In this BotCon 2014 special edition, Anthony from TFU.info calls in from the convention floor after the Hasbro brand panel. The big reveals are a G1-styled Generations Arcee, Chromia, a new Leader Class Megatron with a working-tread tank mode and Headmaster Brainstorm. Hasbro hints at a 2015 Deluxe combiner theme with a Superion silhouette. The Collectors Club unveils Subscription Service 3.0, including Croc, Nacelle, Zap with G.B. Blackrock and Tarantulas. Brian, Diecast and Rob react as the photos come in.
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Generations Arcee and Chromia Revealed
The Generations Deluxe Arcee finally appears, and she is very G1 in style. Anthony saw her on display and says she will fit next to G1 Springer and Hot Rod. Chromia looks gorgeous as a motorcycle and appears to be a remold of the Prime Robots in Disguise Arcee. Brian suggests a repaint as Afterburner. [Source: TFW2005]
Leader Class Megatron and Armada Megatron
A new Leader Class G1 Megatron transforms into a tank with working treads. He includes a sticker to make him an Autobot. The mold is also being reworked into Armada Megatron, which Brian calls G1 Megatron wearing Armada Megatron’s hat. He is still buying it. [Source: TFW2005]
Brainstorm is the 30th anniversary line’s Headmaster. Brian loves him because Brainstorm was his only Headmaster as a kid. One host thinks the figure means it is time to sell his third-party Smart Robin, while another plans to keep his. [Source: TFW2005]
Legends Bombshell, Powerglide and More
Legends Bombshell and Powerglide both look great. Thundercracker uses the Starscream mold, and Windcharger uses the Tailgate mold. Brand manager Mark Weber says that when Hasbro does two of a team, it wants the third, so a Kickback looks likely. [Source: TFW2005]
Voyager Optimus Prime Is Puppet Prime
The new Voyager Optimus Prime, presented as IDW-styled, left Brian cold until a Twitter friend called it Puppet Prime. In that context, he now loves it. [Source: TFW2005]
Junkheap, Hot Shot Crosshairs and Evasion Mode Optimus
Junkheap is a definite buy, and Hasbro even wanted him to smell, though smelly plastic proved too expensive. A Crosshairs repaint as Hot Shot and a white Evasion Mode Optimus Prime with red flames were also shown. [Source: TFW2005]
A 2015 Combiner Theme for Deluxes
Hasbro listed zero Deluxes shown with 16 still to come, plus four Voyagers. Mark Weber could not share details, but he showed a Superion silhouette as the 2015 Deluxe theme. The crew reads that as combiners and debates how 16 Deluxes might split into teams. Brian sees it as Hasbro telling third parties it can do combiners better and cheaper. [Source: TFW2005]
Collectors Club Subscription Service 3.0
Anthony reports the Collectors Club Subscription Service 3.0 lineup. Croc uses the Generations Megatron mold as a neon green Action Master homage with an Arms Micron. Nacelle is a blue and white Thrust from the Exodus novel. A Serpentor crossover figure, G2 Starscream and Tarantulas on the Wreck-Gar mold also appear. Zap comes with G.B. Blackrock on the Bumblebee Goldfire mold, and Brian says that alone sells him on it. The club and freebie figures were not shown. [Source: TFW2005]
Single-Character Cases for Specialty Stores
Asked at the panel, Hasbro confirmed single-character cases for specialty retailers through Diamond. Hasbro likes that stores can order more of popular characters. Brian doubts it will matter much outside major retail. [Source: TFW2005]
From the Convention Floor
Anthony says BotCon 2014 ranks about average, with lots of good cosplay and a 70-minute wait for the Transformers ride at Universal. He briefly met Chris McFeely before the Hasbro panel.
Radio Free Cybertron is the world's first and oldest toy and action figure podcast — broadcasting from the heart of the Transformers fan community since October 1999. What started as a scrappy fan show has grown into an institution, with nearly 1,000 episodes and over 25 years of coverage. Every week, host Brian Kilby and the RFC crew dig into the latest Transformers news, toy reveals, collecting, and everything hitting shelves from Hasbro, Takara, and beyond. No fluff, no hype — just informed, passionate collectors who have been doing this longer than anyone else on the planet. The original. The longest running. Till all are one.