Project Shockwave

[UltraMagnus]

Hi guys,

I have a project for anyone willing to be part of.

History:
Out of all the releases of toys in the past 10 years, the TFC collection for me has been the best so far. Classics/Henkei/United/Generations... has been excellent also, but the presentation of how the TFC was done was second to none. It wasnt just the bookstyle boxes

I decided a few months back to design the boxes to match the TFC collection but for classics et al. I felt that the different boxes, different set ups have made the series confused and not complete as G1 was. Also, it doesnt encourage new collectors to buy a line if it cancels within 1 year and then gets re-released as another name.

After speaking to other third party manufacturers (FP/TFF), I realise they do this for love and for very little money. I am doing this for love and for the need to do something that hasnt been done before.

I investigated further to find that a licence to use "Transformers" would cost about $500k USD/AUD to do this. Now from a collectors perspective this is alot of money and you need to sell THOUSANDS of items to at least break even (something that I believe hasnt been done before).

I realised that the dream wouldnt be complete unless I had some helpers (which i am prepared to pay for!)

What I need:
- Anyone who knows how to kitbash/design toys
- Artist who loves drawing
- Writers, to write a series of comics to be included in each box.
- Anyone familiar with the manufacturing process.
- Suggestions


Well even though this is a collectors item and I probably could pay someone in HK to do it, I would prefer passionate TF fans to be part of it. If this is financially successful then yes you will be paid for your services.

Projects that willl be getting done
- Reimage of Classics boxes for ALL classics released toys
- Integration of Classics and fanmade toys into one box (i.e. Ultra Magnus plus Fansproject trailer and add-on set)
Creation of new toys for:
- Shockwave
- Dinobots (Yes all the others besides grimlock!)

Im keen to hear your thoughts, is this something you would buy? If so how much? Or would you prefer to buy the box, toy and accessories (and licence it from Hasbro/Takara) and make it official?

I will probably still do this for myself anyway, but if i put all this effort, I want to share it with many fans also.

[gdmetro]

Not sure if this is one of the criteria you mentioned... but always drooled and wanted something like this in terms of boxes.

http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transf...l-finally.html


They also have pretty talented kitbashers/customizers over at TFW- to the extent I think the member "Venksta" is involved with FansProject.

[UltraMagnus]

Metro - this is great, but wanting to go to another level. I gotta do some digging around here in HK, but in this city its very very easy to get things done (as long as you have money)

[UltraMarginal]

Hey Ultra M,
How goes? I think it's a great Idea, extremely huge project. personally, I don't keep boxes much, mainly out of need to conserve space. I know there are definitely collectors out there who do keep boxes though, I'm not sure in the numbers you are thinking of.

The idea of designing and developing Transformers is something I've been tooling around in my head for a long time. If done well, there would be a fairly big market I think. At this stage i would consider myself extremely novice at toy design, but if you're looking for something in the future, and I have the time I'd be interested in lending a hand.

Definitely an admirable undertaking though.
All the best.
UltraM

[Gutsman Heavy]

if you somehow got a licence to make official toys of Shockwave or Dinobots I'd pay up to $200 for something voyager sized.

[Vector Prime]

This is quite an ambitious project

I totally agree with your thoughts in relation to the TFC packaging.

Not being a G1 collector, but recently acquiring TFC Hound & Blitzwing (due to a desire to revisit childhood nostalgia), I have developed an appreciation for the packaging they have used in the TFC line.

It is quite an exquisite packaging design with excellent box art and has even made me want to collect the entire series (even though I have no interest in any of the other G1 figures).

If similar type boxes were to be produced for Classicverse toys, may I suggest that they be made big enough to house the original packaging?

This may be an issue seeing as most boxed items across the various 'Classics' series are differing in size (whereas carded ones are roughly the same), but it would be nice to be able to retain the original packaging.

Someone like myself that (partially) collects MISB/MOSC items cannot bear the thought of ripping open the original packaging (even if it was to put inside an 'improved' or uniform box design).

I don't support third party items (like add-on bits & pieces or complete figures), however if it was an outer packaging designed to slip onto an original box/carded item (for the sake of uniformity across the 'Classicverse' releases), then it would be something I would seriously consider.

On a side note, as the lines have become increasingly blurred between the different releases, what constitutes 'Classicverse' and who decides what is or isn't included in it?

[UltraMagnus]

On a side note, as the lines have become increasingly blurred between the different releases, what constitutes 'Classicverse' and who decides what is or isn't included in it?

Great question - i think it will go back to the basics of G1.

The following is the list so far:

Optimus prime, Megatron, Thundercracker, Starscream,. Sunstreaker, Skywarp, Bumbleebee, Jetfire, Skywarp, Smokescreen, Jazz, Ratchet, Ironhide, Cliffjumper, Hound, Tracks, Jazz, Mirage, Sideswipe, Wheeljack, Rodimus, Rodimus Prime (i.e include FP work), Red Alert, Cyclonus, Scourge, Kup, Perceptor, Dirge, Thrust, Ramjet, Silverstreak, Blurr, Drift, Grapple, Wreck-Gar, Astrotrain, Inferno, Galvatron, Octane, Warpath, Thunderwing
and Ultra Magnus. (42 so far)
Probably include the FP insecticons as well.

I think once you see the design of the box you may like it.

Awesome suggestion with the box within a box. Lets see what they come up with. Ultimately I would prefer that the design is enough to warrant a HK release of the toy that can then be pushed to collectors worldwide.

[UltraMagnus]

Who wants to get paid for doing something you would do anyway?

I am looking for talent artists to draw up to 20 different classics characters for the initial production run of this series.

If anyone can recommend an artist, then it would be much appreciated!

[Tallestblue]

Not an artist...but a writer?

[blackie]

im a mech eng student.......
designing transformers sounds like fun