HasLab Liokaiser is funded, but its final backer count dropped from more than 34,000 to about 23,500 overnight. TakaraTomy’s shadowy teaser for Masterpiece MPG Optimus Prime 4.0 looks like an MP-10 homage, and the crew debates whether anyone needs another Optimus Prime. Blokees shows off an 18-centimeter Action Edition Soundwave and a Galaxy Defender Devastator, and Wild King’s first episodes go online. In What We Got This Week, Don calls Solus Prime one of the worst Transformers he has ever handled, and Brian lands a vintage Operation Combination Sixturbo.

News

HasLab Liokaiser Funds, but the Final Backer Count Changes

HasLab Liokaiser funded and unlocked every tier and stretch goal. The backer tracker first showed 34,329, which Brian and Diecast both doubted, before settling at about 23,553. One host suspects the tracker is hand-keyed and someone added an extra zero. For comparison, Deathsaurus drew 27,442 backers and Victory Saber 26,211. The crew thinks a drop of about 4,000 makes sense, since Liokaiser costs nearly twice as much. One host says the three projects show roughly 30,000 hardcore fans of Japanese Transformers worldwide. Hasbro has said final numbers will be updated later. [Source: TFW2005]

TakaraTomy Teases Masterpiece MPG Optimus Prime 4.0

Rumors pointed to either a Masterpiece Jazz or Optimus Prime 4.0, and TakaraTomy teased Optimus Prime. The shadowed profile shot looks like a retool or homage of MP-10, with a more anime-inspired head. The crew agrees Optimus Prime will always outsell Jazz, and Porsche licensing may have ruled Jazz out anyway. One host sees it as an affordable Masterpiece Optimus Prime that can stay on shelves, which MP-44 cannot. Diecast hopes for both an anime head and a standard head. John wondered if a licensed truck at a die-cast scale could be the hook. No trailer was shown. One host is done with Masterpiece and not buying it. [Source: TFW2005]

Transformers Wild King Episodes 1 and 2 Available Online

The first two episodes of Wild King are online, and each runs about five minutes. Brian hasn’t watched them yet but plans to after the show. [Source: TFW2005]

Blokees Global Conference Round-Up

Blokees showed an 18-centimeter Action Edition Soundwave with LED lights, removable panels and accessories. Galaxy Version kits of Transformers One Soundwave and Shockwave stand 10 centimeters tall. The Galaxy Defender Devastator combines the five-centimeter Constructicon vehicles. Transformers One Ironhide, Soundwave and Shockwave are coming too, along with a Blokees LINE Friends crossover. Nobody knew what LINE Friends was, though one host guessed it ties to the LINE messaging app. The panel agreed Chris would know. [Source: TFW2005]

Robosen Flagship Bumblebee Reveal Coming

Robosen was hours away from unveiling its auto-converting Bumblebee, and one host had spotted the Volkswagen Beetle front in a promo. One host owns the original Robosen Optimus Prime with its trailer. That host can’t justify another, and expects these robots to be bricks in 20 years. [Source: TFW2005]

What We Got This Week

Diecast

Diecast’s Studio Series Wheeljack has too much unpainted gray plastic in key areas. Studio Series Age of Extinction Optimus Prime has the same problem and feels like a Voyager despite its Leader size, and he thinks it needs a new head. Walmart clearance got him Quintesson High Commander for $7, and Target’s sale got him Studio Series Soundwave for $15. He also picked up Studio Series Transformers One Bumblebee, Filch for $13 and Gamer Edition Ironhide, though he prefers the Ratchet version of the mold. Fans Toys’ Scavenger hides its whole arm piece inside the figure, which he loves. At Ollie’s, he found the movie-colored retro Perceptor and Kickback for $10 each, and was shocked by how small Kickback is.

Matt

Matt found Studio Series Voyager Scrapper at Walmart. It is a refined take on the Combiner Wars version with much better arms and a strong ratcheting waist for its ankle role. He also found Air Raid and Slingshot, praising their faces and Slingshot’s attitude, though Air Raid’s jet mode is back heavy. A Big Bad Toy Store pile finally brought him Missing Link Sentinel Prime, and he loves its pale orange truck.

Don

Don followed up on Solus Prime, calling it one of the most frustrating Transformers he has owned since Generations Galvatron. The ankle pegs and shoulder pads pop off, and small pieces go flying, though the robot mode looks fantastic. A second Prime, a Voyager, was only slightly better, with very little clearance. Donanomics got him the deluxe movie Arcee well under retail.

John

John had nothing in Transformers this week.

Rob

Rob had nothing in Transformers this week.

Brian

Brian transformed Studio Series Gamer Edition Devastation Optimus Prime once and changed it right back, since the vehicle mode is a letdown. Walmart had Energon Matrix Optimus Prime on clearance for $1. He found all four Swap Concepts and bought Optimus Prime with Ultra Magnus and Bumblebee with Hot Rod, but at about $20 each he won’t buy more. He also got Filch, and the Age of the Primes Megatronus from a CMD store, which is nice but has gummy flame effects. He wants to know what that mold will be retooled into. An e-Hobby Overcharge came in about $100 under what he expected. His big pickup is a vintage Operation Combination Sixturbo, his first set from the line, and the seller even sent a missing fist for his Skywarp.

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