Nato-bot Rereleasing Universe Roadbuster Upgrade Kit

It's been confirmed and news'd.

Thanks!

Sweet! Thanks Mkall....broke my news reporting cherry

Dead Metal wrote:I hear the quality is pretty shit and you have to clean the set and sandpaper it down before it looks good.

I wouldn't call it shit, but the plastic is a bit rough. It does not have the luster of a factory produced piece but I didn't expect that either. I put mine on and did not sand it. I really did not notice it much until you brought it up. Yes it could be better quality, but it is still a lot better than having a straight repaint with the old head sculpt.

p.s. The plastic does look better (shiner) in the photo than in person.

Dang, didn't Hot Shot have enough fire power on this mold?

He's got missiles on his legs for crying out loud! Not to mention an extra arm dagger/sword. lol

I sent them an email yesterday afternoon to make certain I was on the waiting list. Not only did they respond overnight, they verified the date that I sent the email asking to be on the waiting list. It was 03/03/09, well after they had "sold out" the pre-orders, and they said they hope to send me and invoice by next week.

So if you got yourself on the waiting list, you are probably good to go.

Dead Metal wrote:I hear the quality is pretty shit and you have to clean the set and sandpaper it down before it looks good.

Yes, this set is a pretty shitty set. I was sent the set back in may and I opened up the package to see both the gun and top head piece was broken. I let the Natobot know about the issue and they sent me another one earlier this month and the gun was fine but the top head piece was broken again. I told them it had happened again and they said sorry we can't do anything so I had to glue the head together which it looks a little crappy now. Another thing is the particle cannon you have to glue it together so it will stay together.

I was planning on buying the Animated Prime Axe, but if this is their quality forget it.

Man, along with lack of money at the time, I didn't pick up Roadbuster because of his head....and here we go!

Somehow he reminds me of Rhinox....

Jenus wrote:

Dead Metal wrote:I hear the quality is pretty shit and you have to clean the set and sandpaper it down before it looks good.

Yes, this set is a pretty shitty set. I was sent the set back in may and I opened up the package to see both the gun and top head piece was broken. I let the Natobot know about the issue and they sent me another one earlier this month and the gun was fine but the top head piece was broken again. I told them it had happened again and they said sorry we can't do anything so I had to glue the head together which it looks a little crappy now. Another thing is the particle cannon you have to glue it together so it will stay together.
it.

I wonder who you contacted about replacing the second head. I don't recall ever denying anyone replacement parts.

I have made some major improvements to the molds since the first few sets came out. No, the parts aren't perfect, there are tool marks that make the surface a little rough. But I have always advertised these as "garage grade kits". Which to most collectors who know about model kits would know means they will probably need at least a little work done on them to make them look prefect. I have a set, unaltered, on my Roadbuster right now. The pictures on the website were of an unaltered set, and there was no photoshopping done to the images. The roughness of the texture is barely perceivable (especial if all you're going to do is put it on a shelf somewhere and look at it from 5 feet away). If you don't like it it can be sanded. I've sold hundreds of these things and you're the first two that I've heard of expressing dissatisfaction.

I'm sorry if your disappointed. If something came broken, I'll replace it. But really that's what shipping insurance is for, it leaves my hands unbroken, packed in two layers of bubble rap, in a sturdy USPS Priority box (a method proven hundreds of times to be an adequate conveyance). If the item comes to you broken and you haven't payed for the insurance then it really isn't my fault, but still I ship new parts no questions asked (as I said, I don't recall ever not doing so). What more do you want?

Nate

nato-bot wrote:Snip.

Would you be able to tell us the size of the second production run and approximately how many more sets you will have available?

Thank you!

Counterpunch wrote:

nato-bot wrote:Snip.

Would you be able to tell us the size of the second production run and approximately how many more sets you will have available?

Thank you!

Sorry for being snippy. I've tried to be as honest as I can be about my products. I've never said they were going to be Hasbro quality. It's a little upsetting to see people call something "shit" when I've put literally thousands of hours of my own time and tens-of-thousands of my own dollars into it, and even if you remove the money I've spent from the equation I still won't be making minimum wage on the time I've spent producing it (if you do enter the money I've spent, I've actually lost a lot of money). I know it's not any of your fault for this, but I wrote it so you might understand my snippyness. Again I apologize.

I'll be making about another 200 units.

nato-bot wrote:

Counterpunch wrote:

nato-bot wrote:Snip.

Would you be able to tell us the size of the second production run and approximately how many more sets you will have available?

Thank you!

