah, you heard me right, i said Devastator.
I mean...how could they not?? It would sell right off the shelves. Even if any collector had the KO version they would still go straight out and buy a legit one.

http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/encore-18-is-skids/16400/

[SilverDragon]

The molds for the Constructicons are allegedly lost/damaged beyond repair (says the TF wiki), so that may not be.

[kup]

I am a bit sick of them reissuing the same geewhunn toys over and over. Reissue something we have not seen in a while please.

I hope that they get through their heads that sometimes a certain G1 reissue toy doesn't sell too well because it has already been reissued more than a couple of times...

[Lordy]

It would be nice to have a re-released Trypticon. Or Scorpinok

[MV75]

I believe that 19 will be cassette mission 3 and 20 devastator. :)

And your attempt at cool sarcasm is total fail Kup. Have another look at the encore line and at what hasbro themselves are going to bring out.

But skids is a bit meh though. Would have preferred thrust/ramjet.

[loophole]

It would be nice to have a re-released Trypticon. Or Scorpinok

i actually heard a rumour that Trypticon is on the way and that the Scorponok mould is the process of being cleaned up along with the Fort Max only time will tell though

[blackie]

gogogogogogogogo encore fort max :D
encore piranacon could be in the works, because the mould was used recently...
i could go one of them

and what would they put in the encore cassettes 3? the 2 sets of combiner cassettes? that would be cool :P

[jaydisc]

Kup, I think you have to give a bit of credit where credit is due, specifically:

Skylynx
Omega Supreme
Metroplex
Cassettes Vol. 2
Combaticons

These aren't the "the same old" over 'n' over.

MV, care to speculate what specific cassettes?

Lastly, based on what I hear about all the big Encore's shelf-warming, I hope they put aside the big boys for a while, and at least release them more sporadically then the previous Skylynx, Omega, Metroplex run. Because to me, the worst possible outcome would be the death of the Encore line.

[MV75]

I reckon frenzy/rumble/overkill/whatever else.

I havn't seen frenzy/rumble yet and would like them for sure.

I'm still hanging for encore shockwave. And others they could do include jetfire as well as Bandai recently issued their own, so the moulds are there.

[Sky Shadow]

And others they could do include jetfire as well as Bandai recently issued their own, so the moulds are there.

Bandai and TakaraTomy are competing companies - it will be a sweltering day in Antarctica before there's a Jetfire reissue.

[kup]

I believe that 19 will be cassette mission 3 and 20 devastator. :)

And your attempt at cool sarcasm is total fail Kup. Have another look at the encore line and at what hasbro themselves are going to bring out.

But skids is a bit meh though. Would have preferred thrust/ramjet.

I wasn't been sarcastic :rolleyes:

However if I didn't know better, I would say that you were being sarcastic by this statement:



I'm still hanging for encore shockwave. And others they could do include jetfire as well as Bandai recently issued their own, so the moulds are there.

[Lordy]

i actually heard a rumour that Trypticon is on the way and that the Scorponok mould is the process of being cleaned up along with the Fort Max only time will tell thoughOooooh, it would be awesome if that is true :)

[TF76]

I dont have a skids so cool..... Argh... I forgot about the combaticons, not long till its released other, money is pretty tight too. :(

[autobreadticon]

terrible decision by Takara-tomy, i only think those intent on collecting encore toys will buy this, when its already been reissued twice (cheap Hasbro commenrative in market) and its not a well known G1 character

[kup]

terrible decision by Takara-tomy, i only think those intent on collecting encore toys will buy this, when its already been reissued twice (cheap Hasbro commenrative in market) and its not a well known G1 character

Actually Skids is a very well known G1 character but yeah, he has been reissued a bit too often in this decade.

[reillyd]

You know, if Takara is having problems with reconditioning molds or isn't yet willing to recreate one, they may just stick to existing characters for awhile to keep the line going. We might see characters like Ultra Magnus, Kup, etc for the next few....

I hate the idea of wasting an Encore spot for something I already own, but its preferable to ending the line

[dirge]

Something "outside the box" would be nice - say Wreck-Gar or Sandstorm*, but I can see why they'd fall back to something they essentially have ready to go. The proceeds from selling something with no R&D costs can help fuel the R&D costs of something yet to be reissued.

* I have no agenda, BTW. My G1 collection is complete.

[Kyle]

I wonder if we'll see a pair of green and orange repaints of Skids as exclusives from e-hobby or some magazines... :p

[sideswipes brother]

Bandai and TakaraTomy are competing companies - it will be a sweltering day in Antarctica before there's a Jetfire reissue.

