HasLab Omega Prime is finally in backers’ hands in New Zealand, though the photos leave some of the crew with zero regrets about skipping it. HasLab Liokaiser passes 16,000 backers and the Electromagnetic Nunchaku tier, with the display stands still to come. In-hand photos of the Dramatic Capture Triple Takeover set spark a debate about Siege-era surface detail, and Walmart’s Cybertron Sideways and Excellion get stock photos. Hasbro also reissues Nova Prime and Nacelle, and Brian lands a 100-piece lava Galvatron model kit from BotCon Japan ’97.

News

HasLab Liokaiser Passes 16,000 Backers

HasLab Liokaiser is past 16,000 backers, unlocking the Electromagnetic Nunchaku, and is crawling toward 18,000 for the display stands. With under two weeks left, the crew expects another international backer drop and big jumps in the final hours. One host predicts it will beat Deathsaurus, thanks to Liokaiser’s name recognition and the value of seven robots. Another expects it to land near Deathsaurus but nowhere near Omega Prime. [Source: TFW2005]

HasLab Omega Prime In-Hand Images

A New Zealand retail partner has received HasLab Omega Prime and started shipping to backers, so real in-hand photos are out. Don, who has three on order, recalled a U.K. retailer whose Victory Saber orders were never submitted. One host thinks the box looks better than the toy, and another feels zero regret for not backing. That host might have gone for the Costco-style yellow recolors, and is still sore about losing hope for a yellow Splendid Convoy. The crew also noted Liokaiser rules out the Rescue Force colors, and Deathsaurus the Red Geist deco. [Source: TFW2005]

Dramatic Capture Series Triple Takeover In-Hand Images

The Triple Takeover set’s Astrotrain loses the Siege battle damage for animation colors and looks good. Don still finds it too greebly, with all the Siege-era surface detail. The crew agreed extra mold detail costs little once molds are CNC milled, though it adds CAD hours. One host recalled the Siege team admitting they turned the detail up after seeing what collectors liked, then pulled back after Earthrise. One host would rather wait for a Studio Series 86 Astrotrain than buy a set with a Blitzwing they dislike and a Starscream they already own. [Source: TFW2005]

Walmart Cybertron Sideways and Excellion Stock Images

Walmart Collectors Con starts the day after recording, and these two may go up for preorder then. One host is eager for design background on Sideways, since it isn’t an obvious retool of anything. The simple color breakdown suggests a Cosmos-style toy built from very few mold parts. The mold has redeco potential, like Universe 2008 Ratbat, Noisemaze or BotCon’s Scourge and Sweeps. One host doubts BotCon redecos, since several sold poorly and ended up at Ross. [Source: TFW2005]

Hasbro Reissues Nova Prime and Nacelle

Hasbro announced reissues of the formerly Amazon-exclusive Legacy Evolution Nova Prime and Nacelle. One host sold a Nova Prime at a slight profit, balked at a $150 rebuy, and preordered the reissue right away. Another wants Nacelle on a Thrust mold rather than a Conehead, though the colors are beautiful. The DNA Design upgrade kit for Nova Prime is still available. The crew thinks reissues come from retailer talks rather than the factory data behind leaks. One host speculates fewer retail waves means a push toward direct-to-consumer sales. [Source: Hasbro Pulse]

Remembering the Fanzine Era

Rob Springer got Brian reading scans of 1990s Transformers fanzines, including Transmasters material. Brian just missed the zine scene and feels nostalgic for it. He sees Radio Free Cybertron as almost a direct descendant, an audio take on news, fandom talk and comedy bits. He has even toyed with an RFC Substack, but time is the problem.

What We Got This Week

Diecast

Diecast got the upgrade kit for Nova Prime, Fans Hobby’s third-party Wing Saber, and the Bingo Toys Corvette Optimus Prime.

Don

Don picked up retro Gears.

Matt

Matt finally got the light-up Matrix of Leadership from last Halloween’s costume line on Amazon, thanks to a restock alert from Don.

John

John had nothing in Transformers this week.

Rob

Rob had nothing in Transformers this week.

Brian

Brian got retro Gears, but his order from a new Transformers dealer is stuck with FedEx. His big pickup came from eBay: the lava version of the BotCon Japan ’97 Super Hybrid Model Galvatron, limited to 100 pieces. His is number 97. He already owned the standard kit, limited to 800, and may end up with all three versions.

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