The biggest news out of the Shizuoka Hobby Show dominates episode 987, with reveals including Gigastorm, Beast Wars II Galvatron in the new Legends line, Masterpiece Ramhorn and Eject prototypes, and a closer look at Missing Link Ratchet and Ironhide — a reimagined take on the classic cab-bot mold that divided the hosts. Stern Pinball dropped the bombshell announcement of an officially licensed G1 Transformers pinball machine, with a limited edition featuring a transforming Optimus Prime running up to $13,000 — prompting Brian to scheme on how to fund it. The Transformers Hot Wheels crossover Wave 2 pre-orders went live with two new molds, El Segundo Coupe and GT Scorcher, and CultureFly revealed small battle-beast-style Transformers: The Movie versus figures including an Arcee vs. Shockwave set. In What We Got This Week, Don delivered an extensive haul of Metal Cardbot figures — Jobber, Flash Vector, and the standout Bloodwing — earning enthusiastic praise, while multiple hosts picked up Yolopark AMK Pro Beast Wars figures and the Blokees BotCon-exclusive Safety Megatron.

News

HasLab Liokaiser Has Started Shipping — Liokaiser shipping notifications went out ahead of the episode recording, with Brian reporting a Wednesday delivery estimate from FedEx.

The Shizuoka Hobby Show 2026 TakaraTomy Booth delivered a packed slate of announcements. Gigastorm (New Legends NL-06) was confirmed, built on the ten-year-old Titans Return Trypticon mold — a welcome release for hosts who passed on the Age of the Primes version or the Toy Hax upgrade kit. Beast Wars II Galvatron was revealed as an all-new figure in the New Legends line, slotting in as New Legends 07, with Singularity Convoy at 03 and other entries including a Green Lio Convoy and a G2 Menasor repaint filling out the lineup. Beast Wars II Galvatron generated particular excitement as an apparent ground-up new sculpt rather than a redeco.

Masterpiece Prototypes

Masterpiece Ramhorn (MPG-24) and Eject (MPG-25) surfaced in gray prototype images. The hosts found both promising in overall design, though the flat gray prototype finish left Eject looking underwhelming. Ramhorn carries a gap behind his head from transformation — consistent with the original toy — and both figures raise the ongoing question of Rewind’s status. Speculation centered on Rewind potentially being a pack-in with a future Twincast release, which would require purchasing another full-priced Masterpiece figure. Dark Designs Rhinox was also shown, a niche redeco of the existing Masterpiece Rhinox with a Mutant Head that landed with a subdued reaction.

Nemesis Star Convoy

The TakaraTomy New Legends NL-03 Nemesis Star Convoy redeco of the Masterpiece Star Convoy mold was confirmed to include Shockblast rather than a black Hot Rodimus Micro Master — a change from what many collectors were hoping for. The hosts acknowledged the figure is visually striking but noted it removes the Micro Master Rodimus and Blast Effects accessories while adding roughly $100 over the original retail. Big Bad Toy Store pre-order pricing sits at approximately $280. The Shockblast inclusion was rationalized by the absence of a modern official Shockblast since the Energon era, with the hosts noting the Hot Rodimus mold could still be run separately as a future release.

Missing Link Ratchet and Ironhide

Better images of Missing Link C-14 Ironhide and his retool Missing Link C-15 Ratchet generated the most extended discussion of the Shizuoka news. The hosts noted that this release pushes the Missing Link premise — previously defined by adding articulation to vintage toy geometry — into more interpretive territory, with engineering that reads as decidedly modern rather than 1984-era. Ironhide’s all-red robot mode was seen as needing gray breakup on the hands and thighs. Ratchet’s color blocking was broadly preferred. The face visible through the windshield in robot mode was flagged as a distraction, though it can be masked. The consensus settled on appreciation for the attempt to realize the animation character model as a physical toy, with the acknowledgment that this mold was always going to require the most creative departure from Missing Link’s original format.

Evangelion Unit 02 Crossover

A second Evangelion Transformers crossover figure was teased in silhouette, confirmed to be Unit 02. Like the existing Unit 01 Optimus Prime crossover, it will use the Movie Optimus Prime base figure in red, white, and yellow. The hosts reiterated that the Movie Optimus body type is a less-than-ideal fit for Evangelion aesthetics, suggesting that a figure like a Prime-era Starscream would better suit the unit’s proportions.

Overgear 03 Optimus Prime

The third figure in the Overgear line — following Ironhide and Blackout — is Optimus Prime in a realistic military color scheme. The vehicle mode was well-received; the robot mode divided opinion, with comparisons to a Full Armor Gundam aesthetic and the Real Type Gundam model sub-line. The hosts expressed general indifference toward ownership while acknowledging the craftsmanship.

