Which is your favorite Springer figure?

[GoktimusPrime]

I just mentioned the UCM in case Gasaraki was wondering what the majority consensus was. I wasn't trying to derail this discussion toward that direction, I just mentioned it in case Gasaraki was curious about what the consensus was - that's all. But as I've repeatedly stated, this is Gasaraki's thread, so for the purposes of this thread we can count them however the hell he likes.
Gouki: The UCM is only necessarily if you ever want to (voluntarily) participate in a comparative survey. Nobody needs to use it beyond that.

Getting back on topic, even including everything, I still find Voyager Generations Springer to be the best. I'm not a fan of Kre-Os because they don't feel like proper Transformers action figures to me... you have to disassemble and reassemble them to change modes, to me that's not transforming (shape shifting). And I just see Robot Heroes as nothing more than bits of merchandise rather than proper "toys." I know this is all just my own personal subjective opinion, but that's what I think anyway.

[Hursticon]

I'm extremely pleased with my Warbot - Defender; I like what the latest Generations Springer does but it just hasn't grabbed me the way that Defender did - I'll gladly take a Sandstorm though.

[GoktimusPrime]

How would you compare Warbot Defender and Generations Springer in terms of value for dollar though?

[Hursticon]

How would you compare Warbot Defender and Generations Springer in terms of value for dollar though?

A lot of things have to be considered with Warbot; the nature of 3rd Party production costs, skating that thin line of IP infringement with its design, but mainly the fact that he was the 1st (widely available) complete transforming robot toy offered by a 3rd Party company - Don't forget that he also includes a healthy amount of diecast metal, is considerably articulate (For the time), is of a perfect size & is a triple changer to boot!

Value for dollar? - I'd confidently back Warbot; he had a lot more working against him and, in my mind, has achieved more than what Generations Springer has for it.

[Gasaraki]

A lot of things have to be considered with Warbot; the nature of 3rd Party production costs, skating that thin line of IP infringement with its design, but mainly the fact that he was the 1st (widely available) complete transforming robot toy offered by a 3rd Party company - Don't forget that he also includes a healthy amount of diecast metal, is considerably articulate (For the time), is of a perfect size & is a triple changer to boot!

Value for dollar? - I'd confidently back Warbot; he had a lot more working against him and, in my mind, has achieved more than what Generations Springer has for it.

Interesting to hear about Warbot... I remember an interview on WTF@TFW with the writer of upcoming Transforming Collections book: It apparently costs something upwards of $60K to put a well engineered deluxe sized figure into production (I think the example used was one of the TFC Herc bots), and considering the comparatively low production runs of some of these, it's rather amazing we can get stuff for as low as $60 (or even $35 if you consider recent Mech Ideas releases!).

For myself, I do think Warbot looks like a nice Springer... but can't justify forking out $100+ for him with the Generations ver on offer.

[kaiden]

-Generations Voyager Springer-

[Cat]

That 60k cost would include the production run and shipping costs, to retailers and customers.

It's a bit of a deceiving figure to use.

To cut a steel mold costs about 10k. The more articulation, ie more parts, the higher the cost.

Not all figures need steel molds though. Very small run figures can use silicone molds, and still be okay.

The 30th Springer is amazing, but I still love the GDO too. The head sculpts are equally good, just done in very different styles.

[kup]

Now that I have received and played with the Generations Springer a fair bit, it is hard to decide if Generations Springer or FP Defender would be 'objectively' better.

Defender
Good
- Very nicely 'collector' level plastic and die cast which paint does not appear to chip and retains that awesome matte finish despite nearly 4 years. Feels really good in-hand like a high end toy should.
- Intricate and satisfying transformation for both helicopter and armored car mode making both seem like unique transformations rather than an 'adaptation' of the same base alt mode.
- Ratchet joints
- Nice detailed sculpt (stye subjective to individual taste)
- All 3 modes are solid.
- clever use of weapons in all modes
- Highly poseable
- Scales great with Classics such as deluxes (Blurr, Wreckgar, etc)

Bad
- Some of the pinned shoulder joints become a bit loose over time.
- Unnecessary lack of proper heels causing him to be unstable in poses that need him to stand straight.
- Engineering may be a little too complex in some areas. The folding of the arms in helicopter mode seem a bit unintuitive.
- Although playable, the intricacy of the transformation engineering can require you to spend a bit of time transforming it.
- Can cost $100 plus shipping.

