Galaxy Convoy has me hooked...all over again!

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Sun May 15, 2005 7:42 am

Went to Anime Central today. Not because I like anime, mind you, but because an old friend that I haven't seen in a year or so was in town and was going. I'm looking around and something catches my eye. A huge display of Galaxy Force Transformers. They were being sold buy a guy who said his deals were so good, they were crazy. I haven't bought a main-line TF in over a year. Armada didn't thrill me and Energon...well, let's just say I wasn't a fan. But these figues really looked spectacular. Big, bulky, and battle-ready. So, I asked the guy, "how much for the GC-01 (Galaxy Convoy). He wanted 75 bucks for it. Not bad, since (when you can find 'em) they're over 80 online. I wandered away and looked at the rest of the 'con. Before the dealer room closed, I found myself by the crazy dealer's booth. Offhandedly, I asked him if he'd take $60 for the Galaxy Convoy. He made me a counter offer. I could have it for $60 if I was willing to take it without a bag. Like the man says, he's crazy. I got the thing home and marveled at how nice the packaging looks (imo, of course). Then I opened it.

Wow. Huge. Bulky. Guns out the wazoo! Immediately recognizable as Optimus Prime (well, Convoy, but you get the idea). I haven't been this happy with a TF in a looooong time. The guys who created this figure should be f'n proud! I can't wait till Cybertron starts showing up in the US. I'm looking forward to getting back into collecting those Robots in Disguise!

Hound · Post by **Hound** » Sun May 15, 2005 9:09 am

I have enjoyed most of galaxy force so far.

The toys are detailed, look cool and have very intuitive transformation.

I currently have Convoy, Dreadrock, Guardshell, Vector Prime, Excillion, Jackshot, Backpack, Skids, Starscream, Fang Wolf, Skids and the new minicons and love em all. Fang Wolf is probably my fave, at least until I get flame convoy!!

Autobloke · Post by **Autobloke** » Sun May 15, 2005 9:13 pm

My Galaxy Convoy (and GF Starscream) are safely back in their boxes now, but they were so cool while they were out on my desk. This line is going to blow Armada/Energon clean out of the water. It almost seems like a completely different toyline to Transformers of recent years - it's lost a lot of that 'chunky/rounded' look of A/E thankfully.

Post by **Best First** » Mon May 16, 2005 2:45 pm

i'm still magaging to resist...

little sad about how easy it is proving.

Post by **Kaylee** » Mon May 16, 2005 2:58 pm

I must say GC hasn't held me like E-Prime or A-Prime did. I still think he's lovely, but I just don't play with him and that unsettles me. i think his failings as a toy (I wrote a review if it ever gets added to the site) are tasking me a little.

Autobloke · Post by **Autobloke** » Mon May 16, 2005 4:20 pm

Best First wrote:i'm still magaging to resist...

little sad about how easy it is proving.

(hypnotising voice) You cannot resisssssstttttt.
...
Now give me your wallet.

You still PLAY with your TFs, Karl?
Brumm! Brumm! Chuk chuk chuk chuk! (that's the 'transforming' sound. Ish).
PEOWWW! PEOWW! ARRRGGHHHH!!!

Shanti418 · Post by **Shanti418** » Mon May 16, 2005 5:04 pm

Well, I'd love to read the review and hear what you have to say, Karl.

I have to admit though, the idea that you would like E Prime over GC is a bit stunning. I didn't even like A Prime that much.

And Best, virtually curing yourself of compulsive capitalism and deciding to stop praying daily to the gods of constant consumerism is a GOOD thing.
Unless you've just stopped buying TF and are now blowing equal amounts of money on other goods that may bring you more pleasure, or may serve a larger purpose than sitting around looking cool.

Post by **Kaylee** » Mon May 16, 2005 5:09 pm

Autobloke wrote:
Best First wrote:
You still PLAY with your TFs, Karl?
Brumm! Brumm! Chuk chuk chuk chuk! (that's the 'transforming' sound. Ish).
PEOWWW! PEOWW! ARRRGGHHHH!!!

I haven't had a battle in ages but I'm not above it ^_^ Where's the point in being grownup if you can't be childish now and again?

Me review's knocking about in the admin section somewherez. Thing that I liked about E-Prime was there was just a lot going on with him as a toy, I just felt costantly being pulled back to combine him in a different way or transform him again (amplified even more when I got wingsabre).

