Rob makes the case that an evergreen-style Transformers line will replace Generations this fall, alongside the Bumblebee movie, as a full brand refresh. Studio Series price tags turn up at Meijer, and the first in-package photo shows the new ’76 Camaro Bumblebee mold. Power of the Primes Hun-Gurrr and Elita-1 appear in hand, and Singapore gets the wave 2 Deluxes first. It is the last show before the Toy Fair 2018 live stream, with Diecast headed to New York.
Toy Fair 2018 Live Stream
The ninth annual Toy Fair live stream starts Saturday at noon Eastern at tfradio.net/live, with a follow-up stream Sunday at 1 PM. Diecast will cover the Hasbro press event in New York and tweet from @TFRadio. Dusty from Toyhax will join to talk about stickers.
This Week in History
In 2015, Diecast spent Valentine’s Day at Toy Fair in New York looking at toys. That was the year of Combiner Wars wave 3 and Devastator, with all its controversies. [Source: TFWiki]
The Big Item
Evergreen and Bumblebee Movie Lines to Debut in the Fall as Part of Coordinated Brand Refresh?
Rob expands on his Toy Detective episode and TFormers article. On Hasbro’s full-year call, the CEO called the Bumblebee movie the focal point of a brand activation around the holidays. Rob reads that as a clean break from the Michael Bay era, with a new movie, cartoon and branding. He expects evergreen styling to replace Generations, with Authentics as a budget tier and Studio Series keeping movie toys on shelves. The crew welcomes plain Transformers without a combiner or Headmaster gimmick. One host notes that a toy only gets shelf space if it sells or the vendor pays for it. [Source: TFormers]
News
New SD Transformers Figures Coming From WhatNot Toys
Diecast shared news of super-deformed movie figures from WhatNot Toys. Brian expected an ugly Megatron but finds them cute, though he will not buy any. One host finds the eyes slightly disturbing, while another calls them the best feature. [Source: TFormers]
Studio Series Soon? Price Tags Found at Meijer for Leader, Deluxe and Voyager Figures
A fan found Studio Series shelf tags at his Meijer, two months ahead of an April 20 date from the Toys R Us inventory system. Diecast explains that stores print tags automatically when the system expects stock. One host notes Target did the same with Last Knight Voyagers, so the tags may just be an error. [Source: TFormers]
Transformers Studio Series Deluxe Wave 1 Bumblebee: In-Package Shot of New Mold ’76 Camaro Figure
The photo shows the new ’76 Camaro Bumblebee in Generations Studio Series packaging. The crew likes the backdrop, the display base and the better use of space in the box. One host suspects shared engineering with an earlier Bumblebee mold. [Source: TFormers]
Transformers Authentics 4.5″ Figure Sighting in Georgia: Now at Family Dollar
Rob Springer found Authentics at a Family Dollar outside Atlanta. Brian checked his own store with no luck and is jealous. Diecast will not buy any, though he admits Megatron looks good for five or six dollars. One host still wants the $10 Authentics Grimlock. [Source: TFormers]
Singapore has the wave 2 Deluxes while the US has everything else from the wave. Brian cannot wait for Rippersnapper, and nobody is surprised by Moonracer’s huge backpack. Wave 2 Prime Masters use screws instead of rivets, but JT Prime confirms the reshipped wave 1 figures are still riveted. [Source: TFormers]
Power of the Primes Voyager Class Hun-Gurrr: In-Hand Images
One host likes the beast mode despite the tiny front legs and Silverbolt-style engineering. The stickers look horrible. The crew is just glad to finish the Terrorcons. [Source: TFormers]
Power of the Primes Elita-1: First In-Hand Pictures of the Wave 2 Voyager
Elita-1’s stickers look far better on the toy than Starscream’s, and an alternate wings-down transformation looks great. One host wishes she were a Deluxe. Another counters that a Deluxe would look off next to Leader Optimus Prime. [Source: TFormers]
Power of the Primes Predaking Preorder in Australia
An Australian retailer opened Predaking preorders for August or September, using HasCon slideshow art instead of photos. The crew doubts it is a sanctioned listing. [Source: not found]
Planet X Shows Prototypes for Video Game-Inspired Not-Insecticons
The crew appreciates Planet X sticking with a theme nobody else does, the Cybertron video games. That sends them digging through memories of which Fall of Cybertron wave included Kickback. [Source: TFormers]
Thrilling 30 Orion Pax’s Secret Identity Revealed: See the Kup That Could Have Been
Leftover Orion Pax kits still have an unused Kup head on the sprues and will become a convention premium. One host always wanted that figure as Kup. Another finds it too little, too late, since a better Kup exists as a Headmaster. A third values it as a rare look at what could have been. [Source: TFormers]
Diecast’s Toys R Us Gets a Reprieve
Diecast’s local Toys R Us was on the closing list but will stay open after the landlord lowered the rent. He knows of at least one other store spared the same way. One host suspects the closings simply shifted to other stores.
What’s on TFormers
Rob wrote up the evergreen case from his Toy Detective episode. He also posted a Countdown to Toy Fair 2018 list and The Brands of Transformers on Kenner.
What We Got This Week
Matt found new Power of the Primes Legends Roadtrap and Battleslash at Walmart before they were even announced. A store associate rang them up by hand.
Brian opened a $2 transforming robot from Family Dollar, an upscaled take on Cybertron Legends Optimus Prime that is nicer than expected. A friend also picked up Titans Return Slugslinger, Roadtrap, Battleslash and Cyber Battalion Prowl for him. Prowl is his favorite: simple, elegant and light.
Rob does not think he got anything this week.
John got nothing this week, he said in the chat.
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.