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Post by Philip Ayres on Oct 11, 2013 7:43:49 GMT
It Time To Munch Metal!
Week 23: Grimlock
Your top 5 Grimlock toys please!
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Post by Shockprowl on Oct 11, 2013 9:58:33 GMT
I've only ever owned one Grimlock toy, the G1 original. And back then he was a revelation! A transforming dinosaur! Unheard of!
Masterpiece looks very impressive and I intend to seek one out eventually.
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Post by Bogatan on Oct 11, 2013 10:25:19 GMT
Is this were I admit I think Energon Grimlock is fab and then am hounded from the fandom?
Okay I've never owned it. I tried to buy it at AA a few years ago and because the seller liked me, (or ToyFu) he told me not to buy it. But dammit I want him and Swoop.
So ignoring that Grimlock. 5. FOC - Suffers from a really terrible Dino mode, but the robot mode is a fantastic update of the original. It's a great example of why the new plastic doesnt bug as it does some. In dino mode it feels cheap, but in robot mode it doesn't. It isn't the plastic, its the design, if the design works you only barely notice that the plastic feels different.
4. Beast Wars Grimlock - Early victim of GPS, but the only G1 character worthy of direct transfer to the world of Beast Wars after Hasbro adopted the tv shows back story. I like most of the early Beast Wars deluxe toys, but the Dinobot mould is very neat.
3. g1/g2 - A design classic and after finally picking up his G2 buddies I now really want G2 Grimlock.
2. Actionmaster - does this need explanation.
1. Masterpiece - has to be all the good stuff of the original but bigger and improved proportions.
I like the pretender a lot too and the HOC PVC. In fact the only one I dont much like is the classic which I can only find bearable by thinking of it as classic of Pretender Grimlock, even then not great.
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Post by Benn on Oct 11, 2013 11:27:34 GMT
1. Masterpiece ~ With the crown! This guy is most triumphant. 2. G1 ~ How could it not? Chunky and fun. 3. WST ~ The same, only Micromaster size! WIN! 4. Classics ~ I actually like this version, he's fun, posable and the headsculpt is mean. 5. G1 ActionMaster ~ Again, he's just fun with a nice head.
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Stomski
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Post by Stomski on Oct 11, 2013 12:11:43 GMT
Curious choice - there's not much diversity here and some not very good molds.
1. MP 2. G1 3. WST (3rd Party mini-G1) 4. Animated 5. Fall of Cybertron (I guess, not tried one out)
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Post by Philip Ayres on Oct 11, 2013 17:30:17 GMT
Curious choice - there's not much diversity here and some not very good molds. Yeah but he's a major name and, if you've been keeping track, doing Grimlock completes the toys that were done as Classic Pretenders in characters week.
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Post by legios on Oct 13, 2013 15:03:26 GMT
Hmmm, proceeding on the assumption that we are talking about toys that represent the The Transformers character Grimlock, rather than toys called Grimlock, Karl shifts the bottom end of his list somewhat EDIT: And changes it all back following clarification of the rules:-
Honourable Mention:- Actionmaster Grimlock: He has a Lawnmower style Anti-armour platform, for mowing down APC's. He also still maintains the chunky look that I want from my Grimlock's.
5) RID Grimlock: Not the best member of the Build Team, with some real issues with stability on his feet on any of my shelves. But part of something that feels appropriate for Autobots - a construction team - and I like the ability to have the back hoe over the head, it gives the feel that he can use it as a melee weapon against the Decepticon menace whilst still keeping his hands free. The colours are really nice as well. 4) Beast Wars Grimlock; Yes, he's a Dinobot repaint, yes he is a raptor and I don't have much affection for raptors. But it is still a fun toy to play with, and comes with some good fun daft weapons. 3) WST Grimlock - The original Grimlock design, just made smaller but retaining all the same engineering decisions. Comes with the weapons made iconic by his media appearances. Job done (yes, I know, technically ineligible, but I am making an exception because he is literally a copy of an existing official design and marketed without even the thinnest of pretence of not being so.) 2) Masterpiece Grimlock: Adopts the "if it ain't broken don't fix it" approach to updating Grimlock as a toy. Deploys modern technology to add some more articulation and keep him SOTA but still retains everything that was great about the original toy. Probably my favourite Masterpiece so far as being a pure toy goes. Just wish he had the shotgun to complete the original trifecta of weapons 1) 1984, The Transformers Grimlock - The revered ancestor, Diaclonus Rex, lightning in a bottle. The original Grimlock is something that is genuinely startling. A solidly engineered toy, with oodles of play value. He is a Robot Dinosaur - combining two things kids tend to love into a single package. He's fun in both modes. The mighty jaws of dinosaur mode were used to grab hold of Decepticons many times so Grimlock could munch metal (or so that Galvatron could lift him up on the end of his hand and pummel him senseless for his temerity...). In humanoid mode he had so many fun weapons - a sword, double barrelled blaster, dinosaur claws that could fold down in an emergency like weird nekode, a "plasma-shell Shotgun" whatever that was... Immensely fun toy which can still absolutely hold its own today.
