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Post by Philip Ayres on May 16, 2015 9:05:47 GMT
Firstly some explanations as why 3 of the fave Henkeis are not on my list: No Megatron, too much red. No Rodimus, don't like the gold chrome. In fact the overuse of the chrome is a big minus point throughout Henkei. Bumblebee's gold chrome on the bonnet puts me off, and the slid yellow doesn't work well. Needs the black to break it up. Spoiler should have been gold chrome and maybe silver chrome the jetpack. Like the black seats and thus all black legs. 5) Minibot Spy Team (Cosmos, Wheelie & Warpath) Because of the rareness of the last Universe Legends Wave this was virtually the only way to get these three Legends characters! None has yet to have a western re-issue 4) Minibot Attack Team (Brawn, Beachcomber & Cliffjumper) However despite having two more common Legends that are nearly identical to their western version this set is in front by virtue of giving us a new Legends character: Cliffjumper. Because of Takara/Hasbro's odd "we can't use your repaints" relationship Henkei didn't get a deluxe Cliffjumper and instead went for a red for yellow and grey for black swap on Legends BB. For years this was the only way to get Legends Cliffjumper till the (still currently rare) Classic Legion Wave 4 hit. 3) Red AlertHenkei got there first. To this day I'm not sure which of Henkei or the eventual Generations version is better. I prefer the Henkei car and the Generations head. A somewhat in demand toy still due to the differences. 2) SmokescreenThe Universe version of Smokescreen is somewhat lacking. It just looks a mess, lots of details not quite right. Henkei is spot on. 1) CyclonusCompletely different to the Universe version but possibly better. Decepticon jet repaints are always welcome to boost ranks. You could easily have all the released versions of Cyclonus posed together as different warriors in his fleet. The chrome is used wisely here too.
We will return to Henkei's successor, United, at a later date ....
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Post by Bogatan on May 16, 2015 10:59:56 GMT
Week 106: HenkeiYour top 5 toys from the Henkei toyrange in Japan, which features modified deco for many of the toys in Classics and Universe. See TFWiki's Henkei toyline page for details, which will reveal the source of this week's clue. Hmmm. Struggling on 5th place. I quite like Dinobot, once it was deco'd like Dinobot. And for some reason I like Hotshotand the Takara version is a better mould. 4. Strafe - It shouldn't work, but for at least it does. 3. Cyclonus - I don't know which version of Cyclonus I prefer, they are all good. 2. Crystal Convoy - I've always been a fan of the mould, but in almost entirely translucent plastic it looks stunning. 1. Hound - How has this mould not been used again at retail. I've seen my enjoyment of a lot of Universe toys fall in the last few years, Hound if anything goes up. Nothing wrong with Hasbros version but original toy colours are better.
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Post by Philip Ayres on May 18, 2015 9:59:07 GMT
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Post by legios on May 20, 2015 21:18:49 GMT
Week 105: Hot Rod/Rodimus
So, Rodimii...
5. Animated Rodimus: I surprised myself by how much I actually liked this toy. Very much keeps the "flat" aesthetic of the vehicle mode, and has a long-limbed ganglyness which I think works rather well. It almost seems to fit a sense of "Rodimus growing up too fast". The bow is also quite well integrated with the vehicle mode- feeling almost like a extra spoiler, and looks great in his mits.
4. Cloud Rodimus: The vehicle modes are not really particularly reminiscent of Hot Rod's prior alt-modes. But then, Transformers in a lot of modern continuities change alt-modes by magic almost on a whim, not like in the original cartoon and comic where an actual rebuild was needed. So I'm not sure if we should be looking at alt-modes as part of the character anymore. But regardless, the humanoid mode of this toy fits Rodimus down to a tee. In fact, I think it makes a better Rodimus than it did Springer - the long, spindly but elegant limb design is much more evocative of Rodimus really. The colour scheme is also fantastic. Great toy.
3. Micromaster Hot Rod: Lovely little toy, and does a lot to add a sense of scale to Star Convoy. Fun little Micromaster, who looks the part rather well.
2.Reissue Targetmaster Hot Rod: Probably the best version of the original Hot Rod mould. Also does away with the infuriating stickers of the original version.
1.Classics Rodimus: Really nice toy. Keeps the sense of the original Hot Rod design, the chunky Autobot who transforms into a sort of wedge-shaped car but bulks both modes out a little and tweaks the aesthetic to add a bit of Lamborghini-style sharp planes to the design (there is a bit of a Countach feel to the vehicle mode). Nice little gun, and the missile can do a "I saw this thing called a Bat Mobile on Earth TV and it was awesome!" kind of thing.
Week 106: Henkei
5. Strafe - A striking recolour of the Cyclonus mould. Looks really nice in these colours, very striking and eye-catching but a really well designed colour layout.
