Transformers Generations Combiner Wars 2016 Wave 1 (Bruticus) Sighted at US retail

Amelie wrote:That means those in the UK can be expecting those toys.... *looks at watch*

maybe Christmas 2016\Easter 2017.

At least thats my friends christmas taken care of for next year

william-james88 wrote:By the way, Amelie, just wanted to know if shipping to UK is cheap from japan. Does it cost more than 15 pounds for a standard UW combiner?

Amelie wrote:

william-james88 wrote:By the way, Amelie, just wanted to know if shipping to UK is cheap from japan. Does it cost more than 15 pounds for a standard UW combiner?

I might have been shopping in the wrong places but past experience tells me that Japan is often beyond my price range after shipping and taxes.

Best to find someone thats already got the figure in hand (like Kapow ect) than risk the import fees.

Seibertron wrote:I'm so glad that we don't have to deal with all of that craziness when importing items here into the US.

Gearslide wrote:Woah, what?

Did I miss something?

How come Trailbreaker's Gestalt Hand/Foot is so radically different from the others in the line? It's got two massive fingers and a very differently shaped thumb!

I like it! It adds more diversity to combiner limbs! But why him? Is it to make it fit better in the bed of his truck mode?

Alpha Dominus wrote:Oooh look. They even come with the same weapons as previous combiners. Repaint Wars.

Mindmaster wrote:Anyone else notice that they don't seem to come with comics but now include the cards...?

Agamemnon wrote:

Mindmaster wrote:Anyone else notice that they don't seem to come with comics but now include the cards...?

It looks like these are the international packaging (with multiple language representations of "Includes"). Perhaps these are just the international versions and we'll still be getting comics in the US.

Amelie wrote:

Alpha Dominus wrote:Oooh look. They even come with the same weapons as previous combiners. Repaint Wars.

I don't get the whole thing about people complaining about repaints, especially when the moment Starscream comes out theres always a "when will we see Thundercracker\Skywarp". Like - c'mon - the seekers even have the same heads

Transformers and repaints go hand-in-hand and its been stuffed full of them since the very first wave in 1984

DMSL wrote:I am glad I have the CHUG versions of these characters, because these look so terrible and cheap.

A screw hole in the window of Trailbreaker is the worst.

Alpha Dominus wrote:Oooh look. They even come with the same weapons as previous combiners. Repaint Wars.

AutobotAlvaron wrote:The Trailbreaker, as well as Ironhide, should have been made from the First Aid mold to give them a more "van" or "camper" look, though I do like his head/face-sculpt, and the blue windshield & eye-visor, and black face.

AutobotAlvaron wrote:The problem with all of these is the need for more paint. Emphasis seems to have be put into their alt-modes, and though I appreciate the silver-painted wheels, their bot-modes sorely needed more attention as well.

Cobotron wrote:Welcome Lunatic Prime!!!

It was noticed, and lightly discussed a few pages/posts ago, but it is an interesting mystery, no doubt. I'm thinking it is to play on the old G1 notion that Trail Breaker had the interchangeable hand and weapons gimmick. I'm also liking the above theories that it helps make it look more like a camper top in vehicle mode, and maybe pegs on his back some how in robot modefor a more G1 appearance.

Amelie wrote:

Alpha Dominus wrote:Oooh look. They even come with the same weapons as previous combiners. Repaint Wars.

I don't get the whole thing about people complaining about repaints, especially when the moment Starscream comes out theres always a "when will we see Thundercracker\Skywarp". Like - c'mon - the seekers even have the same heads

Transformers and repaints go hand-in-hand and its been stuffed full of them since the very first wave in 1984

Ironhidensh wrote:

Amelie wrote:

Alpha Dominus wrote:Oooh look. They even come with the same weapons as previous combiners. Repaint Wars.

I don't get the whole thing about people complaining about repaints, especially when the moment Starscream comes out theres always a "when will we see Thundercracker\Skywarp". Like - c'mon - the seekers even have the same heads

Transformers and repaints go hand-in-hand and its been stuffed full of them since the very first wave in 1984

For certain characters its okay, if they were always similar. The seekers, Trailbreaker and Hoist, Grapple and Inferno, cassettes, Ironhide and Ratchet. These are guys have always been the same mold so its okay.

Prime and motormaster? Silverbolt and Cyclonic? Vortex and 30000 other helicopters? Dead end and 40000 other car molds?

Hell no.

Yes, reprints have always had a place, but never to the extent that combined wars has shoved down our throughts.

