Takara Missing Link G1 Series

[Sabrblade]

The teaser image is also based on the pose of the original toy box art:

 

[Axaday]

It really is a fascinating depiction of how the design approach went in (and probably had to go in) the opposite direction from the previous releases. Those had existing transformation schemes and the game was just in fitting more joints into existing shapes, while this one had to have a transformation scheme figured out first, with just a guiding look for the finished robot mode. And I think it's fair to say that transformation scheme was figured out with more contemporary engineering bits. So sure, it's not quite what the G1 toy would have been, if that were the only design remit. But it's fine.

It does keep the conversation going about how a G1 Arcee actually would have gone, especially knowing that the G1 design seems to never have actually been engineered. Many of the elements used in her contemporaries are fair game, but ultimately I feel we'd have gotten an Arcee that was bulkier than the animation model and prototype (which is fine). That 3D-printed one is good food for thought and a neat take if not for the partsforming.

Hmm. Basically fold the car in half. If the transformation hews more closely to the animation model than the prototype: like Springer, the hood folds down to reveal the head, and the front wheels are flipped around in exchange for folded arms; the front fenders stay vertical in robot mode. Bottom half of the car still becomes the legs (maybe thinner/more slender static lower legs pull out of what will stay in place as waist/thighs). Seats and rear of the car fold down as a panel to be a backpack or add to the boots (see Scourge) for stability.

(While writing this out, I was reminded at this point of the cancelled Titanium Arcee -- similar to what I describe above except for where the arms go in altmode and a different execution on the waist/hips. A neat take which is itself kind of the missing link between the prototype and T30 Arcee.)

Closer to the prototype: maybe the hood/head turns on a mushroom peg before folding down so the tops of the fenders can end up as the fronts of the upper arms. But that seems like quite a bit more than G1 would bother with, and in a universe where this all happened and there was a toy, I can see this being a reason to change from the prototype's arm setup (fender panels facing forward, and in front of the arms) to the animation model's (fenders behind the arms).

In all this, the thing I am newly curious about is what wild stickers she would've gotten...

Blurr and Arcee have a lot of similarity. If they were starting a G1 now with nothing to shoehorn into, I would start with Blurr. But wierdly where you might think "Arcee would be like Hotrod, Kup, and Blurr", those guys are a LOT different from each other.

 

[Ultra Magnus13]

Maybe it'll be on a slider so you can choose where it sits.

That would be my guess, some way to have both options, wouldn't be surprised to see something similar with Ironhide/Ratchet.

 

[G.B.Blackrock]

Blurr and Arcee have a lot of similarity. If they were starting a G1 now with nothing to shoehorn into, I would start with Blurr. But wierdly where you might think "Arcee would be like Hotrod, Kup, and Blurr", those guys are a LOT different from each other.

For many years, I somehow understood that the never-made G1 Arcee was supposed to be a Blurr retool (I later learned that there was a concept for a Chromedome retool, which I've never understood as making any sense, but there's that...).

 

[NovaSaber]

The Chromedome retool would have been because she was a Headmaster in Rebirth. (But yeah, aside from that there's no real resemblance.)

 

[LBD "Nytetrayn"]

Well, both their hoods form their chests, so that's something.

Maybe she'd have been like a slimmer version of Chromedome?

 

[Shadewing]

The Chromedome retool would have been because she was a Headmaster in Rebirth. (But yeah, aside from that there's no real resemblance.)

And a quick repaint because "Boys dont buy toys of girls" that they didnt want to put a lot of effort into.

 

[LordGigaIce]

 

[MrBlud]

He’s going to look great for the three weeks until all those transparent plastic joints break…

 

[Steevy Maximus]

View attachment 33434

 

[Sabrblade]

He’s going to look great for the three weeks until all those transparent plastic joints break…

Wait 'til they make a cartoon-accurate version. It might have opaque parts instead.

 

[Axaday]

That would be my guess, some way to have both options, wouldn't be surprised to see something similar with Ironhide/Ratchet.

What can they do with Ironhide/Ratchet? Weren't they pretty much perfect the first time?

 

[Ultra Magnus13]

What can they do with Ironhide/Ratchet? Weren't they pretty much perfect the first time?

........his head was in his chest..........

 

[G.B.Blackrock]

The Chromedome retool would have been because she was a Headmaster in Rebirth. (But yeah, aside from that there's no real resemblance.)

They might not have been able to figure it out in G1, but Titans Return demonstrated that the original Blurr mold could have been converted without too much trouble, if "being a Headmaster" was the hangup.

 

[PrimalxConvoy]

 

[Blot]

He’s going to look great for the three weeks until all those transparent plastic joints break…

...? I never owned G1 Grimlock, how many translucent joints does he have because looking at him I see maybe one?

 

[LBD "Nytetrayn"]

Huh. I forgot the toy face looked like that. I think I prefer the later versions...

 

[unluckiness]

...? I never owned G1 Grimlock, how many translucent joints does he have because looking at him I see maybe one?

Grimlock has the dino neck and the Diaclone chest cockpit if they decide to keep that functionality. Unless Missing Link decides to skimp on sprues and make some other parts in clear, there shouldn't be anything else.

 

[Axaday]

........his head was in his chest..........

Yeah, I'm aware. I actually kinda think Ironhide is outside Missing Link's scope, but maybe they would do it and just add more joints and leave him the weird mech thing that he is. But when they change and move Grimock's head, I'm not so sure what the scope is. Well, I guess Arcee is a whole new figure. Would they give him head and shoulders? Or just stay away from that noise?

I think Sunstreaker was chosen because they'd never reissued him and they figured that if they were doing new tooling anyway it would be nice to do it for a figure that they'd lost the tooling. So should we expect Wheeljack?

 

[lastmaximal]

Maybe there'll be a toy-based initial release, and a cartoon-based retool (as with Bee/Cliffjumper) both having the engineering for a fold-out head that otherwise stores in the chest below the panel head.

I'd love for a Hot Rod and/or Rodimus Prime next (both seem easy enough to add joints to), but maybe the movie anniversary love is already going to MPG/Style Gen.