Studio Series heads to 1986, with Walmart listings for Grimlock and Gnaw from The Transformers: The Movie. Brian pokes Eric about it, while Rob sees why movie fans are upset. Leaks reveal Earthrise Cyclonus, Thrust, Soundwave and Hubcap, plus a Transformers and Top Gun Maverick crossover. Brian starts buying one G1 figure every payday, and the crew lines up suggestions under the name Spend Brian’s Money.
News
Studio Series Goes to 1986 With Grimlock and Gnaw
JT Prime and Grayman found Walmart listings for an 86 Grimlock and an 86 Gnaw. A truncated name suggests Grimlock may come with Wheelie, and one host says he would buy three. Brian has been poking Eric, who wanted Studio Series to stay live-action. Rob sympathizes, since Studio Series is the only current line not built on 1984 to 1986 designs. One host compares it to Beast Wars stuff moving into Masterpiece. Another notes the line is branded Studio Series, not live action. [Source: RFC News Desk]
Leaks: Top Gun Maverick, Earthrise Thrust, Soundwave, Cyclonus and Hubcap
Earthrise Cyclonus appears as a test shot, with engineering like the 2008 Universe Cyclonus and effect ports on its chest and hip. Rob explains why it counts as a test shot rather than a prototype. Earthrise Thrust also appears, though one host notes his wings belong on the legs. A heavily retooled Earthrise Soundwave turns up, and one host claims he predicted it at Toy Fair. Hubcap and a Transformers and Top Gun Maverick crossover figure round it out. Matt thinks Maverick is a heavy retool of a past Jetfire. Cyberverse Thunderhowl is confirmed as a build-a-figure needing three sets, which the crew dislikes. [Source: RFC News Desk]
Earthrise Snapdragon, Megatron and Quintesson Judge Box Images
Official boxed photos show the Earthrise Megatron, Quintesson Judge and Snapdragon. The crew calls Megatron the most unnecessary toy in recent memory, the fifth use of the mold. Brian loves the Quintesson Judge and has two on order. One host hopes Snapdragon’s light plastic beats Ape Face’s. [Source: TFormers]
Ask Don: Third-Party Unicron
In an impromptu It’s a Don Deal, Diecast asks whether to buy, sell or hold the third-party Unicron now shipping. Don says hold and wait for in-hand reviews, given all the company name changes.
What We Got This Week
Matt
Matt got nothing this week. He has all the Netflix War for Cybertron figures he wants.
Rob
Matt gave Rob Earthrise Hoist as an early birthday gift. It grew on him once he got the knack of it. Thanks to a tip from Chris, Rob also found Siege Sound Barrier at retail on Amazon. Hoist and Ironworks now ride on it.
Diecast
Diecast’s pickups this week were not Transformers.
Don
Don bought the DX9 Dinobots from Brian’s sale. The yellow looks better in person than he expected, though Grimlock has sharp edges. He plans a Dinobot-only shelf.
John
John bought Takara’s mid-1990s reference sheets for Transmetal Waspinator, sent to Hasbro for sign-off. He plans to digitize them someday. He also points to TransTech Silverbolt drawings and a rough TransTech cardback mock-up on eBay.
Brian
Brian fixed worn chrome on a G1 Godbomber chest with a chrome paint pen and says it works well on small areas. He got Cyberverse Rack’n’Ruin, which is only okay. He found G1 Mini-Spies in the Jeep and coupe, with working motors. He also got G1 Quick Switch, a big step down from Six Shot, and ordered Toyhax labels for it. Brian now plans to buy one G1 figure each payday. Suggestions include the Omnibots, Pyro and Clench, Turbomasters and Action Master Elites.
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.