Matt hosts while Brian and Chris are away, with guest Eric Crownover filling in. The Titans Return Chaos on Velocitron set is scarce, with only about 270 units reported for the entire Southeast. Soldier Story’s $800 Unicron lamp has Don swooning, while Diecast finds the legs over-detailed. Michael Bay built his own Stonehenge for The Last Knight just to blow it up. Diecast shows off the Chaos on Velocitron set and a FansToys Phoenix test shot.
Forged to Fight Pin Winner
The winner of the Pinny Arcade Forged to Fight pin from PAX East is announced, and Brian will be in touch for shipping details.
This Week in History
In 2008, the Transformers Animated episode “Megatron Rising, Part 1” premieres in the US. The crew loves the Megatron Rising episodes and wishes the Decepticons said “Transform and rise up” more often. On March 26, 2007, the 51st and final Kiss Players radio drama airs in Japan, a sad anniversary in Brian’s absence.
News
Robots in Disguise Season 3 Combiner Force Possible Episode Count and Premiere Date
Combiner Force looks set for 26 episodes, bringing the series to 71. Canada may see new episodes as early as April 1, with no US date yet. The crew says the show improves every season and hopes for some closure on the kid characters. One host has heard the new season explores Cybertron’s backstory, including blame for the war falling on Optimus Prime. [Source: TFormers]
Titans Return Chaos on Velocitron Box Set In-Hand Photos and US Distribution Info
In-hand photos look great, but the set is turning up only sporadically. Exvee’s report says the entire Southeast received about 270 sets. One host’s Toys R Us says no store from Ohio to North Carolina has one. Don explains how small off-season trucks at little stores slow distribution. The crew wonders whether Quickswitch’s missing new helmet is an error, and Exvee reports his store pulled its shelf label during the show. One host notes all three Transformers lines restock on The Last Knight street date. [Source: TFormers] [Source: TFormers]
Figure Subscription Service 5 Shipments Now Arriving
After long shipping delays, the first Subscription Service 5.0 figures are arriving, and Matt and Eric both have theirs. Lifeline uses the braced open-hand Arcee mold, so she cannot hold her weapons without trimming. One host argues a pricey exclusive should be able to hold its own accessories. [Source: TFormers] [Source: TFormers]
Generation Cyber Battalion Jetfire In-Hand Images
Larger photos make clear Jetfire reuses the Cyber Battalion Starscream mold with a new head and some remolding. One host lost interest after seeing these photos. The crew suggests the Takara Generations Jetfire as a better buy for the money. [Source: TFormers]
Masterpiece MP-36 Megatron In-Hand Images
The figure looks great, though one host notes an ugly back and a panel-heavy gun mode and shoulders. The accessories include the key to Vector Sigma, the energy mace and the mind-control helmet. Under the faceplate, the face matches the X-ray scan from the 1986 movie. Despotron is bulkier, but MP-36 is the pick to stand next to MP-10. [Source: TFormers]
Titan Class Trypticon Will Hold Your Money for You in New Photos
One host praises the dense sculpting, which makes Trypticon look like a living city. He is more tempted now that the claws can feed Titan Masters to his mouth. The crew sees little reason to import the Takara version and speculates on a possible SDCC exclusive. [Source: TFormers]
Unicron Lamp From Soldier Story In-Hand Photos
The $800 light-up Unicron is gorgeous, and Don wants it badly. Diecast finds it over-detailed, especially from the knees down. The crew expects to watch for clearance sales, though even then it will be pricey. [Source: TFormers]
The Last Knight Decepticon Nitro Product Lineart Leaked, Hints at Alt Mode
The lineart shows wings and tail fins and confirms Nitro is a Voyager. The crew can now see the Shockwave resemblance from the trailer. [Source: TFormers]
Transformers: The Last Knight: Is This One-Step Turbo Changer Cogman?
An Autobase Aichi listing appears to show Cogman’s alternate mode, which looks nothing like the crew expected. Cogman is Anthony Hopkins’ character’s servant, and the crew guesses he is a headmaster in name only. [Source: TFormers]
Transformers: The Last Knight IMAX Fan Event Passes Now Available
The passes are free, and Diecast got one for next Tuesday’s half-hour event. He will report back on the next show. [Source: TFormers]
CinemaCon: Michael Bay Blows Up Significant Location for The Last Knight
Bay built his own Stonehenge to blow up and said it looked better than the original. Anthony Hopkins grumbled that only an American would say such a thing. The official movie site also launched, with an Optimus Prime whose eyes follow your mouse. [Source: TFormers] [Source: TFormers]
Iron Factory Lord Scorpion Dark Matter Version: Unofficial Legends-Scale Black Zarak
This pocket-sized Black Zarak looks more like the Masterforce character than the Pandanus-based Devil Z. Don likes that it is affordable and is tempted. [Source: TFormers]
FansHobby Gunfighter II Unofficial MP-Scale G2 Laser Optimus Prime Design Changes Revealed
FansHobby remolded Archenemy’s chest so the stripes sit where they did on the original toy. It also added hip covers, mirrors and windshield wipers to the truck mode. The crew appreciates a company going above and beyond and suggests a Laser Magnus could follow. [Source: TFormers]
Third Party Products on Display: DX9, ToyWorld, MakeToys, Iron Factory and More
A Chinese toy shop display includes a Masterpiece-scale War Within and Cybertron Starscream, which the crew did not see coming. They also spot a fourth Masterpiece Springer, an improved Powermaster Optimus Prime and a gun-and-tank Megatron with an unfortunate face. [Source: TFormers]
Also on TFormers
Jack has more reports from The Last Knight press event, including the movie cars and the Transformers ride. Rob reviewed Titans Return Voyager Megatron, and Exvee reviewed Till All Are One #8 and Lost Light #4. Rob’s Articulation Breakdown Week explains how hinges, swivels, ball joints and ratchets work. [Source: TFormers] [Source: TFormers] [Source: TFormers]
What We Got This Week
Diecast
Diecast got Quake Blast, a $40 knockoff Shockblast, from Taobao. He also got the first two DX9 War in Pocket Dinobots, Slag and Sludge, and the last two Fans Project figures to complete his Dinoking. An upgrade kit for MP-10 adds a light-up Matrix, a light-up face, articulated hands and a light-up gun. His big pickup is the Chaos on Velocitron set, unboxed on RFC Reviews. He also had a FansToys Phoenix test shot in hand before sending it back, and his review is up.
Rob
Rob had nothing in Transformers this week.
Don
Don ordered Robots in Disguise Warriors Blurr, Skywarp and Soundwave from Hasbro Toy Shop. He has not opened them yet.
Eric
Eric got the same Robots in Disguise Blurr, Skywarp and Soundwave, plus Titans Return Leader Soundwave. A custom Deadlock made from Robots in Disguise Drift finally arrived. He also got the first Subscription Service 5.0 shipment: Fractal, Lifeline, Scorponok and Quickslinger.
Matt
Matt got the same Subscription Service 5.0 shipment and trimmed Lifeline’s hands so she can hold her guns. He loves Fractal’s rich colors. He also got Mastermind Creations Kultur, a simple, satisfying tank-mode figure with no die-cast.
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 803 – One More Day
Radio Free Cybertron – 02/10/10