Unofficial Transformer Releases

[Ben-Ohki]

Er... something looks... not quite right with that Rolling Thunder Prime...

I'm also puzzled by the news coming from that Chinese con report... Power Master Prime was a Power master but I don't ever recall him ever being a Target Master or a Headmaster...
A new unofficial Target Master add-on? Sure, I'm down with that. But an unofficial headmaster add-on? I'm curious... will it just plug in where the original head would have gone? We don't really get a good look at the bottom of that head, but one thing I do remember about G1 Power Master Prime/ God Ginrai was that his head's peg was actually a forward-positioned "neck" bit because the hole in Ginrai's folded down body was too far forward.

Anyway, I'm really looking forward to seeing more prototype photos...

[emerje]

It's not actually a head and gun for Prime, Prime is the head and gun, the head even has a truck form. It's just something silly and random that someone came up with. There's also the Soundwave that turns into a head and a Megatron, Starscream, and I think a few others that turn into guns. It's a neat concept, I used to want a Pretender Prime when I was a kid.

Emerje

[robwhit1]

Looks like we may have another option for a G1 Arcee. However, if you thought the $70 version was overpriced, don't even bother looking. I know the smaller companies have to charge more for figures to make a profit. But it just seems odd that this would be the same price as the OP that is a good 3-4 times bigger. Look at that last pick, she is about the size of his leg.

If the Impossible toys Arcee was not so bad, I would not give it a second thought. This does look to be the same exact scale as the Impossible Toys Arcee (If my shipment from iGear would ever get here I could confirm ).

shop.igeartoys.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=80

[Chen]

Yeah I just got a e-mail from them telling me that this was on pre-order. It's probably because it was a fresh ground up design and not a copy from an existing one like mini Prime plus you do get G1 style packaging and diecast parts. But it is tiny and from the looks of it is only what, 4-5 inches tall?

[robwhit1]

Huh, I didn't notice this the first time I looked at it, but this new Arcee does not look to be made by iGear. It is listed as manufactured by "Others". I started questioning it since iGear already has a backlog of figures to make, it seemed odd that they would pop out a G1 Arcee when they have PP01 reissue, MP Megatron, & all 3 MP Coneheads in the works.

They also tend to show there items months/years before they are ready for production. This is the first I have seen of this Arcee and it says Out in October. The IT Arcee had a short introduction time like that - Hope that is all that is the same. I would be cautious of jumping on this one too soon. Need to know who is making it first.

BTW, Incase you are wondering why this would be on iGear's site if it was not made by them, look around and you will see many toys made by other manufactures like Perfect Effect and Official Botcon items.

[Chen]

All the Mini Masterpieces and Coneheads aren't being made by Igear either, but a "partner company" which Igear is supposedly just selling for them.

[Elgladiador]

whoa!! they take a resin kit and turn a plastic toy... these guys are the kings of KO's

[robwhit1]

Aug 7, 2010 10:11:00 GMT -5 Chen said:

All the Mini Masterpieces and Coneheads aren't being made by Igear either, but a "partner company" which Igear is supposedly just selling for them.

I never noticed that before. I do remember reading that the coneheads were being produced through a partnership, but even then, I was thinking that the partners were iGear and Wheeljack since they all say based on his design. Learn something new everyday.

[robwhit1]

One more comment on the PP series coming from Partners of iGear. As I mentioned, I did not know they were not producing the PP's. So much so, that I even e-mailed them about the reissue. Here is my e-mail.

"Hello,

I am thinking about preording the reissue of PP01 but have not done so just yet because I was REALLY wanting the extra cartoon accurate head that came with the original PP01. However, I see that the re-issue will no longer have this accessory. The question I have is, would there be any way to purchase the head later or will the original PP01 be re-released later?

Thanks for the feedback. I may just have to purchase the PP01 secondhand if the cartoon head is no longer available direct from iGear. Just not sure what would be my best option. Thanks. "

Now here is the odd part, within the hour, I got this response from iGear:

"Hi,
Thanks for your email, we are considering put the head back to the Ultra Magnus version, but the paint wil differents.


Thanks!"

