Transforming Model Kits: Why not?

[KingSwoop]

One of my favorite transformers molds of all time is Classics Starscream. It's excellent in both robot and vehicle mode (Legacy Seekers have really cumbersome arms, a much more pronounced chest gap, and those terrible break-waiting-to-happen chest hooks... ugh...).

But what pushes this mold into epic territory is the absolute ease with which it's customizable. With minor disassembly and no painting, you can swap the core body with any set of wings from the retools, and the only limits you have are the number of colors the pieces have been modeled in. And if you're willing to paint and/or 3d print, the sky's the limit.

Furthermore, the Seeker archetype is ripe for troop building, so if you really wanted a White Dirge or a Black Ramjet or a Thrust with Skywarp's wings... you can slap any two nouns together to get a new character for your Seeker armada. MagmaJets, CoolWings, LaserScream... the sky's the limit!

Hasbro's licensed out the Transformers IP to assorted model companies, but apparently one stipulation of their deal with Takaratomy is that they can't license out the IP for transforming robots. Good. I want Hasbro to get off their rears and do a Transforming Model Kit themselves. Given Zoid models kits (like Zoids Wild, which flopped in the US due to absolutely no marketing... wtf?) currently don't use plastic runners and just come pre-cut in bags (think Blockies or whatever), I'm sure Hasbro could do the same if they wanted to. But honestly, I wouldn't mind a variety of runners that I need to snip pieces off.

In any case, imagine the cash cow that a Seeker model kit would be. It seems fairly obvious you start with the first 3, then the coneheads, and you can always do exclusives for the lesser known seeker characters. But if you design them right (and by this I mean like the Classics mold), you could mix and match parts right out of the box.

Apart from the seeker mold, I'm sure many of us would love some variant of Bumblebee/Cliffjumper's design for customization, and I'm sure we could get a few cool decos out of an Optimus mold, but short of a really stellar (and well designed) Junkion base mold, I don't think anything would come anywhere close to the cash cow of a really good Seeker model kit. But you know what? That's fine. I really don't want to troop build minibots or Cliffjumper, but if I've got an afternoon to kill, adding a new seeker to my army sounds like fun. And if you release a weapons pack with alternate heads or jet pieces or whatever... now we're in business.

Now all we need is more Arms Microns so we can have Targetmaster ThunderScream

 

[CoffeeHorse]

I've actually had a similar idea if they ever did a generic purple G1 Seeker. The wings are detachable and there's multiple versions, so just include all of them.

Sadly EHobby doesn't do anything interesting anymore, so this isn't happening. But the model kit idea could work.

 

[LBD "Nytetrayn"]

I've just always wondered if leaving assembly to us would be a way to bring the price down for more collector-oriented items.

 

[Donocropolis]

There may be some at Hasbro open to the idea. They've been juuuuuust barely dipping their toes in the water with things like including the spare gang-molded head in with the Creatures Collide multipack or purpose-built changeable heads in the Troop Builder multipack.

 

[Haywire]

I've often wanted something like this. There are several Transformer body types, particularly in G1, that have so many more characters than Hasbro can or will release, on top of custom character possibilities and troop-building generics. Problem is, I'm not sure Hasbro would ever sell unassembled toys in various colors as "model kits". They also seem to be (understandably) averse to selling generics in the mainline, as the available slots per wave are so limited, and even Selects releases can't possibly get everything out there.

I think the solution is the Authentics line: less complicated figures sold at Dollar General and similar stores. Lean into their near-knockoff status by releasing figures in multiple colorways using the generic Evergreen images on the packaging. Highlight that "colors may vary", and then mix and match parts to create visual distinction. Maybe throw a sticker sheet in so kids can customize them, while adults can do full paint and parts swap customs. Change the colors up every quarter or so, and keep fans on the hunt for the colors they want.

 

[Donocropolis]

That has the added advantage of the troop builders being reasonably affordable. I can't justify buying too many copies of a $30 figure, but a $5-10 Authentics figure would be doable.

 

[Gizmoboy]

I can't justify buying too many copies of a $30 figure...

My ears are ringing!

 

[Donocropolis]

My ears are ringing!

