The first images of Unite Warriors Computron confirm Chris’s theory: Takara Tomy’s set uses different molds than Hasbro’s. It adds an all-new chest, head and rifle for about $130. Takara Tomy’s Legends preorders bring Titans Return figures with Titan Masters and a 25,000 yen LG31 Fortress Maximus with sound. With BotCon 2016 a week away, the Radio Free Cybertron crew plans for the free Stan Bush and Vince DiCola concert.
News
First Images of Unite Warriors Computron Confirm Drastic Differences From Leaked Hasbro Version
New images confirm what Chris predicted from the silhouette. Lightspeed uses the Wheeljack and Breakdown mold, Nosecone is a Rook retool with a drill unit, and Strafe is a Blast Off retool. The chest, combiner head and rifle are all new, and two smaller guns peg together. Chris is buying both versions, and Rob is weighing whether he needs Scrounge. [Source: TFormers]
Takara Transformers Unite Warriors UW-08 Computron USA Pre-Orders
Unite Warriors Computron is a general release in Japan, with US preorders around $130. Hasbro’s gift set will be about $100, so the crew calls the extra cost small for so much new tooling. The only risk they see is a deco that leans too cartoon-accurate. [Source: TFormers]
Takara Transformers Legends and Adventures Pre-Orders – LG31 Fortress Maximus, More!
Takara Tomy’s Legends and Adventure preorders fold Titans Return into the Legends line, each with a Titan Master. Blurr and Scourge are priced lower, likely without a Titan Master vehicle. A mystery character might be Brainstorm. LG31 Fortress Maximus lists at 25,000 yen with an original sound gimmick, and the crew hopes for a “Head on!” from the Malaysian dub. [Source: TFormers]
Combiner Wars Promotional Deluxe Groove In Hand Photos
In-hand photos and a YouTube review show the promotional Combiner Wars Deluxe Groove. Chris says it matches Hasbro’s figure except for paler red light paint. If Groove gets a US release, Chris will buy three to build an all-Groove Defensor. [Source: TFormers]
BotCon 2016
Transformers Hall of Fame 2016 – Vote Now For Your Favorite Characters & Music!
Fans can vote now on Facebook for the Transformers Hall of Fame. Don voted for Optimus Primal, Cosmos and Lion, the band behind the movie’s theme song. Several hosts push for Weird Al instead. [Source: TFormers]
BotCon 2016 – Transformers Movie Stan Bush and Vince DiCola Panel and Free Concert
Stan Bush and Vince DiCola will play a free concert on Friday night at Fourth Street Live, near the BotCon hotel. Don and Brian will be there, and Don promises to rock out. [Source: TFormers]
Botcon 2016 – Panel Details And Full Schedule Now Available
The Hasbro panel moves to 11 a.m. Saturday. Other highlights include a Gregg Berger and Venus Terzo Q&A, a Beast Wars anniversary panel, an Aaron Archer Q&A and a BotCon retrospective. Diecast sees only about four panels that interest him. [Source: TFormers]
Third-Party Con Moves to the Hyatt Regency
Third-party product is strictly banned at BotCon this year, even from hotel rooms. A third-party show run by Captured Prey will run Thursday through Sunday at the Hyatt Regency down the street. The crew remembers last year’s third-party room, where they first saw Pandinus. [Source: not found]
Third-Party News
Fansproject Warbot Dai-Z – Dia Atlas Homage Pre-Orders and Details
Fansproject’s Warbot Dai-Z, a Dai Atlas homage, is a remold of its Trianex Alpha design. Brian loves the colors, though the figure is small for a Dai Atlas. [Source: TFormers]
TFC Toys Bigbite Unofficial Seacon Skalor Color Sample Photos
Color samples of TFC Toys’ Bigbite, an unofficial Skalor, kick off its Piranacon. Don pitches an original Autobot warship team as a counterpart. The crew notes original designs rarely sell. [Source: TFormers]
Also on TFormers
Transformers #52 Comic Details and Cover Images – All Hail Optimus Prime Part 3
Livio Ramondelli draws the interiors of The Transformers #52, part three of All Hail Optimus. Chris also reviewed More Than Meets the Eye #51. [Source: TFormers]
Running Out Of Room For Transformers Comics? This Truck’s For You!
Optimus Prime comic storage boxes turn a short box into the cab and a long box into the trailer. [Source: TFormers]
This Week in Kisstory
Ten years ago, the first Kiss Players radio drama aired in Japan. Brian says he brought back This Week in History mainly so he could mark this anniversary. Rob notes the line was a reaction to Galaxy Force underperforming in Japan. Brian recalls first hearing about Kiss Players from M. Cipher.
Punning Around with Headmaster Don
Don asks fans not to judge whole movies from two-minute trailers. He uses the Ghostbusters reboot as his example and expects the same fight over Transformers 5 trailers. Rob counters that after four Michael Bay films, there is a point where optimism stops making sense.
What We Got This Week
Diecast got the official Q-Transformers Skyfire, which he calls adorable, and Takara Tomy Legends Thundercracker in its window box.
Don got UniqueToys Buzzing, an unofficial Masterpiece-style Blurr, for a good price on eBay. He likes the engineering but finds the Generations-style packaging oddly blatant. He also picked up Transformers Adventure Thunderhoof.
Brian says his $40 knockoff G1 Reflector is good enough to pass as real. He calls it a counterfeit rather than a fun knockoff, though it saves him buying a $300 original.
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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