Randomus wrote:

Ironhidensh wrote:

Amelie wrote:

Alpha Dominus wrote:Oooh look. They even come with the same weapons as previous combiners. Repaint Wars.

I don't get the whole thing about people complaining about repaints, especially when the moment Starscream comes out theres always a "when will we see Thundercracker\Skywarp". Like - c'mon - the seekers even have the same heads

Transformers and repaints go hand-in-hand and its been stuffed full of them since the very first wave in 1984

For certain characters its okay, if they were always similar. The seekers, Trailbreaker and Hoist, Grapple and Inferno, cassettes, Ironhide and Ratchet. These are guys have always been the same mold so its okay.

Prime and motormaster? Silverbolt and Cyclonic? Vortex and 30000 other helicopters? Dead end and 40000 other car molds?

Hell no.

Yes, reprints have always had a place, but never to the extent that combined wars has shoved down our throughts.

But...we were talking about 4 characters who aren't on your "hell no" list, unless you're counting Smokescreen as the Dead End mold (which is so heavily retooled that's it's closer to "shared engineering"). Even then, he still works because he and Prowl "have always been the same mold so its okay."

Randomus wrote:

Cobotron wrote:Welcome Lunatic Prime!!!

It was noticed, and lightly discussed a few pages/posts ago, but it is an interesting mystery, no doubt. I'm thinking it is to play on the old G1 notion that Trail Breaker had the interchangeable hand and weapons gimmick. I'm also liking the above theories that it helps make it look more like a camper top in vehicle mode, and maybe pegs on his back some how in robot modefor a more G1 appearance.

Just thought of something:

Q: What might that foot look a little like if you can mount it metal side up with the thumb out?
A: A tow apparatus...

EDIT: Also explains why the arm-cannon is on the right...

Cobotron wrote:

Randomus wrote:

Cobotron wrote:Welcome Lunatic Prime!!!

It was noticed, and lightly discussed a few pages/posts ago, but it is an interesting mystery, no doubt. I'm thinking it is to play on the old G1 notion that Trail Breaker had the interchangeable hand and weapons gimmick. I'm also liking the above theories that it helps make it look more like a camper top in vehicle mode, and maybe pegs on his back some how in robot modefor a more G1 appearance.

Just thought of something:

Q: What might that foot look a little like if you can mount it metal side up with the thumb out?
A: A tow apparatus...

EDIT: Also explains why the arm-cannon is on the right...

I'm pickin' up what yer puttin' down. So a little pre-Hoist action, ya?

Randomus wrote:

Cobotron wrote:

Randomus wrote:

Cobotron wrote:Welcome Lunatic Prime!!!

It was noticed, and lightly discussed a few pages/posts ago, but it is an interesting mystery, no doubt. I'm thinking it is to play on the old G1 notion that Trail Breaker had the interchangeable hand and weapons gimmick. I'm also liking the above theories that it helps make it look more like a camper top in vehicle mode, and maybe pegs on his back some how in robot modefor a more G1 appearance.

Just thought of something:

Q: What might that foot look a little like if you can mount it metal side up with the thumb out?
A: A tow apparatus...

EDIT: Also explains why the arm-cannon is on the right...

I'm pickin' up what yer puttin' down. So a little pre-Hoist action, ya?

All of the other mold toolings seemed to max out at two heads. At first, I thought Trailbreaker just got the Victorion treatment to use up the remaining budget, but perhaps they went with full-on new mold plates with a new pair of heads.

It might be for release later on, but it may have just been part of a filler wave in case Titans Returns was delayed (along with the seeker heads revealed by Grand Galvatron) and one of any of the other pretooled heads we haven't seen yet (i.e. the alternate heads for First Aid, Wheeljack, Rook, and Brawl). All speculation, of course.

FOLLOW UP: I'll drop off these pictures I took of First Aid (sorry, I don't have any of the pickups) and leave it at that. Just imagine a more angular thumb and fingers that look like skid plate...

IMG_20151213_201040741.jpg

IMG_20151213_201117391.jpg

Decepticon Sunstorm wrote:

Randomus wrote:All of the other mold toolings seemed to max out at two heads. At first, I thought Trailbreaker just got the Victorion treatment to use up the remaining budget, but perhaps they went with full-on new mold plates with a new pair of heads.

It might be for release later on, but it may have just been part of a filler wave in case Titans Returns was delayed (along with the seeker heads revealed by Grand Galvatron) and one of any of the other pretooled heads we haven't seen yet (i.e. the alternate heads for First Aid, Wheeljack, Rook, and Brawl). All speculation, of course.

