Post by theprophetae on May 23, 2008 9:46:06 GMT -5
Hello all,
Ever since acquiring the Flash Titan DX figure from the Sentai line, I
have wanted to do a side by side comparison with Ultra Magnus from the
Transformers line. I have finally completed my photo journal of these
two figures and in addition I threw in a comparison with Flash Titan's
alternate figure Tough Trailer from the Machine Robo line. Both of
these figures would have been great in the original GoBots US line,
but neither made it over. I did not include the Staks Transport in
the pictures, mainly because I forgot to get it, but there are many
pictures online showing that figure but very few of Flash Titan and
Tough Trailer. As a note, the boxed photos are not from my collection
(my only non MIB figure), but from an online auction seller,
selleronwheels.
Here is the link to the photo set, which is quite large at around 75
photos.
s294.photobucket.com/albums/mm92/prophetae/FlashTitanDX%20vs%20Ultra%20Magnus%20vs%20Tough%20Trailer/?start=all
Some interesting things to note about these figures:
Mold difference:
Flash Titan (FT) has an extendable head that allows it to merge with
its trailer, a cool missile firing mechanism that pops out of the
hood, a hand held shield and two post holes in the bed for attaching
the trailer. The post hole nearest the cab is to attach the trailer
in flight mode, so it all looks as one ship. The farther post hole is
for attaching the trailer in truck mode so it can pivot as the vehicle
turns (pretty slick). FT also has wheels that fold inwards to create
a smooth surface for flight mode (it also reduced kibble in the robot
transformation). Conversely, the later released mold, Tough Trailer
(TT), has a chrome head that does not extend, a larger, bold chrome
grill but no hood firing mechanism. They retained the dual post
holes, even though the nearer hole serves no purpose and the folding
wheels. Either cab can hook up to either trailer, with the red and
blue complimenting one another when switched up.
You may notice yellow missiles in the FT box set, and blue missiles in
the pictures. This is because I am missing the yellow missiles, but
discovered that the blue missiles that come with TT are exactly the
same. On TT they are placed in the cannon mounted in the trailer
(similar to Optimus Prime). Both FT and TT having heavy springs that
launch these plastic sticks a good long ways.
Alternate Mode:
Flash Titan has an interesting alternate mode--flight mode. Evidently
for battle, it can become one large flying spaceship, with missiles
that can shoot out of the hood. Tough Trailer, Ultra Magnus nor
Optimus Prime has this feature. Some of the later Convoy releases in
the Japan Transformers line featured flying modes for the truck, but
they also came with a lot of kibble that made them look awkward in
flight mode. UM has an alternate configuration of the trailer to
launch aircraft but no alternate vehicle mode for the toy itself. TT
has a very similar trailer configuration to Optimus Prime (see my
earlier post) but lacks the alternate vehicle bay repair mode that
Optimus' trailer has.
Merged robot:
One nice feature about FT is that its merged robot requires no
additional parts to attach or detach, it is all self contained. I'm a
big fan of simplicity and good engineering design to minimize parts
for transforming robots. UM had eight different pieces you had to pop
on him after transforming the cab and trailer to make him work (head,
fists, canons, gun, chest piece and waist piece). Pieces that
eventually will end up lost. UM did have the feature that he rolls in
robot mode, whereas FT does not. I like that FT is so big. If an
entire truck merged to form a robot, it ought to be a lot bigger than
everyone else. Do give it credit though, UM is bigger than most G1
transformers.
Transport:
FT can only carry the smaller GoBots and not the Super GoBots which is
a little disappointing. This is due, unfortunately, to the self
containment of the transformation which I praised earlier in this
discussion. As well, FT was designed for a different toy line
(Sentai), so I am impressed that it can carry any vehicles at all, as
it was never intended for use in the Machine Robo line. Both UM and
TT can carry the larger Super GoBots.
Finally, all three figures have diecast in the robot body with FT and
TT being much heavier in metal than UM. Conversely, all three figures
trailers are all plastic with no diecast (except maybe the wheel
mounts). FT is a heavy trailer owing to its large size and thick side
walls.
I like the look of all three figures and each offers something unique
to the toy line. Ultra Magnus has a lot more character in his body
and face in combined mode, but in robot mode, the all white look seems
kind of bland compared to the more colorful TT and FT robots. UM came
from the Dicalone line of toys (Powered Convoy) and was part of the
original G1 releases. Both FT and TT were molds designed much later
in 1986 and 1987 respectively as unique, realistic molds at a time
when Transformers was getting away from normal looking vehicles.
I hope you enjoy these pictures and let me know your thoughts on them.