So, it seems is a little odd they spoke as if it was their toy and even knew enough to say they were planning to make a Ultra Magnus with the cartoon head. I can see now that the PP's say "Caution: The Partner Products are not iGear Products, iGear are responsible for sales agent." I just have to wonder how much iGear is involved with the PP's. Have we ever heard who was producing these?

[Chen]

I think wheeljack is probably a consultant on the Coneheads since a lot of his designs are carrying over but I'm thinking this whole "partner company" is just a way to protect iGear from any legal issues since their just the "distributors" but honestly I doubt Takara or Hasbro will really go after these second and third party companies since for the most part their making unique figures or accessories for their products. It's the straight up copies like the Dinobots or Metroplex that get's them a little riled up and even then they really can't do anything about it.

[Chen]

No idea who this secret partner is but I'm thinking the Ultra Magnus comment was because their fan poll has Magnus listed as number one by the fans and it would be just a easy re-color for them since they already have five different colors for PP-01 now already.

[robwhit1]

I am thinking it is probably like you mentioned, a front to protect them from Hasbro/Takara. IGear is probably making them but not using their brand to protect themselves, their store & TF series (which seems to be all "new" creations).

I would also hope that these are not really in H/T sights as a KO they need to chase after. These are not straight KO's even though they are pushing the line (All the TF boards seem to hate these guys like they are making pure KO's but I agree that they are not). It's not like these figures are already in the market and iGear (or whoever) is making cheap copies. These are new figures you cannot get unless you buy them from iGear. If H/T ever wanted to stop this line it would not be too hard. Just release the figures themselves. Odds are the quantity, quality & price would be better than iGear. If there was a H/T MP Conehead group to be bought, I would buy it and not mess with the PP's.

[Chen]

I agree if Takara made there own versions then I would definitely buy theirs but with such long times between releases it could be years before we see the Coneheads and I doubt Takara would ever make a smaller version of Prime and Megatron. I also agree that these are not cheap KO's that you find in a Variety store, I see these as mass produced high quality custom jobs.

[Nostalgia]

I'm pretty sure iGear has some level of direct involvement with whoever's manufacturing the products they're just 'distributing'. They probably did this to avoid any legal tussle with Hasbro/TomyTakara, or to absolve themselves partially of any responsibility for products that fall short of consumer expectations, although the former sounds more likely.

About the coneheads, I seriously doubt TomyTakara will go through the trouble of releasing them. The MP seekers have already gone through 4 iterations, and there's only so much you can rehash before consumer fatigue sets in. However, thanks to our good old friends at iGear, our dreams finally come to fruition! I'm very, very interested in picking up all 3 of them, but personally I'm holding off till reviews start flowing in before I plonk down the moolah.

[coldiron]

Comic for FP protector.
www.fansproject.com/?page_id=520

[supergetterv]

Cool, but no instructions like the city commander. Maybe more pages to come. I am definately getting this. If not for fansproject, I probably wouldn't have any interest in most of the Transformers toy line. Got the triple pack on order to complete this. If only I got into collecting Henkei's and Classics earlier.

[Ben-Ohki]

Ditto here - as you can tell from my posting history, I didn't even participate much in the Transformers forum on RJ until recently when I saw all the cool stuff coming out of the fan circles. It's a real exciting time to be collecting (or just admiring, considering the prices on these kits).

A little clueless about the Rodimus upgrade though: is he supposed to be already Rodimus Prime in that comic?

[robwhit1]

I am getting the Rodimus kit as soon as it comes out. But I am ready for the Bruticus upgrade kit now. They are taking forever.

[supergetterv]

Aug 9, 2010 17:31:43 GMT -5 robwhit1 said:

I am getting the Rodimus kit as soon as it comes out. But I am ready for the Bruticus upgrade kit now. They are taking forever.

I feel you, I went home and got a great surprise. My Bruticus set is here. I need to get the Upgrade Kit. Hoping to hear some good news tomorrow. They were suppose to be release the first week of August.

[nikodiablo]

Aug 9, 2010 23:53:59 GMT -5 supergetterv said:

I feel you, I went home and got a great surprise. My Bruticus set is here.

Whew. My heart skipped a beat.

Then I realized that it's the bruticus set, and not the fansproject add on set.