My biggest haul to date!

It's been a long 5 days, too tired to do anything, having no more than 4 hours sleep each day. But it was worth it!

My princess was born on April 20th, 2.55 am (+8.00 GMT) and both baby and mommy are safe. Couldn't be happier than this

More Review goodies~

Review of Transformers Prime Beast Hunters Abominus by a friend of mine, LDRTransformersWorld, just started doing reviews. Let's show some support!

Hun-Gurr

Twinstrike

Maketoys MCB-001 Armageddon Add On Kit - Pictorial Review

First of all, for a brief history of the character, please go to the link below:-

Planet X Genesis Pictorial Review

This review is a courtesy of X2OToys, thank you! Moving on..

Back in 2013, Hasbro released Platinum Edition Year of the Snake (YOS) Omega Supreme, a redeco/retool of Energon Omega Supreme based on War For Cybertron version of Omega Supreme. Despite having a new head and a massive, articulated claw arm, he is still seen far away from being the 'perfect' Omega Supreme by the fans.

Enter Maketoys! In the same year, Maketoys announces their new project, MCB-001 Armageddon Add On Kit to enhance the look of YOS Omega Supreme.

 

Maketoys Manga Mech Series Trash-Talk & Cogwheel - Pictorial Review

Here's another review made possible by our sponsor,  X2OToys , Maketoys [Manga Mech Series] Trash-Talk (Not Swerve) and Cogwheel (Not-Gears).

http://x2otoys.com/

Pic Credit : TFWiki

Swerve is one of those characters that was made popular again after quite sometime. Made his debut in Transformers G1 cartoon series and had almost limited screen times with few notable appearance in G1's Five Faces of Darkness and Forever Is A Long Time Coming. Aside from those, Swerve hardly ever appear again. However, in IDW G1 continuity, Swerve is one of the frequent casts, appearing in a lot of the episodes. 

Pic Credit : TFWiki

Gears on the other had, was a familiar face in Generation 1 cartoon series. Although he's one of the original crew of the Ark, Gears was involved in seldom involved in the battle due to his non-combatant nature (or maybe he just doesn't really care much about earth in general).

Gears was also featured in other continuities such as Dreamwave Generations 1, G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers and most recently, IDW Generation 1 where he joined Rodimus as the crew of the Lost Light, on a mission to find the Knights of Cybertron.

A new milestone

I've been collecting 'full time' for just about 5-6 years now and have lost count on how many time I've been asked about my rule of collecting. Well, I've had quite a few actually

1 - Once I only collect Hasbro version of CHURG molds.
2 - Bend that rule when I started collecting any Takara version of CHURG molds that were repainted into a new character, like Henkei Strafe from Cyclonus mold
3 - Bend the rule again when I made exception due to 3rd Pary releases. For example, I went for both Henkei and Classics Optimus Prime due to the release of FP DIA Commander, bought both Henkei and RTS Bumblebee to be used with Not-Bumper and Not-Hubcap MGS add on.
4 - Also bend the rule when I went for a repetitive release of the same character when the repaints are good like e-Hobby Decepticon Set where I've already had all the 3 mold (Hasbro version)
5 - Went ahead and start collecting Botcon and TFCC figures if they are using CHURG molds
6 - Due to the fact that with all of this 'exception', I ended up having at least 70%-90% of the variants for each mold, leaving behind only Henkei/United version of the molds
7 - Ended up deciding to collect every single variants ever (officially) release of CHURG molds

Quite happy thinking that I've almost completed pre-2014 releases of CHURG mold


Bumblebee w/ Wave Crusher (Classics )
Cliffjumper (Classic)  
Bumblebee (Henkei)  
Bugbite (Botcon 2007's Game Of Deception)  
Bumblebee (Reveal The Shield)  
Bumblebee (Legacy Of Bumblebee)  
Bumblebee (United)

Inferno    (Classics)
Spark/Pyro (Botcon 2010 G2 Redux)   
Solar Storm Grapple (Reveal The Shield)   
Artfire (Million Publishing Exclusive)   
Hotspot    Inferno (Henkei)   
Solar Storm Grapple (United)

Jetfire    (Classics)   
Dreadwind (Botcon 2007's Games Of Deception)   
Dark Skyfire (Henkei eHobby Exclusive)   
Treadbolt (Universe)   
Skyfire (Henkei)   
Jetfire (United)

