Tony_Bacala, Author at Transformer World 2005

ThreeZero Bumblebee Movie Premium Scale Bumblebee Gallery and Review

Posted on May 29, 2020 at 3:06 pm by Tony_Bacala under Transformers Movie Toys & Products, Transformers Toy Gallery Updates

ThreeZero is back with another Premium Scale release! This go round is for Bumblebee from the Bumblebee Movie in all his Volkswagen Beetle glory. Their smaller scale DLX figure was a hit last year, striking the perfect balance of movie accuracy and price. The Premium Scale continues in their original larger format series. He stands 14 inches tall, features light up eyes, headlights and gun, has multiple accessories, alternate heads and more. Paint and detailing are top notch, it looks like weathered metal even at the closest distances.

ThreeZero was kind enough to send through an early copy to review. We’ve run him for 110+ shots, which you can see in full here. You can also read on after the break to see some key shots and additional thoughts.

Premium Scale Bumblebee is due to ship in June 2020, a tad delayed due to the Coronavirus issues. Read on to check him out a bit early!

ICYMI: Check out all our 3A / ThreeZero Transformers Galleries here (Premium and Deluxe scales)

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Transformers vs. World War Z – VOTE!

Posted on May 29, 2020 at 2:58 pm by Tony_Bacala under Transformers Movie (Just Movie)

Paramount is hosting a set of Twitter polls to see which classic movie they should re-release into theaters. Right now, Transformers 2007 is going heads up with World War Z. Represent the brand and show these zombie lovers what’s up!

TFNation to Include Buzz Dixon and Mae Catt in Their Online Con

Posted on May 29, 2020 at 2:40 pm by Tony_Bacala under Conventions

TFNation posted up that 2 more guests are coming to their online convention The Big Broadcast of 2020. “Attending” are Buzz Dixon – G1 cartoon writer, and Mae Catt – Cyberverse cartoon writer. The Big Broadcast will take place on August 14th and 15th, online.

Transformers Trading Card Game Titan Masters Attack Details

Posted on May 29, 2020 at 2:31 pm by Tony_Bacala under Transformers Trading Card Game

Hasbro sent through new details and pics for the latest Transformers Trading Card Game release – TITAN MASTERS ATTACK! Read on to check out all the details and pics!

Today, MAGIC: THE GATHERING and TRANSFORMERS released the highly anticipated booster set – TITAN MASTERS ATTACK – for the popular TRANSFORMERS Trading Card Game (TCG). The new booster set contains 46 Character cards (43 of these characters never-before-seen in Transformers TCG), 94 non-Character cards, and 3 Titan-pack Character cards (one Titan pack in each sealed display).

Key product features include:

· Titan Master Characters: These character cards have two parts – a body and a head. Head characters give bonuses to the body, and when the body is KOed, the head deploys as a separate bot mode character. Mix and match heads and bodies to customize Titan Masters to fit your playstyle. Titan Master characters draw inspiration from Transformers toys released both in Titans Return and Generation 1.
· The Wreckers: The fan-favorite Autobot special-forces team make their debut in Titan Masters Attack. Led by Sergeant Kup, the Wreckers get the toughest jobs done, no matter what the cost.
· Stratagem cards: This completely new card type lets players further customize characters on their team. Most Stratagem are keyed to a specific character card, cost stars, and modifies a character in an interesting (and sometimes unusual!) way. Stratagems in Titan Masters Attack can modify characters from this booster release or from previous releases.
· Fortress Maximus: Every sealed Titan Masters Attack booster display includes a Fortress Maximus Titan pack. This pack contains the titan-sized Fortress Maximus character, his head character Cerebros, and Cerebros’ head character, Emissary.

New G1 Themed Art from Mark Watts – Original G1 Box Artist

Posted on May 24, 2020 at 6:39 pm by Tony_Bacala under Generation 1

Mark Watts is an artist known for many of the original pieces of artwork seen on Transformers Generation 1 toy boxes. He is still active producing artwork of all kinds, working his TableArt Transforming Tables system, and doing commissions. He recently shared a new commission piece with us and since it had a really strong G1 vibe going, we decided to share it along to everyone else. The piece features G1 Devastator fighting his nemesis Omega Supreme – hovering out in space with tons of 80s vibes and laser blasts like you’d see on some original G1 box backs.

The even cooler thing about the piece is it was done using the same methods as the original – hand painted with acrylic and airbrush. So it really is dead on to the original art from our favorite toy line. You can see pics of each step to his process creating this after the break.