4. Red Alert: A lovely rework of the Sideswipe/Sunstreaker mould. Helps that it is an underused character I am rather fond of (I'm not saying that Red and I have a lot in common, but I can see him benefiting from some of the same therapy that I've been getting recently.
3. Dark Skyfire: I'm not a fan of the Henkei version of Classics Jetfire, in fact I think it is distinctly inferior in appearance to the Classics version. By contrast I love this redeco. The gloss black finish is rather nice, and the white trim makes it very eye-catching. The grey-scaled box it came in is also a lovely little touch, adding a little bit to the package. Not sure whether this is my favourite redeco of this mould - the Blue Angel's -esque Tread Bolt is tough competition for it. But it is a fantastically striking design, and until I reorganised it sat atop a DVD tower as the opposite-side Gate guard to my kitchen.
2.Convoy: Not hugely different to the Classics version - more a disagreement on colour shades and vac-metalisation, but the difference is really quite marked. Huge improvement on the Classics version, even if it is only the second-best version of this Prime/Convoy
1.Cyclonus: Gorgeous new colour scheme on a fantastic design. The metalised Nightstick looks lovely, as do Cyclonus' wings. Probably my favourite of all the colour schemes on this mould.
Karl
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Post by Philip Ayres on May 21, 2015 6:40:27 GMT
Thursday Tease:
This will be a GOOD week for the Kaptain.
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Post by Philip Ayres on May 22, 2015 6:47:03 GMT
Week 107: Autobot Planes
Planes are a traditional Decepticon mode. But there's an awful lot of Autobot planes too! So your top 5 autobot planes please!
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Post by legios on May 22, 2015 9:19:03 GMT
Oooooo! Brain is already doing back- flips trying to choose an all-time best list. Well, four of them anyway.
Karl
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Post by Philip Ayres on May 22, 2015 12:54:07 GMT
I suspected you would like this one. You get mentioned in the tease because your love of planes is well known, with the good emphasised to point at the Autobots.
At some point in the not too distant future we will also do the opposing feature ....
It is proving a difficult one as more Autobot jets keep coming to mind
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Post by Philip Ayres on May 23, 2015 8:46:10 GMT
There is a need to show my working this week.... Inevitable The name Jetfire is going to dominate any list of Autobot planes. Here's what I voted for Jetfire: We need to loose number 5 because it's a space shuttle. Honourable mentions included G2 Cyberjet, RID Storm Jet and Cybertron. Beyond that Autobot planes are mainly a mixture of Powerglides and Aerialbots, of which the best probably are Henkei Silverbolt Universe Repaint Powerglide 2015 Powerglide CW Skydive CW Air Raid CW Silverbolt Beyond that Wing Saber Rescue Force Jet And the various iterations of Star Saber Victory Star Saber Robotmaster Star Saber MP Star Sabre However I'm going to put a line through all three Star Sabers. It's a jet, yes, but it's sort of a more futuristic sci fiy spaceship than a traditional Earth plane. So my top 5 other jets looks something like 5) CW Skydive
4) CW Air Raid
3) CW Silverbolt
2) Wing Saber
1) Rescue Force Jet Put the list together we get: 5) Cybertron Wing SaberBIG Chunky jet. Interesting figure. Good combined mode power up. 4) Legends JetfireNails the jet mode, especially now the chrome's gone. Decent cartoon robot mode. 3) Robotmasters R-BladeBest small jet mode ever. 2) Rescue Force JetOh I have such a soft spot for this toy. Yes it's got just 3 points of articulation but it's a swing wing jet on pocket money size and it's one of the line's first homages effectively being a new Jetfire. Although the Cyberjet mode is probably a better toy and the Jetfire colours on it are probably it's best version somehow the emotional impact of this makes it higher in an Autobot jet list. I must get a replacement. 1) G1 JetfireIt's kind of sad thatthe est TF jet is 30 years old and was originally made by another company. But it is the best.
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Post by legios on May 23, 2015 9:15:42 GMT
At least Jetfire does share a designer with the toy that became Optimus Prime though. So it isn't as distant a relative as Whirl, Roadbuster or Omega Supreme... :-)
Karl
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Post by Philip Ayres on May 23, 2015 9:27:33 GMT
Didn't know that!
I've found this week quite challenging: the problem has been R-Blade. I wouldn't say he's the best Autobot jet or even the best Jetfire but the colours are better than Hooligan and yet I'd place Hooligan in the top 5 TFs ever mainly because buying him was so mind blowing and it really marks a big advance for TFs for me.
And oddly Cybertron Jetfire would probably be #6 on the list despite not making the Jetfire top 5: it's not such a good Jetfire but is a good, and different, plane.