Sorry for being snippy. I've tried to be as honest as I can be about my products. I've never said they were going to be Hasbro quality. It's a little upsetting to see people call something "shit" when I've put literally thousands of hours of my own time and tens-of-thousands of my own dollars into it, and even if you remove the money I've spent from the equation I still won't be making minimum wage on the time I've spent producing it (if you do enter the money I've spent, I've actually lost a lot of money). I know it's not any of your fault for this, but I wrote it so you might understand my snippyness. Again I apologize.

I'll be making about another 200 units.

Actually, I heard good things about the set and was sorry I didn't pre-order earlier...

::Hopes to make one of the 200..::

nato-bot wrote:

Jenus wrote:

Dead Metal wrote:I hear the quality is pretty shit and you have to clean the set and sandpaper it down before it looks good.

Yes, this set is a pretty shitty set. I was sent the set back in may and I opened up the package to see both the gun and top head piece was broken. I let the Natobot know about the issue and they sent me another one earlier this month and the gun was fine but the top head piece was broken again. I told them it had happened again and they said sorry we can't do anything so I had to glue the head together which it looks a little crappy now. Another thing is the particle cannon you have to glue it together so it will stay together.
it.

I wonder who you contacted about replacing the second head. I don't recall ever denying anyone replacement parts.

I have made some major improvements to the molds since the first few sets came out. No, the parts aren't perfect, there are tool marks that make the surface a little rough. But I have always advertised these as "garage grade kits". Which to most collectors who know about model kits would know means they will probably need at least a little work done on them to make them look prefect. I have a set, unaltered, on my Roadbuster right now. The pictures on the website were of an unaltered set, and there was no photoshopping done to the images. The roughness of the texture is barely perceivable (especial if all you're going to do is put it on a shelf somewhere and look at it from 5 feet away). If you don't like it it can be sanded. I've sold hundreds of these things and you're the first two that I've heard of expressing dissatisfaction.

I'm sorry if your disappointed. If something came broken, I'll replace it. But really that's what shipping insurance is for, it leaves my hands unbroken, packed in two layers of bubble rap, in a sturdy USPS Priority box (a method proven hundreds of times to be an adequate conveyance). If the item comes to you broken and you haven't payed for the insurance then it really isn't my fault, but still I ship new parts no questions asked (as I said, I don't recall ever not doing so). What more do you want?

Nate

I don't have your set, that's why I stated that I heard it was shit. That's what I read on tfw, some dude posted photos of it stating he had to sand it down to get the detail right and then a couple of others stated that it was bad. But I don't care for the set anyway as I don't have the toy but I do like your Animated Prime axe which I hope you make more of.
And I know how hard it is making this set, I've tried making an alternate head for Universe Blaster and stopped as I thought it was too much work for something that looked sup-par.
That you even made such an upgrade with such awesome weapons is rather cool.

I meant no personal offense to anyone. I'm sorry. If anyone has problems with their kit, let me know and I'll do my best to help.

Well I cant WAIT to get my set. From the pictures it looks pretty damn awesome for a 3rd party kit made and produced by one dude. Nato should have my money now so I am excited about receiving it and transforming a failed Universe Roadbuster into a WIN universe Roadbuster!

nato-bot wrote:

Jenus wrote:Yes, this set is a pretty shitty set. I was sent the set back in may and I opened up the package to see both the gun and top head piece was broken. I let the Natobot know about the issue and they sent me another one earlier this month and the gun was fine but the top head piece was broken again. I told them it had happened again and they said sorry we can't do anything so I had to glue the head together which it looks a little crappy now. Another thing is the particle cannon you have to glue it together so it will stay together.
it.

I wonder who you contacted about replacing the second head. I don't recall ever denying anyone replacement parts.

I have made some major improvements to the molds since the first few sets came out. No, the parts aren't perfect, there are tool marks that make the surface a little rough. But I have always advertised these as "garage grade kits". Which to most collectors who know about model kits would know means they will probably need at least a little work done on them to make them look prefect. I have a set, unaltered, on my Roadbuster right now. The pictures on the website were of an unaltered set, and there was no photoshopping done to the images. The roughness of the texture is barely perceivable (especial if all you're going to do is put it on a shelf somewhere and look at it from 5 feet away). If you don't like it it can be sanded. I've sold hundreds of these things and you're the first two that I've heard of expressing dissatisfaction.

I'm sorry if your disappointed. If something came broken, I'll replace it. But really that's what shipping insurance is for, it leaves my hands unbroken, packed in two layers of bubble rap, in a sturdy USPS Priority box (a method proven hundreds of times to be an adequate conveyance). If the item comes to you broken and you haven't payed for the insurance then it really isn't my fault, but still I ship new parts no questions asked (as I said, I don't recall ever not doing so). What more do you want?

