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Post by legios on Dec 4, 2014 21:27:49 GMT
Artemis has gone right? It is safe for me to come back? *phew*
Anyway:
Scramble-o-powah ON!
Week 82: Scramble City Leaders
5. Silverbolt: The Transformer Concorde (not to be confused with Skywarp or Starscream my mother please take note). I like his humanoid mode, with its slightly odd proportions, and his aircraft mode is lovely. Not so impressed with his function as a torso, which is why he doesn't score higher on this list.
4. Motormaster: Love the look of Motormaster - his vehicle mode is predominately square and rectangular, and the design of his humanoid mode carries this through into being all about the rectangular shapes. His gun and sword accessories are great, and he does make a fantastically solid-looking combined mode torso. But the thing that swings his position on this list is the bio - Motormaster is apparently not lacking in ambition, what with him wanting to prove he is the tougher 'bot than Optimus Prime himself. It is a wonderful example of biting off far more than one can chew and it helps to make him memorable as a character. I love the fact that they are really playing to that aspect in Combiner Wars - both with the shared design elements, and the fact that they can go toe-to-toe in both normal and combined forms.
3. Onslaught: Lanky-looking humanoid, which seems to fit with the idea of him being a strategist and a thinker rather than a front-line fighter, good vehicle mode which has a nice line in looking like a credible military transport with a gun kludged on to it. Love the head sculpt on him as well - always like my visored robot heads so that earns him a few extra points.
2. Snap Trap: A turtle, with dual cannon embedded in the shell and a nice line in pastel shades for a colour scheme. Humanoid mode is pretty fun as well, and looks the part as an evil Decepticon team leader.
1. Hotspot: Fantastic toy: A good humanoid mode which looks chunky, solid and dependable, and a great vehicle mode. Top stuff
Karl
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Post by Philip Ayres on Dec 5, 2014 7:32:37 GMT
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Post by Philip Ayres on Dec 5, 2014 8:37:38 GMT
Good year this one. In the runners up spots we have Tidal Wave, such a fun toy, and three Armada repaints/remoulds: Skywarp, Predacon and Scourge 5) Armada WheeljackTop car toy. Solid and fun. Should have been repainted to death, there's half a dozen options easy for this one. 4) Destron SixbuilderSome years ago I wrote a list of repaint rules and one of them was "repaint it like what it's supposed to look like". Well a six constrution vehicle combiner should be green! Yes the feet and hands should be purple but the green here looks so nice, better than the latter Universe version. 3) Armada OverloadThis toy exists as an add on for other toys. It can be towed by Prime, used to transport Jetfire and combine with both. It should be rubbish. It isn't, it's so much fun. Electronics. Big missile firing cannons. Love it. 2) Destron SixwingFINALLY The Decepticons get a plane combiner! Superb repaint of the original, a must have even if you have Operation Combination Sixwing. 1) HoistYeah like I was voting for anything else. Another of the most fun TFs ever with a great gimmick, superb vehicle mode, far better than you'd expect robot mode and well thought out Minicon port placements. So good I'll forgive the lack of 5mm hands to hold the Star Saber etc. Still to this day lacking his obvious repaint! I doubt we'll ever see a better construction vehicle TF to be honest.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Dec 11, 2014 8:00:25 GMT
Blimey was 2003 that unpopular?
Thursday Tease Time: Last year Ian's birthday bot was Prowl. Who will it be this year? And which Legendary toy might help you out to finish in pole position even though the masses see him by a different name?
A glance at the list in post one will eliminate the obvious candidate before anyone suggests it!
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Post by legios on Dec 11, 2014 11:32:23 GMT
Been a little behind the curve this week for various reasons. Ironically the arrival of the black skies and the snow have lifted my mood somewhat and I feel like tackling this now:
5) Armada Wheeljack - a fantastic example of what Armada got right. Chunky feeling, bright appealling colours and fun to play with. Wheeljack excels at being a toy, which is what Transformers were always meant to be. Unsung hero.
4) Armada Overload: fantastically chunky toy, which nevertheless is incredibly fun to play with. This is how to do a brick right. Love his shuttle transporter mode, his humanoid mode is fantastic and he also combines as part of Armada Prime's insane Brave-esque power-up sequence. Lovely fun
3) Tidal Wave: Three ships which are quite fun on their own, combining to from a flying space carrier-battleship of doom mode, and a humanoid mode which despite its alarmingly flat profile look fantastic.
2) Destron Sixwing - I always liked the Mini-combiners, and had the two-up KO of sixwing in my collection until this came out. A Destron redeco of the aircraft combiner? Yep, sold right there. It also has a fantastic colour scheme and, like the rest of the mini-combiners, great play value for the price.
1) Sixbuilder - We were a longtime waiting to get this at a sane price. But was it ever worth the wait. A great Cybertron combiner, and perfect match up for the green-repaint.
