Studio Series discussion

[lastmaximal]

Siege was actually pretty decent considering a chunk of its budget went to the weapons cache caboose. Man, that era's gimmick for Leaders (which reached Legacy with Blitzwing) could not be dropped fast enough.

Stege detailing aside, it's a bit squat and the rear half of the shuttle is weirdly skeletal, but you'd think a second take with the whole budget just going to the robot and a couple of guns would succeed where it did originally while avoiding those flaws. It's not impossible to do.

Instead we get this, which has very nice altmodes and competently fits three modes into the budget but makes some noticeable sacrifices in robot mode.

 

[unluckiness]

I’m of the opinion that Triple Changer vehicles suck anyway so they should prioritize robot mode. Blitzwing already set the precedent with his flying club sandwich and happy-to-see-you tank anyway.

 

[lastmaximal]

That might've done a bit better if they weren't so gung ho on making the tank visibly echo the compromise of having a lovely hidden jet cockpit. And if they hadn't spent however much on giving him a pair of Hulk hands.

Even then, at least the robot mode on that was solid. I'm sticking with the Legends one for Bltizwing, but I gladly got it as Overcharge.

 

[Steamed Hams]

I think I'll wait for a premium version of that Astrotrain.

 

[Sciflyer]

Ugh. It's rare that I do this, but I just canceled my preorder. Looking at the Siege Astrotrain that has stood proudly on my shelf in robot mode for the past several years, it was a very easy decision.

I know that the designers work within a budget and 2026 gonna 2026, but the $60 juice just ain't worth the squeeze on this one

 

[wonko the sane?]

Hey man, ain't no one gonna judge you for how you collect. Do what you gotta do... and either dust your figures or get a shitty camera.

 

[Exatron]

The more I look at the SS86 version, the more I dislike it. Not just the robot mode, but the alt modes too.

The feet sticking out from under the shuttle's nosecone look like a jaw. I now can't see the shuttle as anything other than an Astrotrain-colored Sky Lynx. Which, on its own, is kinda neat. But as a $60 Astrotrain? No.

The train is still its best mode, and is maybe a bit better overall than Siege. But there's something about its proportions and the sorta wedge-shaped step down from the cab to the boxy back half to the rounded front half that just really bothers me for some reason. I can't articulate why, but I just really dislike its appearance.

 

[Sabrblade]

caboose

"Tender" or "coal car", not "caboose".</railwaynerd>

 

[lastmaximal]

There we go. I knew it wasn't a caboose but I couldn't remember what it was, so I just went with the funny word.

 

[CoffeeHorse]

"Tender" or "coal car", not "caboose".</railwaynerd>

There was a time when I knew these things. Trains were very cool until I found out about transforming robots.

 

[Platypus Prime]

I don't like it at all, but my nephew who is a big fan of Trains and Transformers will love this. I did get him the Galaxy Shuttle one, and he immediately put it in Sodor. I'm now glad I did that one (it was on sale) so he can have to totally different colors/molds. He was never really happy with TR Astrotrain and Sentinal Prime being so similar.

 

[Badgertron]

On this train of thought, does anyone else feel like triple changers should, overall, be a little taller/bulkier than most of their peers? They're 50% more mode than a normal figure, and those parts gotta go somewhere. But, in fiction, the triple changers are often seen as valueable members of their respective sides, I have to feel is more than just their alt mode versatility. The Autobot triple changers were even Wreckers, so they have to be tougher/more powerful than average bots, right?

 

[Platypus Prime]

I think a lot of their value is their versatility. After all, a fuel truck is a very handy thing to have, but not when it's on the wrong side of the country. But if it can turn into a jet, fly to where it's needed, then change back to a truck to drive across town, that's a lot of utility in one individual.

 

[The Predaking]

I think a lot of their value is their versatility. After all, a fuel truck is a very handy thing to have, but not when it's on the wrong side of the country. But if it can turn into a jet, fly to where it's needed, then change back to a truck to drive across town, that's a lot of utility in one individual.

Or if you need a train engine, but it's on the wrong planet.

 

[Platypus Prime]

I admit that one always threw me a bit, because of the need for RAILS...though Astrotrain always did seem to treat those as optional. But since all rail systems are standardized at the same gauge on all planets and in all places on the same planet, I guess there wouldn't be any real problem, right...?

Someday I will make a comic where Thomas greets his fellow train. Astrotrain then transforms to Robot Mode, does a little dance, and then changes into a shuttle and flies away.

Thomas spends the rest of his life in the padded steamworks, SCREAMING...Sir Topham Hatt can't remember an engine having a mental crack this bad since Percy saw a car 'turn left' and the concept broke him.

 

[lastmaximal]

 

[Platypus Prime]

Could be worse...when my nephew was little and messing with the Thomas trains, I said "George was curious. What did the lever do? Thomas screamed as the rails sent him careening over the cliff..." while sending the train off the shelf.

Then, no joke, he carefully took the trains from me, pushed me out of the room, and closed the door. Apparently my story time attempt wasn't appreciated.

 

[Sabrblade]

Could be worse...when my nephew was little and messing with the Thomas trains, I said "George was curious. What did the lever do? Thomas screamed as the rails sent him careening over the cliff..." while sending the train off the shelf.

Then, no joke, he carefully took the trains from me, pushed me out of the room, and closed the door. Apparently my story time attempt wasn't appreciated.

Clearly, he didn't realize that what you had George do was totally in-character for him (presuming you're referring to George the Steamroller, yes?).

 

[CoffeeHorse]

That kid just restored my hope for the future.

 

[Platypus Prime]

I was thinking of Curious George, but it's nice to know there are options available!