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Post by The Doctor on Nov 16, 2013 12:19:37 GMT
I loved the idea of them but went off them quite quickly. Played with Nick's. don't think I actually bought any.
-Ralph
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kayevcee
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Post by kayevcee on Nov 17, 2013 13:26:45 GMT
Yeah, they were okay. I still like the '07 leader class Optimus Prime. It was complex but not over-complex and looked good in both modes. The '09 version was a much better representation of the onscreen model, but a much worse toy.
Nobody else really stands out. Leader Ironhide was pretty good.
1) Leader Ironhide 2) Leader (07) Optimus Prime 3-5) Eh.
-Nick
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Post by Bogatan on Nov 17, 2013 20:20:06 GMT
I've noticed my opinion change, usually for the positive about the first movie toys. Partly as a result of seeing how badly they could be done with DOTM, partly because the bay aesthetic no longer feels like a radical departure from what Transformers are.
Elements of that look have crept into the classics line with Bludgeon, Jazz and Brawn amongst many others and since 2007 Animated and Prime (to a lesser extent) have pushed even further away from the traditional visual than Bay.
I still don't always like the face designs but otherwise I'm now quite comfortable with the Bay look. So top 5. Honestly the numbers are meaningless, I have can't say I have an absolute favourite.
5. Preview Protoform Optimus Prime - I had the leader version here till I remembered this chap, basically a Transformers Rocklord. The robot mode has style.
4. Wonderfest Arcee - The head is the most terrifying thing ever attached to a Transformer, but the mould is otherwise one of the best and then Wonderfest was kind enough to do it up in G1 colours.
3. Premium Ratchet - I don't understand the dislike of this mould, it's big and chunky and poseable. And it's green.
2. Premium Blackout/Evac - Its a great mould and with just a different head and pair of hands goes from evil Decepticon to heroic Autobot. The Premium version of Blackout is darker and adds a level of detail that was lacking first time around. Evac on the other hands is so bright and shiny and has a little lifeboat.
1. Wreckage - As Phil said, it's just a proper Transformer, looks fantastic in both modes, has cool built in weapons, even the head sculpt is great. A real shame it seems to be generally overlooked. The Bludgeon repaint works well too.
Bubbling under: So many Vardia Starscream - the closest Starscream repaint to AMTC since AMTC.
Leader Class Optimus Prime - I dont have the premium version but when I saw it in shops I liked it. Ended up painting a standard version with lots of silver paint, effect might not be the same, but it works. I can't say it's as good as the ROTF version but it's still a more than solid first go at a tricky new look. Nightwatch Prime is a great version also.
Japanese transforming DVD case and Target transforming giftcard.
Leaderclass Brawl
Non movie mould, movie repaints Unlike Phil my list is pretty much the Walmart exclusive list. Elita 1 Breakaway Grindcore Big Daddy Fracture
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Post by Shockprowl on Nov 18, 2013 9:52:28 GMT
First Bay movie figs, struggling for a top 5. I got the movie figure bug for after the second film. Got over the bug I think after the third movie, and sold on almost all my movie figs, keeping only a few. There were some fun toys in there though defo. Ok, let's see...
5 Voyager Optimus Prime. Nice powerful feeling Optimus. A good size. He had many a battle with the voyager Megatron figure from the second movie.
4 Barricade. One of the first I got. I found him nice and tough looking, Frenzy was a nice touch, but they should have given him a working cutting weapon jobby.
3 Concept Bumblebee. A very accurate movie style BB.
2 Fast Action Battlers Rachet. In my opinion, not as too-large as the voyager, but an important smidge taller that a delux. A great simple transformation. Fab toy. One of the very few Movie-verse figs I've kept hold of. Think Piglet's got him somewhere actually.
Joint 1 Leader Brawl. Great huge powerful figure. Lots of fun this this figure. It was hard to sell mine on, but I got more for it than I payed to he did me proud 'till the end!
Joint 1 Deluxe Bonecrusher. I love this figure. Always have. Don't really know why. I think he's refreshingly alien and weird looking. Still got mine. I wish they'd done a leader size figure.