Karl
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Post by Philip Ayres on Oct 13, 2013 15:57:47 GMT
Hmmm, proceeding on the assumption that we are talking about toys that represent the The Transformers character Grimlock, rather than toys called Grimlock, Karl shifts the bottom end of his list somewhat:- As ever either are applicable so if you want to use the RID Backhoe feel free!
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Post by Philip Ayres on Oct 13, 2013 19:13:20 GMT
5) AM GrimlockFab figure, filled with character, and bonus points for including a gun which resembles the original. I just wish he could stand up straight on the accesory's treads and hold the cannon's handles. 4) BW GrimlockYes it's a GPS Nightmare now. But back then it was desirable non UK released toy. Then TRU Christmas 1998 happened and we got imported stock. You had to be there. Decent articulation, a sword and a head that resembles the original. 3) Pretender GrimlockYes it's smaller and simpler than the original but the dinosaur and the robot capture both modes while the shell has something of the character in the design. 2) MP GrimlockTake the original grimlock. Upsize. Upgrade the articulation. Job done. Loses out cos my tail snapped. 1) G1 GrimlockThe original and the best. 2 perfect modes, great articulation, super weapons. A lot of TFs success in the UK are down to this toy and his comrades.
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Post by The Doctor on Oct 14, 2013 20:05:38 GMT
The only true Grimlock is Action Master Grimlock, because he comes with a ride-on lawnmower.
-Ralph
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Post by Philip Ayres on Oct 18, 2013 7:55:35 GMT
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Post by The Doctor on Oct 18, 2013 8:27:45 GMT
Big Optimus Prime with the trailer, deluze sized Optimus Prime, the basic sized Autobot jeep chap with the red Energon axe,the basic white evil flying thing, Scorponock.
Go me!
-Ralph
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Post by Philip Ayres on Oct 18, 2013 12:30:16 GMT
Big Optimus Prime with the trailer, deluze sized Optimus Prime, the basic sized Autobot jeep chap with the red Energon axe,the basic white evil flying thing, Scorponock. Go me! -Ralph Well done. Strongarm and Divebomb!
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Post by The Doctor on Oct 18, 2013 12:48:25 GMT
Great toys. I generally loved the basics in Energon. The bigger toys not so much. Prime with trailer is very under-rated. Pretty much the last gasp of mainline Transformers giving their Prime toy a base mode. Sure, there were collector line Primes with bases thereafter but not for the kids.
-Ralph
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Post by Bogatan on Oct 18, 2013 14:37:38 GMT
The only true Grimlock is Action Master Grimlock, because he comes with a ride-on lawnmower. -Ralph Well thats inspired my next Vaction Masters picture when ever I get back to them.
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Post by Bogatan on Oct 18, 2013 15:02:10 GMT
Energon, the line that nearly ended my interest in Transformers. Almost a decade on my view might be softening, but this wont be easy. I've come to like quite a few moulds thanks to later repaints, but generally dont like the original Energon colours at all. Like Ralph I like most of the scouts to some extent and for the second week running out of fear and the fact I have never handled either I wont put Grimlock and Swoop.
5. Tow Line - Decent toy, but bland. Virtually the only powerlinxing toy that isnt utterly ruined by the gimmick. But still took Botcon to show Hasbro what was obvious to everyone else. Wouldnt surprise me to find the popularity of the Ironhide and Ratchet repaints helped towards the start of the classics line.
