ALL THINGS TRANSFORMERS!!!!

[MagpieMad]

XT Scourge looks fantastic, with one of the best head sculpts of all my MPs. Quality is the best XT have ever done by far, although most people have stress marks on the thumb joints and the feet are really frustrating to transform. FT did release a silhouette image of their Scourge a while back but no update since...

 

[YankeesFanboy]

I understand that Ramjet is a retooled version of the MP11 Seekere mold. Does that mean that the original mold no longer exists? Will we ever get reissues of a figure like Skywarp?

I ask because SW's become prohibitively expensive on the aftermarket. If Hasbro were to issue its own version through TRU, that'd be a godsend but that wouldn't be possible without the original mold, no?

 

[lotus000]

Re: All things transformers!!!!

Good stuff!

Where exactly did you get yours? I got mine from an eBay seller (goodshipped) and it was quoted $820 shipped at the time I paid for it (I didn't get it for almost one year later) bi at the end, seller contacted me asking for more $$$, as he had "miscalculated" how heavy and big the box was. He did offer a full refund if I didn't want to pay the extra cheese though, so I liked that. I was about $100 extra, so I was down $920.

Worth it? You betcha.

But I saw that BBTS had it for $999 (maybe less) not too long ago (sold out now) and they wanted $40 for shipping. It's really not all that much of a difference when you take into account that you are dealing with a local, trusted seller with this expensive figure, so I guess I'll go that route once the $1500 (or more???) Magnus gets a PO.

My only focus is TF's now, so (while expensive) I can manage to get these UM beauties. The way I see it, they are going for iconic characters, and their pace actually helps, as they are very spaced out releases.

My wants are:

Galvatron

Rodimus

Megatron (PLEASE)

Grimlock (Dino mode)

Shockwave (holy ****!)


These, to me, seem entirely plausible. Well, shockwave is more of a wish.

Imagine that lineup, in full UM glory.

If the time came when I had to sell all my TF collection, I'd try as hard as I can no to ever let go of the UM Prime. It's is, to me, the most definitive Optimus Prime figure ever made, and quite possible, the best thing I've ever owned collectible wise.

I cracks me up whenever I see someone putting it down because it "can't transform".... Jesus, as if Hasbro would ever allow an official 3P to make a transformable Prime. And even if they did, Prime would be 2K easily.

And the price. Endless complaints about be price. It's not like they come out a month after PO, you've got time to save.


Can't ****ing wait.

Some company in HK called Locus. I took a chance, shipping was 200USD along. It was shipped in the brown shipper, but arrived better than any shipper I get from Sideshow .

I agree with everything you said too. I think a lot of people in the Transformer community just don't want to save up for these more expensive figures, and plop large lumps of money all at once.

This Ultimetal line is something you really need to experience in person to get the full effect. I need to do another video of all the other features it has. The video I posted was more of an un boxing and first impression.

Well at least both of us will continue with the Ultimetal line

 

[franpincho]

I understand that Ramjet is a retooled version of the MP11 Seekere mold. Does that mean that the original mold no longer exists? Will we ever get reissues of a figure like Skywarp?

I ask because SW's become prohibitively expensive on the aftermarket. If Hasbro were to issue its own version through TRU, that'd be a godsend but that wouldn't be possible without the original mold, no?

I'm sure it's somewhere...

Hasbro did Thundercracker, so there's always hope. But it will be a ***** to find, that's for sure.

I did get two MP-11 SW's, and I've been getting very tempting offers on what is essentially a rip off of a figure to begin with.

I really think the same will happen with Ramjet.

 

[YankeesFanboy]

I'm sure it's somewhere...

Hasbro did Thundercracker, so there's always hope. But it will be a ***** to find, that's for sure.

I did get two MP-11 SW's, and I've been getting very tempting offers on what is essentially a rip off of a figure to begin with.

I really think the same will happen with Ramjet.

Hasbro also did Starscream, so it gives me hope. It was hard to find for $60 so I paid about double. If I could do it all over again, I would've just gotten the Takara.

SW was a tough pill to swallow at $200 but a bargain considering some of the prices I've seen. I'd gladly pay the MSRP now. If there are KOs, I wonder if that will help bring prices down.

I'm also keeping tabs on MT's Howling Meteor and possible future 3P Seekers, that's always an option.

