#master made

What a year 2016 was. However you may feel about the momentous events of the year, there’s one common, resounding sentiment across the Transformers community : 2016 was an amazing year for Transformers.

From official to third party there were many wonderful surprises that catered to the diverse pockets of the fandom. In its anniversary year, we saw Beast Wars get its deserved place in the Masterpiece line. Fans of comic fiction saw characters from the canonical More than Meets the Eye to the War Within receive loving representations in toy form.

Significantly the mainline Transformer toy line Titan Returns built on the momentum of Combiner Wars and elevated our expectations of what could be achieved with mass market deluxe, voyager and leader class figures. Cheap and hollow they may be but the engineering and playability of these releases captivated fans with their fun factor. The Masterpiece line underwent a newfound visual aesthetic that has divided some in the Masterpiece collecting community but no one can deny that Takara continue to engineer the hell out of these toys in a way no third party has come close to.

Even transforming relatives felt the love this year. GoBots received love in the Machine Robo line with 6 visually commanding releases while Diabattles unleashed an epic entry on the transforming toy collector community.

It’s with that tough context that I set out to try and name my top 10 Transformers of the 2016. Never has a limitation felt so unjust that I feel like a Quintesson handing out verdicts from my ivory tower on Quintessa. Firstly, a shout out to toys I failed to open last year. I expect some of you to be really loved in 2017.

Some Honorable Mentions:

Maketoys Pandinus was an event of the year. Unpacking it, beholding it’s beautifully sculpted glory, was nothing short of breathtaking.

Maketoys Striker Manus has yet to depart the coffee table. It’s not just his fun factor that keeps him there but also the freshness that he offers to an increasingly Masterpiece focused fandom.

MMC Impactor has been a long time coming. Perfect in every way except his transformation, he’s been a coffee table regular.

LG Springer was a repaint of one of the all-time great moulds from the Takara / Hasbro stable. It wasn't the last repaint that I derided then loved in 2016.  

In a regular theme of 2016, I underestimated Takara to my own peril. MP Hot Rod delivered cleverness and fun in untold amounts. So sure was I of disappointment that I only ordered one but after one play through, I went crawling back for seconds.

Gravity Builder delivered the perfect Devastator. Great in terms of scale but each and every individual bot was a beauty in their own right. So QC issues and fierce competition keeps it from the top 10 of 2016 but my eyes never stray far from its towering neo-G1 aesthetic.

I’ll have to end that list here otherwise, we’ll be here to 2018.

With its visceral yet heroic form, Vulcan was the culmination of Planet X’s cumulative learnings across their Fall of Cybertron Dinobots. Featuring some of the best implementations of light piping and transluscent plastics combined with awesomely articulated  alt mode and robot mode, the Dinobot leader was a mainstay of coffee table fiddlebots– a quality that proved decisive in this list.  

9. LG Blurr

Hasbro’s version of this wasn’t inspirational. It undermined the quality of the sculpt and engineering because it was so hard to look past that horrible palette of colours. Enter Takara and voila, Blurr blazed into the levels of stardom he deserved. Featuring amazing levels of articulation (wrist swivels!) and nuanced details like the raised crest on his head, you can’t mistake the labour of love poured into this figure. A figure I immediately want in my displays but also one I want on the coffee table, it’s fine affirmation of why I have that unhealthy habit of buying multiple TFs.

8. LG / Hasbro Wheelie

Hasbro or Takara, it doesn’t matter. A stunning example of what official engineering at its best can still offer. Not only does it have a beautiful head sculpt, an amazing transformation and two excellent alt modes – it has a cockpit play feature. All in the Legends size class! If coffee table occupancy is a critical metric of a figures success in 2016, Wheelie earns more points for being the perfect travelbot. He accompanied me on multiple holidays because his involved transformation and photogenic-self packs the right level of durability and fun.

Reported levels of varying QC on the Hasbro version are a shame as this, because this like Generations Springer, is one for the ages. Wheelie is what happens when ambition intersects with engineering brilliance.

7. Unite Warriors Technobots

Untie Warriors was an uneven set of releases that highlighted some of the problems with the design philosophies of the Combiner Wars era. Mixed with QC issues and the need for third party limbs, there was a certain readiness among the fandom to move on. 

