The Huff
Thunderjet
Hufferlover
Posts: 4,233
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Post by The Huff on Apr 9, 2014 15:03:28 GMT
This was another 'neat' year for the line. Not too many toys and so easy to keep track of and collect. I'd like to pick all the Gobots and Cyberjets as they were cheap little toys that basically did what a Transformer should do.
But my top 5:
5) Bulletbike - yes its a rubbish robot mode but that's why I like it. He has a sidecar for his feet! (or foot). 4) Gearhead - mainly because of the art on the packaging. He looks like an angry dwarf. 3) Ironhide - don'rt know if this was a nameslap or was supposed to be him, but it was like he had his MARB sled to ride along in. 2) Skyjack - obviously because of the great articulation that became the norm for all TFs after this. I loved the Dreadwing ATB the year before and the Cyberjets were like pocket-money sized versions. 1) Laser Optimus. Truck, Robot and had pretty much all the gimmicks of G2 packed in his trailer.
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Post by Pinwig on Apr 9, 2014 21:56:32 GMT
As 1995 is another dead year for me, perhaps at some point I’ll be able to come back to G2 (I’ve certainly added Laser Optimus to my wants list just to see what all the fuss is about!), I’ll start back filling:
Week 1: 1984 Toys
Back to the beginning. This is tough because I think if I’d done a top five in Autumn 1984 it would be different to now; there’s a difference between hindsight and knowing the toys, and the anticipation back then of what it would be like to own them based on their representations in the comic. So I’m going with a retrospective view looking back at these chaps over the years, and boy is it hard to knock this down to five.
5. Megatron. Because he was an ’85 toy here, Megatron feels to me like he should be in the ‘85 list, but when he finally did enter my collection I could easily overlook the fact the toy wasn’t quite as robust as his comic representation because, after all, this was the Decepticon leader. Would just have been nice if he could hold his own canon up.
4. Wheeljack. My favourite of the original cars in terms of the toy itself, absolutely brilliant robot. Second only to Prowl because his character wasn’t as good.
3. Prime. It’s hard not to have the Autobot leader on this list. From a toy point of view he had it all - a transforming base with roller, he was bigger than the rest, and his robot was the most posable of the original Autobots. I think in later years that head sculpt has been improved on several times, but he is the original.
2. Prowl. Everything about Prowl works. For the time his robot was awesome, the black and white balanced well on the figure, and I loved the fact that he was Prime’s tactical commander. His logical, methodical nature and need for order matches my own, and with Prowl you have that precise strategic excellence backed by serious hardware with his incendiary shoulder canons and rifle. He may take time to work out how he’s going to hit someone, but when he does, it’ll be a killer blow to a weak spot.
My word, I’ve just realised for the first time why Prowl was made a samurai in Animated.
1. Soundwave. The cover of issue one of the UK comic gave Soundwave a character that the US comic never really allowed him to live up to. Presumably it wasn’t Megatron blasting Prime in that image because at the time Megatron wasn’t around in the UK to buy, so Soundwave was the original big bad. Compared to his counterpart though, what playability Prime had in the form of his base, Soundwave bettered in the form of the cassettes. Ok, so he only had one with him, but the toy in a toy idea was unsurpassed in those original figures. Ace robot too.
Sideswipe, Thundercracker and Bluestreak the also rans.
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Post by Pinwig on Apr 9, 2014 23:23:25 GMT
Week 5: 1985 Toys
This is even harder than 1984 as there were so many superb toys in this year that went on to become part of the hall of fame. Doing five Autobots would be hard enough, my initial selection was 13. Hell, putting the five Dinobots alone into an order is an impossible task. Is that why there hasn’t been a top five Dinobots? Because it’d basically be the original five? Sigh, okay…
5. Thrust - Was the first Decepticon plane I had. There was something about the retooling on the wings and the maroon and black colour scheme that to me made him seem more majestic than the other planes. In my eyes he would have made a better Starscream than Starscream did if their personalities were swapped.