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Post by legios on Nov 18, 2013 20:31:29 GMT
This is an... interesting one... I had a number of the movie toys at one time, but they have tended to be first up against the wall when culls have come around and I haven't really felt like I have missed them. That said there are one or two diamonds in the rough, and the line got bulked out with some repaints of moulds from other lines (and the exact wording is things released as part of the Movie line, not specifying new moulds... That is my weasel wording and I am sticking to it.) Week 28: Bay Movie 1 toys
Honorable Mentions - Skyblast and Air Raid, trying to establish which was the better paint scheme they took themselves both out of contention. Hard-Top - always liked him, but he just didn't make the grade (and as a Decepticon sniper he doesn't really want to be out in the open anyway...) Stockade - Nice toy, didn't carry any particular "movie" associations for me which works in his favour, but in the end he got shoved off the bottom end by Wreckage when the latter was evicted from his slot.
5) Wreckage - A nice design, which almost feels like it would fit into a less stylised version of Beast Machines. At the time the choice of melee weapon for the design was surprising and a bit different to the norm - since then we have had quite a few Transformers looking east for inspiration there but Wreckage was a bit ahead of the curve. He also had the arm articulation to make it seem like he could effectively use his weapons. The Arctic/Urban camo colour scheme was rather nice too.
4) Clocker - nice repaint of the Skids/Clocker mould which I had rather liked the first time around. Very reminiscent of the original Skids and works well on that mould
3) Fracture - The classics Mirage mould is great, long and lean, with a very distinctive look. This new colour scheme absolutely sells it as a completely different character. The fact that it is a homage to Crasher is just icing on the cake really.
2) Big Daddy - A Micromaster homage, something I never really saw coming. Again a new colour scheme which utterly transforms an existing scheme, and really sells a sense of character. (I can't shake the idea that Big Daddy talks an awful lot like Huggy Bear ...)
1) Breakawy - Lovely reuse of the Getaway colour palette, on a cracking toy. I've owned this about four or five times over the years, every time it being one that I reluctantly give up due to space reasons. This is. I reckon, tied with the original Excillion/Hot Shot blue scheme for best version of this toy.
Karl
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Post by Philip Ayres on Nov 18, 2013 20:41:20 GMT
This is an... interesting one... I had a number of the movie toys at one time, but they have tended to be first up against the wall when culls have come around and I haven't really felt like I have missed them. That said there are one or two diamonds in the rough, and the line got bulked out with some repaints of moulds from other lines (and the exact wording is things released as part of the Movie line, not specifying new moulds... That is my weasel wording and I am sticking to it.) I chose the wording quite specifically...... And then surprises myself by finding five actual movie line toys I liked, albeit most of which weren't in the movie itself.
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Post by legios on Nov 19, 2013 18:54:35 GMT
Week 8: Pre-Ten-Dah!
5) Starscream
4) Grimlock - "Me Grimlock say Watergate. Aroooo!" A decent fun little Grimlock toy, with an outer shell that appears to be Battle Armour Nixon. Great fun
3) Bludgeon - Outer shell is great - a skeleton in Great Armour. The transformer inside has a really good tank mode, and a decent Humanoid mode.
2) Chainclaw - Pretty much the same deal as Carnivac but the outer shell is a bear, and bears are great.
1) Carnivac - the one Pretender I have played with extensively. The outer shell may be fixed pose, but it looks suitably ferocious. The actual Transformer inside is pretty fun as well.
Karl
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Post by Philip Ayres on Nov 21, 2013 16:14:55 GMT
We've got a Kaptaintastic choice for you all this week.....
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Post by legios on Nov 21, 2013 18:25:02 GMT
I wait with great anticipation.
Karl
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Post by The Doctor on Nov 21, 2013 19:38:45 GMT
Is it to do with planes?
-Ralph
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Post by Philip Ayres on Nov 21, 2013 23:03:36 GMT
Flying vehicle modes of some description may be involved..
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Post by Philip Ayres on Nov 22, 2013 7:28:00 GMT
Week 29: Helicopters
Your top 5 Transformer toys with a helicopter mode.
