Dan Gilvezan, the voice of G1 Bumblebee, joins Radio Free Cybertron 1010 to make the case for bringing the original G1 voice actors back, and Hasbro responds. The news covers the TFcon Orlando exclusives, with Fans Hobby’s Turbomasters Rainman and Rocketman, the Flypro anniversary rework and Ocular Max’s vac-metal Ultio. Hasbro’s third-quarter report put Transformers among its top sellers, which sparked a debate about whether Transformers is a nostalgia act or a legacy brand. In What We Got This Week, Brian finally lands a sealed Action Master Elite Double Punch, and Diecast can’t get over a Hot Wheels car with mismatched rims.

News

Dan Gilvezan on the G1 Voice Actor Petition
Brian talks with Dan Gilvezan, the voice of G1 Bumblebee, about the fan petition he’s backing. It asks Hasbro to bring the original voice actors back for G1 characters. Hasbro responded that the original voice “will always be an important part of Bumblebee’s history.” Sign the petition at tfradio.net/g1petition.

TFcon Orlando: Fans Hobby Turbomaster Rainman and Rocketman Announced
The Chosen Prime and Fans Hobby bring MB-12C Rainman and MB-13C Rocketman to TFcon Orlando, October 23–25, as a $150 two-pack. With Bossman and Fireman, they complete the four-car Turbomasters group. Brian thought the price sounded fair, and Matt called it pretty good for third-party toys. Brian is partial to the UK-era figures and loves that these exist, even though he isn’t buying them. Don wishes he’d started the full set, but the late tax is too steep now. [Source: TFcon]

TFcon Orlando: Flypro Is a 600-Piece Anniversary Exclusive
Fans Hobby MB-05A Flypro, its take on the Monsterbot Grotusque, sells at The Chosen Prime booth for $140. It’s limited to 600 numbered pieces. Diecast is tempted. Don already owns the original Monsterbots release, but he’s glad the refresh exists, since a niche like Monsterbots rarely comes around twice. Brian says it scratches an itch the Hasbro version never did. [Source: TFcon]

TFcon Orlando: Ocular Max Ultio Exclusive Joins the Lineup
Ages Three and Up and Ocular Max offer Remix Series RMX-23EX Ultio, their Ratbat, as a $90 convention exclusive. It’s a one-to-one cassette, larger than the G1 original. Don says it should scale well with larger Blaster figures. Diecast loves the vac-metal gold and plans to buy it at the show. Brian liked Ocular Max’s Ravage but says this one doesn’t feel G1 enough for him. [Source: TFcon]

Hasbro Raises Annual Revenue Forecast on Strong Demand
Hasbro posted adjusted earnings of $2.90 per share, beating the $1.86 estimate. Consumer Products revenue rose 4%, led by Marvel, KPop Demon Hunters and Transformers. Hasbro raised its full-year revenue growth outlook to 7–9%. Brian worries Transformers is becoming almost entirely a nostalgia brand, and he wants Hasbro to keep creating new things. Rob counters that Transformers isn’t a nostalgia act yet. Matt notes Superman gets more respect despite as many reboots. Don is surprised My Little Pony is still one of Hasbro’s licensing anchors. [Source: Reuters]

What We Got This Week

Matt
Matt had nothing in Transformers this week.

Rob Clay
Rob picked up three Quantum Heroes blind-box model kits from AliExpress at $6 to $7 each. Unusually for blind-box kits, they actually transform. The black security truck is the best of the three, and Amber Strike is the weakest. The jet’s bow looks like it should attach to the vehicle, but it never does.

Diecast
Diecast grabbed the Hot Wheels Transformers El Segundo and GT Scorcher on clearance for $15 each. GT Scorcher’s front and rear rims don’t match, which drives the car guy in him nuts. Matt found a GT Scorcher for $7.

Don
Don added a Tobot W mini for $15 and a purple car figure with a guitar it can’t hold properly. He also opened the black-and-gold Metal Cardbot Blue Cop, whose four cards unfold into gauntlets and power boots.

Brian
Brian has Age of the Primes Commander Class Armada Jetfire, still in orbiter mode. Next to his original Armada Jetfire, he calls it a lateral move, maybe a slight demotion. He also landed a sealed Action Master Elite Double Punch for about a quarter of what he expected to pay.

Elf on a Shelfwarmer
RFC’s 15th annual holiday toy drive is on. Buy a shelfwarmer, drop it in a Toys for Tots box by December 9, and share a photo with #elfonashelfwarmer. Details are at Elf on a Shelfwarmer. No box nearby? tfradio.net/elf ships it to Brian for local drop-off, and RFC receives no referral fees.

Chapters
0:00:00 Radio Free Cybertron 1010
0:02:10 Elf on a Shelfwarmer: 15th Annual Toy Drive
0:03:46 History on the Fives: WebWorld and Ghost in the Machine
0:04:42 TFcon Orlando: Fans Hobby Turbomasters Rainman and Rocketman
0:06:24 TFcon Orlando: Fans Hobby Flypro
0:07:39 TFcon Orlando: Ocular Max Ultio
0:09:39 Hasbro’s Third Quarter and Transformers
0:14:41 Is Transformers a Nostalgia Brand?
0:16:19 The G1 Voice Actor Petition
0:17:24 Dan Gilvezan Interview
0:40:37 Hasbro Responds
0:41:47 Studio Series Blitzwing at tfradio.net/blitzwing
0:42:44 What We Got: Matt and Rob
0:46:58 What We Got: Diecast
0:49:09 What We Got: Don
0:52:06 What We Got: Brian
0:57:08 Thank You, Patrons
0:59:14 Where to Find Us

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