The Random Transformers Thoughts Thread

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Originally Posted by SharkyMcShark

I have a real bee in my bonnet about fake parts on toys to mimic a character model.

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I know what you mean, but unfortunately it's the result of meeting consumer demand for "skreen akkuracy." :rolleyes: If Hasbro just focuses on making the toys and not caring about how they might look on screen (let the animators work that out), then you have fans who complain about the lack of screen "accuracy" despite the fact that the toys were designed/made first. On the other hand, Hasbro can collaborate with animators or directly reverse-engineer a toy from an existing animation model in order to make their toys look more like what you see on screen, but then people complain about compromises made in engineering.

I prefer toys just being made as toys and just letting animators deal with making their animation models toy-accurate, but there is undeniably a sizable demand for screen-likeness in Transformer toys.

I have no issue with faux parts, but... Considering we have had great looking, screen accurate Bayverse Optimus Primes since the ROTF Leader that use the actual truck parts on the chest I don't see the need to use faux parts on one now.

And yes I remember that the 2007 Leader also used the actual truck parts, but it didn't look very screen accurate compared to what followed.

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Originally Posted by GoktimusPrime

I know what you mean, but unfortunately it's the result of meeting consumer demand for "skreen akkuracy." :rolleyes: If Hasbro just focuses on making the toys and not caring about how they might look on screen (let the animators work that out), then you have fans who complain about the lack of screen "accuracy" despite the fact that the toys were designed/made first. On the other hand, Hasbro can collaborate with animators or directly reverse-engineer a toy from an existing animation model in order to make their toys look more like what you see on screen, but then people complain about compromises made in engineering.

I prefer toys just being made as toys and just letting animators deal with making their animation models toy-accurate, but there is undeniably a sizable demand for screen-likeness in Transformer toys.

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Originally Posted by DELTAprime

I have no issue with faux parts, but... Considering we have had great looking, screen accurate Bayverse Optimus Primes since the ROTF Leader that use the actual truck parts on the chest I don't see the need to use faux parts on one now.

And yes I remember that the 2007 Leader also used the actual truck parts, but it didn't look very screen accurate compared to what followed.

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I understand why it happens, especially in Bayverse figures and especially with the passage of time leading to lower parts counts and complexity. Hell, of the six Voyager scale Optimus Prime figures we've had in the movie lines only one has not used fake parts of the chest.

I'm just saying that purely subjectively I'd get about 75% more enjoyment out of the Studio Series Optimus Prime mold if it was re-released as some other truck based Transformer (Motormaster, Thunderclash, Ultra Magnus) with the fake chest windows replaced with an armoured breastplate or something.

I suppose the vibe is very much 'this figure has an intuitive and interesting transformation that produces a well proportioned poseable robot - if they dropped the fake parts at the expense of making it a different character I'd enjoy it more'.

When it comes to adapting screen first characters I think that there are pros and cons with using and not using faux vehicle kibble. An example of this is Voyager Class TFP Optimus Prime. The First Edition Voyager uses a fake chest kibble but also generally looks nicer and more screen-accurate in robot mode. The TFPRiD Voyager doesn't use a fake chest but is bulkier and arguably more ungainly looking in robot mode. TFPFE Voyager OP looks nicer, but TFPRiD Voyager OP plays better and you can appreciate it more from an engineering/design perspective because they didn't "cheat" by using a fake chest.

Pics for comparison...

L: TFPFE Voyager Prime with the fake chest ←nicer to look at
R: TFPRiDBH Ultra Magnus (retool of TFPRiD Voy OP of course); no fake chest ←nicer to play with
https://image.ibb.co/jN4QKx/prime_optimusprime_kewl.jpghttps://image.ibb.co/fzxO6c/prime_ul...ceci_robot.jpg

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Originally Posted by GoktimusPrime

*snip* fake chest ←nicer to look at

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I agree

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Originally Posted by GoktimusPrime

*snip* no fake chest ←nicer to play with

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I disagree

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Originally Posted by Galvatran

I disagree

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Buahahahahahaha!!!!!!

I'm getting to the point where I'm feeling really over it with the MP line.:(

Yeah we are getting great cartoon accurate MP figures, but for the same amount of money I can get far more CHUG figures in my lineup than I can MPs.

I'm thinking when Takara get around to revealing the next non-repaint MP figures I'm going to have a choice to make as to if I continue with the line or not. Much as I'd love to have for instance a MP Trailbreaker he would probably come in at $100+ and I don't know that I I'd put my love for the character at any more than about $50.

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Originally Posted by DELTAprime

I'm getting to the point where I'm feeling really over it with the MP line.:(

Yeah we are getting great cartoon accurate MP figures, but for the same amount of money I can get far more CHUG figures in my lineup than I can MPs.

