Group Shot of Takara Tomy Transformers Legends LG-EX Headmasters

You know what's funny about the more IDW-based Hasbro head on the Takara Chromedome body? Takara Chromedome, while meant to be in more cartoon-based colors than otherwise, has a deco that is a little more closely-matched to IDW Chromedome's Shadowplay body than the deco of Hasbro Chromedome is.

So in a way, this release of the Hasbro head for Takara's Chromedome gives people an even more Shadowplay-accurate Chromedome than Hasbro's Chromedome does by itself.

Sabrblade wrote:You know what's funny about the more IDW-based Hasbro head on the Takara Chromedome body? Takara Chromedome, while meant to be in more cartoon-based colors than otherwise, has a deco that is a little more closely-matched to IDW Chromedome's Shadowplay body than the deco of Hasbro Chromedome is.

So in a way, this release of the Hasbro head for Takara's Chromedome gives people an even more Shadowplay-accurate Chromedome than Hasbro's Chromedome does by itself.

I think the same could be said for a toy-accurate Hardhead.

Or if you want a big-footed Flywheels (I'm sure that there's another way for that, though)

Those hips on Flywheels don't look good, like they're going to pop off.

SW's SilverHammer wrote:Does anyone think there's a possibility that if Takara does Lightfoot, they'll throw a curveball and deco the figure like MTMTE getaway?

I hope Takara goes the route of what they did with Computicon. Change/modify Scattershot, Strafe and the Lightspeed base vehicle. The Hb Getaway one is just plain lazy.

We seem to be quickly running out of Legends product at this point with very little new stuff, beyond this Headmaster booster pack, on the horizon. We're just waiting for Astrotrain, Lio Convoy, and God Bomber to drop...and then what? Is Takara going to put Legends on hiatus for a while to concentrate on The Last Knight? I would have expected some more reveals by now, even if they won't come out for several months.

I hope we at least get a few more holes filled too, like a Legends Eject repaint, Legends Buzzsaw, Rumble, and Frenzy, and some of the other recent Hasbro Legends releases like Brawn, Gnaw, and Kickback (thought I could see them being relegated to the Adventure line instead, like Powerglide, Cosmos, and the other two Insecticons were). It'll be a shame if Takara just skips to the new mold stuff, like Hot Rod, Kup, and Sixshot.

Wolfman Jake wrote:We seem to be quickly running out of Legends product at this point with very little new stuff, beyond this Headmaster booster pack, on the horizon. We're just waiting for Astrotrain, Lio Convoy, and God Bomber to drop...and then what? Is Takara going to put Legends on hiatus for a while to concentrate on The Last Knight? I would have expected some more reveals by now, even if they won't come out for several months.

I hope we at least get a few more holes filled too, like a Legends Eject repaint, Legends Buzzsaw, Rumble, and Frenzy, and some of the other recent Hasbro Legends releases like Brawn, Gnaw, and Kickback (thought I could see them being relegated to the Adventure line instead, like Powerglide, Cosmos, and the other two Insecticons were). It'll be a shame if Takara just skips to the new mold stuff, like Hot Rod, Kup, and Sixshot.

I did notice that TakaraTomy seemingly is leaving the 2017 (aka wave 3) toys alone for now: all upcoming releases, sans Godbomber, are from the 2016 part of Titans Return. With the Headmaster set "filling in the gaps" by giving TM Brawn, Clobber and Skytread Japanese counterparts (their vehicles have been released before), the only two toys without one are Stripes/Steeljaw and Rumble. Considering they're pretools and have no 2016 Titan Masters left to be paired up with (except maybe Sovereign and Orion Pax-faced Apex if they're bold) I don't see them being released in the short run.

Wolfman Jake wrote:and some of the other recent Hasbro Legends releases like Brawn, Gnaw, and Kickback (thought I could see them being relegated to the Adventure line instead, like Powerglide, Cosmos, and the other two Insecticons were).

Too bad they haven't announced any 2017 Adventures figures yet. I have a feeling Takara Tomy's big focus this year is going to be on movie toys and MPs.

Just look at the numbers announced between now and June:

Movie - 11 repaints
MP - 11 (6 new, 5 re-releases)
Legends - 3 (plus the exclusive head set)
Unite Warriors - 2
e-Hobby - 1
Adventures - 0

Emerje

Late so late.

