Hasbro’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles collaboration delivers a cartoon-accurate Turtle Van with swappable heads for all four turtles.
Masterpiece MP-60 Ginrai and MPG-09 Super Ginrai surfaced in early listings for December.
WonderCon brought Studio Series 86 Swoop, which finally completes the Dinobots.
A Knight Rider collaboration, a G1 soundtrack vinyl reissue and a 40th anniversary cinema event round out the news.
Origin Wheeljack wins over Don and Chris.
News
Takara Tomy MP-60 Ginrai and MPG-09 Super Ginrai Clearer Images
Retailer solicitation thumbnails show Masterpiece Ginrai coming in December in two forms. MP-60 is the cab robot with his Powermaster partner, while MPG-09 Super Ginrai adds the trailer. The G in MPG stands for gattai, or combining, so a God Bomber MPG-10 seems likely. MP-60 lists at 22,000 yen before tax, and MPG-09 runs over 40,000 yen. Chris suggests locking in the exchange rate with Amazon Japan gift credit. Diecast grew up with Powermaster Optimus Prime and is all in. Others would rather have a Missing Link or Commander Class version. [Source: TFW2005]
Studio Series WonderCon 2024 Reveals: Swoop
Hasbro’s WonderCon reveals headline Studio Series 86 Leader Swoop, with preorders opening the next day. One host finds the blue a shade too saturated, and Chris guesses it follows the vivid HD remasters. The wing tips extend for a little extra span. Swoop includes Grimlock’s sword and his own, but no flight stand. The crew celebrates finishing a Dinobot project that started in January 2021. Don is now eyeing G2 Dinobot repaints. [Source: BWTF]
Collaborative TMNT Turtle Van Revealed
Hasbro’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles collaboration is a transforming Turtle Van with interchangeable heads for each turtle, plus a blank head. Brian and Chris preordered immediately, and Diecast ordered two. Chris notes no original toy ever matched the cartoon Turtle Van. He also points out how cheap this is next to the Neca version. Brian calls it the most fan service ever packed into one Hasbro toy. Don got a full set of four, plus one for the van and one to keep carded. Chris would have preferred a Metalhead robot. [Source: BWTF]
Target Exclusive Legacy United Four-Pack Officially Revealed
Better photos of the Target-exclusive Legacy four-pack still leave the crew wanting Squeezeplay most. Tarn’s Cyberverse deco and red mustache do not land for everyone. One host plans to sell Tarn on eBay. The crew likes that it is a one-versus-three set true to Prime Cliffjumper’s fate. [Source: BWTF]
Behind the Scenes From Mark Maher for Legacy Shard
Mark Maher’s post on Legacy Shard includes concept art. His first idea was a clear-plastic Shard made of Dark Energon, but clear plastic would not survive a Weaponizer-style toy. He kept the crystal styling, tied to the Prime season three crystals. [Source: Instagram]
New Listings: Beyblade Collaboration and Origin Bumblebee Reissue
Listings point to Transformers Beyblades and a Target reissue of Origin Bumblebee to pair with Origin Wheeljack. The crew expects Transformers-themed Beyblade parts, much like the old Transformers Hexbugs. [Source: TFW2005]
Star Wars and Knight Rider Collaboration Listings
New collaborative listings name Knight Rider and Star Wars. Don has wanted a Knight Rider collaboration for ages, and Brian once shot the idea down. The crew expects a partial retool rather than all-new engineering. Their dream version is a Titans Return-style headmaster with a Hasselhoff face. [Source: TFW2005]
Transformers G1 Cartoon Soundtrack Vinyl Reissue
The G1 cartoon soundtrack is getting a vinyl reissue this summer with new cover art and a 40th anniversary remix of the theme. Brian notes the previous release had odd mixing and an unusual cut of the theme song. One host would rather have Takara Tomy’s CD collection or a complete G1 soundtrack. [Source: BWTF]
Transformers 40th Anniversary Cinema Event Coming in May
Trafalgar Releasing will bring a 40th anniversary cinema event to select theaters in May. It features a split-screen table read of More Than Meets the Eye Part 1 with the surviving original cast, then the next three episodes. Several hosts are lukewarm on the table read. One host would much rather see Five Faces of Darkness on the big screen. Don sees it as a family outing for parents introducing kids to G1. [Source: BWTF]
What We Got This Week
Don
Don got Origin Wheeljack from Target during the sale and loves it. He calls it a chunky, weird, panel-heavy figure that pegs together well, though the windshield tabs take some care. He also got Studio Series 86 Blaster but has not opened it. He plans to sell his Kingdom version as he builds his Studio Series display.
Chris
Chris also got Origin Wheeljack and is impressed. The robot follows the squat G1 toy, while the head is the best animated Wheeljack sculpt yet. The legs compress an amazing amount of the vehicle, and he transformed it using only the box photo. He would like more chest paint and does not care for the blast shield doubling as a runway piece. Netflix Bumblebee does not fit inside, though it makes a funny photo.
Rob
Rob had nothing in Transformers this week.
Matt
Matt got Legacy United Voyager Animated Optimus Prime. He loves the bulk, transformation and giant axe, though the face translation is not perfect and his roof flap leaves a gap. He wishes Bulkhead or Ratchet were coming and would buy a Motormaster repaint.
John DeLuna
John DeLuna got Origin Wheeljack, Studio Series 86 Blaster and the ghost Starscream and Waspinator set, all still boxed. He opened Legacy United Silverbolt and loves it, though he misses the original’s big wings and launchers. He says it makes Masterpiece Beast Wars unnecessary for him. He would love a purple and green Universe repaint.
Diecast
Diecast got a Core Class Cheetor and is disappointed. The legs tab into an awkward squat, and he popped an arm off while untabbing them. He also found Battle Masters Rhinox on clearance at Target for $3.14 and likes it much better.
Brian Kilby
Brian picked up Legacy Tasmania Kid, which is not bad but feels smaller than the original. From Amazon Japan he got the ghost Starscream and Waspinator set, which he calls gorgeous, and a Lunar Cruiser Optimus Prime. He loves its muted colors and easy transformation. He also got two boxed Laser Optimus Primes for about $40 each, a Japanese Prime of Justice and a US release missing the sword. He is now considering a complete sealed G2 collection.