Karl
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Post by Philip Ayres on Dec 12, 2014 7:46:51 GMT
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Post by Shockprowl on Dec 12, 2014 12:41:35 GMT
RATCHET! My work colleague! Of course!
And a figure of him features TOP of my worst Transformers of all time list!
Anyway. Great character.
1. Original G1. Superb alien looking robot, nice vehicle mode. Lost of weapons and bits. DESPERATE for a Masterpiece.
2. Botcon. This mold BELONGS to Ratchet and Ironhide. Hasbro cheating us again. Why? Why didn't they release the mold as Ratchet and Irohide.
3. Movie Fast Action Battler. I'm not a fan of the movie aesthetic, but this is a fun toy.
Aaand I'm done. Can't get to 5 with Ratchet, which is amazing given what a fantastic, popular character he is. The figures just aren't there! Unless I've forgotten some. Even the 3P market hasn't given us a really spot on Ratchet. Come on Takara!
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Post by Philip Ayres on Dec 12, 2014 12:43:12 GMT
And a figure of him features TOP of my worst Transformers of all time list! Tell all, which one is that?
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Post by Shockprowl on Dec 12, 2014 12:51:17 GMT
And a figure of him features TOP of my worst Transformers of all time list! Tell all, which one is that? You know which one!!!! That F%$£@$ piece of utter S@#$£@# that is 'Classics' Ratchet!!!! #@&$£!@#!&$!!!!!!!! I HATE IT IT RUINED MY LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *GRABS COMPUTER SCREEN AND SHAKES IT*
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Post by Shockprowl on Dec 12, 2014 12:52:33 GMT
MOTHER F*&$£@#!@#*&£$@$#!£$%£!~'/&$%£#*^$/@#!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Post by Philip Ayres on Dec 12, 2014 12:59:18 GMT
As for me: Also rans: Beast Hunters for the shear insanity of it, DOTM Lunar Crawler cos it's fun, HFTD for finally managing to do a Movie Ratchet in OK colours and Universe for at least trying even if it wasn't very hard. So Top 5: 5) AnimatedLots of extra tricks for our med bot to play with 4) Botcon 05Possibly the closest they've got to redoing the original toy. Points for the separate med bay, getting the robot chest and head right. But when you come down to it ..... it's not that great a toy is it? 3) PrimeGets a lot of things right. Fun. 2) Micron LegendThe one you didn't know was called Ratchet! Yup, Armada Red Alert is Micron Legend Ratchet. One of the most fun Minicon toys with flip out weapons and little platforms for his Minicon, itself a winner. 1) 1984The original Ratchet was one of the original TFs most obviously in need of improvement. It's telling that 30 years later he's still the best representation of the character and name.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Dec 12, 2014 13:04:21 GMT
Tell all, which one is that? You know which one!!!! That F%$£@$ piece of utter S@#$£@# that is 'Classics' Ratchet!!!! #@&$£!@#!&$!!!!!!!! I HATE IT IT RUINED MY LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *GRABS COMPUTER SCREEN AND SHAKES IT* Calm down and go and look at the 3P thread.
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Post by Shockprowl on Dec 12, 2014 14:14:20 GMT
Yes it's not bad looking, that little Ratchet. Legends too small for a Classics line up though. Look good with Metroplex!
So, if a 3P company can do a decent G1 Ratchet in Legends scale....
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Post by Bogatan on Dec 12, 2014 18:01:57 GMT
5. struggling.......oh right not just Armada.. WST Skywarp - Fantastic job of downscaling a complex design. 4. Hoist - Great mould WST Bumblebee - Awww so cute. My favourite version of Bee since the original. 3. WST Bumblebee - Awww so cute. My favourite version of Bee since the original. 2. WST Soundwave. Wow. and ravage thats ridiculous. 1. Supercon Prime - As mentioned earlier I consider this guy a 2003 toy and also the best Armada had to offer. Which is actually less of an insult than should be. I love the Armada look, but I dont think theres any good reason to revert to virtually G1 articulation. Supercon Prime is how they all should have been. Looks great, a fun quick transform and basic articulation*. Oh and a targetmaster triplechanger partner who is also my favourite minicon. *Admittedly to get any decent movement from the hips you have to take the legs apart and swap the upper legs, but its well worth it. All the WST are great, but those 3 are my favourites. Sideswipes could have been in there though, but for the terrifyingly small shoulder pin that comes out to easily and is all but impossible to find.
