So, I got my stuff from HTS a couple of weeks ago. Skyhammer, whom I call the UT version of Movie Dreadwing, is better than I though, as is his minicon Airlift, who has this great trick where his hips/legs link and turn with his head so that you can have two weapon modes that look essentially the same, but one attaches via a powerlinx port (female) and the other can be held by a male one that's a 5mm post. Pretty neat. Also, Scourge is great; his alt mode is unique among aircraft TFs and is actually close to being beautiful. Kup is not quite as awesome as you think he'll be, but neither does he really disappoint. I'm really glad now that I caved on the Walmart HFTD repaint of Recon Ironhide, because he still makes a pretty nice Movie Kup and can exchange weapons with the new Generations one. However, I now feel the need to go back and get Brakedown GTS, who is a blatant War Within Kup homage, even if I don't care much for the mode (it can't store its cyber key in alt mode, and it's the only Cybertron toy to not have that ability).
Anyway, newer stuff keeps sporadically popping up, and I've managed to get most of it, at this point only missing out on RTS Grapple (a Universe Inferno remold) and Windcharger (the only Classics-stlyed scout so far, at least until they release Frumble). So, I made two orders, one with RTS Lugnut and four of the upcoming RTS Legends (Megatron, Optimus, Starscream, and Goldbug) and then one with Generations Wheeljack and Thundercracker.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
New stuff coming in from HTS...
Well, finding new stuff, especially PCCs, has not been easy lately, so I bit the bullet a week & and a half ago and ordered a few items from HTS: Generations Kup & Scourge and PCC Skyhammer/Airlift and Undertow/Waterlog. I'm sure I'll never see the latter two at retail, and finding the first two won't be too easy either. I was disappointed that PCC Heavytread/Groundspike wasn't available, because I know he'll be equally unavailable. They also added PCC Over-Run (Dragstrip) after the order, but I'm not sure about him.
Really looking forward to Thundercracker and Wheeljack, too.
Really looking forward to Thundercracker and Wheeljack, too.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
DOTM
Yeah, that means Dark of the Moon, the subtitle (and thus internet prefix for toys) for Transformers 3.
And already, there's a ton of DOTM toys leaking onto the internet. Mostly cool, some not quite so.
My favorites so far:
- Deluxe Starscream: We got a deluxe movie Starscream when the first movie line fist started almost four years ago, but that was of his Cybertronian "protoform" mode. This new deluxe is clearly based on his ROTF appearance - apparently, he keeps his scars/tats for the new movie - and even learns a trick or two about transformation from the HftD Leader class toy. Being that he's a deluxe, F-22 Starscream, he reminds some of Energon Starscream - a point magnified more so when you see that his has nonintegral weapons that also resemble Energon Starscream's (one's a gun, the other's a blade, and they combine).
-"Dread" - another deluxe, this one a black SUV. I'm not sure of the actual character's name (could be Crankcase), but apparently there's a subgroup of 'cons in the new movie called the Dreads. And they actually have dreadlocks in bot mode. In fact, the overall appearance of the toy's robot form really isn't that dissimilar from the Yautja Predators of cinematic fame (amusing when you consider how much like a xenomorph ROTF Ravage looks).
And already, there's a ton of DOTM toys leaking onto the internet. Mostly cool, some not quite so.
My favorites so far:
- Deluxe Starscream: We got a deluxe movie Starscream when the first movie line fist started almost four years ago, but that was of his Cybertronian "protoform" mode. This new deluxe is clearly based on his ROTF appearance - apparently, he keeps his scars/tats for the new movie - and even learns a trick or two about transformation from the HftD Leader class toy. Being that he's a deluxe, F-22 Starscream, he reminds some of Energon Starscream - a point magnified more so when you see that his has nonintegral weapons that also resemble Energon Starscream's (one's a gun, the other's a blade, and they combine).
-"Dread" - another deluxe, this one a black SUV. I'm not sure of the actual character's name (could be Crankcase), but apparently there's a subgroup of 'cons in the new movie called the Dreads. And they actually have dreadlocks in bot mode. In fact, the overall appearance of the toy's robot form really isn't that dissimilar from the Yautja Predators of cinematic fame (amusing when you consider how much like a xenomorph ROTF Ravage looks).
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
REVEAL THE SHIELD
Ok, so I caved on the RTS Battle in Space set the other day. That Cyclonus kept looking better and better, and the metal Matrix that can fit G1 Optimus and exclusive comic book didn't help.
I guess I'll try to sell the Hot Rod/imus, as I don't think he looks as good as the original Classics release. I also prefer the Universe purple version of Nightstick to this more G1-accurate repaint, so he'll have to go, too.
However, Cyclonus is awesome. I had been a big fan of the very dark purple of the original Universe release, but when compared in hand to this new version, it's clear that the cruddy light grey doesn't do much for the older toy, especially when comparing the faces. And yes, the new repaint is more cartoon-accurate, even though I'm not always a big stickler for that. It helps that this new Cyclonus doesn't have trouble with one of his arms remaining connected to his torso, I suppose. So, yeah, I'll somehow get rid of old Cyclonus.
Also, the Matrix is pretty great. No paint, but it's a nicely shiny silver color, and looks very good in hand or in G1 Prime's chest. It's also got a nice heft to it, which was a bit surprising.
