Page 8 of 10

Re: Transformers: Legacy

Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2022 1:32 pm
by Sparky Prime
Dominic wrote: Sat Dec 10, 2022 11:26 am The scale for BW figures is tricky. While it was not as bad as G1, "Beast Wars" including a fair amount of size changing. Depending on which scenes you are remembering, and what the toy designers are using as reference, a toy could be perfect or massively out of proportion.
I'd have to disagree... Mainframe was very consistent with scaling the characters in Beast Wars. There's rare occasions they took artistic license on scale, which was generally intentional, for dramatic or comedic effect. I've even seen a group of fans that created an unofficial scale chart that often showed just how consistent they were. And for the most part, the Kingdom/Legacy figures are a fair approximation of that scale. Only Rattrap and TM2 Megatron really stands out as being smaller than they should be compared to the other figures.

Re: Transformers: Legacy

Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2022 9:49 am
by JediTricks
Core-class Optimus Prime - I got talked into this one, and it's not the win everyone conned me into thinking it was. He's not terrible but he's not great, the body has proportion issues with a tiny head and long torso; the back parts don't hold together well and are an awkward type of kibble. The flip side is he looks like Optimus, the sculpting is overall solid and conveys the character, the ball jointing does its job pretty well (no ankles so permanent A-stance, and no waist unless you undo the back kibble). Transformation adds one solid twist, literally, to an otherwise straightforward lil Optimus transformation. Vehicle mode is an awkward layout with a very tall cab that only sorta holds together, and is missing the gas tank detailing on the sides.

Leader-class Blitzwing - at full price, this is garbage, the idea that they thought they could market this at $56 is repulsive, this is barely more bulk than a voyager-class, the add-on accessories are beyond worthless, and it's not even good in either alt mode. I got it for $25 and at that price it's a C-, the robot mode is a fairly decent interpretation with good articulation and accessories; but it's also got a little hollowness, some parts that don't lock in very well, and flaps that have to be moved out of the way to use hip and shoulder articulation. Tank mode is fun yet terrible, there are wheels that roll, the turret rotates, the cannon elevates, it's charming if inaccurate; but the use of a faux cockpit for the jet fuselage sticking way out is a reminder this is dumb, there's a lot of gaps and hollowness, huge jet thrusters sticking out the back which aren't animation accurate. Jet mode is a disaster, it's about 50% tank kibble hanging underneath, the jet has terrible sculpting and easily deforms while handling, this is a total loss.

Voyager-class BW Inferno - I want to like this figure more, it has personality, but it doesn't back that up by being a good toy, there's a lot of missed opportunities. There's not a ton of outright failures, mostly it's weak choices that are a let-down instead of a total flop. But it's a lot of money for something that's turning in a report that's double-spaced, large-font, and obviously written about the movie adaptation instead of the book.

Voyager-class Armada Starscream - hardly without flaws, but none of them seem damning in my eyes. It hits the sweet spot between nostalgia and functionality, the sculpting balances the needs of both Armada and Generations, the deco tries to capture the essence of the original even though it's challenged by the modern economics of the brand. Both modes have nice proportions, and the robot mode genuinely conveys the character well. There's also a sense of "have it your way" with parts that can be repositioned on the robot mode to fit your personal tastes - folding the cannons against the back or leaving them horizontal, folding the wings back or leaving them flat, moving the shoulders in or leave them slid out, folding back the winglets or leaving them proudly in the way.

Velocitron Speedia 500 Clampdown - got this on the Pulse sale, not a bad figure, Red Alert repainted as a cop works pretty well, and they swapped out the red of the limbs for a light gray that helps this feel a bit different, almost Diacloneish. This mold still needs a spoiler though.

Re: Transformers: Legacy

Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2022 8:41 pm
by Sparky Prime
Got my 3rd party Inferno gun today. Really surprised it got here so fast. When I ordered it, it wasn't expected to arrive for another week or two. It's a 3D printed piece with a metal handle which gives it some surprising weight, but not so much that it'd be a problem for the figure to hold. I like how this looks in the figure's hand much more than the jet thrusters, not just because it's more show accurate, but it's sleeker and looks better aesthetically. Although I still think this figure could have been better, I actually like it a little more with this accessory.

Re: Transformers: Legacy

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2023 4:12 pm
by Sparky Prime
Finished working on painting my Transmetal 2 Megatron...

