Bandai announces Masterpiece-style Machine Robo figures, and Radio Free Cybertron finally gets the GoBots toys it has wanted for years. Hasbro and IDW extend their comics partnership after ten years, and Hasbro’s cartoon library moves to Tubi TV. Generations Leader Class Megatron turns up in the Philippines, and Toy World finally finishes its not-Throttlebots combiner. The crew previews its Toy Fair 2015 live coverage.
News
Bandai Announces Masterpiece-Style Machine Robo Figures
Machine Robo is the Japanese line that became GoBots in the US. The figures run about $50 each and are close to Masterpiece Bumblebee in size. One host notes the designer reportedly worked on some Fans Project figures, including its not-Stunticons. The crew praises the updated Blockhead and the SR-71 jet, and several hosts plan to buy them all. Hasbro owns the GoBots names while Bandai owns the designs, so a US release is unlikely. Don hopes for snap-on energy blast effect parts, which Bandai already makes for other lines. [Source: not found]
Hasbro and IDW Extend Their Partnership
Hasbro and IDW mark ten years together by extending the comics license. The crew recalls that Simon Furman’s original run was well regarded, the reboot lost readers and the last few years have been strong. [Source: not found]
Hasbro’s Cartoon Library Moves to Tubi TV
After leaving Netflix, Hasbro’s cartoons are on the free, ad-supported Tubi TV. The library includes G1, the Unicron Trilogy and Transformers Animated. Don defends G1 season two against the rest of the crew. [Source: not found]
EM Gokin God Ginrai
The licensed figure pushes God Ginrai into a sleek, Gundam-like style with realistic guns. Some of the crew like it as a take on the character. Don questions what the guns have to do with God Ginrai. [Source: not found]
Automata Series Ultra Magnus with Removable Armor
The high-end figure has separate armor pieces over a white Optimus Prime body. The crew expects a price near $1,000 and would rather see it than own it. One host prefers an Ultra Magnus whose armor is a complete figure, as on the Masterpiece. [Source: not found]
Generations Leader Class Megatron Appears in the Philippines
In-hand photos show the Leader Class Megatron, and the crew calls the robot frumpy, though the tank mode looks great. Reports say the pelvis armor limits the hips. The host who posted the photos to TFormers calls it a valid stand-in next to MP-10 until a new Masterpiece Megatron arrives. Another host plans to get X-Transbots’ Apollyon instead. [Source: TFormers]
Third-Party News
TFC’s Not-Hound Versus MakeToys Gundog
Diecast swore off TFC, yet he likes its new not-Hound for its classic look and strong Jeep mode. Another host prefers the MakeToys Re:Master Gundog robot mode, though its headlights are too big. The crew guesses TFC built from the vehicle out and MakeToys from the robot out. The crew shows little interest in TFC’s not-Blades. [Source: not found]
MakeToys Re:Master Cupola Revealed
The Masterpiece-scale not-Chromedome looks more G1 than Fans Project’s Code. The crew finds the Headmaster partner a little simple. [Source: not found]
Toy World Finishes Its Not-Throttlebots Combiner
The last three figures are coming at once, more than two years after Grind Rod. Grind Rod sold out, while Aurora has sat on clearance for about $30. The crew calls it a warning about poor planning. One host says Toy World never clearly marketed the figures as a combiner. Another says a multi-part project should not be marketed until every piece is designed. [Source: not found]
Around TFormers
TransformerLand posted scans of the 1982 Diaclone catalog, the first appearance of the cars that became Sunstreaker and Ironhide. It also posted a 1984 catalog with very different early Dinobot prototypes. Rob reviews Transformers vs. G.I. Joe #5. Mairghread Scott discusses Combiner Wars characters from Caminus, including the Mistress of Flame designed by Sarah Stone. The site also has images of the Collectors’ Club Lio Convoy and the last two Classics Seeker mold uses. Exvee and Matt break down round two of the fan-built combiner vote, where the bomber limb is pictured as Silverbolt.
Remembering JD
Brian notes that this episode goes online one year after the passing of JD, his longtime RFC co-host. He spoke with JD’s wife, Amanda, that day. “We miss and love you, JD.”
Toy Fair Weekend
Diecast will be at Toy Fair on Valentine’s Day. The live stream runs from about noon to 6 p.m. Eastern at TF Radio and TFormers. Guests from fellow Transformers podcasts, including Transmissions, TFYLP and Shattered Cast, will drop in. Brian also thanks Exvee and Diecast for hosting the week before.
This Week in History
In 1997, the Beast Wars episode “The Low Road” premiered in the US. The crew remembers it as a full episode built around a fart joke. One host says first-run syndication allowed jokes that later network rules would not.
Transformers Universe Postmortem
Listener TF Boy sent a detailed timeline of the Transformers Universe online game, from launch to shutdown. Several hosts signed up at conventions and were never contacted to play. The crew would love an open-world Cybertron game in the Bethesda style.
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.