As for the comic, it's pretty fun. Boo's on art, so everything looks very loose and Animated-ish. This worked very well for his 'Bots of Science' story in The Arrival, and it's not the worst thing ever here, but it could be better. For example, Hot Rod looks very little like the toy in the box that this comic's included with. Cyclonus fares better, as do Kup and Galvatron. On the plus side, many of the characters have been redesigned to look like newly released/upcoming toys - Kup, Scourge, Grapple, for example. There's even a Warpath with a new design, leading most to think he'll get a new toy (as all the characters in non-new toy bodies have designs that strictly adhere to the G1 looks). Also, notably, RS Lugnut makes an appearance, confirming that his new toy represents a G1 version of himself, not from the Movie-verse or Prime-verse. Lastly, the comic takes place "behind-the-scenes" (or maybe between the scenes?) of the 1986 Animated Movie, which is pretty cool. I guess you could keep this with IDW's adaptation of the 86 Movie from a few years back, even if the designs don't mesh.
I guess I'll try to sell the Hot Rod/imus, as I don't think he looks as good as the original Classics release. I also prefer the Universe purple version of Nightstick to this more G1-accurate repaint, so he'll have to go, too.
However, Cyclonus is awesome. I had been a big fan of the very dark purple of the original Universe release, but when compared in hand to this new version, it's clear that the cruddy light grey doesn't do much for the older toy, especially when comparing the faces. And yes, the new repaint is more cartoon-accurate, even though I'm not always a big stickler for that. It helps that this new Cyclonus doesn't have trouble with one of his arms remaining connected to his torso, I suppose. So, yeah, I'll somehow get rid of old Cyclonus.
Also, the Matrix is pretty great. No paint, but it's a nicely shiny silver color, and looks very good in hand or in G1 Prime's chest. It's also got a nice heft to it, which was a bit surprising.
As for the comic, it's pretty fun. Boo's on art, so everything looks very loose and Animated-ish. This worked very well for his 'Bots of Science' story in The Arrival, and it's not the worst thing ever here, but it could be better. For example, Hot Rod looks very little like the toy in the box that this comic's included with. Cyclonus fares better, as do Kup and Galvatron. On the plus side, many of the characters have been redesigned to look like newly released/upcoming toys - Kup, Scourge, Grapple, for example. There's even a Warpath with a new design, leading most to think he'll get a new toy (as all the characters in non-new toy bodies have designs that strictly adhere to the G1 looks). Also, notably, RS Lugnut makes an appearance, confirming that his new toy represents a G1 version of himself, not from the Movie-verse or Prime-verse. Lastly, the comic takes place "behind-the-scenes" (or maybe between the scenes?) of the 1986 Animated Movie, which is pretty cool. I guess you could keep this with IDW's adaptation of the 86 Movie from a few years back, even if the designs don't mesh.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Post-Christmas
The holidays were very whirlwind this year, but a lot of fun. I only got a few TFs as actual gifts, but I was given a fair amount of cash/gift cards and I also had a small...contingency plan. So, actually, here's what all I got:
Generations:
-Thunderwing
-Skullgrin
-Cliffjumper
-Red Alert
Hunt for the Decepticons:
-Battle Blades Bumblebee
-Sidearm Sideswipe
-Elita-1
-Hubcap
-Insecticon
Reveal the Sheild:
-Tracks
-Jazz
-Mindset
Power Core Combiners:
-Leadfoot/Pinpoint
-Sledge/Throttler
-Icepick/Chainclaw
-Stakeout w/Protectobots
-Steamhammer w/Constructicons
-Grimstone w/Dinobots
So, of the available stuff I wanted, I really just need Axor. Well, and a replacement Skullgrin; his right heel spur wasn't pinned in.
Generations:
-Thunderwing
-Skullgrin
-Cliffjumper
-Red Alert
Hunt for the Decepticons:
-Battle Blades Bumblebee
-Sidearm Sideswipe
-Elita-1
-Hubcap
-Insecticon
Reveal the Sheild:
-Tracks
-Jazz
-Mindset
Power Core Combiners:
-Leadfoot/Pinpoint
-Sledge/Throttler
-Icepick/Chainclaw
-Stakeout w/Protectobots
-Steamhammer w/Constructicons
-Grimstone w/Dinobots
So, of the available stuff I wanted, I really just need Axor. Well, and a replacement Skullgrin; his right heel spur wasn't pinned in.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
YES
BBTS listed the case breakdown for the Generations wave that comes after the Kup/Scourge wave:
Wheeljack (!) and.....THUNDERCRACKER.
Finally! Come springtime, the dance of Seeker completion will be finished.
Unfortunately, it seems that this apparent gift of generosity from Hasbro has also unleashed Phazer from the depths. Not good.
But man, this is a great time to be a TF fan.
Wheeljack (!) and.....THUNDERCRACKER.
Finally! Come springtime, the dance of Seeker completion will be finished.
Unfortunately, it seems that this apparent gift of generosity from Hasbro has also unleashed Phazer from the depths. Not good.
But man, this is a great time to be a TF fan.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Overlord!
I caved on PCC Crankcase when I found him for $15 on Saturday. He's awesome, and does pretty well as an Overlod stand-in, despite the mostly RiD Scourge/Nemesis Prime-esque colors. Best looking PCC 5-pack so far, despite the molds not being intended for each other originally.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