Generations Springer

Good
- Official triple changing Springer that actually looks like Springer!
- Well done simple but effective engineering. You can get to all modes very quickly
- Great play value due to being lightweight and easy to handle in 'dynamic play' as there is no die cast and composed of only plastic.
- Robot, car and helicopter modes look good
- Robot mode resembles IDW (although a bit lanky)
- Clever use of blade sword
- Gun is big but works well enough.
- Clever movement of 'cockpit' windows for all modes.
- A 3rd of the price of Defender

Bad
- Plastic quality feels rather cheap but it still works.
- Not much in the sense of paint. Hardly any detailing
- Both alt modes are well thought out but they are not intricate and little more than extensions of the same 'base' (like G1). This could be a positive for some but not so much if you are looking for intricacy.
- Due to softer plastic, Alt modes can be a little unstable with pegs easily popping out but nothing major.
- Can also suffer from shoulder joint looseness problems (Had to fix mine).
- Gun not as cleverly used as Defender (big gun just plugs in on the top). Obstruct front landing gear for helicopter.
- A bit on the lanky side even by IDW standards.


So overall - Which of the two is best depends on what you look for in a toy as both are pretty good. If a motivator is cost, then Generations Springer wins hands down - Good representation of the character, solid toy and a triple changer.

If you want that extra 'collector grade' feel, do not play with your toys much and don't mind paying premium, then Defender would be for you.

So to me it's both. No clear winner unlike say Generations Blitzwing which would lose even when compared to the G1 toy..

[GoktimusPrime]

Generations Springer is the clear winner for me. I'm not taking 3rd Party stuff into consideration because I don't collect them, but Gen. Springer cost me $40 including postage, as opposed to a Warbot Defender possibly costing $100 before postage -- it seems that Gen. Springer offers quite good value for money IMHO.

But compared to the G1 toy and in the context of their relative times, I find Gen. Springer to be superior. G1 Springer was a mediocre figure, even by G1 standards. In fact, all the Autobot Triple Changers paled in comparison with their Decepticon counterparts. Whereas Gen. Springer is an above average standard toy by current day standards.

So to me it's both. No clear winner unlike say Generations Blitzwing which would lose even when compared to the G1 toy..

^Agreed. G1 Blitzwing was an exceptionally good toy by G1 standards. Takara designer Ono Koujin once said that he considers Blitzwing and Astrotrain to be the "all time best" of the toys that they created in the 1980s. Gen. Blitzwing would be one of the all time worst.

[BigTransformerTrev]

Having finally gotten my Generations Springer and had a tool around with him last night I can put my two cubes in on this poll:


G1 Springer (1986) - both the shiz and the nit! Awesomely fun toy, loved both his modes, best rotating copter blades they had made and for its time was one of the few autobot ground vehicles that had a gun on it that made (sorta) sense so good to set up battle scenes. Head was a little small on the robot but great sword and gun and actually had elbows which was rare for a toy of that era. You could relate him to a character you had just seen in a movie and tv show which added to the play value.

Timelines Deluxe Springer (BotCon 2007) - never played with him so cant offer an opinion

Universe Voyager Springer (2008) - for its time it wasnt a bad retool, came packaged with Ratbat and the colour scheme was well done. Didn't really come off like someone who was a wreckers leader though as his alt mode wasn't armed to the teeth and of course no 3rd mode.

Warbot Defender (FansProject 2010) - besides my Quintessons I don't generally buy 3rd party stuff so again, cant offer an opinion

Generations Deluxe Springer (2012) - didn't end up getting this guy because by the time he was available scuttlebut about the Voyager was out. I do have other figures that share the mold though, and besides being a bit spindly it is quite good with a great attack chopper mode. Again sadly, no 3rd mode.

ROTF & Robot Heroes Springers: Seem to have been left out of this poll, cant really say its a massive loss. Have both, neither very good.

Generations Voyager Springer (2013) - Now this bloke I took out of his box last night and had a play with. Good transformation, pretty inutitive, alt modes are certainly mre different to each other than the G1 mold. Not a fan of his copter mode but LOVE his armored car mode, big strong & sturdy. Reminds me a little of the size deluxes used to come in back in the Armada days. Robot mode a tiny bit lanky but great.


In the end, I still had to give me vote to the G1 toy, just for what it was capable of given the tranformer toy engineering of the time, the play value, and you could relate it to a character you had just seen in a movie and tv show. But Generations Voyager came a damn close second for me, if I had liked the copter mode more it would have come out at the top!