Hasbro Transformers designer Mark Maher has once again taken to his Instagram this Sunday morning to post a behind the scenes look at the new Legacy Evolution Deluxe Axlegrease figure!
The anti-junkion, Legacy Evolution Deluxe lady AxleGrease is ready to beat up any bot that dares to step to her. Tread lightly Autobots, this fierce Decepticon is not one to tangle with.
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Firstly, big shout out to the legend Ejima san at Takara Tomy, the wizardry and talent at TT is unmatched. Also, huge shout out to the main man @marcelomatere who worked on all the concept art for these junkion Evo-Fusion characters. I won’t show the Autobot version he drew of this as you never know if it will pop up later on.
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Legacy has been really hitting its stride and I felt the more curveballs I throw yall, the better. I did always appreciate the shattered glass colorway on the junkions for a Decepticon look, but once I had the inverted color idea and saw it on the computer screen, I just fell in love with it. Then I thought, why not a female, checked the archives and realized Nancy was the only named girl in the lore. So I started drawing with the inspiration head crest detail in mind and SHABLAMO! 😍 the team fell in love!
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I usually use random names that pop up in my head as I talk about the item to the greater team. It seems like I’m a hit or miss, but with Crashbar and now Axlegrease, I’m two fa two!
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Had an absolute blast with this photoshoot, so many capabilities here, to many to count and describe. I just think after she defeats bots, she uses them for alternate limbs and enhancements.
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“You check in, but you don’t check out”
Starscream1997
Never got the original mold and this one just looks so damn nice! It's a Decepticon, it's colors pop so hard, the head-sculpt is great and it's a car which is rare for Cons.
Scaleface
So… according to designer notes, the new Junkion Axlegrease has a Shattered Glass inspired color scheme and a head sculpt based on the Junkion Nancy…
So can we use her as Shattered Glass Nancy?
TFXProtector
It's amazing what retooling will do for a mold. Like, you can see Scraphook in there, but it's definitely a new character, you can absolutely tell that Axlegrease is her own thing. Impressive work, Has/Tak, impressive indeed.
Heck, they even changed her vehicle mode from his tow truck to her SUV. I mean, c'mon…that's pretty good. And I don't feel cheated by purchasing her, either. I feel like I'll be getting my money's worth when she finally releases.
Novaburnhilde
Girl, why you so greasy?
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Ilovetransformers22
Mercurius
She is really starting to grow on me. I have all the other Junkions, and am starting to get tempted by her, even though she won\'t fit in with the rest of them on the shelf. I wonder if she\'ll be part of the anticipated combiner mode…
Optimus1138
Yeah, even if they can remold the shoulders they'll still be more Cyberverse than Animated with how the mold transforms. Just please let them remold the windshield…
SaberZ
We also got Shadowstriker coming this year in wave 4 which will hopefully be cool
Cyberverse Lockdown would be interesting even if I personally prefer a head more inspired by Animated. Right now I think that what we're getting is likely going to be an amalgamation design. Mostly a hybrid between Animated & AOE since a lot of people have pointed out that the faux chest could be a homage to the movie design.
Dinobot Nuva
Could deffo see this as a good Cyberverse Lockdown since they seem to be moving into that continuity next year + Cyberverse Lockdown never got a figure.
Mostly comes down to proportions seeming like they'd fit better than with Animated's lankier build.
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SaberZ
The way Mark responded is very interesting. I was a bit iffy on this being Lockdown at first, but I agree as "G1" Lockdown its not as bad. I definitely think that this is going to be Axer as well at some point. As for remolding, unfortunately knowing them they're probably just going to put a new head on it and call it a day. But I think if they colored it right, it could work really well:
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Optimus1138
The windshield is definitely the worst part. I think honestly if only one section of him can be retooled other than the head, I'd choose the windshield even over the rear fenders. With the modularity of the figures, there will probably be upgrade kits for things like the forearms and maybe even rear fenders if what the official figure has isn't sufficient, but the windshield is so central to the figure I don't think that'd be possible. And even if there aren't any good upgrade kits for those parts, the car mode will look way better with the stock fenders and clean, clear windows than with the stock windows and sleeker fenders.
Scourgemaster69
The car mode is fine for me, it's just that windshield which I hate. Also the back part.
Optimus1138
Normally having the faux chest (especially when the real front end forms his feet) would bother me but it looks abstract and stylized enough that I think if it's painted different colors from his actual front end it'd look fine, and yeah, the AOE reference would be neat too. I wouldn't mind a new chest but fixing the car mode is way more important IMO.
Scourgemaster69
The only reason why I'd want a new chest was because of the faux chest. But they could do an AOE Lockdown reference with it too.
And you're right, Autobot/Mercenary version of Axlegrease is probably the accessory pack. Lockdown might be in that one Amazon capsule subline (which has Miner Megatron and Soundwave in it).
Optimus1138
That was me lol.
I'd actually want him to keep the current chest, it'd look great in his colors, and put all the retooling budget into the arms and as much of the rear 2/3 of the car mode as they can afford to do (and obviously the head). I really hope he's not the accessory pack, the figures in those don't tend to get much retooling and he'll be so hard to get if they make a popular character like him a Pulse exclusive. I think it'd make a lot more sense to release the Autobot version of this mold in the accessory pack and Lockdown in one of the retailer capsule collections or maybe even in the mainline next year.
Scourgemaster69
Axlegrease looks very nice!! I hope they do release the Autobot version, since Mark hinted that an Autobot version was done as a concept and possibly will be released later on down the line.
Robot mode is rather cool, reminds me a bit of Lockdown when I look at the hook accessory too. Love that headsculpt. Accessories are cool too.
The car mode is nice but it's too "chibi" honestly. It appears to be based off a classic Mustang and a classic RS Camaro with modifications obviously.
Probably the Autobot/mercenary Junkion version of her will be released at some point later this year.
As for retools I could see Axer (the Action Master) and Circuit being done out of this mold.
Interestingly, someone on Instagram asked Mark if Lockdown could be made from Axelgrease, Mark replied with a "zipped mouth" emoji.
I wouldn't mind Axlegrease being retooled into Lockdown, just give Lockdown use of this mold a new chest, head and shoulders then I'd be fine. And maybe retool the guns so they can actually clip over the hand with the hook attached, Lockdown-style. Axlegrease already has the basic legs transformation for Lockdown as well as the gun which is kinda like the EMP generator he uses.
Lockdown is probably this year's accessory pack. I don't think it's TFA Lockdown it's probably gonna be "G1" Lockdown.
Optimus1138
We definitely don't for sure, but Mark's reactions to all the comments about Lockdown on this post make me think he's probably planned somehow, whether it's a repaint/remold of Axelgrease, of the Voyager Junkion, or his own mold.
Greeman
It just occurred to me. We don't actually 'know' a lockdown is coming, right? Like there's no actual listing for him so far.
Could be axlegrease is just gonna be axlegrease and other random retools?
Optimus1138
An ideal one wouldn't, it would have a similar front end/feet and a hook weapon but the proportions would be very different in both modes. The car mode would be sleeker and would look like an actual muscle car rather than having the proportions of a truck, and the robot mode would be lankier without such tall shoulders or (hopefully) such a large backpack. But unfortunately you're probably not wrong about how likely it is, at this point.
Same, she's the only Junkion whose colors I actually like lol.
Veridioz
I hope to god they make a rum-maj before this whole junkion craze ends.