New Galleries: Shadow Commander & DIA Commander

Sunday, December 26th, 2010 1:07AM CST

Categories: Site News, Toy News
Posted by: Dead Metal Views: 115,113

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Well I guess you all got your presents from Santa, now you get your presents from Seibertron.com!

The upgrade, or "project" which is how Fansproject refers to them, that made Fansproject famous (it wasn't their first) was the TFX Parallax 01 City Commander, or as we all like to call it: The Classics Ultra Magnus upgrade armour. A set that just seemed so perfect with the sculpting, the detailing, the engineering, the design, the quality, the packaging, and the functionality. Fansproject showed us that fan-made custom toys can have near Hasbro-like quality. However, just like with mass produced releases by Hasbro or Takara, City Commander did have a few problems, problems Fansproject learned from and improved for it's next releases: The Shadow Commander, Powered Commander, D.I.A. Clone Commander (you see what they did there?), and the 2009 re-release of City Commander. And we at Seibertron.com are proud to present to you the Seibertron.com galleries of the Shadow Commander and the D.I.A. Clone Commander!

To get to the galleries, just click the images below!

First off we have the Shadow Commander, an upgrade so evil, so incredibly evil, that not only is it black and goes perfectly with SDCC Exclusive Universe (2008) Nemesis Prime, but it also has a pink sword – that's how evil it is. The Shadow Commander came with everything the original City Commander came with, a new Nemesis Prime-like face, the aforementioned pink sword, and an improved structure all packed together in a far superior plastic quality than that of City Commander -oh and it was even more limited than the City Commander. For a long time this set was the cheapest and easiest to get variation of the mold, lasting for almost a year before the last one was sold, just to put this into perspective City Commander sold out within a month after it's release, it is now the most expensive and hardest to find version of the mold.

Now here we have the D.I.A. Clone Commander, this is one of two releases that are based on Diaclone Powered Convoy (get it? D.I.A. Clone = Diaclone, clever Fansproject), the toy we now know as G1 Ultra Magnus. One, the rarer and more desirable version was a limited to 500 pieces exclusive for the Canadian fan convention TFCon Toronto and was made to fit Classics Optimus Prime. Then there is the D.I.A. Clone Commander, a less rare variation, based on the Chromed Powered Commander variation made to fit Henkei Convoy/Optimus Prime. This version lacks some of the extras that came with the TFCon version but does feature chromed parts, it is still available at some stores. This did cause some controversy due to the sets being so similar, while one was an exclusive and the other was a general release, well as general as a limited-run fan made toy can be.

You want to see more 3rd party toy galleries? Just click here!

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Re: New Galleries: Shadow Commander & DIA Commander (1162060)
Posted by Seibertron on December 26th, 2010 @ 3:47am CST

Thanks for posting this Dead Metal!

Just wanted to point out that I did some fun pics with Shadow Commander and his fellow "Stunticons". Make sure you guys check out those pics as well. Those pics have been a long time coming and I could only do it now that I finally have Henkei Wildrider.

Re: New Galleries: Shadow Commander & DIA Commander (1162094)
Posted by Rated X on December 26th, 2010 @ 8:08am CST

I hate the red and blue version of Ultra Magnus. This version is a kick in the ass to those who missed out on the Original City Commander and are hoping for a re-issue of the original.

Re: New Galleries: Shadow Commander & DIA Commander (1162102)
Posted by Dead Metal on December 26th, 2010 @ 8:41am CST

Rated X wrote:I hate the red and blue version of Ultra Magnus. This version is a kick in the ass to those who missed out on the Original City Commander and are hoping for a re-issue of the original.

There is a reissue of the original, just like I said in the article, an improved re-release.