Onslaught (Universe)
Hardhead (Universe Walmart Exclusive)   
Clench (Botcon 2012 G2 Redux)   
Onslaught (Henkei US)

Rodimus    (Classics)   
Rodimus (3-packs/2pack)   
Shattered Glass Rodimus (Botcon 2008)   
Wildrider (Henkei)   
Sideburn (TFCC 2010)   
Rodimus (Henkei)   
Rodimus (United)

Silverbolt (Universe)   
Darkwing (Universe)   
Skyfall (Universe Wallmart Exclusive)   
Silverbolt (Henkei US)           

Sunstreaker (Universe)   
Sideswipe (Universe)   
Red Alert (Generations)   
Punch Counterpunch (TFCC 2010)   
G2 Breakdown (Botcon 2011 G2 Redux)   
Breakdown (TFCC 2013)   
Sunstreaker (Henkei)   
Lambor (Henkei)   
Red Alert (Henkei)

Darkmount (Generations)
Skullgrin (Generations)   
SG Straxus (Botcon 2012)   
Darkmount (United)

Dirge (Generations)   
Dirge (United)   
Dirge (Henkei)   

Jazz (Generations)   
Stepper (Million Publishing Exclusive)   
Kick-Out/Kick-Off (Botcon 2012)   
Wheelie    (Generations)
Shattered Glass Treadshot (Botcon 2012)   
G2 Jazz(Ultimate Giftset)   
Jazz (United)

Thunderwing (Generations)   
Skyshadow (Generation)   
Metalhawk (Botcon 2012)   
Thunderwing (United)

Windcharger (Generations)
Windcharger (United)   
Wipe-out (United)               

Wreck-Gar (Generations)
Junkheap (Generation)   
Scrapheap (eHobby Set)   
SG Wreck-Gar (Botcon)   
SG Junkheap (Botcon 2012)   
SG Scrapheap (Botcon)   
Wreck-Gar (United)

* in no particular order of releases
**  name might not be accurate
*** first name (underlined and bolded) are also part of the releases

Still, have a lot of backdated figures on my list right now

Classics       
Megatron (Deluxe)       
Megatron (Deluxe Special Edition)       
Optimus Prime (Deluxe)       
Optimus Prime (Deluxe Special Edition)       
       
Universe 2.0       
Cyclonus (2 Pack)/(3 Pack)       
Powerglide (Universe Walmart Exclusive)       
       
Henkei       
Dinobot (Henkei)       
Cheetor (Henkei)       
Hound (Henkei)       
Smokescreen (Henkei)       
Octane (Henkei)       
       
United       
Megatron (United)       
Perceptor (United)       
       
Generations 3.0       
Crosscut       
Scoop       
Minicon Assault Team       
Armada Starscream       
Rattrap       
BM Tankor       
Crosscut       
       
Exclusives       
Shattered Glass Grimlock (Botcon 2008)       
Scorch (Botcon 2010 G2 Redux)       
Shattered Glass Soundwave (Botcon 2012)       
Dirge (Botcon 2007)       
Shattered Glass Thundercracker (Botcon 2011 G2 Redux)       
Shattered Glass Drift (TFCC 2012 Exclusive)       
Electron (Botcon 2013)       
Thrust (Botcon 2007)       
Shattered Glass Tracks (Botcon 2012)       
Strika (Botcon 2013)       
SG G2 Optimus Prime (Botcon 2012)       
SG Ultra Magnus (Botcon 2012)       
Scourge (TFCC 2013)       
Metroplex (SDCC)       
Ferak (Botcon 2014)       
Devcon (Botcon 2014)       
Astrotrain (Asia Exclusive)       
Galvatron (Asia Exclusive)       
Octane (Asia Exclusive)
Ironhide (Asia Exclusive)       
Hound (Asia Exclusive)       
Mirage (Asia Exclusive)       
       
Takara Generations       
Skids (Takara)       
Rhinox (Takara)       
Waspinator (Takara)       
Hoist (Takara)       
Trailcutter (Takara)       
IDW Orion Pax (Takara)       
IDW Megatron (Takara)       
IDW Bumblebee (Takara)       
Springer (Takara)       
Blitzwing (Takara)       
Sandstorm (Takara)       
Minicon Assault Team (Takara)       
Armada Starscream (Takara)       
       
Transformers Cloud       
Starscream (Takara Cloud)       
Convoy (Takara Cloud)       


*few of the figures haven't been released yet
*some figures are speculation as there's no official news from Takara yet

Basically, still along way to go for pre-2014 figures. But now, my main priority is the 2007 Games Of Deception Box set!