Truth be told, I was thinking of you when I wrote that!

 

[Haywire]

That has the added advantage of the troop builders being reasonably affordable. I can't justify buying too many copies of a $30 figure, but a $5-10 Authentics figure would be doable.

Exactly. I remember troop-building Omnicons and Terrorcons when they were $5 at Dollar General, and picking up some extra Classics Seekers for customizing purposes at around $10-ish. Much more than that, and I really have to ask if it's worth it, especially if I make a mistake and have to start over with a fresh figure.

 

[KingSwoop]

Exactly. I remember troop-building Omnicons and Terrorcons when they were $5 at Dollar General, and picking up some extra Classics Seekers for customizing purposes at around $10-ish. Much more than that, and I really have to ask if it's worth it, especially if I make a mistake and have to start over with a fresh figure.

For better or worse, I think we have to accept that a Deluxe-scale/quality model might go for like $30; MAYBE $25 if it's at mass retail alongside deluxes (which are also ~$25).

This would be comparable to similar size TakaraTomy Zoids & Bandai Gundam models. Of course there's also a question of packaging; Zoids & Gundams have largely minimalist packaging, but I would imagine a Transformer Model Kit might want to splurge for something like Construct-Bots-esque packaging so they could show the set's main colors & (pre-assembled?) heads. Zoids Wild US did something like this (but I didn't even know about this release until Ross, so who knows if the model would have worked with a better campaign or name recognition).

The good news, I think, is that @ $25-30 a pop, open-style packaging like this could let them include troop builder redecos on the regular, and if you randomize the color scheme, arguably there wouldn't be much painting required, so no way to "make a mistake" if you will.

Imagine a case that contained 1x Starscream (w/ Crown), 1x Ironhide, 1x Sideswipe, and 1x Decepticon Seeker, with art that depicts 3 different seekers in 3 different colors; effecitvely short-packing 3 different colors of Seekers - say Red/Black, Purple/Silver, and Green/Red (allowing you to mix and match to make a lot more variants if you toss in dupe Starscreams?

I don't know... maybe my hopes are bit too high asking for a dedicated troop-builder slot in a release like this... but I do think having two different versions of the seeker mold on shelves at the same time would be key to success. Of course, you could always do Amazon 2 packs in esoteric colors... but how many Black/Red Seeker VS White/Blue Autoloopers am I supposed to pick up... even if you do give me alternate heads and wings...

 

[Haywire]

I think the biggest issue is that it doesn't seem like Hasbro wants to get into the unassembled model business; back when Botcon was official and the customizing class was getting unassembled figures, I seem to remember that it was kind of a Big Deal that they got special permission to do that, whether due to toy safety standards or just Hasbro policy I don't know.

That's why I think the Authentics line is the way to go. Hasbro will not bog down their main lines with customizing fodder, but the budget line in discount stores is kind of an untapped place to do variant color figures without really affecting the main line assortments. Is it ideal? Maybe not, but I really doubt that there is any other way to get Transforming figures that are easily customizable in any official capacity.

 

[CoffeeHorse]

There's definitely a market. I can't tell you how many Gundam kits I've gotten from clueless well-meaning people.

 

[Gizmoboy]

I had a guy at work find out I did customizing and gave me a stack of Gundam model kits. Told me he had picked them up a few years back at a hobby store that was going out of business, fully intending on putting them together some day. Since then, he had lost interest in model building so he was happy to pass them on to someone who would get use out of them.

 

[The Mighty Mollusk]

As someone who does build a lot of Gundam kits, there's a very good reason most of them "transform" by just laying down and sticking a shield over their heads. The few fully transforming Gundams, like the Zeta, do not translate well to plastic. Very fiddly and often annoying to handle.

A Transformer that just isn't assembled in the box sounds like an entirely different beast, but it also sounds like a nightmare of lost parts and choking hazards.

 

[Princess Viola]

Yeah, unless you're talking really simple transformations here, then 'transforming' and 'model kit' really don't fuckin go together well.