My Legends Ginrai etc just got freed from customs.

One word. Wow! Imagine the original inspiration



into this



or



Close eh?



Anyways what all's been said.

1. Great design. Helmeted form is badass! Mini head is to disproportionate but then again, the original had an oversized head.

2. Cool metallic plastics

3. Great paint apps and redesign

4. Awesome recreation of the anime character

5. Better than sliced bread

6. Sucky feet transform design. Nope, I am not complaining of the design "design" but how to keep the feet steady. There are no ratchets or friction to keep it in place. Or maybe the minute friction (whatever is there) and positioned with his feet spread out does keep the figure steady.......sort of (maybe the omission of the feature was to compensate for the eventual Godbomber release.)

7. His weapon could have had a combine mode. The hollow halves can be a bit of an eyesore.

Soundwave? Another great copy from the Broadcast mold.Though in my version, the paint apps on "Soundblaster's" visor was a bit off mark.

I like the metallic lighter blue flake plastics compared to the Hb one but that's just me. Ravage and Condor were, well a bit meh (I wasn't expecting much from them though given the limitations of their transform mode). The repainted weapon from Broadcast I give an A- for effort. Wished it was like his original to differentiate them from Broadcast's.

And this:



I know Takara was like trying to go for the anime look but they could have colored the entire part and none would be the wiser unless you are an OCD fan to notice the difference.

fenrir72 wrote:

And this:



I know Takara was like trying to go for the anime look but they could have colored the entire part and none would be the wiser unless you are an OCD fan to notice the difference.

Something looks off there

fenrir72 wrote:Ravage and Condor were, well a bit meh (I wasn't expecting much from them though given the limitations of their transform mode).

Takara Legends Ravage came out a bit basic and plain looking because he's almost entirely black plastic. That's a weird choice for Takara, since they're so good about screen accuracy, usually. I bought a Hasbro TR Ravage and swapped the lower legs around between it and the Takara Legends version. He looks a LOT better now. I didn't simply just go with the Hasbro version, btw, because it has some gray plastic in parts that it shouldn't and I like Takara's "retro" stickers for the tablet mode much better. Now, I've got a nice Legends version of Ravage with gray lower legs and black paws. He's almost perfect now, except for the fact that his hind thighs should be gray too, and he's still a tablecat. I can take some pictures when I get home from work if anyone is interested.

Wolfman Jake wrote: I can take some pictures when I get home from work if anyone is interested.

Always!

fenrir72 wrote:Late so late.

My Legends Ginrai etc just got freed from customs.

One word. Wow! Imagine the original inspiration

...

3. Great paint apps and redesign

4. Awesome recreation of the anime character

5. Better than sliced bread

6. Sucky feet transform design. Nope, I am not complaining of the design "design" but how to keep the feet steady. There are no ratchets or friction to keep it in place. Or maybe the minute friction (whatever is there) and positioned with his feet spread out does keep the figure steady.......sort of (maybe the omission of the feature was to compensate for the eventual Godbomber release.)

7. His weapon could have had a combine mode. The hollow halves can be a bit of an eyesore.

Yea he's pretty cool. His rifles do combine, just not in a way that works for im. They tab in sideways to form a gun emplacement that pegs in sideways, so not very useful for him.


But I can do this with him and that is very very cool:

Would any of you buy that set of heads for $45? Because you could preorder it for that now. Available from Robot Kingdom for 25$ + 20$ shipping

http://www.robotkingdom.com/lgexheadmaster.html

Not gonna lie....i would

william-james88 wrote:Would any of you buy that set of heads for $45? Because you could preorder it for that now. Available from Robot Kingdom for 25$ + 20$ shipping

http://www.robotkingdom.com/lgexheadmaster.html

For Brawn, Clobber and Skytread I wouldn't. I'd rather get the individual Hasbro ones, the vehicles rock!

Cobotron wrote:

Wolfman Jake wrote: I can take some pictures when I get home from work if anyone is interested.

Always!

Here you go, Lobotron!

Wolfman Jake wrote:

Cobotron wrote:

Wolfman Jake wrote: I can take some pictures when I get home from work if anyone is interested.