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Stomski
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Post by Stomski on Nov 22, 2013 10:26:11 GMT
G1 Protectorbot Blades - Got it as a boy and used to enjoy landing it on Metroplex. Somehow seems a more interesting mold than Vortex, I think due to having landing skids. DotM Cyberverse Commander Blackout - So impressed with this figure! Great interesting transformation for such a little guy, and he comes with a targetmaster, amazing! Animated Leader Megatron - Big bold and full of character. A shame his legs look a little stunted. Generations Springer - Not actually had a go with it, but it looks fantastic in all 3 modes. G1 Springer - The original G1... The only real failing I think is the cockpit Armada Minicon Makeshift - Triple changer minicon, the way the helicopter blades make the fingers is quite interesting, plus the weapon mode looks really interesting.
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Post by legios on Nov 22, 2013 14:01:32 GMT
Point of clarification Phil - are we sticking strictly to helicopters or am I allowed ducted fan craft(NuSandstorm) and tilt-rotors? I've two different lists in mind depending on what is eligible.
Karl
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Post by Philip Ayres on Nov 22, 2013 15:09:17 GMT
I think both of those fall within the broad definition of helicopters.
We of course need to see which other options would have made your list otherwise!
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Post by Philip Ayres on Nov 24, 2013 20:05:26 GMT
Very, VERY hard one this. Honourable mentions: BM Obsidian superb basic, Armada Powerlinx Cyclonus lovely homage on a great mould but bad hands, Movie Incinerator, superb toy but even worse hands and Spinister and his dual Targetmaster fun 5) TomahawkSuperb deluxe. Wish I had the repaints. Clip and bar fun 4) DOTM SkyhammerReally, really good in both modes with a decent weapon. Great with normal TFS 3) Energon QuickstrikeLOVE this red repaint, makes the mould sing. Scary prices now. 2) Universe WhirlThe 92 chopper mould is a classic. I went Whirl because it's the only version I've owned. It's very good but could have been even better with a little minicon port remoulding 1) HighbrowBrilliant. A helicopter, with a pilot, who fits in the chopper's cockpit. LOVE.
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Post by The Doctor on Nov 24, 2013 20:53:06 GMT
Minicon helipcopter man, the helicopter dude who got shot in Last Stand of the Wreckers, that big black Gobots helicopter I had as a kid, micromaster helicopter good guy and another one.
-Ralph
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Post by Philip Ayres on Nov 24, 2013 21:49:31 GMT
The red Minicons which comes with Hotshot or the Police one in the Emergency team.
Gobots don't count.
LSotW was Rotorstorm
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Jim
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Post by Jim on Nov 24, 2013 23:16:16 GMT
Week 29: HelicoptersYour top 5 Transformer toys with a helicopter mode. 1. Armada Cyclonus - lots of fun features, just a damn good toy. 2. Generations Springer - all round fantastic, the triple change engineering is amazing and he really looks the part. A Masterpiece in all but name. 3. Tracer - one of my favourite Micromasters as a kid, interesting helicopter and arm-mountable blades. 4. Blazemaster - see (3). 5. Tomahawk - yet another great non-movie, movie-line toy. I have owned all four versions but still think the original is best (though Spinister is close). Honourable mentions to Skyhopper, DOTM Whirl (not great helicopter, but awesome robot mode), Evac, PCC Searchlight. -Jim
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Post by Benn on Nov 25, 2013 18:43:47 GMT
Okay, Whirlichopters.
1. Blades - Had this guy a looong tome, and he's so much fun. And the huge guns on the legs don't hurt. 2. Rotorstorm - Mostly because of LSOTW, but he is a fun looking toy as well. And a swooshy future-copter to boot. 3. Sandstorm - the best triple changer for me, I think. Three distinct and fun modes. 4. Blazemaster - little micromaster copters are fun. And he chops up folks with his rotors! Well when I was a kid he did, anyways... 5. ROTF Springer - Again, small toy, lots of fun, arm mounted rotors for maximum choppablity.
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kayevcee
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Post by kayevcee on Nov 25, 2013 19:26:09 GMT
that big black Gobots helicopter I had as a kid Of course Gobots count! The big black Gobots helicopter was Warpath! Apparently you had the American version, as the European version was olive green. Maybe it was a grey import. -Nick
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Post by Philip Ayres on Nov 25, 2013 22:55:40 GMT
The only Gobots which count for the purposes of these top 5s are the G2 ones!
