Moderation note
Please try to keep this thread to simple questions and their replies. Other broader discussions (such as "I told my girlfriend I collect Transformers") should take place in their own threads. :)
Printable View
Moderation note
Please try to keep this thread to simple questions and their replies. Other broader discussions (such as "I told my girlfriend I collect Transformers") should take place in their own threads. :)
Is there a reason why G1 Powermaster Prime has long smokestacks and Ginrai (and all reissues inc Comm' Powermaster Prime) don't have them? Seems strange that Tak would crop them.
They're not cropped. The original Ginrai toy had shorter smokestacks than PM Prime - PM Prime and Ginrai are substantially different moulds from each other (the super robot arms are entirely different too). But they're not "newtered" like Hasbro's reissue Primes and Magnuses (Magni?), while Ginrai's smokestacks are shorter, they're not "chopped off" at the mid-section like Hasbro's Prime/Magni reissues. The length of reissue Ginrai's smokestacks is accurate to the original Ginrai toy.
Here is a comparison between original and reissue Ginrai - the author (pitapa256) makes no mention of any difference between the smokestacks. According to this page, the main differences are in the packaging and some of the stickers.
quick qu - of the 4 BT smokescreens made, which one(s) are the higher priced one(s)? maybe someone could rank them, if thats possible?
George
borge...i reckon they are about the same price being BT Smokescreens.
From ebay, it seems that BT07s are more expensive at about > $200
A couple of BT01 #7 and #8 that have ended before Christmas last year, came up to about > A$90 to A$140 before shipping.
heres a question :
how are transformers created?
If you mean reproduction then it occurs in basically in 2 stages.
Stage 1: Construct/acquire a body.
Stage 2: Imbue it with sentience.
How this is done varies between canonical sources, but that's fundamentally how they all work. :) Sometimes the order of these stages can change, or even occur simultaneously.
The main exception would have been the very ancient Transformers who could reproduce via a form of asexual reproduction similar to mitotic cell division on a massively large scale. It looks like this:
http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/tr...px-Budding.jpg
-------
If you mean the origin of the species, then there are several different explanations.
1/ The Transformers were created along the lines of mechanical evolution - beginning with simple gears and cogs, much like how organic life evolved from single-celled organisms. Although this origin was retconned out of existence by the comics' later divine creation story, there continued to be elements of evolution within the Transformers' comics. In Transformers G2 we learnt that the Transformers were able to asexually self-reproduce, but they eventually lost that ability. The "Generation 2" Decepticons (e.g.: Liege Maximo, Jhiaxus etc.) claimed to be on a higher scale of evolution than the G1 Transformers - and indeed led a campaign where they attempted to ethnically cleanse the galaxy of the "inferior" G1 Transformers. The Swarm, after being effected by the Matrix, went on to evolve into the Vok (re: Beast Wars). The movie continuity also displays some elements of evolution, e.g.: Prime suggesting to Ironhide that they were once a primitive and violent species; and one of the movie script writers mentioned that the reason why the Transformers that had been newly created by the AllSpark acted so violently was because they hadn't yet evolved a sophisticated level of reasoning - they were effectively feral.
2/ In the G1 cartoon the Transformers were first created by Quintessons as commodities to be sold to other species. Their slaves eventually rebelled and exiled them from Cybertron which they claimed as their own planet.
3/ The G1 comics gave us the divine creation story - that the Transformers species was created by the god Primus, as a final line of defence against the dark god Unicron. Each Transformer's life essence was spawned a sample of Primus' own life essence, manifested in an artifact known as the Creation Matrix.
Beast Wars expanded on G1 & G2 origin stories and clearly defined a Transformer's life essence/laser core into what they called the "Spark" and introduced the AllSpark Matrix being something similar to Nirvana - where all Sparks originate and are destined to return to. Evolution by the time of Beast Wars seemed to be artificial - i.e.: the Transformers intentionally upgraded themselves into Maximals and Predacons rather than having it occur as a natural process. Beast Machines explained that Cybertron itself had evolved from an organic world (something which is supported by both G1 cartoon and comic book canon) and that the next stage of evolution was the balance between machines and nature.
