Allspark sponsor BigBadToyStore has just listed a pre=order for the City Commander Trailer set. This is a fan-made kit that can be used on the Classics Ultra Magnus figure to give him both a trailer for alt mode and armor for robot mode! If cab-only Ultra Magnuses bother you, then this may be a set worth looking into. The pre-order is currently set at $76.99.

You can see the pre-order page here, and you can discuss this kit here! Thanks to lastmaximal for the heads up!

Some more news has just rolled in from the Hasbro designers panel:

• Character models for both Animated Thundercracker and Skywarp were shown--both are redecos of Starscream.
• Classics Powerglide's chest opens to reveal that he has a heart inside it.
• A character model for Animated Perceptor was shown.
• Hotshot and Jolt will be part of the 25th Anniversary Classics line.

For those not attending Botcon this year, Transformers Artist Jake Isenberg has posted the colors (by the equally-talented Josh Perez) and inks for his "War Within" Shattered Glass lithograph on his DeviantART page! So if you didn't get a chance to see the lithograph first hand, then nows your chance to get a look at this amazing artwork!

Click here to the colors, and here to see the inks. Then discuss the art in Jake's thread here! 

Some news on future Animated characters/toys has just rolled in from the Botcon Animated panel:

• Season 3 of animated is not yet greenlit, but hopefully will be soon.  New characters and toys for season 3 will include Blurr, Swindle, and Constructicons Mixmaster and Scrapper (voiced by Tom Kenny and Jeff Bennett).
• Blurr's voice actor is confirmed to be John Moschita (his G1 voice actor).
• Shockwave will be an H-tank.
• Wreck-Gar will be Voyager class.
• There will be a Skywarp redeco of Starscream.
• There will be a Prowl redeco with a side car that turns into samurai armor for him.
• Arcee will be released and have a vehicle mode like her G1 alt-mode.
• Jetfire and Jetstorm will be two jet robots, one a fire robot, the other an ice robot, which will combine together.  They will be Voyager class.

TFW2005 is reporting that two of its members have found Transformers Animated Deluxe Wave 2 in the Cincinnati area. SO Botcon attendees that grabbed Wave 1 and thought they were done may have to go out on the hunt once again! Deluxe Wave 2 includes Ratchet and Blackarachnia.

You can see the original report here, or post your own sighting here! 

Looking for some high quality pictures from the Hasbro display cases at Botcon 2008?  Well Seibertron has provided just that of the upcoming Animated, Universe, Crossover, and Store Exclusive Transformers figures.  In these shots you are given a good look at the figures currently on display, including many close ups.

You can view the images here and discuss them on our boards.

Drowning in a sea of Botcon news is Allspark member Drifter's image gallery for the HenKei! HenKei! Transformers Astrotrain figure that was released this past Thursday in Japan. The gallery does a magnificent job of showing off the toy's new colors, it's chrome and the new paint details! So those fans still undecided on this figure, as well as those waiting to get their orders shipped, can get an eyeful of the cartoon accurate shuttle-train!

Click here to see the gallery, and click here to discuss it! 

Stop drooling over the lame text descriptions in our BotCon Discussion thread and see some new toys for yourself! Hasbro has thoughtfully updated Transformers.com with images of many of the figures announced in the just-ended Hasbro BotCon panel, including items from Animated, Universe, and more!

• Transformers Animated Deluxe & Leader toys
• 25th Anniversary Prime reissue, Universe Deluxe & Ultra, Robot Heroes
  

Keep talking in the BotCon Saturday Discussion Thread!

**UPDATE**  Tformers has added a gallery of the freshly updated BotCon Hasbro display cases! They include new looks at many of the toys just posted on Transformers.com, as well as the previously unseen new-mold Legends, store and SDCC exclusive repaints, and more! See them all here.

This is it, people... the Hasbro panel is kicking off right now at BotCon 2008! This is the panel where we get the juiciest news of the whole Convention, and unfortunately, not a single photo is allowed. Still, keep checking in with out BotCon Saturday discussion thread for text reports from Allspark staff member Galenraff (transcribed from his IM messages). Tformers also has a live text feed from the panel.

Envious discussion continues here! We'll be back with a recap after it ends! 

UPDATE: Here are some notes from the now completed panel (excuse the shorthand!)

• Animated toys wave 1 due 6/22, same as the ones hitting Cincinnati now.
• Animated will be a full TF line with retailers planning a fall reset.
• Swoop has a mace on a chain.
• Sentinel Prime is "awesome."
• Elite guard Bumblebee repaint: mostly dark dark gray, a dark tan, and mustard yellow
• Ultra Magnus: "awesome" (Galenraff does not have a thesaurus with him). Hammer does not light up.
• All the other Animated toys are "already leaked."

• UNIVERSE IRONHIDE will be a Deluxe size red SUV with Oregon plates.
• Ultra Silverbolt, which we've seen already online, will have sounds in both modes, including a transforming sound.
• Deluxe Sideswipe with a new head from the Sunstreaker mold (already known).
• "Stormcloud" Powerglide redeco....black, purple, with some green.
• Universe will have new mold Legends: tank Megatron, Jazz, Brawn, Beachcomber.
• Universe Deluxe Hound WITH tape Ravage, who will fit in Soundwave. Ravage looks "amazing."
• Deluxe Cyclonus with Nightstick, "Awesome!" (Galenraff still does not have a thesaurus.)
• Universe Deluxe Cheetor, new mold!
• Cheetor: switch changes eye color from green to red and mouth opens

And there's more!  Click below for Robot Heroes, some anticipation-worthy redecoes, a couple of guys whose names start with War Within, and the Q&A!

The Official Transformers Collectors Club panel has just finished at BotCon 2008 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Allspark staff member Galenraff has sent us a few tidbits from the panel: the Club exclusive Nightbeat toy may get a pack-in comic, and the Shattered Glass and "April Fool's Day" comics will both continue in some form. Tformers also has a live report from the panel with more news, including details about the shaving habits of the "Shattered Universe" denizens. 

Up next: the mighty Hasbro Panel! Discussion continues in our BotCon Saturday thread.