4. Bombshell - The Insecticons are just brilliant. All three are great, and I still have mine on display (even if Shrapnel has serious difficulty trying to stand up these days as one of his legs just won’t lock). Bombshell though was my first, and the one I think with the best robot mode. I loved the cerebral implant idea too. Mine’s more yellow than chrome these days…
3. Slag - Picking one Dinobot over any other is very hard, but I’ve said before and I stand by the fact that Slag is my favourite, marginally, over Grimlock. FansToys have a big job on their hands pleasing me here.
2. Jetfire - Awesome robot mode and a plane mode that was way beyond the seekers. The Autobots didn’t need much in the way of air power when they had this chap. I loved his introduction in the comic too - more depth than the usual. I was so pleased recently to finally add one of these to my collection.
1. Omega Supreme - May seem an odd first place choice out of a year when so much goodness was released, especially as he wasn’t strictly speaking released in the UK. I have Omegatron though, and despite the fact he is a parts-former he offered a lot for what he was with the different modes. He gave the Autobots a base before base-formers existed and he ties with Shockers as the first electronic TF - electronics that not only gave you lights, but also two totally different forms of movement. I really wish mine still worked, I have strong memories of his tank patrolling the track while the Autobots worked on defence building against Con attacks. He was also the heavyweight muscle on a scale the Dinobots couldn’t do individually. Jetfire ruled the skies, and Omega Supreme controlled the ground.
Also rans:
Shockwave (He is one of my faves, and if these lists were done on character alone he’d probably be top, but there’s no escaping the fact that in the context of actual toys released in this year he isn’t quite up to the quality of the five above him. This I think is why Quakewave is so important - Shockwave is one of the top tier elite but has never had a toy of suitable quality to go with his status).
Grimlock, Devastator, Snarl, Swoop, Sludge, Blaster, Warpath, Smokescreen
In any other context those would outrank most TFs in existence, but ‘best of ‘85’ is a very hard league table to get a top five position in.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Apr 10, 2014 7:42:29 GMT
Week 5: 1985 ToysThis is even harder than 1984 as there were so many superb toys in this year that went on to become part of the hall of fame. Doing five Autobots would be hard enough, my initial selection was 13. Hell, putting the five Dinobots alone into an order is an impossible task. Is that why there hasn’t been a top five Dinobots? Because it’d basically be the original five? Sigh, okay… A top 5 Dinosaur TFs is coming at some point but I'll probably put a caveat in that if your list includes Dinobots you have to do a second list without Dinobots in!
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Post by Philip Ayres on Apr 10, 2014 7:49:32 GMT
Meanwhile this week's Thursday teaser:
Lots of characters have repaints of their toys, but this one has at least two *unreleased* repaints that we have photos of. Probably more.
It's released repaints, of which there are a fair few, range from the "Yeah, that's really good" to the "oh my goodness what were they on?"
It's also got two of the most unstable robot modes ever, one of which is *really* unpopular.
There's also a good reason why it should have been picked THIS week.
And don't think I haven't realised what NEXT week is. Something special lined up for that!
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Post by Shockprowl on Apr 10, 2014 20:01:33 GMT
There's also a good reason why it should have been picked THIS week. What?! I just don't know!!!
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Post by Pinwig on Apr 10, 2014 21:55:10 GMT
Tried to work this out by looking at the pattern of post 'year' weeks in the index, which so far has stuck to 84/85 big name characters. I used intuition, inference and deduction and have concluded that I don't have the foggiest idea.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Apr 11, 2014 5:54:18 GMT
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Post by Shockprowl on Apr 11, 2014 7:04:35 GMT
Cheetor! Quite tough actually. I've only ever owned a couple. Looking at the pics of various Cheetors there some questionable looking figures out there! I never got a Universe/Classics Cheetor because I didn't like how the beast mode fore-legs end up as kibble on the robot mode fore arms. I've always stuck with my original! So....
1 Original Beast Wars. Really good figure not surpased by the Universe2/Classics figure.
2 Transmetal. Rockets! And a great new Transmetal styling. Lovely figure.
3 Titanium. Never owned it, but I've put it in here because I noticed when he first came out, and I've renoticed now, what a good face sculpt he has!
