Takara Tomy’s Missing Link Bumblebee and Cliffjumper surfaced unexpectedly, and the crew is already dreading the repaints.
Hasbro’s Transformers Thursday stream brought full reveals of Legacy United Cybertron Hot Shot, Vector Prime and Nucleous.
Through the Space Bridge teased a Studio Series Leader Springer, a new Studio Series 86 Bumblebee and Straxus.
Hot Wheels Transformers news and Figure King scans of Masterpiece Ginrai split the panel.
Diecast finally lands a boxed Beast Machines Supreme Cheetor.
News
Transformers Legacy United Sideburn, Hot Shot, Vector Prime and More Official Pics and Links
Hasbro’s Thursday Transformers stream went beyond the Robosen Megatron reveal. Comic Edition Grimlock went up for preorder, and Legacy United Cybertron Hot Shot and Nucleous got full reveals. On the stream, Hasbro said Cybertron Hot Shot was a Takara Tomy initiative, which may explain why it looks so different from other Legacy toys. The crew likes its face sculpt. Vector Prime had a sample in hand, and Mark Maher’s behind-the-scenes post even showed a proposed mold layout. One host notes Vector Prime may use less clear plastic than Jhiaxus did. Another host is happy with his 20-year-old Cybertron Vector Prime and gives the new one a thumbs down. [Source: TFW2005]
Through the Space Bridge: Springer, Studio Series 86 Bumblebee, Steeljaw and Straxus
The stream’s Through the Space Bridge segment previewed future product without images. Studio Series Leader Springer will be a heavy retool of Siege Springer, with a sword, a helicopter-blade sword and an artillery shell. One host hopes the retool makes the chest transformation easier to remember. A new Studio Series 86 Bumblebee is coming, and the popular theory is that it avoids Volkswagen licensing. A Core Class Steeljaw and Straxus were also mentioned. The crew suspects Straxus could be a Comic Edition retool of Legacy Galvatron, which hints at a comic Blaster. Legacy United Sideburn drew groans because it looks like Shadow Striker with a new head. [Source: TFW2005]
Takara Missing Link Bumblebee and Cliffjumper Possible First Look
Images surfaced of Takara Tomy Missing Link Bumblebee and Cliffjumper, with a proper reveal expected May 8. One host called it his favorite and worst news of the week, because now he has to buy them. The crew loves the idea of minibots with knees, hips and elbows that hold guns. Bumblebee gets a pistol, and Cliffjumper gets his bazooka. Guesses on price run around 3,500 yen each. Repaint ideas pile up fast: red Bumblebee, yellow Cliffjumper, Bumper, Hubcap, Argentine colors and G2 chrome Bumblebee. Don pitched a Missing Link Huffer packed with Optimus Prime’s trailer, and the crew agrees it makes sense. The talk turns to whether Takara is folding Masterpiece under MPG to keep both lines moving. [Source: TFW2005]
New Multipack Listings: Revenge of the Fallen 15th Anniversary and Decepticon Bridge Crew
New listings point to two multipacks. One looks like a Starscream, Shockwave and Soundwave set, which the crew reads as a classics answer to Takara’s Nemesis bridge set. One host hopes a Soundwave finally comes with Buzzsaw. The other is a Revenge of the Fallen 15th anniversary Autobot pack with Leader Jetfire, Voyager Optimus Prime and two unnamed Deluxes. The crew guesses Ratchet or Bumblebee for the Deluxe slots and jokes about mourning the movie’s anniversary. [Source: TFW2005]
Mattel Creations to Reveal Hot Wheels x Transformers Optimus Prime on May 21
A Mattel Creations calendar listing teased a premium Hot Wheels x Transformers Optimus Prime reveal for May 21. The listing was reportedly pulled later, which the crew reads as an early slip rather than a cancellation. One host imagines a remote-control Optimus Prime, like Mattel’s Cybertruck RC car. [Source: TFW2005]
Near-Final Hot Wheels Bumblebee Shows Its Undercarriage
New photos show a near-final Hot Wheels Bumblebee Volkswagen Beetle. The base plate has Bumblebee’s robot head stamped into it, along with Hasbro and Mattel copyright lines. The crew compares it to the old Speed Stars and RPMs gimmick. [Source: TFW2005]
Possible Hot Wheels Track Fleet Optimus Prime Mock-Up
