It’s Unicron! Run! Via Gizmodo website we can share a new Haslab War For Cybertron Unicron Transformation Video for your viewing pleasure!
Takara Tomy designer Takashi Kunihiro, wearing an elegant tuxedo for the occasion, transforms Unicron gray prototype from planet to robot mode. A very clever and interesting transformation; and not as complicated as we could expect; inspired in what we saw in the classic Transformers Movie from 1986.
Not much left to say, check the video here and an extensive gallery of screencaps after the jump. then sound off your impressions on the 2005 Boards!
Update: You can also check the video via the Haslab Unicron Crowdfunding page and the official Transformers YouTube account.
RKillian
He's all over the place, that's for sure.
That's nuts. Years and years back, I think the consensus was that Cybertron was Mars-sized. I don't think it's even that big using The Ultimate Doom as a reference point (closer to Moon-sized than Earth-sized) but let's just go with it. TFTM has him standing on Cybertron swatting at the coneheads. He's smaller than Mars and Mars is way smaller than Jupiter.
FORT MAXie
Well when making the show I am sure they needed some reference for the scale and at the time we did not know about exo planets so limited options for reference.
vvvTheONEvvv
So the Q&A basically said Unicron is just one big gaseous space fart?
All making sense now.
FORT MAXie
Some convention Q and A they said Unicron is Jupiter-sized so I then reverse scaled it based of MP-10 and came to roughly about the size of the moon a hair larger thou i kinda figured if your making a moon sized Unicron you would mine and plate over the surface bumping him upto scale and also allowing mining to happen. It was lockdown i had spare time, don't judge.
octobotimus
The main sections that give me trouble are the quarter sections that hang from the top half of the planet. Getting the arms into position while those are flopping up top gives me trouble. Because if I don’t support them they’ll be clashing into the arms.
mx-01 archon
He's designed to go together in a pretty systematic way.
You don't really have to do any supporting of the planet quadrants, you can just let them dangle while dealing with the rest of him.
Ball up the robot bits, then wrap the entire middle segment around it. Chain each of the quadrant segments together one by one, and they easily "zip" into place by first lining them up at the back, and then gently pressing them into place, leading up to the clips around the maw.
His enormous heft aside, he's one of the most painless shellformers HasTak has ever designed. That main act of wrapping that first ring of planet crust around him gives you a really solid base to work with, with well-defined locking points that don't create any margin for error. And then they designed the zipper-like tabs for the quadrants really well, with soft bevels to them that make them self-guiding. There's none of the usual need to carefully line up multiple parts at once, and precisely align tabs.
DPrime83
Would love to see some of your collection
ErikB
Usually, there are 10-20 test shots done and passed around to test quality, different plastics, paint samples, and more. The most I've heard of is that the Forms Robo test shots were produced in quantities of around 50-75 pieces; each one being made in sets of 20-25 in various colors. The ones I have are grey and green, but there was a third color as well I think?
I've had Aaron Archer confirm that the Tidal Wave testshot I had back in the day (wish i still had it) was in the 20 piece range.
UtahRobotInDisguise
Unicron can’t maintain scale one frame to the next… so he could be house sized, wall sized and haslab sized and all would be correct.
moon sized wouldn’t be mp scale.
octobotimus
The weight and floppyess of the planet shell is what causes it to take way longer for me. When another person is available I actually ask them to assist in holding them out of the way. I just can’t see it taking only 10 minutes unless stuff is violently clashing together
.
galvatran
How many Haslab Unicron & Victory Saber prototype/production samples are in existence?
Don't wanna end up like G2 Menasor clutterf**k eBay auction only to find out wait there's more!
mx-01 archon
I dunno. I find it routinely takes me, like, half the time others claim for pretty much everything.
I don't find anything particularly complex with Unicron. The challenge is simply in how much strain he puts on your wrists, manipulating those heavy-duty ratchets.
vvvTheONEvvv
Sounds like you should just go to hobby lobby or Ross and buy the children's moon night-light, mod it (add some rings, paint it, hang it) and call it a day?
FORT MAXie
MP scaled one the size of the moon, hey a man can dream right.
UtahRobotInDisguise
Exactly! Kinda confused what else one would want? 200lb die cast robot with 30,000 panel forming pieces? Personally I think Hasbro did great. I have Cell and Hasbro, and anyone who visits and sees my collection is in wonder of Hasbro Unicron. No one blinks at Cell.
that being said, if BMB made a oversized Hasbro Unicron that reengineered the kibble to fold up better, I’d definitely consider adding it to my collection… but that’s just my gluttony showing. As is, Hasbro made a phenomenally good size-to-price ratio figure that is just damn fun. Period.
ScorponokIsHere
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UtahRobotInDisguise
I’ve been asking that for YEARS! Remember the 3D wall art fad with superheroes punching through walls? I’ve wanted something similar but 3D dioramas. Unicron, the Ark in the mountain, Grayskull, turtle lair, technodrone, USS Flagg, etc.
octobotimus
10 minutes? Took me well over half an hour last time I did it. How tf are you doing this thing in 10?