Cmon global warming!!! :D

[GoktimusPrime]

terrible decision by Takara-tomy, i only think those intent on collecting encore toys will buy this, when its already been reissued twice (cheap Hasbro commenrative in market) and its not a well known G1 character
Most Encores are reissues that have already been reissued before. The only Encores which hadn't been previously reissued were Sky Lynx, Metroflex, Omega Supreme, Outback, Swerve, Pipes and Tailgate - the rest have all been done before.

Also, as kup pointed out, Skids is a fairly well known character. He appeared in several mediums including the G1 cartoon and Marvel comics, Universe, Dreamwave comics and Binaltech. And of course now the live action movie franchise (though arguably only in name).

[JuzMel]

Ah... I already have the Takara/Hasbro reissue of Skids, so saves me getting this... But I agree that it's better they at least keep releasing rather than terminate the encore line, I'm still dreaming about alot of the other figures esp. Trypticon and the other combiners too. Fort Max, Wreck-gar and Shockwave sounds good too.

On the other hand if Encore Skids becomes a shelf warmer, then we could probably buy them to repaint into the e-hobby version. :D

[Adzma]

Well I for one am glad that they still reissue moulds that have been done before because it gives a chance for us newbies to catch up to the rest of you. ;) I can't afford to keep buying the TFC reissues, they are incredibly expensive these days when you compare them to an encore release.

[GoktimusPrime]

They might give it some kind of variation over the TFC reissue - like blue eyes. Or perhaps a show-accurate head sculpt (à la BT/ALT Skids' head). Great for lovers of show-accuracy though lousy for lovers of toy-accuracy (oh how I wish Encore Trailbreaker had a red visor :().

[kup]

I am pretty sure Skids will have blue eyes instead of yellow.

[Lordy]

Isn't the main issue with Fort Max is that he doesn't pass any of the drop tests, making it harder for him to sell overseas?

[kup]

Isn't the main issue with Fort Max is that he doesn't pass any of the drop tests, making it harder for him to sell overseas?

I think the drop test only applies to the US and other countries that adopt such safety laws such as Australia.

I honestly don't think Fort Max would be released as encore unless its in very limited quantities as they would only be able to legally sell it retail in Japan and perhaps some surrounding countries and on top of that its likely to shelf warm because its so freaking huge that the casual fan will not jump up and get one to take to their tiny apartment.

[GoktimusPrime]

kup is correct. The Fortress Maximus mould was repainted and sold as Brave Maximus in Car Robot, but Hasbro were unable to release it as Robots In Disguise Fortress Maximus because it failed the drop test required by US safety laws.

Considering that Tetsuwan Convoy's latest sojourn to Japan has further confirmed that Encore Omega Supreme, Metroplex etc. are still shelfwarming there, I don't blame TakaraTOMY for not wanting to make any more big and expensive reissues - cos Fortress Maximus dwarfs Metroplex and Omega Supreme.

[MV75]

I wasn't been sarcastic :rolleyes:

However if I didn't know better, I would say that you were being sarcastic by this statement:

Yes you were. Spell G1 correctly. ;)

And I was? You do know they licensed the mould/toy from bandai in the first place right? Why they couldn't again should not be a problem.


Well I for one am glad that they still reissue moulds that have been done before because it gives a chance for us newbies to catch up to the rest of you. ;) I can't afford to keep buying the TFC reissues, they are incredibly expensive these days when you compare them to an encore release.

Agreed. Also a reason why I'm looking forward to percepter and the insecticons.


Isn't the main issue with Fort Max is that he doesn't pass any of the drop tests, making it harder for him to sell overseas?

Didn't stop metroplex being made, and it was supposed to have "failed the drop test" too.

But I'd rather a scorponok and trypticon any day over fort max. If they were going to do fort max, it should be the very last one in the encore line.

[Zippo]

Ok, Skids does not excite me, but it does mean that Encore can continue.
I'm still waiting for Reissue Red Alert, Bluestreak and Thrust since they have been reissued before.

[GoktimusPrime]

Didn't stop metroplex being made, and it was supposed to have "failed the drop test" too.
1/ The drop test didn't exist during G1 - it seems a more recent legislation.
2/ The drop test effects Hasbro but not Takara(TOMY), most likely because it's a U.S. law and not a Japanese law. Takara were able to release Brave Maximus for Car Robot but Hasbro were unable to release Fortress Maximus for RiD.
3/ Japanese reissues are marketed directly at collectors aged 15 and up. This excludes Japanese reissues from a lot of child safety laws, which is why they can have small G1-accurate missiles but with super-strengthened launchers that fly across rooms. ;)

As many people have reported, including Tetsuwan Convoy who is currently in Japan now, larger Encores like Metroplex and Omega Supreme are still shelf-warming. So the reason for why TakaraTOMY would be reluctant to reissue Fortress Maximus is less likely to do with safety issues, but to do the saleability (or lack of) of the toy.

