Unique Toys’ R-02 Challenger, an unofficial movie Optimus Prime, has the crew worried about legal blowback for third parties. The first Masterpiece Beast Wars Dinobot prototype looks silly but is still very wanted. Mastermind Creations shows its full DJD lineup, and Bot Fest 2017 brings Fans Hobby, MakeToys and Galaxy Meteor news. The live-action movies head to 4K Ultra HD, and Last Knight Cogman turns up at a US Toys R Us.
National Podcast Post Month
In November, the network will post at least one podcast every day. John has agreed to bring back New Soundwave, and Family Versus and a wrestling show should return. Brian also hopes to finally record an episode of a new show with Don.
This Week in History
In 1997, the Beast Wars episode “Aftermath” premiered in the US, bringing the Transmetal upgrades. The crew calls it a strong toy-introduction episode that launched a great second season. One host names Transmetal Megatron and Optimus Primal his favorite versions. In 2006, the Kiss Players Hot Rod set was released in Japan, and Brian owns nothing from Kiss Players or Operation Combination. [Source: TFWiki]
News
UniqueToys R-02 Challenger: Here Comes a New Unofficial Movie Optimus Prime
The test shot shows an Age of Extinction and Last Knight-style Optimus Prime with almost no kibble. Rob admires the engineering, but Don asks why it exists when stores are full of movie Primes. Brian and another host worry that a Masterpiece-style movie Prime sold by US retailers could draw cease-and-desist letters. Matt adds that Paramount might go after sellers rather than makers. [Source: TFormers]
Masterpiece Beast Wars Dinobot: First Look at New Prototype
One host says it looks silly but he wants it badly. The crew expects color to help and notes the visible seams. A Figure King feature is due next month, with preorders likely after. [Source: TFormers]
Movie Series: First Look at Backdrops To Be Included in New Movie Toyline
Rob explains that next year’s movie line, first seen in summer leaks, will include backdrops of movie scenes. Megatron and Brawl may be new molds, but the photos are too pixelated to tell. [Source: TFormers]
MMC: New Photo Reveals Mastermind Creations Drift, Thunderclash, Cybertron Override and More
John reports that Mastermind Creations posted its whole DJD lineup on Facebook after fans at TFcon worried the line had stalled. Don is so tempted by Thunderclash that he may sell a figure to fund it. [Source: TFormers]
Third Party Event Bot Fest 2017: Products on Display From MMC, Fans Hobby, MakeToys and More
The Singapore event showed the Fans Hobby Powermaster Prime next to an even bigger Overlord. MakeToys will sell a separate Godbomber, while Thunder Manus ships with its armor either way. Galaxy Meteor recolors and a Conehead prototype mean six seekers are coming. One host wonders whether the first Galaxy Meteor was ever really in danger of cancellation. [Source: TFormers]
Transformers Live Action Movie Series Coming to 4K Ultra HD
Each film will cost $27.99. One host plans to start with Revenge of the Fallen, to the crew’s horror. [Source: TFormers]
Cogman Sighted in US: Last Knight Premier Deluxe Figure Found in Olympia, WA Toys R Us
Cogman turned up at a Toys R Us in Washington. The crew says paying about $30 on eBay beats hunting for him. [Source: TFormers]
Titans Return Cloudraker and Wingspan Exclusives: New Placeholder Listing on Walgreens.com
Walgreens.com shows stock counts, but one host found nothing at a store listed as having them. The crew explains that shared assortment numbers make store locators unreliable. [Source: TFormers]
What’s on TFormers
Custom Toy Showcase: Combiner Wars Jetfire, But Not Quite How You Think
A fan built movie Jetfire from Combiner Wars Cyclonus and unofficial Silverbolt parts. It also becomes a torso with a movie Optimus Prime head, and Rob says it could pass for a retail toy. [Source: TFormers]
The Last Knight Deluxe Cogman: TFormers Premier Edition Gallery
Exvee’s gallery has about 200 photos of Cogman. [Source: TFormers]
First Strike #6 Finale: IDW Comics Review
Rob enjoyed the series overall, though he feels the ending comes out of left field. [Source: TFormers]
What We Got This Week
Diecast got Generation Toy Tyrant, an IDW stealth bomber Megatron in Masterpiece style, and reviewed it on RFC Reviews. He also got a Mastermind Creations comic-style Megatron with parts to become Megatronus. From DX9’s War in Pocket line he got Grimlock and a triceratops Dinobot, which run bigger than he expected. He added a Hot Soldiers Ratchet for about $10, a wave 3 movie Bumblebee, the first two Iron Factory combiner figures and a Bruticus upgrade set. From Big Bad Toy Store’s clearance he got Unique Toys Allen for about $59.
Don picked up an SNES Classic, so his pickup this week was not Transformers.
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.