Radio Free Cybertron hits episode 900, and the crew opens by remembering Peter Renaday, the G1 voice of Grapple. A Generations 2025 Vortex listing has Don ready to buy every Combaticon, and Walmart’s Retro G1 Bombshell and Ramhorn two-pack gets a first look. Hironori Kobayashi’s interview traces Missing Link back to the earliest Masterpiece concept. The crew also weighs Legacy United Slipstream’s paint, Triple T Kup and 40th anniversary storage totes. In What We Got This Week, Brian, Matt and Diecast rave about Commander Class Optimus Prime, and Chris finally lands Beast Wars Second Tako Tank.

News

G1 Voice Actor Peter Renaday Passes Away

Peter Renaday, the voice of Grapple in the original cartoon, has passed away. He also voiced Splinter in the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon. One host notes Grapple had few roles, but Master Builders was his big story alongside Hoist. The crew says it’s always a shame to lose one of the classic voice actors. [Source: TFW2005]

PulseCon 2024 Details and NYCC Panel Info

PulseCon runs this Friday, with only four exclusives. One host wants Dinoking. The Transformers press release mentions only Studio Series reveals, with no sneak peek at next year. One host was expecting nothing and is still disappointed. New York Comic Con follows in October. Brian will see Transformers One at his local fan event next week, and early buzz from fans like Miguel and Six is positive. [Source: TFW2005]

Generations 2025 Vortex Listing Found

A Generations 2025 listing puts Vortex in the slot Swindle once held, with Swindle bumped later. Don will buy every Combaticon Hasbro makes, calling them his favorite American combiner team. The crew guesses Onslaught could be a Commander Class figure with his missile trailer forming Bruticus’s torso. [Source: TFW2005]

First Look at Retro G1 Bombshell and Ramhorn

Walmart’s Retro G1 line pairs reissued Bombshell and Ramhorn, with painted mustard weapons instead of chrome. Target, meanwhile, gets Studio Series Ramhorn boxed with a red Perceptor. Bombshell is robot-mode accurate, but the crew says his bug mode looks wrong without the purple. One host notes vintage Insecticons are cheap on the secondary market. [Source: TFW2005]

Hironori Kobayashi Interview Traces Missing Link to the First Masterpiece

A translated interview with Hironori Kobayashi says Missing Link’s roots go back to MP-01. The early pitch for Masterpiece was a G1 Optimus Prime with joints added. Masterpiece has since become exceptionally complicated, and Missing Link returns to the idealized G1 toy. Kobayashi hints Missing Link could also make new G1 characters that never had toys. Don would send a polite thank-you letter for a Headmaster Arcee. [Source: Soundwave’s Oblivion]

Transformers 40th Anniversary Foldable Storage Totes

The Transformers 40th anniversary Expo is selling official 50-liter foldable storage totes for about $50 each. One host calls them peak middle-aged Transformers merchandise. The crew agrees Rubbermaid-style bins are better storage, and the only appeal is the branding. [Source: TFW2005]

G.I. Joe x Transformers Triple T Kup In Hand

In-hand images make the Triple T Kup look more solid than its reveal. One host finds Kup’s blue eyes lifeless. Another suspects a Hasbro edict that every collaboration must keep clearly separate G.I. Joe and Transformers parts, which defeats the point. [Source: TFW2005]

Takara Tomy Brave Commander Optimus Prime In Hand

In-hand images show Takara Tomy’s leader-class Transformers One Brave Commander Optimus Prime. Don has been disappointed by the Studio Series and mainline versions. He wanted to see a transformation first, then ordered one from Suruga-ya during the show at $10 less with free shipping. [Source: TFW2005]

Legacy United Slipstream In Hand

Legacy United Slipstream has great head sculpts, but her chest is painted a different purple than the wings. Fans are reposting Mark Maher’s earlier Instagram photos, though he labeled those colors non-final. Nonnef Productions has teased an upgrade kit that may include a replacement chest. Eric Crownover shared Cyberverse images in the Discord and notes the new colors sit closer to the show. [Source: TFW2005]

Optimus Prime’s Head Sculpted in Chocolate

Pastry designer Amaury Guichon sculpted a life-size Optimus Prime head in chocolate to promote Transformers One. It lights up with LEDs, and the design leans toward the Sunbow and comic look. [Source: TFW2005]

New Transformers Halloween Costumes

HalloweenCostumes.com has new Transformers costumes in several body styles, including two takes on Optimus Prime and Arcee. One host says the Starscream mask is perfect. [Source: TFU.info on X]

What We Got This Week

Commander Class Optimus Prime

Brian, Matt and Diecast all got Commander Class Optimus Prime, and Matt calls it freaking amazing. The crew compares it to a Masterpiece, with a solid, heavy build and an appropriately sized trailer. The backpack is less annoying in person than in photos. The Matrix chamber is unpainted and the smokestacks float freely. Diecast found the heel pins impossible to push. The crew would buy repaints like Dark Awakening Optimus Prime, Nemesis Prime and Magna Convoy. Don skipped it because it cost $25 more than his pre-order.

Matt

Matt’s Hasbro Pulse Road Pigs arrived, bringing him to five, all destined to be mashed into combiners.

Diecast

Diecast built his Yolopark Nemesis Prime, which shipped early from Yolopark’s store. He also found the Transformers One Matrix costume piece online after Amazon canceled his order. He calls it small but good for the price.

Brian

Brian ordered the Legacy Thundertron set on impulse and mostly wants Nightstrike. He also got Road Pig and Studio Series 86 Bumblebee, whose engineering feels like a third-party toy. From John, he bought Beast Convoy Special Skeleton Type in clear plastic and Flash Lion Convoy, though USPS dented the box.

Don

Don had nothing in Transformers this week.

John

John had nothing in Transformers this week.

Rob

Rob added the Hasbro EarthSpark Jawbreaker to an Amazon order for about $20. Once he found a hidden sliding plate, the transformation came together. He loves its unique torso slide and the bright metallic teal that recalls Prime Beast Hunters.

Chris

Chris finally bought Beast Wars Second Tako Tank from John’s collection, complete with its original 4,500 yen price tag. He calls it one of the most bizarre pieces of Transformers toy history.

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