Transformers questions by newbies, and not-so-newbies

[kup]

I disagree with the wiki. The real danger with Bristleback is not the combination but transforming him from robot mode to beast mode. I have owned 3 Bristlebacks and all of them combined just fine - the transformation was the real killer.

Bristleback has the problem that the inner tab that causes friction on his legs when you transform him (to keep them in place) is too large and require a lot of pressure for it to move. Skystalker has a similar issue in one of his ship's wings - that is why so many out there have that joint broken although in that case its not due to GPS but for Bristleback this considerably increases the danger of breakage.

What I did with mine was semi transform Bristleback's legs (one piece) and file that inner tab down so that its more manageable and 'softer' to move - Otherwise he can become impossible to transform without breaking. Now I can transform him with no problem at all but I still have to be careful.

[Sky Shadow]

I disagree with the wiki. The real danger with Bristleback is not the combination but transforming him from robot mode to beast mode. I have owned 3 Bristlebacks and all of them combined just fine - the transformation was the real killer.

Yeah, they're not entirely accurate, still, transforming Bristleback from beast mode or robot mode to arm mode so he can combine with Monstructor can be a killer on his beast legs.

[kup]

I wish I owned Jhiaxus' broken toys. Aside from Sizzle who needs major reconstructive surgery, none of the ones he pictured on his collection thread are beyond repair.

[GoktimusPrime]

Yeah, I broke both my Slog and Bristleback while transforming them for assembly into Monstructor. In the case of Slog the damage was non-essential, but with Bristleback it was part of his leg. The robot head of my Transmetal Megatron broke about 5 years ago; fortunately I was able to easily (and affordably) replace it with a Metals Megatron.

I was discussing this with kup a few days ago; one Transformer on my want list is G1 Roadblock. It's a toy I never got as a kid because the Pretender Vehicles never interested me (I got Gunrunner as a gift); they're underwhelmingly crap toys and didn't appear in G1 canon. Then Roadblock appeared in the BotCon Japan exclusive comic "Cybertron Chronicles" which has since put Roadblock on my wants list (although a low priority want). The thing is that I always want to play with any toy I get, but I know that if I get Roadblock I won't want to play with him in fear of damaging the inner robot! So I'm at odds... part of me wants the character, but another part doesn't want the toy if I can't play with it. Gah. I probably will eventually get it but it will be one of very few Transformers in my collection that I'll never play with.

[kup]

It is possible to play with Roadblock since his inner bot doesn't have parts which 'frictions' with other parts during transformation like Bristleback. You just have to be careful during each transformation and always apply pressure at the base of moving parts but being careful doesn't mean slow and tedious. Also don't push down the dual gun to far down - just enough to hold it.

Gold Plastic Syndrome is a real pain but considering how bad it can be on some toys, Roadblock's ain't so bad.

[dirge]

My Bristleback shall forever remain in "arm" mode. And I'm okay with that.

[snaketales]

After reading all this I don't think I'm ever going to transform Bristleback....

[Tommy K]

ok i have 3 questions

1. i need more information on pretender shells, ive looked on tfwiki, on google EVERYTHING but i dunno, i really cant understand them

2. why is energon pink?

3. i heard the target 2006 has a brilliant story line but i dont really want to read it because of the storyline but i was wondering if anyone could help me out on whats the plot, whats it about?

[Paulbot]

ok i have 2 questions

1. i need more information on pretender shells, ive looked on tfwiki, on google EVERYTHING but i dunno, i really cant understand them

2. why is energon pink?

3. i heard the target 2006 has a brilliant story line but i dont really want to read it because of the storyline but i was wondering if anyone could help me out on whats the plot, whats it about?

1. A toy gimmick. The comic tried to makesense of it in the story, Masterforce did a better job of it. Basically it's another way of the TFs being in disguise in addition to their basic transforming to disguise gimmick.

2. It's not always, but mostly so it stands out visually.

3. During Transformers the Movie, Galvatron travels back in time to earth in 1986 in an attempt to escape Unicron's control. Meanwhile on Cybertron in 1986 the Autobots set a trap to wipe out the deadliest Decepticons, which is thrown into jeopardy when their greatest warrior, Ultra Magnus, leaves for earth to investigate the disappearace of Optimus Prime (caused by Galvatrons appearance from the future).

[Sky Shadow]

ok i have 2 questions

Actually you have three. And I only have time to answer the third one.

3. i heard the target 2006 has a brilliant story line but i dont really want to read it because of the storyline but i was wondering if anyone could help me out on whats the plot, whats it about?

You really should read it, it's the best Transformers story in any form in 25 years and the first UK Comic story released in Australia back in 1986. As a basic summary, during Transformers: The Movie, when Galvatron says "Decepticons, to Earth!" he actually takes himself, Scourge and Cyclonus twenty years into the past to make a massive Earth-based gun to be buried underground (where Autobot City would be built) to destroy Unicron (and, presumably, Autobot City). Their time travel requires "mass substitution", so when the Decepticon trio appear, Optimus Prime, Prowl and Ratchet disappear into 'limbo'. On Cybertron, the Autobots are planning Operation: Volcano - an uprising against the Decepticon control of Cybertron, which they've been planning meticulously and cannot be aborted. But then the Matrix Flame is extinguished, so Ultra Magnus travels to Earth to find out what happened to Optimus Prime. Galvatron beats up Megatron and Soundwave and becomes the new leader of the Decepticons (he needs the Constructicons to build his big gun). Back on Cybertron we meet, for the first time, some group called 'The Wreckers' who are supposed to fight the Decepticons without Magnus. The Autobots on Earth are still leaderless, and try to deal with that. (Not so well - they pretty much have Megatron leading them. Which is awesome.) It has a fight scene between Galvatron and Ultra Magnus that lasts an entire issue of a comic. Oh and Hot Rod, Kup and Blurr turn up too. So the story is about everyone on Earth (except The Constructicons, Starscream and, kind of, Jazz) trying to take down Galvatron and the movie Decepticons. And the Autobots trying to wrest Cybertron from the Decepticons.

As I said, it is the bomb. Read it.