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Post by Benn on May 23, 2015 9:45:53 GMT
Autobot planes... jeez this is haaard.
Okay.
5. CW Powerglide. Again, not owned, held or even seen one in the flesh, but the pictures look sooo good.
4. CW Air Raid. Might be higher, except he falls into the Powerglide category of picture evidence only.
3. Aerialbot Air Raid. He's a black jet. Of course I'm gonna like him. 2. Technobot Strafe. Not sure if he counts, but I do like the look of him. Never owned him, alas.
1. G1 Jetfire. Yeah, the original and best.
I'd like an honorable mention for Universe Silverbolt, as that's a nice robot mode. It's a robot with a Concorde backpack though, so I couldn't put him on the list.
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Post by Philip Ayres on May 28, 2015 7:45:09 GMT
Thursday Tease:
I saw her today at the reception, A glass of wine in her hand
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Post by legios on May 28, 2015 9:45:37 GMT
I am still doing my working. I've done about six versions of this in my head with different Powerglides dueling for space, and a certain Energon jet clawing his way back in everytime he is displaced.
Karl
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Post by Philip Ayres on May 29, 2015 7:18:57 GMT
Week 108: Japanese Exclusive G1 toys
Your top 5 1985-1993 Transformer toys that were only sold in Japan please!
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Post by Philip Ayres on May 29, 2015 11:29:23 GMT
5) Galaxy ShuttleA space shuttle, that a Micromaster can pilot. That turns into a robot. That can walk. WANT 4) Sky GarryThe dropping cargo pods gimmick always impressed me, reminding me of a Space 1999 Eagle. The general form of the ship is nice and again it comes with a Micromaster who can fly it. The base mode has grown on me and as a tower genuinely adds something to Micromaster citys. It's an even better toy in hand. Have both the easier to get Brave repaint and a Songkong version of the original. 3) Star ConvoyFor a star it's a new Optimus Prime and they virtually sold the toy to me there. It's motorised. It has a base mode. AND it's got a Micromaster Hot Rod? The reissue was a zero hesitation pre order. 2) Leo Kaiser6 good robots, a couple of which are excellent with vbaried modes that combine to form the best G1 combiner. 1) Victory SaberA Prime/Jetfire successor packed with gimmicks and a combinbation partner? All win.
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Post by legios on Jun 1, 2015 21:23:41 GMT
Week 107: Autobot Planes
So, Autobot conventional aircraft... Phil is right, there are an awful lot of them which is why it has taken me a while to work through this.
Bubbling under: Breakaway - There is something endearing about his very odd humanoid mode, and his alt-mode is a very good rendition of an F-35 indeed.
Movie Cyberverse Powerglide and Combiner Wars Powerglide: Pretty much tied and took each other out of the running. The Combiner Wars one has a much more accurately proportioned aircraft mode...but is let down by being a distinctly cheaper and nastier feeling toy that the Movie one.
Energon Windrazor and Treadbolt: I just think these are really nice little toys. Their humanoid modes have a lovely clean silhouette. The stylized fighter modes are very nice (like some sort of insane mash-up of the F-16XL and cast of F-22 parts, but somehow it works), and they have a really nice transformation.
Classics Jetfire: I genuinely like this toy, great fun to play around with and an interesting departure in look from the toy it is homaging. It has a lot going for it. What keeps it out of the top spot is a series of little niggles, and a sense that it was "almost there" and just gave up at the last hurdle (the *shrug* just leave the arms and shove them under the wings). I still prefer this to it's recent successor, but it just doesn't do quite enough to earn a seat at the top table.
5. Galaxy Force Sonic Bomber/Cybertron Wing Saber. Really lovely aircraft mode - stylized "A-10ish" aircraft with a huge array of air-to-ground ordnance slung under the wings - and a decent humanoid mode. Clever trick with the rotary cannon barrel sliding back to turn them into hands. I even love the wrist-blades instead of conventional swords. Makes for a better Hang-glider for Convoy/Prime than the back half of the latters own vehicle mode.
4.Galaxy Force Dreadrock/Energon Jetfire: Great toy. A chunky transport plane which has a lot of the look of the tankers from the animated "Yukikaze" adaptation to it (beyond simply sharing a real-world inspiration with it). The humanoid mode is rather good as well, with hefty proportions and a really nice head design.
3.Universe Silverbolt: Fantastic toy. The humanoid mode is great, has the proportions right to feel like Silverbolt. The transformation is simple but robust and well thought through. The aircraft mode is fantastic, with a strong vibe of the cancelled XB-70 about it, and some really definite "wooshability" to it
2. Cyberjet Jetfire: The Cyberjets are fantastically engineered toys, and this and Strafe really had it out as to which one would make this list. Jetfire one out on the strength of a better colour scheme, the grey and white camouflage is strongly reminiscent of the sort of pseudo-russian scheme used some by Aggressor units, as well as being quite striking in its own right.