As much as I would love an Encore Fortress Maximus - with all accessories and Master Sword <froth> - if I were a TakaraTOMY exec I wouldn't want to reissue that toy. Reissuing a toy when you know it's likely to be a shelf-warmer is bad business sense.

[MV75]

Sigh, I still hate this about you :p ; ENCORE METROPLEX.

Anyway, skids is up for pre order at hlj. Projected october release. I'm still in two minds on whether to get this one as I do have the hasbro commemorative one and it's all chromed iirc, but since it's two months away, yea, bugger it, let's get it.

[Sleeve]

What exactly is the 'drop test'? Because it's reminding me of the story Casey Coller (of IDW comics) told me at Botcon of the stupidest thing he ever did regarding his Transformers. When he was 10 his friend suggested he drop his Fort Max from a second-storey balcony to watch it smash. Unfortunately, Casey listened to him...

[Sky Shadow]

What exactly is the 'drop test'? Because it's reminding me of the story Casey Coller (of IDW comics) told me at Botcon of the stupidest thing he ever did regarding his Transformers. When he was 10 his friend suggested he drop his Fort Max from a second-storey balcony to watch it smash. Unfortunately, Casey listened to him...

The 'drop' part is just like that. The 'test' is whether or not what's left after Fort Max is smashed into pieces could harm a child by scratching, choking etc. For example - drop an original G1 Optimus Prime and the smokestacks break off, causing a hazard. Solution: a reissue with short smokestacks and a subsequent epoch of listening to fanboys whine about it.

(Personally I think the most dangerous part of dropping Fortress Maximus from a great height would be if the child happened to be standing right under it at the time. :D)

[griffin]

I've actually heard three different explinations of what the 'Drop Test' is from Hasbro, at different BotCons.

1 - To see if it could crush or significantly injure a kid if dropped on them from a certain height. (weight of the toy)

2 - To see how easily it breaks into pieces that could laccerate a person. (fragility of the toy)

3 - To see if the toy would arrive to stores in its packaging in one piece (see how much it needs to be secured inside the packaging, to arrive on the store shelf the same as how it left the factory in China).

[fatbot]

I think the drop test only applies to the US and other countries that adopt such safety laws such as Australia.

I honestly don't think Fort Max would be released as encore unless its in very limited quantities as they would only be able to legally sell it retail in Japan and perhaps some surrounding countries and on top of that its likely to shelf warm because its so freaking huge that the casual fan will not jump up and get one to take to their tiny apartment.


What you said is all well and good, but why can't Takara set up a preorder type of system where people can register their interest\desire to get an encore fort max and if theirs enough, make them for those people who have registered for those figures? simply by making people prepay for the toy when registering would eliminate any wankers adding fake names to beef out the list, and we may get our encore fort max

[blackie]

What you said is all well and good, but why can't Takara set up a preorder type of system where people can register their interest\desire to get an encore fort max and if theirs enough, make them for those people who have registered for those figures? simply by making people prepay for the toy when registering would eliminate any wankers adding fake names to beef out the list, and we may get our encore fort max

best idea yet sir
you must go work for takara and implement this now :)

[fatbot]

best idea yet sir
you must go work for takara and implement this now :)

i would love to work for takara.

what a lot of companies need is someone to bring ideas out of left field, ( i prefer to say "pull them out of my !@# but this is a family site) otherwise you get situations like this happening, a company bringing out the same characters every few years, and not showing the love for any other molds that require a bit of radical thinking to bring to the market.

[Adzma]

Eh I suppose you have to look at it from their perspective: What brings in the most profit? Ever since Takara and Tomy merged they seem to have lost the former pride they had in keeping their customers happy. From my perspective it seems they work more for the money, not for customer satisfaction. The only real exception I can think of is when the QC got so far out of hand that they actually put effort into ensuring we didn't get faulty goods anymore. Just look at all those delicious yummy MP Grimlocks, sparkling away in their unspoiled goodness. Now this doesn't mean that TakTom have been unfaithful, I and I'm sure many others have been pleased with the work they've been putting out with new figures or old ones reissued but some must accept a change in business focus.