Another answer is By Commitee.Quote:
Originally Posted by GoktimusPrime
Well it's no secret that Transformers has never had a unified form of continuity, so the fact is that we have multiple versions of Transformers creation as a result. It's just something we gotta deal with. And there are advantages to having multiple continuities too (i.e.: fans have a choice over which canon they prefer)
Does anybody have any of the old Machine Men comic books that were given out free at toy shops? The third and fourth issues are up on this site: http://counter-x.net/gobots/comic/ma...men/index.html (For some reason, the guy still calls them the first and second issues even though I've corrected him on it.)
The first issue was black and white (well, black and yellow) and had a competition for a silver Crasher. I think Zod was the cliffhanger. The second issue dealt with the battle with Zod and had a competition for a gold Baron Von Joy (one of which I won, though I no longer have it.)
I thought if anyone would have these comics it would be someone here so... anyone?
are they those toys that were retconned into the TF universe?Quote:
Originally Posted by Sky Shadow
Yeah - Fracture/Crasher, Bug Bite, Bad Boy, Pathfinder, Road Ranger, Small Foot, Treads and Cy-Kill have been in one way or another. And it's where they got names like Leader-1 and (your friend) Staxx.Quote:
Originally Posted by roller
I always kinda liked Machine men. They were basic, but fun :)
I have the third one (that the other site calls first). I got it from my cousin back in the 80s and use the center page spread as my main guide to Machine Men toys (despite the odd mistakes such as Cop-tur facing the wrong way).Quote:
Originally Posted by Sky Shadow
From the January Hasbro Qs thread:
Breastmasters are a Decepticon sub-group whose breastplates can detach and transform into their guns and small robotic animals. They came out in 1989. The Decepticon commander Death Zaras (aka Death Saurus) is a Breastmaster with two breastplate partners. The other Breastmasters form a team known as Breast Force who are able to merge into Lio Kaiser.Quote:
Originally Posted by reillyd
http://homepage2.nifty.com/starscrea...es/leozack.jpghttp://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/tr...-Deszaras1.jpghttp://www.vega.or.jp/~butto/picture/tfcg1-dz03.jpg
Lio Kaiser is a milestone in terms of Transformers toy design as he represented the first gestalt where all the gestalt robot components except for the head (e.g.: fists, feet, thighs) were self-contained in the member robots, instead of being detachable accessories. Later G1 and G2 gestalts failed to pick up on this revolutionary trait, but we did see this concept improved upon in 1997 with the Beast Wars gestalts. Car Robot's JRX and Build King (RiD Rail Racer & Landfill; 2000) also feature fully self-contained gestalt parts. The Super Link/Energon (2004) gestalts were a bit of a regression as they had detachable fists and feet.
http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/tr...kaiser_toy.jpghttp://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/tr...ipledacus1.jpghttp://www.toyarena.com/gif/rid.jpg
I really must get me a Deszaras this year. And a Liokaiser too. They're tops on the vintage lists for me. But jsut having the reality that the gestalt team is called "Breast Force" is making me a tad queasy. :eek:
Only if you're going to remain in the 3rd Grader's mindset of "breast = boobs." (*teehee* I said boobs! :D) In the terms of what these toys do, they're using the word "breast" in a perfectly appropriate context. Sure, it's not a terribly marketable term of the Anglophone market, but these toys weren't intended for the Anglophone market! In fact, the Hasbro versions of these toys (Autobot Rescue Force) were devoid of their breast partners... they were also devoid of individual names... Hasbro's version of Leozak could've been called "Paul" for all we know. :p
L-R: John, George, Ringo and Paul
http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/tr...scue_force.jpg
Hasbro's Autobot Rescue Force... despite the repainted Breastmaster box art, these toys did not come withknockersbreastplates.
...then there's how some Transfans abbreviate "Titanium (Series)" as "Tit" (e.g.: "Tit Jetfire")... that was really silly, especially considering that the official scientific abbreviation is "Ti" - which is shorter and less silly sounding!!
http://www.lootlady.com/images/trans...tanium%202.jpg"You TIT! I soiled my armour I was so scared!" - Sir Robin The Brave (Monty Python and the Holy Grail)
hi guys is there a reference i can use to compare hasbro MP Starscream and Takara MP Starscream, i am not fussed about getting Thundercracker or Skywarp ,which 1 reigns supreme?
