Masterpiece reveals from a Japanese hobby show bring MP-42 Cordon, toy-colored MP-29+ Shockwave and MP-36+ Megatron, still with no trigger crotch. The crew debates rising Masterpiece prices as MP-43 Beast Wars Megatron looms. Badcube’s Masterpiece-scale Sideswipe and Red Alert baffle everyone. Plus Fans Toys Dinobot reissues, a delayed MP-41 Dinobot and Multibrink’s wonderfully generic Brazilian truck toys.
News
New Weapon for MP-42 Cordon in Official Masterpiece Images
Masterpiece reveals from a Japanese hobby show, believed to be the Shizuoka Hobby Show, broke during last week’s episode. MP-42 Cordon is a police redeco of Masterpiece Sunstreaker in one of its Diaclone color schemes. MP-43 Beast Wars Megatron also appears, and the crew teases Beast Wars skeptic Matt about it. The crew guesses at MP-43’s price, from $250 to $275, and one host jokes it should be chromed to hide the gold plastic. One host expects TakaraTomy to fight to keep Masterpieces under 25,000 yen. Another host points out that redecos already cost far more than the originals: Cordon imports for about $140, where Sunstreaker sold for about $90. [Source: TFormers]
Masterpiece ‘Plus’ Versions for Shockwave and Megatron: Toy Based!
MP-29+ Shockwave comes in toy colors, and MP-36+ Megatron gets a chrome chest plate and a new toy-based head. There is still no trigger crotch, which gives the episode its title. The Plus Shockwave runs about $200 against the original’s $120. One host wishes for a Galactic Man version. Matt is still waiting for a black repaint of Masterpiece Ironhide. The crew also debates what a Masterpiece Dinobot redeco could ever be, since the mold has little reuse. [Source: TFormers]
The crew cannot see the market for Masterpiece-scale Sideswipe and Red Alert when official versions already exist. Matt points out that fans sold their Sunsurges once the official Masterpiece Sunstreaker arrived. That makes it funny that Badcube’s photo pairs Steamroll with the official Sunstreaker. One host notes Badcube promises a better paint finish, answering a problem from five years ago. [Source: TFormers]
FT08 Grinder and FT06 Sever Reissues Announced!
Fans Toys is reissuing two of its Dinobots after the first runs sold out. Big Bad Toy Store lists Grinder at $215, limited to 500 pieces. One host got a G2 Grinder for $149 with a coupon. Diecast has reviewed both Grinder heads and thinks the alternate head is worth the money. [Source: TFormers]
MP-41 Beast Wars Masterpiece Dinobot Release Date Changed
Amazon now lists MP-41 Dinobot for August 3 instead of July 31. Chris thinks Amazon’s earlier date was a padded guess, while the TakaraTomy Mall still says late July. [Source: TFormers]
NewAge H1 Bumblebee: Unofficial Third-Party Legends-Scale Bumblebee Is Only 6cm Tall
The crew finds the tiny Bumblebee ridiculous and adorable, and the robot mode looks good. [Source: TFormers]
Transformers The Last Knight Premier Edition Hot Rod Turning Up at Closeout Retail
The Hot Rod is turning up at Ross for about $9. One host explains it belonged to Walmart’s online-only Autobots Unite subline, which never reached Walmart shelves. [Source: TFormers]
UniqueToys R-02 Challenger Unofficial Movie Optimus Color Testshot Photos
Color test shots show Unique Toys’ unofficial Age of Extinction and Last Knight Optimus Prime. Don asks why Diecast prefers it to the Alien Attack version. Diecast trusts Unique Toys after their Lockdown and says the other one felt cheap in hand. Another host notes the promo photos carefully avoid some truck-mode angles. [Source: TFormers]
TakaraTomy Power of the Primes Official Images for October Releases, Including Novastar and Inferno
TakaraTomy’s photos give the first real look at most of Inferno’s modes. Matt and Don have been waiting for these figures. The crew talks through what a Guardian combination would need. One host thinks Optimal Optimus may end up at Ross, since Walmart has stopped carrying Leaders and Target may follow. [Source: TFormers]
Autobots Power Up! Multibrink RID Transformers Toys Are Less Than Meets the Eye
Multibrink’s Brazilian Robots in Disguise vehicles use one generic truck with a car carrier, cement mixer, dump bins and even an easel. Brian calls them the most hideous and wonderful thing he has seen in a while and asks Brazilian listeners for help getting them. [Source: TFormers]
What’s on TFormers
Rob covers Hasbro Pulse’s look at pretengineering, the early layout of a Transformer’s moving parts. He also covers Machinima Power of the Primes episode 3 and video of the Transformers floats at the Universal Studios Japan Night Parade. A video review of Transformers Authentics Grimlock leads to a sightings discussion. One host found the Authentics in two sizes at two Family Dollar stores, at $10 and $5.25.
Around RFC
Brian and John are working on new RFC t-shirts, and John designed the show’s new logo on Twitter and Facebook. A fan made an RFC cast poster, then remade it after Brian complained about his photo. Diecast’s latest review covers a knockoff G2 Superion in Combiner Wars-style packaging, with the worst plastic he has seen.
What We Got This Week
Brian got nothing this week, though he was billed for Grand Maximus. He skipped the Titans Return wave Chris spotted at Ollie’s because he already has it.
Diecast got Fans Toys’ Arcee, Legendary Toys’ LT-02 movie Optimus Prime with better paint and protective packaging, and TakaraTomy Legends Seaspray. He also got upscaled Generation Toy Gravity Builder figures, about a third bigger at roughly $70 for two. He completed his clear Gravity Builder knockoff set and picked up a third-party movie Leadfoot. Customs had opened every package. He also found Blue Bisk in his Big Bad Toy Store order.
Matt got nothing because he has to buy a new car, though he did pay for Grand Maximus.
Don got MacFan Toys’ upscaled knockoff Megatron and DX9’s Rouge. His G Creation gorilla from the same seller has been stuck at customs for 27 days.
Rob had video game and figure pickups this week, none of them Transformers.
Jason is still waiting for his Power of the Primes Wave 2 order to ship.
John brought home the seven-foot Geoffrey standee he put $40 down on, collected the night his local Toys R Us outlet closed for good.
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.