After that, head on over to Mark Watts website for some signed prints, to inquire about your own commission, or just check out his catalog of work! – www.markwattsstudios.com

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MP-38+ Burning Convoy Gallery Online

Posted on May 20, 2020 at 3:28 pm by Tony_Bacala under Beast Wars, Transformers Masterpiece, Transformers Toy Gallery Updates

It’s getting hot up in here! Our gallery for the recent release of MP-38+ Burning Convoy is now online! This is a repaint of MP-38 Optimus Primal, done up in clear red plastic with a fully painted head and gold highlights. The color scheme may look odd but it’s a straight reference to exclusive versions of the original toy in Japan, which was done to celebrate Primal’s appearance in the Beast Wars II animated movie from 1998.

Overall the toy is the same as the original. Plastic feels a tad different than original releases, and tolerances are a bit loose. Clear plastic always feels and handles different and this is the same. It is a sharp piece in hand, strikingly weird and glorious at the same time. Beast mode is pretty straight forward, but the robot mode really gets nuts with a non-red fully painted primal head, featuring his trademark battlemask cut out for his lips, which are now blingy gold. That matched other highlights on his hands and feet. There are also some painted red/pinkish areas to break up the all clear plastic.

Fans of the original Burning Convoy will dig this, it has the same vibe. Anyone looking to add some unique flavor to a shelf will welcome him with open arms.

He’s in stock now and shipping from TFSource!

Masterpiece Pre-Orders: Blackarachnia, Optimus Primal, BW Megatron, Dinobot, Cheetor, Shadow Panther, Optimus Primal (Toy Colors), Burning Convoy, Lio Convoy

Read on to check out some quick shots, or hit the full gallery for all 50+ by clicking below.

Optimus Primal (Burning Convoy)

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BotBots Series 5 Goldrush Games Promotional Box Gallery!

Posted on April 28, 2020 at 11:07 am by Tony_Bacala under Transformers Botbots

BotBots are back for another round of promotional box goodies! Hasbro has been sending out great marketing sets to get the word out on the newest little Robots in Disguise. This is to hype up Series 5’s Goldrush Games. This batch includes a mix of repaints and newbies from all types of themes. The connecting tissue are rare golden BotBots found in the blind capsules across the different size packages.

Included in here are series 4’s Surprise Unboxing Gumball and Claw Machines which feature BotBots inside capsules that come out of the box one at a time. In addition, series 5 8 Packs for the Hibotchi Heat and Frequent Flyers crews and 5 packs for the Cardio Clique, Los Deliciosos, and Party Favors squads. All feature the possibility for golden figures to appear in the blind spots but are not guaranteed.

We’ve taken some shots of the promo box, the sets, and some close ups of key bots we thought were cool. These are in stores now, check online at Amazon and our sponsors below. Thanks to Hasbro for sending this through to check out!

ICYMI – check our Series 1, Series 2, and Series 3 promotional box posts too!

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Earthrise Optimus Prime, Deluxe Wave 1 & Siege Catch Up Photo Galleries Online

Posted on April 24, 2020 at 4:19 pm by Tony_Bacala under Generations / Classics, Transformers Toy Gallery Updates

Today we have a big update for our gallery selection – 7 figures get dropped all in one shot! We have the next rounds of Transformers War for Cybertron Earthrise figures – Leader Class Optimus Prime along with Deluxe Cliffjumper, Hoist and Wheeljack. In addition to those, we also have some Siege stragglers which we are just now getting up – Apeface and the Ratbat / Rumble 2 pack (shout to Bulkhead!).

Earthrise continues to impress – the Prime is a work of art and is pretty much a baby Masterpiece. Looks faithful and good in both modes with minimal gaps and kibble. A little more paint or high quality finish would be nice but for 1/10th the price of MP44 you can’t complain. Wheeljack also has some MP engineering inspiration and along with Cliffjumper, Grapple and Hoist, it is a VERY OG G1 looking bunch.

Apeface falls outside my normal focus of Season 1 and 2 cartoon characters. But I had him as a kid and couldn’t resist going nostalgic for a bit. He gets the job done but I still dig the OG jet mode a bit more. Ratbat and ~~Frenzy~~ Rumble are required pick ups for Communications fans of either faction. It took me a bit to track them down but they are here hanging with Soundwave now.

All in all, Earthrise continues the Siege DNA of great toys and tight nostalgia while Siege still has some gems to hunt down if you haven’t yet.

Read on to check out all 7 figures below in our gallery system, 180 shots total. These come courtesy of TFSource – depending on what you are looking for they have some in stock. Grab your preorders for the next waves so you don’t miss out, some heat coming later this year (hopefully)!

WFC Earthrise Releases: Earthrise Pre-Orders, Optimus Prime, Cliffjumper, Hoist, Wheeljack, Trailbreaker, Sunstreaker, Sky Lynx, Scorponok