|
Post by Philip Ayres on Dec 25, 2014 21:10:59 GMT
West as in Europe and USA.
|
|
|
Post by Philip Ayres on Dec 26, 2014 9:40:04 GMT
Like I said, Nick got very close Week 86: GiftsetsYour top 5 Transformers giftsets please. We'll define a giftset as a box containing more than one transformer that's previously been available separately, even if the original had a different colour scheme. Combiner Giftsets are the most obvious versions but the Japanese range has had some interesting ones including the fabulous Beast Wars vs pack and Micron Legend Vehicle & Minicon packs. So TF Wiki's Japanese ID Number list might be of use this week.
|
|
|
Post by Philip Ayres on Jan 2, 2015 10:23:43 GMT
Week 87: 2004 ToysWe start the year off 11 years in the past as we do the top 5 toys of 2004: Energon, Alternators, Universe and Robotmasters. There's some good squishy here: see www.tfu.info/year/04index.htm for details.
|
|
|
Post by Philip Ayres on Jan 2, 2015 16:25:36 GMT
This was so so hard. I ended up with what was my longest list of possibles yet. In the end I cut my possibles list in two, into repaints and new toys, because there are so many good repaints this year: Windsheer - you can't repaint this toy ad go wrong, Energon Ultra Magnus - superb colour update painting it like what it should like, Battle In A Box Ultra Magnus - surprisingly good white Op repaint giving a toy that does look like "just a soldier", Checkpoint - devastatingly good and reminiscent of Brave J-Decker I *NEED* a replacement one of these, MM Devastator - superb, Whirl - oh why didn't this get the Prowl minicon to hold and retooled struts to mount Minicons and RM Ligier - paint a toy like what it sahould look like. Best version of this mould and only cut at a very late stage when I realised I'd foprgotten a VERY good RM toy from my top 5! Energon gives us Sharkticon - a sub, how many of these are there?, Shockblast - the arm is perhaps a tad big but otherwise still my classics Shockwave, Arcee - her toy debut was done really well, Divebomb - fabulous bird TF, Battle Ravage - brilliant and oh that Fusion Cannon add on why has that never been repainted to death?, Wingsaber - chronically under distributed it really made the Energon Op, Scorponok - fab, Downshift - Wheeljack personified. My classics Wheeljack till the Generations version hit and I almost thought about sticking with this, and Skyblast - a fab basic Jetfire reinterpretation that spawned some great repaints in the movie exclusive line. But THESE are my top 5: 5) Energon RodimusLike many I've never been 100% happy with camper van Rodimus Prime. THIS is a Rodimus toy which is also an Optimus. Best pair of Energon dlx combiner legs too. 4) Spychanger Optimus PrimeA redeco which was crying out to be made and they nailed it here. Stands in my Brave Max control center to this day! 3) Robotmasters R-BladeThe deco the mould should have had on day 1. Superb. 2) Star SaberFan fave character *FINALLY* given a new version and the new version is so so good. Shrunk down with more articulation that the original and as a bonus Saber is a genuine Micromaster who can use the Micromaster pegs. Yes the sword handle is fragile - mine's still intact - and the blade rubbery but my goodness this is a good toy. 1) Strongarm"basic" sixed TFs went on holiday at the end of RID, replaced by Minicons for Armada. Strongarm is the first of the scouts and absoloutely knocks it out the park. 5mm peg hole hands, vehicle mode bits that form a weapons, top articulation, feels solid. THIS is how to do a small size TF and hasn't been topped since. Yes the vehicle/shoulder peg for the weapon annoys me to this day: should have been a Minicon peg and yes his repaint in Energon is dire but the Movie line more than makes up for it. This is another in the Generations 30th legends Swerve school of keeping it simple and doing it right. Fabulous and my top toy of 2004.
|
|
|
Post by Philip Ayres on Jan 2, 2015 16:40:53 GMT
Coming up late this month we have top 5s for one of the UK unreleased characters, the first portion of a toyline many of us love, a sequel to the best voted for top 5 and something rather sharp.....
