TF fans, bring out your wallets! The first wave of TF:Prime deluxe toys are here!

(Blurry picture time! Toy Kingdom forbade me from taking pictures — so here are shots from TRU)

Cliffjumper, Starscream, Bumblebee

Arcee!

The Prime/Megatron 2-pack with the kids.

OT: I just saw this today:

what is up with that junk

As I have just recently noticed (I am clueless) this blog has turned into a semi-Transformers toys blog. Derp. I have not shown enough love for TF:Prime — and if I were you, I’d give it a shot. It’s not quite TF:Animated (yet), but remember, we were all skeptical about that one when it was announced too.

Here’s a preview of the toy versions of TF:Prime Optimus Prime and Bulkhead:

Will the actual figure be as “cute” as his TF:Prime appearance?

Check the source: Transformers Prime Deluxe Wave 3 and Voyager Official Images for an image of the zombie-Cliffjumper toy!

The Reveal the Shield subline is now on clearance. (Half-off!) So it was time to get the RTS toys that I missed out on. (I keep forgetting that I have G2 Laser Optimus Prime from this line. I even forgot to upload pictures/make a review-of-sorts for him. Anyway, he’s part of this line and I already have him.) Here’s what I got:

• RTS Special Ops Jazz
• RTS Turbo Tracks
• RTS Solar Storm Grappel
• RTS Lugnut
• Generations Dirge
• DOTM Deluxe Class Laserbeak
• RTS Legends Class Optimus Prime
• RTS Legends Class Megatron
• RTS Legends Class Starscream
• RTS Legends Class Gold Bumblebee
• RTS Legends Class Prowl
• RTS Legends Class Trailcutter

I had a plan of which toys to get before even leaving the house. Sadly, the unavailability of one character upset that plan. They ran out of Wreck-Gar! Really happy with the lot though.

Here’s a mini-review of the figures:

Jazz – I knew I’d like this one because it’s such a great update on G1 Jazz. The kitten-ears and the speakers are a nice touch. GET HIM.

Tracks/Dirge – I got my Wheeljack before Tracks, the original user of that mold, so without consulting the instructions, I (mis-)transformed him. Dirge I got because I simply didn’t have him yet. He wasn’t on clearance. (I grouped them together because both are redecos of toys I already have.)

Solar Storm Grappel – The disappointment of the lot. His legs/arms were VERY loose out-of-the-box. That seriously limits his poseability, since he has heavy limbs. He’s just standing there. (This still isn’t the nightmare quality control issue I have with this haul.)

Lugnut – This one is clearly a leftover from the Animated series of toys. Even with the addition of more realistic details, he still comes across as an Animated toy. I like how clever the arms/hands are. I don’t like how his cockpit pieces aren’t made of solid plastic. Still, overall, something nice to have.

Laserbeak – My first DOTM toy since the movie — didn’t really dig through the DOTM stuff this time around (because there were tons of things that I liked in there, and they weren’t in the plan) but I really like his MechTech weapon and his fanmode combineability with Megatron.

RTS Legends – These are hotttt. For Php 150 (around $3.50)/each, these toys are a steal! It also helps that most of them are done in G1 style. Megatron is particularly awesome. Here’s my story: upon opening Megatron, I was wondering why I couldn’t properly tab in his left leg — turns out the one that I got has two right legs. (crapinahat, quality control!) You’d think it would be okay in robot mode — the feet part are specially molded to have his legs stand apart, and since the feet have a slant, he stands weird. Since he’s cheap, I could easily replace him — if only here weren’t a little harder to find, and also, the fact that this Megatron was among the last four that I saw in the store I bought him from. (I do have an extra, but it was meant for a friend lol)

Fun fact: since the year started, I always catalog new toys that I buy. (I went on collection-hiatus for the last two years.) So far, I have bought 45 toys, and only 4 of them are non-Transformers. LOL

The rest of the images are on this flickr set.

To commemorate Nestle’s 100th year, KitKat (Kit Kat? KitKat? Kitkat?) came out with the Break Pack — it’s a box with a 6-pack of 2 fingers Kit Kat and a “KIT KAT Desk Organizer.” (which is the bench)

I’m not into desk organization, but it helps when the “KIT KAT Desk Organizer” comes in the form of a Kit Kat bench, which is, as luck would have it, in scale with figma!

So now Drossel has a place to:

So grab it while you can! It retails for only Php 100!

FINALLY. After half a year waiting for this guy to get restocked, I finally managed to get TF United UN-09 Megatron — with a little help from GreatToys and eBay.

Actually, this Megatron is about waiting — it took Hasbro/Tomy Takara 5 years to get it right. The first version of this toy was released in 2006, part of the Classics line. That version was notorious for having Nerf colors. Due to US toy regulation, they weren’t allowed to make Megatron look too much like a real gun, hence the Nerf Maverick look. Two years later (2008), this sculpt reappeared as part of the Henkei! Henkei! line, which is essentially a redeco to make him look more G1-accurate. This version almost got the right paint apps — but still ended up being known for giving Megatron purple eyeshadow.

Late 2010, the United version, which was a redeco of the last release (a redeco of a redeco) sought to correct the sins of paint app past. By removing all extraneous colors and detail, they finally got the almost-G1 robot mode look they were going for. Though the sculpt is showing its age, it’s still the version that I wanted to match with my almost-3-year-old Henkei Prime.

Finally, here he is beside Transformers Music Label Soundwave (Blaster Black Edition):

So. My favorite toy that I got at Toycon? WFC Optimus Prime. I also said:

“The only downside is, why didn’t they opt for making this a Voyager Class? But that’s my personal opinion on Prime being the CEO of the Autobots: he should be bigger than most of them.”