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Post by legios on Nov 26, 2013 20:13:10 GMT
I think both of those fall within the broad definition of helicopters. I shall do a "broad definition" list and a "By. The. Book, Lieutenant Saavik" one as well for comparison... List 1: The expanded definition Honorable Mentions: Protectobot Blades, Spinister, BM Obsidian, Galaxy Force Live Convoy, Armada Cyclonus (two helicopter types in a value pack) 5. Makeshift - lovely little rendition of the V-22 Osprey - looks great sitting on Tidal Wave's carrier deck, and is in fairly close to the correct colours as well. Turns into a great Mini-con weapon, which looks fantastic on anything with a shoulder or wrist Mini-con Point. The humanoid mode is great - stocky and tough-looking with enormous three-tined claws which I can't decide whether they are Cybertronian Jaws of Life, or if he was some sort of brutal arena fighter before the War. 4. Whirl - Sure, it is showing its age badly in design terms, but for a design from 1983 I actually quite like a lot of what it tries to do - the non-humanoid look with the mono-optic and claws instead of hands is quite fun, I quite enjoy the transformation as well. The alt-mode is absolutely cracking - almost spot on for the AH-1 Cobra, missing only the nose turret. The weapons are decent as well, looking especially good on the stub wings in helicopter mode. 3. Generations Sandstorm: A wonderful toy, a triple-changer with three really good molds. Love the fact that the ducted fans can be used like a flight pack in humanoid mode, the car mode feels very solid and the design of the humanoid mode is wonderfully elegant. I like the Springer which was his case-mate, but this is by far the better version. 2. Movie Tomahawk - A really beautiful piece of work. The copter mode, clearly based on Eurocopter's "Tiger", looks absolutely fantastic, and the c-clip wing weapons mean that you actually get some value from the ordnance and that he can take other weapons - like the rocket pack from Darkmount for area saturation fire. The humanoid mode is another of those which makes some concessions to movie design aesthetics but which moves back in a more traditional direction. 1. Rotorstorm - Just plain striking, in both modes. The 'copter mode is great, another one taking clear inspiration from real-life designs (front end looks far too like a AH-1 Cobra to be entirely a coincidence). The humanoid mode is great - lanky and lean in the way that Whirl is, with a fantastic look to it. Making the weapons into the two engines works really well too. It is just an absoutely fantastic looking to in my opinion. List 2: The "By the Book" version:- Honorable Mentions: - Spinister, Aramada Cyclonus, BM Obsidian, Live Convoy 5. Protectobot Blades - Captures the essential boxy-ness of his alt-mode very nicely, has a fun transformation and a decent looking humanoid mode - and was almost a pocket-money toy when I was a kid! 4. Whirl - Sure, it is showing its age badly in design terms, but for a design from 1983 I actually quite like a lot of what it tries to do - the non-humanoid look with the mono-optic and claws instead of hands is quite fun, I quite enjoy the transformation as well. The alt-mode is absolutely cracking - almost spot on for the AH-1 Cobra, missing only the nose turret. The weapons are decent as well, looking especially good on the stub wings in helicopter mode. 3. Generations Springer - A decent updating of Springer which corrects some of the flaws of his original toy, whilst introducing a couple of new ones. The car mode is visually much improved, if only it held together slightly better. I took a while to get used to the proportions as well - it initially felt too skinny to be Springer, who I have always thought of as being solidly-built with well developed hydraulics. The skinny version has grown on me as an alternate take though. 2. Movie Tomahawk - A really beautiful piece of work. The copter mode, clearly based on Eurocopter's "Tiger", looks absolutely fantastic, and the c-clip wing weapons mean that you actually get some value from the ordnance and that he can take other weapons - like the rocket pack from Darkmount for area saturation fire. The humanoid mode is another of those which makes some concessions to movie design aesthetics but which moves back in a more traditional direction. 1. Rotorstorm - Just plain striking, in both modes. The 'copter mode is great, another one taking clear inspiration from real-life designs (front end looks far too like a AH-1 Cobra to be entirely a coincidence). The humanoid mode is great - lanky and lean in the way that Whirl is, with a fantastic look to it. Making the weapons into the two engines works really well too. It is just an absoutely fantastic looking to in my opinion. Karl
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Post by Bogatan on Nov 26, 2013 21:10:08 GMT
This will be the third time attempting this. The previous 2 attempts probably would have looked pretty different to each other and to this as I keep thinking of new helicopters. Theres so much good to choose from.
