Takara looks set to reissue G1 Ultra Magnus and Hot Rod in original packaging, following its Anniversary Convoy. This September 9, 2000 Radio Free Cybertron also covers a clear Super Fire Convoy variant, Devil Gigatron and new Beast Wars and Beast Machines toys in Previews. Brian Kilby passes along a rumor of a Neo Unicron release. Goldimus Prime reviews the second and third waves of McDonald’s Beast Machines toys.

News

Rumor: Neo Unicron Release in a G1-Style Box

Brian heard that Digital Toys’ trader told someone by email that the Beast Wars Neo Unicron is being released, possibly in a G1-style box. It is said to be about Optimal Optimus size. Brian does not expect to see it, but he would buy one. He is fine with G1 reissues in general and might pick up Hot Rod. [Source: not found]

News from Cybertron

A new alt.toys.transformers poster buys a Transformers shirt at Hot Topic, finds WebTV on clearance and declares himself an expert. After a week of all-caps, off-topic posts, everyone kill-files him, and he returns as INSANETFMASTERG14EVER2. Abominus declines an RFC interview over HUD trouble after listing himself as five people for public housing.

ATT Buzz

Clear Super Fire Convoy Variant

John DeLuna found and posted another Super Fire Convoy variant, made of translucent sparkly plastic. It joins two box versions and a black contest exclusive. John likes repaints that create new characters, but says Takara has gone too far with Car Robots, especially the Destrons, where only one toy is a new mold. [Source: alt.toys.transformers]

Devil Gigatron Pictures Surface at Digital Toys

Pictures of Devil Gigatron have appeared on Digital Toys. John says nothing about the all-white paint job looks devilish, and its four extra modes are squeezed out of the existing toy. Despite rumors, it is not three inches taller than Gigatron, just another repaint. [Source: Digital Toys]

Takara to Reissue G1 Ultra Magnus and Hot Rod

Online stores have confirmation from Japan that Ultra Magnus and Hot Rod will be reissued in original packaging, like Anniversary Convoy. Pre-orders run about $40 to $80 each. John is fine with it, noting Anniversary Convoy did not hurt G1 Optimus Prime prices. He calls Ultra Magnus an easy choice and Hot Rod an odd one, and doubts Soundwave or Megatron will return. [Source: not found]

Rapticon and Savage Noble Appear in Previews

Previews showed Rapticon, a Transmetal Pteranodon repaint released as a Dinobot. John suspects it was meant to be a Fox Kids edition before Fox pulled Beast Wars reruns and is ending Beast Machines. Previews also showed Savage Noble, and John is impressed with its engineering in both modes. Silverbolt and Nightviper are starting to show up online. [Source: Previews]

A G1 Episode Renaissance on ATT

Fans on ATT are rewatching and reviewing G1 episodes, including Prime Problem and The Master Builders. John says G1 was made for kids and is still entertaining. He wants more G1 episode reviews because they spark good-natured discussion.

Toy Review: McDonald’s Beast Machines Waves Two and Three

Goldimus Prime reviews McJetstorm, McRattrap and McBlackarachnia. Jetstorm is nice in jet mode only, Rattrap is a decent stand-in until a real toy arrives, and Blackarachnia is the worst of the group. In the third wave, Thrust is floppy, Nightscream is surprisingly the best and Tankor has the best vehicle mode but poor arms. He suggests completists focus on the first and third waves, and rates the group a 7.

Bad Poet’s Corner

This week’s poem is “Beast Wars,” which advises watching seasons one and two and skipping season three.

Coming Up

Brian plans to review an old Famicom Transformers game, which he calls Return of the Convoy, next week. He also wants Turin to review his new Anniversary Convoy.

Radio Free Cybertron: The Transformers Podcast

Brian Kilby

Radio Free Cybertron is the world's first and oldest toy and action figure podcast — broadcasting from the heart of the Transformers fan community since October 1999. What started as a scrappy fan show has grown into an institution, with nearly 1,000 episodes and over 25 years of coverage. Every week, host Brian Kilby and the RFC crew dig into the latest Transformers news, toy reveals, collecting, and everything hitting shelves from Hasbro, Takara, and beyond. No fluff, no hype — just informed, passionate collectors who have been doing this longer than anyone else on the planet. The original. The longest running. Till all are one.

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