Fit For Natalie

Its also a reasonable explanation to why he had that face in the first place - aside from the current Armadaverse versions of Jetfire, most TFs don't have the VF-1S's distinctly smooth and relatively featurless head with the single visor strip.

I believe Don's G1 Jetfire was just his detailed version of the G1 Skyfire cartoon model, and he also designed another Jetfire in the War Within series with was more futuristic, alien, yet somewhat based on the newer Valks in leg design.So yeah, this is an all-new design Which is interesting to me given the mood and dialogue is most consistant with the structure they have in Beast Wars. The military lingo, the BW phrases which is now part of general TF lexicon ect.

Walky noted that among the toy-like details on that Jetfire is the 'hinge gap' on the grey part (in front of his head) that looks like an airbrake - TF toys tend to have such a gap in hinged parts that have a metal pin. I assume its to relieve stress on the plastic. Another thing is the gaps in the chest and the way the shoulders are articulated. Myself, I noticed there's a distinct line running down the middle of his big rifle, suggesting its actually two rifles combined, like the Gundam Wing Zero Custom. Regardless or whether its a toy or not, its design is quite interesting. Aside from the obvious Super Valkyrie homage, elements of his body seem to be based on Armada Jetfire, specifically the way his shoulders and legs are rounded off (at least on the cover) A close up of his normal mode face (I like how big and powerful Afterburner looks there) Near full view of Jetfire battle mode - oddly enough from this angle his lower torso looks like it was based on a Gundam. Read about the Transformers: Stormbringer comic here, with more pics. I should note I uploaded the above pics onto my own picspace - so I don't waste Newsarama's bandwith

I hate the fact he has the stupid sideways fist, where the fist is in the wrong orientation to the elbow joint. I quite like this Jetfire design. Its been *SUGGESTED* that, even though artist Don Figueroa designs his TF characters to transform logically, this picture seems more 'toy-like' in design than usual... so it *MIGHT* be a glimpse at Classics Jetfire.

Last time I checked construction vehicles were generally painted in bright colours, such as this orange http://www.shortpacked.com/d/20060501.html http://www.shortpacked.com/d/20060502.html

Ahh okay. I think it looks like the movie Judge Dread Lawmaster gun myself

Oh wow... they both look like a crappy gun. Do you really think Hasbro bothered to copy the crappy Time Crisis gun? 395164[/snapback] Welcome to 'America has too many real guns and people can get shot or arrested for waving around a fake real-looking gun'. You should have heard the guy over at the GI Joe forums who was assembling a bootleg G1 Megatron he had just bought from the flea market, while sitting in his car. Until he saw a guy in a car opposite to him reach under his seat for a real gun. Assuming Hasbro wasn't forced to change the colours already - make a real looking gun and by US LAW they'd have to make it bright orange.

I think Prime's gun turns into the trucker's spoiler-thing. The spoiler those types of trucks have on their roofs.

Very bad photocopied pictures of the upcoming Transformers: Classics Optimus Prime and Megatron. Classics will replace Cybertron as the mainline in October or so. Megatron is a gun, Prime is a truck. It looks like Prime has a rub symbol on his shoulder/side of truck.

Well, those missiles were only ever used in robot mode (and only a few times on the show). As I recall Starscream rarely, if ever, used missiles in fighter mode. Those turbines wouldn't be in use in robot mode, anyway.

It should be noted some of the bots on that list have non-speaking roles. Bumblebee is said to be mute. To all the self-proclaimed 'hardcore G1 fans', 'true transformers fans' and movie fanatics who have popped up since the movie was announced and have been slagging off modern transformers recently because the new stuff is alledgedly nothing like the 'real transformers': HA HA.

I hope so, because if it comes down to it, I'd prefer bigger, TF-like hands with limited articulation than smaller ones that have better finger movement. ... that sounds dirty.

Okay okay fair enough Here's one good thing about Takara having to make MP Starscream with US toy safety laws in mind - it will be alot sturdier than the collector-minded 1:48 Valks, I'll wager. I hope Starscream's hands aren't as girly looking as what I've seen from the 1:48s though.

