#generation selects

I never see people talking about this.

k)G1 Toy matrix, aka G1 Toy Diecast Optimus Prime's Matrix or Devastation Optimus Prime Matrix

l)Galaxy force Hybrid matrix

m.1)Gen Select SG Oprimus Prime Matrix

m.2)"See through" Matrix variant

n)Gen Selects Behold matrix, aka Corrupted Matrix

o)Legacy SG Rodimus's Matrix of Leadership, aka POTP Matrix of Chaos, Conquest or Anti-Matrix, take your pick.

Transformers Prime

Generation Selects

Voyager Class

War Breakdown (loose)

& Zamu

by Hasbro

Breakdown was given to me by a friend of mine in Virginia because he had a duplicate set. The reason: he wanted two jet Vehicons, and the second Breakdown was just extra plastic. So he was gifted to me. My gain.

My normal modus operandi is that I post in the order that I bought or received the toy. In Breakdown’s case, I’ve delayed this so many time it’s now irrelevant. It’s not import in the grand scheme of things, I just wanted to go on record about it.

Before I could post this (which I’ve delayed several times already) I needed to apply all of Breakdown’s stickers first, and this is the part I hate. There’s a reason I haven’t opened my ‘Titans Return’ Trypticon, or ‘Power of the Primes’ Predaking yet BECAUSE of the stickers, which I’m not ready to deal with...Well, that and I don’t have a lot of room at the moment to even display them. 

Anyway, let’s get back to Breakdown.

This Breakdown figure was part of the original Transformers Prime toyline, however this toy never made it to the States because of some kind of safety reason, or something? So TFP Breakdown stayed in Japan. Well something’s changed because he and the Vehicon jet soldier made it in a two pack ten years later. So this is my first (likely only) TFP Breakdown.

Going back to the stickers for a just a moment. This was a bit of a pain to apply all of them, but I managed to do it, and I think they do compliment the toy, for the most part.

Vehicle Mode:

Vehicle mode is, what I believe, is an armored truck. It’s cast in mostly in blue plastic, it’s chunky, and it rolls.

The armored truck has got some nice, but simple detailing, and the stickers do help, I must begrudgingly admit.

The right, rear side panel just won’t close up for some reason. That’s a little annoying.

At the end of the day it rolls well, and aside from the disconnected panel the truck is ultimately a sold vehicle.

The vehicle has about 5 5mm ports for additional weapons and such.

Transformation:

Transformation really isn’t the difficult. My biggest issue is the right leg panel (which is the loose section in the vehicle mode) is just constantly popping off during transformation, and that’s a very annoying.

Robot Mode:

Breakdown just looks so cool! He’s broad-shouldered, gorilla-armed, tiny headed hellova bruiser-bot!

This toy really captured the TFP aesthetic.

Breakdown’s got some serious attitude going on here.

He poses well, and you can get him into some decent action poses, however he’s a bit weak at the knees which is problem because of he’s a little top heavy. He stands just fine.

The sticker on the rear bumper was the worst thing to apply.

Zamu:

Zamu is...his Arms Minicon partner, I think. Since this toy was released in japan back in 2012 it’s the same set which was packaged for the set.

Zamu had to be assembled like a model kit; it wasn’t too difficult, and once again the sticker application was probably the hardest part. Haha!

Zamu is a robotic rhinoceros. who transforms into either a gun or a hammer for Breakdown to wield.

Flip back the hand and you can place the hammer in the clear plastic piece (be mindful on the clear plastic)

Final Thoughts:

War Breakdown is a fun, but flawed toy. The armored truck mode has a panel which doesn’t peg in properly, the knees are a little weak, but the toy poses well, he looks fantastic, and was definitely a missing piece to me TFP collection.

What was Bludgeon trying to do with Soundwave when he appeared in the Cybertron Magna Convoy comic? And what Order does he belong to?

Dear Kanabo Kakusei,

Bludgeon was a disgraced member of the Golden Age. In the days following the execution of Blue Big Convoy’s plan to free the primal multiverse of the Specters, Bludgeon vehemently argued against the results. The seven-coloured universes had been better separate, each paying homage to Primus on his throne and keeping distant from the other, and the ensuing fusion had left things chaotic and dangerous. Primus, who lacked confidence and the ability to take criticism, summarily banished him from the Golden Age.

Scuba Dooba Doo, where are you?

Transformers

Generation Selects

Shattered Glass Optimus Prime & Ratchet

by Hasbro (2021)

Gen Selects Shattered Glass Optimus Prime and Ratchet was a set I was looking forward too. This was an Amazon exclusive, and really all they are, are repaints of the Earthrise Optimus and Ratchet.

Ratchet (Evil Autobot Medic):

Evil Autobot Ratchet is...still an ambulance...but an evil ambulance.