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image
Back detail that gets covered up in robot mode

I was able to flip around the tips of the wings so that they're facing the right direction. There's two screws holding the wings together, so it was a simple enough procedure, although even with the screws removed, they are pretty tightly connected so I had a little difficulty getting them separated enough to get the part out. I almost didn't paint the face because of how small it is, but ultimately decided I could do it without screwing it up. I think it turned out pretty well. I didn't use any modelers putty to smooth out his cheeks as I'd initially planned though. I think the figure looks much better, if I say so myself. Edit: updated pictures after making a few painting adjustments.

Re: Transformers: Legacy

Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2023 10:00 am
by JediTricks
Tarn is amazing as a figure and kinda dinky and a little gappy as a vehicle, but they both do it pretty comic-accurate and it's fantastic. Buy Tarn if you want him, he's the one to get.

Breakdown is a frustrating reuse, it's a real shame that he's supposed to be the finish line for this amazing team but it just feels unfinished and sad this way. Basically he's just "white Wildrider to fill a hole" forever. If you don't mind white Wildrider with Breakdown's face and chest, he's fine, but if alt modes matter at all he's awful.

get ready for a price bump

Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2023 7:32 am
by Dominic
Voyagers are now just shy of $40, albeit with tax.

Doing some quick and extrapolatory math, that would put regular (ostensibly Deluxe) figures at a bit more than $25, basic (Scout or whatever they are called) at ~15, the $50 price point (Ultra Magnus or Scourge) over $60, and the $80 price point (like Motormaster) to ~$100.

I understand that inflation is a thing for every industry, but with everything else getting pricier, toys are becoming a rich man's hobby. (I planned to cut back this year anyway, for money and lack of interest in movie product. But, damn....this is killer.)

For reference, current Voyagers (nearly $40) are the old Mega class figures ($15 in 1996). Scouts are the old Basics ($5 to ~$15). Feel free to check my math. But, I am pretty close.

Re: get ready for a price bump

Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2023 4:03 am
by andersonh1
Dominic wrote: Tue Apr 25, 2023 7:32 am Voyagers are now just shy of $40, albeit with tax.

Doing some quick and extrapolatory math, that would put regular (ostensibly Deluxe) figures at a bit more than $25, basic (Scout or whatever they are called) at ~15, the $50 price point (Ultra Magnus or Scourge) over $60, and the $80 price point (like Motormaster) to ~$100.

I understand that inflation is a thing for every industry, but with everything else getting pricier, toys are becoming a rich man's hobby. (I planned to cut back this year anyway, for money and lack of interest in movie product. But, damn....this is killer.)

For reference, current Voyagers (nearly $40) are the old Mega class figures ($15 in 1996). Scouts are the old Basics ($5 to ~$15). Feel free to check my math. But, I am pretty close.
I've been noting this price-increase trend for years. It's one big reason the number of figures I impulse buy has dropped so much. I just can't bring myself to pay over double or more for what I used to pay for a given size class. Every now and then there is an exception, but not often.

Re: Transformers: Legacy

Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2023 7:40 am
by Dominic
I can except a degree of inflation. If nothing else, that can balance against higher quality and better looking figures.

But, this is too much, too fast. Voyagers were hovering around $30 last year, less just 2 years ago. Now, they are close enough to $40 that they may as well be $40.

The increase in toys is on top of the more real price bumps for things like groceries. (A few weeks ago, I hit Target, and a small amount of essentials ran me a bit more than $40. I double-checked the receipt. The cashier did not make any mistakes. I did not buy a single extraneous thing. (I forget the exact list. But, it mostly fit in to the small storage bin I had bought.)

As stated above, this is too much, too fast. (Comics are also headed for a price bump. Likely dropping at least one of my hobbies this year.)

Re: Transformers: Legacy

Posted: Fri Sep 22, 2023 4:12 pm
by Sparky Prime
Bunch of new reveals today.

I'm very excited about the new Tigerhawk figure. As much as I like the original, it badly needed an update.

And from the Pulse con coverage, it looks like we'll be getting a new Magmatron at some point.

Re: Transformers: Legacy

Posted: Tue Sep 26, 2023 11:10 pm
by Shockwave
I'm in for Tigerhawk and all of the core class figures. I'm also in for a new Magmatron and it also looks like we're getting Tidal Wave! Calling it now: He's next year's titan. Which would be AWESOME!!! I'll need to start saving now.