And as a very advanced tease: January 2016 starts with the Top 5 toys of 2015.... which means that one of the first weeks of the month for this year WON'T be a year.....
|
|
|
Post by Bogatan on Jan 4, 2015 19:59:30 GMT
Like I said, Nick got very close Week 86: GiftsetsYour top 5 Transformers giftsets please. We'll define a giftset as a box containing more than one transformer that's previously been available separately, even if the original had a different colour scheme. Combiner Giftsets are the most obvious versions but the Japanese range has had some interesting ones including the fabulous Beast Wars vs pack and Micron Legend Vehicle & Minicon packs. So TF Wiki's Japanese ID Number list might be of use this week. Woah, the week even Phil skipped. I'm not going down the rabbit hole of the Japanese vs sets My list will probably more influenced by the actual giftset itself than most people. 5. TFCC Seasons - Sometimes you have to give FP some credit. However much it hurts. 4. G2 FOC Bruticus - not the greatest toys ever, though I consider them far better than most. But damn Hasbro knocked this version out of the park. Absolutely perfect recreation of the G2 box makes me hope whole heartedly hope that Hasbro do G2 Combiner Wars themselves. 3. Superion - could have been any of the scramble sets, but this is the one I ...my brother got for Christmas. 2. MP Soundwave - Not often Hasbro TRU exclusives feel like a bargain, but it's hard not to think of Soundwave and all 5 cassettes that way, even at £120. 1. Liokaiser - A great set of toys aside from GPS dangers. Boxart, layout etc on this set are a beauty. Bubbling under New Year Optimus Prime - If only more Actionmasters would get reissues. Victorysabre - I briefly owned this, I went a little crazy and quickly realised I could not justify keeping it, but it was nice to have for a while. If I'm honest I much prefer the boxart for the individual releases. But for sheer scale, wow. Raiden - Theres something I imagine would be underwhelming about buying a single trainbot. But a set of trains makes sense, not as much as a set of carriages behind an engine, but sense. Probably quite a few of the VS sets could make the list if I spent the time seeing which pairs got released.
|
|
|
Post by legios on Jan 4, 2015 20:24:03 GMT
Between Christmas and New Year I seem to have dropped even further behind than normal. Hmmm. *triggers boosters*
Week 85: The Transformers Collection
5. Insecticons: All three Insecticons, in one box... None of them could have quite justified a viable reissue price point by themselves, but all three of them together are a bargain.
4.Minibots: Such fun, and another example of a bundle package for those toys which wouldn't quite make the grade by themselves.
3.Stepper: Make available a once very rare item to a reasonable slice of the domestic and international fanbase, and whilst you are at it make sure that he has even more accessories than the original did? Almost a case of over-egging the pudding in a good way. Nicely done!
2.Astrotrain: A fairly uncontroversial reissue in its native land. It is just Astrotrain as he was, no more no less. But the outcry it created in some elements of fandom was a wonderful example of "sense of entitlement" in action. The anger and sadness of those folks who were outraged that everyone might be able to have access to this toy instead of it being something they could lord over the rest of fandom amused me greatly.
1.Soundwave: It is Soundwave, one of the great toys of the 84 line-up and one of the great Transformer toys period. Reissuing it gave everyone a chance to own the perfect Soundwave toy and I think this is a great service to the community.
Week 86: Giftsets
5. Build King: One of the most interesting and innovative Combiners that Transformers has done in a long time, in one nice handy big box. Yeah, job done.
4. Lio Convoy vs Galvatron:- The heroic lead of Beast Wars II and his godzillarian nemesis? Nice combination. Lio Convoy is a good toy, and Galvatron is one of the finest and maddest Destron toys of the entire Beast Era.
3.Big Convoy vs Magmatron:- Magmatron is slightly too complicated for my tastes, but Big Convoy is an astoundingly good toy - probably up there with Munky Primal so once again this is a fine, fine combination
2.Combaticons Giftset: All of the Special Teams sets were marvelous. In the sense that they were something I marvelled at in the shops knowing that I was never going to be able to afford to own one. The idea of a whole combining team in one box seemed like a crazily epic thought when I was younger - probably why I still love things like the Brave giftsets.
1. Liokaiser - I have to second this one. A very striking giftset of a really good combiner. When I first saw this in the early nineties I was very impressed indeed by it
I shall catch up on 2004 toys during the week I think.
