Jim
Thunderjet
Micromaster Backside Monitor
Now in glorious Ultra HD 4K
Posts: 4,669
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Post by Jim on Jan 24, 2020 9:03:32 GMT
Vroooooom
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Post by The Doctor on Jan 24, 2020 9:27:37 GMT
THUNDERWING.
-Ralph
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jan 24, 2020 10:48:31 GMT
Crossblades.
Thunderwing's a mess. Not quite a monster, like the 88 Pretenders, or a human. Somewhere between the two. A bit Orc ish. The head in particular "could be better" which starts a grand tradition of really rubbish Thunderwing heads.
LOVE the other two. Closest thing in 89 to full size Transformers, and as a bonus they open up to reveal an additional mini vehicle, which then can combine with the outer shell. Croissblades shaves it for me, but it's a narrow victory. Neither has been well used in fiction - Rhythms of Darkness! I'm looking at you - but they look fab toys.
Think I've owned Thunderwing and Crossblades, less sure about Vroom.
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Post by Fortmax2020 on Jan 24, 2020 11:35:57 GMT
Va va Vroom!
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The Huff
Thunderjet
Hufferlover
Posts: 4,099
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Post by The Huff on Jan 24, 2020 11:40:05 GMT
I've gone with Vroom. He pretty much sums up what the whole 1989 is about - absurdity! He is also the toy that stood out when I first see this catalogue of new toys. Tansforming Pretender shells really are the Elite Action Masters of the Pretenders line which makes them better but just goes against the whole point of the concept. Thunderwing and Crossblades might look better in a less silly way. Thunderwing (who could pass as a normal Transformer) also looses points because you have to remove the inner robot to transform the shell - something I feel shouldn't happen. All the others (including the Ultras) can do this.
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Post by Shockprowl on Jan 24, 2020 13:55:22 GMT
Gotta be Thunderwing here. I think he looks the business! As a concept the Mega Pretenders are a bit bonkers though.
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Jan 24, 2020 16:46:49 GMT
Thunderwing. The other two just look awful. What I dislike about Crossblades and Vroom is they are apparently supposed to look like humans in high-tech suits, but they don't. Vroom in particular looks like a robot with a human face grafted on. The other human Pretenders - Cloudburst, Pincher, Grimlock, etc. - pass muster as humans in elaborate suits of armour. And in the stories they can even remove the costumes and reveal giant humans inside. Yes, the shells compromise on articulation in order to hold robots inside, and the robots inside are poor, but they don't really compromise as to the design/look of the human shell. It looks like what it's supposed to look like. But Crossblades and Vroom look like Transformers, with flesh-coloured faces and eyeballs. There's no way anyone would think Vroom's blocky elbowless arms contain human arms. Thunderwing doesn't look like a great toy, but at least he doesn't look like he's trying and failing badly to look like a giant human. I don't blame Furman for keeping Crossblades in helicopter mode throughout 'Rhythms of Darkness'. I think that with the Mega-Pretenders they've lost sight of what Pretenders are supposed to be - namely a Transformer hiding inside something that doesn't look like a Transformer. If these are Pretenders, then Ultra Magnus is a Pretender, and Rumble is a Pretender when he's hiding inside Soundwave. And another thing, Crossblades has a silly name. Like Whirl and Blades, his rotors only have two piddly little blades and don't form a cross. Vortex's four rotor blades form a cross - it would make sense to call him Crossblades. But not this guy. To complement Vroom, perhaps they should have called him Whup-whup-whup or whatever noise a helicopter makes. Martin
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Jan 24, 2020 17:49:48 GMT
Thunderwing strength 8, the Autobots 6. Vroom most intellgent at 9, Thunderwing least with 7. Thunderwing speed 7, Autobots 5. (Vroom is 'a drag-racing daredevil'. Presumably not very high-speed races. Crossblades patrols headquarter perimeters with 'lightning speed'. Hmmm.) Thunderwing endurance 8, Autobots 6. (Presumably this is without the armour, which in Thunderwing's case is 'impenetrable' and 'power-enhancing' according to the blurb - maybe his strength and endurance are both 10 with the armour on.) Vroom has rank 7, the other two rank 6. (Though we know Thunderwing doesn't remain at rank 6!) The Autobots have courage 9, Thunderwing only 6. Maybe that's why he always stays in his impenetrable armour, except for that one brief moment in 'The Big Shutdown'. Crossblades has firepower 8, Thunderwing only 6, though his outer shell apparently increases this by 50%. Vroom has skill 10, the other two 9. Other points of note: Crossblades has a cloaking device that makes him invisible. Should've turned that on in 'Rhythms of Darkness'. Thunderwing turns into an 'interstellar jet' - this is consistent with the comics, which see him travel to Cybertron under his own power. And Vroom, like a true '80s hero, has DIGITAL FUEL GAUGES!!! Take that, Thunderwing! Martin
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Post by The Doctor on Jan 24, 2020 18:19:34 GMT
DIGITAL FUEL GAUGES.