Always!

Here you go, Lobotron!

Nice piece of surgery you did there

I like it, Jake!

GalvatronG1 wrote:

fenrir72 wrote:

And this:



I know Takara was like trying to go for the anime look but they could have colored the entire part and none would be the wiser unless you are an OCD fan to notice the difference.

Something looks off there

The paint app. Really off. Though in Ginrai, Takara even added the extra royal blue paint on his crotch button. Same like in the anime. Sometimes screen accuracy don't always translate good upon implementation.

william-james88 wrote:Would any of you buy that set of heads for $45? Because you could preorder it for that now. Available from Robot Kingdom for 25$ + 20$ shipping

http://www.robotkingdom.com/lgexheadmaster.html

My JP supplier told me it would be very very expensive to order the WF versions so.......bit the bullet and PO'd

fenrir72 wrote:

Wolfman Jake wrote:

Cobotron wrote:

Wolfman Jake wrote: I can take some pictures when I get home from work if anyone is interested.

Always!

Here you go, Lobotron!

Nice piece of surgery you did there

It is really quite easy to do, too. All the plastic involved is flexible enough that breakage is extremely unlikely, as long as you are careful and don't use excessive force. You don't need any tools either, as all joints are simple friction joints or split pegs in sockets. There are no pins or screws to deal with whatsoever.

Wolfman Jake wrote:

fenrir72 wrote:

Wolfman Jake wrote:

Cobotron wrote:

Wolfman Jake wrote: I can take some pictures when I get home from work if anyone is interested.

Always!

Here you go, Lobotron!

Nice piece of surgery you did there

It is really quite easy to do, too. All the plastic involved is flexible enough that breakage is extremely unlikely, as long as you are careful and don't use excessive force. You don't need any tools either, as all joints are simple friction joints or split pegs in sockets. There are no pins or screws to deal with whatsoever.

Me thinks I'm gonna get myself a TR Ravage then. Thanks!

fenrir72 wrote:Me thinks I'm gonna get myself a TR Ravage then. Thanks!

Glad to be of help!

I did some "surgery" on a few other Takara Legends/Hasbro Titans Return figures too, namely the Autobot Headmasters. I swapped the faces around for the Headmaster/Titan Master versions of Chromedome, Highbrow, and Brainstorm. Note: I didn't just swap around the Head/Titan Masters between the Hasbro and Takara versions. I unscrewed the faces from the little bots themselves and swapped the faces between them before screwing them back together. It's very easy if you have a size 0 Philip's head screw driver. Of course, now that Takara has announced the EX set of additional/alternate heads, my work was somewhat in vain. Although, as you'll see below, Takara's version of Brainstorm's "faceplated" look will match much better than the Titans Return Walgreen exclusive version, with the bright white helmet and the yellow (rather than orange) faceplate.

fenrir72 wrote:

william-james88 wrote:Would any of you buy that set of heads for $45? Because you could preorder it for that now. Available from Robot Kingdom for 25$ + 20$ shipping

http://www.robotkingdom.com/lgexheadmaster.html

My JP supplier told me it would be very very expensive to order the WF versions so.......bit the bullet and PO'd

To be able to get these for $25 must mean there'll be an Asia release. $25 is less than the exchange rate by about $1.50 and doesn't include any type of import markup. Keep an eye on TFSource and BBTS in the coming days.

Emerje

Emerje wrote:

fenrir72 wrote:

william-james88 wrote:Would any of you buy that set of heads for $45? Because you could preorder it for that now. Available from Robot Kingdom for 25$ + 20$ shipping

http://www.robotkingdom.com/lgexheadmaster.html

My JP supplier told me it would be very very expensive to order the WF versions so.......bit the bullet and PO'd

To be able to get these for $25 must mean there'll be an Asia release. $25 is less than the exchange rate by about $1.50 and doesn't include any type of import markup. Keep an eye on TFSource and BBTS in the coming days.

Emerje

Just like those special MP releases with extra accessories I guess.

Wolfman Jake wrote:

fenrir72 wrote:Me thinks I'm gonna get myself a TR Ravage then. Thanks!

Glad to be of help!

