HasLab Omega Prime is arriving with widely reported breakage and yellowing, and the crew walks through Hasbro’s replacement process. Takara Tomy lists the second wave of Wild King Energy Beasts, while in-hand photos show a shockingly large Age of the Primes Cybertron Sideways. Yolopark’s new all-plastic AMK Series costs half as much as AMK Pro, and Dr. Wu’s Legends-scale Broadside may be the best modern Broadside yet. In What We Got This Week, Don lands Newage’s Lincoln, Matt finds Wasp at retail, and Brian adds a boxed Japanese Ultra Magnus and a Tyco Transformers train set.
News
HasLab Omega Prime Hit by Widely Reported QC and Breakage Issues
Early HasLab Omega Prime owners are reporting sheared teeth inside Fire Convoy’s chest, from the factory or the first transformation. Some Ultra Magnus white parts are arriving pre-yellowed. Early New Zealand copies drew no complaints, and some patrons report no issues. One host noted Hasbro already has a replacement process, with a guide from Ben Yee on Bluesky. Owners should report problems early, return the toy on a prepaid label and expect a wait for the replacement. The crew compared it to the Victory Saber HasLab and feels for Don, who ordered three. Don is now nervous about HasLab Liokaiser’s ratcheting joints. [Source: TFW2005]
Wild King Energy Beasts Wave 2 Revealed
Takara Tomy listed the second wave of Wild King Energy Beasts: Ignite Leo, Spirituan, Drill-No-Horn and Thunderbeak. They are a lion, a spinosaurus, a rhino and a pterosaur. One host thinks they are mostly new molds. They stay at 2,750 yen each and arrive the last weekend of June. The crew was surprised no new core robots have appeared yet and hopes for a larger figure. One host doubts Hasbro will import the line. [Source: TFW2005]
Age of the Primes Cybertron Sideways and Excellion In Hand
In-hand images show Age of the Primes Sideways is as big in vehicle mode as the original Cybertron toy. Its robot mode is even taller. One host is amazed and wants a behind-the-scenes look at how the mold was developed. He would welcome a mass-production-type redeco. Excellion also exists, though one video copy kept tipping over on weak toe joints. [Source: TFW2005]
Alpha Trion’s Vehicle Mode Spotted on a Promo Poster
An event poster in China revealed Alpha Trion’s vehicle mode for the first time. The poster also featured Star Convoy, Elita-1 and Sky-Byte. The vehicle is a wedge, which one host compared to a dressed-up Titans Return Sentinel Prime. Another called it a cheese wedge. One host doubts it can top the SDCC two-pack Alpha Trion retooled from Studio Series Scourge. [Source: Snakas Blog]
Yolopark AMK Series Goes All Plastic at Half the Price
Yolopark’s AMK Series offers Optimus Prime, Megatron, Starscream and Bumblebee as all-plastic kits. They share the AMK Pro designs but drop the die-cast parts and some accessories. Each is listed at $29.99, about half the AMK Pro price. One host likes that colors will match across parts and paint won’t chip off metal. Optimus and Starscream look fantastic, Megatron is okay, and Bumblebee is awkward. One host plans to get Optimus Prime and maybe Starscream. The crew couldn’t resist joking that things are better without Diecast. [Source: Yolopark]
Studio Series Gamer Edition Thundercracker First Look
A first look at Studio Series Gamer Edition Thundercracker drew a collective shrug. It is the same mold again, in blue. One host had not even noticed Skywarp came out last year. [Source: TFW2005]
Dr. Wu Makes the Best Modern Broadside
Chris can’t name an official or third-party Broadside that looks better in all three modes than Dr. Wu’s new Legends-scale figure. It is scaled to Dr. Wu’s Micromaster-size line, so it is big for Legends. The jet mode is the weakest, but it beats the Titans Return version easily. It even includes tiny Aerialbot jets for the carrier deck. Three versions are offered: toy, animation and Shattered Glass in Marvel comic colors. Chris calls Dr. Wu his favorite third-party company. Brian hasn’t decided which version to get. [Source: TFW2005]
What We Got This Week
Don
Don found an art book on the making of Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy at a bin store for $3. He says the book is packed with concept art and Siege box artwork. He also got Newage’s Lincoln, its animation-style Trailbreaker. Don is amazed by how the tiny figure twists to look so accurate, and Trailbreaker is one of his unsung favorites.
Matt
Matt drove an hour and a half to Target for nothing, then found Wasp at the GameStop next door at standard retail. He still finds it tiny for $25 but likes how it looks in green.
Rob
Rob had nothing on topic this week.
Chris
Chris had nothing this week.
Brian
Brian added a boxed Japanese C-69 Ultra Magnus to his 1986 movie cast collection. The cab is bright white, and the box shows light shelf wear. From Transformerland, he got a complete Tyco Transformers train set after they cut the shipping from $100 to $35. It is in much better shape than his racetrack set.