Karl
|
|
|
Post by Bogatan on Jan 4, 2015 20:38:31 GMT
Week 87: 2004 ToysWe start the year off 11 years in the past as we do the top 5 toys of 2004: Energon, Alternators, Universe and Robotmasters. There's some good squishy here: see www.tfu.info/year/04index.htm for details. I still dont think anything Energon can justify a place on my top 5. Plenty of good concepts that are badly executed and when a good mould does come along, I'm not sold on the character colour scheme. Botcon went a long way to fixing the later issue (Ironhide, Ratchet, Sharkticon spring to mind) but first time out they still aren't my thing. 5. BIAB Ultra Magnus - just edging on to the list despite its box mate. Still to open mine, but it looks good. 4. WST Hotrod - I'm not such a fan of the second series of WST. I really dont know why, even so thy are still great. Rodimus stood out from the pack. 3. Micromasters Defensor - great little set, very happy when they eventually appeared over here. Was it Nettos? 2. Alt Hound - For many of the reasons below, but Hound just isnt quite as nice. It just comes down to small feet I think. I'm a fan of big chunky lower legs and feet which G1 Hound has and Alt Hound doesnt making it a backwards step. 1. Binaltech Smokescreen - Strange to think this is over a decade old now Given the direction Transformers has gone since then, Smokescreen is very antiquated and yet is light years ahead of modern toys in a lot of respects. It's still a great toy, maybe the peak of the line, the cross section where design, production values and a willingness to experiment all came together. The designer captures the feel of the original toy perfectly, but without using the original vehicle or colour scheme. Considering the similarities with MP Smokescreen it's surprisingly hard to compare them.
|
|
|
Post by Bogatan on Jan 4, 2015 20:58:59 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! I'm relying on my memory of the Hasbro reissues for this list, hopefully thee not to many difference that I wont make sense. 5. Stepper - I'm not sure if I got the Hasbro release, I think I did but its so long since I saw it. Still it was nice to finally have the option to buy it and the colour scheme really is good. 4. Soundblaster - beats Soundwave by being a chance for us westerners to get something new, but also comes with 2 tapes over Soundwaves one. 3. Insecticons - Who doesnt like a box of insecticons 2. Minibots - Who doesn't like a box of minibots 1. Megatron - I think the only one of these I own. It's a nice set. I used to really want to have more of this series but now it seems some what underwhelming. Earlier and later reissues were having a bit more fun (Wingthing, Enemy, TRU Soundwave using Soundblaster mould and packing in loads of tapes. Bumblebee with smiley face. Optimus Prime with Actionmaster)
|
|
|
Post by Philip Ayres on Jan 4, 2015 21:03:26 GMT
Like I said, Nick got very close Week 86: GiftsetsYour top 5 Transformers giftsets please. We'll define a giftset as a box containing more than one transformer that's previously been available separately, even if the original had a different colour scheme. Combiner Giftsets are the most obvious versions but the Japanese range has had some interesting ones including the fabulous Beast Wars vs pack and Micron Legend Vehicle & Minicon packs. So TF Wiki's Japanese ID Number list might be of use this week. Woah, the week even Phil skipped. Which is VERY odd as I definitely did do it. But I can find no sign of the post which I definitely wrote. Bear With, I'll retrieve an earlier copy of the xl model from dropbox which will have the list in I'm not going down the rabbit hole of the Japanese vs sets We may well return to VS sets in the future....
|
|
|
Post by Philip Ayres on Jan 4, 2015 21:09:19 GMT
5) C-310 God Ginrai
A better PM Prime with addon armour? Fab first time, even better reissued.
4) Reissue Seacons
Just so so good to get all the seacons and their weapons
3) C-353 Big Powered
THREE Micromaster base robots in one box :-)
2) D-335 Leokaiser
The best G1 combiner
1) C-328 Victory Sabre
Unobtanium personified, one of the holy grails to us nonJapanese
|
|
|
Post by Philip Ayres on Jan 4, 2015 21:16:09 GMT
Week 86: Giftsets5. Build King: One of the most interesting and innovative Combiners that Transformers has done in a long time, in one nice handy big box. Yeah, job done. Very fond of Build King. However having two limbs built round the same body and one different makes me want to use the excavator as arms and the truck & crane as legs. Might have worked a bit better with the excavator built round the same body as the other two limbs. Wish I had the yellow and Devastator versions
|
|
|
Post by Philip Ayres on Jan 8, 2015 8:11:02 GMT
Thursday tease:
This week's subject, who isn't a gun, might be so wide that you see double, so start fishing for an answer!
|
|
|
Post by Philip Ayres on Jan 8, 2015 13:35:21 GMT
I shall catch up on 2004 toys during the week I think. Karl Any thoughts yet Kaptain?
|
|
|
Post by The Doctor on Jan 8, 2015 18:59:42 GMT
Batman.