Re: New Galleries: Shadow Commander & DIA Commander (1162105)
Posted by Forgotten on December 26th, 2010 @ 8:54am CST

Great galleries! I'm still hoping & praying that they reissue the Shadow Commander armor. I bought it shortly after it came out & it became an instant favorite of mine. Sadly, while I was out of town on business it was one of the figures my son destroyed from my office. I refuse to buy the KO but I certainly can't pay $300+ for something that I bought for $70 around a year ago. :sad:

Re: New Galleries: Shadow Commander & DIA Commander (1162106)
Posted by WolfDawg on December 26th, 2010 @ 9:11am CST

I love the "Stunticon" pictures! Great gallery as usual. I had no idea that the Shadow Commander armor had become so expensive, though. I'm glad I got mine when during its initial release.

Re: New Galleries: Shadow Commander & DIA Commander (1162133)
Posted by prmlove1 on December 26th, 2010 @ 10:24am CST

Forgotten wrote:Great galleries! I'm still hoping & praying that they reissue the Shadow Commander armor. I bought it shortly after it came out & it became an instant favorite of mine. Sadly, while I was out of town on business it was one of the figures my son destroyed from my office. I refuse to buy the KO but I certainly can't pay $300+ for something that I bought for $70 around a year ago.

I want a rerelease of Shadow Comander also. The KO version is quite difficult to find now also though.

Re: New Galleries: Shadow Commander & DIA Commander (1162151)
Posted by barricade2218 on December 26th, 2010 @ 10:59am CST

I had no clue the Shadow Commander had become worth so much either. I'm glad I got mine the first go around. I forsee their Protector armour being as popular, and it certainly is a high quality product. I'm glad I invested in that one as well.

Re: New Galleries: Shadow Commander & DIA Commander (1162152)
Posted by Gripen1974 on December 26th, 2010 @ 11:01am CST

I want a generation release of Ultra Magnus so i can pick up him and get the armour complete.

I love decepticons and Ultra Magnus after all my real name is Magnus, So cool decepticons and Ultra Magnus do i pick up even if they aren't G1.

Re: New Galleries: Shadow Commander & DIA Commander (1162170)
Posted by Autobot032 on December 26th, 2010 @ 12:58pm CST

Rated X wrote:I hate the red and blue version of Ultra Magnus. This version is a kick in the ass to those who missed out on the Original City Commander and are hoping for a re-issue of the original.

Why? It's a redesign/homage of a real toy. Diaclone Powered Commander. The only difference between the two is that the Commander/Optimus figure was blue on the original, and all we have now is red.

Also, it doesn't prevent you from getting City Commander, nor was it a poor man's replacement. He was made, specifically to looks like he does, for a certain niche of the collector market. Chrome and all, not to mention, he was a convention exclusive at one point. He's merely a repaint like Shadow Commander. Nothing more, nothing less, and most certainly not an evil master plan to prevent you from getting your coveted City Commander.

Heck, I chose the D.I.A. Commander set because I prefer the colors over the Ultra Magnus set. Yeah, it was more affordable for me to buy it, I can't deny that, but I do actually prefer it. I wouldn't mind a blue Optimus cab to make it look more like the Diaclone, but as is? Awesome set.

I'm sorry you didn't get City Commander (he's still available in some places, btw), but don't try and ruin it for everyone else because you're not happy. That's not fair.

Re: New Galleries: Shadow Commander & DIA Commander (1162176)
Posted by Rated X on December 26th, 2010 @ 1:13pm CST

Autobot032 wrote:
Rated X wrote:I hate the red and blue version of Ultra Magnus. This version is a kick in the ass to those who missed out on the Original City Commander and are hoping for a re-issue of the original.

Why? It's a redesign/homage of a real toy. Diaclone Powered Commander. The only difference between the two is that the Commander/Optimus figure was blue on the original, and all we have now is red.

Also, it doesn't prevent you from getting City Commander, nor was it a poor man's replacement. He was made, specifically to looks like he does, for a certain niche of the collector market. Chrome and all, not to mention, he was a convention exclusive at one point. He's merely a repaint like Shadow Commander. Nothing more, nothing less, and most certainly not an evil master plan to prevent you from getting your coveted City Commander.