A-Prime was more of a let down, definitely. Nice idea for a gimmick, shame it turns the toy into a wigwam.

I just don't feel the urge to go back and play with GF Prime

Maybe it'll resurface ^_^

---

Name: Optimus Prime
Faction: Autobot
Series: Transformers: Cybertron
Release Date: 2004
Modes: 10-wheel missile launcher, robot and missile platform, high-powered jet, super robot with blasters.
Accessories: Matrix, Autobot shield, missiles and hand gun
Notes:

Optimus Prime is back, bigger and better than before. After the end of the Transformers: Energon storyline, Prime is rebuilt into his current form.

This is the fourth Prime to be given a Matrix. The Japanese New Year Convoy release had a white metal Matrix, Masterpiece Optimus Prime has a fully-detailed Matrix and Armada Prime had one sculpted into his chest plate.

Similar to the Beast Wars Optimus Primal, this Autobot has a normal mouth however he can fold up a blast plate in front to become the Prime we all know and love.

Two AAA batteries can be inserted into the larger of his two laser blasters to make lights and sounds when activated.

One uses the Autobot shield to activate either of the big guns by inserting it into a slot on their sides. In one instance it opens the barrel of the gun like a pair of jaws to reveal the lighting effects inside, and in the other it flips down a pair of missile launchers.

Prime’s handgun, which fires its own projectile, can be joined onto the smaller of the two big guns to create an even more powerful weapon.

Good:

Well, Oppy carried out Arnie’s time-honoured threat and is, indeed, back. Gundam style! He’s been re-kerjiggered, given a snazzy new mould (prongy bits and all) and now comes armed with guns large enough to make even the most poorly endowed guy feel like a big man.

From his head to his toes, Prime looks every part… evil. Simply put there are guns everywhere. And where there aren’t guns, there are strangely erotic muscular sculptings… This is not a robot to be messed with! Optimus now packs firepower on the scale of the Death Star, yet looks modern enough to be taken home to meet your parents without embarrassment.

In wee-Prime mode, Prime looks worryingly refreshing. No more dusty old blocky moulds, he now has a well sculpted chest and stomach, mahoosively powerful shoulders and arms- and the addition of a mouth makes him look quite young.

Oppy’s obviously taken some of Megatron’s taunting to heart and gone and gotten himself a face lift. It’s taken literally years off him! You wouldn’t think he was pushing 5 million!

He has moving fingers (with a fixed thumb, the fingers all moving together in a block), articulated neck, shoulders, elbows, hips, knees and toes.

His chest cavity opens, ala Transformers: The Movie, to reveal a small plastic Matrix, all ready to be removed and passed to the nearest convenient goon come this Prime’s time to snuff it.

By turning him into big-ass Prime, one simply flips up his blast plate to cover his mouth, fold out his ears, attach a wacking great backpack onto him and put his platform feet extensions on.

Suddenly Prime is no longer a swaggering youngster, the addition of the faceplate makes him look every bit the military commander! Possibly it also has something to do with the wings and the absolutely vaaaaaaast guns too…

In big Prime mode, there are guns left right and centre. Legs? Check. Arms? Check. He needs only a revolver sticking out of each ear to be absolutely gunned to the max.

Finally one can put him into missile-launcher/fire-engine mode or into flying thing mode to make him the absolute must have for armies everywhere.

The detailing is lovely- transparent windows, embossed Autobot symbols, a wonderful body sculpt and just the right level of details picked out through paint to really make him stand out.

The Prime just stepped straight out of a manga comic and is ready for business! By which I of course mean real manga, not the chicken-gizard like attempts of a certain comic book company… ahem…

Bad:

Little Prime is… wrong. Somehow, somewhere… it’s something to do with the fact that wee Prime, being the centre also of big Prime, has to be in scale for both. Hence his chest is just a little bit too big, and his legs are that ickle bit too short.

He still rocks, don’t get me wrong. Wonderfully sculpted, beautifully articulated and full of such wonderful character. His shape is just slightly off… and you wouldn’t notice if the sculpting weren’t otherwise anatomically perfect almost.

