Easter is almost here...

So, we're just over a week away from Easter. Other than celebrating the obvious on that day, I'll also be glad because one of the things I've abstained from during Lent is....here it....wait for it....transformers.

I know! It's been tough. Not too tough, though. There honestly hasn't been a whole lot of stuff released lately...or at least stuff that hasn't made it anywhere I've been.

I'd still like to see the 5th wave of the Universe Legends toys (Wheelie, Hot Rod, Cosmos, and WARPATH), but no luck there. I did manage to find and pick up Target exclusive Animated Sunstorm last week. He comes with Activators Ratchet, who I luckily hadn't bought yet. However, he's staying under wraps until Easter day.

I'd also like to get Universe Hot Shot and Ratchet. Ratchet is fine as is. However, I'm really considering ordering the Japanese version of Hot Shot (called Hot Rod over there). He's about twice as much, but he comes with weapons. The reason this is a big deal is because even though the mold has fist holes and additional holes on the forearms, they don't match the pegs to any of the weapons (which are 5mm thick) that come from the Unicron Trilogy lines that this character hails from. So the American version can only defend himself with his minicon, Jolt, a small helicopter. And honestly, I could work with that - small helicopters make good close-range spinning-blade weapons. But not if you can only attach them to the larger character's back, which is the case with Hot Shot. The Japanese Hot Rod, on the other hand, has two chrome tailpipes that become hand/forearm-mounted flamethrowers in bot mode with pretty blue flame missiles. They also looks pretty similar to Animated Hot Shot's flamethrowers, and since we'll probably never get a toy of that version of the character, these weapons are likely the only physical reference to him available.

So yeah. I'm probably ordering Henkei (Japanese) Hot Rod instead of paying $13 for the American version.

Speaking of Animated Ratchet (above), that character is apparently getting a new deluxe toy, this time with a Cybertronian alt mode seen in many flashbacks on the show instead of his Earth-based Ambulance mode. What's especially cool about this is that it increases the likelihood of an Animated Ironhide toy being made - all that would be required is a head remold.

Fun with money...

It's been a long time since I updated. However, I have managed to pick up quite an number of transformers since then, largely due to Christmas (big thanks to my wife, parents, and in-laws!).

However, my TF buying is going to have to be more infrequent for now. I was trying to maintain a budget of $50 a month, but now I'm having to shoot for even less. For example, the only thing I'll be buying in February will be Universe Dinobot - a mere ten dollars. Ah well.

I did manage to pick up the new Animated Jetfire/Jetstorm set about two weeks ago, and got it for only $15, too. They're both a lot of fun, and a bit different from most other TFs, too.

I'm getting terribly excited for the new movie line, especially the Devastator figure. It's supposedly around 2 feet tall and about $100. That'll probably be a birthday thing at this point.

Longarm Prime

One week ago, i got Animated Shockwave in the mail. He's awesome.

Oh, and I found Crossovers TIE Bomber, too. He's ok.

Lots of toys...

OK, so I've gotten a lot of transformers this month. This is mostly due to me having some birthday funds in addition to the monthly amount I'll spend on toys. However, most of these transformers are particularly great, even the ones that I did not expect much from.

I've gotten:

Animated
-Sentinel Prime
-Swoop

Universe
-Sideswipe
-Ironhide
-Silverstreak
-Jazz
-Soundwave & Spacecase (old Universe line)

Crossovers
-Human Torch

And Animated Shockwave is on the way!

Only problem is that I had ordered Universe Legends Hound and gotten Megatron instead, who I had picked up in store at the beginning of September. So I have to repackage and return it via mail.

Animated core cast: complete!

I picked up Activators Bumblebee yesterday. I'd seen him on shelves for about two months now, but due to other characters having more interesting or exciting figures, I neglected the character all that time. The deluxe version has been available since June, and I've avoided that one still - no plans for it.

Activator 'Bee has turned out to pretty cool. Granted, it's basically a cheaper version of Classics 'Bee in the Animated aesthetic, but it still looks good next to Leader Bulkhead. Scale feels right with these two. And, along with Prowl, Ratchet, and Voyager Prime, I have rounded out the core Autobot cast! I really should pose them together.

Oh, and I gave up looking for Sentinel Prime and Swoop. They, along with Marvel Crossover Human Torch and Legends Jazz and Hound are on order from HTS. Which is pretty much my monthly budget. And it's only the 2nd.

Birthday round-up

Well here is what was obtained:

Animated Ultra Magnus did in fact come on Friday, and I went ahead and opened it then.

My wife did indeed get me Universe Onslaught.

And my parents came through with Titanium Grimlock and Prowl. This one in particular is good because they are exclusive to Toys R Us, which isn't close to here at all. Also, these toys are the size of a normal $10 transformer, but normally used to cost $15 due to the high metal content. These last two exclusive were being sold for $20 at TRU, meaning that I would have had to pay $40 for 2 10 dllar-sized toys. So go mom & dad. Dad also got me a new pocketknife since I lost mine in Ohio this summer, so I can now open TFs without hunting down the scissors. Yay!

Still trying to find Animated Sentinel Prime and Swoop, though. I checked 2 walmarts on the way home Sunday and they had about 3 Animated deluxes between them. That's one point against rural GA walmarts (especially since I have it on good authority that some even more rural walmarts do infact have these newer toys).

Birthday...imminent!

The B-day is fast approaching and this means that transformers are as well.

Here's the wish list so far:

From me:
Animated Ultra Magnus (from HTS, should arrive today)

From wife:
Universe Onslaught

From parents:
Titanium Series Grimlock & Prowl (TRU exclusives)

From in-laws (in the form of cash):
Animated Sentinel Prime & Swoop, if I can find them.

I will update later with what TFs actually come through.