As I noted earlier this week, there is so much talent out there in the fan community in terms of filling in gaps in the Hasbro and TakaraTomy releases. Classics Ultra Magnus armour. Classics Powered Convoy armour. Neo-Classics Optimus Trailer (two types!). Quintessons. Vector Sigma. The Golden Disks. Universe Roadbuster weapons and head. Proper G1 Ironhide and Ratchet Heads. TF:A Optimus Axe. Even Autoroller! But there is still much more to do until we sleep. Here are my top six shout-outs for what is still needed:
G1 Rumble / Frenzy Pile Drivers - I think every Generation One episode that features Rumble or Frenzy had them making use of their mighty pile drivers to do terrible damage to the local environment. And yet while Hasbro added pile drivers to the Alterators Rumble and they are prominent in the KT toys, they are terribly overdue as add-ons to the G1 figures.
G1 / Universe Sideswipe Jetpack - Sideswipe’s jetpack showed up in his MyClone bad self, but nowhere else. There is a perfect opportunity here to make two versions - one for the G1 toy and another for the Universe mould. The G1 version could have a black variant for his G2 toy version. And if you really wanted to do some goodness, you could make sure both the G1 and Universe versions were compatible with their lines’ respective Optimus.
Action Master Megatron Cannon - Yes, there was a company in the 1990s that was given permission to make an add-on for Action Master Megatron. Yes, there are a lot of fans who hate hate hate Action Masters. And yet the line has its defenders (see custommaster.com for an example, see right here for another). It’s time to let us make Megatron whole.
TF:A Ultra Magnus Head - I love that in a twelve-month period we will see three different tributes to G1 Roadbuster in the form of a Universe-affiliated repaint of Cybertron Hotshot, the TF:Animated Ultra Magnus, and the upcoming Botcon Landshark. And while there are efforts underway to create the shortcomings to Universe Roadbuster, something MUST BE DONE with the Animated version. Frankly, I’d be happy with a repainted head, but what I really want to see is a complete resculpt in an animated style. A full set could include similar-styled cannons and replacement hip guards.
Beast Wars Rhinox Cannon - Okay, so the toy does kind of have one version of his cannon. But we all know it’s just not the same for him to (1) not have two to hunker down behind rocks to provide cover fire, and (2) have the cannon part of the attachment facing the wrong direction (up and not outward). Should be a relatively easy fix. Let’s go!
Beast Machines Botanica - Like Action Masters, Beast Machines never gets its proper due. Botanica never got a toy release because she popped up too near the end of the series. But she benefits from a very simplistic alternate form that can be established with a few twists and turns. Surely if we can get a Quintesson Scientist right, we can get a Botanica.
Transformer of the Day for April 17, 2009