That's as far as I can go. Transmetal 2 by the way is a GREAT figure. But he suits Ravage far better. I have the Ravage version and he's one of the best Ravages going.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Apr 11, 2014 7:36:31 GMT
Let's deal with those clues: Lots of characters have repaints of their toys, but this one has at least two *unreleased* repaints that we have photos of. Probably more. The two unreleased repaints of original Cheetor are Orange Tigatron and Universe NightprowlerIt's released repaints, of which there are a fair few, range from the "Yeah, that's really good" to the "oh my goodness what were they on?" Good: Japanese Tigatron, Shadow Panther. Bad FK TM Cheetor. It's also got two of the most unstable robot modes ever, one of which is *really* unpopular. BM Cheetor and BM Supreme Cheetor, the biggest waste of space ever. There's also a good reason why it should have been picked THIS week. Metals Cheetus 2 is numbered C-49 in Japan Tried to work this out by looking at the pattern of post 'year' weeks in the index, which so far has stuck to 84/85 big name characters. I used intuition, inference and deduction and have concluded that I don't have the foggiest idea. To be honest outside of the 84-86 characters there's not a lot of names that have had more than 5 reuses/new versions. I've so far found FIVE that were OK to use.
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Post by The Doctor on Apr 11, 2014 8:47:21 GMT
I don't think I have handled any Cheetor toys so will have to skip this one as I have no opinions.
-Ralph
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Stomski
Fusilateral Quintro Combiner
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Posts: 6,100
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Post by Stomski on Apr 11, 2014 8:56:27 GMT
Slim pickings!
5. Beast Machines Supreme - Tarnations to all of you. Despite his robot mode, his alt mode is great. Lots of little features and huge! 4. Titanium Beast Machines - No direct experience with this, but from pics appears to be the best BM version. 3. Beast Machines Night Slash - A little gangly looking, and I'm not overly keen of the colour scheme (or the Universe repaint), but solid figure nonetheless. Plus flip down dual swords. 2. Beast Wars - Really great figure, a little chunky in alt mode and the animal limbs are static, but will forgive it. Japanese 10th anniversary repaint is fabulous! 1. Transmetal - Love the way the hands are made from the head, has jet boosters, well proportioned in both modes. Always had an appreciation for the guy, helped by a strong character in the cartoon.
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Post by Bogatan on Apr 11, 2014 9:07:06 GMT
Week 49: Cheetor - Okay the problem I have with Cheetor is that I prefer repaints or remoulds of almost ever version of Cheetor. It's distracting when trying to choose a top 5.
I'm not really a fan of the look of any version of Cheetor other than the first one. The toys are good but I don't like the look of them.
5. Er... Nightslash Cheetor I guess - of the 4 versions of Cheetor, BM is my 3rd least favourite and putting aside my odd love for Supreme Cheetor, Nightslash is the best toy of the BM character, though the most screen accurate remains McBM Cheetor.
4. Supreme Cheetor - I'm not pretending its any good, but I've said it repeatedly, it looks good sat on a shelf. And once I even got it to stand up for an extended period of time. I was even more proud than when I first transformed RID Magnus, MP Megatron and ROTF Prime.
3. Animated Cheetor - In photos the face looks odd, in person it still looks a bit odd but it overall the Blur mould and new head make a really good Cheetor. I like that it does have some similarities to the aborted Transtech designs too.
2. Botcon 2006 Cheetor - I prefer the Tigertron version but it does capture the character very well, especially if you think of Cheetor as the Beast Wars equivalent of Hot Rod.
1. Cheetor - I guess either the Fox Kids or 10th anniversary (was there a telemocha one too)had better colours, but the mould is still my favourite and is a pretty close to the animation model which is my favourite on screen version of Cheetor. Also squirty gut gun.
If the list was for Cheetor based moulds it would be very different. TM Ravage and Tigertron are amazing, For some reason I actually like TM2 Ravage and Botcon Tigertron has one of the best colour schemes of any Transformer.