I did some "surgery" on a few other Takara Legends/Hasbro Titans Return figures too, namely the Autobot Headmasters. I swapped the faces around for the Headmaster/Titan Master versions of Chromedome, Highbrow, and Brainstorm. Note: I didn't just swap around the Head/Titan Masters between the Hasbro and Takara versions. I unscrewed the faces from the little bots themselves and swapped the faces between them before screwing them back together. It's very easy if you have a size 0 Philip's head screw driver. Of course, now that Takara has announced the EX set of additional/alternate heads, my work was somewhat in vain. Although, as you'll see below, Takara's version of Brainstorm's "faceplated" look will match much better than the Titans Return Walgreen exclusive version, with the bright white helmet and the yellow (rather than orange) faceplate.

You're a Doc "Ratchet" now!

Speaking of which, I also received the final Headmaster of the set Brainstorm. Brainstorm's head fits snugly into his port. Same with Chromedome and Hardhead. It's the Highbrow design, both Hb and Takara that's floppy based on the feedback I read here abouts.. Too bad with the latter as no fix can be done based on what I posted a few clicks back.

Would anyone like to name all the bots in the picture other than the Autobot Headmaster quartet of Hardhead, Highbrow, Chromedome, and Brainstorm? Some of them are a bit obscure, and still others are quite obscured, but I'm sure there are some among us who are up to the challenge!

And just to be fair I'm staying out of this

Wolfman Jake wrote:Would anyone like to name all the bots in the picture other than the Autobot Headmaster quartet of Hardhead, Highbrow, Chromedome, and Brainstorm? Some of them are a bit obscure, and still others are quite obscured, but I'm sure there are some among us who are up to the challenge!

Cybertron Quickmix, Thrilling 30 Sandstorm, Universe 2008 Countdown, Cybertron Longrack, Thrilling 30 Crosscut; a user of the Generations Wreck-Gar mold (can't tell which one because I can only see their weapon)

You remember the news of Takara releasing the Hasbro Titan Masters in better deco? It being a wonderfest and Cybertron Satelite exclusive spread some fear for the price. Satelite Exclusives have been very expensive in the past, especially for the west where with importing costs, like last year's Warrior Black Knight Bumblebee for $60. However, the situation may not be so bleak this year because we have a listing from Robot Kingdom for this set and it is at the very reasonable price of 25$. Of course, the extra $20 it costs to ship it out anywhere is not as fun but fellow Seibertronian Emerje realized that for Robot Kingdom to sell it for this low compared to the Yen price it has in Japan must mean that this wont be exclusive afterall, and have a more readily available release from Hasbro Asia.

Emerje wrote:To be able to get these for $25 must mean there'll be an Asia release. $25 is less than the exchange rate by about $1.50 and doesn't include any type of import markup. Keep an eye on TFSource and BBTS in the coming days.

So, instead of looking at $60 like previous Satelite exclusives, this would be more around the $40 price point. Would you get it for that?

If you are able to order 2 or 3 items that are reasonably priced it can spread out that shipping cost a bit & make it a reasonable deal.

Kurona wrote:

Wolfman Jake wrote:Would anyone like to name all the bots in the picture other than the Autobot Headmaster quartet of Hardhead, Highbrow, Chromedome, and Brainstorm? Some of them are a bit obscure, and still others are quite obscured, but I'm sure there are some among us who are up to the challenge!

Cybertron Quickmix, Thrilling 30 Sandstorm, Universe 2008 Countdown, Cybertron Longrack, Thrilling 30 Crosscut; a user of the Generations Wreck-Gar mold (can't tell which one because I can only see their weapon)

Not a bad start. Thrilling 30 Sandstorm isn't quite right. Neither is Thrilling 30 Crosscut. I'll give you a hint on the Wreck-Gar mold. If you make a habit of passing your time on the internet, you may be said to have a(n) ------.

Wolfman Jake wrote:

Kurona wrote:

Wolfman Jake wrote:Would anyone like to name all the bots in the picture other than the Autobot Headmaster quartet of Hardhead, Highbrow, Chromedome, and Brainstorm? Some of them are a bit obscure, and still others are quite obscured, but I'm sure there are some among us who are up to the challenge!