FOLLOW UP: I'll drop off these pictures I took of First Aid (sorry, I don't have any of the pickups) and leave it at that. Just imagine a more angular thumb and fingers that look like skid plate...

IMG_20151213_201040741.jpg

IMG_20151213_201117391.jpg

What alternate heads? If I have missed something, I would like to know (except for the Ratchet head on First Aid, as I already know about that).

• Back when we were speculating about the Demolishor head on Onslaught, someone in the know (I believe it was Yuki) confirmed that pretooled heads were the norm. They may never get used, but they are there just in case.
• We know that the Starscream head from Grand Galvatron was pre-existing, because it's the giant head from all the "Design Desk" pages since Wave 1.

Randomus wrote:Sorry, I might have gotten ahead of myself. Remember, I'm mostly just speculating, but there are some things that we do know:

• Back when we were speculating about the Demolishor head on Onslaught, someone in the know (I believe it was Yuki) confirmed that pretooled heads were the norm. They may never get used, but they are there just in case.
• We know that the Starscream head from Grand Galvatron was pre-existing, because it's the giant head from all the "Design Desk" pages since Wave 1.

Odds are, Armada Thrust's head is pretooled from his own respective mold. Those two plus Ratchet make 3 characters that didn't actually get places to sit, which leads to the possibility that there may be more for those whom we haven't seen other heads. I just think it's fun to speculate on what might have been or might still be.

One last point...Wheeljack...he looks kinda like Lightspeed...

william-james88 wrote:

Randomus wrote:Sorry, I might have gotten ahead of myself. Remember, I'm mostly just speculating, but there are some things that we do know:

• Back when we were speculating about the Demolishor head on Onslaught, someone in the know (I believe it was Yuki) confirmed that pretooled heads were the norm. They may never get used, but they are there just in case.
• We know that the Starscream head from Grand Galvatron was pre-existing, because it's the giant head from all the "Design Desk" pages since Wave 1.

Odds are, Armada Thrust's head is pretooled from his own respective mold. Those two plus Ratchet make 3 characters that didn't actually get places to sit, which leads to the possibility that there may be more for those whom we haven't seen other heads. I just think it's fun to speculate on what might have been or might still be.

One last point...Wheeljack...he looks kinda like Lightspeed...

All those points are correct, the only thing I want to add is that it was John Warden who said that about pretooled heads. The interview is here: http://www.tfu.info/issue14/hasbronycc15.htm

And from that it would really seem like Hasbro is very much in the know of the possibilities out there with preconcieved heads designed but somehow it is Takara who is making the most of these designs. The only head confirmed to be inhouse Takara is the Devastator head (both the Hasbro and Takara version which are different toolings).

Amelie wrote:

Alpha Dominus wrote:Oooh look. They even come with the same weapons as previous combiners. Repaint Wars.

I don't get the whole thing about people complaining about repaints, especially when the moment Starscream comes out theres always a "when will we see Thundercracker\Skywarp". Like - c'mon - the seekers even have the same heads

Transformers and repaints go hand-in-hand and its been stuffed full of them since the very first wave in 1984

Alpha Dominus wrote:

Amelie wrote:

Alpha Dominus wrote:Oooh look. They even come with the same weapons as previous combiners. Repaint Wars.

I don't get the whole thing about people complaining about repaints, especially when the moment Starscream comes out theres always a "when will we see Thundercracker\Skywarp". Like - c'mon - the seekers even have the same heads

Transformers and repaints go hand-in-hand and its been stuffed full of them since the very first wave in 1984

And that's the most obvious argument for calling out fans over the hypocrisy of repaint bashing. The seekers, rewind and eject, rumble and frenzy are examples of exceptions to the lack of retools in the OG line. The Constructicons, Dinobots, Combaticons, Omega Supreme, Insecticons, Protectobots, Predacons, Technobots, Terrorcons had all new molds if not shared but a few spare parts. Now it's (repaints are) the rule. I can't walk five steps without bumping into a frankensteined transformer that masquerades as a new character when all the designer did was give it a new paint job and stick on a new head. I know I'm in the vast minority here in my opinion but yeah the repaint/retool overload is getting a bit much nowadays. But hey, they're not all lazy repaints right? Right?!

Alpha Dominus wrote:But hey, they're not all lazy repaints right? Right?!

william-james88 wrote:One thing we should remember though, while G1 combiners all had unique components (aside from the jets, which were retools), their Transformation was pretty much the same. They were extremely simple toys with some of the worst articulation ever.