Vehicle modes on Cybertron served a purpose. They were not 'half-assed reasons' they 'made up'.1. Practicality: Alt modes have the advantage of allowing the robots to travel faster (either on the ground or in flight) than they can in robot mode. Some alt modes have more armour, some alt modes have more firepower than their robot modes, but have the disadvantage of the lack of dexterity the robot mode provides. And certain alt modes have functions and features that would not be possible, too cumbersome or unwieldly in robot mode. 2. Disguise: In the cartoon, on Cybertron the robots still utilised larger non-transforming transportation. Disguise allowed the Autobots to make hit-and-run attacks on the unsuspecting Decepticons. Alien looking vehicles are pefectly reasonable on alien worlds. On Velocitron the robots whole culture is based upon racing, so they are primarily designed for speed. On Gigantion the robots build cities, so they are designed as construction vehicles and excavators. I believe you just made my point for me, but on Earth.The Autobots were for the most part, civilians - engineers, scientists, labourers, archivists. Optimus Prime himself was originally the archivist Optronix in the Dreamwave War Within comic. Erm, you do realise Transformers was not set wholly on Earth, right? The G1 cartoon origin for the Dinobots is non-canon nowadays. Grimlock was kind of a tank-like vehicle on Cybertron, and is portrayed as an intelligent military commander who simply says little, with a speech pattern suggesting low intelligence, even thoigh he isn't. The other Dinobots (or Dynobots are they were called on Cybertron) had varying intelligence, though Sludge really is stupid. Well its a good thing then that Optimus Primal is not Optimus Prime. Optimus is an affectionate nickname given to him by his crew. After the Great War, with the rarity of energon and energy supplies, the Cybertronians began a process of cultural and technological revolution where they shrank their bodies down to (roughly) humanoid size, which far lower power consumption than in the previous G1-type bodies, and could supplement that with consumption of food. BW Megatron refers to the old robotd as 'archiac energon guzzlers', referencing the fact they wasted their energy.Beast Wars is set 300 years after the end of G1. The robots, for the most part, transformed into Cybertronian vehicles with an animalistic bent to them. Eg, Lio Convoy is portrayed in the new Beast Wars comic as having a Liger Zero type vehicle mode. When a Predacon rogue named Megatron stole the Golden Disc from Cybertron and made off with a small band of supports, the Maximal survey ship Axalon, commanded by 'Optimus' Primal was ordered to intercept. Both ships transwarped into orbit of a primative planet rich with energon deposits. The Maximals and Predacons blasted each other out of the sky and crash landed. It was soon discovered that there was so much energon that their bodies could not withstand the energy build up without requiring an alt mode that would be immune, so they scanned local animals who seemed unaffected by the energon. By this time Cybertronian technology had advanced to such a stage that the melding of organic material and robotics was nothing unusual. The beast modes also had special abilities unique that gave them advantages (and disadvantages) over the robot modes. And that's why they have beast modes. Of course, by the end of the first season the Vok had detonated most of the Energon on Earth, or turned them into stable cubes, so it was moot. Frankly, I'm surprised by you guys - you give all sorts of reasons why realistic alt modes are so useful on Earth, but then completely disregard the same usefulness those alt modes, but with an alien asthetic as they should, would have back on their homeworld. Is it because they don't look like Earth vehicles that you find it so unbelievable? That's a rather narrow view. -FFN

Well, Transformers G1 died because it was just a fad that was losing steam - remember, back then it was just a another toyline that already had sucess for for 3 years. Its natural for kids to grow up and move onto Nintendo or other newer, hipper fads, and as such, the line begins to falter and lose popularity. The realism is king explanation doesn't really explain why Beast Wars, Armada, Energon were sucessful, given they're not the most 'realistic' looking lines. Many of the old-school established fandom were all 'G1 fans' too, because that was all they had. But for the most part, they eventually embraced Beast Wars and appreciated what came after, too.

Re: CybertronYou're kidding right? That line has a large number of based on real world vehicles/passably real vehicles - probably the highest number of the last 5 years - yet maintains a balance with Cybertronian/alien vehicles. Hell, You're lucky to get fairly realistic vehicles at all given the majority of the series is set on other planets. TFs are designed alt mode first. Then they try and figure out how to make a robot out of it. Rarely, have they designed a robot first, alt mode second unless it was for a special version of an established design, like Masterpiece Convoy.

