The Huff
Thunderjet
Hufferlover
Posts: 4,080
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Post by The Huff on May 28, 2021 13:01:56 GMT
There is also the option of PM Ironhide being on his MARB/sled here too.
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Post by The Doctor on May 28, 2021 13:06:35 GMT
There just isn't anything not to like about the POWER MASTERS.
-Ralph
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Post by Bogatan on May 28, 2021 15:00:29 GMT
I have a theory about these, sort of.
TFs at this point is going down two very different trouser legs. One leg is heavily articulated toys that go on to be the foundation of the line for the next 25+ years, the other is closer to G1 in construction with a specific gimmick. The Power Masters actually kind of make sense as the mising link between the Gobots and Autorollers. In all three subgroups the focus is on moving. All are limited to arm articulation, not even that in some cases. Otherwise true examples of G1 bricks.
All the unused moulds and most of the unused repaints came from this trouser leg, suggesting Hasbro had decided quite quickly which leg would or was selling best.
If Takara werent involved, its almost a bit weird as they continue with the brick approach through the 90s with Brave and other robot lines. And also they were the ones who eventually made use of the unused Autorollers moulds and its because of their CR series that we eventually got the unused Gobot moulds.
Hasbro on the other hand ignore both in favour of the unused flipchanger toys from the other leg.
Theres also the possibility that this trio of groups was somehow related to Hasbros acquiring the rights to Gobots. Theres a bit of gobotty-bess to the Autorollers and Powermasters (more than a little of the MC toys pullback motor figures vibe there) and even the Gobots, who of course also got the name. So maybe at some stage there was the thought of doing something more than just securing the Gobots trademark.
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Post by Bogatan on May 28, 2021 15:26:05 GMT
Hasbro on the other hand ignore both in favour of the unused flipchanger toys from the other leg. I'd not really thought about this in these terms but combination of moulds in MW is odd given the available moulds at the time. Soundwave and Sandstorm could have been swapped out with the unused Autorollers. Either mould would have worked as Soundwave and the really the other with a dessert camo paint job as sandstorm. Okay so not a new mould to the USA but the unused Megatron and Starscream could also have been used in the leader class toy role. All presumably would still have passed toy safety tests so not required remoulding unlike the Turbomasters and Predators. Okay so theres no good Thunderclash replacement mould as mentioned, Starscream and Megatron not being a new mould might have ruled it out, so maybe they go all brick and could have used the Power Masters instead of Flipchangers. Ironhide and Swindle. Huffer and Motormaster Runabout and Runamuck Groove and Override Here still the Autorollers seem like just as good options but jet is Starscream with Skyquake becoming Megatron.
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Post by Bogatan on May 28, 2021 15:37:23 GMT
I didn't reply to this last week as I didn't want to detract from the Cyberjets but I had a note in my diary to come back to it Animorphs was a Transformers line, Phil. -Ralph tfwiki.net/wiki/Animorphstfwiki.net/wiki/Animorphs#Fan_reactionIt was a crappy toyline with the Transformers name bolted onto it to give it some traction that ate up shelf space that could have been filled by the mainline at a time when all of Hasbro's resources was being diverted into Episode 1. I feel Phils own evidence proves him wrong.
Unlike other crossover lines this one appears to have had the actual Transformers design team involved. Thus the lower number of TM2. Further supported by the obvious inclusion of the unused moulds as BW Mutants.
You dont have to like them but if they were designed by the Transformers team as Transformers toys, even if an unrelated fictional universe, then these were Transformers. In the same way Animated isnt related to the Bayverse or Botbots,but all are still transformers.
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Post by Pinwig on May 28, 2021 21:20:22 GMT
I'm starting to feel I ought to own the autorollers.
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Post by The Doctor on May 28, 2021 21:38:20 GMT
You do, you do.
-Ralph
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Post by Llama God on May 29, 2021 9:27:37 GMT
As for the dodgy robot modes - remember alien robot. If these were in the comic, I'd want then drawn exactly like the toys - rolling around Dalek style. Oh I can certainly see that. There's just a charm missing from these that the original mini Autobots had. Or maybe my opinion's tinted with childhood nostalgia. I wouldn't discount that, to be honest.
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The Huff
Thunderjet
Hufferlover
Posts: 4,080
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Post by The Huff on May 29, 2021 11:37:01 GMT
I might let my G2 Powermasters join me on the Zoom call tonight if they don't have problems getting down the stairs.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jun 3, 2021 7:41:18 GMT
Finishes tomorrow.
Alas there are also Decepticon G2 Power Masters so there's another week of this to come!
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The Huff
Thunderjet
Hufferlover
Posts: 4,080
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Post by The Huff on Jun 3, 2021 9:52:59 GMT
Should have done them as a set. Their allegiances are cloudy anyway.
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Jun 3, 2021 16:52:47 GMT
Tech-specs available in Australia/New Zealand, apparently:
MEANSTREAK Function: Street Fighter "I'm a fuel-injected firestorm screaming through the streets!"
