Team Dinobot

Got and opened Lio Convoy and Tarn, what a great pair of voyagers. Combined with Jhiaxus it’s been a great month for voyagers. Definitely the sort of niche stuff which I really appreciate now.

Speaking of which, Twincast and Metalhawk preordered for more Japanese voyager goodness. Shrapnel preordered for some Insecticon goodness and Crosscut for Diaclone. Yay! And Beachcomber on the way.

Because of all the leaked listings we pretty much know everything Transformers we’re getting this year, but there are still quite a lot of unknown exclusives and presumably we’ll get leaks for next year. Most of the figures I want could be repaints (at least four new molds needed!), so he’s a list of 25 figures I want, and I’ll see how I did by the end of the year (I’m assuming the deluxe Insecticons are a done deal since they’re on the artwork). The Omnibots could be repaints of existing molds but I wonder whether they could work as repaints of RID or Unicron Trilogy characters.

For deluxes, the Omnibots (3), the remaining Diaclone car repaints (4), Powerglide, remaining Throttlebots (5), Autobot car Powermasters (3), Sureshot and Hosehead. For voyager, just Sunstorm and Leozack. For leader, Thunderwing, Thunderclash, G1 Skyquake, Nova Prime and Swoop.

Found a Cyberverse Swoop (‘Bumbleswoop’) in a discount store to complete my Dinobots. Not sure whether I’ll keep the ones that aren’t Grimlock or Slug, but it’s nice to have the option. Speaking of Dinobots, Snarl looks good and chunky, hope the colours match.

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More leaked listings…… Sureshot and Swoop!!! Very happy. Hopefully we also get the Autobot Powermasters as repaints of Mirage, Pointblank and Sureshot, but most importantly of all I hope we get the Throttlebots.

Snarl preorder in!

Decepticon heavies

Happy New Year! Wow, 2023. This year will be my 20th year of collecting. Some interesting leaks for Transformers (excited about the prospect of a G1 Skyquake). I find myself in a similar place to where I was in 2020 (in the before times). That is, pretty determined not to be replacing any more figures, though I’m ready to make exceptions for Minibots.

I’m done with Power Rangers, Turtles and Thundercats (once the preorders come in). With Marvel Legends and Star Wars I seem to have a couple of preorders at any one time (Blob and Ronan at the moment). I’ve not got my eye on any specific Lego but will see what they do with the upcoming Guardians sets (do they look comic accurate-ish?). And there are some rumours about more Sonic Lego…..

Customs wise I’m making very slow progress on a Mortal Kombat project but have a few things lined up, including Transformers which generally I try to avoid as it’s so hard to do them well. So 2023 then, I expect my spending to continue to drop. Let’s see what tempts me!

I saved a couple of big parcels for Christmas. Firstly, Ben-Gali and Vultureman. Both look really good but I like Vultureman more. Ben needs a bit of a wash so he doesn’t look so cartoony.

I opened Dead End and Breakdown, and combined them with the other Stunticons. I had a bit of a wobble about even opening them, but Menasor is great. I definitely made the right decision!

I then combined Star Saber and Victory Leo (having previously checked them for defects). It’s an amazing set, I seemed to have done alright with the QC (the end of one of the guns looks like it was dipped in strong glue….). What a day of figures!

We are apparently getting video game figures in Studio Series. Which could therefore include Nova Prime. I’d sort of forgotten this but I really wanted a figure of him a few years ago. This got me thinking, where would it fit into my collection (answer: with my ‘leaders’), which then combined with seeing various peoples toy of the year selections, I also need a Jhiaxus. Luckily was able to get a good deal. It’s a really nice looking figure, maybe I need to re-read the G2 comics!

A couple of other Decepticons also have arrived in the last couple of months, Needlenose and Crankcase. Both fill fill out the ranks of some comic based groups - Mayhem Attack Squad and the Scavengers. It’s all feeling quite Decepticon heavy at the moment.

Deszaras is coming, Deszaras is coming…

Sandstorm is now rumoured, along with Brawn and Snarl, so that’s the core cast really done for me (and done well).

