A leaked retailer solicitation shows a fully articulated, toy-accurate G1 Optimus Prime from Takara Tomy called Missing Link, and the crew debates whether it is real. Hasbro apologizes after an Evan Brooks comment suggested Activision lost the War for Cybertron game files. A preproduction G1 Trypticon photo and HasLab Deathsaurus packaging images round out the news. In What We Got This Week, Diecast shows off a custom Turtler Unicron, and Don has a stack of Toxitron Collection and Legacy toys.
News
Takara Tomy Missing Link G1 Convoy/Optimus Prime Official Teaser
A leaked retailer solicitation showed a poseable, Diaclone-accurate G1 Optimus Prime from Takara Tomy called Missing Link. One version is toy accurate with the trailer, and the other is cartoon styled without it. Brian was not sure it was real but said he would buy it even if it were third party. A matching Megatron image was quickly debunked. One host pointed out that Hasbro and Takara recently made detailed 3D models of G1 toys available to licensees, which would make this easy to build. John DeLuna said in the Discord he thinks it is fake, and one host warned that AI could make fakes like this common. Another guessed the trailer version would run about 15,000 yen. [Source: TFW2005]
Hasbro Apologises for Claiming Activision Lost Its Transformers Games
At SDCC, Evan Brooks said Activision had lost the hard drives for War for Cybertron and Fall of Cybertron. He said Hasbro had to rip 3D models from a retail copy for the Gamer Edition toys. Gaming sites picked it up, Activision said nothing was lost, and Hasbro apologized. One host noted that Activision at least did not provide the files when asked. Another thinks the games deserve a re-release alongside the toys, and a Discord member noted Fall of Cybertron Steam keys are still on Amazon. [Source: VGC]
Preproduction G1 Trypticon Photo From Original Packaging
A Facebook post showed the original, unretouched package photo of G1 Trypticon, taken with a near-final sample in pinker colors. One host likes the pinker tone, and another would buy a Trypticon reissue in those colors. [Source: not found]
Flame Toys showed a near-final Kuro Kara Kuri Starscream and Furai Model prototypes of Bludgeon and Beast Wars Megatron. One host found Bludgeon too stylized but would like to see the unpictured Banzai-Tron. [Source: TFW2005]
Haslab Deathsaurus New Product Images
New stock photos show HasLab Deathsaurus and its packaging, with chromed chest wings to match Star Saber. The crew wishes these updates came through HasLab directly. Hasbro lists it for fall. [Source: TFW2005]
Transformers EarthSpark Deluxe Starscream Stock Images
EarthSpark Deluxe Starscream is a rerun of the Cyberverse Deluxe without its missile effect piece. One host said it is a decent toy but not accurate to the show, and Steve Blum’s Starscream deserves better. [Source: TFW2005]
Transformers x Jurassic Park Collaborative Decepticon Dilophocon In-Hand Images
In-hand photos of Dilophocon show a figure barely bigger than the JP12 robot, which makes the two-pack’s price feel worse. Most of the crew will wait for clearance. [Source: TFW2005]
Transformers Legacy Wave 7 Voyager Trashmaster and Bludgeon Out in Hong Kong
Trashmaster is out in Hong Kong, and fans are already building junk monsters with Scraphook and Crashbar. One host said the Junkions have been one of Legacy’s strongest offerings, and another wants many Trashmasters. [Source: TFW2005]
Transformers Legacy Voyager Prime Universe Dreadwing Out in Hong Kong
Legacy Dreadwing is Skyquake in blue, which is accurate to the show. One host may pick it up on a discount and hopes for a Euro G1 Skyquake version. [Source: TFW2005]
Legacy Evolution Leader Nova Prime In-Hand Images
Hasbro Pulse UK is fulfilling more Amazon capsule toys, including Nova Prime in collector packaging, Nacelle and the Kaskade vs. Javelin two-pack. One host likes the motorcycle figure from the two-pack and expects it to drop in price by Black Friday. [Source: TFW2005]
Transformers Shattered Glass Collection Sideswipe and Minicon Whisper In-Hand Images
More photos of Shattered Glass Sideswipe look glorious to the crew, though some do not want the Rodimus in the two-pack. One host expects the mold to return as Armada Wheeljack next year. [Source: TFW2005]
What We Got This Week
Diecast
Diecast finally got his bet-winning Turtler Unicron, a custom by Grimlockmas done in Unicron colors. He also got Toxitron Collection G2 Grimlock and loves it. A sealed carded G2 GoBots Soundwave in matching colors feels like a missing link between GoBots and Transformers to him. He also got another Weaponizer two-pack, hoping for better parts fit.
Don
Don’s off-topic pickups came first. On topic, he got EarthSpark Warrior Jawbreaker and VNR Optimus Prime. He bought two Toxitron Collection G2 Grimlocks and wishes they had G2 symbols. He grabbed a second Shattered Glass Jetfire and the Studio Series 86 Death on the Shuttle two-pack. Toxitron Collection pickups were Toe-Line, a third Mirage, Laser Cycle, Sideswipe and two Dead Ends. Magic Square’s Onslaught gives him three of their five Combaticons. Legacy Bombshell, Detritus, Strongarm and Shadow Striker round it out, though Shadow Striker’s arms are hard to tab in.
Chris
Chris got the rest of the Toxitron Collection Deluxes. Mirage, in what he calls Bubblicious watermelon colors, is beautiful but a chore to transform. Sideswipe, which he calls rainbow sherbet, has a gorgeous sunset deco but a back half that will not sit flush. Laser Cycle is the Prime Arcee mold he dislikes, but this copy has good tolerances. He is holding his Dead End in case he builds the G2 Menasor. He also found a replacement Studio Series Battletrap.
Rob
Rob’s pickups were off-topic.
Matt
Matt got Toxitron Collection G2 Grimlock and calls it magnificent. Toxitron changed his mind about the Laser Optimus mold, and he calls the deco a game changer. His other pickups were off-topic.
Brian
Brian got Toe-Line, the G2 Grimlock and Cloudcover. He also got his second Transmetals Ravage from Mandarake, completing it with paperwork he had saved from his original.