Fiah! Transformers Encore God Fire Convoy has officially landed, and this is a set I’ve been waiting for eagerly since they day it was announced. For those that may not know, I am a huge Car Robots fan, it was the first series that started fresh after I returned to collecting. Originally out in Japan during 2000 and the US in 2001 as Robots In Disguise, Car Robots was the return of Transformers to vehicle form after it’s Beast era run in the 90s. New versions of Optimus Prime and Ultra Magnus in their own self-contained story coupled up with new Autobots to battle a collection of Beasts and Decepticons (slightly different telling of story in Japan, but you get the point). While the show may not have been the best, the toys were aces and still hold their own even by today’s standards. The ones that exemplify that are these two – Optimus Prime and Ultra Magnus. They are large, complicated leader class toys that combined together. Optimus even had a armored up mode and mini base by himself in addition to the Omega Prime combination. 18 years on and nothing has really been attempted or matched it in complexity at this scale.
So today we are taking a look at Takara-Tomy’s Encore release. This is not an exact reissue, there are changes on both figures, mostly in color. We’ll go over that and some QC issues after the break, courtesy of TFSource!
Recent Masterpiece Releases: Encore God Fire Convoy, MP40 TM Hot Rod, Sunstreaker, MP15E/16E, MP12+ Anime Sideswipe, Megatron, Dinobot, Masterpiece Pre-Orders.
You can check over 200 images of the full set in our gallery system below! We will add this to RIDForever.info soon!
Transformers Encore God Fire Convoy Giftset
Overall Thoughts:
Ok, where to begin. First off, the box. It’s a remix of the TRU Japan giftset box (see here). Very similar with slight changes to highlight the updates. Very cool. I loved seeing that red, orange and yellow color scheme again.
My first impression getting these guys out of the packaging was that the plastic was significantly different from the originals. It’s a very hard plastic, feels brittle. I didn’t have any breakage issues, but it feels like that initially. This makes it a tad lighter than the originals as well. It’s not that big a deal visually, and I worked these guys pretty good for the photo shoot with no structural issues due to the plastic change, so it only makes a difference to in-hand feel. Which I didn’t like, but if it’s needed for cost reasons, so be it.
Colors. Both of these are richer, brighter than the originals. More saturation. This is most evident on Ultra Magnus, his blue is much deeper. And the whites – stark white. No bone, off-white to it. They really pop visually like this, and they are not overly rich. They are at the max level of saturation before it starts looking ridiculous. So kudos on that. I have almost every single variant ever made of these guys, so having a difference here without doing a full redeco was welcome.
The sword is different from the original release in the TRU Japan giftset. I liked that because I paid a mint to get that set, for the sword. However, after researching things for this photo shoot, I realized the colors for this sword actually match what it looked like in the show (see here from Ridforever). So technically this sword is toon accurate, which I really like. Now Brave max can have the TRU Japan sword and GFC can rock this one.
Chrome – less of it. Fire Convoy loses it on his chest. Magnus loses it on his front grill / GFC chest. But, we keep it on Super Fire Convoy’s ears, God Magnus’ Autobot symbol in the middle of the grill, and God Fire Convoy’s ears. This is a nice differentiation, and actually makes sense with them becoming highlights. That being said, I would have been content if they just only chromed the Autobot symbol on the GFC chest to make it a centerpiece.
Stability – I’ve read reports of people having issues with GFC standing properly. In my case, it was the same as he always was. A top heavy sunovab****. Nothing significantly different than any other version I have. In fact, after 18 years, this guy kept his poses way easier than the original that was on my shelf. That doesn’t say much though as he will tip over super easy if you don’t have him in a straight up stance. Leg joints could never hold the weight.
Molding issues – I had some. Fire Convoy’s feet seem to have some mold warping, or something. In robot mode, you can’t tell. His feet are on a ball joint so you can get him standing how you need to. In fire truck mode though, they are meant to swap around and be the roof of the cab. Those do not line up flat anymore. Never had anything like this on previous versions so either the mold changed, or they are assembled wrong (see here).
Sound effects – some are reporting swapped voice chips, with Fire Convoy having Magnus’ and vice versa. This will affect the gimmick, as different configurations and weapon modes trigger different sounds on each and while combined. My copies luckily were correct, and functioned properly. Supposedly there are new and more sounds, but I don’t have the original set up with batteries to compare. What I heard was sharp and cool, in Japanese. You don’t get the same oomph as you would if it was the US voice actors IMO, so that’s a moot point for me. Lights are same as before – eyes, fire truck lights, etc.
