TakaraTomy reveals Masterpiece Grapple, an Inferno retool packed with Master Builders accessories. Combiner Wars episodes 5 and 6 split the crew, though everyone agrees Megatron is the best part. KFC’s Simba joins Star Saber to form a third-party Victory Saber. Toy Base debuts Masterpiece-style Overlord, G2 Optimus Prime and Robots in Disguise Scourge. The crew also marks 15 years of the Robots in Disguise cartoon and the birthday of alt.toys.transformers.
Combiner Wars Episodes 5 and 6
Rob says episode 5’s plot depends on everyone in it being an idiot. The crew skipped last week’s discussion, so both episodes get covered here. In episode 6, Starscream proves he is still evil and takes the Enigma of Combination for himself. Devastator swats away Windblade’s sword, which pleases one host, and Victorion appears with no explanation. Megatron has the best dialogue and is the show’s highlight. One host is used to the Starscream and Optimus Prime voices now, though he wishes the processing were better. Diecast likes that it is quick, fun, free and a new story, while another host says free is no excuse for bad.
This Week in History
In 2001, the Robots in Disguise cartoon debuted in the US. Don still calls the Robots in Disguise Optimus Prime toy one of the best ever and says Neil Kaplan deserves more credit. He found the light tone welcome after 9/11. Also in 1993, the Usenet group alt.toys.transformers was formed, sharing that same birthday. Brian met several RFC hosts there. And in 1985, voice recording for Transformers: The Movie began September 10 and wrapped September 11.
News
Masterpiece Grapple Revealed
Grapple is an Inferno retool with new shin plates and a swappable yellow or black helmet piece. He comes with a crane, tools and a paper blueprint. A model of the solar power tower nods to “The Master Builders.” The crew expects Hoist to follow. One host hoped for a lower price than Inferno, but it costs the same. [Source: not found]
NRG and Lion Re-Record “Instruments of Destruction”
Members of NRG and Lion reunited to record a new version for the movie’s 30th anniversary. The crew finds it a little strange and would rather hear Stan Bush sing it. [Source: not found]
e-Hobby Bat Convoy: New Photos and Final Comic Page
The final comic page is up, but no translation yet. One host likes it less beside the original Bat Optimus Primal but is still buying it. [Source: not found]
Platinum Edition Liokaiser In-Hand Photos
Brian says he needs it. The crew wonders how Entertainment Earth will handle preorders and whether TakaraTomy will make its own version. Robot Kingdom preorders are an option if you don’t mind overseas shipping. [Source: not found]
Robots in Disguise App Update: Combiner Force and Crash Combiners
The app update hints at Combiner Force and Energon-style Crash Combiners. The crew wants Energon-style combining done again with modern engineering. One host hopes they literally crash together into combined form. [Source: not found]
TakaraTomy Legends Soundwave and Astrotrain Images
TakaraTomy’s Soundwave has a blue cassette door, which one host prefers to Hasbro’s clear one. Astrotrain gets painted cockpit and train windows. Several hosts already own the Hasbro versions and won’t pay extra. [Source: not found]
The Last Knight: Hot Rod’s Vehicle Mode
Hot Rod’s vehicle mode is a Lamborghini, as long rumored. [Source: not found]
Third-Party News
KFC Reveals Simba, Unofficial Victory Leo
Simba combines with Star Saber to form Victory Saber. At $160, the crew thinks an official TakaraTomy version might cost about the same. Everyone agrees it looks great, but it is a KFC product. [Source: not found]
Toy Base Master Series Double Evil: Unofficial MP-Style Overlord
It is a more G1-faithful Overlord than Mastermind Creations’ Carnifex, but it has no base mode. A comparison shot shows it is bigger than Star Saber. The crew thinks something looks a little off and notes Hasbro’s Titans Return Overlord is coming. [Source: not found]
Toy Base Unofficial MP-Scale G2 Optimus Prime and Robots in Disguise Scourge
The crew is impressed by real prototypes from a new brand. Still, a Masterpiece-scale Scourge has nothing to stand beside, so it feels unnecessary. [Source: not found]
BadCube Speedbump and Hoist Images
BadCube’s Hoist includes the knight and horse from “Decepticon Raiders in King Arthur’s Court.” The crew says its leg transformation looks like origami. One host can’t choose among three Trailbreakers and three Hoists from three companies. [Source: not found]
PD-01 Robot V2 and Star Pilot: Third-Party Biotron and Star Saber Set
The tiny set homages Biotron and a small Star Saber. The crew likes seeing something different, and it costs $38. [Source: not found]
Listener Question: Takara Day Edition
Juanito Black 007 asked what “Takara Day Edition” means in eBay listings. The crew guesses at New Year Convoy, a first-day release or a Transformers festival exclusive. If you know, they want to hear from you.
What We Got This Week
Matt got TakaraTomy’s Legends Blurr from TF Source in time for his birthday. It is his favorite Blurr toy ever.
Don found Titans Return Deluxe wave 2 at Walmart and bought Weirdwolf, Mindwipe and Chromedome. He is trading with his friend Blade for Highbrow. His wave 1 Skullcruncher has the worst quality control of all, with a wrist pin that is nothing but flash. He also won MakeToys’ Wrestle on eBay for $85 shipped.
Brian got Titans Return Ravage and Laserbeak from Amazon, and an exasperated sigh sums up both molds.
Chris got Unite Warriors Computron. Nosecone’s colors work better in person, and Strafe’s proportions look great. Scattershot’s remolding is small but separates him from Silverbolt. Afterburner is too red, and Lightspeed is the least interesting. One hip latch is weak, the same issue Rob has on his Combiner Wars set.
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.