Hasbro’s Evan shows off Studio Series 86 Long Haul and Hook, two-thirds of the way to a new Devastator. Newer batches of Studio Series 86 Optimus Prime may finally have their heels assembled correctly, which leaves sealed collectors with Schrödinger’s feet. The crew splits hard on the Star Wars Collaborative Mandalorian N-1 Starfighter, and Wonderfest gets one-day-licensed Beast Wars garage kits. Brian also shares his take on Missing Link Bumblebee and Cliffjumper and the crew’s Missing Link wish lists.
News
Crew Sends Well Wishes to Garry Chalk
The show opened by sending positive vibes to Garry Chalk, the voice of Optimus Primal. One host recalled riding to the airport with him on a bus after BotCon and talking about the show and voice acting. Garry told him much of the cast’s ad-libbing made it into the show. Brian noted one of RFC’s post-show stingers is Garry’s famous line: “Transformers. It’s better than crack.” [Source: Anime News Network]
Evan Shows Off Studio Series 86 Long Haul and Hook
Hasbro’s Evan showed off Studio Series 86 Long Haul and Hook in an Instagram reel mirrored to YouTube. Long Haul’s trailer carries most of the extra Devastator combiner parts, including the thighs. The crew loved that Evan didn’t quite know how to end the video. One host thinks these robot modes would display well next to Combiner Wars Devastator, whose prices have dropped sharply. [Source: TFW2005]
Newer Studio Series 86 Optimus Prime Batches May Fix the Heels
Newer production batches of Studio Series 86 Optimus Prime appear to have their heels assembled correctly. Reports came from both international and U.S. stock, and TFW2005 lists the batch codes. Diecast already fixed his own, but a sealed box stays a mystery until opened, hence Schrödinger’s feet. Don called it the most minor misassembly ever. Others agreed with Diecast that a $100 toy should arrive assembled correctly. [Source: TFW2005]
Star Wars Collaborative Mandalorian N-1 Starfighter Shown In Hand
In-hand photos show the Star Wars x Transformers Collaborative Mandalorian N-1 Starfighter. Don saw it at a Hasbro event in New York and called it one of the best-looking transforming figures he has seen in a while. Another host countered that robot parts folded under the ship ruin the N-1’s sleek vehicle silhouette. [Source: TFW2005]
Wonderfest 2025 Gets One-Day-Licensed Beast Wars Garage Kits
Wonderfest 2025 in February will offer one-day-licensed Beast Wars garage kits of Optimus Primal and Rattrap in beast mode. Optimus Primal strikes his bridge pose from his confrontation with Dinobot. Another maker is producing the riot shield from season one, which one host still wishes Hasbro had made official. One host offered a warning for first-timers: resin kits are fragile and need a ventilated space and a filter mask. [Source: TFW2005]
TFSource Colorverse Runs Another Yellow Make Toys Seeker
Diecast raised a holiday exclusive from TFSource’s Colorverse line. It reuses the Make Toys seeker mold in yellow with a gold canopy, in a run of about 200. The crew felt it reads as a too-pale Sunstorm. One host would have bought a Christmas-themed version instead. [Source: not found]
Fans Hobby Turbo Punk Brings an Energon Rodimus Homage
Fans Hobby is reissuing its Armada Optimus Prime-based Clutch mold with a new trailer piece, through The Chosen Prime. The crew read it as an Energon Rodimus homage. One host plans to pass because he already owns Clutch. [Source: TFW2005 Boards]
What We Got This Week
Brian
Brian finally got Missing Link Bumblebee and Cliffjumper. He finds them extremely premium, though the extra shoulder articulation makes the transformation a little more complex than Missing Link Convoy. He isn’t sure he needs every Minibot and would rather see the line jump to something new, like Micromasters. The crew also floated Duocons and Pretender inner robots. Rodimus Prime topped one host’s Missing Link wish list, and Don suggested a self-contained electronics approach for a Missing Link Galvatron.