Nate

Sorry for what I said, but I did not know this was a garage grade kit. I know that I did not add insurance on the package and I'm sure it is USPS fault and did not mean to blame you I was just frustrated with what was going on. I'm sure you are the one I contacted when asking about another head piece. I am not going to worry about it now because the issue of it most likely not being your fault I just have to ament to myself that it is my own for not adding insurance. Again sorry.

Dead Metal wrote:That you even made such an upgrade with such awesome weapons is rather cool.

This I will agree with, I ordered two sets from the original run of these so my roadbuster could be a dual wielding maxed out bad ass. I was quite happy with the set, makes roadbuster look like a worthwhile addition to the classics line up rather than a repainted BC springer.

Ratcheting action on the big rifles is very cool

side note, Dead Metal, I am begging you to change your avatar pic. Not sure if it is you or someone else but I am tired of looking at that screaming head in every thread. no offense intended.

nato-bot wrote:I meant no personal offense to anyone. I'm sorry. If anyone has problems with their kit, let me know and I'll do my best to help.

Thanks for coming and talking with our users/community about your product. There is a lot of interest in the area of 'add-ons' and I know that the excitement surrounding your upgrade for Roadbuster buzzed here for a long time.

And I was very happy to see about a week ago, an e-mail with a request for payment for a set, when I ordered late last time around, and thought I would not get one.

So I'm looking forward to getting this in the mail soon (got the ship notice).

Now, can you fix the squattiness of the figure? I want him to be taller!!!

Got my confirmation e-mail too..hopefully I see the kit by Friday. I have wanted this kit for a while!

I never got a follow-up email...

Am I just shit out of luck here?

Nahh dude, just send em an e mail asking what's up. I had to and they told me the shipping date and when to expect the kit.

Yeah, just be patient. I think this guy is doing it all on his own. So it might be a bit before he gets back to you. I remember hearing about emails going out with the first wave and I never got confirmation. A few months later, I got an email confirmation and so did a bunch of other at TFCC where I posted and it seems to comes in waves. So you'll get something from his letting you know. Just be patient CP. I think Nato-bot's Roadbuster will look pretty bad ass standing next to ROTF Brawn. I'ma team them two up!!

I'm totally cool with waiting longer for Nato-bot to take my money. No rush :3

Got my RB kit today. LOVE IT. This thing is amazing IMO how much it transforms (ha) this rather bland figure...









Man...this kit is more than I expected as far as fun and quality goes. Nato-bot is an awesome company. Great customer service, communication and a KICK-ASS product. This thing took me 6 seconds to assemble and no broken pieces at all. Super well packaged. No sanding, no painting...strictly WIN. Thanks so much Nate and I WILL be ordering again in the future should you venture in other directions.

Man, I am loving this thing. I can't put it down...worth every penny. A true classics Roadbuster. Stoked.

OPTIMUS MAGNUS wrote:Man, I am loving this thing. I can't put it down...worth every penny. A true classics Roadbuster. Stoked.

Besides the armament that Nato-bot gave in the set, I also have Universe Dropshot's gun with RB. Now he's armed to the teeth!!

Prime Evil wrote:

OPTIMUS MAGNUS wrote:Man, I am loving this thing. I can't put it down...worth every penny. A true classics Roadbuster. Stoked.

Besides the armament that Nato-bot gave in the set, I also have Universe Dropshot's gun with RB. Now he's armed to the teeth!!

Ha! That's not a bad idea! I knew I should have gotten 2 arm cannons for him!

OPTIMUS MAGNUS wrote:Got my RB kit today. LOVE IT. This thing is amazing IMO how much it transforms (ha) this rather bland figure...









Man...this kit is more than I expected as far as fun and quality goes. Nato-bot is an awesome company. Great customer service, communication and a KICK-ASS product. This thing took me 6 seconds to assemble and no broken pieces at all. Super well packaged. No sanding, no painting...strictly WIN. Thanks so much Nate and I WILL be ordering again in the future should you venture in other directions.

Now I REALLY want that email saying I scored one of these sets . G1 roadbuster was one of my top 5 TF's, and I really like the look of this set. Come one Nato-bot, hook a brother up!!!!

OPTIMUS MAGNUS wrote:Got my RB kit today. LOVE IT. This thing is amazing IMO how much it transforms (ha) this rather bland figure...









