Encore

[The Doctor]

I know!!!!

And after I had to pass on Ratchet and Ironhide too, due to student budget!

Why do you mock me, cruel fate??!!!!!!

-Ralph

[Nigel]

How quickly are the Encores being released? I've got Sky Lynx preordered for next month and a bit of gap before Omega Supreme would be welcome.

[Stomski]

I was all over the TFC reissues, but for some reason I just can't seem to get excited about Encore. I guess there's no figures released yet that (a) I don't already own or (b) consider worthwhile due to flawed toy design. Ironhide and Ratchet make baby jesus cry.

[Nigel]

nigel said:

How quickly are the Encores being released? I've got Sky Lynx preordered for next month and a bit of gap before Omega Supreme would be welcome.

I shall answer my own question: BBTS has him down for a June release. According to their product description, Omega Supreme is "endowed with monolithic dimensions..."

[kayevcee]

The box is the size of a small Scalextric set, but I can't speak for his *cough* dimensions.

-Nick

[The Doctor]

He's a big boy. I've played with Nick's.

-Ralph

[legios]

Omega Supreme is one of those toys I still do have a hankering to own - he isn't blessed with the finest poseability in the world, but I do think he has a fantastically imposing look. He really does seem like he could give all comers a good thumping. One of those where the toy really looks the part of the build-up he got in the comic.

I'm half-tempted to put in a pre-order for him, but I'm not sure the toy budget will stretch to a fourth item at that kind of price point this year.

Karl

[kayevcee]

Two sentences that could have done with not being next to each other there, Ralph.

-Nick

[Nigel]

legios said:

Omega Supreme is one of those toys I still do have a hankering to own - he isn't blessed with the finest poseability in the world, but I do think he has a fantastically imposing look. He really does seem like he could give all comers a good thumping. One of those where the toy really looks the part of the build-up he got in the comic.

I'm half-tempted to put in a pre-order for him, but I'm not sure the toy budget will stretch to a fourth item at that kind of price point this year.

Karl

A significantly incomplete, slightly damaged, non-operational original sold for around £25, I think it was, on eBay this week. So if you can stretch to the reissue, it wouldn't be a bad idea.

[legios]

nigel said:

A significantly incomplete, slightly damaged, non-operational original sold for around £25, I think it was, on eBay this week. So if you can stretch to the reissue, it wouldn't be a bad idea.

Only marginally possible, with all the other stuff I quite fancy coming out at owchy price points this year. Omega Supreme is one of those toys it would be nice to own, but I have a sneaking suspicion that he would be like Fortress Maximus - one of those toys I own for a while and then think "I've owned him now, not so bothered", which would be rather a waste for him. So I might see how I feel once he comes out.

Karl

[Nigel]

HLJ preorders

Omega Supreme
www.hlj.com/product/TKT30346
"HobbyLink Japan will begin accepting regular preorders for this item on or about April 1."
10000yen (about £48) + shipping. June release.

Bumble & Mini Bot
www.hlj.com/product/TKT30344
"HobbyLink Japan will begin accepting regular preorders for this item on or about March 2."
3000yen (about £15) + shipping. May release.

[grahamthomson]

How is it that, in the original Transformers cartoon, Omega Supreme's rocket could fire itself off into outer space while leaving the tanks and tracks behind then transform into a fully formed robot upon arrival on Cybertron or the Moon?

[legios]

grahamthomson said:

How is it that, in the original Transformers cartoon, Omega Supreme's rocket could fire itself off into outer space while leaving the tanks and tracks behind then transform into a fully formed robot upon arrival on Cybertron or the Moon?

Perhaps the same way that parts of the airframe and wings of the Decepticon jets could change shape when they switched to their humanoid modes? (A dose of what is often refered to as Animemagic mayhap?)

Karl

[grahamthomson]

Ah. You mean like "morphing" but in 2-D?

Morphing in Transformers animation? Why that would ruin the franchise, like, forever.

[The Doctor]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

THE SKY IS FALLING! THE SKY IS FALLING!

-Ralph

[Gav]

grahamthomson said:

How is it that, in the original Transformers cartoon, Omega Supreme's rocket could fire itself off into outer space while leaving the tanks and tracks behind then transform into a fully formed robot upon arrival on Cybertron or the Moon?

Dammit...SUBSPACE!

[legios]

gav said:

Dammit...SUBSPACE!

How does difficult mathematics help Omega Supreme.........?

Karl

[Gav]

Well I'm glad you asked Karl, I've come up with this technical diagram to help explain it a bit better:

[The Doctor]

IT'S ALL SO CLEAR NOW!

-Ralph

[Gav]

I had created a very similar diagram for Optimus and his trailer, but the science went over people's heads.

[grahamthomson]

It's like those shampoo adverts where they warn you before the science bit comes on.

[Nigel]

No, it's not supspace, it's a towline. Once Omega Supreme had taken off, someone threw a grappling hook out of the window to grab the rest of him.

[Cullen]

Great diagram Gav! Just found out Encore 10 will be Omega Supreme and I'm stoked. I've always wanted one and base transformers are my absolute favourite kind. Finally I'll be able to recreate the scene in TFUK #71.

Ratchet and Ironhide arrived this week - two more TFs I've always wanted to own. Now I didn't have high hopes for the toys having played with an Ironhide before, but boy are they poor. I've only opened Ironhide, because after playing with him I've decided they both look better in their boxes. I'm getting more fun looking at them in my display case at work, than I got from actually playing with the toy.

Also Sky Lynx at the end of the month! I feared after the initial wave of Encore toys they'd just be putting out the same old reissue we've had a thousand times, but now I'm quite excited about the line.

[The Doctor]

cullen said:

Great diagram Gav! Just found out Encore 10 will be Omega Supreme and I'm stoked. I've always wanted one and base transformers are my absolute favourite kind. Finally I'll be able to recreate the scene in TFUK #71.

Ratchet and Ironhide arrived this week - two more TFs I've always wanted to own. Now I didn't have high hopes for the toys having played with an Ironhide before, but boy are they poor.

Is the build quality bad? Or are the toys themselves just not doing it for you?

-Ralph

[grahamthomson]

John, do these ones have stickers or paint on the palms of their hands?

[Cullen]

I think it's just the toys themselves that are bad. Build quality seemed good but I've no point for comparison.

Graham, I'll check the palms - what would one or the other indicate?

EDIT: I've checked the palms and there's no paint. However there isn't a sticker on the sheet for them either. What does this all mean?

[grahamthomson]

On my original Ratchet and Classics Ironhide, the palms of the hands have factory applied stickers. Ratchet's are white, so that that particular part of the ambulance looks white as opposed to the red of his hands. If you see what I mean.

The reason I ask, is that the stickers on mine (admittedly years and years old) are really looking tatty, and thought if they were now painted on the Encores I would get them replaced.

EDIT: Actually I think it's only Ratchet that has the sticker, since Ironhide wouldn't need one as he's red anyway.

[Cullen]

Well I haven't opened Ratchet, but can see from the outside his hands are red, but the back of the hands are white to match the rest of the ambulance. It actually looks like the hands are red plastic and the backs of them are painted white. Can't be sure unless I crack him open.

[grahamthomson]

If you're sure it's painted and you haven't opened him, and if you're not keen on him then I would like to buy him from you!

[Cullen]

Ta for the offer Graham, but I think I'll keep him. I've always wanted a Ratchet and for that reason alone I want to keep a hold of him. Plus they do look nice in their boxes. I got mine from Xybertoys if you wanted to try there?