I could be tempted to change my vote...
-Ralph
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Post by Shockprowl on Jan 24, 2020 21:21:14 GMT
No Doctor! Don't abandon me now!
THUNDERWING MUST TRIUMPH!
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Post by blueshift on Jan 24, 2020 21:31:32 GMT
VROOM, BABY!!!
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Post by blueshift on Jan 24, 2020 21:38:57 GMT
Vroom is SO EXCITING LOOKING. I've always wanted one ;_;
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Jan 24, 2020 21:43:28 GMT
I might be persuaded to re-evaluate my dismal opinion of Vroom if someone provides photographic evidence of another 1980s TF riding him in bike mode.
Martin
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Post by Shockprowl on Jan 24, 2020 21:48:48 GMT
CHALLENGE: SET.
(Edit: but not by me though, I think Vroom looks average at best and has a REALLLY STUPID name, but I'm just trying to insight bufffoonary...)
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jan 24, 2020 22:02:30 GMT
I might be persuaded to re-evaluate my dismal opinion of Vroom if someone provides photographic evidence of another 1980s TF riding him in bike mode. Martin Are there bonus points if the rider is Wreck-Gar?
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jan 24, 2020 22:05:38 GMT
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Jan 24, 2020 22:16:14 GMT
The more pics I see of Vroom in 'human' mode, the worse he gets.
They should've just made him a Pretender Vehicle bike and left it at that.
Martin
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The Huff
Thunderjet
Hufferlover
Posts: 4,099
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Post by The Huff on Jan 24, 2020 22:37:39 GMT
I might be persuaded to re-evaluate my dismal opinion of Vroom if someone provides photographic evidence of another 1980s TF riding him in bike mode. Martin Alas, Wreck Gar The Motorbike Riding Robot cannot do this.
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Jan 25, 2020 6:23:36 GMT
Heh heh.
Oh, which one to put in a fanfic...
Hmmm. But I don't like how obvious Vroom's arms are in bike mode.
Martin
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Post by Fortmax2020 on Jan 25, 2020 8:10:57 GMT
I'm sure you can come up with an in fiction explanation...
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Post by Llama God on Jan 25, 2020 8:12:01 GMT
I'm surprised to wake up and find that Thunderwing isn't thunderwing his way to victory already - the power of Marvel UK does not compel us all..!
But on the catalogue at least, he's by far the least interesting looking. It could well be the choice of background colour, but his own paint scheme looks flat and uninteresting. Vroom, on the other hand, stands out with his sleek-looking redness. Crossblades actually looks like he might be the most interesting toy, but alas his colours are still a little too sensible, so Vroom's the one.
And yeah, this whole concept is ridiculous. I love it.
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Post by blueshift on Jan 25, 2020 8:17:56 GMT
I'm surprised to wake up and find that Thunderwing isn't thunderwing his way to victory already - the power of Marvel UK does not compel us all..! But on the catalogue at least, he's by far the least interesting looking. It could well be the choice of background colour, but his own paint scheme looks flat and uninteresting. Vroom, on the other hand, stands out with his sleek-looking redness. Crossblades actually looks like he might be the most interesting toy, but alas his colours are still a little too sensible, so Vroom's the one. And yeah, this whole concept is ridiculous. I love it. This is a catalogue poll not a character poll! VROOM FOR THE WIN!!!!
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Post by Llama God on Jan 25, 2020 8:24:26 GMT
Oh, I know, I know. Which is what I always vote on, but sometimes you wonder if media portrayals will some impact... Not this time, you wannabe Matrix bearer!
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The Huff
Thunderjet
Hufferlover
Posts: 4,099
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Post by The Huff on Jan 25, 2020 15:30:34 GMT
How does that red part attach above his head? I cannot do this on my toy, but have always wanted to, as it adds to Vroom's Ram Man-ness.
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Post by Bogatan on Jan 25, 2020 16:28:14 GMT
I have no memory of Vrooms rubber coated armour, but I love it.
Anyway possible bias as Vroom was the one I had, but its the most fun.
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Post by The Doctor on Jan 25, 2020 17:34:13 GMT
I HAVE SWITCHED TO VROOM.
-Ralph
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Post by Shockprowl on Jan 25, 2020 18:05:13 GMT
NO, DOCTOR!
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The Huff
Thunderjet
Hufferlover
Posts: 4,099
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Post by The Huff on Jan 25, 2020 20:11:45 GMT
Demolition Derby THIS A-Holes!!!
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Post by Shockprowl on Jan 25, 2020 23:03:58 GMT
AÀARRRGGGHHH!!!!
STOP MAKING VROOM SO COMPELLING, HUFFERLOVER!!!!
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Post by The Doctor on Jan 25, 2020 23:11:56 GMT
DIGITAL FUEL GAUGES. -Ralph
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