Perfect Effect PE-DX03 Warden - Pictorial Review

March 2014 has been a killer month for me. Bought around 10 Henkei/United figures to complete my mold collection, few 3rd Party figures, and continuing my quest to complete Botcon 2007 Boxset, Bugbite, and Thundercracker. Now, only Dirge and Thrust to go!

On top of all that, an unexpected figure arrived at a local shop here where I almost cried due to the timing, LOL. Thus, I manage to burn a bigger hole in my wallet with Perfect Effect's PE-DX03 Warden, a homage to IDW Fortress Maximus.

Pic Credit : TFWiki

Fortress Maximus is no stranger in the Transformers universe. After his debut in G1's The Rebirth, Fortress Maximus became a regular in the franchise as himself, an iteration of himself or as characters having the same design as he does (Grand Maximus, Brave Maximus).

Fortress Maximus has a lot of backstories, depending on which continuity you're referring to. But for this review, I'll be taking IDW G1 continuity as my reference as Warden clearly homages that design.

Came to existence during the hard period of war, Fortress Maximus was portrayed differently in this continuity, well-known for his mass-killing of Decepticons, as opposed to a weary Autobots with pacifist nature that had seen too many battle.

Running a tight ship, Fortress Maximus is the warden (hence the name) that's in charge of Garrus-9, a penitentiary for both Autobots and Decepticons. And that itself make him a target by a lot of the inmates and the worst happened when the Decepticon forces lead by Overlord run down the prison and Fortress Maximus was almost rip to shred first by Overlord and then the angry prisoners. And it didn't end there, until Fortress Maximus was rescued by the Wreckers.

Pic Credit : TFWiki

Unlike in G1 cartoon where Fortress Maximus is a big robot in which Spike Witwicky form the head of Cerebros who in turn, becomes Fortress Maximus's head, IDW Fortress Maximus is a normal size robot that might just tower few others. This actually (if I'm not mistaken) roughly follows Marvel Comics G1 continuity where Fortress Maximus is a normal size robot (roughly the same as his other Headmasters group).

However, Fortress Maximus underwent a big reconstruction process to alter his size, making him twice the size of an average Transformers. With this increase in size, Fortress Maximus needed a new head to bridge the gap between his and Galen's (his Headmaster before Spike) size. And this is where Cerebros comes into the picture.

Pic Credit : TFWiki

Unique Toys G-02 Sharkies - Pictorial Review

One of the things that I love about 3rd party releases is that most of them are random! Yes, there's a pattern where they focus more on releasing combiners (not to mention, the Headmasters and the Wreckers) but aside from that, fans mostly are surprised with their offering. And the fact that they are producing some obscure characters for the fans is most welcomed. Wonder how long would it take for Hasbro to release a PROPER Reflector?

After the release of the first 4 figures from their War Lord Beasticons set, Unique Toys, the successor of CHMS, decided to take a detour and release an obscure character (which previously was teased by iGear) from the famous 1986's Transformers The Movie, the Sharticons, dubbed UT-G02 Sharkies.

Pic Credit : TFWiki

Made their debut in 1986, Sharkticons are a group of shark-like (well, land-cyber-shark, if you will) soldiers for the Quintessons. Although, despite their name, I myself see more piranha in them rather than sharks. From the picture above, your first impression might not be too far off. The Sharkticons are basically fierce killing machine with almost zero intelligence. And they are big and round. In short, aside from their numbers and also giant razor-sharp teeth paired with those empty eyes, they are just walking potatoes.

The Sharkticons served as the executors for the Quintessons, killing any being sentenced by their masters. However, when it's Kup and Hot Rod's turn, the Sharkticons failed their mission. Making things worst, the Dinobots came to the duo's rescue and by Grimlock's order, turned against their master simply due to their nature of obeying the strongest one.

Pic Credit : TFWiki

Despite the name, Sharkticons were released under the Gnaw which kind of confused me. I can understand that maybe Hasbro wanted a character name for the toys instead of using 'Sharkticons' in general but I can't seem to find any reference to the name Gnaw until Dreamwave's 2003 Cold War comics, giving back story to Gnaw as one of the Sharkticons, who became attached to a young Autobots, Wheelie.

Pic Credit : TFWiki