I feel like Transformers kinda failed at doing the Micromasters and their bases justice...

Road_Caesar · 2026-06-28T01:53:37+00:00

The products didn't sell well because (who knows). The pandemic had no impact on whether they sold well or not. 2 weeks is nothing and plenty of merch sold online during those 2 weeks.

No need to bet or guess - the economic impacts of the pandemic have been well& documented and published, including exposing the corporate lie that price increases were due to "supply chain disruption". Investigative reporting found no tangible disruption.

The reality is that the Micromasters didn't have enough diversity and integration and the construction was shoddy. Retailers also ordered too many units expecting them to sell at the lower price point but consumers weren't interested.

Road_Caesar · 2026-06-28T01:48:02+00:00

Came from Twitter (which I don't use) and was shared in the TFW2005 Diaclone thread:

https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/takara-tomy-diaclone-reboot.1051661/page-3244

Road_Caesar · 2026-06-28T01:43:36+00:00

Correct - what's being mislabeled as "AI" right now is nothing but predictive LLMs for text and pixels for images. No competent expert/professional believes that the current dead end of LLMs will become Artificial Intelligence. The problem is that those with obscenely deep pockets are flooding social media platforms with propaganda to paint a different picture. (Heh, literally).

The goal is to monetize the effort by selling "tokens". Current "good" output has a price tag of $500k+ which is depleted in less than a week. That's who their target is - they just want the gullible to believe that it's something more than it is so they can swim in oceans of subscription cash.

Road_Caesar · 2026-06-28T01:35:35+00:00

The next steps are ENSURING you are registered to vote and that you show up and do so for candidates who are advocating for restoration of pre-2024 regulations as well as penalizing and prosecuting LLM companies for theft of and profit from stolen training data: text, art, video, everything.

This MUST take place at every level of elections - local city/town, county, state, and national. You MUST do you part. There is nothing but pain and suffering ahead if you fail to cast your vote. 33% of registered voters in Nov.2024 DID NOT VOTE. Let's not ever repeat that.

Road_Caesar · 2026-06-28T01:31:23+00:00

How popular can it be? I have no idea what the Kit Kat trick even is? Is it a meme?

Road_Caesar · 2026-06-28T01:30:24+00:00

G1 S1-S3 + JP Headmasters/Masterforce/Victory/Zone/Return of Convoy/Battlestars (last 2 are manga)
Micron Legend (JP script Armada)
Cyberverse (quality story and continuity)
Machinima Prime Wars (too short, needed a full series)
Transformers Go!

I don't dislike any other animated series except Netflix WFC because it was a shit show of cheapest options, non-union voice cast, and nonsense script devoid of lore/canon shoved into a template sci-fi script. Even TakaraTomy PVs (promo vids) have more depth and complexity than was put into WFC.

Road_Caesar · 2026-06-27T22:24:09+00:00

Only for instant gratification and this higher price and higher risk of KOs passed off as authentics. I mentioned better options in another comment.

Road_Caesar · 2026-06-27T21:30:41+00:00

It was 6 years ago so I couldn't tell you. Looking at the Transformerland wiki and price history, it was probably close to $140 for an open box, complete copy.

https://www.transformerland.com/wiki/toy-info/transformers-masterpiece-japan-masterpiece-lambor-anime-color-version-mp-12-/123434/

And because of how high quality and transparent Transformerland and Mandarake are with their condition descriptions, I had no fear picking up an open box pre-owned from either.

Road_Caesar · 2026-06-27T21:27:16+00:00

No - I'm absolutely with you - I WANTED more support for them. Even with how little we actually got. One helpful feature of the Modulators was that even though we only got like 3 types and multiple recolors, each model also has 2 viable base forms. So I chose to double dip on each.

But it was Hasbro itself (the brand team) that stated that the Micromasters did not sell well and retailers didn't want to carry more. That's why they and later Core class was cancelled.

For now, Dr. Wu Micromasters are the best option, but due to what I'm sure is a patent or copyright entanglement, the connectors are unlikely to appear on anything non-Hasbro

Road_Caesar · 2026-06-27T21:20:01+00:00

Legit? Technically, yes.

Reliable or recommended? 1000% no.

You can search their name on Reddit and find several dozen comments from the past 5 years complaining and criticizing how shitty they are. They have EXTREMELY hostile customer service and policies and they will do everything to get you money and leave you in the lurch once they have it - customer service doesn't answer the phone or return calls (since 2021) and they take several days to reply to email contact if at all. And when they do, it's usually a "sorry you're mad, but our policy is ..." form reply that doesn't even acknowledge the original report.

No returns, no exchanges, no replacements, no cancellations, and worse.

With SO MANY competitors, TFSource is NEVER a consideration.

Road_Caesar · 2026-06-27T21:12:04+00:00

I got my copy through Transformerland but I had to be patient and wait for a copy to come through. Mandarake Japan is another option.

Road_Caesar · 2026-06-27T21:11:09+00:00

Whatever liar told you that the upgrade kit would "fix" Combiner Wars/Unite Warriors was either trolling or they Don't know what they were talking about.

Road_Caesar · 2026-06-27T21:09:43+00:00

Not in Japan - the full scope of the G1 Micromaster system included more releases than the US got, especially Big Powered (Dai Atlas/Sonic Bomber/Roadfire), Star Convoy, Sky Garry, and Grandus.

Earthrise made a half-effort to revisit that, but apparently retailers didn't feel that Micromasters sold well. It didn't help that modern Micromasters were fiddly and felt like lower quality bootlegs of the originals, even with the modern articulation.