See post #6 on the Photo Comparisons thread.
dirge's MP Starscream review also states, "Hasbro produced a later toy in Starscream's _actual_ colours, using a sturdier plastic. Masterpiece Thundercracker and Skywarp are repaints of Starscream."
which comic has the group picture of all the sunstreaker clones in it?
Which particular 'group picture'? Maximum Dinobots #1 has a picture of many in vehicle mode.Quote:
Originally Posted by blackie
thats the one :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Paulbot
major space of mine
Is there any idea when the Universe 2 line will end?
Im starting to get feelings for Prowl, i orginally planned to buy none of them because im now on the poverty line, but damn they look good!!! some of them
I think they are supposed to be put on hold around the time the movie comes outQuote:
Originally Posted by roller
If this question hasn't been answered yet, I reckon it could be included in the February Q's to Hasbro thread, as I'm also interested to know like how many more universe toys will be released in 2009 (particularly on the deluxe & voyager/ultras class)?Quote:
Originally Posted by roller
My thoughts exactly.Quote:
Originally Posted by roller
Isn't Cyclonus, Inferno etc the last bit? Then it's onto the movie stuff, yeah? With Universe returning in 2010... I think I remember that from somewhere, not sure about Animated though
I think it would be worth asking what the hiatus period is, that Hasbro plans to give Universe. With the way they dragged out the first movie toyline, into over a year of recolours and store exclusives, it could end up being anyone's guess at Hasbro.
Quote:
Originally Posted by roller
be careful qc can be VERY bad
Well didnt they put Classics as a filler issue then, til the movie came up. I guess they will do the same for Universe line, until the second movie gets exhausted again then they'd restart it... prolly Universe 3.0 heheheh. You might have a chance to ask this at Botcon Bossbot!:DQuote:
Originally Posted by griffin
something fishy here
http://cgi.ebay.com/BOXED-JAPANESE-R...3A1|240%3A1309
its listed as c21, but reflector is a decepticon... is there even a non mailaway version of reflector?
Is there a reason as to why the G1 Yellow Constructicons were not released in the US ?
The G1 Yellow Constructicons cannot form Devastator? why?
ta
Cos Hasbro UK said so! :p
First year JP Transformers (1985) were numbered without C or D for Cybertron or Destron. They started that in year 2, as it became obvious that the numbers were gonna get huge quickly, and it helped differentiate between the good guys and bad guys.Quote:
Originally Posted by blackie
The seller has listed it incorrectly in the title, but the packaging is legit. Reflector was released in JP in stores as '21', but was only a mailaway item in western markets by Hasbro.
Probably for marketting purposes. Maybe it was cheaper, or they didn't see the gimmick as being worth including, as Devastator would appear as a clumsy looking 'block' next to the rest of the toys they were releasing at that time (Turbomasters and Predators).Quote:
Originally Posted by roller
Shortly after, the US released the Constructicons with the combiner feature, probably because Devastator more easily fit right in visually with the various other Gen1 redecos in Gen2.
I think visually, from a marketting perspective, the UK didn't want Devastator, just the Constructicons, but the US wanted Devastator because they blended in with all the other Gen1 moulds being used.
But that's just my guess, based on how Hasbro prioritise the interests of retailers, who don't care about the product as long as it looks good on a display for them to look over and pre-order.
I've been playing around with my God Ginrai fig, awesome toy that, but I'd like to know if there is somewhere on the trailer to hold the super robot head? Also is there somewhere else the engine can be stored other than the cabs grill in vehicle mode?
They were also releasing equally anonymous non-combining versions of Breast Force at the same time. Maybe Hasbro UK were just creating their own lines of impotent knockoffs? ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by griffin
Yeah, inside the trailer. Ginrai's head was initially intended to transform into a robot and roller buggy which could roll in and out of the trailer. This idea was scrapped as it exceeded budget - but the actual head itself can easily fit inside the trailer.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gutsman Heavy
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y22..._prototype.jpg
Not really, although I suppose you could bung him into the trailer too. :pQuote:
Originally Posted by Gutsman Heavy
is there a dedicated spot the head goes in or just anywhere it fits?
Not really. As I said, the space in the trailer was designed to house the roller-buggy unit - i.e.: so it could roll in and out. But the head does fit in surprisingly securely - it doesn't really jiggle about much. Try it. :)
I display my Ginrai in robot mode and PM Prime in truck mode. I store my PM Prime head inside the trailer. (^_^)
much thanks Gok