Autbobase Aichi has posted several images of the upcoming Robots Disguise Minicons. All the Minicons come with energon armor and weapons that can be added onto the characters for increased play value, and they all have extra part to make an engeron shark and lion. Check out the article for a small gallery of the mincons, and share your thoughts in the discussion.
einhazard
They didn't have either of the deployers, just the minicons, but if he's like the other ones, then yeah, they probably don't move. Slipstream is the other 'Drift' one (why is Slipstream a male autobot? No matter), and his transformation is probably the simplest (out of a group of 1-step transformers, so that's not saying much). Really no posability to speak of in these little guys. I think they're more fun because of the armor, though, and they'll probably replace the small rescue bots dinos on me desk at work as the figures I just transform back and forth with one hand while I work.
The deployers have been spotted around the Twin Cities, so hopefully I'll find them tomorrow and can report more.
*UPDATE*
Found both deployers. Obviously posability isn't great, but the transformations are surprisingly fun! Drift's more Cybertronian than his Warrior version, and both hide their bot parts a lot better than I thought they would in alt mode.
The Launcher gimmick… is not great. I mean, when it does work, it works wonderfully, but it's VERY hard to activate. I'm thinking this will probably break in a bit more overtime, and that it's really stiff because they didn't want the launcher parts flopping all over, but I could easily see a kid breaking/getting frustrated with them. Hopefully, they don't stay this stiff.
*edit* Actually, I just figured it out- you have to slightly spread the legs on both Deloyers so that a little catch unlocks, and then the launcher swings really easily. Problem is, it's not super-easy to do that AND fire the launcher. Still… at least I know what to do now.
one other note – it looks like the minicons can still be shot from the launcher when they're wearing their energon armor, so no need to take stuff off! There's also a couple spots on the deployer figures that can equip some of the energon armor.
Overall, I dig these guys. They're fun!
Automorpher
Singapore has received the second wave of RID deployers/Mini-Cons. (Sighted last Sunday in a major departmental store)
We're talking about Sandsting, Ratbat, Beastbox & that velociraptor thing.
Shin Densetsu
Is it true that the arms on the Drift minicons don't even move up/down/forward?
einhazard
Found wave 1 of these guys for $5 each at Target in Minnesota. They're great! I didn't realize this, but their armor totally collapses into their alt bullet/disc modes and actually looks pretty rad. The bonus energon lion their armor forms is neat, but i wish it used up all the armor and not just a couple pieces from each character. That said, I feel like they're totally worth it.
Philip164
In the US they where suppose to be $5; How much were they, where you are?
RobotoChan
I bought all of these on a whim and have been playing with them for a couple of days now… They rock. Not sure they are worth the asking price but certainly cute.
HARD RAINBOW
You had me at 'energon shark'.
JukeOutlander
These are neat.
Slingshot
That Slipstream (or, Jetstream as I'll call him), and Airazor are bought on site. Those two are my favorite designs and characters of the Minicons in the show.
Raiju
Ha, the shark and lion bonus figures are neat!
Soundblaster411
These are definitely a insta buy when they come out in stores near me (if they ever do in my stores)
FanimusMaximus
I shouldn't want them as much as I do.
Cha Chi
Growing on me…
What i really want to see is decent size comparisons with Deluxes and Legions…
Nevermore
Sandsting – Transformers Toys – TFW2005
UltraPrimal
So the weapons and armor can combine to form an animal of some sort? Sounds like an even lamer version of BMOG.
KnightHawkke
Wasn't one of these supposed to be a scorpion?
Blitz.
I don't really have much interest in the toy line but I do like those little toys you can make with all the sprue parts.
jalrian
These look neat but I except them to cost at least $8.
Smasher
Cool fun little toys!
I wish the Deployers were better implemented, but the Minicons themselves look great.
Jacer
Robots in Disguise Mincons In Hand and Secret Energon Combiner – Transformer World 2005 – TFW2005.COM