 

[lotus000]

MP Ratchet has just dropped in my POL over at Anime Express.

I dont have any other figures to ship him with. I have Optimus Primal on PO too, but dang its gonna be a long wait to ship them together.

 

[karamazov80]

Bummer. I know how it feels waiting, in order to save a few bucks. I did it with my last two HLJ shipments. Probably only saved about $10-15 each time, but hey, money saved is money earned!

 

[lotus000]

Bummer. I know how it feels waiting, in order to save a few bucks. I did it with my last two HLJ shipments. Probably only saved about $10-15 each time, but hey, money saved is money earned!

Yeah that's correct. Basically you pay 15.00 to ship a single figure EMS. If you ship two figures the price is still 15.00.

I already have Iron Hide in hand, so I know how Ratchet will feel for his transformation. That helps me with the wait, but dang I either need to buy something else that is in stock, or wait till October, or just suck it up and ship. I'm going to let it sit for now.

 

[thecorsair]

Beast Wars is 20 today!


Totally changing the look of Transformers was a pretty ballsy move but the toys were backed up with a cartoon that didn't suck and it's popularity seems to have stood the test of time.

As someone who knew nothing about the era until around a month ago it's been refreshing to go into an era of Transformers with no pre concieved notions of what it should be like and the figures of Rhinox, Rattrap, Waspinator and Blackarachnia that I got have been among the most enjoyable figures that I've bought in the last year as they're like nothing else I have.

I'm sceptical as to whether Takara's MP plans for the 20th Anniversary go beyond Optimus Primal but I expect they'll roll out some other reissues of original toys.

I wouldn't mind the original Primal and Megatron to go with the Generations BW figures I just got so I'd be tempted if they released a 2-pack along the lines of the 10th Anniversary set.

EDIT
Here's a link to a nice article on the show from TFW,
Happy 20th Birthday, Beast Wars! - Transformer World 2005 - TFW2005.COM

 

[karamazov80]

Yeah that's correct. Basically you pay 15.00 to ship a single figure EMS. If you ship two figures the price is still 15.00.

I already have Iron Hide in hand, so I know how Ratchet will feel for his transformation. That helps me with the wait, but dang I either need to buy something else that is in stock, or wait till October, or just suck it up and ship. I'm going to let it sit for now.

This was actually the first time I've shipped multiples from HLJ and noticed a pretty significant jump in price when adding an extra figure (I could estimate by adding one, then both to the cart and doing a shipping estimate). But then again, I've only ordered car-bots before now. Soundwave seems to cost much more. Still, only about a $10 increase to get the second figure, so I saved some.

 

[lotus000]

This was actually the first time I've shipped multiples from HLJ and noticed a pretty significant jump in price when adding an extra figure (I could estimate by adding one, then both to the cart and doing a shipping estimate). But then again, I've only ordered car-bots before now. Soundwave seems to cost much more. Still, only about a $10 increase to get the second figure, so I saved some.

I think AE is a little cheaper on shipping than HLJ. I was charged 44.00USD to ship Iron Hide, Ultra Magnus, and Shockwave. They came in a strong corrugated box with all of them bubble wrap. All minty mint. 44USD is a great price for 4 day shipping from Japan to US.

If I can wait till October then Ill let you know what they charge to ship Ratchet and Primal which are a little bigger than the car bots

 

[KumaStyle]

Got the review done for MakeToys' MTCM-04D Hi-Med

https://kumastyledesigns.com/toy-review-maketoys-mtcm-04d-hi-med/

Click the pic below to check it out:




Here's a few pics from it:

 

[thecorsair]

Recieved my XTransbots Beachcomber yesterday,


The only issue on mine in vehicle mode is that the right front wheel barely rolls. Everything tabs together securely and the alt mode looks decent. Paint apps are really nice,all the blues match nicely and they even painted the first aid kits on the back of the seats which was a nice touch.

The transformation is straightforward apart from the backpack and how the rollcage fits around it which is a pain in the butt as the clearances aren't great and part of the rollcage likes to come off although it was designed to do that rather than break.

Once it's done the backpack is nice and compact and you're left with a fantastic robot mode, no paint issues at all on mine and the joints are all good, not overly tight and in some areas is more posable than recent full size carbots.