Otherwise they're either gonna be huge fuckin pains in the ass to handle or heavily rely on partsforming because the kit maker realized 'Yeah nah trying to make a perfectly transformable model kit of this design would be a huge pain in the ass for the people buying it, let's use swappable parts for the too complicated bits so that way we can have the different modes look as good as possible and not be annoying' (I got a Macross kit (that I still need to put together) that's like that. I think the only part of the robot that you don't eventually swap out by the time you get to the fighter mode is like the legs)

 

[CoffeeHorse]

There are bots simple enough to make it work. Kabaya Fortress Maximus isn't fiddly at all.

 

[KingSwoop]

I think the biggest issue is that it doesn't seem like Hasbro wants to get into the unassembled model business; back when Botcon was official and the customizing class was getting unassembled figures, I seem to remember that it was kind of a Big Deal that they got special permission to do that, whether due to toy safety standards or just Hasbro policy I don't know.

That's why I think the Authentics line is the way to go. Hasbro will not bog down their main lines with customizing fodder, but the budget line in discount stores is kind of an untapped place to do variant color figures without really affecting the main line assortments. Is it ideal? Maybe not, but I really doubt that there is any other way to get Transforming figures that are easily customizable in any official capacity.

That might be an issue, but that might also be one of the reasons Zoids moved to not having sprues? In any case, if they can release Zoids Wild in the US (even if they did it poorly), I think they can do it for models.

As someone who does build a lot of Gundam kits, there's a very good reason most of them "transform" by just laying down and sticking a shield over their heads. The few fully transforming Gundams, like the Zeta, do not translate well to plastic. Very fiddly and often annoying to handle.

A Transformer that just isn't assembled in the box sounds like an entirely different beast, but it also sounds like a nightmare of lost parts and choking hazards.

Does it though? Remember, these would be designed to be assembled by children. I would expect more ball joints and less pin joints, and things that need pin joints could come pre-assembled.

Gundam kits are great, but I think Zoids is a better example of what we'd be getting. Solid, non-choking hazard pieces, that snap together w/o glue.

 

[LordGigaIce]

There are model kits, of the non-transforming variety done by licensed third party companies. And Hasbro seems content to leave the model making to them. And it's all for the better. People with experience have explained by transforming model kits wouldn't work unless you're talking something like those candy kits from Japan that are super simple.

Now... I do think customization is something Transformers can do. Both the Centurion drone weapons pack and Red Cog weapons pack were well received, and people seem to like Hasbro packaging figures with alternate heads (various multi-packs, SG Ultra Magnus).

I've actually had a similar idea if they ever did a generic purple G1 Seeker. The wings are detachable and there's multiple versions, so just include all of them.

View attachment 24759

Sadly EHobby doesn't do anything interesting anymore, so this isn't happening. But the model kit idea could work.

Seeing how the ER Seeker mould is constructed, something akin to this could be done. Imagine a black Seeker body and a purple seeker body... maybe one's a standard design and one's a conehead... with the wings and weapons packaged as mix and match accessories?
"Make your own character" or something to that effect.

So I don't think actual transforming model kits are something Hasbro should invest time and money into, but I do think they could stand to further explore customization options via weapons packs, extra heads, and extra bits with certain releases.

 

[KingSwoop]

People with experience have explained by transforming model kits wouldn't work unless you're talking something like those candy kits from Japan that are super simple.

I have a hard time imagining a transforming model kit is harder to do than, say, a motorized model kit, and TakaraTomy does Zoids, so... it seems possible.

I'm sympathetic to worries that joints could be a problem, but it's after the 1990s, so Hasbro knows how to do ball joints, and practically all of the joints on the Classic Seeker mold could be done as ball joints, with the exception of the transforming nose, which is going to need different joints - albeit joints that are feasibly consistent with a model kit.

As for the ER Seeker... it's strictly worse than Classics seeker for customization. I'm not saying we need G1-5mm holes & pegs for the wings (although...), but you do want there to be a sensible color separation such that if you take it apart you could mix and match easily. Classics had this (by accident?), and ER just didn't care. Different-to-be-different and usually worse.

 

[LordGigaIce]

I have a hard time imagining a transforming model kit is harder to do than, say, a motorized model kit, and TakaraTomy does Zoids, so... it seems possible.

I don't see Hasbro rushing to push Zoids onto Western toy shelves, do you?