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Post by triumshockwave on Mar 18, 2022 17:10:23 GMT -5
Who are you guys fellating to get Core Hot Rod? I never saw him go up on BBTS, and the cheapest I can find him online now is like $25.
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iacon45
(<O>)
Posts: 1,455
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Post by iacon45 on Mar 18, 2022 18:01:14 GMT -5
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Post by triumshockwave on Mar 18, 2022 18:31:00 GMT -5
That literally just went up in the last hour, because when I last looked it was third party sellers only with the cheapest being $20...
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Post by Optimal Megatron on Mar 18, 2022 19:14:14 GMT -5
I got mine from Hasbro Pulse, but yeah, he's been up and down on Amazon too.
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Post by machsabre on Mar 19, 2022 23:43:32 GMT -5
That literally just went up in the last hour, because when I last looked it was third party sellers only with the cheapest being $20... Yeah, I got mine from the $20 one. But in my defense, I kinda needed it for a commission. So it worked out.
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Post by Optimal Megatron on Mar 25, 2022 19:22:20 GMT -5
Planet X Kadmos (aka 3rd Party IDW Star Saber): This guy's a beefy boy! Stands about a head shorter than Commander Jetfire, and a bit heavier with all the die cast. The transformation is surprisingly simple, and his robot mode is pretty poseable and stable. One nitpick is that he has little side wings on his ears from the IDW art, but this makes the head too wide to fit inside the nosecone in jet mode. They retract into his head, but I've yet to figure out how to get them back out. However, they look pretty good that way anyway, so I'm not concerned. Vehicle mode is the Star Saber super jet, with all the flying brick that implies. There's a couple bits that are tricky, mostly in figuring out where exactly to get the knee and thigh joints settled for the engine housing. The one accessory is the sword, which has no storage in jet mode, but that's fine. It clips into a vertical line coming out of his palm which can be tricky to line up right sometimes. I'll note that all the complaints about "oh, think of the CHILDREN!"? I wish someone had here. A lot of his pointy bits on wing tips or other areas are HARD plastic and pointy. I have uncomfortably jabbed myself on this toy. Also, the chest does pop out as a smaller robot, even if Saber's vehicle mode is kind of an afterthought after designing a robot that forms Star Saber's mighty chestplate.
All in all, I am getting the Hasbro Victory Saber, because it's an entirely different aesthetic than this guy. But if you're wondering about this and have some spare cash to drop (and it is a cash drop. It's 3rd party, after all) then I can recommend he's fun. 7/10.
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Post by Optimal Megatron on May 19, 2022 4:41:32 GMT -5
A few quick catchups
- SSBB Soundwave: Excellent robot mode, vehicle mode is meh. Leaving the backplate where it is when in robot mode rather than flipping it around to show off the faux chestplate actually lets you flip a panel down that makes it a decent hovertank with a canopy, which drastically improves the mode with that one small change. 6/10
- Legacy Arcee: Is this a good representation of Prime's aesthetic? No. Is it a good toy? Actually yes. I kind of like splitting the wheels behind the shoulders to get the turbofan look, and my only real gripe is that the wheels on the calves don't slide into the back of the legs somehow like the original did. I kinda see where some remolding could turn this into a slick hoverbike, and I'm hoping for a Flamewar Selects release down the way. 7/10
- Legacy Bulkhead: See above. He's not the rotund armored egg that Bulk's been in past bits, but I think he's 90% of the way. The headsculpt helps a lot compared to Arcee who's kinda G1 Girl Genercized, while Bulk still has his massive dozer chin. The transformation has more going on than you'd think from images, and his poseability's pretty good. he's pretty fun! 8/10
- Buzzworthy Bluestreak: This is just Earthrise Prowl/Bluestreak/take your pick. I got him because I genuinely don't have a Bluestreak in these colors from any prior releases. He's kinda spiffy, and the car mode does iron out some minor bits from the Siege release I didn't purchase most of the Datsuns again for. 7/10
- Legacy Iguanus: You've seen the pictures. They tell you most of what you need to know about this guy. I dig the transforming Pretender shell gimmick and have since IDW did it with Bludgeon way back during Stormbringer. Hoping we get more of these after the disappointments that were the Pretender shells in PotP. Also, the weapon annoys me because I don't *want* a Skywarp, but I do want the other piece of the sword. 8/10
- Legacy Kickback: Wow, that alt mode, huh? I want to say "40 years of toy technology" but he really is still falling over backwards and adjusting a handful of parts. The sword can form an adbdomen and the gun slots into the locust back now, though. Robot mode is pretty solid and I like the Insecticons so I'll probably recreate this trio. At least they aren't released as often as Seekers. 7/10
- Legacy Dragstrip: I rather liked CW Dragstrip's updated mode, but this one has the goofy six wheels that are fun regardless. Transformation is interesting, along with the waist split for future Menasor. I like the dual machine guns that work great in both modes, and his transformation isn't as predictable as you'd expect. Also, his headsculpt has a big chin under a thick visor that reminds me (fondly) of Animated Blitzwing's fiery personality and fits a street thug Stunticon. Solid piece on his own and he'll be fun in New Menasor. 8/10
- Legacy G2 Laser Prime: God, I can't wait for Scourge made out of this. The truck looks great, the robot mode is solid. The dual barreled cannon is a little tricky to get in his fist, so it could use a longer peg. I do appreciate that the trailer isn't as enormous as other cases. Sure, Rodimus was a Commander, but still. I do note the bicep swivels can pop off during transformation and don't SEEM as firmly on as you'd expect when reversed in the truck mode position. Weapon storage is solid and the trailer actually condenses slightly in battlestation mode rather than unfolding absolutely everything. There is some limitation in his upper articulation (the shoulder pads are static and can't rotate, though his shoulders have full rotation under them, and his head is fixed facing right forward on my copy), but a fun toy all around. 7/10
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Post by machsabre on May 19, 2022 16:13:12 GMT -5
Also, the weapon annoys me because I don't *want* a Skywarp, but I do want the other piece of the sword. Okay, I'm gonna say this now. The piece does NOT fit like it should. It will piss you off. I had to trim the peg to half the size to make the forking thing fit in Iggy's weapon hole. Once it's modded and combiner, it looks great. But the Warpfork is so unnoticeable... You're basically spending $10 on a handle that doesn't fit right. If you can hodgepodge some gear or spare parts to make a decent handle, you may be better off. I kinda wish I had. You basically just need a 5mm post with a smaller 3mm post to hold onto... And I'm kinda wondering if I need to break out the resin kits and make some spares for y'all. (THough I'm sure some 3rd party or Shapeways has already done something.)