4. Arcee, shock and horror as Hasbro dare to release a main line transformer with pink parts.
3. Energon Starscream stolen right out of the G2 design book and all the better for it. Did get a G1 repaint (though was one of the few that didn't need it) and then came the even better Skyquake and Leozack.
2. Landquake - It's an odd toy that has had two dull colour schemes and this one which is okay, but the mould is great loads of play value. Botcon should have repainted it as Thunderclash which would have been fantastic and potentially raised the quality of the whole set.
1. Leader class Prime - screw the haters this is a fun toy. The only negative for me is that the colours arent so good, boring as it maybe to some I wish it had been in more traditional. The combined form has really good G1 Prime cartoon proportions and G1 colours with the combiner limbs coloured in pairs, one set of red arms and one of blue legs would have looked great.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Oct 18, 2013 17:46:55 GMT
All that Op needs is the right colour scheme: two limbs in red, two in blue/black, proper Prime coloured body Unfortunately Hasbro haven't cracked it yet and closest attempt didn't get released.
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Post by blueshift on Oct 18, 2013 17:52:23 GMT
All that Op needs is the right colour scheme: two limbs in red, two in blue/black, proper Prime coloured body Unfortunately Hasbro haven't cracked it yet and closest attempt didn't get released. I was very underwhelmed by that Prime toy, and I am usually a fan of the underdog. The basic figure looks very aesthetically unappealing (there was no need for this, the deluxe looks a lot better, especially as you can move the thigh pieces down to the calves to give him bulky legs). The drones dont' really do much though. If they transformed into separate robots, or had actual, interesting gimmicks, then that would be another story. But they don't (apart from the spinning drill on).
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Post by Bogatan on Oct 18, 2013 21:15:04 GMT
Oh agreed like most of the energon line they didn't get it right or could have done it so much better, buts its a toy I would have played with loads. If theres one basic design from Energon that got the same treatment as Armada Starscream is getting in Generations, it would be Prime.
An update in the Powercore line would also have been interesting.
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Jim
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Post by Jim on Oct 18, 2013 22:52:03 GMT
It's catch-up time again! Blimey, I owned fewer from this year than I thought. 1. Ironworks - love the idea of Micromaster bases, love construction-themed Transformers, and this one's a beaut. 2. Race Car Patrol - all good moulds with personality. 3. Grimlock - by default, I don't have much affection for Pretender Grimlock TBH. He's okay. That I owned as an adult (have since sold both, as it happens): 4. Octopunch - great shell, great inner robot (especially as crab). 5. Vroom - lots of playability and great design. Bubbling under: Micromaster Rescue Patrol and Battle Patrol, Greasepit. There's a whole load here I've never set eyes or hands on, but if I had I expect Thunderwing and Crossblades would rate highly. -Jim
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Jim
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Post by Jim on Oct 18, 2013 22:54:40 GMT
Week 23: Grimlock
1. G1 - a classic. 2. Masterpiece - a classic updated magnificently, though can be a bit floppy. 3. Action Master - he's an Action Master! 4. Pretender - he's a very bland Pretender. 5. ... does RID count?
-Jim
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Jim
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Post by Jim on Oct 18, 2013 23:05:04 GMT
Week 24: Energon/Superlink
Tough one.
1. Starscream - beautiful toy. 2. Tow Line - loads of fun. 3. Battle Ravage - first one I got, from TRU Times Square just after Energon was released. Memories! Also, pretty cool. Needs a BotCon Catilla repaint and reheading. 4. Snowcat - one of my favourite childhood Action Force toys as a Transformer! That can ski! 5. Arcee - Arcee at last!
Lots bubbling under, and looking down that list lots that I wouldn't mind picking up some time. There are also a good few moulds in there that I prefer later repaints of (e.g BotCon Doublepunch)
-Jim
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Post by Shockprowl on Oct 20, 2013 11:30:55 GMT
I can't put them into order, but I have several favorites from the Energon line.
Although he looks more like Mirage, Energon Prowl is a lot of fun. I even found a third 'space-ship' mode in him! The black and white repaint is fab.
Tow-line. Great figure. I'd kill for the Ratchet and Ironhide repaints, as I hate the 'Classics' figures.
Ravage is a lot of fun.
Snowcat was Soundwave for a while in my collection.
Starscream's outstanding and should have had the obvious repaints.