Man...this kit is more than I expected as far as fun and quality goes. Nato-bot is an awesome company. Great customer service, communication and a KICK-ASS product. This thing took me 6 seconds to assemble and no broken pieces at all. Super well packaged. No sanding, no painting...strictly WIN. Thanks so much Nate and I WILL be ordering again in the future should you venture in other directions.

That is win!

Got mine in the mail today. And while the top head piece did snap, I think it was my fault for being too rough with it.

I'm hoping a little of my wife's crafty glue stuff will work for holding it together, because it does look really cool!

tigertracks 24 wrote:Got mine in the mail today. And while the top head piece did snap, I think it was my fault for being too rough with it.

I'm hoping a little of my wife's crafty glue stuff will work for holding it together, because it does look really cool!

Aww that's a bummer dude! If you can't fix it just e-mail Nate. I am sure he will replace the part at least once. I was hoping I wouldn't have a problem like that. Mine truly took me 6 seconds to snap together. Pretty simple and awesome.

I got my invoice email this morning , and I originally requested to be put on the waiting list a few days after it "sold out" so there is hope for anyone else who asked to be added to the list.


Just a heads up to anyone who get's an invoice, it is either Paypal or Money Order for payment, and it's due within 10 days.


I had to send a money order, my paypal account is way low(like 4 bucks low ). I'd suggest getting some funds in the paypal account asap!

I've been on the wait list for the NWS-02RB Roadbuster upgrade from early April and I got skipped? People who ordered it 4 months after me received it and I still haven't even gotten an email that it's availible again? I'm really pissed now! I'm trying to be level headed about this but they're getting this email linked to the confirmation they sent me back on April 10:

It has come to my attention that this product has been offered again and in fact has even been received by people who more recently ordered it. I was told when I submitted my order that I was put on your waiting list. I was not informed that the item was availible again and feel slighted as to have been passed over for your product. I am still interested and would like to hear back from you.

Trying to keep the fangs in so to speak.

So fraking pissed right now...

zodconvoy wrote:I've been on the wait list for the NWS-02RB Roadbuster upgrade from early April and I got skipped? People who ordered it 4 months after me received it and I still haven't even gotten an email that it's availible again? I'm really pissed now! I'm trying to be level headed about this but they're getting this email linked to the confirmation they sent me back on April 10:

It has come to my attention that this product has been offered again and in fact has even been received by people who more recently ordered it. I was told when I submitted my order that I was put on your waiting list. I was not informed that the item was availible again and feel slighted as to have been passed over for your product. I am still interested and would like to hear back from you.

Trying to keep the fangs in so to speak.

So fraking pissed right now...

I'd hold off if I were you. I just got the invoice email today, and I got put on the waiting list about a month before you did. I was put on the waiting list on 03/03/09, and it had "sold out" in late February. he's making a bunch more, and I am sure he is at least making one for every waiting list request. Lord knows he will be able to sell any extras on eBay.

It sounds like it is one guy doing it all, taking, making and shipping the orders, so give it a little time. I emailed him on July 21st (Tuesday) and he got back to me the next day saying I should get my invoice "sometime next week" meaning sometime between the 27th and the 1st of August, and I just got it today, the 5th of August.

Trust me, I am WAY impatient, but just give it a little time. If you piss off the one guy doing it all, you are probably not going to get one

--B-- wrote: what --B-- said

And that's why I try to be as polite as possible when I'm made online. I thought optimus Magnus had just ordered it. My bad.

I hate coming across as a dick online. I'm better at it in person!

zodconvoy wrote:

--B-- wrote: what --B-- said

And that's why I try to be as polite as possible when I'm made online. I thought optimus Magnus had just ordered it. My bad.

I hate coming across as a dick online. I'm better at it in person!

It's all good.


Hey, my employee's don't refer to me as "asshole" because I'm round and puckered, that's fer sure!

Just got around to installing this kit today after having it for months. The kit look great, unfortunately while taking apart of the original head I found out that the column that holds the head in place was split and cracked by the screw. Debating if I should superglue the head in place or just leave it and not move it too much so it won't break off....

--B-- wrote:I'd hold off if I were you. I just got the invoice email today, and I got put on the waiting list about a month before you did. I was put on the waiting list on 03/03/09, and it had "sold out" in late February. he's making a bunch more, and I am sure he is at least making one for every waiting list request. Lord knows he will be able to sell any extras on eBay.

It sounds like it is one guy doing it all, taking, making and shipping the orders, so give it a little time. I emailed him on July 21st (Tuesday) and he got back to me the next day saying I should get my invoice "sometime next week" meaning sometime between the 27th and the 1st of August, and I just got it today, the 5th of August.

