MP-32 Masterpiece Optimus Primal is nearly here, with a Hasbro Asia exclusive diecast mace in a banana box. Amazon Japan now ships internationally, and one host calls it the best news in a long time. Platinum Edition Liokaiser surfaces at Entertainment Earth for $129.99, and Combiner Force turns up in Australia. Toyworld teases Masterpiece-scale Bruticus and Superion, and Fans Project reveals Warbot Trianix Alpha.
Extra Life This Weekend
The stream runs November 5 for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and Duke Children’s Hospital. Brian, Jason Kirk and Mike have a $1,000 team goal and are about 45 percent there. Sponsoring an hour costs $10, and $25 lets you pick Brian’s game. Brian’s evening slots include Mystery of Convoy, Headmasters, Beast Wars on PlayStation and Fall of Cybertron.
Brainstorm Giveaway
Brian has an extra Walgreens Brainstorm to give away. Follow @TFRadio on Twitter and retweet the Brainstorm tweet to enter.
This Week in History
In 1983, Takara granted Hasbro an exclusive license to sell its Diaclone and Micro Change toys in the US as The Transformers. One host recalls hearing a Hasbro representative spotted the toys at a Japanese toy show. In 1998, the Beast Wars episode “Deep Metal” premiered in the US, and the crew gushes over Depth Charge.
News
Masterpiece Optimus Primal Packaging and Exclusive Mace Accessory Images
The diecast mace comes in a banana box with Hasbro Asia’s release, and some US retailers carry that version. One host wants every diecast extra but dreads tracking them down. [Source: TFormers]
Amazon Japan Ships Internationally
Amazon Japan now ships many items to the US, with an English option and dollar conversion. One host ordered Optimus Primal for about $101 shipped, roughly $20 under US prices before shipping. Sold-out items like Legends Scourge are still available there.
MP-32 Masterpiece Optimus Primal New In-Hand Photos Surface on Twitter
Primal stands taller than Classics Optimus Prime but a bit shorter than MP-10. A peg on his back holds Generations Rattrap in beast mode. The crew hopes Cheetor follows, and one host wants a Masterpiece Dinobot. [Source: TFormers]
Transformers Masterpiece Series Wins 2016 Good Design Award
Japan’s Institute of Design Promotion honored the line. One host explains Hasbro and Takara design these toys as a team, so MP-01 was a shared effort. [Source: TFormers]
Titans Return Brainstorm Walgreens Exclusive Now Available Online
Brian bought two online and found one in a store. Shipping is free over $35. The crew warns collectors not to expect pristine packaging from Walgreens. [Source: TFormers]
XM Studios G1 Optimus Prime Statue Work in Progress
Few on the crew buy statues, though one host regrets passing on more Hard Hero busts. [Source: TFormers]
Titans Return Wave 3 Preorders
Big Bad Toy Store, TFSource and other retailers have Titans Return wave 3 up for preorder. The crew jokes Matt and Diecast have cornered the market on Gnaw. [Source: TFormers]
Platinum Edition Combiner Wars Liokaiser Available From Entertainment Earth
Jim Sorenson flagged that Entertainment Earth takes phone orders, now at $129.99, about $20 over the expected price. Matt’s QC report: Hellbat and Gyhawk have leg-pegging trouble like this year’s BotCon Terrorsaur. [Source: TFormers]
Robots in Disguise Combiner Force Toys Found in Australia
Paul Agnew found the first Legion class assortment. The crew thinks the new Starscream looks a lot like Windblade. [Source: TFormers]
The Last Knight Production Departs the UK With Messages of Thanks
UK filming has wrapped, which may end principal photography. The crew expects the film around late June 2017. [Source: TFormers]
Third-Party News
Toyworld Unofficial MP-Scale Combiners: Bruticus and Superion Teased
One host repeats his TFormers take: third parties keep retreading old ground at bigger sizes. The crew debates what makes a toy Masterpiece scale. Another company also showed line art for its own Masterpiece Omega Supreme. [Source: TFormers]
WB008 Warbot Trianix Alpha by Fans Project: Not Diaclone Dia-Battles
It costs about $120 and looks like typical Fans Project engineering. One host notes the official Diaclone Dia-Battles makes it feel unnecessary, while Dai Atlas still lacks an update. [Source: TFormers]
What’s on TFormers
Rob continues the Beast Wars 20th anniversary series with the basic beasts of 1996: Terrorsaur, Snapper and Insecticon. Reviews cover Till All Are One: Revolution and Revolution #4.
Listener Mail: A Plea for Carnifex
Ryan, a listener since 2009, urges the crew to reconsider Mastermind Creations’ Carnifex as one of 2016’s best third-party toys. Diecast changed his mind after seeing Hasbro’s Leader Sky Shadow at New York Comic Con. Don wants a Masterforce-style Overlord. One host wants to support Hasbro’s long-awaited official Overlord.
What We Got This Week
Brian got the Walgreens Brainstorm and has an extra to give away.
Diecast got a Finding Nemo transforming dolphin that is a knockoff of the Car Robots Rail Racer engineering.
Matt has 14 Legends Gnaws counting three from Diecast, with ten more preordered. He also got Takara’s Go Shooter with a Shapeways adapter. He spent an hour and a half applying Toyhax not-Exhaust labels to Combiner Wars Wheeljack.
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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Radio Free Cybertron 863 – Why do I even bother buying things on their first release? (UPDATED)
Radio Free Cybertron – 03/24/10