JT Prime and Hyper Shouta’s 2023 datamined listings add Studio Series 86 Brawn, Shadow Striker, Strongarm, Detritus, Devcon and a mystery Holiday Optimus Prime. Velocitron Hot Rod appears in classic toy colors, and Ben Yee gets an early Shattered Glass Flamewar he helped create. New EarthSpark character art wins the crew over, especially Arcee. Matt finds Masterpiece Shouki a checklist of everything wrong in a Transformers toy, free-floating flaps and all.

News

PulseCon Is a Week Away

PulseCon arrives a week from Friday. One host expects few character surprises, since datamining has revealed most of the 2023 line. It will still be the first look at many toys. Another worries about getting the Alpha Trion and Orion Pax set. The crew notes Pulse preorder exclusives have mostly stayed available, except the Kingdom reformatting Galvatron.

It’s Actually Velocitron Hot Rod This Time

Photos show Velocitron Hot Rod in classic toy colors, which Brian notes match Walmart’s logo. One host finds it exactly as disappointing as expected. Another dislikes how the tampos ignore the sculpted detail on the shins. Don argues every season 3 Hot Rod color variant can be someone’s favorite, and the crew agrees. The crew still wishes for Sideburn or an e-Hobby Dark Rodimus deco. [Source: TFW2005 boards]

2023 Product Listings from JT Prime and Hyper Shouta

Studio Series listings include core Frenzy and Ironhide, Voyager Ratchet, War for Cybertron Megatron and Cliffjumper, Deluxe Mirage and Studio Series 86 Brawn. The crew jokes Brawn’s death scene is a feature, not a bug. Legacy listings add Tarantulas as a package refresh, Shadow Striker, Strongarm, Bombshell, Beachcomber, Detritus, Devcon and more Junkions. One host suspects Beachcomber could become Energon Strongarm and that the Junkions may fill a Weaponizer-style role. A Robo Wildrider with an outlier product code is probably an exclusive, likely the G2 version. A Legacy capsule listing hints at another store-exclusive sub-line. [Source: TFW2005 boards]

Holiday Optimus Prime Listing

A Holiday Optimus Prime turns up in the barcode list. JT Prime says in Discord it is a Leader packed two per case. Its product number suggests an Amazon or fan channel exclusive. Don guesses it follows the Christmas ReAction Optimus, and the crew hopes for a garish deco. [Source: TFW2005 boards]

Ben Yee Gets an Early Shattered Glass Flamewar

Ben Yee reviewed an early sample of Shattered Glass Flamewar, a character he helped create. The crew thinks it is one of the most heavily painted deluxes in years, which explains the $42 price, and says Ben deserves it. [Source: BWTF]

Agora Models Optimus Prime Subscription Kit

Agora Models offers a 78-centimeter Optimus Prime kit shipped in weekly parts. The crew worries about the company lasting, given Eaglemoss’s unfinished subscription builds, and does not love the design. [Source: Agora Models]

More EarthSpark Characters Shown, Including Arcee

New EarthSpark art shows Arcee, Wheeljack and Skullcruncher. The crew universally loves Arcee’s design, since her robot mode can actually be the car. One host likes how the show’s look has more visual weight than Prime. The crew hates Optimus Prime’s cheekbones but is glad he sounds energetic. Skullcruncher’s Crocto-bot listing gets a laugh. [Source: Autobase Aichi]

Poptaters Optimus Prime

Super Impulse makes a Potato Head-style Optimus Prime under license from Hasbro. Diecast realizes the company is based about 10 minutes from his house. [Source: Autobase Aichi]

2023 Transformers Calendars

Officially licensed 2023 wall calendars arrive, added to the show notes because Brian likes this stuff. One host prefers the Cyberverse calendar to the evergreen designs. [Source: TFW2005]

What We Got This Week

Don grabbed a second Road Rage at half price on a Target tip. He may build a Michael McConnohie shelf with Tracks and Cosmos. He also got Legacy Knock Out and calls Legacy Tarantulas superb, an update that skips the G1 filter. He picked up a third-party Blackarachnia from Show-Z Store, JRC Designs arm fillers for Cosmos and Leadfoot rotor kits. He also got Studio Series Dinobot swords, plus a G1 Optimus Prime model kit and an action base from Hobby Lobby.

Rob got the Flame Toys IDW Megatron kit, Decepticon version, which Don found at Hobby Lobby for 40 percent off.

Matt got a second Wildrider for Menasor. Studio Series 86 Wheelie does not stand well, and he had to pop the arm off to peg it in. His one unfortunate purchase is Masterpiece Shouki. He calls it a checklist of everything you do not want in a Transformers toy. It has clear plastic, tight hinges, free-floating flaps and freakishly large hands. The face sculpt is gorgeous, and he will still buy the other five.

Brian found a 2008 Universe Legends Bumblebee for $3 at McKay’s. He also bought Masterpiece MP-01 Optimus Prime in its convoy version for $120 shipped. It looks better without battle damage and with the long stacks.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:17:42 — 106.9MB) | Embed

Subscribe: RSS | More