Honourable mentions (so many of them) Tomahawk/ Spinister/Springer/Vortex - despite owning 3 versions of the mould I'm not its biggest fan, I don't really know why. But Spinisters legs are worthy of mention. Animated Megatron. Ginormous helicopter and great looking Megatron in one. Movie Premium Blackout / Evac (and Whirl) To steal an entry from another recent top 5. One of my favourite 2007 moulds, especially once I got the premium version and then more so after finally getting Evac a few years ago. A fine transformer unfairly tarnished by Bays touch. The minicon chap. Whirl. DOTM Skyhammer/BC MW Sanstorm - How did this toy manage to get made during the DOTM line? It wasnt the only good voyager, but Shockwave didn't have to transform into anything.
In fact I can't think of a bad helicopter. Todays top 5.
Triplechanger Sandstorm The only triplechanger that looked like a real vehicle in both mode and looked good as a robot? I think so.
Protectorbot Blades One of my first Transformers and one I have always felt stood out amongst the other first four sets of scramble city limbots. The essential scramble city toy if you own Metroplex.
C. Evac / U. Springer / U. Blades / SG Galvatron One of my favourite AEC moulds. Fun features (the winch, flick out guns and spinning propellers) and versatile. I think it says it all that the same unmodified mould can make a great Blades and Galvatron.
Sandstorm (and Springer) Sandstorm is amazing, Springer is green so its hard to pick a favourite, but I've favoured SS since picking up both in the classics line of the early 90s. And here on balance SS seems to do that little bit more thanks to the vtols/supersized dune buggy wheels.
Rotorstorm/ MW Sandstorm / U. Whirl - I've said this for a long time, but Rotorstorm is one of, if not the best mould of the G1 era. All its missing is some kind of pop out tape/master partner figure. The moulds proportions are perfect and its got fun missiles launchers, add some articulated joints and it would be just as highly placed amongst modern era moulds. Whirls a nice enough repaint and Sandstorm is just plain bonkers.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Nov 28, 2013 8:23:36 GMT
It is a very hard one: the field may be limited but the quality is very good. As Andy said it's hard to think of a bad one.....
Tomorrow's should be a lot easier. It's a five week month so it's a question that doesn't quite fit into the regular pattern but it's a question all of us, save Mr Jetty, will have given some thought to.....
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Post by legios on Nov 28, 2013 20:26:28 GMT
It is a very hard one: the field may be limited but the quality is very good. As Andy said it's hard to think of a bad one..... To be honest, Transformers pretty much has the entire field for transformable rotorcraft pretty much stitched up - there are a few Machine Robo toys which give them some competition, but other than that it is a fairly small field outside of Transformers - and to be honest the Auroran isn't going to be much cop at competing with anything... Karl
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Post by Philip Ayres on Nov 28, 2013 20:29:10 GMT
It's odd, for a flying vehicle, that the vast majority are Autobots not Decepticons.
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Post by Bogatan on Nov 28, 2013 20:41:32 GMT
Straight after finally posting my top five, I went upstairs and saw Windmill which I had completely forgotten about. Bad me.
I also came up with the closest to a bad mould I can think off, FOC Vortex/Whirl.
And even then thats mostly due to it making a poor limb rather than either of it's main two moulds.
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Post by Bogatan on Nov 28, 2013 21:16:27 GMT
And Turbomaster. Doh!
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Post by Philip Ayres on Nov 29, 2013 8:55:20 GMT
Week 30: US G1 toys that were never sold in the UK
Your top 5 toys that were sold in the US as part of the original run of Transformers toys but were not sold in the UK. Not having owned the toy shouldn't be considered a bar to actually including them in your list!
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