Against this backdrop, the Unite Warriors Technobots were one of the last releases but they showcased what the line was truly capable of with a good coat of paint and loving remolding. Beautiful to the last bot and sexy to the last alt mode, the only thing that stopped this being higher was the need for the third party limbs to complete the combined mode.

6. Diabattles

This may not be a Transformer and after my retailer cancelled my preorder, I’d decided it’s something I could live without. But enter the age of enablement as the unbridled enthusiasm of pockets of the fandom (looking at @TFSquareOne here) along with a play with @itfdb’s copy forced me to reconsider. It may not be a huge figure but it’s amazing in the detail it packs and the playability it offers. Enabled by a sensationally focused engineering ethos, this figure dominated the coffee table for months and had me regularly diving into the accessories box under the sofa. Even now it’s gone into the non-TF transforming toy shelf but I’ve kept it at the front knowing full well I never want this to be far from reach.

5. Maketoys Cross Dimensions Despotron

Entering the business end of the top 10, I’ve come to realise I’m a neo-Gi collector at heart. I don’t want figures to be slavish to G1, I want them to be inspired by G1. As much as I adore Striker Manus, it is Despotron who shines. His sculpt oozes character in a way that reminds me of Animated and Transformers Prime toys. Every pose, every minutia of articulation all works towards accentuating the personality of our favourite Cybertronian despot. It’s a stunning achievement in design. Returning to my yardstick for success, this hasn’t left the coffee table since arrival. I expect it to stay there for awhile yet.

4. Titan Returns Triggerhappy

Having enjoyed many a top 10 of 2016 list, I can safely say, this guy is on most of them. And there’s a bloody damn good reason for that. Intuitive is a word that is often casually bandied around with transformations but I can’t think of a better bot that deserves that accolade. With its clever array of twists and folds, a beautifully shaped cockpit, incredible levels of articulation, two Takara compatible display stand ports, and  a stunning futuristic starfighter alt mode, Triggerhappy is an undisputed engineering marvel.

3. MMC Overlord

MMC Reformatted started the year strong with Impactor, Nova Prime and Turmoil and then went missing for the rest of the year until this. And boy was it worth it. Fiction has always been a key pillar of my love of Transformers and Overlord is a bold representation of what I consider a milestone in Transformers history: the Alex Milne and James Roberts era. 

Packing all the sadistic personality of his comic book persona and eye-catching sci-fi alt modes, MMC Overlord is a toy with presence and heft and three wonderful alt modes. His transformation suffers from some Maketoys moments but none of it is enough to displace this monstrous beast from a top spot.

2. SparkToys War Within Optimus Prime (Alpha Pack)

Every year, a few new players enter the booming third party market hoping to find their niche. Newcomer SparkToys promised love to the War Within series, one of the comics that brought me back to Transformers fold and ultimately Transformers collecting. Generally hesitant to try new third party companies until after its first release, SparkToys found the trigger to force me to break that rule. I won’t lie. I was a little apprehensive. I’ve seen too many train wrecks from newcomers. But my fears were misplaced. With it in hand, I couldn’t help but marvel at the stunning paint work and beautifully accurate sculpt that transported me to over a decade ago when I first fell in love with Transformers again. A love affair that’s led to the crazy collection I have today.

Not only that, but they dared to buck the trend. Their transformation is beautifully simple. There’s no near scrapes, tight squeezes or fiddily panels to navigate. While it may not have a Masterpiece moment, the simplicity is refreshing and ultimately FUN – a quality third party needs to aim for more rather than less. In its flawless futuristic alt mode or bulky heroic robot mode, it continues to dominate my coffee table much to my partner’s chagrin but it’s been there so long now, I’m convinced she’s starting to think of him as family.

1. Master Made Apollo

From their first release, Master Made have committed to their SD aesthetic: a unique niche that many a collector often does not have the budget, space or desire to invest in. Their penchant for quality and smart engineering has been undoubted from the start but what’s been amazing is how they continue to blow themselves away with each release.

