Titans Return Hot Rod leaks in a color guide, and the crew finally sees a fresh take after a decade of the Classics mold. The final Collectors’ Club subscription opens for orders as BotCon Megatron climbs past $600 on eBay. In-hand Blaster photos back up Rob’s Twincast theory, and Universal Studios lands the Cyber Battalion figures. The crew also marks the end of Beast Wars and gets hands-on with Grand Galvatron.
This Week in History
Beast Wars Ends With “Nemesis Part 2”
In 1999, the final Beast Wars episode premiered in the US. Two hosts remember not knowing it was the finale until the end, and both call it pure Simon Furman. Don says the ending made him dislike Beast Machines even more. [Source: TFWiki]
News
Titans Return Hot Rod: First Look at the Color Guide and Packaging Line Art
The image is likely a color guide laid over a prototype, and the crew thinks it looks great. One host argues the 2006 Classics Hot Rod simply aged badly. With so many leaks, the crew wonders what Hasbro will have left for New York Comic-Con. Some miss the days of early line art and sketches. [Source: TFormers]
Subscription Service 5: The Final Order Period Begins
Orders run through May 26. One host wants only the double Pretender Megatron, and the crew expects it to command high prices later. BotCon 2016 Megatron is already selling for $600 to $700 on eBay. Don is tempted to sell his to finish his combiner projects. [Source: TFormers]
Hero-X Exclusive Transformers Adventure Dogfight vs. Runamuck Two-Pack
Million Publishing now goes by Hero-X. One host already paid around $80 for the two Legends-size figures. The crew notes these exclusives either vanish fast or sit forever, like Artfire. [Source: TFormers]
Hallmark Announces a G1 Grimlock Christmas Ornament
The ornament arrives in July for $16. Don wants it, and the crew thinks Grimlock suits the ornament style better than Optimus Prime or Megatron. [Source: TFormers]
Generations Cyber Battalion Figures to Be Universal Studios Exclusives
The figures should be orderable from the Universal Studios online store, likely around $50 each. One host likes the Starscream, which is engineered separately from the Legends version. [Source: TFormers]
Titans Return Leader Class Blaster: New In-Hand Photos
A helmet-open shot shows a head mold close to the one on last week’s test shot. That supports Rob’s theory that it will become Twincast. [Source: TFormers]
Victorion Hits Amazon and Toys “R” Us Canada
Third-party Amazon sellers list Victorion at about $119. Toys “R” Us Canada lists a May 17 ship date, but a US Toys “R” Us chat agent finds nothing in the system yet.
Galvatron Cosplay at the Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo
The crew loves the Galvatron costume and its glowing chest symbol. One host thinks it looks like the Tin Man in a Galvatron suit. [Source: not found]
Third-Party News
Toy World Announces an Unofficial Masterpiece-Scale Optimus Prime
Don suggests it suits fans who find other third-party Masterpiece figures too tall next to MP-10. Most of the crew calls it unnecessary, though one host would buy it in the gray prototype color. [Source: TFormers]
TFC Toys Hades Full Color Images
Don admits the unofficial Liokaiser team looks great. He has Hellbat, Leozack and Killbison, with Cerberus on the way, and needs Guyhawk and Drillhorn. [Source: TFormers]
Dr. Wu Nanobot Micro Insect Army Set
Tiny Kickback, Bombshell and Shrapnel are scaled to the Targetmaster from 2013’s Megatron. The crew debates a future where companies sell 3D printing files instead of toys. [Source: TFormers]
Also on TFormers
Combiner Wars Victorion: Unboxing the Fan-Built Combiner
Exvee unboxes Victorion on video. [Source: TFormers]
Custom G1 Cartoon Ark Scratch-Built Model
Rob calls it a great week for effort-heavy fan art. [Source: TFormers]
Legends Series LG22 Skull Looks Hungry
Hisashi Yuki has been posting Takara Tomy’s Hardhead and Skullcruncher. [Source: TFormers]
Grand Galvatron in Hand
One host assembled Unite Warriors Grand Galvatron during the show. The joints on the clear Starscream parts are loose enough that handling feels safe. Mold flash on Roller limits one arm joint, but paint is clean and he is very satisfied. Cyclonus is his favorite part.
What We Got This Week
Diecast
Diecast’s first mail at his new house was the Transformers Collectors’ Club magazine. Masterpiece Ratchet is also in his pile.
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.