Takara Tomy’s Missing Link Grimlock lands at about $120, and the crew expects all five Dinobots to follow. MPG-20 Style Gen Hot Rod looks a lot like Studio Series 86 Hot Rod, while Masterpiece Movie Sideswipe wins Don over. Target’s More Than Meets the Eye Collection Hound and Hot Rod sell out fast, and Age of the Primes Sideways looks even worse in hand. Then the crew makes its 2026 predictions, and in What We Got This Week, Studio Series 86 Thundercracker wows the panel.

News

Missing Link Grimlock Revealed at About $120 With Diaclone Driver Carly

Takara Tomy revealed Missing Link C-12 Grimlock at 18,000 yen, or about $120. Don and the PlastiCast crew had guessed $130 to $140. The figure comes with Diaclone Driver Carly, and its head slides forward to fix the original toy’s odd proportions. One host’s only complaint is the chrome sword, which should be red. The crew expects all five Dinobots, plus Diaclone recolors, and several hosts want G2 colors in clamshell packaging. Talk turned to a future Missing Link Seeker, and Rob called the G1 Seeker mold a fantastic Japanese toy for its era but a horrible Transformer today. [Source: TFW2005]

MPG-20 Style Gen Hot Rod Looks Like a Retooled Studio Series 86 Hot Rod

The same Takara Tomy livestream showed MPG-20 Style Gen Hot Rod, which appears to borrow heavily from Studio Series 86 Hot Rod. One host spotted redesigned parts, more paint and a different backpack. A reported height suggests it isn’t much bigger than the 86 toy. Diecast guessed $120 to $125, since Style Gen Optimus Prime ran about $175. One host warned that Studio Series molds at Masterpiece-adjacent pricing would be a weird precedent for Style Gen. The crew would rather see Dark Hot Rod colors on any Hot Rod toy. The livestream also showed a glow-in-the-dark Lio Convoy, which several hosts want. [Source: TFW2005]

Masterpiece Movie Sideswipe Includes Both Blades and Sidearm

Takara Tomy also revealed Masterpiece Movie Sideswipe. Don loves that it includes both the first movie’s blades and his preferred Sidearm Sideswipe look, instead of holding one back for a later release. He thinks the feet look more stable than past Sideswipes, and calls it the best-looking movie figure he has seen in a long time. One host noticed the reds don’t match between the upper and lower thighs in stock photos. [Source: TFW2005]

Studio Series 86 More Than Meets the Eye Collection Hound and Hot Rod Sell Out Fast

Studio Series 86 Hound is back on his own, identical to the five-pack version, and he sold out within minutes at 6 a.m. Pacific. Target is dropping new Transformers preorders every Tuesday morning in January. Hot Rod sold out the week before at the old $34.99 Voyager price, with no warning. He adds a fishing rod and a shield, for the most complete movie Hot Rod accessory set yet. Nate from the Transformers team said on Instagram that more Hot Rod stock is coming. The crew explained the More Than Meets the Eye Collection is Target’s subline, replacing Buzzworthy Bumblebee. One host likes this approach to reissues, since new paint and swapped accessories fill real gaps on shelves. [Source: TFW2005]

Retro Deluxe Wheelie and Outback Shown In Hand

In-hand images of the Retro Deluxe Wheelie and Outback are out. The crew loves Outback’s colors, and two hosts like him better than Hound. One host called the Brawn mold one of his favorite minibots until Gears came out. Wheelie looks good but only comes with his slingshot, which feels thin for a $30 toy. [Source: Snakas Blog]

Studio Series A-Level Orion Pax Shown In Hand

In-hand images of Studio Series A-Level Orion Pax first look small, until you remember he is Pax, not Prime. He is scale-correct with the other Transformers One toys and comes with a big buzzsaw accessory. The jetpack in the photos comes from Elita-1, not this figure. One host noted the gray avoids the warm shade that bothered fans of the A-Level Optimus Prime. Another finds the vehicle mode rough between the cab and legs, and can’t see paying $28 for any deluxe. [Source: TFW2005]

Studio Series A-Level Devastation Bumblebee Is Basically Classics Bumblebee

Studio Series A-Level Devastation Bumblebee showed up in hand, and one host called it essentially Classics Bumblebee. The game’s Bumblebee was strongly influenced by the Classics toy, which itself came out 20 years ago. That host feels obligated to buy it, and another owns every Devastation figure. Devastation Bumblebee is a little taller than Studio Series 86 Bumblebee, with a smaller vehicle mode. [Source: TFW2005]

Tiny Turbo Changers Return With Blind Bag ID Codes

Tiny Turbo Changers are back, with identification codes so you can tell which figure is in each blind bag. The assortment includes a Sky-Byte. One host noted nothing beats BotBots for ID codes, since those were handwritten on the packaging. [Source: TFW2005]

Age of the Primes Armada Sideways Looks Worse In Hand

In-hand images of Age of the Primes Armada Sideways look even worse than the stock photos. One host who wished for an updated Sideways for 15 years feels monkey’s pawed. Sideways is slightly bigger than a standard deluxe and taller than Hot Shot, which is wrong for the Armada cartoon. The crew agreed the bike mode looks better than the robot mode, and called it a tiny $40-plus Voyager. [Source: TFW2005]

New Transformers Collaborative Project Codenames Found

New Transformers Collaborative codenames surfaced, shared by JT Prime: Kick, Race, Green, Song as an SDCC exclusive, Cemetery and Monster Jam 1. The crew guessed Kick could be soccer, tied to the 2026 World Cup. Race could be Speed Racer’s Mach 5, Formula 1 or NASCAR. Song could be Jem and the Holograms or another Linkin Park figure. Green drew guesses of a Power Rangers Dragonzord or the Creature from the Black Lagoon. One host hopes Monster Jam 1 is Bigfoot, which would leave Grave Digger for a later release. [Source: TFW2005]

Our 2026 Predictions

Brian rolls over his Hasbro executive shakeup prediction from 2025. He also predicts another major Hasbro IP gets discontinued and licensed or sold off, a notable Transformers SKU gets canceled, and Hasbro announces a radical new direction. His last pick is an underperforming 2026 Transformers HasLab, though others doubt there will be one before HasLab Liokaiser ships.