Thanks to Mikko for pointing out a certain knock-off …

From this picture alone, you could sort of tell that it isn’t made of quality plastic. But according to its product page:

suitable for repaint and modifty. [sic]

Which opens up quite a few possibilities…

Not that I’d actively look for one. Or maybe.

(P.S. I’ve posted something about a KO Prime before.)

Toycon 2011! It’s been a full decade since the first one, and it just keeps getting bigger! Also, it’s my 8th time showing up with a wish list, haggling for better deals (which usually equates to asking, “last price?”), ending up having too much fun hanging out with friends that I actually forget to take pictures and then going home encumbered with toys!

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So anyway, here are toys that I got:

• DCUC Etrigan – I initially told myself to stick to Transformers toys this year. Stupid DCUC and their awesome sculpts. Got reeled in. Considering that this guy was part of the first wave? The sculpt still stands, and is in a lot of ways better than some stuff coming out recently. Four Horsemen!
• DCUC Darkseid – Ridiculous. Awesome.
• DCUC Superman – Finally! This is the Superman that I wanted last year!
• DOTM Deluxe Class Bumblebee – There was a booth (I’m sorry I forgot which one) that was selling Deluxe-Class DOTM toys for only 550. Too bad I saw it too late. No Crankcase for me (yet). While his vehicle mode is fantastic/different, truth is, I only just got a Battle Blades Bumblebee a few weeks ago, and that’s my favorite version of the character so far. To note: his hands can’t hold the MechTech weapon, you must plug it into the MechTech port at the back of his hand, which looks unnatural and weighs down the shoulder ball joint. His eyes lack the lightpipe that BB ‘Bee has, which is a little sad.
• DOTM Deluxe Class Starscream - I actually got this Starscream to fanmode’ combine with my Megatron lol. (thank your image board post — I’d love to credit you, but I don’t know who you are.)
• TF United WFC Optimus Prime - YESSSSS this completes my War for Cybertron toys! (Okay, so I don’t have Cliffjumper yet, but he’s same-molditis with Bumblebee anyway). I’m ridiculously careful about transforming this one since I might scratch the metallic paint. He looks great and pretty much represents the WFC version of the character. He has great articulation, and he has a gun that turns into a cannon. The only downside is: why didn’t they opt in making this a Voyager Class? (We get a leader-class Bumblebee, but no giant version of this one?) But that’s my personal opinion on Prime being the CEO of the Autobots: he should be bigger than most of them. (which is the same issue I have with Laser Optimus Prime, bought 2 days before toycon lol) Next mission: find and obtain a Corbot V War Axe.

Non-toys bought:

• PS3 War for Cybertron – bought from a booth called “New Haven.” Looking forward to their future online store.
• “The Doctor is in” Shirt – an awesome, awesome TARDIS-blue shirt by Geekerie. I liked it so much I bought two. (Then sold to jealous friend who didn’t get one lol) New favorite shirt?

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As Toycon has become a tradition, fought the crowds again with Mikko. Finally saw Coeli again since I missed her last time ’round. The sisig-debt remains unpaid. lol

When you’re near the entrance of Megatrade hall, you’ll usually hear: “andaming tao sa loob/ansikip/too many people/etc” — but what they really mean is they love it and they want more. LOL

In my opinion, this is the best layout they’ve had for Toycon so far. You could see traces of it from last year: separating the areas for buying/selling, galleries and cosplay. Now it’s fully realized with a much larger (I think) area for booths, a separate gallery housed within dividers/walls and the cosplay stage at a different hall.

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The title of this post is in reference to me (Doctor Hru), Mikko (Doctor How) and Wigi (Doctor Wei) getting the same geekerie shirt. First Doctor Who-related merch we’ve bought in Toycon. (so far)

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A big thanks to awesome booths that sell great merch, friends for being awesome, and the organizers of Toycon!

I guess last week is the last time I buy toys ’til ToyCon. As mentioned in my Shockwave post, I got more DOTM toys! So here’s what I got:

• DOTM VC Optimus Prime
• DOTM VC Megatron
• DOTM Human Alliance Basic Backfire
• HftD Battle Blades Optimus Prime
• HftD Battle Blade Bumblebee
• HftD Tomahawk

Grabbed DOTM Optimus, Megatron and Backfire from Best Toys GB1.

I really really like this design for Megatron. Robots with a hood/cowl/poncho? Awesome. Tons of articulation and MechTech ports. I like how his MechTech is integral to his transformation process — and it doesn’t make him look silly when you attach it.

He has a waist!

The new Optimus, as you can see, is thin. Ridiculously thin. Not too crazy about how short his thigh area is, making his knee higher than the usual. This limits his poseability. Why buy him? For the BFG spam. Which is why I bought Backfire:

He turns into a robot, a three-wheeled ATV and a weapon. Combine him with Prime and you get:

BFG SPAM! Which is really what the HA Basics are about.

The downside is the quality control for the new toys — my Megatron’s left knee is ridiculously loose. Can’t pose him in some ways because he’ll fall down. Any suggestions on how to tighten a pin/friction joint? Also, my Optimus Prime DID NOT come with an instruction manual. Thanks to YouTube, I was able to transform him effectively.

Mikko got this Tomahawk for me since he’s harder to come by now. He makes a great ‘bot to match up against Terradive.

Battle Blades Prime, along with the BB Bumblebee are my favorite toys that I got last week. BB Prime is just … everything you want an Optimus Prime toy to be: well-articulated, playable and looks fantastic.

BB Bumblebee is apparently the largest Deluxe movie toy I own. The best BB in my opinion. (Aside from the reverse-axe thing.)

I guess that’s it. More after ToyCon!