-Ralph
|
|
|
Post by Philip Ayres on Jan 8, 2015 19:06:57 GMT
Batman is a vigilante crimefighter superhero and a scientist but not a Transformer.
|
|
|
Post by The Doctor on Jan 8, 2015 19:09:29 GMT
He is indeed a scientist.
-Ralph
|
|
|
Post by Philip Ayres on Jan 8, 2015 19:11:38 GMT
... despite denials from some.
Anyway this week's Transformer character isn't. So cross Perceptor off your possibles list.
|
|
|
Post by legios on Jan 8, 2015 20:58:39 GMT
Sorry. Got distracted by meeting minutes I had to do for a Service Users Representative Group I've found myself on, and pulling together information for a benefit claim (apparently I still remember the sorts of stuff that an Adviser is going to need to help with a claim even when I find myself on the other side of the table). But, after due consideration, and deciding whether I wanted to over-rule the biases which skew the results in a particular direction (and rejecting the idea), some thoughts have come to me... :-
Week 87: 2004 Toys
Honorable Mentions: Energon Mirage - gorgeous looking toy and quite fun as well. Energon Sharkticon - A space-going shark-ship with turrets and a bridge tower half-inched off the Space Battleship Yamato herself? Nice! Robotmasters Delta Seeker vs X-Gunner: Cyberjets are great, and here we have two new characters based on that mech-architecture. Not only that but they are a versus-pack of two characters who are supposed to be once-allies-turned-rivals. Top stuff.(Too busy slugging it out with each other to properly fight over the fifth place though)
5. Skyblast(Energon): If you are a big fan of the Sunbow cartoon, and wish to squint it could be a moderately-thinly disguised Skyfire, if you are me it is a new character whose fighter-mode has more than a little bit of a cheeky referencing of the slightly obscure Valkyrie II and Metal Siren fighters of "Macross II". Either way, Skyblast is a wonderfully compact little toy in fighter mode with enormous amounts of whooshability. His energon weapon makes for a lovely underslung cannon in fighter mode, and a decent pair of wing-tip weapons pods, and the over-sized spear-mode is fun even if it looks rather unlikely in his hand. Striking colours work in his favour as well. All told, a great fun little toy, which also looks great.
4. King Atlas(Universe): I loved the Skyquake design. It may have come at the end of the original line, when articulation wasn't necessarily the main objective, but it is a visually really impressive design. A chunky bomber aircraft that looks like nothing from Earth, and the headsculpt in humanoid mode is very striking. The Universe version gives us this design again, but this time as an all-new character. He looks like he means business to, with the sort of "anti-flash" white colour scheme I associate with the old V-Force nuclear bombers (Valiant, Victor and Vulcan). Lovely looking toy.
3. Starscream(Energon): Such a lovely fighter mode - a strange tailless F-22 derivative design, but feeling like it had better proportions than many Starscream's since - with a visually interesting deco. Taking some of its engineering from the wonderful G2 Smokescreen gave it an interesting transformation and oodles of articulation. The weapons are fantastic as well - individually a rifle and a single-bladed sword, but combinable to form a Naginata (so Starscream is wielding a weapon associated traditionally with either Sohei - envisage that, Starscream the Warrior Monk - or viewed as acceptable for high-ranking women to practice, Starscream fighting like a girl...yeah...)
2:Star Saber (Robotmasters): By the time this toy came out I had not only been introduced to *puts hand in front of mouth* the mighty Cybertron Warrior of the Victory series, but also to the "smile and smile and be a villain" tyrannical ex-Imperial of TMUK, and had the chance to meet Star Saber in the plastic in a pub (whilst witnessing some of the least successful and most unlikely to succeed attempts to liberate said toy from its current ownership). So when the opportunity arose to purchase an affordable new version of the aforesaid... Absolutely!
