It’s a rare thing when a Transformers podcast episode is almost entirely good news — but Episode 979 is exactly that. Join Brian and the RFC crew as they dig into one of the most anticipated HasLab releases in years, and debate how many Ultra Magnuses is too many Ultra Magnuses.
The big story this week is Liokaiser. Evan dropped a full unboxing and transformation video of a final production sample, and the verdict is in: this thing looks exceptional. Ratchets everywhere, a combination scheme unlike anything else on the market, and individual robot modes so good that multiple crew members are already regretting only ordering one. If HasLab has had a rocky road lately, Liokaiser might just be its redemption arc.
Missing Link Ultra Magnus has arrived in hand, and the photos are stunning. The crew debates how many versions of Ultra Magnus one shelf can reasonably hold — and whether the answer might just be “one more.” Meanwhile, Monstructor is officially up for preorder, and the Legends-class Pretender Monster combiner built from Volcanicus molds turns out to look far better than anyone had a right to expect.
Elsewhere, Retro Wheelie and Outback are hitting US retail and arriving on doorsteps, Age of Primes Smokescreen sparks a debate about which toy actually looked more like the character, and Doctor Wu continues to quietly produce some of the most tempting Micromaster-scale figures in the hobby — including a Flywheels that had at least one crew member reaching for his wallet.
In What We Got, Brian shares the bittersweet story of tracking down a sealed Transmetal 2 Blackarachnia — a figure with deep personal history as the subject of RFC’s very first toy review back in 1999 — and what happens when “sealed” turns out to be a generous interpretation. He also scores a Beast Wars Neo Killer Punch off Mandarake at a price that would make eBay sellers weep. Matt grabs Hot Wheels Crossovers Boneshaker and Twin Mill on deep clearance and finds more to love than expected. Diecast finally opens Dark Awakening Prime. And Don falls further into the Metal Cardbot rabbit hole with a cheetah sports car that — yes — has feet sculpted as sneakers.
RFC has been the world’s longest-running Transformers podcast since 1999. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or just getting into the hobby, this is the show that’s been talking toys longer than most of the internet has existed.
News
Evan posted a multi-part Instagram video covering the full unboxing, transformation, and assembly of Liokaiser from a final production sample, with a promise that it should be shipping to backers soon. The crew is unanimous: it looks fantastic. Highlights include a combination scheme unlike anything else in the modern line — no skeleton, no Combiner Wars-style connectors — drawing comparisons to Devastator and Micromaster combiners. Ratchet joints throughout give it a leg up over Studio Series Devastator. The individual robot modes impressed more than expected, prompting both Matt and Don to wish they’d ordered a second set. The asymmetrical wings and the vehicle modes of Kill Bison and Drill Horn are minor criticisms, but nothing that dampens the overall excitement. Brian says flat out he’s opening this one the day it arrives — no three-year wait like Unicron. Summer shipping is the current expectation.
MONSTRUCTOR (LEGACY/LEGENDS CLASS)
Monstructor is now up for preorder with an August release date. The figure is based on the Volcanicus molds, retooled significantly enough that the crew is impressed — especially given how much better the combined mode looks when the legs are on the correct sides. Diecast, who was skeptical going in, preordered after seeing the photos. Don has orders at both Pulse and BBTS as insurance. The packaging is a straightforward boxed release rather than a team window box like Dinoking, which gets a mild mixed reaction, though most agree the combined mode is the star here. Discussion touches on potential upgrade kit opportunities, primarily around arm aesthetics on the combined mode. The crew also floats the idea of Hasbro continuing this Legends-class combiner approach with Six Liner, Six Train, Six Turbo, Six Wing, and Six Builder.
In-hand images are out and the crew is effusive. Brian says he needs to finally track down Shining Magnus and would buy a Shining Magnus deco of this mold immediately. Rob is skipping this release in favor of Delta Magnus, citing budget discipline, but says the images alone confirm he’ll have no regrets about that purchase. Don canceled his preorder given an already strong Ultra Magnus shelf (Siege, Earthrise/86, City Commander with Fans Project armor), but is keeping Delta Magnus for the UK movie colors. Matt tries — and nearly succeeds — in talking Don back into it. The original G1 feature of storing the helmet in the chest plate as part of the inner mini vehicle is confirmed intact. The crew reflects on Missing Link as the line that delivers the toys their imaginations told them they had as kids.