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Post by Bogatan on Dec 12, 2014 18:15:49 GMT
5. Botcon - An update inspired by the toy rather than the cartoon is a refreshing change at least it is now a days. The mould was already one of my favourite Energon moulds, the combiner gimmick doesnt harm it in the way most autobot deluxes were. The Ratchet and Ironhide repaints were well done, but it is sad that Hasbro had worked out homaging G1 was good but hadn't quite got to the making updates stage. Would have made a welcome part of the early classic line up if Botcon hadn't gotten to it first. 4. Premium Movie Ratchet - I'm fond of this toy for some reason. The later deluxe was better in most respects, certainly screen accuracy, but I like the big voyager. which has a fun transformation that does a good job of creating a spikey shaped movie toy while remaining a chunky solid toy without crazy amounts of kibble. 3. Brave space ambulance toy - No idea what it's called, part of a three member combiner team. Could/should have been released as it would have made a great cartoon style G1 Ratchet. Obviously as part of 1992s releasing incomplete combiner teams phase. 2. Animated Ratchet - This is how the classic toy should have transformed. 1. G1 Ratchet - I don't have any clear memory of being confused at how different the toy was from the cartoon, but it must have come as a bit of a surprise as I got Ratchet quite late on I think. Still it's a fun toy and the medbay has a lot of play value.
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Dec 14, 2014 21:32:02 GMT
Week 84: ratchet
1. G1 Ratchet. Still not surpassed, a nice reminder that the toys were ALIEN robots. I can see why the animation model was used more given the way the character got involved in things in the comics and the cartoons, but it's still a favourite and one of my earliest TF toys.
2 - Animated Ratchet - it's a good take on the character, and a lot of fun.
3 - HFTD - Rescue ratchet - right scale, right colour scheme and the best of the Movie era Ratchet toys.
4 - Botcon Ratchet - a not bad toy, a few more paint apps and a slight improvment on the head was needed I feel to make it a bit better.
5. Universe Ratchet - it's not a bad Ratchet take, but it's such a fiddly mess it's not going to score any higher.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Dec 18, 2014 7:43:49 GMT
Thursday Tease:
Pick 5 numbers between 0 and 21 and you're NOT looking for a Repeat Performance to Remember & Celebrate these toys by.
(and just had a fab idea for a much more festive theme to next weeks than what had popped up as next on the list!)
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Post by legios on Dec 18, 2014 10:07:39 GMT
Week 84: Ratchet
I've taken a long time over this one again, but that is because I think Ratchet is one of the great heroic characters in the Marvel Comic, and one of my favourite characters in Transformers, so I wanted to do him proper justice.
Patient not ready for discharge: Universe - too many issues to even think about allowing that to leave good medical care.
5 HFTD Rescue Ratchet: Realistic or not the original Movie Ratchet colour scheme looked pretty poor in toy form. The white and red works better on it than the "green food-colouring" tint that the first version had. Of all the Movie Ratchet toys this is probably the best executed one as well.
4 Botcon 05: The repaint which we saw coming when they released Energon Tow-Line, it just took Botcon to actually do it. The colour scheme is not quite there, but the one thing it does need is some work on the head-sculpt to give it a proper head crest. But having the platform part back again is very nice.
3. Micron Legend Ratchet: Cracking toy - loads of action features and flip-out bits to play with and an interchangeable tool-hand feature. The head-sculpt on the humanoid mode really works quite well as Ratchet the playboy ace surgeon as well - it has that "cool shades" look to it. The vehicle mode looks suitable bulky and chunky. Great toy to hang the name on.
2. Animated Ratchet: Nice looking toy. A good humanoid mode, and his grumpy-older-person face is rather a nice touch, and makes him stand out amongst the animated toys. I love the sheer range of tools that peg up behind his head - the hammer especially makes me laugh, I can just see that as the tool of last resort or what he threatens to use to bang out dents to stop the others bothering him for unimportant injuries. I like his little van mode as well - even if it does remind me of the mobile old-people support warden vans my mother used to be a controller for. Or possibly because of it.
1. "The Transformers" Ratchet: Fantastic looking toy. As others have said he looks properly alien, and because of that was always one of the more fascinating of the early toys. I liked the fact that he split into a walker-and-platform mode as well. His vehicle mode is great as well. Of all the toys whose appearances were changed for the Sunbow cartoon and the comic, I think it was with Ratchet that I was most saddened. I was very disappointed that they didn't use his proper appearance.
