A huge Titans Return leak shows Sixshot, Getaway, Trigger Happy, Double Cross, a new Optimus Prime and a new Megatron. The crew picks through the art, guesses at future remolds and asks what Hasbro can do to stop leaks. Beast Wars turns 20, and the crew remembers the first day of BotCon 2012, the last time they saw JD Church. Takara Tomy hints at a Valdigus after Unite Warriors Computron, and Matt shows off Masterpiece Ratchet.
This Week in History
Beast Wars premiered in most of the US on April 22, 1996. The crew notes it aired as Beasties in Canada and wonders what the first Italian episode was called. [Source: TFWiki]
April 26, 2012 was the first day of BotCon 2012, the last time the crew met JD Church in person. Brian recalls a Whataburger meal with John and JD and a Sunday morning Bravestar session. Chris remembers staying in with JD to watch the animated Thor movie. [Source: TFWiki]
News
Huge Titans Return Leak: Sixshot, Optimus Prime, Megatron, Getaway and Hot Rod
Sixshot looks amazing to the crew, though only art has surfaced. Getaway is a Chromedome recolor, and Trigger Happy looks new. The crew pitches ways to rework Trigger Happy into Misfire or Slugslinger. Optimus Prime nods to Laser Prime with a Star Convoy-style alternate head and may be a triple changer. Hot Rod’s sketches use the Classics Hot Rod mold as a placeholder, and Double Cross could become Grotusque. Megatron shows possible jet parts, so the crew wonders about a future Blitzwing. [Source: TFormers]
Stopping the Leaks
The crew expects little left to reveal at San Diego or New York Comic-Con. One host points to Brickinator’s note that Hasbro is moving some production to India, where intellectual property laws follow British common law. John shares that some toy companies collect phones in a bag during licensee meetings.
Figure King April 2016 Scans: Masterpiece Optimus Primal Scale
The only new detail is Masterpiece Optimus Primal next to the Legends Beast Wars reissues. The crew thinks Rhinox should be taller, though Rattrap scales about right. [Source: TFormers]
Titans Return Legends Rewind and Stripes Images
Rewind looks nice, but the crew thinks Stripes looks poor. Both work with Blaster and Soundwave. [Source: TFormers]
Titans Return Sentinel Prime Retail Stock Photos
Sentinel Prime reuses the Astrotrain mold in heavy orange. One host likes it without loving it, and another hopes for a classic Astrotrain recolor someday. [Source: TFormers]
Kabaya Fortress Maximus Metallic Version Revealed
The release may add foil stickers rather than a metallic plastic. Don says Megan built his first Kabaya Fortress Maximus for him. [Source: TFormers]
Ultimetal Ultra Magnus New Color Images
The core is the white Ultimetal Optimus Prime with a second figure’s worth of armor. Nobody on the crew can afford it, and the retail price is not announced. [Source: TFormers]
IDW Comics Review: Sins of the Wreckers #4
Rob praises Nick Roche’s art but finds the book’s take on large leaks off-putting. He also notes the Impactor shift from the first three issues. The trade is expected in August. [Source: TFormers]
Unite Warriors Computron Box Art and a Hint at the Next Figure
Hisashi Yuki shared the very red box art and hinted at a Bruticus repaint as Valdigus. The crew would rather see Battle Gaia or Ruination. Don is happy to see Car Robots back on Takara Tomy’s radar. [Source: TFormers]
Unite Warriors Grand Galvatron Photo Gallery
The crew worries about stress points in the clear Starscream, from the shoulder pins to the elbows. [Source: TFormers]
Transformers Adventure Hypersurge Optimus Prime New Photos
One host still prefers Hasbro’s version as a Machine Wars Optimus Prime homage. John’s Thunderclash custom on Battlecore Optimus Prime with Renderform parts is almost done. [Source: TFormers]
Third-Party News
Fansproject Function X Browning II Gallery and Quick Review
The crew likes the engineering but is worn down by Function X’s long waits. [Source: TFormers]
Omnigonix Spinout: Unofficial Masterpiece Sunstreaker
Don has spent two weeks choosing between Spinout and Sunsurge. One host thinks Sunsurge has the better car and Spinout the closer robot. [Source: TFormers]
DX9 Gewalt: Unofficial Masterpiece Blitzwing
The crew says DX9’s work has earned trust and praises the cartoon look. [Source: TFormers]
Second Chance SC-02: Unofficial Fall of Cybertron Voyager Optimus Prime
The crew sees little more than an upscale of the Generations Deluxe with less detail. [Source: TFormers]
KFC Eavi Metal Phase Four Transistor Shattered Version
The Shattered Glass Blaster mold gets good reviews, but the crew has doubts about KFC’s cassettes. [Source: TFormers]
Also on TFormers
IDW Comics Review: More Than Meets the Eye #52
Exvee calls this issue a letdown after a promising #51. [Source: TFormers]
Is This the Biggest Metroplex? Custom Display Unit
A wooden Metroplex roughly seven feet tall stands on an articulated metal frame. [Source: TFormers]
MakeToys Pandinus Near-Final Sample Photos
One host is still tempted but would rather have a black Zarak version. [Source: TFormers]
Transformers 5 to Shoot in the Czech Republic?
The rumor mill is spinning, and one host expects shoots in many locations. [Source: TFormers]
Transformers 5 Casting Rumors: Jerrod Carmichael
Nobody on the crew knows him. [Source: TFormers]
Don’s BotCon Thank You
Don thanks everyone who made the last BotCon special for him. He was touched by fans who brought up his Headmaster Arcee question and asked him to sign a comic.
What We Got This Week
Matt
Matt got Masterpiece Ratchet and says it matches Ironhide, with no arm issues. He dislikes stickers on Masterpieces, but the Red Cross workaround makes sense on Ratchet. He also got e-Hobby Deadlock in black and purple, with the greatsword and all the guns.
Diecast
Diecast received a box of imported knockoffs, including an upscaled Predaking and three Throttlebots. Shipping alone cost about $95, and he opens the box after the show.
Brian
Brian ordered Combiner Wars Victorion from Aegis during the show. It looked better at BotCon than in photos, though it stays boxed until after his move.
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.