Transformers Fest 2016 brings word of Masterpiece Cheetor and the first look at the Masterpiece Inferno prototype. With Brian away, Exvee hosts and longtime friend Trixter joins the crew. They react to the BotCon Megatron turning up at a UK convention at twice the price, and to Takara Tomy’s Sky Reign teaser. Mastermind Creations shows its unofficial Overlord, and Don defends Cheetor’s Masterpiece slot.
This Week in History
In May 1984, Marvel’s The Transformers #1 hit newsstands, making the franchise 32. The crew debates Bill Sienkiewicz’s abstract cover and the iconic covers that followed. Trixter shares her origin story: G2 toys at Toys “R” Us, “The God Gambit” on the Sci-Fi Channel, and then Simon Furman’s comics.
News
Transformers Fest 2016: Masterpiece Cheetor Announced
Takara Tomy plans more Beast Wars Masterpieces, starting with Cheetor, with details due in June. The crew sees Tigatron and Shadow Panther repaints ahead. They wonder how Takara Tomy will engineer a transformation that never worked in the show. [Source: not found]
Transformers Fest 2016: Masterpiece Inferno Prototype
The crew loves the prototype and the teaser recreating Inferno carrying Red Alert from a burning building. Several hosts want an Artfire repaint just as much. [Source: not found]
Takara Tomy Teases Its Sky Reign
A silhouette shows Takara Tomy’s version drops Smokescreen, likely for the Ratchet mold. The crew hopes Takara Tomy also gives Liokaiser a full Unite Warriors treatment. [Source: not found]
BotCon Megatron and Airazor Headed to Roll Out Roll Call
The BotCon exclusives will be sold at the UK show at about double the price, with a special ticket tier needed to preorder. Don calls lifting the purchase limit on Megatron at BotCon a mistake that ruined the show for many. One host notes nobody knows whether these came from a separate allotment. [Source: not found]
Action Toys Machine Robo In-Hand Photos
Don is thrilled and says the display stands help justify the price. He is disappointed there is no Tux. [Source: not found]
Masterpiece Ironhide Reissue Adds a New Accessory
The crew is surprised Ironhide sold through so fast, and nobody is too upset about the extra accessory. [Source: not found]
Titans Return Fortress Maximus High-Res Official Images
The final colors look great, and the crew says Fortress Maximus beats Metroplex. They dream up a Takara Tomy version that plays the full theme and shouts “Head on!” Preorders are not up yet. [Source: not found]
Hasbro Toy Shop May Mayhem Sale
A 15 percent off and free shipping code runs through May 24. The crew guesses Groove preorders could land during the sale, though nothing is confirmed. [Source: not found]
Third-Party News
Mastermind Creations at Cyber City Con: Carnifex, Roadbuster and Kultur
A color sample of Carnifex, the unofficial Overlord, shows little beyond the BotCon tease. One host may skip it after Hasbro’s Overlord hint, while Diecast is tempted, and the target price is under $200. Its unofficial Roadbuster leans on IDW designs. Kultur, the unofficial Tarn, has a removable mask, and one host says the Decepticon Justice Division is exactly what third parties should make. [Source: not found]
Omnigonix Spinout Price Drop Over Quality Problems
Toy Dojo and Chosen Prime warned customers about the figure’s substandard quality. The price drops to $69.99 with no returns, though replacement parts are offered while they last. The crew compares it to Cronos and doubts retailers will order from Omnigonix again. [Source: not found]
Punning Around With Headmaster Don
Don pushes back on fans who say Cheetor stole a G1 Masterpiece slot. Beast Wars helped save Transformers, and its fans deserve Masterpieces in the anniversary year. With so much G1 already in the line, he asks fans to be happy for each other.
Also on TFormers
Exvee has video reviews of Pyra Magna, Skyburst and Stormclash, and the Victorion galleries now top 300 photos. Rob tested a leg swap for a less patchwork look. He also posted an unboxing of the Kids Logic MechaNation Devastator. Rounding out the week is a fully handmade, comic-accurate More Than Meets the Eye Megatron custom.
Listener Questions
Mr. DeMark asks whether Cincinnati will see a BotCon again. The crew says the BotCon name is likely done, but TFCon in Chicago is a reasonable drive. He also asks about retooling the Hot Spot and Onslaught torso into Motormaster. The crew pitches Pyro, Brave homages, Ultra Magnus and a G2 Hero Optimus Prime with a launch ramp.
What We Got This Week
Don
Don’s big Big Bad Toy Store box held FansToys Stomp and Takara Tomy Thunderhoof. It also had the next piece of an unofficial Dinoking, MakeToys Gundog in cartoon colors, G2 Superion and Grand Galvatron with its coin. He also picked up Cerberus for TFC’s Hades.
Matt
Matt got Grand Galvatron and loves the colors, even the clear Starscream. He also got Fansproject’s Severo, the unofficial Grimlock, with its throne.
Rob
Rob got Victorion ahead of its release date. He also got the Kids Logic MechaNation Devastator, which is huge, detailed and about $150.
John
John had nothing in Transformers this week.
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.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:16:52 — 53.0MB) | Embed
Radio Free Cybertron 678 – Spend Brian’s Money
Radio Free Cybertron – 02/27/01