Meanstreak would rather drag race than fight, but he's never shirked his duty when called upon for combat. A blur in battle because of his speed. Decepticon targeting sensors incapable of locking onto him. Due to body structure and ground clearance, rough terrain reduces performance levels. But on smooth city streets, he's a devastating destroyer of Decepticons!
7 7 10 6 5 9 7 5
IRONHIDE Function: Military Strategist "I grind Decepticons into garbage any way I can!"
He's a military machine fueled by gasoline and guts! A battle-tested veteran, he's endured dozens of Decepticon attacks. As tough on the outside as he is within, this stubborn survivor has incredible strength. Extensive, heavily-armored plating makes him easy to track... but impossible to destroy!
10 6 3 9 7 9 7 7
(Compare with original Ironhide: 7 7 3 9 7 10 7 7 - five of the numbers are the same, too many to be coincidence, I think. G2 Ironhide is 3 points stronger than G1, but 1 point less intelligent and 1 point less brave.)
Martin
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Post by The Doctor on Jun 3, 2021 18:01:34 GMT
Gosh, they're exciting.
-Ralph
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Post by Shockprowl on Jun 3, 2021 21:19:14 GMT
Gasoline and guts, baby. Freakin' firestorm in ya face.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jun 4, 2021 6:12:24 GMT
Ironhide wins
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jun 4, 2021 6:12:46 GMT
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The Huff
Thunderjet
Hufferlover
Posts: 4,080
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Post by The Huff on Jun 4, 2021 6:51:02 GMT
Bulletbike of course.
Love the way the sidecar becomes his foot. Almost looks like he is riding in the sidecar alone!
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Post by Benn on Jun 4, 2021 8:03:08 GMT
“Riding In The Sidecar Alone” sounds like the greatest indie album never made.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jun 4, 2021 8:23:56 GMT
Would I be right in thinking that neither of these have arms that move at the shoulders in a meaningful way?
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jun 4, 2021 8:28:16 GMT
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Post by Benn on Jun 4, 2021 8:38:10 GMT
Ironhide wins I'm amazed at this result, cuz for my money Ironhide is the worst of the four! What is the Hub thinking?!
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jun 4, 2021 9:04:04 GMT
There are some curious opinions on many things here.
IMO Ironhide being best Autobot Power Master* is not one of them.
* and indeed best Power Master full stop, as we'll test next Monday
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Post by Benn on Jun 4, 2021 9:20:31 GMT
PM Ironhide is just a box! There's nothing interesting about his design or his colours at all!
Agh!
Ah well. Democracy has spoken.
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The Huff
Thunderjet
Hufferlover
Posts: 4,080
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Post by The Huff on Jun 4, 2021 10:02:51 GMT
Nope. No arm movement needed because of their absolute brilliance.
Rubber tyres though!
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Jun 4, 2021 17:45:24 GMT
Is Bulletbike the first TF to have guns that he can't point at an enemy in front of him?
Martin
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Post by Bogatan on Jun 4, 2021 17:58:34 GMT
Odd one this Bulletbike is better, but shouldnt be. Stax has all the elements for a decent figure, but looks unfinished. Hes got a clerly defined short robot mode but I really have to look to see it.
Bulletbike on the other hand has giant clown foot with the tiniest suggestion of legs that are only about a qaurter the height of the foot. Above that a waist thats bigger than his legs and then a super long torso.
Bulletbike can shoot from the foot or shoot himself in the foot. It doesnt suggest a sucessful soldier.
In all honesty I think his bike mode looks a bit naff too.
And yet Bulletbike is awesome.
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Jun 4, 2021 19:13:58 GMT
STAXX Function: Highway Destruction "I was born to be wild, born to be bad!"
Nitrous oxide drives this battle-thirsty bad boy! He's a terrifying truck cab whose enormous ego forces him to try anything to achieve combat victory, even if it means scratching his personalized paint job! The highway is his battlefield and he rams anything on the road, so if you see his headlights... RUN!
8 5 4 9 6 9 7 5
BULLETBIKE Function: Combat Destruction "This renegade rebel is ready to rock!"
An outlaw biker who thrives on combat! Destructive desires raging within afterburners are released through titanium tailpipes as he speeds into battle. Receives high-octane rush by opening throttle to maximum output. Must constantly maintain obsessive RPM levels, or risk dramatic loss of strength and speed. Autobots beware!
8 5 9 4 5 8 7 6
Martin
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The Huff
Thunderjet
Hufferlover
Posts: 4,080
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Post by The Huff on Jun 4, 2021 20:38:28 GMT
Is Bulletbike the first TF to have guns that he can't point at an enemy in front of him? Martin Flywheels has a similar thing going but they did add a peg in the back of the gun so he can hold it like a stick facing forward.
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Post by Pinwig on Jun 4, 2021 20:58:03 GMT
Hold on. I recognise that blue fella. Didn't I procure him from the Fu for Ralph at a TFN a few years ago?
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Post by The Doctor on Jun 5, 2021 9:05:06 GMT
MAINTAIN OBSESSIVE RPM LEVELS.
-Ralph
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