I'm thinking when Takara get around to revealing the next non-repaint MP figures I'm going to have a choice to make as to if I continue with the line or not. Much as I'd love to have for instance a MP Trailbreaker he would probably come in at $100+ and I don't know that I I'd put my love for the character at any more than about $50.

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While not quite there yet, I understand where you're coming from.

I played around with Megatron and Sunstreaker the other week, after getting them from HLJ. The newer figures are really hitting the puzzle aspect, so much that I find it interfering with the enjoyability of the figures, which then makes the large sum of money paid for the additional engineering much less satisfying.

Son of a glitch!!!

https://image.ibb.co/cPrvHS/meme_time_gfc.jpghttps://image.ibb.co/mhJLj7/temp.jpg

That bottom right pic made me chuckle.

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Originally Posted by GoktimusPrime

https://image.ibb.co/mhJLj7/temp.jpg

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Been looking at and fiddling with some pre-Combiner Wars Generations Transformers lately, like Thrust/Dirge, Blurr (the one that has the same body as Drift), Warpath (the deluxe class one), Red Alert, etc. Some of these moulds are still really good, and I even daresay they're better than some CW/TR/PotP toys (but to be fair, they must accomodate the combiner/headmaster gimmicks). Some of the pre-CW Generations figures have some really nice gimmicks like weapon storage, light-piping, etc. I sometimes wonder if they'll ever re-issue some of these figures in the future.

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Originally Posted by FatalityPitt

I sometimes wonder if they'll ever re-issue some of these figures in the future.

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TR Cosmos and PotP Skrapnel are essentially reissues of the Generations/Thrilling 30 versions (just minus the mini cons that the T30's had) so I'd say it's at least possible if there's enough demand for a character that they may get a reissue

This is why many TR/POTP figures based on characters that were already done before in CHUG don't hold much appeal to me. Like POTP Windcharger. IMO RtS Windcharger is just a damn excellent figure. No, not as slavishly G1 accurate in appearance, but I don't need it to be. If I want to play with a super G1 accurate Windcharger toy, then I'll go play with my G1 Windcharger toy. ;) I'd rather CHUG focus more on being modern reinterpretations of classic characters rather than being "Poor Man's Masterpiece." Look at toys from the very early Classics line like Classics Mirage. That's a brilliant figure. And so are Generations toys like Warpath, Kup etc. No, they're not slavishly G1 accurate, but who cares? They're still really good toys and there's also a cool element of originality and creativity by giving them new imagined designs.

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Originally Posted by GoktimusPrime

This is why many TR/POTP figures based on characters that were already done before in CHUG don't hold much appeal to me. Like POTP Windcharger. IMO RtS Windcharger is just a damn excellent figure. No, not as slavishly G1 accurate in appearance, but I don't need it to be. If I want to play with a super G1 accurate Windcharger toy, then I'll go play with my G1 Windcharger toy. ;) I'd rather CHUG focus more on being modern reinterpretations of classic characters rather than being "Poor Man's Masterpiece." Look at toys from the very early Classics line like Classics Mirage. That's a brilliant figure. And so are Generations toys like Warpath, Kup etc. No, they're not slavishly G1 accurate, but who cares? They're still really good toys and there's also a cool element of originality and creativity by giving them new imagined designs.

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I think in some cases, it's nice to have multiple versions of the same character. Take Blurr for example, the Pre-CW version and the TR versions are totally different - one's a headmaster that turns into a futuristic vehicle, and the other has a nicer weapon that can be nicely hidden in its semi-realistic vehicle mode. Only thing these figures have in common is the name and colour scheme.

Classics Mirage (who I don't actually have) looks good, but the CW version would make for a nice homage to the G1 cartoon episode "Masquerade" when you account for the combiner gimmick.

But circling back to Blurr and pre-CW Transformers; the engineering on the 2010 Pre-CW figure seems more complex than a lot of CW/TR/PotP figures, and I don't think the mould has been used that often; so I reckon they can still sell and make money from that design.

Another really good figure is the RtS Legends Megatron. That mould design was released in the RtS line and in a couple EZ Collection waves in Japan, but that's all we ever saw of it - unlike the Legion Rippersnapper who we've seen heaps of times (all the Grimlock repaints *shudder*). I can see why they'd want to avoid releasing another Megatron with a gun alt-mode (political correctness reasons), but I think it's a good mould that should still have a lot of mileage left.

I just canceled a bunch of POTP figures from my pending orders at HLJ. No sense in keeping them on preorder since I have the identical Hasbro versions coming from TLTC. HLJ is probably losing a ton of Transformers business to the Hasbro dealers.