Heck, I chose the D.I.A. Commander set because I prefer the colors over the Ultra Magnus set. Yeah, it was more affordable for me to buy it, I can't deny that, but I do actually prefer it. I wouldn't mind a blue Optimus cab to make it look more like the Diaclone, but as is? Awesome set.

I'm sorry you didn't get City Commander (he's still available in some places, btw), but don't try and ruin it for everyone else because you're not happy. That's not fair.

Not trying to offend anyone. I am just G1 to the core. Not interested in color schemes that represent Japanese historical figures. I just feel Fansproject should re-issue the mold in original colors. Im not saying they cant do repaints too, but at least keep the original available to help people complete their 1986 G1 movie display. Last year we got Arcee, and Springer (third parties). This year we got Rodimus upgrade kit and a kind of crappy but passable Blurr. Now were getting Kup and Wreck-Gar. Why wont they re-issue Ultra Magnus in original colors ??? Dont they realize that the Michael Bay movies spawned alot of new collectors like myself who didnt even know these modern day G1 figures existed before mid 2007 ??? Yo Fansproject, pull out the City Commander mold and fire it up one more time, I beg you !!!

Re: New Galleries: Shadow Commander & DIA Commander (1162180)
Posted by Autobot032 on December 26th, 2010 @ 1:19pm CST

Rated X wrote:
Autobot032 wrote:
Rated X wrote:I hate the red and blue version of Ultra Magnus. This version is a kick in the ass to those who missed out on the Original City Commander and are hoping for a re-issue of the original.

Why? It's a redesign/homage of a real toy. Diaclone Powered Commander. The only difference between the two is that the Commander/Optimus figure was blue on the original, and all we have now is red.

Also, it doesn't prevent you from getting City Commander, nor was it a poor man's replacement. He was made, specifically to looks like he does, for a certain niche of the collector market. Chrome and all, not to mention, he was a convention exclusive at one point. He's merely a repaint like Shadow Commander. Nothing more, nothing less, and most certainly not an evil master plan to prevent you from getting your coveted City Commander.

Heck, I chose the D.I.A. Commander set because I prefer the colors over the Ultra Magnus set. Yeah, it was more affordable for me to buy it, I can't deny that, but I do actually prefer it. I wouldn't mind a blue Optimus cab to make it look more like the Diaclone, but as is? Awesome set.

I'm sorry you didn't get City Commander (he's still available in some places, btw), but don't try and ruin it for everyone else because you're not happy. That's not fair.

Not trying to offend anyone. I am just G1 to the core. Not interested in color schemes that represent Japanese historical figures. I just feel Fansproject should re-issue the mold in original colors. Im not saying they cant do repaints too, but at least keep the original available to help people complete their 1986 G1 movie display. Last year we got Arcee, and Springer (third parties). This year we got Rodimus upgrade kit and a kind of crappy but passable Blurr. Now were getting Kup and Wreck-Gar. Why wont they re-issue Ultra Magnus in original colors ??? Dont they realize that the Michael Bay movies spawned alot of new collectors like myself who didnt even know these modern day G1 figures existed before mid 2007 ??? Yo Fansproject, pull out the City Commander mold and fire it up one more time, I beg you !!!

City Commander is still available! Why would FansProject fire up the mold again when their current shipment is still available?

ToyArena has it, with the add on kit.

Re: New Galleries: Shadow Commander & DIA Commander (1162182)
Posted by Forgotten on December 26th, 2010 @ 1:23pm CST

http://www.robotkingdom.com/services/eshop/main.php?action=details&CatType=&II=TFAUMKIT-3&lang=us&CatID= Robotkingdom.com Great place, I buy from them regularly. They're not overpriced & they keep things in stock a bit more than other sites. Shipping usually takes a week to the U.S.

EDIT: I checked toyarena.com & they are out of stock currently but as I said RK has them ready to go at a decent price.

