John DeLuna launches the RFC Mini-cast, a snack-size Transformers podcast, with Headmaster Don as the first co-host. The pair dig into Combiner Wars Menasor ahead of its release and ask why Combiner Wars Optimus Prime landed so flat. They weigh the Blackjack chest gimmick, the missing Wildrider and Slingshot, and how much mold reuse the line can carry. Third-party add-on parts and the Toy Fair 2015 reveals of Cyclonus and Defensor close out the episode.

A Snack-Size Format

John explains the plan: a weekly show of about 30 minutes on one or two topics, with John as the constant host and a rotating roster of co-hosts.

Combiner Wars Optimus Prime and the Motormaster Mold

Don owns Combiner Wars Optimus Prime and calls him not bad, but says the mold looks better as Motormaster. John wonders if Prime shipped first as a case filler alongside Silverbolt. John saw Prime at Walmart and found him flat on the shelf. Don pointed to the washboard torso and the missing chest detail. Both admit the figure is surprisingly big for a $19 to $24 price point.

Menasor Expectations

Don calls himself a Bruticus guy who never loved or hated Menasor. He thinks fans were colored by Prime as a floating torso with random limbs. John says the Menasor torso still looks like a robot standing on two cars. Don adds that Motormaster’s truck sides become wide shoulders, which fights G1 Menasor’s tall, lean look.

The Blackjack Chest Gimmick

Menasor’s Legends partner Blackjack becomes part of the chest. Don notes the companion-piece idea goes back to Brave robots and Voltron, and calls Blackjack a matter of personal preference. John likes that Blackjack is optional for kids, but prefers the Targetmaster-style gimmick of Powerglide, who can work with many figures.

Missing Team Members and Mold Reuse

John asks why dropping Wildrider caused less outrage than Superion missing Slingshot. Don is fine with it if the mold becomes First Aid or Swindle and brings more combiners to US retail. He likes how Alpha Bravo breaks up the Aerialbots. The crew mention rumblings that Slingshot and Wildrider may arrive as one-off exclusives, possibly at Toys R Us. That remained a rumor at recording time. Don compares the line to Power Core Combiners, which he thinks repeated molds too often.

Kid-Friendly Design and Rock-Solid Combining

John calls Combiner Wars an incredibly kid-friendly line. He admits he once had to research how to transform Classics Megatron for a young visitor. Don credits the solid connection system for the line’s success. He calls the old Energon combiners blocky and says the Fall of Cybertron Bruticus comparison shows how far things have come. Both name Silverbolt the standout, and John praises the red flap that covers the gap in torso mode.

Third-Party Hands, Feet and Upgrades

Don says Menasor’s feet look small in pictures but reserves judgment until he has him in hand. He expects several third-party hand and foot options by the time Defensor arrives. John is glad third-party makers are returning to weapons and upgrades that need the official toy. Don calls FansProject’s City Commander the best example of that approach.

Toy Fair 2015: Cyclonus, Defensor and the Fan-Built Combiner

Don thinks Cyclonus feels like Power Core Combiners Undertow, a great standalone figure begging for dedicated limbs such as Sweeps. He likes Defensor as Bruticus’s rival and hopes the character gets real origin fiction. Don has not tried the app for the fan-built combiner. John notes the vote set its origin as the Sea of Rust. John hopes for an Autobot naval team, and the pair float Computron rumors, Predaking and three-member teams like Road Caesar and JRX. [Source: TFWiki]

Contributors: John DeLuna, Don

The RFC Mini-cast

Brian Kilby

Your snack-size Transformers podcast every week. Get in-depth reviews, commentary and more in 30 minutes or less!

Apple PodcastsAndroidRSS

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:09 — 54.1MB) | Embed

Subscribe: RSS | More