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Originally Posted by FatalityPitt

Been looking at and fiddling with some pre-Combiner Wars Generations Transformers lately, like Thrust/Dirge, Blurr (the one that has the same body as Drift), Warpath (the deluxe class one), Red Alert, etc. Some of these moulds are still really good, and I even daresay they're better than some CW/TR/PotP toys (but to be fair, they must accomodate the combiner/headmaster gimmicks). Some of the pre-CW Generations figures have some really nice gimmicks like weapon storage, light-piping, etc. I sometimes wonder if they'll ever re-issue some of these figures in the future.

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I've found a lot of the more recent toys since the start of Combiner wars to have simpler engineering than the earlier Classics style toys. Partially to facilitate the combiner gimmick. But also I think as a reduction of manufacturing/design costs.

That deluxe warpath mould is one of my favourite transformers in the last 10 to 15 years. it's brilliant. I wish they had done all the 'minibots' using a similar design approach for complexity, size and modernisation/appearance.

To be fair though, some of the new Legends seem pretty great. I really like RtS Windcharger but Thrilling 30 Tailgate didn't do much for me, so I'm glad that there's another option.
Likewise I can't really argue that the likes of Classics Mirage aren't head and shoulders above a lot of what's currently out there, but also in fairness that new Dreadwind/Darkwing pair looks pretty good, as do the deluxe Terrorcons. So it's nice to know there are still some hits there as well as misses.

I do hope we keep on getting some of the less well-known characters as pre/re-molds/retools though. That's been a really nice feature of the lines lately, and I really hope it doesn't fade out once the current IDW continuity wraps up.

completely agree, the new legends are quite impressive. I guess I really like the complexity/elegance in design opportunities provided by a larger toy.

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Originally Posted by UltraMarginal

completely agree, the new legends are quite impressive. I guess I really like the complexity/elegance in design opportunities provided by a larger toy.

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The new legends have been probably my favourite part of collecting. Having minibots and Insecticons and everything in that perfect middle ground between teeny weeny and scout class is so great. Though I didn’t really experience it, Legends used to be really small guys, with super simplistic transformations.

I didn't realise that Butch from Transformers Dark Of The Moon was now goal keeping for the Melbourne Victory. He obviously isn't working for Simmons any more.

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Originally Posted by Thurmus

I didn't realise that Butch from Transformers Dark Of The Moon was now goal keeping for the Melbourne Victory. He obviously isn't working for Simmons any more.

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BUAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!

Joking aside, Thomas is who won Victory the final :D GO MVFC!!!!!

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Originally Posted by CHILENO20

BUAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!

Joking aside, Thomas is who won Victory the final :D GO MVFC!!!!!

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I thought VAR epic fail secured the win.
:D

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Originally Posted by Galvatran

I thought VAR epic fail secured the win.
:D

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I will agree that if it went against us, I'd be fuming. But look at it this way, Jets still had 81 minutes plus stoppage time to score. They didn't :D

Even though HasTak said years ago that they fixed GPS I'm still rather concerned that one day my set of POTP Dinobots will turn to rubble.

I’m really impressed with the third party AoE/TLK MP Optimus Primes (especially Unique Toys Challenger) and wonder if HasTak will ever come up with their own MPM versions. Because what they’ve brought out so far is so underwhelming .

I imagine the two Legends toys that would make up Flywheels (Flystrike and Warwheels :o ) could be retooled/painted into Grandslam and Raindance.

And that got me thinking who would be a good fit for Battletrap's combiner parts.

Best I can come up with is Roadtrap repainted as Tackle from Multiforce and Battleslash remolded as Mach and that seems to actually work well.

I'm still not sure if I'll buy MP Dinobot or not. I have him on preorder at HLJ, but I'm still really thinking about canceling him due to the steep price tag.

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Originally Posted by DELTAprime

Even though HasTak said years ago that they fixed GPS I'm still rather concerned that one day my set of POTP Dinobots will turn to rubble.

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Keep them away from UV and high temps and they should fair well.

I would like to complain about the lack of repaints of The Last Knight Megatron.

It's an amazing figure. Give me a battle mask closed version/splash of red paint on the head version, at least. Or a G1 inspired redeco with a different head? Anything - would buy again.

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Originally Posted by SharkyMcShark

I would like to complain about the lack of repaints of The Last Knight Megatron.

It's an amazing figure. Give me a battle mask closed version/splash of red paint on the head version, at least. Or a G1 inspired redeco with a different head? Anything - would buy again.

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I agree entirely. I know the Age of Extinction line was decried for the overabundance of re-paints however this meant that we got some incredibly good colours for figures.

The TLK has some really mint figures that could be truly elevated to the next level with a premium paint-job.

Shout out to any collectors in Strathfield. My collection count is currently the same as your postcode. :p

Was just considering how to display my POTP Dinobots and realised that whenever I have displayed Dinobots in the past (ie Movieverse ones, Fansproject 3rd party ones), it’s always been in dinosaur mode, whereas the rest of my collection is in robot mode.

