Star Convoy is a fun design.
If you've never handled the original or the reissue, it's a treat.
If you've never handled the original or the reissue, it's a treat.
So I got Studio Series '86 Springer
Which I know isn't part of this line BUT getting him made re-arrange some of my Wreckers and I just gotta say... I know he's not strictly the Prime aesthetic... but Legacy Bulkhead is FUN.
And seeing as I never cared about the names on boxes (Shockblast, Solar Storm Grapple, Tankor instead of Octane, etc...) I can get over that his box says "Prime Universe" and just enjoy him as a G1 take on a character who was awesome in Animated and Prime.
Which I know isn't part of this line BUT getting him made re-arrange some of my Wreckers and I just gotta say... I know he's not strictly the Prime aesthetic... but Legacy Bulkhead is FUN.
And seeing as I never cared about the names on boxes (Shockblast, Solar Storm Grapple, Tankor instead of Octane, etc...) I can get over that his box says "Prime Universe" and just enjoy him as a G1 take on a character who was awesome in Animated and Prime.
I kinda dig it but I'm waiting for a character that looks better wearing it. So far for Bulkhead and Breakdown I prefer the originals. I'd try to repurpose the Breakdown (if only to justify the cost of the 2-pack; mainly getting it for Windsweeper and friends) but no ideas there.
The side by sides I've seen do show that this captures the sheer width and mass of that character. With better proportions for the lower body too. So that helps. (But, again, already fine with the current/existing Breakdown...)
Breakdown is better than Bulkhead but still far from ideal. the standard is set higher now but he’s like one of the less well-thought out Botcon exclusives.
Except his head isn’t tiny lol
Except his head isn’t tiny lol
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I sold my original TP Breakdown, but I'm still happy with my Unite Breakdown for the time being.
I've been saying that ever since I saw OP in RiD15.
I have the Star Convoy from a few years ago, and I love him. But I wouldn't say no to a better version.
One of my favorite Optimus molds is the Prime First Edition. That's another one that I would be curious how a modern update would be beneficial to the original.
One of my favorite Optimus molds is the Prime First Edition. That's another one that I would be curious how a modern update would be beneficial to the original.
I finally found a picture of the original Dinoking and shells, and while I knew his components were Micromaster sized and made for a very small combiner, I hadn't realized HOW small he was compared to his shells:
The thing is, this might throw a monkey-wrench in my idea of restoring Pretender functionality 'Pretender Beast' style with robot dinos inside cyborg dinos, as the shells are VERY large for what they hold. I imagine this could be improved, but why were they so comparatively big in the first place? Remaking them either 3rd party or 3-D print would either way probably cost more than I expected.
The thing is, this might throw a monkey-wrench in my idea of restoring Pretender functionality 'Pretender Beast' style with robot dinos inside cyborg dinos, as the shells are VERY large for what they hold. I imagine this could be improved, but why were they so comparatively big in the first place? Remaking them either 3rd party or 3-D print would either way probably cost more than I expected.
Likely because "dinosaur = BIG".
They don't look THAT much bigger than the Monster shells that Monstructor came with. By the time you make a cavity large enough for the inner figure, add a minimum wall thickness for the outer shell, then give that shell limbs, a head, etc, it's going to end up pretty big.
What an adorable tiny combiner. I want one so bad.
I have a couple parts of Monstructor, and while those shells are a bit more compact, they're still a lot bigger than the actual robot.
They almost look like Dino Riders, don't they?
That's part of why I want to get some matching shells if I can, I love how they looked and wanted a 'modern' version. I still want a Dinoking set if I can swing it anyway, but now I'm not sure if my idea can be pulled off in a cost-effective way.
I need to commit to buying Reprolabels for mine. The stickers on the reissue get this ugly tarnished look over time even MISB, and even for as small as it is, it'll bug me. Ideally the Reprolabels won't have that issue, but eesh, that pricetag.
So much goes into a Pretender shell. Almost to the point that holding the robot inside is the least of its worries (basically "have a big enough cavity"). It'll need to have enough heft/thickness in parts to stand well while carrying a folded-up chunk in it. It'll need to be interesting enough in looks that it helps sell the package. And the demands for plastic and paint for even a mostly-static figure like that are not insignificant.
I really hope some enterprising outfit out there can work on the Monstructor or Dinoking shells, because they look so damn cool. But like Platypus Prime, I'm also reminded here about how much that's likely going to run.
(I wonder if they could design/market the Dinoking shells as Dino-Riders designs or have those as built-in redecos to help defray the mold cost.)
I really hope some enterprising outfit out there can work on the Monstructor or Dinoking shells, because they look so damn cool. But like Platypus Prime, I'm also reminded here about how much that's likely going to run.
(I wonder if they could design/market the Dinoking shells as Dino-Riders designs or have those as built-in redecos to help defray the mold cost.)
I had at one time given some thought to painting up some Zuru Dino Strike figures as the Dino King shells:
They're no larger than the Core Class toys, so there's no way to use them as real shells, but they could be swapped in a display or whatever. Sadly, there's no sauropod, so the plesiosaur would have to do for Rairyu.
They're no larger than the Core Class toys, so there's no way to use them as real shells, but they could be swapped in a display or whatever. Sadly, there's no sauropod, so the plesiosaur would have to do for Rairyu.
That would honestly be awesome, to have the 'rider' both ride on or IN the Dinosaur (or maybe got eaten by his ride...)
Pretenders hide their cross-brand marketing potential inside?