1: Strongarm(Energon): Lovely toy. Good fun in both modes, nice accessories and a really good colour scheme. Bonus points for being clearly a new character rather than a "homage" character too blatantly. It was also crying out for a Roadbuster redeco that it never got mind you.
Karl
|
|
|
Post by Philip Ayres on Jan 8, 2015 21:08:49 GMT
|
|
|
Post by Andy Turnbull on Jan 8, 2015 22:24:31 GMT
Hardly the worst repaint Phil.
I think your disappointment at it not being recoloured in a different fashion colours your judgement. Pun intended.
Andy
|
|
|
Post by The Doctor on Jan 8, 2015 22:39:57 GMT
Nothing wrong with Energon Strongarm. A fun mould in fun colours.
-Ralph
|
|
|
Post by Philip Ayres on Jan 9, 2015 7:36:41 GMT
|
|
|
Post by Philip Ayres on Jan 9, 2015 8:39:21 GMT
Thursday tease: This week's subject, who isn't a gun, No, he's Blaster Broad Twin so start fishing for an answer! start fishing = cast Put the last 3 bits together and you get Blaster's Japanese names.
|
|
|
Post by Philip Ayres on Jan 9, 2015 8:50:11 GMT
Honourable mentions to: All versions of the Requim Blaster 3:) 5) Generations Fall Of CybertronWorks far better than it ought to/ Yes it's just a Soundwave repaint but .... 4) TwincastPros: double tape capacity Cons: blue body plus red hands & gun don't work as well as the original. 3) 1985The Original Versions. The problem is there's nothing here that Soundwave didn't do better the year before. And it absolutely towers over the other Autobots to quite a distracting degree. 2) Action MasterI loved my Action Master Blaster so so much. I'd wanted a Blaster for years no not swayed by the comic and the movie at all oh no. Looking back now makes me think why didn't hecome with an animal AM partner to represent Ramhorn or Steeljaw? 1) Device LabelThis is a good piece of kit. It's a working USB hub, though I've never actually used that feature on mine. It's a logical alt mode update. It's a decently articulated figure which is nicely to scale with modern deluxe figures, uses 5mm hands so you can give him a gun (or even his original version's gun) and looks like the original which is useful if you want him to fight against a certain (then) recently released Generations Decepticon leader. And you would. Most importantly of all it get round the tricky issue of how to represent the original's interaction with the tapes by letting him use the original's tapes, all of which were being Encored at around the same time. Some thought went into this toy and I love it.
|
|
|
Post by The Doctor on Jan 9, 2015 9:48:35 GMT
Action Master Blaster and the original are the only Blasters required.
-Ralph
|
|
|
Post by legios on Jan 14, 2015 21:15:33 GMT
Week 88: Blaster
Discussing Broadblast this morning reminded me I still needed to do this.
5. Binaltech* Broadblast: Yes, he's silver. But his backstory and head-sculpt combine to strongly indicate that he is intended to be Blaster in a car-mode. The way the vehicle mode folds out very much maintains the sense of bulk and squareness of the original. Sadly the top-heavyness and suspectness of the joints make it difficult for it to stand unaided.
4.Universe Blaster with Blockrock: I was really fond of the Soundblaster version of this mould, and I think this is a decent repaint. Gets the sense of Blaster being tall in a visual sense, but feels at home amongst other toys.
3."The Transformers" Blaster: He's big, arguably too big. It made sense in Microchange - when firstly he had his radio bits, and secondly his alt-mode has to be larger than what became soundwave if they are to maintain the 1:1 scale - but in Transformers it does not work so well. He also isn't really as well designed as a toy, lacking a lot of the visual interest that Soundwave has.
2."The Transformers": Twincast - The above-mentioned, but in better colours and a double-barrelled cassette capability.
1. Action Master Blaster: Just looks so much like the comic character model. Great little toy.
Karl
|
|
|
Post by Philip Ayres on Jan 15, 2015 9:09:32 GMT
Thursday Tease:
Neither one or two .... shall we make contact?
(Bonus clue: first part of what looks like being a 4 part series in this feature)
|
|
|
Post by The Doctor on Jan 16, 2015 0:00:52 GMT
Is the year 2010?
-Ralph
|
|
|
Post by Philip Ayres on Jan 16, 2015 1:03:33 GMT
The answer has something to do with the year 2010 yes....
|
|