Overall – I dig it. I was super hyped, then bummed when they announced the recall and issues, but now I’m back to even footing with him. I’m definitely not looking to return him, and in fact, I am going to be swapping out my OG Car Robots version that has been sitting combined on my shelf for 18 years with this one. (My RID shelves have thinned in recent years, but they still take up 2 10 foot stretches 🙂 ) I really dig the sharper colors, whiter whites. And the toon accurate sword is a bonus. The lower quality plastic, warped underfoot, and voice issues (that I don’t have) won’t affect him standing in Omega Prime mode rocking that sword until 2036.
Bottom line – if you are super into Car Robots, and plan on having him primarily in single or combined robot modes after you mess with him, he is worth a pick up especially because of the sword. If you just want the molds sans sword for constant transforming or to have one single version of the figures – grabbing originals on secondary market will be cheaper.
Make sure to check out over 200 shots of the set in our gallery here!
For all Car Robots / Robots In Disguise goodness – check our mini-site for it – RIDForever.info!
Logos Minor
First and last post in the feedback thread have good write-ups of what to expect Encore Car Robots God Fire Convoy (RID Omega Prime)
iamtfc
Is there a list of the more well known defects for the reissue?
Lordsloth
Saw that later on in the thread from my post other people also had experiences with incorrectly assembled parts.
I contacted the shop where I purchased the item and they managed to get me a replacement part.
I don't know how they get replacement parts for a discontinued set. I'm not going to mention them by name because I'm not 100% sure of what happened. Maybe they cannibalized a returned one before sending it back to Takara, maybe they went through proper channels. I don't know but however small the chance I don't want to ruin anybodies relationships with a supplier. In any case, I hope they know I appreciate it. Really puts a silver lining on a rough experience.
I mention this in case others have similar issues. Contact your seller, all hope may not be lost.
DoubleClouder
Yeah pretty much. I bought two and the first one was messed up, which I exchanged for another, and I just don't feel like opening the new one, and there's no point in keeping two MISB.
franpincho
In other words, play Russian roulette with a fully loaded Magnum.
Flash1087
I finally got mine!! I know it's kind of a low bar but this has been a Holy Grail for me for a long time. Sadly I'm not really gonna have time to crack into it and enjoy it until after my band gets back from tour, so I won't know if I got a bum copy, but goddamn am I happy to finally own this thing after…17, 18 years? I'll probably keep these guys mostly in the box (because I've always loved how the Car Robots boxes looked) but I at least wanna combine them once and put them back.
I guess next I should try to find one of those black Lucky Draw Fire Convoys, huh?
DoubleClouder
Anyone want to trade a MISB Encore God Fire Convoy for a LG-EX Grand Maximus? Going to say upfront, trade is final, not responsible for QC issues since it's MISB
PoweredConvoy
Thanks!
No, since TakaraTomy was only offering refunds. I'm sending the defective one back to Amazon Japan for a refund. I ordered the replacement from The Chosen Prime.
InvincibleSoul
Finally received my copy of God fire convoy.
Luckily, my copy seems perfect, build wise. Prime can transform, no warped plastic, combination works fine, no double pieces.
I'm so glad I got a good one! I waited a looong time for these two! Was very young when the show aired and they never arrived to the local stores.
mcart
Good vibes coming your way sir! Hope you get a good one!
geekatron prime
Nothing but good ju ju for a good copy for you!!
franpincho
I'll buy this when they are heavily discounted at BBTS.
Black Convoy
Good vibes!
Flash1087
Okay, I just sold some stuff to get the money together and sprung for one on TFSource. Honest to god I'm mostly buying it to keep in the box, so if I do have any QC issues they're probably not going to get terribly in the way of my sheer joy of knowing I finally own this specific one, but everyone send me your good vibes or whatever you believe in either way. (Mostly I just need to make sure it gets to my house before I leave for tour. )
Black Convoy
Oh I see, anyway. it's good to know someone could get a replacement.
Gamerlingual
The bottom of his post says amazon Japan. So maybe not Takara Tomy with all due respect?
Black Convoy
So you got replecement parts from Takara Tomy?
mcart
Exactly, I think we've all said what we want and only the sands of time will reveal the future. As I said, I have no interest in arguing with anyone here it's pointless and I like you guys, we're all brothers and sisters collecting together!
I am so happy you kept your originals or I'd have been so pissed for you! Couldn't even imagine how you would have felt! Hope this is the end of your issues with this figure!
PoweredConvoy
Got my replacement in.
Here is my original:
View attachment 27977992
Here is my replacement:
View attachment 27977993
Luckily I held on to the original, so I can send the hands with two incorrect panels back to Amazon Japan and keep the two correct ones.
Automorpher
This, I can certainly agree with.
It was never about you, me or anyone else as it's very obvious that we all have our own perspectives on the piece(s).