Transformers Hot Wheels Wave 2

Pre-orders went live for the second wave of the Transformers Hot Wheels crossover line, featuring two new molds: El Segundo Coupe and GT Scorcher. El Segundo Coupe was praised in both modes. Scorcher drew mild concern about a protruding element behind the head in robot mode. Wave 2 is priced at $35. The Red Twin Mill remains a Target exclusive; El Segundo Coupe and GT Scorcher are expected at mass retail including Amazon, Big Bad Toy Store, and Hasbro Pulse. Wave 1 saw significant clearance pricing after initial sell-through, suggesting Wave 2 may follow a similar pattern.

CultureFly Movie Versus Figures

CultureFly announced small Transformers: The Movie versus figures in a battle-beast-like format, featuring Optimus Prime vs. Megatron, Prowl vs. Starscream, and Arcee vs. Shockwave. The figures appear to have limited articulation. Pricing was not available at time of recording.

Centurion Drone Weaponizer Pack Reissue

The Centurion Drone Weaponizer Pack — a Siege-era accessory set that sold out quickly on first release — is being reissued. The set includes accessories for Earthrise Optimus Prime, a Megatron pistol, Roller, a mini Reflector, a mini Soundwave, an Ironhide drill gun, and a cage for Siege Ravage. Most of the figures these accessories were designed for have since received updated versions, but the pack may appeal to collectors who missed it the first time.

Sentinel Prime Artifact Pack

A product description surfaced for an upcoming Sentinel Prime Artifact Pack — a Voyager-class Sentinel Prime that transforms into a tank, packaged with four accessories including a conduit piece, priced at $68. The hosts speculated the design may draw from Sentinel Prime’s brief appearance in Five Faces of Darkness Part 4, where he appears with a distinctive dinosaur-spike chest plate — affectionately referred to on-air as “U-Haul Robo.”

Wild King Rexblade

New Wild King figures were revealed, headlined by Wild King Rexblade — a triple-changer converting between robot, dinosaur, and vehicle modes. Additional figures in the wave include Energy Beast Silver Tail, Lava Master Grass version, Frost Saber Brown version, an Ankylosaurus with a handlebar mustache and monocle, and Fire Guts Giraffe. The Wild King line continued to generate some of the strongest enthusiasm of the episode.

Stern G1 Transformers Pinball Machine

Stern Pinball announced an officially licensed G1 Transformers pinball machine ahead of a full reveal the following Wednesday. Leaked images confirmed a transforming Optimus Prime on the limited edition version. Pricing: Pro at $7,000, Premium at $10,000, Limited Edition at $13,000. Brian announced plans to sell a significant portion of his non-Transformers collection — including vintage G.I. Joe, Classified, and Masters of the Universe — to fund the Limited Edition purchase.

What We Got This Week

Don brought the largest haul of the episode. On the Transformers side, he picked up Swerve from the current line and noted minor concerns about the nylon plastic potentially yellowing over time. He also received Safety Megatron, the Blokees BotCon-exclusive AMK Mini figure of G1 Megatron in his historically proposed safety-compliant color scheme — orange, blue, brown, black with yellow eyes and gunmetal gray feet. Don’s Yolopark haul included Optimus Primal AMK Pro, praised for its posability, spring-loaded weapon deployment, multiple face plates and hands, and a glossy black finish that reads well under light, as well as Yolopark Dinobot (unassembled at time of recording) and Yolopark Skywarp and Thundercracker (also unassembled, to be covered next week).

Don’s Metal Cardbot report was the standout segment. He sourced figures through an eBay seller who absorbed tariff costs and offered free shipping. Jobber, a yellow SUV, impressed with exceptionally dense plastic and strong ratcheting joints. Flash Vector, an F1 car with translucent rollerblade Card Bot accessories and blade weapons, was similarly praised. Bloodwing — an ambulance that converts to a robot with a bat-themed backpack that becomes part of a scythe accessory — was named the highlight of the batch, with Don calling out an approximately 8-inch wingspan, matched paint and plastic colors, and strong overall build quality. Don noted wave one of Metal Cardbot is now available through Big Bad Toy Store.

Diecast picked up Yolopark AMK Pro Bumblebee — the Pro version correcting the face he disliked on the standard release — and Yolopark Dinobot. He noted both figures now build more like traditional builder figures than earlier Yolopark releases, requiring very little assembly per limb.

Brian attended a local convention and came back with an extensive vintage haul: the Hasbro shelf display diorama featuring Scrapper and Bonecrusher, vintage Warren 3D G1 puzzles for Bluestreak and Starscream, a G1 prism sticker set, an Estrela shelf display unit (still sealed), loose G1 Slag with both Target Masters, loose G1 Snarl, a loose G2 blue Grimlock, a loose turquoise G2 Grimlock, boxed G1 Slag, a boxed G1 Sludge in the gold Euro/Spanish box, and a boxed Sonic Bomber completing his Big Powered set. He also received Safety Megatron (two copies, one boxed) and the Protoform Sessions and Artistic Transformations event CDs, both autographed.

Rob got nothing on topic. Matt got nothing.

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