So my thought was, with most TFs, there main mode is as a robot, and their alt mode is, say, a vehicle, I think for the Dinobots it’s the other way around. Their robot modes are their alt modes.

(Not dissimilar to the way that some super heroes have an alter ego - ie Batman and Superman are who they really are with the costumes on, and playing a different part when they are Bruce and Clark, whereas Peter Parker is the real guy and Spider-Man is the alter ego.)

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Originally Posted by M-bot

Was just considering how to display my POTP Dinobots and realised that whenever I have displayed Dinobots in the past (ie Movieverse ones, Fansproject 3rd party ones), it’s always been in dinosaur mode, whereas the rest of my collection is in robot mode.

So my thought was, with most TFs, there main mode is as a robot, and their alt mode is, say, a vehicle, I think for the Dinobots it’s the other way around. Their robot modes are their alt modes.

(Not dissimilar to the way that some super heroes have an alter ego - ie Batman and Superman are who they really are with the costumes on, and playing a different part when they are Bruce and Clark, whereas Peter Parker is the real guy and Spider-Man is the alter ego.)

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I kind of felt that way about most G1 Transformers with Beast modes (Dinobots, Insecticons, Predacons, etc); it's like the beast mode is their natural form, and the humanoid robot form is what they 'wear' when they have to meet or interact socially with other Transformers.

Looking at the G1 Insecticons for example; they have each have specific roles (like Bombshell being the mind control expert, Kickback the resident con-man, etc.) but their most important characteristic shown in the cartoons is that they like to eat and breed (i.e. clone themselves) - which are the basic functions of nearly all animals.

It's like they behave more like the animals they turn into rather than intelligent, civilized ...robots? (droids? Androids? People? I don't know:confused:).

Yeah my POTP Dinobots and MP Grimlocks are in Dino Mode. Robot mode doesn't feel right to display for some reason.:rolleyes:

No one's reviewed Cindersaur yet (I can't because I don't own him/her yet), and I'm not sure if this is counts as news since it's so trivial, so I thought I'd park this here. It seems Cindersaur can be male or female depending on which card you get.

Link/source: https://www.seibertron.com/transform...e-cards/41520/

Personally, I'd think of my copy of Cindersaur as female (If I get it). Seems appropriate since it's a retool of Slash, and the name "Cindersaur" is rather effeminate sounding (sounds like Cinderella). But I can see how this might offend some purists.

At the end of the day, it's all at the discretion of the owner of the toy. If you want yours to be male, it's male; if you prefer her to be female, it's female.

Really looking forward to photos and news updates from the next SDCC. I'm itching to find out more about the 2019 War For Cybertron line.

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Originally Posted by FatalityPitt

Personally, I'd think of my copy of Cindersaur as female (If I get it). Seems appropriate since it's a retool of Slash, and the name "Cindersaur" is rather effeminate sounding (sounds like Cinderella). But I can see how this might offend some purists.

At the end of the day, it's all at the discretion of the owner of the toy. If you want yours to be male, it's male; if you prefer her to be female, it's female.

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The misused gender pronouns looks like sloppy copy-writing and/or editing.

I agree that it should be up to the owner's discretion (my partner had pink/purple animal soft toys while growing up, but she always referred to them as boys), especially in cases where there is a reason for it.
e.g. deciding on Override/Nitro Convoy's gender based on the US or Japanese versions of the cartoon.

i like to think of Cindersaur as genderqueer so both pronouns are accurate. :cool:

Why not have a multiple personality Transformer, and when a Prime-Master is attached to boost their powers, it ends up tapping into a different personality, and the different personalities behave as different genders... their collegues would never know who they will be dealing with or to trust.
I wonder if there have been any characters with multiple personalities, that isn't a pretend personality (Counterpunch) or has multiple faces/heads.

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Originally Posted by SuspectimusPrime

e.g. deciding on Override/Nitro Convoy's gender based on the US or Japanese versions of the cartoon.

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Airrazor from Beast Wars also had that issue. In the Western market, Airrazor was female, and in Japan she was portrayed as male.. Which made the emotional scenes with Tigertron a bit awkward in the Japanese cartoon at the time.

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Originally Posted by griffin

Why not have a multiple personality Transformer, and when a Prime-Master is attached to boost their powers, it ends up tapping into a different personality, and the different personalities behave as different genders... their collegues would never know who they will be dealing with or to trust.
I wonder if there have been any characters with multiple personalities, that isn't a pretend personality (Counterpunch) or has multiple faces/heads.

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That would be a cool storyline. As for characters with multiple personalities, only ones I can think of are Combiners. The Constructicons are individually quite intelligent, but when they form Devastator, they turn into a single mindless beast. Flywheels is also known for being mentally deranged because the jet part of his body can never seem to agree with the tank part.

I think for Cindersaur, maybe it's a male robot that turns into a female dinosaur? Dunno. There's so many ways to spin a story.