Target backing out due to poor sales is the stated reason according to leakers FYI.
Bingo!
Original Plans for Individual Releases of Hatchet and Earth Mode Hound were Cancelled
There's been a lot of grief over Earth Mode Hound appearing in a multipack rather than an individual release but it turns out that he was originally cancelled. Similarly to when Walmart chose to back out on wanting toy deco voysger Hot Rod in their Veloci
www.seibertron.com
That would explain Origins Wheeljack's non-Buzzworthy package, despite how Jazz and BB were done. I do hope to hear how he will be put out soon, I'd like to preorder that one, even though it might be the only Transformer for the next year given some finance issues. It would still be awesome to have the three of them together.
I've seen some places still have it for around retail. I got it late and still managed to get it for around $45
I've been thinking along these lines but trying to manage expectations as well by figuring there'll be a theme for the set. My guess is it'll be these characters rather than new-character redecos in a unified deco theme; could be all-animation deco (like the other 86 movie releases in Buzzworthy) or toy deco (like the Beast Wars releases in Buzzworthy). If we have to go down that road, my wish is for a hybrid where it's toy based decos with opaque plastic.
But if they do this as, say, a Legacy themed crossover battle set?
Earth mode Hound is a lock since he's why this set exists.
Jazz: RICOCHET. From the SS86 mold. Full stop. I may also accept a Kick-Off, but I've been waiting for a Ricochet from this mold forever.
Wheeljack: I'm really taken with the idea of a toy deco WJ, especially since I associate his other related color schemes (Cybertron Downshift, Alternators) with an entirely different altmode and body shape. (Of those, though, I'd like the Alternators one.) So idk here. A G1 Downshift would make a bit of sense, but would be kind of bland since it's basically unpainted Wheeljack.
[instead of Wheeljack I wish they'd use the Kingdom/G1 Sideswipe mold. We haven't gotten that outside that 2-pack release and a redeco as Clampdown. G2 Sideswipe out of that, yes please. Manages to update the mold and give another shot at the deco, which was in another exclusive multipack.]
Sunstreaker: I'm open to the possibility of better color matching with opaque plastic, but if redecos as other characters are available, then give me Alternators Dead End. Unlike Alternators WJ, this is less altmode-tied and more color scheme driven to me, idk.
I did also see a nice custom SG Goldbug using this body in mostly black with yellow piping. It would be a nice G2 Sunstreaker look, especially standing beside G2 Sideswipe, who also goes mostly black with his old main color as accent. Might even use it AS SG Goldbug pending a head swap.
Trailbreaker as Riggorus is a solid choice as I still want them to finish out the Diaclone etc colors for these molds. That would just leave Reboost and one or two others, no?
Yes, one or two... Dozen, lol. All would be welcome. (I must be Hasbro, because I keep forgetting about red Mirage.)
Come to think of it, I'd also love a yellow Tracks! Maybe they can also tweak the mold so the legs aren't so iffy.
Come to think of it, I'd also love a yellow Tracks! Maybe they can also tweak the mold so the legs aren't so iffy.
And here we have our first look at one of the five figures in the Autobot 5-pack: Trailbreaker in cartoon colors!
The Selects one is on the left, the original Earthrise version is on the right.
Note that the Japanese text incorrectly calls this a Buzzworthy Bumblebee toy instead of Selects.
The Selects one is on the left, the original Earthrise version is on the right.
Note that the Japanese text incorrectly calls this a Buzzworthy Bumblebee toy instead of Selects.
That actually looks pretty good. Doing a tire swap between the two may work out well.
I haven't gotten any version of the mold yet, but are his wheels that easy to remove?
I'll have to double check, but I'm pretty sure all four tires are clipped on, so it should be feasible to swap them.
The heads are the same on both, right?
The heads are the same on both, right?
Looks like a simple color change, yes.
Ok, yeah. There was something about the picture that was fooling my brain and making me think they were slightly different, and I figured that couldn't be right
I'd be more interested in a toy version. But this looks like it succeeds at what it wants to be, and I can't knock it for that.
I'll be trying to buy the set for Hound and Sunstreaker, and I have a place in my heart (and shelf) for Jazz, but I'll probably be selling off the Trailbreaker and Wheeljack as I've got the Earthrise version of both already.
The lighting in those pics is WAY blown out, too. There were a couple other pic at TFW in more natural lighting which shows Trailbreaker seems to have a charcoal color, closer to the animation model.
Wheels are cast in the same color, but if you have DK Breaker, you could swap the wheels. And the grey probably wouldn't be too off putting with Breaker's blue.