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Post by Bogatan on Apr 11, 2014 9:08:31 GMT
Looking at pics of Universe Nightslash it kind of looks like Weirdwolf.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Apr 11, 2014 16:56:06 GMT
5) ArmadaInsane colours.... but it works. Subtle modification to enable him to use a Minicon and decent use of the Minicon's oddly positioned socket to attatch it. 4) TransmetalFun update. But really needed a gun. 3) Transmetal IIII! It's Roman Numerals!!! Honestly.... But I'm really fond of this toy. Seen as an abomination at the time it's got a special place for me acquired in my first Transatlantic trade. At the point many UK fans had only just got the later original BW Deluxes I got a parcel containing the non show TMs and Cheetor & Dinbobot TM2s. And yes Wal*Mart Tripredicus Agent is great. (Is he the first intended Store Exclusive toy?) 2) OriginalLike Andy K I'd rate two of his released repaints - Japanese Tigatron and Shadow Panther. But I love the original Cheetor toy. Lots of fun, insanely posable. The Universe 2 remake is an abomination compared to this. 1) Night Slash CheetorYeah like there would be a different winner from me. The two earlier BM toys are dreadful. Neither stand up properly. Both are larger than they should be: Cheetor SHOULD be a deluxe. So when a deluxe version came along that stood up well, stored his swords and then released them in an action feature, and moved them in another action feature I was all for it. I've got some proto shots here somewhere that someone sent me years agao. Yes they went for a different colour scheme to the one that was expected but it works as a Night Ops Stealth Cheetor. Yes there is still a HUGE hole in my collection where an authetically coloured NSC should be - bright yellow for black and grey, clear green for clear orange. NO Universe Night Slash Cheetor isn't good enough. But, like Hooligan a few weeks back, even in the wrong colours this would still be a strong contender for my all time top 5 TFs list I love it so much.
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Jim
Thunderjet
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Post by Jim on Apr 12, 2014 22:36:34 GMT
1. Night Slash Cheetor - great toy, lots of fun, nice design. 2. TM2 Cheetor - looks great, TM2 shininess. 3. BotCon 2006 Cheetor - fits the Cybertron Clocker mould remarkably well. At this point I have to go by default with: 4. Universe Cheetor - not quite as terrible as some say, I feel, but really not great. So out of those I haven't owned: 5. BW Cheetor. -Jim
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Post by Philip Ayres on Apr 17, 2014 6:27:10 GMT
Thursday tease for week 50:
Do you know where your sunglasses are?
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Post by The Doctor on Apr 17, 2014 7:12:52 GMT
G2?
-Ralph
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Post by Philip Ayres on Apr 17, 2014 8:16:36 GMT
No, we've done quite a bit of G2 in the years recently so I think we'll give that one a little while before doing it as a range.
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primenova
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Posts: 6,048
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Post by primenova on Apr 17, 2014 9:24:41 GMT
The best toys are those where you conceal all the weapons etc so you have them in each mode but don't have to have lots of parts put to the side.
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Stomski
Fusilateral Quintro Combiner
YOU INTERRUPTED MY SPEECH!! But don't worry. It won't happen again.
Posts: 6,100
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Post by Stomski on Apr 17, 2014 14:42:48 GMT
Does Jazz wear sunglasses? Nightbeat? More like visors, but what evs.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Apr 17, 2014 15:10:36 GMT
Jazz was week 14. I was going to say there wasn't enough Nightbeats to do a top 5, but there's been 6 with a seventh on it's way.
Burns was closer with the type of guess
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Post by The Doctor on Apr 17, 2014 18:12:59 GMT
Thundercrackers?
-Ralph
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Jim
Thunderjet
Micromaster Backside Monitor
Now in glorious Ultra HD 4K
Posts: 4,864
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Post by Jim on Apr 17, 2014 22:07:23 GMT
Transmetals?