Megatron is a brilliant Galvatron. I preffer the grey version.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Oct 20, 2013 15:10:07 GMT
Week 24: EnergonBubbling under: Cliffjumper & Beachcomber, Quickstrike (fabulous repaint under distributed), Sharkticon, Slugslinger, Sky Blast, Divebomb, Shockwave (Best modern Shockwave) & Battle Ravage5) DownshiftA *REALLY* good G1 Wheeljack (so needed the proper name) that made me very wary of buying another in the classics range. 4) ScorponokFab modern Scorponok with some construction elements thrown in. I seem to recall it was meant to have some form of Construction vehicle mode early on. 3) StarscreamEveryone's raved about this already. It is really good. Clean up the battle damage and repaint the **** out of it! 2) RodimusEveryone knows G1 Rodimus Prime's vehicle mode is rubbbish. So here they give him a decent one. Great toy! 1) StrongarmSmall sized TF perfection. It deserves to have had as many repaints as it had. Truly great. I'd remold the peg at the back into a Minicon socket if I could but you can have a lot of fun using new Arms Microns with him.
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Post by The Doctor on Oct 20, 2013 16:22:02 GMT
Hmmm. I liked that Rodimus at the time but I don't think it's aged well at all!
-Ralph
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Post by Shockprowl on Oct 20, 2013 22:29:31 GMT
Crap-bags! I forgot Scorponok!!! Fab figure. Still have mine.
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Jim
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Post by Jim on Oct 21, 2013 22:31:30 GMT
Yes, they gave Rodimus a decent vehicle mode but forgot about a decent robot mode! A shame, because it's a really neat character model and I wouldn't mind them having another crack at it ala the upcoming Armada Starscream.
Thinking about it, I find this consistent with G1 Rodimus Prime whose vehicle mode I really liked but was a slightly off-looking robot.
-Jim
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Post by legios on Oct 22, 2013 17:48:03 GMT
Week 24: Energon
I suspect I may end up recapitulating a lot of what other folk have said. But for the record... Here. We. Go!
Bubbling under - Optimus Prime - great Super-robot-esque Prime, I like the idea of the combining with rescue vehicles. Slugslinger - like the Airazor version. Uch more, but the original is still good. Signal Flare - a mazer tank, really? Where the Autobots expecting to tangle with Battra or something?
5) Sharkticon:-It's a shark spaceship, with a Yamato style bridge and gun turrets. And the moment you think "at least it hasn't got a wave motion gun" two. Sponsons pop out the side aiming to great big cannon at you. The humanoid mode is good too - and can do a wonderful "hands on hips" pose. 4) Skyblast: in his humanoid form a homage to the Skyfire animation model, and with a fighter mode which, whether deliberately or accidentally, shares a lot of design cues with my favourite Valkyries from Macross II. Also, looks superb in that red and white colour scheme. 3)Starscream: Fantastic toy, great fighter mode, wonderful transformation schema and a nicely lean looking humanoid mode. The accessories are great too -a chunky rifle, and a nice looking single-edged sword. Even better the weapons combine to make a Naginata (which does mean that Starscream is one of the few Transformers one could legitametly say fights like a girl...) 2) Divebomb: wonderful bird mode, great humanoid mode with so much fun play-value. 1) Strongarm: Great vehicle mode. Feels chunky even though it was a basic. Really good solid looking humanoid mode. Come with a big gun for vehicle mode which becomes a massive great axe for humanoid. They had this mold available and Takara hung the Roadbuster name on Ironhide. For shame, for shame.
Karl
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Post by Philip Ayres on Oct 25, 2013 11:51:37 GMT
Week 25: Headmasters
Your top 5 Headmasters toys please!
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Stomski
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Post by Stomski on Oct 25, 2013 14:58:58 GMT
Does Leader Animated Bulkhead with Headmaster count?
Hard Head - The only headmaster I remember playing with as a child, plus there's something about quad tracks on a tank.
Fort Max - I've only experienced the RiD reissue, but this is really something. Plenty of play features and the fact that it's a headmaster with a headmaster is such a great touch.
Skull Cruncher - what glorious purple and green colours!
And I have a thing for the Horrorcons - although their robot & animal modes suffer due to the triple changer nature, the fact the headmaster can be used as two heads is a great touch, and their alt modes are quite spiffy.
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