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Post by Optimal Megatron on Jul 26, 2022 19:14:01 GMT -5
SS86 Sludge: Roundly an improvement over Slag in my opinion. His dino mode has some articulation beyond "open mouth" and his transformation is generally less finicky. Robot mode is a bit plain, but that's Slug for you. Two more to go, though will Swoop be a Leader too? Who knows? 8/10
SS Galvatron: I really wish this was a leader. They've outright said that the toes being exposed in the back is because parts count and engineering was dedicated to being able to store both his weapons in vehicle mode. I think a major character like this could've stood to be a Leader, especially when he's notably shorter than both SS Voyager Megatrons (original and RotF) and the Leader Megatron (Dark of the Moon). However, he has a good deal of poseability, transforms without having the entire truck on his back like the original AOE toy, and generally is a nice figure. 7/10
SSBB Arcee: After dealing with various Arcee molds that were moderately disappointing for G1 Arcee recently, this one is just fun, cool-styled, and a really interesting alt mode with the futuristic bike that reminds me a bit of Kaneda's from Akira. The robot mode has great looks and all the parts go somewhere, including the guns that become exhaust pipes, one of my favorite old accessory tricks. Really just great. 10/10, fully recommended.
SSBB Ironhide: So, what I said back a ways about Ratchet is fitting here too. I think the Ironhide red and his new head sculpt actually suit the mold a little more than Ratchet? Especially the big honking rifle. But still plenty fun, and a mild deco improvement. 8/10
Legaxy Jhiaxus: Sir Chonkalot the Steroid Seeker himself! This figure is amazing. It jumped right off the comics page. The robot mode hides everything incredibly that you could be forgiven for thinking he doesn't transform. His transformation is nice and intuitive. However, his robot mode arms are just....hanging off the belly in jet mode. Just nowhere to really put them and stay sleek looking. A neat feature is you can take the little scanner thing next to his head, put it on the back of his rifle, and then stick that along the back of the jet mode as a beam gun. Mine has a very loose, wobbly head, though, as if the joint wasn't completely fitting right. However, some nail polish might fix that. Still, an amazing effort for an obscure character that's not a retool of anyone. 9/10
Mastermind Creations Carnifex (IDW Overlord): He's a big honkin' chonker! This guy is a touch taller than Commander Jetfire and about as massive. But if you wanted an IDW Overlord and TR disappointed, this would be my recommendation, especially with the reissue including the G1-ifying upgrade kit in it for free that has Giga and Mega, additional guns, and a more G1 head. Very poseable, not super heavy, and the transformation is actually fun once you figure out a couple of small tricks to it that the instructions don't make very clear. Jet mode, tank mode are both cool, and there's a combined space jet mode that mostly slaps the tank halves on either side of the jet body and folds up the wings, but I appreciate it, even if it has nowhere to store his "I'm longer than most deluxes are tall" super rifle. As always, 3rd party so price is a concern, but this guy's beautiful and I'm very happy with the build quality. A few transformation hitches are his only flaw for me, along with the aforementioned price. 8/10.
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Post by Optimal Megatron on Aug 4, 2022 12:52:06 GMT -5
Generations Selects Cyclonus: And now the circle is complete. With SS Sweep being a toy colors Scourge, this completes the primary Unicron trio in their toy colors rather than show looks. He comes with a targetmaster from the Siege line, with appropriate articulation. I honestly kinda like the darker, purple on dark gray scheme with highlights compared to lighter lavender. I basically passed on the stickers on him, much like Selects Galvatron. For bonus material, the toy trio vs show trio lineup: "Galvatron? I am Galvatron!"Fearful Symmetry
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