A Trypticon reportedly found at an Ollie’s for 13 dollars sends fans hunting, though the real price looks closer to 50. Maketoys reveals unofficial Masterpiece Skywarp and Thundercracker, and some collectors are selling official seekers to buy them. Cyberverse Ultra and Ultimate Class packaging shows a kids’ line the crew is glad to see. TakaraTomy’s voluntary recall of Encore God Fire Convoy turns out to be about the sound chip. Power of the Primes Wreck-Gar’s package art leaks, and Wave 3 turns up in New Zealand.
News
Bargain Basement Trypticons Maybe Aren’t as Cheap as Shown
A Trypticon reportedly turned up at an Ollie’s in Florida for 13 dollars, and fans rushed out to look. Later reports put the price closer to 50 dollars. One host figures 13 dollars had to be a mistake, given what Ollie’s would have paid. Another notes Ollie’s buys odd one-off lots, so stock varies from store to store. [Source: TFormers]
Unicron #0 Spoilers: The Origin of the Spaceknights
Bleeding Cool posted spoilers from the Free Comic Book Day issue Unicron #0, and Alex Milne questioned on Twitter whether it had permission. One host would rather read it fresh on Free Comic Book Day. Another host notes IDW may see it as free advertising, since the spoiler is not a big one. [Source: TFormers]
TakaraTomy Conducts Voluntary Recall of Encore God Fire Convoy Set
The recall is not about the mold defects fans reported. The sound chip apparently calls out the wrong weapon name. HobbyLink Japan will take the set back and reimburse shipping, or let buyers keep it with a 25 percent refund, which the crew calls generous. One host would still rather track down the original. [Source: TFormers]
Maketoys Reveals Unofficial Masterpiece Skywarp and Thundercracker
Diecast has ordered them and really likes the Thundercracker. Don recalls recommending YES Model’s sturdier seekers over the official Masterpiece versions, and the crew notes those were IP-infringing knockoffs. One host points out that people are selling official Masterpiece seekers to fund these, a sign TakaraTomy should redo the mold. Diecast is tempted to wait for FansToys seekers, judging by its upcoming Aerialbots. One host notes Hasbro and TakaraTomy have said their lines do not influence each other. [Source: TFormers]
The crew likes the toyetic, animated-style designs, especially Megatron. One host can’t wait to buy Optimus Prime and Megatron for his son. Diecast recalls a Facebook complaint that Cyber Battalion Shockwave was just a toy, and the crew answers that toys are what they collect. Don adds that collectors already get plenty of product, so a kids’ line matters even more. [Source: TFormers]
Ion Blaster Commander: An Unofficial Masterpiece of a Completely Different Scale
This life-size Optimus Prime ion blaster is cosplay gear with lights and sounds, and estimates put it at 400 to 500 dollars. Chris’s article warns a gun-shaped prop may be hard to import without an orange tip. One host compares it to the prop replica market, where high-end pieces sell for thousands. One host says it lives or dies on getting Optimus Prime’s blaster sound right. [Source: TFormers]
Power of the Primes Deluxe Wreck-Gar: Package Art Leaked
The package art follows a photo of the toy that first appeared on Russian social media for International Women’s Day. The crew recalls Rob Springer’s Walgreens information listing an exclusive Wreck-Gar long ago. It sat in the system so long that it was a surprise all over again. One host may buy four to build a Junkion combiner. [Source: TFormers]
Power of the Primes Wave 3 Sighted in New Zealand
Paul from Transformers New Zealand reports the Wave 3 Deluxes, the rest of the Terrorcons, on shelves there. As far as anyone knows, Wave 4 is just Novastar. John Warden said at Toy Fair that no Leaders are planned for it, so where Nemesis Prime lands remains a mystery. [Source: not found]
This Week in History
In 2013, Hasbro put up the first of two online polls in the Fan-Built Bot program, which produced Windblade. Don thinks she has never had a great toy since the original, though others like the Robots in Disguise version. She appears in the Cyberverse description, so more toys are coming. The crew would rather see more Strongarm. [Source: TFWiki]
RFC Announcements
Next week, the first It’s a Don Deal call-in segment follows the live show at around 9:30 Eastern. Listeners can call 931-99-GO-BOT to talk with Don, share opinions or list toys for sale, in the spirit of old radio swap shows. Listener D.W. Brown’s Supreme Cheetor rap is now the pinned tweet at @tfradio.
What We Got This Week
Brian filled a gap on his want list by buying a whole 1990s Happy Meal set for about four dollars to get one figure. He also got Studio Series Bumblebee, which is smaller than he expected and sheds parts too easily. Last, he found Power of the Primes Rodimus Unicronus on clearance for 30 dollars and plans to keep it boxed.
Diecast showed the upscaled knockoff Nitro Zeus with die-cast feet. It is Leader-size, wears the alternate Shockwave-style head and has paint that brings out the detailing.
Jason got his latest Reprolabels order, including a sticker set for Studio Series Jazz. He says it does wonders for the figure.
Eric got Studio Series Stinger, Starscream and Grimlock; Grimlock is his favorite and Starscream is magnificent. He also got Movie the Best Grimlock for its riding Optimus Prime, plus Planet X Charon, his first Planet X figure. Last is a big unofficial dragon Megatron, homaging the BotCon Megatron, with a massive wingspan and great head articulation.
Rob had nothing this week.
John got Grand Maximus and Greatshot but has not opened them yet. He likes the Titans Return Fortress Maximus mold more than most. Trypticon disappointed him, since the concept he voted for was a bigger departure from G1.
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.