[fatbot]

Eh I suppose you have to look at it from their perspective: What brings in the most profit? Ever since Takara and Tomy merged they seem to have lost the former pride they had in keeping their customers happy. From my perspective it seems they work more for the money, not for customer satisfaction. The only real exception I can think of is when the QC got so far out of hand that they actually put effort into ensuring we didn't get faulty goods anymore. Just look at all those delicious yummy MP Grimlocks, sparkling away in their unspoiled goodness. Now this doesn't mean that TakTom have been unfaithful, I and I'm sure many others have been pleased with the work they've been putting out with new figures or old ones reissued but some must accept a change in business focus.


don't get me wrong, the transformers being made by takara are great, i don't have most of the encore figures being made, but at the same time, it would be better if they started thinking ahead and developing a process that allows the larger figures to be made, but not to become shelfwarmers, otherwise 90% of fans will never be able to own fort max, or scorpy or any other large figure because they don't sell well enough using traditional methods

[dirge]

I wouldn't say they're totally focussed on profit, Adzma - but you're right - there's a clear shift from customer satisfaction towards profit in TakaraTomy's Transformers activities compared to Takara.

[Adzma]

I wouldn't say they're totally focussed on profit, Adzma - but you're right - there's a clear shift from customer satisfaction towards profit in TakaraTomy's Transformers activities compared to Takara.
Yeah, I didn't mean they are now totally focussed on profit but that, as you say, there has been a change in their business model.

[MV75]

Just paid for my skids pre-order @ hlj. 3530Yen shipped. :) So check your emails.

[optimus1]

Will there b any differences between this and the recent Hasbro reissue?

[GoktimusPrime]

I suspect:

+ As a Japanese reissue it will have a fully working missile launcher, unlike the Hasbro reissue.
+ It will have a tech spec card (albeit written in Japanese)
+ As an Encore reissue it ought to come in a G1-style box (whereas the TFC and Hasbro reissues are in "book" boxes)
+ It may have blue eyes to reflect the cartoon; something I'm personally not fond of, but other people like it
+ It may have mould degradation and other quality issues considering that this will be the third reissue of this toy in recent years

I already have G1 and TFC Skids, so the Hasbro and Encore reissues don't interest me.

[MV75]

Looks yellow eyes to me.

http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/generation-1-1/transformers-encore-skids-revealed-168568/

[MV75]

Pictures of in & out box

http://higekumatoytoy.blog60.fc2.com/blog-entry-473.html

[SOUNDBLASTER]

Just another SKID in the dirt :)

[GoktimusPrime]

or on my undies. :p

I like the comparison between Encore and TFC Skids. I didn't know that the Autobot insignias were tampographed, although that doesn't surprise me. I like tampographs on reissues as it means you end up with spare Autobot insignia stickers. :D

[SOUNDBLASTER]

I dont wanna know that u leave skids in your undies... Or let alone even that u wear undies... U need room to breathe dude :D:D

[Kranix]

Sorry to raise an old thread but I see that it is suggested that they may mostly release previous commemorative edition transformers again under the Encore series. Does anyone know if this may include Sideswipe? Thanks

[MV75]

No, sideswipe hasn't been released as encore yet.

[Zippo]

Guess once reissues hit the #20 mark they die.
Shame as I was looking forward to a lot more repacks from previous releases (like the Coneheads, Red Alert, Grapple)

[GoktimusPrime]

I was hoping for more NEW reissues, like maybe Shockwave or maybe more gestalts (e.g. Superion, Defensor... Lio Kaiser ;))

[kup]

I don't think Shockwave would ever happen. TakTom would need to acquire Radioshak and hope they still have the mold.

[GoktimusPrime]

Well, I was hoping for more reissues of stuff that hasn't been reissued yet... the most exciting thing about Encore for me was the reissues of non-Takara moulds like Omega Supreme and Sky Lynx - which gave me hope for more non-Takara mould reissues like Shockwave, the Deluxe Autobots, Deluxe Insecticons etc.; of course, it depends on whether or not the rights to those moulds have been acquired by Tomy and if those moulds even still exist or not.

Ah well. I already have all those toys (except G1 Ransack). :)

[Kranix]

I have been doing some searching regarding the next encore release since its been a while since we have seen anything new and it seems that 19 might be the final release :(

[kup]

I have been doing some searching regarding the next encore release since its been a while since we have seen anything new and it seems that 19 might be the final release :(

Yeah but I don't think it will be the end of all reissues. They just move on and at a later date they will start up again with another line just as how TFC book reissues stopped and later Encores were released.

The downside to this is that we may have to put up with more Convoys, Megatrons and Starscreams before we get to anything interesting. There is also a possible decrease in quality as to me, the TFC book reissues were of better quality than Encores.

[5FDP]

There is still a chance that Predaking and Sixshot will be released later this year. This was reported on TFW (http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/generation-1-1/new-reissues-for-hong-kong-169083/) back in January.