I think my wants can be split into two, figures that complete a subgroup but aren’t that interesting (Sureshot, Joyride, Hosehead). Others that are exciting but probably aren’t needed (new Broadside, Metroplex, God Ginrai, Overlord). Some in between like Omnibots and Throttlebots.

Thunderclash feels like the last character I really care about as well as being the last area of G1 (Euro G1) that I don’t have any representation of. That’s not to say there’s not still a lot I want but in terms of really really want, it’s just TC. Legacy Prime Skyquake is looking great so should get a G1 version. Holiday Prime is an ideal candidate for a Thunderclash. All the signs are there!

Victory Saber has arrived! I just had a quick peak (all looks good) but saving it for Christmas. With Desz also on his way, it got me thinking - in terms of main Japanese characters, we’ve had representation of all of them (although Leozack got the bum deal), but with the other ‘intrigue’ characters, maybe just Grandus left? He appeared in Animated so I think he’s up there. Maybe could he could be a slightly remold of a potential Commander Broadside?

I got a Marvel Legends Avalanche. That’s not taken long considering it was only revealed at Pulsecon. And Blob is now preordered to complete the brotherhood.

Ben-Gali and Vultureman are finally on their way from Super 7 to complete the new Thundercats and mutants. Just Snarf and Jaga to go!

I’ve finished the year with some very sensible spending - it’s been a huge decrease from last year. Figure of the year? Black Zarak, great deco on a great mold of a (version of a) character I never thought I’d get. Fantastic! Happy Christmas everyone.

Deszaras!!!

So happy to see the new Haslab project. It’s hard to tell what it’ll actually be like from the grey prototype, but very exciting. Just hope it does the business.

In other very exciting news, Snarf was revealed and put up for preorder, but the icing on the cake is ghost Jaga being revealed! Fantastic. My Thundercats collection will be complete. Thundercats will be like Turtles - I’d very much like the lair in brick form but otherwise I’m done.

Galaxy Shuttle arrived. Quite a clever repaint of Astrotrain, but a character I always forget about. Hopefully in conjunction with Victory Saber and Deszaras we will get a few more opportune repaints. Talking of opportune repaints, I’m hoping to see a few repaints/remolds of Holiday Optimus Prime. Thunderclash please!!!

I’m feeling very organised, everything not on display is all baggied up and I’ve got everything I’m selling listed. Feels a bit quiet on the news front at the moment and so have started on some customs for the first time in ages. Managed to get the new Lego AT-TE without the minfigs for a good price so all good.

I’ve also replaced my Robotnik:

Thinking about my Generations collection (as I often do). Sureshot and the Throttlebots are the characters from the original cartoon (core G1) that still need updated figures (well, and maybe Steeljaw and Slugfest, but like some of the the other G1 cassettes I’m not sure they can really be bettered). 

In terms of figures that have already been updated, I (obviously) would like bigger than deluxe versions of the remaining Dinobots - which we should be getting. I think Sandstorm is the only core character who really suffers as the result of being a repaint so I’d like an updated version of him. 

Updated versions of the Minibots would be appreciated but I’m not worried. Maybe a more G1 toy accurate Metroplex, but otherwise, that’s the core cast complete for me. (Maybe Sunstreaker and Perceptor in more consistent yellow and toy accurate decos?!)

Thinking about the original toyline, you could add the Omnibots and Deluxe Insecticons (who look promising given comments about toys for characters that haven’t been updated). Beyond that it’s all about JG1/Marvel/IDW/Beast Wars/Cyberverse, ‘outer G1’ if you will. And those characters I’m really content just to get a slow stream of them. Except Thunderclash, who I need now!

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I’ve built the Lego AT-TE! I think it has much greater play potential than the AT-AT, I also like the vehicle more despite not being as iconic, I like the bug look. In my little desk toy world the goodies will be in the AT-AE and the baddies on the AT-AT.

With Deszaras almost funded and assuming we get the remaining two Dinobots, it got me thinking. I think for the first time, some of my most wanted toy(s) are some Real Ghostbusters Plasma figures, more than quite a few Transformers, Thunderclash is still top though!

