Pre-orders open for MPG-17 Optimus Prime, and Diecast is the only one on the panel who bit. U.S. tariff changes raise new worries about pre-orders and HasLabs, while Skybound’s Transformers Compendium Set Kickstarter blows past its goal in two minutes. The crew mocks the $3,500 PCS Museum Scale Unicron statue and admires Earthspark Deluxe Soundwave in hand. In What We Got This Week, Studio Series Bonecrusher splits the room, Chris loves Megatronus the Fallen, Don finds Track Fleet Ultra Magnus, and Brian adds sealed G2 figures.
News
Pre-Orders Begin for MPG-17 Optimus Prime Style Generation
MPG-17 Optimus Prime is up for pre-order, and Diecast ordered one. One host found most retailers near $199, while Hasbro Pulse lists it at $174.99 with no deposit. Diecast liked that it is under $200 from a U.S. seller and isn’t trying to be G1 Optimus Prime. Another host would call it his ultimate 1984-style Optimus if he didn’t already own Studio Series 86 Optimus Prime. Brian doesn’t collect Masterpiece and says it would have to be free. Don can’t pin down why he doesn’t like it, which one host chalked up to fatigue. [Source: Seibertron]
U.S. Tariffs: 90-Day Pause, 125 Percent on China
A 90-day pause now covers most reciprocal tariffs, including the planned 46 percent rate on Vietnam. China faces about 125 percent, which one host called effectively a trade embargo. A 10 percent baseline tariff applies across the board. Some retailers are already warning that costs will reach customers, including standing pre-orders. The crew worries about HasLabs and crowdfunded products. One host guessed Hasbro may have to eat extra costs on the already-paid HasLab Liokaiser. [Source: NBC News]
Skybound’s Transformers Compendium Set Kickstarter
Skybound’s Transformers Compendium Set collects the Marvel U.S. and UK runs in chronological order. A few non-continuity issues are left out. It hit its $40,000 goal in two minutes and has raised nearly $2 million. One host backed the $300 tier with the Grimlock set, while the top Unicron tier runs about $900. Another host would rather have just the U.S. G1 comics, since Man of Iron turned him off the UK stories. [Source: Kickstarter]
PCS Museum Scale Unicron Statue
Premium Collectibles Studio’s Museum Scale Unicron statue costs $3,500, with an early bird price of $3,325. Brian noted the moons in Unicron’s hands are too small to be round, and another host admitted having the same thought. One host said it looks like Thanos on his throne with Unicron swapped in. One host noted it costs almost two Tiamats. Discord members suggested buying one for every bathroom. [Source: TFW2005]
Earthspark Deluxe Soundwave In Hand
In-hand photos show Earthspark Deluxe Soundwave’s wing-panel legs work better than expected. One host praised the thoughtful engineering that hides the empty spaces. The stealth bomber mode spans as wide as Armada Optimus Prime. The crew wants Soundblaster and Shattered Glass versions. One host thinks it might knock Nightshade to second place. Another sees them as two different achievements and wishes the line weren’t ending just as the deluxes got great. [Source: TFW2005]
Auldey Alpha Action Elite Shattered Glass Soundwave
Auldey’s Alpha Action Elite line adds a Shattered Glass Soundwave, headband almost certainly not sold separately. These are finished, non-transforming action figures near deluxe height. The lineup also includes a Coronation Starscream. Listings say this subline won’t be blind boxed, and AliExpress has them for about $20 each. One host likes that Soundwave keeps a boxy, toy-like look. [Source: TFW2005]
Transformers x Sonic Blue Booster and Wingtail In Hand
In-hand images show the Transformers x Sonic the Hedgehog Blue Booster and Wingtail. Target lists the set for about $35. One host thinks the Tails plane reads better than Sonic, though neither excites him. Another said Wingtail looks like Powerglide and would rather wait for a deluxe Powerglide. [Source: TFW2005]
What We Got This Week
Chris
Chris picked up Studio Series Bonecrusher, already nicknamed Old Stubby for its short forearms. The arms fold back on themselves, leaving odd double elbows that only half work. It feels a little light for a deluxe but does everything it sets out to do. He loves Megatronus the Fallen, which reuses Siege Megatron engineering but has a cleaner robot mode and a near-perfect Dreamwave Fallen face. He and the There Goes My Money crew found two spots in its tank mode that seat Titan Masters.
Don
Don got Studio Series Scrapper and two leader-class Studio Series G2 Grimlocks with the Wild Boy of Quintessa Wheelie. His Megatronus the Fallen arrived with the accessory bundle taped over its face. He paid $118 for Masterpiece Lift Ticket, a character he didn’t have on a mold he loves. He also found Hot Wheels Track Fleet Ultra Magnus on a Target shelf. Don finally got Solus Prime transformed after 30 to 40 minutes.
Diecast
Diecast found both Age of the Primes wave 1 deluxes at Target after hours of searching. He calls Megatronus the Fallen absolutely fantastic in robot mode. He sees Bonecrusher as a step back, with ball joints, painted-on hands, a loose arm panel and gaps. To him, it feels like an upscaled Core Class figure. The crew’s answer: welcome to G1, which became the episode title.
Brian
Brian found Earthspark finger-puppet figures on clearance at Walmart, including Hashtag and Arcee. At Target, he got Nucleous on clearance and the two Age of the Primes deluxe Aerialbots. He also got Studio Series Scrapper, a small Voyager, and Studio Series G2 Grimlock in a very deep blue. From Transformerland, he added sealed G2 Roadblock, Dirtbag, Go-Bots Sideswipe, Power Dive and the color-changer Deluge toward a sealed G2 collection.