Still cast in white plastic, with teal, clear plastic windows, and a purple (or is it pink?) Autobot batch on the roof.

Vehicle Mode:

The exposed robot feet are still present on this mold.

Robot Mode:

In robot mode evil Ratchet, again has no mold changes; he’s all repaint, is white and teal cast plastics with some purple accent colors on his shoulders, and his forehead chevron.

I even like the dark gray face and the red eyes.

As you can see, the differences between the two Ratchets are all in the paint shceme.

Optimus Prime (Evil Autobot Leader):

Evil Optimus Prime is still a truck, but no trailer for this toy, unfortunately.

Much like the MP Shattered Glass Optimus I got for my birthday two years ago I would have preferred the damaged windows to be sculpted, and not simply painted. Still, it’s a nice effect.

Vehicle Mode:

It rolls well, as toy trucks are supposed to do, and that’s just fine by me.

Comparing Gen Selects SG Optimus to my KO SG Optimus you can see that the official one is more pink, and the KO (which is based on the original Botcon version is more pink.

I also would have preferred the BIG Autobot badge on the side of the truck of the KO.

Robot Mode:

Optimus Prime is robot mode is, again, a repaint of the Earthrise version.

I love this pose, especially the way the light makes his red eyes pop.

Evil Optimus comes with a removable Matrix (of Conquest, I’m assuming).

And comparing my KO evil Optimus to my Hasbro version you can see the older mold it slightly larger, and of course, more pink.

Final Thoughts:

I’ve said this once, and I’ll say it again, I love the concept of Shattered Glass Transformers, and have another evil Optimus Prime, and to FINALLY have evil Ratchet is a real treat for me.

Click the link below for my original post on the KO Shattered Glass Optimus Prime.

https://jimclassicstoycollection.tumblr.com/post/48436906156/shattered-glass-optimus-prime-i-got-it-in-the-mail

Click on this link below on my original post on the Masterpiece Shattered Glass Optimus Prime.

Transformers

Generation Selects

Star Convoy

by Hasbro (2019)

I bought this figure used off of a friend of mine back in late January/February 2021, and was delivered to me late February.

Gen Selects Star Convoy is a heavy retool of the ‘Power of the Primes’ Optimus Prime/Nemesis Prime mold.

I don’t know the full history of Star Convoy, but my understanding is that it’s Optimus Prime, revived and upgraded in the Japanese continuity of the Sunbow animated series, after Rodimus Prime, but before Star Convoy. Though I admit, I’m probably about this...

The figure comes with the cab and trailer, two halves of a gun, and a silver Matrix.

Vehicle Mode:

The cab mode is a...janky mess....I gotta be honest here this vehicle mode is not pretty.

...Especally if you look at it from the back.

If you squint the tractor trailer does look okay.

Robot Mode (Optimus Prime/ Convoy):

Optimus Prime’s core robot mode is giving off some Powermaster Optimus mode, esthetically. with the faux front chest panel, and the back being the actual cab.

However if you fold down the window portions it creates an interesting back for Optimus, but I think I prefer this configuration.

The core Optimus stands well, and I’m digging his head sculpt; it’s giving off G1 toy Prime vibes.

Star Convoy:

This is the real meat and potatoes here. Compressing the Optimus Prime core into a cube shape, and converting the trailer section into a larger robot body.

Once you combine the two you get a really impressive robot mode!

I’m still getting that Power Master Optimus Prime vibe from him, a little but but with his own twist. You can see parts of the trailer on his arms and legs, he’s got this cool star crest on his chest, the Autobot badges with the military stripes could have been the genesis of the Elite Guard seen in Transformers Animated, and the fact this guy has gun turrets on his shoulders is just crazy to me!

It’s an impressive toy, but I have to say that Star Convoys ball-jointed ankle are a concern for me because sometimes I’m dealing with balance issues.

The Star Convoy mode also has a great head sculpt. I’m digging the vacuum metal chevron crest, and those blue eyes just pop.

The gold star crest (I suppose which puts the star in Star Convoy) looks really good, however I have an issue with it; it occasionally pops off at the top connection point and just hinges down, making handling this figure a little annoying, especially when you factor in the hinge section at the bottom point of the star is very thin, and I fear is a breakage issue.

Open up the chest compartment and you see the silver Matrix.

The frame without the core.

Combing the gun halves and you get an upscaled version of Optimus Prime’s class ion blaster.

You can even combine the gun with the Matrix, and it’s even blast effect compatable!

Final Thoughts:

Star Convoy is a fun toy, though not always a solid toy.

The truck mode (the cab specifically) is a disaster, and the balancing issues with the ankles, and star crest not always wanting to stay in place.

Still he makes an impressive addition to my Autobot collection.