A packaging mock-up shows a Hot Wheels Track Fleet G1 Optimus Prime with trailer, listed by one retailer at $7.99. The crew wonders how it will handle a track loop. One host says it reminds him of the unproduced G2 Go-Bots racing rig, a working prototype shown at BotCon 1994. That rig’s trailer folded into a launcher for Hot Wheels track. The tangent ends with the crew wishing it had been pitched for Robots in Disguise. [Source: TFW2005]
Figure King No. 315 Scans: MP Ginrai, MPG Super Ginrai and More
Figure King scans give the best look yet at Masterpiece Ginrai and MPG Super Ginrai, including the back of the combined mode and a size comparison. The cab robot’s ab crunch impresses the crew. Rob says it still looks uncanny, with the waist sitting too far below the truck bumper. Once he pointed it out, others could not unsee it. Diecast is committed to buying it anyway. Several hosts would rather buy a Legends-scale God Ginrai or wait for a Missing Link Powermaster Optimus Prime. [Source: TFW2005]
Hasbro’s Evan Brooks posted design notes on several Legacy Core Class figures, including Cheetor and Tasmania Kid. For Tasmania Kid, Hasbro sculpted the beast mode first and sent it to Takara Tomy as an engineering starting point. [Source: Instagram]
Studio Series 86 Leader Swoop In-Hand Pics and Dinobot Group Shots
In-hand photos of Studio Series 86 Swoop include group shots with the other Dinobots. The crew still wants it, though the wings look a little small. One host hoped for a bigger DNA Design wing kit, but pins and rivets may make that tough. The group shot also has the crew wondering about a red-chested Swoop in Selects. [Source: TFW2005]
Philips x Transformers Limited Edition Shavers in China
Philips released Transformers-themed electric shavers in China. The crew jokes about Alpha Trion as a spokesbot, then rules him out for having a beard. One host still has a sealed Philips Norelco Transformers razor from The Last Knight era. [Source: TFW2005]
New Zealand Mint Transformers 40 Years Optimus Prime 3oz Silver Coin
New Zealand Mint’s latest piece is a three-ounce silver coin shaped like Optimus Prime’s head. It runs about $300 and is limited to 1,984 pieces. The crew estimates about $75 of silver in it and calls the markup typical for commemorative coins. One host would happily buy a chocolate mold of it instead. [Source: New Zealand Mint]
What We Got This Week
Diecast
Diecast finally got a grail: a boxed Beast Machines Supreme Cheetor. The window plastic is thin, but the box is in good shape, and he plans to keep it sealed. He also got two more tfradio.net shirts made by John DeLuna: a new RFC Reviews shirt and an orange Unicron Chaos shirt. He finally found the red Core Class Studio Series Frenzy at Target for about $10.
Don
Don picked up the Nonnef kit for Windsweeper. It adds a new chest plate to set him apart from Needlenose, plus swing-out guns in robot mode. He also got a non-Transformers transforming super robot at 70% off on Amazon, about $95 instead of $240. He praises its transformation but notes the sword arrived broken in the tray.
John
John got Studio Series 86 Sandstorm, which looks impressive in the box. He has not opened it yet and may have a micro review next week.
Matt
Matt picked up Legacy Shadow Striker. He hates the shoulders, which connect at the back instead of the clavicle, and he does not like the car mode. He also found a second Junkion motorcycle figure at Walmart, so he can display one in each mode. His big arrival was Missing Link Optimus Prime in both versions, with and without the trailer. He loves the extra articulation and bought both for the blue windshield and blue eyes.
Rob
Rob had nothing in Transformers this week.
Chris
Chris got Studio Series 86 Sandstorm. He has not played with it much yet but is very happy with it.
Brian Kilby
Brian has started building a complete sealed run of Transformers G2. He picked up a sealed G2 Double Clutch Go-Bot for about $25 and a sealed G2 Jazz. The bubble is more yellowed than the photo showed, but the toy is pristine. He is eyeing the European carded G2 Sideswipe next.