Cybertron Quickmix, Thrilling 30 Sandstorm, Universe 2008 Countdown, Cybertron Longrack, Thrilling 30 Crosscut; a user of the Generations Wreck-Gar mold (can't tell which one because I can only see their weapon)

Not a bad start. Thrilling 30 Sandstorm isn't quite right. Neither is Thrilling 30 Crosscut. I'll give you a hint on the Wreck-Gar mold. If you make a habit of passing your time on the internet, you may be said to have a(n) ------.

Burn-out and Junkheap!

Microraptor wrote:

Wolfman Jake wrote:

Kurona wrote:

Wolfman Jake wrote:Would anyone like to name all the bots in the picture other than the Autobot Headmaster quartet of Hardhead, Highbrow, Chromedome, and Brainstorm? Some of them are a bit obscure, and still others are quite obscured, but I'm sure there are some among us who are up to the challenge!

Cybertron Quickmix, Thrilling 30 Sandstorm, Universe 2008 Countdown, Cybertron Longrack, Thrilling 30 Crosscut; a user of the Generations Wreck-Gar mold (can't tell which one because I can only see their weapon)

Not a bad start. Thrilling 30 Sandstorm isn't quite right. Neither is Thrilling 30 Crosscut. I'll give you a hint on the Wreck-Gar mold. If you make a habit of passing your time on the internet, you may be said to have a(n) ------.

Burn-out and Junkheap!

Burn Out is right! Also included is Dia, the Diaclone pilot for Burn Out.

Junkheap is not correct, though.

Come on, guys! There are more bots to name out in that pic.

Wolfman Jake wrote:

Microraptor wrote:

Wolfman Jake wrote:

Kurona wrote:

Wolfman Jake wrote:Would anyone like to name all the bots in the picture other than the Autobot Headmaster quartet of Hardhead, Highbrow, Chromedome, and Brainstorm? Some of them are a bit obscure, and still others are quite obscured, but I'm sure there are some among us who are up to the challenge!

Cybertron Quickmix, Thrilling 30 Sandstorm, Universe 2008 Countdown, Cybertron Longrack, Thrilling 30 Crosscut; a user of the Generations Wreck-Gar mold (can't tell which one because I can only see their weapon)

Not a bad start. Thrilling 30 Sandstorm isn't quite right. Neither is Thrilling 30 Crosscut. I'll give you a hint on the Wreck-Gar mold. If you make a habit of passing your time on the internet, you may be said to have a(n) ------.

Burn-out and Junkheap!

Burn Out is right! Also included is Dia, the Diaclone pilot for Burn Out.

Junkheap is not correct, though.

Come on, guys! There are more bots to name out in that pic.

Takara Generations Sandstorm?

Universe 2008 Treadbolt

Kurona wrote:Takara Generations Sandstorm?

Universe 2008 Treadbolt

Yes and yes! Keep them coming, guys!

Kurona wrote:

Wolfman Jake wrote:

Microraptor wrote:

Wolfman Jake wrote:

Kurona wrote:

Wolfman Jake wrote:Would anyone like to name all the bots in the picture other than the Autobot Headmaster quartet of Hardhead, Highbrow, Chromedome, and Brainstorm? Some of them are a bit obscure, and still others are quite obscured, but I'm sure there are some among us who are up to the challenge!

Cybertron Quickmix, Thrilling 30 Sandstorm, Universe 2008 Countdown, Cybertron Longrack, Thrilling 30 Crosscut; a user of the Generations Wreck-Gar mold (can't tell which one because I can only see their weapon)

Not a bad start. Thrilling 30 Sandstorm isn't quite right. Neither is Thrilling 30 Crosscut. I'll give you a hint on the Wreck-Gar mold. If you make a habit of passing your time on the internet, you may be said to have a(n) ------.

Burn-out and Junkheap!

Burn Out is right! Also included is Dia, the Diaclone pilot for Burn Out.

Junkheap is not correct, though.

Come on, guys! There are more bots to name out in that pic.

Takara Generations Sandstorm?

Universe 2008 Treadbolt

I spy Spy-Eye and Lift-Ticket on the far left.

Sabrblade wrote:I spy Spy-Eye and Lift-Ticket on the far left.

You do indeed, Sabr! Cline is there as well.

By the way, everyone so far has been overlooking the bottom right corner. Just sayin'!

