Transformers should be Parts-Formers?

[dyrl]

Ok ... So I just came up with this idea.... namely - Transformers need to be parts-formers.

That is to say - I personally would love it if these things could perfectly represent the G1 cartoon line art (which basically means - the Marvel comics line art) ... But no matter how great the Masterpiece line or not matter how nifty the Classics/Henkei - it's always a re-design/re-interpretation that has nothing to do with the line art.

I would be happy to just have Ironhide look like Ironhide - period. No tweaks, no "updated" - nothing. Just take what is seen in Transformers Universe issues 1-4 - and give me those as the Transformers toys.

Of course - this leaves a problem: namely ... how could they possibly Transformer then?

Well - the answer - for me - is to make them parts formers. For example Ironhide - he could have the van bonnet/front - and you just take off his arms and take off his legs and take off his back and attach a van to it.

Or something like that.

It's not transformation - I know. But these things are otherwise impossible to do correctly - and I'm really tied to their visual representation in the cartoons/comics and not to some kind of re-imaging.

Sadly, I know this is never going to happen because Transfromers have gone through a zillion permutations and nobody is ever going to produce a detailed line of parts-forming TFs from G1.

That said - they could make a couple. Make them just like the Soul of Chogokin parts forming super robots, or Yamato's GNU-Hagane line, which also features parts forming. Put in playful fun accessories.

After all - these ARE super robots. They are not real robots.

The problem, though, is that most super robot shows feature ONE super robot - and maybe some villain robots, but mostly aliens.

Transformers features THOUSANDS of super robots, so it's impossible to put the same care and attention into them that they need.

Like with Getter Robot or Zambot three, you just need to focus on...well...Getter Robot and Zambot three. There are no other main robot characters to speak of. Instead - what we have ONE main robot - so you can really make a lovely beautiful piece... With Transformers - that would be very hard to do...

So...um...I guess I just explained why my idea is pointless...still - it would be nice to imagine it?

Or not?

Pete

[primenova]

If Hasbro did something like this it could also open up new toy combinations too. Would be like Lego.

[Deleted]

It's an interesting idea but if a cartoon or comic book was ever made of these 'parts-formers' it wouldn't catch on - especially in todays world. Back in the 80's we had stacks of toylines that were made into cartoons but only certain ones caught on before they were dropped. M.A.S.K and Centurions are two such examples that worked well as a toy for a while before the novelty of attaching or detaching parts from the toys wore off. The cartoons of these two also got a bit stale after a short while because of the nature of the toy the cartoons soon became nothing more than a glorified toy commercial.

[dyrl]

Yeah...well - you don't need to make a cartoon or a comic books about Part-formers. Part-former is just a phrase that tells you how the thing Transformers...I mean, G1 Omega Supreme was a part-former.

The idea is to just make a toy that looks good in both modes, forgo the actual transformation and make it parts-swapping instead

Pete

[Deleted]

Although I'm not likely to warm to such an idea in a hurry it has been done many times before in toys to keep it going. Centurions were just toy figures with parts that could be placed on themselves and, to a certain extent I guess that Mr Potato Head is also such a toy.

[blueshift]

Parts swapping is evil Part of the joy of Transformers is the complex engineering that goes into moving from one mode to the other!

[Bogatan]

You only have to look at Animated to know that if the hasbro designers wanted to do a line that was based on the animation models and transformed they could.

Andy

[dyrl]

Yeah but - with Animated the toy line and the designs were developed hand in hand - and actually, Energon and Cybertron also feature the animation models being the same as the toys.

That's not the problem

The problem is G1 - the line I'm interesteded in. I would like figures that look like the animation models drawn by Marvel Comics on the basis of the Diaclone line. And of course these figures couldn't possibly actually transform.

Unless they were parts formers - I think. Maybe...

Pete

[The Doctor]

We already have animation model TF's. They're called Action Masters.

-Ralph

[dyrl]

Yeah - but they don't transform. I mean - technically the best poseable animation model TFs were the Mega PVCs. I prefered them to the Revoltechs because the Revoltechs were based on Dreamwave designs - which were not good. The PVCs were very nice animation-model wise.

So - my suggestion is to take those and use partsforming to make them turn into their alternate modes.

Pete

[The Doctor]

They do transform. In our hearts and in our minds.

-Ralph

[dyrl]

Very well put. That's why I like Soul of Chogokin - it takes the soul of the robot and makes it into a toy. We need to take the soul of every Transformer - individually - and make it into a super robot partsforming toy ....where appropriate

Pete

[Bogatan]

Well yes, but the animated animation models are more extreme than the G1 counterparts, but they both transform into quite similar vehicle forms. That the animated toys achieve what they do I think its well within the capacity of Hasbro/Tomtak to do the G1 figures.

Take Animated Ratchet, square off the limbs and make it a flat nosed van and it is G1 Ratchet or Ironhide animation model in both modes. Otherw would be less simple I admit.

Andy

[dyrl]

I think I've gone and started another "Pete grumbles about Transformers" thread. It's just that what with all the thousand of Transformers - it's so hard for me to settle on something that'll make me happy. There are shortcomings in every line...

I guess I don't complain this much about other franchises because really - most super robot shows have ONE top quality toy made - and that's it. You either own it or you don't, and if you do, it's not like there's seventeen other versions out there to compare it to...

I just wish TF was more standardized and I started wondering what it would look like if Bandai, rather than Takara-Tomy, did Transformers- put them in the Soul of Chogokin line...or...not really "them" - they'd just do one I suppose...Optimus Prime...

Pete

[primenova]

If you wnat to see part formers - then pick up the knockoff RID car borthers for about £4 each - you get X-brawn, Prowl or Sideburn - but you have to fit them together when you transform them.

[Deleted]

You could also get a Poundland KO. They come packaged in about five separate parts - they're not supposed to but they do!