Underrated Transformers Toys Thread

[GoktimusPrime]

I bought both Megatron and Galvatron in the same transaction, see here, but I don't see how Hasbro having utilised the retooled version of a mold for their Megatron release is a negative because one effectively receives a superior toy,

I wouldn't say "negative," but because both RiD Megatron and Galvatron are both the exact same mould, it's arguably superfluous to get both, considering that they're both relatively expensive toys too. Unless that mould particularly appeals to you, or you're a RiD completist, I imagine most people (especially kids) would have only gotten either Megatron or Galvatron, but not both. Not that this discouraged Hasbro, since they continued to pump out repaints of Megatron as Galvatron across the Unicron Trilogy. (-_-)

In 2000 I just got Gigatron from Car Robot. Then Devil Gigatron came out, and I refused to get that, even with the modification for the additional four modes. It felt like such a cheap way to milk more money out of collectors. Then in 2002 we had that stupid drought where we had a whole year with barely any new TF moulds at all... so I got RiD Galvatron

sure the rounded missiles are a given after 20+ odd years of safety regulations but I think the paint apps are hardly flat either - You wanna see flat paint apps?, talk to RTS Wreck-Gar

Both Super Fire Convoy and Gigatron have metallic colours - i.e. there's those little metallic filament thingies throughout the plastic to make them look all sparkly -- like the plastic on G1 1984 Thundercracker (not so much with the Encore reissue though ). RiD Optimus Prime and Megatron lack the subtle "sparkle" in their colours, and so looks relatively flat and dull by comparison. I collected Car Robot first before RiD ever came out, so it sticks out to me like a sore thumb.

Having said that, I got RiD Optimus Prime too even though I had Super Fire Convoy 2 years before. Again, 2002 toy drought... and the chrome on my SFC had badly chipped too.

Whilst I dig the brick that is Sixshot, he's an awesome character really,

Speaking of character, what I enjoyed about the Gigatron character in the Car Robot series was how he would take on a different voice and persona in each different mode. E.g. Giga-Dragon was booming and menacing, Giga-Bat was like a gangster thug etc. -- I felt this was lost in what I saw of the RiD dub.

I feel that the RiD/Car Robots - Megatron/Galvatron/Gigatron/Devil Gigatron mold is an excellent figure and is very much an underrated toy - Especially by those of us who don't have a lot of affection for the main-line toys of the period comprising that of Beast Machines to Animated.

Animated wasn't around at the time, but Beast Machines certainly was (in fact, some BM moulds were released under RiD; e.g. Bruticus, Megatron Megabolt, Air Attack Optimus Primal) -- so yeah, compared to that, little wonder why so many fans went crazy with Car Robot and RiD!

I remember RiD toys literally flew off shelves months before the TV show had even aired in Australia. Kids must've been walking in and after seeing Beast Machines' weird technorganic beast modes, then all those ugly Animorphs... then along comes RiD with licensed vehicle modes like Lamborghinis, Dodge Vipers etc. 'nuff sed. It's a shame we missed out on some moulds like the bullet trains, Scourge and the repainted TM2 Predacons (Sky Byte & crew).

[Hursticon]

I wouldn't say "negative," but because both RiD Megatron and Galvatron are both the exact same mould, it's arguably superfluous to get both, considering that they're both relatively expensive toys too.

It is arguable and that same argument is often applied to any repaint of any figure, but...

Unless that mould particularly appeals to you, or you're a RiD completist,

This is often the case that causes people to purchase multiples of the same mold and in regards to this particular mold; most parents/kids wouldn't have known about the use of the retooled mold for the Western/Hasbro Megatron release and possibly would've bought both Western releases of Megatron and Galvatron anyway due to the packaging differences between them where Galvatron's displayed additional modes - So it could've been seen as an upgrade at the time.

In 2000 I just got Gigatron from Car Robot. Then Devil Gigatron came out, and I refused to get that, even with the modification for the additional four modes. It felt like such a cheap way to milk more money out of collectors.

Well it's evident that opinions must've changed over time then, because that approach basically makes up a good chunk of the Classicsverse lines and people have bought those in spades but I do make note that this was your own personal opinion at the time and I doubt you would've been the only person to share that feeling.

Both Super Fire Convoy and Gigatron have metallic colours - i.e. there's those little metallic filament thingies throughout the plastic to make them look all sparkly -- like the plastic on G1 1984 Thundercracker (not so much with the Encore reissue though ). RiD Optimus Prime and Megatron lack the subtle "sparkle" in their colours, and so looks relatively flat and dull by comparison. I collected Car Robot first before RiD ever came out, so it sticks out to me like a sore thumb.

That's fair enough as the Hasbro releases do indeed lack the metallic specks, prismatech in certain circles , but I wouldn't call them flat though as at the very least they've got chrome and gloss paints/plastic.
(I'm splitting that hair damn fine )

Speaking of character, what I enjoyed about the Gigatron character in the Car Robot series was how he would take on a different voice and persona in each different mode. E.g. Giga-Dragon was booming and menacing, Giga-Bat was like a gangster thug etc. -- I felt this was lost in what I saw of the RiD dub.