Wolfman Jake wrote:By the way, everyone so far has been overlooking the bottom right corner. Just sayin'!

Ah tells ya, it's Target-/Micromastah discriminay-shun, is wut it is!

william-james88 wrote:You remember the news of Takara releasing the Hasbro Titan Masters in better deco? It being a wonderfest and Cybertron Satelite exclusive spread some fear for the price. Satelite Exclusives have been very expensive in the past, especially for the west where with importing costs, like last year's Warrior Black Knight Bumblebee for $60. However, the situation may not be so bleak this year because we have a listing from Robot Kingdom for this set and it is at the very reasonable price of 25$. Of course, the extra $20 it costs to ship it out anywhere is not as fun but fellow Seibertronian Emerje realized that for Robot Kingdom to sell it for this low compared to the Yen price it has in Japan must mean that this wont be exclusive afterall, and have a more readily available release from Hasbro Asia.

Emerje wrote:To be able to get these for $25 must mean there'll be an Asia release. $25 is less than the exchange rate by about $1.50 and doesn't include any type of import markup. Keep an eye on TFSource and BBTS in the coming days.

So, instead of looking at $60 like previous Satelite exclusives, this would be more around the $40 price point. Would you get it for that?

Are these available in-store in Japan right now?

Rysquad wrote:Are these available in-store in Japan right now?

Not for another 3 weeks or so

Rysquad wrote:
Are these available in-store in Japan right now?

No, they are actually quite hard to get in japan since right now the only way to get them is to go to Wonderfest.

Rysquad wrote:

william-james88 wrote:You remember the news of Takara releasing the Hasbro Titan Masters in better deco? It being a wonderfest and Cybertron Satelite exclusive spread some fear for the price. Satelite Exclusives have been very expensive in the past, especially for the west where with importing costs, like last year's Warrior Black Knight Bumblebee for $60. However, the situation may not be so bleak this year because we have a listing from Robot Kingdom for this set and it is at the very reasonable price of 25$. Of course, the extra $20 it costs to ship it out anywhere is not as fun but fellow Seibertronian Emerje realized that for Robot Kingdom to sell it for this low compared to the Yen price it has in Japan must mean that this wont be exclusive afterall, and have a more readily available release from Hasbro Asia.

Emerje wrote:To be able to get these for $25 must mean there'll be an Asia release. $25 is less than the exchange rate by about $1.50 and doesn't include any type of import markup. Keep an eye on TFSource and BBTS in the coming days.

So, instead of looking at $60 like previous Satelite exclusives, this would be more around the $40 price point. Would you get it for that?

Are these available in-store in Japan right now?

Bro' tried that route. Even my JP, very reliable (not Amiami) source won't/can't touch the WF route with a 10 foot pole. When it's limited, it's limited. Like those Convention Exclusives in the mainland. Also timed released for WF and later Takara Tomy mall and some other JP stores.

Even advised me to just wait for potential auction offers post WF. The RK route is the best (for now) until BBTS or even hlj etc get's in the act and sells them.

Via usual suspect and toy photographer tagoal on Twitter, we have some in-hand images of the Takara Tomy Transformers Legends LG40 Astrotrain, in all three modes and including a comparison shot with the Titans Return version of the same toy, too! Check them out below, and let us know what you think in the Energon Pub.

Huh. Looks a lot lighter than it did before...

Sigma Magnus wrote:Huh. Looks a lot lighter than it did before...

Its the lighting and the camera + your monitor. Similar phenomena with Wolfmanjake's TL images of SW. His is kind of dark blue when in reality it is more lighter.

They're both so good looking, each in their own way.

Yeah they both look great, I feel both companies went all out on this deco and design, kudos to both of them to give us fun and viable options. We can actually choose which we preffer without one being superior to the other.

Hmmm.....I like the plastic colors on both, but I think both will benefit greatly from the Reprolabels/Toyhax sticker set.

Kyleor wrote:Hmmm.....I like the plastic colors on both, but I think both will benefit greatly from the Reprolabels/Toyhax sticker set.

I looked into those but all they do is add distracting 80s sticker detail. It ends up looking more jarring. I lwas like when reprolabels add to the toy and blend with the design, those dont.