[GoktimusPrime]

See... this is why Encore has been a hit-and-miss line for me. The only toys that have interested me have been reissues of toys that have either never been reissued before (e.g. Sky Lynx, Metroplex, Rumble, Frenzy, Slugfest, Overkill etc.) or were only reissued in limited quantities (e.g. Ironhide, Ratchet, Skywarp, Thundercracker -- I know the latter two were reissued in regular stores in Hasbro markets, but they had those stupid crutch missiles so I never got them).

So I'd much rather see more reissues of 'new' stuff (LioKaiser? ;)). Part of the reason I got Encore Bruticus was to try and support TakaraTOMY in reissuing more Scramble City. We know that HasTak have the Piranacon mould... I'd love a reissue of King Poseidon (but without the clown colours of the OTFCC reissue :p).

[MV75]

See... this is why Encore has been a hit-and-miss line for me. The only toys that have interested me have been reissues of toys that have either never been reissued before (e.g. Sky Lynx, Metroplex, Rumble, Frenzy, Slugfest, Overkill etc.) or were only reissued in limited quantities (e.g. Ironhide, Ratchet, Skywarp, Thundercracker -- I know the latter two were reissued in regular stores in Hasbro markets, but they had those stupid crutch missiles so I never got them).

So I'd much rather see more reissues of 'new' stuff (LioKaiser? ;)). Part of the reason I got Encore Bruticus was to try and support TakaraTOMY in reissuing more Scramble City. We know that HasTak have the Piranacon mould... I'd love a reissue of King Poseidon (but without the clown colours of the OTFCC reissue :p).

What's a crutch missile?

Yes, I was also expecting more combiner sets.

And you mean God neptune right? I'd much prefer piranacon because neptune is missing a seacon. Nice colours though.

[GoktimusPrime]

What's a crutch missile?
Hasbro's reissue Seeker missiles were lengthened for safety reasons, so when attached to the launchers in robot mode it makes them look like they're carrying a pair of crutches. :p


Yes, I was also expecting more combiner sets.

And you mean God neptune right? I'd much prefer piranacon because neptune is missing a seacon. Nice colours though.
I meant King Poseidon - the Japanese equivalent of Piranacon. As you said, God Neptune is missing a Seacon. Which doesn't bother me personally as I already have all the Seacons, but I'm missing a lot of Piranacon parts! And buying a reissue would be easier and cheaper than hunting down original parts! Plus I get an extra set of Seacons that I can display in different modes (like my Combaticons - reissues displayed as Bruticus, originals as individual robots :D)

[MV75]

I don't have an original to go off, but I thought my warp and cracker missiles were correct length. They also came with the very small missiles too. :)

So King Poseidon is just piranacon? If so, I'd be happy with that. :)

[GoktimusPrime]

I don't have an original to go off, but I thought my warp and cracker missiles were correct length. They also came with the very small missiles too. :)
Here are some photos for comparison:
Original G1 Skywarp (http://www.cliffbee.com/reviews/skywarp.php) (correct missile length)
Hasbro reissue Skywarp (http://tfwiki.net/w2/images2/e/e8/G1-toy_SkywarpCommSeries.jpg) (oversized missiles)
TakaraTOMY reissue Skywarp (http://homepage3.nifty.com/redalert/toybox/tf/g1/g1d11/tfg1d11.html) (correct length missiles)


So King Poseidon is just piranacon? If so, I'd be happy with that. :)
Toywise yes.

[MV75]

Here are some photos for comparison:
Original G1 Skywarp (http://www.cliffbee.com/reviews/skywarp.php) (correct missile length)
Hasbro reissue Skywarp (http://tfwiki.net/w2/images2/e/e8/G1-toy_SkywarpCommSeries.jpg) (oversized missiles)
TakaraTOMY reissue Skywarp (http://homepage3.nifty.com/redalert/toybox/tf/g1/g1d11/tfg1d11.html) (correct length missiles)


Toywise yes.

Ah, I think you were talking about hasbro commemorative when you say hasbro, yes? I indeed have the tak-tom encore of sky/thunder. :)

Was king poseidon the same colour? Shouldn't matter too much, because it sounds like we are both wanting the same thing. :)

[GoktimusPrime]

Ah, I think you were talking about hasbro commemorative when you say hasbro, yes?
Yup. :)


Was king poseidon the same colour? Shouldn't matter too much, because it sounds like we are both wanting the same thing. :)afaik the toys are identical. I've never seen King Poseidon IRL but I've seen photos and I haven't noticed any differences (so even if they are they must be minor).