Thunder, thunder…..

Paddling X

Feels like a burst of lots of parcels. Firstly Planet X Swoop, great to have him back although a bit more wobbly than I remember and one wing not attached. Some loose bits which I hope I don’t loose. Sludge doesn’t seem obtainable at the moment so my head canon is that Paddles has taken his place on the team.

My first Pulsecon exclusive, Alpha Trion, arrived. The Scourge mold works really nicely although he shouldn’t have a gun. He’s actually for my Cyberverse display rather than G1 (since he didn’t have a G1 toy).

Then came a carded Marvel Legends Spider-Man. He’s got the animation deco, but given I’m keeping him carded it’s okay. I will keep him, Iron Man, Wolverine and Deadpool sealed on the retro cards. My plan is to make/buy some display cases for them and hang them on the wall.

Got the new Legacy deluxes, only opened Pointblank, really impressed looks good and tabs together nicely. I ordered some new wheels for Crosshairs as well, really makes a difference.

Also got Inferno, what an amazing headsculpt!

I’ve given up hoping for a SS ‘86 based Stepper so bought the POTP version. The car mode is cool, and overall a good figure.

Then came the blue team, Beast and Aayla Secura. The headsculpt on Beast is fantastic so very glad (but grumpy) to have replaced the old one. Aayla has a very neutral face but can do a two handed lightsaber pose so all good.

And finally, Clone Wars Darth Maul. (Is he still a Sith at that point?!). I’d have preferred him to be him with his initial droid legs but he’s pretty fearsome.

So a month of lots of stuff but nothing too large or expensive.

Racing Pulse

Started off the month with a pair of Leaders. Movie preview Ultra Magnus (cough, Shattered Glass). I think the colours work better than the standard Magnus. Blitzwing looks great, the other modes aren’t so great but robot is solid. Bring on Overcharge!

Speaking of Diaclone pairs, DK3 Breaker came in (along with his ‘brother’). It cost me twice as much but there’s something very satisfying about doing a simple bit of parts swapping. Bring on…. the same mold in yellow!

Finished building the Sanctum Santorum, some really nice bits to it and with the green copper roof it matches the Statue of Liberty rather nicely. The Shuma Gorath is nicely done, speaking of which there is a rumour he might get a Legends figure which would be pretty neat.

Pre Pulsecon there was a big drop of Legends rumours. Great that Blob and Karnak should be coming. Couple more cinematic universe Iron Men and Spider-Men, then quite a lot of wait and see!

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Pulsecon! Alpha Trion has been ordered. Transformers was pretty much as expected, but very excited to see the Deluxe Insecticons on the new poster. Lio Convoy and Tarn look good (lion head aside). Marvel Legends was more surprising, Avalanche! Combined with rumours of Blob mean the Brotherhood is looking good. Not much else of interest but there will be some anniversary Clone Wars stuff for Star Wars. All in all, and despite the leaks, more exciting than I was expecting.

Finally…….

Planet X Slag is amazing! I was so taken with the robot mode I haven’t even transformed it yet. I really ruined my budgeting getting these figures but totally worth it! Snarl is also amazing but not quite so amazing, I think Slag just has a more interesting shape, am genuinely torn about which mode to keep him in.

Cheetara finally came in, I’ve been waiting such a long time (thirty odd years really). She feels a bit more cartoony than the others as she’s a bit smoother and doesn’t have the definition.

Another long awaited female character came in - Minerva! I’ve wanted a figure ever since watching Masterforce. Very solid. It’s one of those that causes me to reflect back on how I seem to have got almost everything I want.

Got Diaclone Twin Twist, almost nothing to say about it. It’s a solid figure in a different colour. Bring on the rest of the Diaclone repaints - Overcharge, Top Spin and Insecticons please! Not to mention yellow Trailbreaker and the others…..

Marvel Legends Lizard, looks good, nothing too surprising. Feels like a while since I got an exciting Legends figure.

Started building Lego Sanctum Santorum, looks like it will be nicely detailed…..