-Jim
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Post by Philip Ayres on Apr 18, 2014 6:22:59 GMT
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Post by Philip Ayres on Apr 18, 2014 11:28:27 GMT
Ok some honourable mentions: Constructicon Devastator - Landfill's a construction vehicle combinber! I'm surprised it took them this long to do an all green version. Delayed, then released as an exclusive in two Ultra 2-packs this is one that's on my wants list. (Side note: the three western Landfills have all been released at different sizes: RID was 4 deluxes, Universe was 2 2-packs at Ultra size and Wal*Mart Landfill was a giftset) Micromaster Devastator - the Japanese Destron Sixbuilder chase figure looks better but points for bringing a close aproximation to the Western market (released as an Energon toy in the UK) Soundwave so nearly the definitive vehicle Soundwave. Shame about the yellow, but still better colours than the Machine Wars version. Whirl both 1991 and 1992 got a pale blue Autobot Helicopter ( Windmill and Rotorstorm). It's obvious to me both are *meant* to be Whirl. Finally the mould gets the right name but while the deco is fab it's not the right blue for Whirl! Bonus points for minicon pack ins. Minus points for no retool to attach him and not packing MC Prowl with him - he's the only toy packed with the Minicons that can hold Prowl! Swerve the red brings the Armada Blurr mould to life. Looks fabulous Anyhoo. Top 5 time: 5) Snow CatEnergon Snow Cat's great: a GI Joe vehicle in TF form. He they go the extra mile by making a redeco using one of the Joe subteam colours: Nightforce (see www.yojoe.com/vehicles/88/ and www.yojoe.com/vehicles/89/ ) There's no GI Joe "Night Cat" thought and we're still waiting for the Transformers version of the Tiger Cat4) WindsheerI'm not sure it's possible to paint the Cyberjet Hooligan mould badly. This looks fab. 3) TriceradonJust beautiful the best colours this mould has had 2) Ultra MagnusI'm not a huge fan of lazy White Prime's as Magnus. But this one works for me. BIG time. It makes Magnus look like a soldier. I tried to get one from the US and failed but was overjoyed when The Entertainer got some of the Battle in a Box 2 packs in. 1) Spychanger Optimus PrimeWe all know how good Spychanger Scourge is. Well here's the repaint it was crying out for from day 1 and Hasbro didn't drop the ball with it. Originally released without the Universe name on it (or indeed any subline name!) this toy and his G1 inspired fellows Are later released in Universe so his inclusion here is valid.
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Post by Bogatan on Apr 18, 2014 14:36:19 GMT
The sheer randomness of this line makes it hard. I also don't own very many of them. But lets try.
5. Optimus Primal - Well thems some colours. 4. Optimus Prime - Hes yellow. 3. Rail racer - maybe its because Hasbro didn't release Micromaster trains but the set stands out and has the most coherent combined form. 2. Glyph/Tap Out - My first Botcon toys, great colours. 1. Swerve - Will go with the new mould for the top spot.
Bubbling under: BIAB Ultra Magnus, one of the few really good Armada toys looking good in white.
Theres actually too many to judge, I just saw Phils list and thought oh yeah thats good too. I like the vast majority of the moulds in the line and most of the colour schemes seem to work well.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Apr 18, 2014 14:50:37 GMT
The line's reputation is for appalling bad recolours (hence yesterday's tease) but actually, when you get past that disasterous first wave, that's some good squishy there.
Even after it's demise Universe has lived on with the likes of the exclusive repaints for the first Movie line, elements of Universe 2 and the con/club exclusives. Given some good management I think there's room for a generally distributed Universe style repaint line today.
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Jim
Thunderjet
Micromaster Backside Monitor
Now in glorious Ultra HD 4K
Posts: 4,864
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Post by Jim on Apr 18, 2014 22:32:26 GMT
Lots of great stuff in here, and lots of stuff which if I had more money / time / space for collecting which would be high on The List. I'd love for there to be a new random repaints line like this. 5. Fire flight - I loved this mould as RID Nightcruz, and he looks almost as good in black - shame they didn't release him with the blue wash. 4. Wind Sheer - nice repaint of a great mould. 3. Rail Racer - a great micromaster combiner, always nice to have some alt-modes other than cars / planes / tanks, and the individual components have some personality. 2. Air Raid - the Skyjack / Air Raid Cyberjet mould was always great but these colours really pop. Beautiful. 1. Swerve - the Armada Blurr repaint looks amazing in red and is a really fun toy. -Jim
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Post by Philip Ayres on Apr 19, 2014 7:27:57 GMT
5. Fire flight - I loved this mould as RID Nightcruz, and he looks almost as good in black - shame they didn't release him with the blue wash. Universe Fireflight started off as Beast Machines Spystreak before becoming RID Nightcruz. What is it about Hasbro repainting stealth jets in white? They've never got the mold quite right: the promo photos for the BM version show it in straight black with bright red shoulders but it's almost green and a rusty red in the plastic.
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