It's also notable that XTB were able to do proper MP style hands and didn't resort to hollow forearms on a figure that stands barely taller than MP Bumblebee, which is a great bit of work from 539 Designs.

The birds are nicely painted and an amusing nod to the G1 cartoon scaling issues. The other accessories are a gold hand from "The Golden Lagoon" episode, a G1 toy face and a gun which I haven't used yet.

As with any XTB figure the QC has been inconsistent but I lucked out this time and he's a great addition to my 1985 Autobot lineup.

I don't like their Windcharger enough in robot mode to give that a go but I will be intrested to see how their Cliffjumper looks in robot mode.

 

[YankeesFanboy]

Nice pic.

If XTB's QC weren't so spotty, I'd definitely get this Beachcomber. So many cool little nods to both the toy and 'toon.

 

[Dave McFly]

getting my 3rd MP figure in the mail got a good deal on MP Lambor. I was always a fan of Swipe, I have a reissue G1 on my desk and the silver Corvette from ROTF, and I THINK I still have Alternators Swipe in his Viper design.

 

[Misterscruff]

Nice pic theCorsair, glad you got one with good QC. I really like the design of this one but the problems I had with Ollie put me off ordering. I have to use blu-tak under Ollie's feet just to get him to stand up!

 

[MagpieMad]

I've got XT Beachcomber too and the QC on mine was very good other than a hinge which took about 15 minutes to budge on the first transformation. Saw Ollie on sale a while back but all the horror stories scared me off. Plus I couldn't stand the character in the cartoon.

 

[thecorsair]

Nice pic.

If XTB's QC weren't so spotty, I'd definitely get this Beachcomber. So many cool little nods to both the toy and 'toon.

Thanks!

The guy that designs XTB's figures is very, very good, it's a shame that their factory lets the side down so consistently as they'd otherwise be in the top group of 3rd party companies.

Misterscruff,
Thanks!

I think XTB have definitely improved their build quality since Ollie, with Arkose the reported issues have for the most part been small things, the worst thing I've read of was one that was missing the yellow panel on the ab section but I think that person was either getting the part sent out or a new figure from their dealer so they weren't just stuck with a figure with a missing part.

The plastic quality feels nicer than on the previous XTB figure I bought ( Apollyon ) and there's a small bit of diecast ( feet & heel spurs ) which help the stability in robot mode.

MagpieMad,
The feet on mine took some moving initially as they were very tight, one of the side baskets also popped off the ball joint during transformation but that went back on easily enough.

 

[franpincho]

Just paid for my two Ratchets at AE, but decided to go with the "cheaper" shipping option this time. Having experienced Ironhide already, I am in no rush to get him. Now to impatiently wait until they put Inferno up for PO!

I also got done listing and snapping pictures of every single 3P item I have, as I'm now 100% sure that I'm going the official route.

I know the way the line is going is not everyone's cup of tea, but I've grown very fond of the whole cartoon accuracy of the latest releases. I do dig them a lot, and I hope they re-release everything that way, specially Wheeljack and Prime! I'm also selling my 1st run Red Alert.

Some 3P companies do exceptional work, specially FT and MT. I never had the chance to try out MMC, but I heard they are awesome too. Sadly (for me) none of them capture the whole accuracy that Takara is aiming for (not that they need to) so they just don't fit with my collection interests anymore. It sickens me that I will lose money on some of them (Sunsurge is sold out, so maybe not on him) but it is what it is.

I will hold onto GIGA's Guttur for two more months, and if they don't announce anything by then I'll let him go as well. I just don't think they can survive TBH.

With Inferno announced (sort of) Grapple is more than a given, and maybe, just maybe, they feel like Hoist should also be made......and Skids...... and Blaster......

 

[thecorsair]

MMC Backdraft (production version),






Not sure why the nozzle isn't fully extended on those Backdraft robot mode pics but even so the figure is looking spectacular. They've done a great job of making the robot arms look less obvious in vehicle mode and the robot mode is continuing the great Studio OX influenced aesthetic they established with Sphinx.

EDIT
Did a pic of my different Wheeljack figures together,


Earlier today I managed to find a complete Armordillo for £12.99 on ebay so I now have a vintage Beast Wars figure on the way