1.Jetfire - There are some designs which become classics simply because they caught lightning in a bottle, and this is one of them. It has the advantage of being worked backwards - the initial focus being what the fighter mode would look like on-screen, then the humanoid mode was worked out on the basis of that. It also benefits from its designers frustrations about when he worked as a concept designer on Diaclone - his annoyance at the whole removable parts thing which crept in between concept design and toy design left him in no mood to let Matsushiro's toy engineers away with "but you can't do it any other way" when it came to turning the Valkyrie design into a toy. Very well engineered, perhaps the saddest thing is that it makes a lot of subsequent Transformers aircraft look considerably less elegant or innovative :-) But for my money it is just a design classic, which has aged very gracefully indeed and richly deserves the #1 spot.
Karl
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2015 8:51:48 GMT
Autobot Planes! I love planes, and I love Autobots!
5. Strafe (1987). A futuristic "rocket plane" with big orange guns. Back in the day, he was an honorary member of my Aerialbots after I broke the head off Air Raid during a battle between Superion and Galvatron.
4. Powerglide (1985). One of my first Transformers. Cute as a little red A-10 and what other 80s Transformer could rest his hands on his hips!
3. Air Raid (1986). My favourite of the smaller Aerialbots. A plucky, black F-15. What more do you need?
2. Silverbolt (1986). I've always had a thing for the Concorde, and was so excited as a kid to see a Transformers one. I've also always been drawn to his bio and his fear of heights. I managed to find a nice MIB Japanese version with the launcher thing fully functional.
1. Jetfire (1985). An amazing jet (I never knew what a Valkyrie was, despite what the Autobot Who's Who said; to my mind he's a kind-of F-14 Tomcat) and brilliant robot mode with all that additional armour and booster things. Sadly mine is yellowing badly these days, which is a shame.
-- Graham
EDIT: Honorable mention to the blue-legged G2 Cyberjets. But since they're repaints, I would add the originals to a "Decepticon Planes" list.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jun 2, 2015 8:57:41 GMT
Hello and welcome to the forum!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2015 10:40:56 GMT
Hello and welcome to the forum! Thank you, Phil! -- Graham
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jun 2, 2015 10:58:27 GMT
Ah it's Graham! Good to see you G.
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Post by The Doctor on Jun 2, 2015 18:09:00 GMT
He has returned!
My favourite Autobot plane is the original Powerglide.
-Ralph
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2015 20:47:38 GMT
He has returned! My favourite Autobot plane is the original Powerglide. -Ralph You are indeed The Girl Who Loved Powerglide. -- Graham
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Post by legios on Jun 2, 2015 21:28:56 GMT
Ah it's Graham! Good to see you G. Indeed! Very good to see you. Karl (Working on the Japanese exclusives list - Keep going "AH HAH! Nope, reissue..."
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2015 8:32:23 GMT
Thank you, sir!
-- Graham
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Post by Shockprowl on Jun 3, 2015 19:47:57 GMT
Tomo?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2015 8:09:03 GMT
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Post by Shockprowl on Jun 4, 2015 19:59:34 GMT
TOMO!!!!!
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jun 5, 2015 5:09:36 GMT
Week 109: 2008 ToysYour top 5 toys from 2008 please. See www.tfu.info/year/08index.htm for help but we're talking the end of Movie 1 and the start of Universe and Animated
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jun 5, 2015 9:37:35 GMT
Honourable mentions: Powerglide done at least as good, smaller. Prefer the red versions that came later. Silverbolt done at least as good and combines. Prefer the white Japanese version. Stormsurge fab hovercraft repaint Incinerator superb helicopter, let down by the rotor blade hands. Black Japanese version is superb. Top 5: 5) StockadeA Decepticon car from the films that I'm happy to put with my traditional transformers. 4) ProwlOh they tried, they really did. They got ever so close too. But the body isn't quite wide enough and the gun isn't right. Apart from that it's a pretty good Prowl 3) SunstreakerThe engineering on the Lambo twins is superb to get TWO robots out of one car. Sunstreaker, even though the yellows don't quite match, gets in over his brother by virtue of being out first and having less toys to compare with. 2) Encore TrailbreakerI try not include reissues in these lists but I'd wanted a Trailbreaker for years. So good to see him back on the market. 1) Legend MegatronUp until the second Universe wave all the classics Legends had been Cybertron repaints. Megatron, Jazz and Hound are the first new toys in the Legends size. All are good but Megatron knocks it out the park. Everything the Combat hero has bar a waist and elbows. Superb toy, love it to bits and have 4+ different versions so far!
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