Don predicts a new Headmaster Arcee as MP-51, Missing Link or MPG. He expects a Studio Series 86 Ultra Magnus reissue, possibly as Delta Magnus or a shining Magnus. He calls an MPG Hot Rod reissue in magenta, maybe with Fireball. His far-out picks include official 3D print files for weapons packs and stands, and an Optimus Prime crossover with G.I. Joe.

Chris predicts higher prices again and brings back $32.99 deluxes. Hasbro’s decline leads either to a private equity buyout or a merger with Mattel. He wants an A-Team Collaborative helicopter that turns into a Murdock-style robot. He also jokes that every HasLab Liokaiser backer gets a surprise $78 charge.

Diecast expects more Hasbro product at Ross, the return of Walmart deluxe two-packs and an official Unicron product announcement. He also predicts more Hasbro layoffs and no Transformers HasLab in 2026. His far-out pick is a Voyager price cut after collector complaints.

Matt predicts another Missing Link Optimus Prime, such as a sleep mode or Shattered Glass version. He expects Transformers to try the made-to-order model Marvel and G.I. Joe use, and Protectobots in the 2027 lineup. He also predicts the G2 Legacy Stunticons stay incomplete, a Commander Class Delta Magnus and an Estrella four-pack. His final wish is the death of clear plastic sprues at the deluxe class.

John asked ChatGPT again. It predicts Studio Series 86 Unicron as the 2026 tentpole, Transformers and G.I. Joe crossover toys based on the comics, and an expanded Lego line led by Megatron or Grimlock. Its long shot is a mass-market auto-converting Transformer, which John found a little lame.

Rob predicts a Missing Link Rodimus Prime announcement. He also expects Blokees distribution to expand and outperform the main Transformers line. He calls for a Takara Tomy and Bandai collaboration return with a Master Grade Optimus Prime model kit. His last pick has Transformers distribution complicated by roving gangs of post-apocalyptic thugs.

What We Got This Week

Chris

Chris got Studio Series 86 Thundercracker and is angry at how much he likes it. It nails the cartoon’s light blue, uses gray instead of silver and has a semi-flat gray face. Somehow it fits a waist joint into a Seeker. To Chris, it is what the Masterpiece Seeker always wanted to be, at a $35 to $43 price. The tail fins can stay on during transformation or store on the backpack. Vendo in the Discord found the face pops off, so future Seekers could swap expressions. Chris now expects to buy Starscream, Skywarp and, he hopes, an e-Hobby Sunstorm.

Diecast

Diecast opened Blokees Galaxy Wave 9 and pulled the half purple, half silver Reformatting Megatron. He also got Studio Series Windcharger and calls him a decent figure with a fitting minibot vehicle. Studio Series Transformers One Arachnid just arrived from Amazon. He paid about $39 for Studio Series Voyager Alpha Trion and wants a soft goods cape for him.

Matt

Matt loves Studio Series Windcharger, including the rotating shoulder wheels and a lever that tilts his head. Age of the Primes Blast Off can balance on a flight stand with a Runabout or Runamuck and a bazooka. He calls Brawl’s Voyager label a stretch but likes how the treads fold into his calves. His Sureshot develops stress marks below both knees and some paint chipping at the waist. On Studio Series Thundercracker, he jokes he needs 20 more samples, and wishes the arm cannons weren’t clear plastic.

Don

Don ordered nine clearance Blokees from Walmart, and the only one fulfilled was Bumblebee. He got a second Scare Glow Starscream from the Masters of the Universe crossover, plus He-Man Optimus Prime from wave two. Thundercracker came in at $34.97 after a Walmart price match. He also picked up Arachnid, two Sureshots, Amalgamous Prime on sale, a second Brawl and two Blast Offs. A third Mandalorian Starfighter crossover cost him $25. From AliExpress, Don got a licensed small-scale Ricochet for $20 with a Targetmaster, extra hands and lots of articulation.

John DeLuna

John got most of what everyone else did. He keeps coming back to one word for Thundercracker: polish. It makes its wave mates look merely standard by comparison. John thinks Amalgamous Prime is ambitious but a whiff, with poor tolerances, and should have been a deluxe. He still feels it gets more hate than it deserves.

Rob

Rob bought the Mandalorian crossover on Don’s recommendation and agrees it is the best Star Wars crossover yet. Most accessories have multiple uses and storage points. Padding the order for free shipping, he grabbed Blokees Galaxy Version Defenders for $1 each, including a Megatron to replace a lost cannon. He also got a Classic Class movie Megatron for $5.

Brian Kilby

Brian loves Sureshot’s robot mode but backed out of transforming it because the knees felt too tight. He got Blast Off and Brawl, and calls Brawl an amazing deluxe sold at Thundercracker’s Voyager price. Diecast sent him Blokees Optimus Prime with trailer, which he calls great. He added a Japanese Transformers: The Movie soundtrack CD from Suruga-ya and the T-Spark 40th anniversary Legends Lio Convoy, which looks dramatically better than the original. His Skybound Kickstarter comics set arrived with all four volumes. He also landed a sealed Amazon exclusive Unicron and a sealed Energon Omega Sentinel.

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