Trust me, I am WAY impatient, but just give it a little time. If you piss off the one guy doing it all, you are probably not going to get one

That's pretty much correct. There where about 150 "waiting list" orders, and I'm making about 200 more (total, not 350)to cover some new orders, so if you were on the wait list before the "second-run" announcement you should be good.

And yes, I'm making these by my self in my garage. I've got a friend helping out with the emails and orders (thanks Chris), but these were designed by me prototyped by me and manufactured by me. Then I do all the post-mold clean up and assembling (with some help from my wife), all the packaging and the shipping. It's taken a lot longer than I'd hopped, but I've learned a lot in the proses. My next project should go much faster (both fingers crossed).

Thanks for all your support (and patience),
Nate

Are you all close to having the waiting list all responded to?

I haven't gotten a response yet and though I'm not impatient about it, I just wanted to see if perhaps my order did go in too late.

nato-bot wrote:

--B-- wrote:I'd hold off if I were you. I just got the invoice email today, and I got put on the waiting list about a month before you did. I was put on the waiting list on 03/03/09, and it had "sold out" in late February. he's making a bunch more, and I am sure he is at least making one for every waiting list request. Lord knows he will be able to sell any extras on eBay.

It sounds like it is one guy doing it all, taking, making and shipping the orders, so give it a little time. I emailed him on July 21st (Tuesday) and he got back to me the next day saying I should get my invoice "sometime next week" meaning sometime between the 27th and the 1st of August, and I just got it today, the 5th of August.

Trust me, I am WAY impatient, but just give it a little time. If you piss off the one guy doing it all, you are probably not going to get one

That's pretty much correct. There where about 150 "waiting list" orders, and I'm making about 200 more (total, not 350)to cover some new orders, so if you were on the wait list before the "second-run" announcement you should be good.

And yes, I'm making these by my self in my garage. I've got a friend helping out with the emails and orders (thanks Chris), but these were designed by me prototyped by me and manufactured by me. Then I do all the post-mold clean up and assembling (with some help from my wife), all the packaging and the shipping. It's taken a lot longer than I'd hopped, but I've learned a lot in the proses. My next project should go much faster (both fingers crossed).

Thanks for all your support (and patience),
Nate

Was the "Piss off the guy doing it all and you won't get anything at all" bit right too?

J/K You know as well as any of us how much fans get crazy about an item they are waiting to hear about. I'm sure you have recieved way more nasty emails then you have nice ones. Heck, the first one I sent wasn't exactly sunshine and roses!

Counterpunch wrote:Are you all close to having the waiting list all responded to?

Not really, I've only gone though about 50 of them.

--B-- wrote:Was the "Piss off the guy doing it all and you won't get anything at all" bit right too?

Eehh... no

Lol...this kit IMO is worth the wait and the money. I ave read that folks have had problems with installation but, I had NO problems whatsoever. And, I was on the waiting list since last March. Totally worth the time...I love this thing.

Yea, I got the kit about a 3 weeks, and as others have said, it is worth every penny. I only wish that I had ordered the full kit rather than just the head and rifle. If you all have a choice when your invoice arrives, I highly suggest upgrading to the full kit if you havent, it looks to be worth it from all the pics I have seen. Thanks again Nano, it really makes this figure great.

Got mine today and had some trouble fitting it together but now it's assembled and awesome! Rifle & sword on the right and arm cannon & U Dropshot's rifle on the left with the back cannons half down. Over kill doesn't begin to describe him now!

Good job, Nate!

(sorry about the bitching...)

Got mine today.

It's a fun upgrade. Simple to do with a noticable effect.

The guns are very nice, the recoil rifle is especially fun.

The Roadbuster head is of course the main attraction. The sculpt is very nice, there are no transforming issues, and it's all snap into place easy.

My only gripe (and it's a minor one that I could fix with some superglue), is that because the head is snap together and held via pressure, there is just a little bit of give-type movement when you turn his head. It feels like it might seperate, but doesn't. Again, it's not a problem, just a result of me choosing not to glue it on.

Primo set here Nato! You really gave this figure a second chance at being a true Classic. Overall upgrade rating: A

So whatever happened with this upgrade set? Did it ever come out? I don't see that BBTS or TFsource has it and nato-bot's website no longer works.

Yes it came out in two waves, one about a year ago and another 6 months later. Nate was just making them in his garage, no retailer involved, so you ordered it straight from him. It was a sweet little upgrade that made a lackluster repaint really shine. I actually sold mine to a fellow member of this board a couple months ago but Natobot is a member here so you can PM him.