Karl
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Post by legios on Dec 18, 2014 10:11:46 GMT
3. Brave space ambulance toy - No idea what it's called, part of a three member combiner team. Could/should have been released as it would have made a great cartoon style G1 Ratchet. Obviously as part of 1992s releasing incomplete combiner teams phase. Can't remember his name either, but he is part of Guardion and Super Guardion. He would make a decent Ratchet toy, but there is no need to just release him - the rest of Guardion would have made a serviceable Prowl and Inferno, and the jet would have been quite a good Jetfire actually. (I think Sunrise would have been very unlikely to license over the designs mind you, so it would never have worked out.). Karl
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Post by Philip Ayres on Dec 18, 2014 10:26:00 GMT
Guardian/Super Guardian, from Brave Firebird of the Sun: www1.megaegg.ne.jp/~katchy/brave/gardion.htmThere's a couple of other Brave ambulances it could be of which the one in Fire Duke and Fire J-Decker is the best candidate and isn't the worst Ratchet in the world. (I have these Andy, but I don't think you saw them when you visited)
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Post by Philip Ayres on Dec 18, 2014 10:31:59 GMT
1. "The Transformers" Ratchet: Fantastic looking toy. As others have said he looks properly alien, and because of that was always one of the more fascinating of the early toys. I liked the fact that he split into a walker-and-platform mode as well. His vehicle mode is great as well. Of all the toys whose appearances were changed for the Sunbow cartoon and the comic, I think it was with Ratchet that I was most saddened. I was very disappointed that they didn't use his proper appearance. I prefer the Cartoon/Comic robot. But I like the toy. I'm hopeful that any Masterpiece might be able to do both OR look like the animation model and have a windscreen that can fold up to cover the face. I honestly thought our best chance of a decent, really decent, Ratchet would be a legends figure, which would force them toi make the obvious simple choices: A similar TF to Trailbreaker so the front forms the body, underside the legs, rear of the top the arms. Job done, repaint as Ironhide, black Ironhide and remould the front as Skids.
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Post by Bogatan on Dec 18, 2014 11:18:49 GMT
Guardian/Super Guardian, from Brave Firebird of the Sun: www1.megaegg.ne.jp/~katchy/brave/gardion.htmThere's a couple of other Brave ambulances it could be of which the one in Fire Duke and Fire J-Decker is the best candidate and isn't the worst Ratchet in the world. (I have these Andy, but I don't think you saw them when you visited) No I dont think I did. I have the ambulance which I like a lot, the whole team, would have made good transformers. Prowl, Inferno and ratchet. The Jet actually looks a lot like Energon Jetfire.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Dec 19, 2014 7:19:23 GMT
Week 85: The Transformers CollectionYour top 5 releases from The Transformers Collection/Bookbox reissues/Dreamwave Collection See tfwiki.net/wiki/The_Transformers_Collection for a list of the 22 releases. Remember just because the original toy was good doesn't necessarily make it a good re-issue! E-Hobby versions of these toys are not included, nor are toys from any other reissue series!
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Post by Marc Graham on Dec 19, 2014 11:07:54 GMT
Can I answer 1-5 as Minibot team? Simply Awesome!
In case I can't:
1. Minibot team - Box art a bit pants - but choc full of awesomeness! 2. HOT....ROD! 3. SOUND....WAVE! 4. MEGA....TRON! 5. OPTIMUS.....PRIME!!!!!!!!
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Post by Philip Ayres on Dec 19, 2014 11:24:55 GMT
Can I answer 1-5 as Minibot team? Simply Awesome! No, but I could hazard a guess as to what would be your number one if you did!
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Post by Philip Ayres on Dec 19, 2014 11:36:25 GMT
Bubbling under: Hound, Prowl, Kup & Wheelie (see bellow) and especially Astrotrain for having the Japanese colours. 5) Insecticons: www.tfu.info/1985/Decepticon/Bombshell/bombshell.htm, Kickback & ShrapnelInsecticon army in a box. Job done. 4) Minibots: Bumblebee, Gears, Huffer, Cosmos, Powerglide & WarpathMarc's right, this is a box full of awesome. Love it and it's Encore Minibot & Tape successors 3) StepperTake a rare Japanese recolour. Reissue it. Modify the Targetmaster so he can hold it. Include all the weapons included in the original version. Fabulous stuff..... unless you own the now massively devalued original! 2) PerceptorSorry, big soft spot for Percy and this was the first one I'd owned. 1) Hot RodHot Rod is thegame changer for these releases. I mentioned Kup & Wheelie and Stepper above but Ht Rod did it first. Reissue the toy. Make it the rare Targetmaster version. Include & Retool the original's weapons so they work with the Targetmaster. Seven shades of awesome.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Dec 25, 2014 7:58:26 GMT
Thursday Tease:
Did you wake up with one of these under your tree this morning?
Unusually there have been some in the west this year which is a little rare!
I know one of our number definitely had one under his tree 28 years ago, I've seen the photo!
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kayevcee
Fusilateral Quintro Combiner
The Weather Wizard
Posts: 5,527
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Post by kayevcee on Dec 25, 2014 12:10:53 GMT
1986... new leaders? Galvatrons? Ultra Magni?
Combiner giftsets?
-Nick
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Post by Philip Ayres on Dec 25, 2014 12:26:16 GMT
One of those is along the right lines.....
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Post by Pinwig on Dec 25, 2014 13:23:50 GMT
West - west country? Phil's combiner haul?
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