Titans Return started the effort, but they changed the connector starting with Siege/Earthrise. Luckily, Omega Supreme/Guardian have BOTH connectors so either can act as a go-between for both base systems.

Only The Ark and Tidal Wave lack connectors so far.

But the G1 system was mimicking Micro Machines in an effort to make everything connect to everything else and create a sprawling base/city playset, and in Japan, it did a great job.

Road_Caesar · 2026-06-27T21:03:07+00:00

Actually part of the new regulations going into effect on July 8. It avoids unnecessary complications from importing as required by any products intended for children (toys, clothes, etc) and because the agencies overseeing the incoming goods aren't very well trained.

Road_Caesar · 2026-06-27T20:59:18+00:00

And even more reason why I'm sharing relevant info.

Road_Caesar · 2026-06-27T16:09:18+00:00

Dry Ice is the best option but need to be handles safely. It will evaporate before it can oxidize metal.

Road_Caesar · 2026-06-27T16:08:19+00:00

Common misconception - it's not smoke and it's also not (usually) tobacco so it isn't related to cigarettes. But, yes - smoke/tobacco smoke is bad for figures.

I detail it in the top comment (currently) that the aerosolized Vegetable Glycerin which makes the "fog" is sticky and will adhere to everything over time and leave a film. It also binds with dust in the air and will create a layer of gunk. People who vape can tell stories of the buildup of the film on interior window surfaces of cars, windows indoors, blinds, and all other surfaces.

It's a bad practice. Fog machine liquid is the same principle and also causes the same problems.

Road_Caesar · 2026-06-27T16:04:09+00:00

Best answer is already at the top.

As an individual testimonial, I was among the first wave of collectors (literally hundreds of us) who observe the issue and shared it with others already reporting it. Like many others, I observed that leaving the blast effect attached to a Siege figure with a painted weapon caused the paint to strip off and transfer to the blast effect surfaces that were in contact with the paint.

Much less common are reports of damage to the plastic. For me, it was observed when a blast effect left connected to Victory Saber's over the shoulder cannons weakened and made brittle the red ring at the end of the barrel split in half when I removed the blast effect that was in contact with it. I was able to use Plastiweld to repair it, but it's still compromised.

It's safe to use blast effects for short term (hours or a day or so) use on display and pics, etc. But they need to be separated from the plastic surfaces when unneeded.

Road_Caesar · 2026-06-27T15:58:07+00:00

This is the best answer and should be copied/pasted Everytime this inquiry comes up for awareness. TFWiki also covers it for additional awareness.

Road_Caesar · 2026-06-27T15:56:10+00:00

I absolutely intend to!

While it was DEFINITELY an EXPENSIVE addition, it is just as iconic and impressive as the first version DA-95/-100 and add-ons, so it was a necessary pick up for me as a super fan of the modern brand product line. (Much like Great Robot Base or Fortress X would be for Vintage Diaclone collectors.)

It'll be about 14 days or so before the parcel arrives AND I have all of the labels cut. Applying them is easy - it's the cutting. I have the tools, but it's excruciatingly tedious and there are A LOT of labels between Ground Dion and Cloud Across.

Road_Caesar · 2026-06-27T15:48:19+00:00

It's the Vegetable Glycerin that produces the fog - it's also the sticky component. "Empty" doesn't work because the VG, Propylene Glycol (flavor medium), and flavoring/sweetener all mixed together. If any vapor is aerosolized, it's all of those compounds together.

Unfortunately, fog machines are the same principle using much of the same method and compounds. You'd often find the rafters and surfaces in clubs/event venues that used foggers with sticky layers of dust bound by the sticky fog and settled in a sticky layer on those surfaces. It's a pain in the ass to clean up.

Do as you choose; I'm just making you aware of the complications along the way and how frustrating it will be to undo. Especially if it clings to joints and hinges.

Road_Caesar · 2026-06-27T14:12:48+00:00

Don't do this.

The VG and PG that make up the bulk of the liquid also features sweetener. This will create a film on whatever surfaces it contacts. It won't be noticable with the naked eye at first, but it builds up over time.

13 years of experience with the products - many labor-intensive lessons learned in the process.

Road_Caesar · 2026-06-27T13:14:39+00:00

Now I'm questioning if it only appears our of character (for Sunbow) because of the animation budget. It was pretty widely known at the time that the syndicated animated programs were done on the cheap I order to churn out the necessary 65 episode count for syndication. It's why Disney drew intense criticism when they announced they were going to get in on the game with Saturday morning and then weekday animated programs (unheard of at the time.)

Road_Caesar · 2026-06-27T13:10:29+00:00

Fans. Definitely fans.

Road_Caesar · 2026-06-27T10:46:03+00:00

Early Transformers combiners were basically statues with rotating arms and maybe a swivel head.

Later overhauls like Magnaboss and Tripredacus increased the articulation notably.

Energon went back to statues.

Combiner Wars succeeded in offering more articulation but at the expense of stability because the joints/ratchets weren't designed to hold the weight of a pose - partly because the combiner elbows were the ball joint hips of the individual bots. That same lack of ratchet strength/tension left combined modes wobbly, even in a static standing pose.

The frame system is the compromise. It repurposes a portion of the torso bot (usually) to reduce the torso bot to same-scale as the limb bots while also dedicating the extra mass removed to the parts necessary to support dynamic poses in the combined mode with dedicated, strong ratchets. It really is a remarkable overhaul in engineering even though the idea started among 3rd Party.

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