You can also see my other picture album of Tough Trailer versus
Optimus Prime here:
www.flickr.com/photos/25076249@N03/sets/72157604765408890/
(please cut and paste the whole URL)
Thank you,
Ernest
Ever since acquiring the Flash Titan DX figure from the Sentai line, I
have wanted to do a side by side comparison with Ultra Magnus from the
Transformers line. I have finally completed my photo journal of these
two figures and in addition I threw in a comparison with Flash Titan's
alternate figure Tough Trailer from the Machine Robo line. Both of
these figures would have been great in the original GoBots US line,
but neither made it over. I did not include the Staks Transport in
the pictures, mainly because I forgot to get it, but there are many
pictures online showing that figure but very few of Flash Titan and
Tough Trailer. As a note, the boxed photos are not from my collection
(my only non MIB figure), but from an online auction seller,
selleronwheels.
Here is the link to the photo set, which is quite large at around 75
photos.
s294.photobucket.com/albums/mm92/prophetae/FlashTitanDX%20vs%20Ultra%20Magnus%20vs%20Tough%20Trailer/?start=all
Some interesting things to note about these figures:
Mold difference:
Flash Titan (FT) has an extendable head that allows it to merge with
its trailer, a cool missile firing mechanism that pops out of the
hood, a hand held shield and two post holes in the bed for attaching
the trailer. The post hole nearest the cab is to attach the trailer
in flight mode, so it all looks as one ship. The farther post hole is
for attaching the trailer in truck mode so it can pivot as the vehicle
turns (pretty slick). FT also has wheels that fold inwards to create
a smooth surface for flight mode (it also reduced kibble in the robot
transformation). Conversely, the later released mold, Tough Trailer
(TT), has a chrome head that does not extend, a larger, bold chrome
grill but no hood firing mechanism. They retained the dual post
holes, even though the nearer hole serves no purpose and the folding
wheels. Either cab can hook up to either trailer, with the red and
blue complimenting one another when switched up.
You may notice yellow missiles in the FT box set, and blue missiles in
the pictures. This is because I am missing the yellow missiles, but
discovered that the blue missiles that come with TT are exactly the
same. On TT they are placed in the cannon mounted in the trailer
(similar to Optimus Prime). Both FT and TT having heavy springs that
launch these plastic sticks a good long ways.
Alternate Mode:
Flash Titan has an interesting alternate mode--flight mode. Evidently
for battle, it can become one large flying spaceship, with missiles
that can shoot out of the hood. Tough Trailer, Ultra Magnus nor
Optimus Prime has this feature. Some of the later Convoy releases in
the Japan Transformers line featured flying modes for the truck, but
they also came with a lot of kibble that made them look awkward in
flight mode. UM has an alternate configuration of the trailer to
launch aircraft but no alternate vehicle mode for the toy itself. TT
has a very similar trailer configuration to Optimus Prime (see my
earlier post) but lacks the alternate vehicle bay repair mode that
Optimus' trailer has.
Merged robot:
One nice feature about FT is that its merged robot requires no
additional parts to attach or detach, it is all self contained. I'm a
big fan of simplicity and good engineering design to minimize parts
for transforming robots. UM had eight different pieces you had to pop
on him after transforming the cab and trailer to make him work (head,
fists, canons, gun, chest piece and waist piece). Pieces that
eventually will end up lost. UM did have the feature that he rolls in
robot mode, whereas FT does not. I like that FT is so big. If an
entire truck merged to form a robot, it ought to be a lot bigger than
everyone else. Do give it credit though, UM is bigger than most G1
transformers.
Transport:
FT can only carry the smaller GoBots and not the Super GoBots which is
a little disappointing. This is due, unfortunately, to the self
containment of the transformation which I praised earlier in this
discussion. As well, FT was designed for a different toy line
(Sentai), so I am impressed that it can carry any vehicles at all, as
it was never intended for use in the Machine Robo line. Both UM and
TT can carry the larger Super GoBots.
Finally, all three figures have diecast in the robot body with FT and
TT being much heavier in metal than UM. Conversely, all three figures
trailers are all plastic with no diecast (except maybe the wheel
mounts). FT is a heavy trailer owing to its large size and thick side
walls.
I like the look of all three figures and each offers something unique
to the toy line. Ultra Magnus has a lot more character in his body
and face in combined mode, but in robot mode, the all white look seems
kind of bland compared to the more colorful TT and FT robots. UM came
from the Dicalone line of toys (Powered Convoy) and was part of the
original G1 releases. Both FT and TT were molds designed much later
in 1986 and 1987 respectively as unique, realistic molds at a time
when Transformers was getting away from normal looking vehicles.
I hope you enjoy these pictures and let me know your thoughts on them.
You can also see my other picture album of Tough Trailer versus
Optimus Prime here:
www.flickr.com/photos/25076249@N03/sets/72157604765408890/
(please cut and paste the whole URL)
Thank you,
Ernest