Apollo was their last release of 2016 and it exemplified this. Unapologetic in its brilliance, Apollo exceeded my already high expectations. I remember the moments vividly as it was shared with good friend @itfdb. The moment you free it from its packaging and lift it out, the heft and quality of the sculpt bowls you over. All that before you begin transforming it, discovering its play features, and marvelling at its articulation! Apollo can be appreciated as a standalone figure but then you put him alongside some Iron Factory releases and you realise there will be no end to this figure’s playability.

He’s just been relocated from the coveted coffee table spot into my budding display setups but he’s right at the front because he’s a toy that I’ll never want far from my grubby little fingers. He’s what great toys should be and epitomises some of the key themes that I’m increasingly desire from my Transformers: inspired from G1, amazing articulation, fun transformations, beautiful sculpts and endless playability.

And that’s my 10.

We’ve just tiptoed into 2017 and it already promises to be another amazing year. One that may steamroll 2016 the way Megatron did Tarn and the DJD.

Hasbro and Takara look to be continuing their winning formula with a strong opening salvo in the form of Topspin, Quake and Krok. It’s also a movie year and I’m very curious how they’ll apply this design ethos to the movie line. The Masterpiece line will welcome more Beast Wars figures and will deliver arguably the most important release of the year: the despot we all want, but will it be the one we deserve?

Third party continue their onslaught of amazing product. MMC’s stable is ready to burst with Kultur on the cusp of release and IDW Megatron due later this year. Maketoys have MP Jazz and Targetmasters on the way whilst pushing the aesthetic and action figure boundaries of the franchise with their Cross Dimensions line. Master Made will turn their eye to their next project after they finish Scorponok and Fort Max. SparkToys will deliver the follow up to their War Within Optimus Prime with Megatron and maybe even the King. Having wow’d us with what they can do at Legends scale, Iron Factory will deliver combiners and a six changer.

Our wallets might not be excited about 2017 but we definitely have a lot to be excited about!

Producer: Master Made

Price: Approx. $240

Release Date: Jul. 2020

Item Height: approx. 7.75″ unarmored

Item Weight: N/A

Batteries: 2x CR2032 Cell batteries (one for Gin Hero and one for the add-on set)

WHERE TO BUY: TFSource (Sold Out)

Master Made has added yet another to their SD Figuration line in SDT-07 Gin Hero Warrior as well as the ST-06 Statue series add-on for him. This homage to Transformers’ Ginrai or “PowerMaster” Optimus Prime and the Godbomber upgrade from the Masterforce series really packs a punch. With both the figure and its upgrades coming in a single, deluxe purchase you not only get a solid piece with playability for days but additional accessories that give you play and display options that seem about endless. Check out this breakdown and let me know what you think in the comment section.

Presentation: Master Made actually went a different route with the box style on the Gin Hero pieces. These boxes feature a much thicker cardboard and remove any box gimmicks like the opening flap to review the pieces. The graphics are no longer line art of the product but more traditional pictures of the item itself and its features. It’s a good look and I hope that they continue with it. The items as always are well packed in their respective clamshells.

Build: Another area where Master Made brings more of the same with Gin Hero being a piece that has a mixture of diecast throughout the frame while plastic on the outside. It’s a solid, hefty piece with a lot of smart and efficient decision making having gone into the placement of friction and ratchet joints. The plastics used are high quality and the joints are nice and tight. There is an LED in the eyes of the larger-sized head and one in the base of the display stand for the add-on set.

Accessories: Here’s a list of the accessories taken from the product listing;

1 x Blaster 2 x Forearm Cannons 2 x Shoulder Rifles 2 x Retractable Blades 2 x Shoulder Wings 2 x Forearm Shooters

I’ve gotta’ say that I really enjoy the accessories that come with both the main figure and the add-on set. The choice the rifle and swords for the main figure was great in the sense of the proprietary stuff not coming with a separate set and the storage options on the figure make for a number of good looking, unique displays. Minus the shoulder blasters, the statue set is primarily armor bits that attach for the most part to both robot and alt mode (the crotch plate and wings do not attach to the truck mode.)

