Studio Series Gamer Edition launches with War for Cybertron Optimus Prime, Bumblebee and Barricade, built from the games’ actual 3D models. Takara reveals a Canon EOS R5 Nemesis Prime and a premium-deco Kingdom Megatron and Optimus Primal set. JTPrime turns up a Special Edition Optimus Prime, Retro Perceptor and Retro Shrapnel, and Retro Thundercracker gets a first look. Late news moves Guardian Robot’s ship date to mid-March. Chris reviews Legacy Evolution Prowl and Crashbar in depth.
News
Titan Class Guardian Robot In Hand
In-hand photos of Guardian Robot appeared, and CMD Store already lists it at about $70 over retail. Brian and Don will wait. Late in the show, a Discord member reports Hasbro Pulse moved its arrival to March 15. [Source: TFW2005]
Studio Series Gamer Edition Revealed
Gamer Edition adds War for Cybertron Voyager Optimus Prime and Deluxe Bumblebee and Barricade. Diecast likes the figures but cannot unsee the inner-thigh gaps on Optimus. Chris explains the gaps come from injection-molding limits. Sam Smith and Evan Brooks say these come from the games’ actual 3D models. Chris dislikes that the guns plug into the arm with no 5mm handle. The crew notes the games are delisted from Steam. [Source: Hasbro Pulse]
Takara’s Canon collaboration continues with a Nemesis Prime repaint of the EOS R5 Optimus Prime. Don notes a camera negative fits Nemesis Prime. [Source: Amazon Japan]
Takara is selling a show-accurate Kingdom Leader Megatron and Optimus Primal set for 13,000 yen. Chris says this Megatron rivals the Masterpiece in deco. He and Rob plan to split a set. [Source: Amazon Japan]
Store Listings: Special Edition Optimus Prime, Retro Perceptor, Retro Shrapnel
JTPrime found listings for a fan-exclusive Special Edition Optimus Prime, Retro Perceptor and Retro Shrapnel. Brian guesses the Optimus is another use of the Volvo holiday Optimus mold. Chris expects Retro Perceptor’s face to be painted rather than stickered. The crew fears each Retro Insecticon will cost the same as a Retro Starscream. [Source: TFW2005]
First Look at Retro Thundercracker
A low-quality image from a toy safety site shows Retro Thundercracker in cartoon colors. Chris loves the blue and appreciates having both toy-color and cartoon-color reissues. [Source: TFW2005 boards]
Robosen’s next robot is a non-transforming G1 Bumblebee. Diecast says his Robosen Optimus Prime was amazing for 15 minutes. [Source: Autobase Aichi]
Transformers: Reactivate Toy Descriptions
Product descriptions surfaced for Reactivate tie-in Optimus Prime and Soundwave toys. Chris notes they may never ship. The game pits Autobots and Decepticons against Quintessons. [Source: TFW2005 boards]
What We Got This Week
Chris
Chris got Legacy Evolution Prowl and Crashbar from Big Bad Toy Store in record time. Prowl is a solid G1-style take on Animated Prowl, though a misglued clear piece blocks a tab on his copy. Crashbar is smaller but well engineered, and its blasters lock the motorcycle together. Spare tabs let two Crashbars combine into wild vehicles. He also got a second Scraphook, which avoids his first copy’s elbow problem.
Diecast
Diecast had nothing in Transformers this week.
Matt
Matt got a Masterpiece Trainbot and finds it a chore to transform, though it is his favorite-looking so far. Voyager Tarn looks comic-accurate but small. His second Scraphook has no friction-hinge problems.
Rob
Rob got Legacy Inferno at Target and loves the articulated jaw. He also got a DK-3 Breaker upgrade from Hasbro Toy Shop on eBay.
Brian
Brian got a $25 knockoff of Micro Change Watch Robo. He also got a mint-in-box Kup and a Takara G2 Laser Optimus Prime from Mandarake. Road Caesar Braver joins his Blacker, leaving only Laster. A boxed G1 Inferno, a loose G1 Minerva with repro parts and a vintage boxed Twincast with Steeljaw round it out. He is still fighting eBay over the McDonald’s minibot scam, and a courtesy refund is pending.