Re: New Galleries: Shadow Commander & DIA Commander (1162193)
Posted by Anonymous on December 26th, 2010 @ 1:56pm CST

A MISB collector here just opened one more Shadow Commander and DIA Commander after viewing these galleries. Perfect way to advertise the product. Fantastic stuff. Can't wait for your Shadow Scyther gallery. Honestly, way more enjoyable than reading about something that would eventually get here. Video reviews are great for transformations, but I prefer the details in modular stills to show off the sculpts' intricacies (i.e. implied panel lines or robot head's crest detail). Yeah, she's just now putting the foot kit on and told me to ask what was the big deal with installation - cake. I'm thinking of putting a led in Nemesis' hands and eyes and glossing some glow-in-the-dark paint on the teal paint apps in homage to TRON's pwnage.

2011 LI5

5EN!

Re: New Galleries: Shadow Commander & DIA Commander (1162354)
Posted by Vicalliose on December 27th, 2010 @ 4:26am CST

Some people (most, probably) may prefer all the versions of the city commander mold made after the original 2008 version. However, I'm not even the slightest upset that they released a version with the upgrade parts after the one I bought. Why? Because the separately purchasable upgrade sets actually came with the extra faces that the new ones don't have. Because of this, I was less hesitant in getting a D.I.A. Commander set when they went on sale, since I actually have the mouth-plate to replace it's face with, thus actually making it look different from my city commander.

All this, makes me feel like I'm devoted to them now. As in, if I ever see a new toy from them, I will undoubtedly buy it. Apart from the fact that the BotCon version of the Commander is impossible to get a hold of, and I never had any counterpart for the Shadow Scyther. Believe me though, if I had an SG Rodimus or a Gentei Wildrider, I wouldn't have hesitated to jump on that one.

Unfortunately, I missed my chance to get a Superion upgrade set too. I was waiting to order it along with the Bruticus upgrades, and lost my chance because of it. I just hope that one shows up on ebay for a reasonable price one day. Not likely that'll happen though.

I will most likely be getting all of the Causality figures anyway.

Re: New Galleries: Shadow Commander & DIA Commander (1196920)
Posted by trence5 on March 19th, 2011 @ 2:02am CDT

Autobot032 wrote:
Rated X wrote:I hate the red and blue version of Ultra Magnus. This version is a kick in the ass to those who missed out on the Original City Commander and are hoping for a re-issue of the original.

Why? It's a redesign/homage of a real toy. Diaclone Powered Commander. The only difference between the two is that the Commander/Optimus figure was blue on the original, and all we have now is red.

Also, it doesn't prevent you from getting City Commander, nor was it a poor man's replacement. He was made, specifically to looks like he does, for a certain niche of the collector market. Chrome and all, not to mention, he was a convention exclusive at one point. He's merely a repaint like Shadow Commander. Nothing more, nothing less, and most certainly not an evil master plan to prevent you from getting your coveted City Commander.

Heck, I chose the D.I.A. Commander set because I prefer the colors over the Ultra Magnus set. Yeah, it was more affordable for me to buy it, I can't deny that, but I do actually prefer it. I wouldn't mind a blue Optimus cab to make it look more like the Diaclone, but as is? Awesome set.

I'm sorry you didn't get City Commander (he's still available in some places, btw), but don't try and ruin it for everyone else because you're not happy. That's not fair.

thanx alot for that, you just put my mind at ease about purchasing DIA Armor. Even though I'm diehard Ultra Magnus fan, I agree with everything you said, especially the highlighted bold parts

... It nearly blew my mind how much City Commander was going for, price was only a 1/3 of the battle. Then you have to find one that's in stock with is the 2nd battle. Oh and you'd think that a white color Optimus would not be so hard to find right? Guess again.
Like someone stated in another thread, without the trailer the Ultra Magnus figure is just a white colored Optimus truck cab. DIA commander was affordable AND available