Articulation: Per line standard, Gin Hero’s articulation is impressive especially for having the proportions that it does. It’s equally impressive that the armor parts from the add-on set add no hindrance. Honestly all of these figures are an ab crunch away from being absolute perfection in this area to me.

Overall Score: 8.5/10 – Gin Hero (EX) is right in line with Master Made’s established high-quality standard. If you’re familiar with the line it really does feel like “more of the same” in a good way. I do like that they’re finally selling the figures and add-ons together even if they are in two separate boxes as to me it just plain makes sense with the amount of options these add-ons come with (Even if you want to keep a larger head on Gin Hero for example you may want the armor and weaponry or even the faux cab for the torso.) What I’d like to see with upcoming releases is for them to really start doing things that push the ceiling a bit more like more advanced articulation or maybe even going more all-in with the LED gimmicks as it would have been nice to have some sort of lighting option for the alternate head/torso as well.

Check out the gallery below, and if you fancy a Master Made Gin Hero EX for yourself, order one ASAP at TFSource.

Producer: Master Made

Price: Approx. $160 (For Caesar; Statue not listed as of this article.)

Release Date: Mar. 2018

Item Height: Approx. 6.5″

Item Weight: N/A

Batteries: 1x CR2032 for Caesar and 1x CR2032 for the Statue Add-On

WHERE TO BUY: TFSource (Statue not up for order at this time)

Master Made steps outside of their Transformers Citybots theme and digs into the “Masterforce” series with an homage to the insanely evil character “Overlord.” Their SDT-06 Caesar is an absolute Masterpiece. Also gone over in this article is the ST-05 Statue Series add-on for it as well. Between the videos above and the written breakdown/gallery below I’m going to try my best to give you as in-depth of a look at this piece as possible so take some time, check it out, and let me know what you think in the comments.

Presentation: I did not receive boxes with my copies of Caesar and the Statue Add-On because they have not went into production yet so I cannot comment on them.

Build: Like the rest of the Mega Series line, SDT-06 Caesar is a mixture of diecast and some of the best plastic I’ve felt on any Transformers toys whether they be first or third party produced. The diecast is throughout the frame of the figure and the plastic acts a shell giving it the aesthetic. The joints are a mixture of friction and fine ratchets and all joints are strong yet smooth. It’s a very fun piece to pick up and play around with. The LED feature and the battery compartment for it are easily accessible and well put together. The lights (LED-lit eyes) are nice and bright. It’s just overall very well done.

The ST-05 Statue add-on is entirely plastic and the base (an armless torso) lights up through the body and up through the removable head that can replace that of Caesar and give him a more proportionate look. Aesthetically I prefer this head but really wish that the eyes on the replacement head could light up as well.

Accessories: Caesar comes with two giant swords that can be stored on its backpack and also form the wings of the jet (one of his alt. modes he splits into a jet and tank while the other turns him into a fortress.) It also comes with a large shield and blaster which form the nose of the jet and turret of the tank respectively. It also comes with a miniature figure homaging the Transformers G1 character “Shockwave.”

As previously written, the Statue Add-on comes with the replacement head but also comes with two, smaller, katana-styled swords as well.

Articulation: As per usual, this is another Master Made product with articulation that well-exceeds what it looks like it should be able to do having such a stocky body design. Outside of ab-crunch, Caesar has about everything you’d look for in terms of advanced-level articulation. Definitely check out the video and gallery sections to see it in action.

Overall Score: 9.0/10 – Master Made honestly feels like they really can’t do any wrong at this point. They’ve made and improved upon a tried-and-true formula of style, materials, and engineering that just hit from all corners and Caesar feels like a culmination of all of what’s awesome from the previous 5 releases. I do like that they went back to the in-body light style vs. Odin having the modular light up contraptions but what keeps this from being a 10 are the nitpicks of it not having a way to light up the statue series head while attached to the main body and the lack of Giga and Mega breastmasters to attach to his chest (even non-transforming, it would have been a nice homage to the older Overlord design.) Overall, this is an amazing set and yet another high recommendation on a Master Made product from me.

Check out a few pictures of these in the gallery, and if you’re interested in an Master Made SDT-06 Caesar of your own, order one at TFSource!