One problem I have with realism for realism's sake is that it stifles creativity on the design side of things. Which is more of a challenge? Creating a non-real world design that's recognisable as a type of vehicle or basing it upon something that already exists? It is not cheating - if anything, its a different challenge. Realism has the challenge of turning an established design (or a composite of several real designs) into a good-looking robot with an interesting transformation, yet maintain its realistic design. Fake designs have the same robot and transformation challenges, but has a challenge of creating something futuristic (either outlandishishly high tech, alien or something possibly from the real near future) that is at the same time identifiyable as a type or class of vehicle. There's also the chance that an outlandish design may inspire something in the real world. Eg, an outlandish looking concept car may be used for inspiration for a more conservatively designed real car. Or hell, over time, that 'outlandish' design may seem less and less strange over time. Granted, many fake designs wouldn't work well in Earth-based settings. I guess what I am saying is non-real designs add flavour to Transformers, a line that would otherwise be filled with similar-looking cars, trucks and planes. Oh, Classics will have a new Grimlock, and I'm looking forward to that *thumbs up*

According to the control art that came with THS02 G1 Convoy, his cluster bombs (drop tank looking things) are an option. Starscream only really carried those two payloads that magically changed depending on his modesClassics Starscream, as a highly detailed F-15 was shown on a slide at Hasbro's Panel during Botcon 2005. His robot mode was similar to this, a detailed cartoon model-style robot mode with long laser cannons. No pics are available as pics aren't allowed during the panel. As for Astrotrain, well, that's the problem with Triple Changers - most normal TF and normal japanese transforming mecha usually deal with only two true forms, or in the case of the Valkyries Gerwalk, a half-assed middle form. I'm sorry, but from a Transformers perspective, it's true - Gerwalk isn't really much of a third form. Or second form depending on the order you view. True Triple Changers have to sacrifice one form's realism for the sake of the others. In G1, it was the robot mode, and to a lesser extent, the shuttle mode. In Classics Astro, its the bullet train mode. I'm quite impressed that they managed to do it at all given the inherent engineering difficulties. Frankly, I'm not a fan of real-world realism for realism's sake in Transformers. Realism is nice, but depending upon it shows a lack of imagination, and a lack of a sense of fun. Imagination is what drives the sucess of Transformers. -FFN

I'm impressed with how the flaps on the wing fold away so the wings have the angular, pointed shape in robot mode (like on the cartoon and various comic art); the intakes tilt forward, again a cartoon model reference. I wonder where the rear stabilisers go, though.

yeah, the three Starscream toys shown in that article are Takara's Reissue Collection Starscream, Robotmasters Starscream, and World's Smallest Transformers Starscream. The actual Masterpiece Starscream toy hasn't been seen yet. We're going to be hearing that all day at non-TF boards or TF boards with less-informed members - that the line art looks great but the toys look like crap

Well, they could do it if they wanted to. Its a colour scheme, and I don't think you can trademark a colour scheme. Hell, Hasbro used the Max DYRL colours for their Armada Powerlinx Jetfire repaint. As long as they don't call it something like 'VF-1S Super Valkyrie Jetfire Special' (Jetfire the name is still trademarked by Hasbro and Takara) or use the Autobot symbol, I think they'd be okay.

There will be two F-15 Starscream toys out this year at roughly the same time, then. This Masterpiece Starscream in September for Japan, and Hasbro's Classics Starscream (deluxe class) in October-ish in the US.

To be fair though, they weren't out to make an exact scale replica of a real-world F-15, they were making a half-way between what they could get on a real F-15 and a Starscream seeker F-15.

No, this is the first official photo. Walmart uses Hasbro's official stock photos (usually the same photos destined for packaging) for their website. 1. Design asthetic is that of a Hasbro-Takara designed Transformer. Happy Well's Road Bots, while they steal the basic Alt designs or outright steal the toolings and rework them (in the case of their Ford GT bootleg), have robot mode style and detailing that is more 'generic robot'. 2. Decepticon symbol - bootleg toys usually avoid having the actual Autobot and Decepticon symbols, since those symbols are trademarked. 3. Rumble homage - no point in a bootleg having a homage to something from a brand name that they are somewhat distancing themselves from to avoid lawsuit. Several times now Walmart have been among the first to put up new Hasbro stock photos. Repaint Vector Prime uncovered on the same day at Walmart was our first glimpse of the repaint.

Yeah, according to Amenbo he supervised the design. Judging from the control art we've seen, this will hopefully be alot better than his efforts on THS G1 Convoy. Vague info on MP Starscream