I've read and heard about people's disappointment with aspects of RiD like that and as an Anime fan I can completely understand that sentiment as it is quite unfortunate because the character in-turn loses some of it's identity - Maybe that was why it was left out of the Megatron Hall of Fame reel?

Then in 2002 we had that stupid drought where we had a whole year with barely any new TF moulds at all... so I got RiD Galvatron

Which feeds into...

Animated wasn't around at the time, but Beast Machines certainly was (in fact, some BM moulds were released under RiD; e.g. Bruticus, Megatron Megabolt, Air Attack Optimus Primal) -- so yeah, compared to that, little wonder why so many fans went crazy with Car Robot and RiD!

When I said between BM and Animated, I was meaning that there are a number of people who have no liking for anything main-line-wise between those 2 shows i.e. a large dislike for anything BM, RiD, Armada, Energon, Cybertron, Animated and their Japanese counterparts - I'm aware that all those lines didn't exist at once though if that's what you're thinking?
Because of the dislike towards these shows and lines, IMO people have missed out on some massive stand-outs and I was one of these people until recently when I decided to do some research and/or had seen in person figures from these lines, that I personally felt they were worth my attention and have hence sought their acquisition.
(I steadfastly refuse to pay any officially recognised currency for anything Animorphs related however )

I remember RiD toys literally flew off shelves months before the TV show had even aired in Australia. Kids must've been walking in and after seeing Beast Machines' weird technorganic beast modes, then all those ugly Animorphs... then along comes RiD with licensed vehicle modes like Lamborghinis, Dodge Vipers etc. 'nuff sed. It's a shame we missed out on some moulds like the bullet trains, Scourge and the repainted TM2 Predacons (Sky Byte & crew).

Unfortunately, that may of been due to the fact that BM didn't air on any free-to-air networks and was only available to those who could afford it.
I myself had heard that there was a sequel series to Beast Wars and downloaded some Canadian RealMedia files at the time to see what it was like... What I saw was not favourable.
RiD was aired on a number of week day and weekend morning free-to-air cartoon programs and hence had a vastly superior marketing aid, here in Australia at least, so they probably did fly off as you say.

I've been lucky enough to of owned all the RiD Beast-era molds (BW Repaints ) and Railracer, Rail Racer is definitely another underrated toy though as that is a really well engineered set of figures that have an excellent gestalt mode too.

[klystron]

Glad I helped spark a little conversation, but was really only comparing the two G1 six-changers - Sixshot and Quickswitch.
A little short-sighted? Perhaps. But thats what I had in mind at the time of writing.
Just wanted to put that out there.

[GoktimusPrime]

Well it's evident that opinions must've changed over time then, because that approach basically makes up a good chunk of the Classicsverse lines and people have bought those in spades but I do make note that this was your own personal opinion at the time and I doubt you would've been the only person to share that feeling.

Armada really started the "craze" of repainting everything. Car Robot had a few repaints, then with RiD Hasbro made a lot more repaints (especially with the SpyChangers!!) -- but it wasn't till Armada came along that HasTak went "repaint happy" So while it's commonplace now to see slews of endless repaints, at the time of Car Robot/Beast Machines, it wasn't quite the case.

(I steadfastly refuse to pay any officially recognised currency for anything Animorphs related however )

Think clean thoughts, think clean thoughts, think clean thoughts...

Unfortunately, that may of been due to the fact that BM didn't air on any free-to-air networks and was only available to those who could afford it.

Even for those of us who had FoxTel, it was aired at the STUPID time slot of Saturday 2PM. Who the hell is home to watch that??

I used to program my VCR to record it automatically... but then my dad or someone would change the channel on the FoxTel box, and of course, it'd end up recorded whatever was playing on Discovery Channel or National Geographic at the time. I used to leave notes written in large writing with permanent marker ink telling people to leave it on Channel 8 while I was out... do you think anyone paid attention to that massive sign? NOPE!

So in the end I just gave up. Fortunately I'd already seen most of the eps taped off American TV, but it would've been nice to see it "first hand" PAL instead of "second hand" NTSC.

[Deonasis]

and now back to the thread of underrated toys..

[SkyWarp91]

ROTF Scout Class Breakdown. Badass.

So was ROTF Scout Class Rollbar.

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

Hey yeah, that reminds me: RotF Dirt Boss/Deadlift. That little guy was heaps of fun, really poseable, good balance, interesting alt-mode and transformation, and then they redid him as a Gobot homage!
Wish they'd released him (Deadlift) over here, along with the Slap Dash/Trenchmouth pack...and Hot Shot etc...*sigh*

[SkyWarp91]

Hey yeah, that reminds me: RotF Dirt Boss/Deadlift. That little guy was heaps of fun, really poseable, good balance, interesting alt-mode and transformation, and then they redid him as a Gobot homage!
Wish they'd released him (Deadlift) over here, along with the Slap Dash/Trenchmouth pack...and Hot Shot etc...*sigh*

+1 Overall the ROTF Scout Class figures were underrated. Except Scalpel, he was a piece of crap!

[Hursticon]

Except Scalpel, he was a piece of crap!

I think I'm the only person who likes that little guy, maybe because mine's still unbroken?

[SkyWarp91]

I think I'm the only person who likes that little guy, maybe because mine's still unbroken?

True lol