MP-32 Masterpiece Optimus Primal arrives in hand, and Brian finds his heart melting over it. MP-36 Masterpiece Megatron opens for preorder at about $230, and the crew balks at the price jump. Iron Factory’s Lord Scorpion turns out much smaller than hoped, and The Last Knight Voyager Optimus Prime debuts on Chinese TV. Titans Return Deluxes drop to about $10, and Extra Life raised $1,531 for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
Extra Life Results
The Extra Life stream raised $1,531 for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Brian streamed about nine hours, Jason Kirk joined in, and Brian’s friend Mike streamed 26 hours straight.
Operation Combination
With Extra Life done, the crew turns to Operation Combination. Titans Return Deluxes are about $10, and Voyagers run $12.99 to $14.99 at Marshalls, TJ Maxx and Ross. Remember that girls like toys too, and tweet donations with #OperationCombination.
Brainstorm Winner
Stephanie Higgs, @RisingGundam on Twitter, wins the Walgreens Brainstorm.
This Week in History
In 1987, “The Rebirth” Part 3, the last episode of the original cartoon, premiered in the US. Don recalls paying for Fortress Maximus at Toys “R” Us with a jar of change, $105 in all. In 1991, the Victory episode “Farewell, Optimus Prime” premiered in Malaysia.
News
MP-36 Masterpiece Megatron Preorders
Preorders run about $230, compared with $146.99 for the third-party Despotron. One host notes Amazon Japan copies lack the orange barrel plug needed for US import. The crew worries rising Masterpiece prices will push collectors to third parties.
The Last Knight Voyager Optimus Prime Makes Official Debut on Chinese TV
A Chinese TV crew filmed a feature at Hasbro’s Pawtucket offices. One host explains the toy follows the final Knight armor design, unlike the Age of Extinction concept-based toys. [Source: TFormers]
New Marvel-Style G1 Retro Posters With Art by Guido Guidi
The crew loves the Optimus Prime, Megatron and Starscream prints. Bumblebee is the weak one because it is so accurate to Marvel’s flat color. [Source: TFormers]
Prime 1 Studio G1 Megatron Statue New Stock Photos
The reimagined design costs around $1,000. One host would rather have it as a $50 vinyl or a Leader class toy. Another notes the G1 cartoon look does not suit high-detail statues. [Source: TFormers]
Titans Return Twinferno and Doublecross In-Hand Photos
New photos show an internal driver compartment for the Titan Master. [Source: TFormers]
Titans Return Kickback Legends Insecticon In-Hand Photos
Kickback looks far better than his press renders. One host is happy to finally complete the Insecticon trio started in 2014. [Source: TFormers]
Titans Return Holiday Price Drops in the US
Walmart and Target have reportedly cut Deluxes to about $10, and wave 2 is showing up. One host says the first two waves did not meet demand, so restocks are thin. [Source: TFormers]
Masterpiece Reissues
Takara is reissuing MP-10 Optimus Prime for a third run at about $220, plus MP-13 Soundwave, cassette two-packs and the Coronation Starscream set.
Robots in Disguise Combiner Force Legion Class In-Hand Photos of Springload and Starscream
Paul Agnew’s photos show the new Legion class figures. One host says it may be the only way to get a decent Springload. [Source: TFormers]
Third-Party News
Iron Factory Lord Scorpion Video Review: Actual Size Revealed
The figure is smaller than the 18-centimeter retailer listings implied. One host canceled his preorder. One host hopes someone makes an upscaled version, like the YJ upscale of Evasion Mode Optimus Prime. [Source: TFormers]
What’s on TFormers
Chris covers Rob’s Walgreens Brainstorm gallery, his own Legends Gnaw gallery and a Beast Wars retro review of Ultra Optimus Primal. Jay reviewed Masterpiece Thrust, and a new image of Unite Warriors Megatronia appeared.
RFC Schedule
RFC takes Thanksgiving week off so episode 500 lands at the end of the year.
What We Got This Week
Matt got a Legends Gnaw through Diecast and Masterpiece Thrust, which he rates above Ramjet. He also got the Unite Warriors Lynxmaster set and DX9’s Hulky, his rare third-party buy, so he can drop Broadside on it.
Chris got Legends Gnaw and likes it.
Don picked up MP-32 Optimus Primal from Amazon Japan for a little less than US retailers. He also got an unlicensed EVA-colored version of the MP-10 Optimus Prime, which he will display as a G2 Optimus.
Brian got MP-32 Optimus Primal and warmed to it on a second look. He also got a knockoff oversized Powerglide for about $6.
Diecast got Combiner Wars Computron from Amazon, delivered the next day.
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.