RETRO WHEELIE & OUTBACK
Spotted at US retail, with shipping notifications hitting crew members’ inboxes. Estimated arrival for some is as early as Monday. Don has bought two of each, as he does with all the Retro releases, specifically to keep one on card — the blister card presentation on these is consistently praised. Brian has more affection for Wheelie as a character, calling him the Bumblebee of Season 3 and the POV character for the third season of the cartoon. Outback generates discussion around whether the Brawn redeco will follow, and whether this is the only version we’ll see of him at this scale.
AGE OF PRIMES — TRANSFORMERS PRIME SMOKESCREEN
In-hand images arrive for the Deluxe-class Prime Smokescreen. The vehicle mode gets some praise but the robot mode is a sticking point — it bears a stronger resemblance to Knockout than to Smokescreen’s actual character model, echoing the situation with the Japanese Beast Hunters release years ago. Rob notes the irony that the US Beast Hunters version actually looked more like the show model. The crew largely views this as an easy skip, though the transformation is noted as interesting. Brian acknowledges he’s not the target audience, having little attachment to the Prime cast.
DOCTOR WU
Two items discussed. First, Flight Track — a Micromaster-scale Flywheels — is available at domestic retailers for around $40, which the crew considers surprisingly reasonable for a Doctor Wu release. Brian finds it very tempting. Don notes that both Battle Trap and Flywheels look so good he initially mistook the photo for an official release. Second, renders of Micromaster-scale Swoop and Slag (pterosaur and triceratops) are shown, which would eventually form a Micromaster Volcanicus. Matt is categorically uninterested in any version of Volcanicus existing. The crew also mentions Prowl, Bluestreak, and Smokescreen releases from Doctor Wu, each bundled with an Insecticon, calling it smart marketing.
The Dallas Cowboys helmet variant, Star Blitz, has been found at a Walmart in Kentucky. Only that one was mentioned in the sighting report, raising questions about how the assortment will be distributed. The first four include Green Bay, Dallas, Kansas City, and Pittsburgh. Speculation that regional distribution may send team-specific figures to geographically appropriate markets. The crew agrees that NFL stadium stores would be a natural and obvious retail destination for these.
WHAT WE GOT THIS WEEK
Brian: Continuing to fill gaps in his G1 collection, Brian picked up a red Bumblebee and is still hunting a Hubcap. Also purchased what was sold as a sealed Transmetal 2 Blackarachnia — notable as the subject of the very first toy review in RFC history, episode one or two from October 1999, making it arguably the first Transformer ever reviewed in audio or video form online. The “sealed” designation is questionable; tape had popped on both sides and appears to have been pressed back for photos. Brian has had a similar experience with this seller before and has decided to let it go given the price was fair for an “unused” example. Separately, he scored a sealed Beast Wars Neo Killer Punch off Mandarake at a price well below current eBay asking.
Matt: Found Hot Wheels Crossovers Twin Mill and Boneshaker on deep clearance. Twin Mill gets praise for its color work but criticism for hollow legs and arms that need the engine weapons attached to stay stable. Boneshaker is the consensus favorite of the two — great head sculpt, fantastic car mode, and an overall presence that gets away with its proportion quirks. Brian recommends the Non-F laser rod swords as accessories for both.
Diecast: Opened Dark Awakening Prime. Overall very positive reaction — the figure looks amazing — but notes some red plastic color inconsistency between parts, an extremely stiff butterfly joint that caused anxiety about breakage, and a Matrix shard accessory with a shallow peg that doesn’t seat securely. Diecast would pay for a third-party replacement shard with a better fit.
Don: Found a single-carded Hot Wheels Optimus Prime at Target for $1.30 — something he’d been casually hunting since it released. Also picked up a Metal Cardbot Tai Chi Bumblebee (female cheetah sports car) from a Korean eBay importer with tariffs built into shipping. Praises the figure’s grace and poseability compared to the chunkier entries in the Metal Cardbot line. The card accessory converts into leg armor extensions and the front fenders detach as weapons. Her feet are sculpted as sneakers. Don is trying not to fall down the Metal Cardbot rabbit hole but already has the pirate ship on preorder.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 49:33 — 34.5MB) | Embed
RFC News Desk 096 – Generations Selects God Neptune Teased To The Surprise of No One
Radio Free Cybertron – 522: Monopoly is Also Something Hasbro Owns
Radio Free Cybertron – 531: Is it like Dragonball Super, but with Transformers?