Big Prime looks awesome. But doesn’t move much. Mainly due to his thumping great guns, Prime pretty much has one stance. The guns aren’t easily folded away and because of the balancing problems it makes putting Prime into poses more than just “Look at me, I have guns!” rather tricky. They also restrict the movement of his arms.

His vehicle mode I must say I found disappointing. It wasn’t really anything… as such. It has a huge missile range on the back, but has sirens like a fire engine? Your guess is as good as mine. Also there’s rather a nasty void in between the two great guns on top which honestly had me scouring the instructions trying to find out where I’d transformed it wrong. Sadly I hadn’t.

Flying-thing mode is something we’ve definitely seen before in the HQ Mode of Powermaster Prime. It looks more like something that was thrown together through experiment of his articulation than actually planned for. The same argument goes for the missile-base mode.

Don’t get me wrong, they’re passable and not in themselves bad but are definitely being carried and made worthwhile only by the quality of the main figure in my opinion.

Also some of the plastic seems a little light and empty. For example the guns on his legs look great… on the outside. If one looks at the side facing inwards, one sees a rather cheap-looking construct of plastic which isn’t even solid.

I also can’t shake the feeling that the transformation to make big Prime’s toes is going to break something. Sooner probably rather than later.

Overall:

This is a Prime for the ages. The figure has faults, but I can’t help but feel this is Prime how he was meant to look. His appearance, style and essentially awesome sculpt make this a figure worth owning. The extras are a bit of a let down, sadly, but we’re used to that I think.

Rating: Good.

Shanti418 · Post by **Shanti418** » Mon May 16, 2005 5:20 pm

Karl Lynch wrote:
From his head to his toes, Prime looks every part… evil. Simply put there are guns everywhere. And where there aren’t guns, there are strangely erotic muscular sculptings… This is not a robot to be messed with! Optimus now packs firepower on the scale of the Death Star, yet looks modern enough to be taken home to meet your parents without embarrassment.

In wee-Prime mode, Prime looks worryingly refreshing. No more dusty old blocky moulds, he now has a well sculpted chest and stomach, mahoosively powerful shoulders and arms- and the addition of a mouth makes him look quite young.

Oppy’s obviously taken some of Megatron’s taunting to heart and gone and gotten himself a face lift. It’s taken literally years off him! You wouldn’t think he was pushing 5 million!

Sheer comedic gold. You should go write reviews at TFA.

As far as the previous ones go, I totally agree with you. Seeing as how you liked the customizaiton and play possibilities of E Prime, I can assume that you also liked the wonder that was Powerlinking too?

Do you think any Optimus has ever done the whole "Small Optimus, but combined with trailer makes Big Optimus" thing better than PMOP?

Autobloke · Post by **Autobloke** » Mon May 16, 2005 5:24 pm

Preaching to the converted matey.
And look: make your own fun:

ULTRA MAGNUS VEHICLE MODE!!!

Neo Challenger · Post by **Neo Challenger** » Tue May 17, 2005 2:38 am

I loves me Galaxy Force!! I have most of the first batch, and am slowly getting the recent releases; see my "Haul-a-Rama" thread for specifics. IMO Galaxy Force is one of the best TF lines ever.

Of course, as I was putting Galaxy Convoy back in his box today, I was thinking, "Well, GF's been out for a little while now, I wonder what the next TF line's gonna look like?", which struck me as a pretty sick thought. I mean, GF's still going strong, and I'm already wanting the next line? Considering my collection inched over 550 TFs with today's arrival of Alternators Shockblast, I should probably worry about finding room for the upcoming Galaxy Force stuff before thinking about whatever the next line will be.

Shanti418 · Post by **Shanti418** » Tue May 17, 2005 5:08 am

See Best? That could still be you!!! Look at the fun you're missing!

Post by **Kaylee** » Tue May 17, 2005 8:53 am

Shanti418 wrote:
Sheer comedic gold. You should go write reviews at TFA.

Tankies ^_^ And it's nice here, I've so far reviewed most every (non animal) Prime going! ^_^

As far as the previous ones go, I totally agree with you. Seeing as how you liked the customizaiton and play possibilities of E Prime, I can assume that you also liked the wonder that was Powerlinking too?

I did think that was a good idea, it actually makes me feel that GF Prime is a bit limited that he can't do it. Essentially what he comes out of the box with is it, with nothing else to add on or transform differently

I've been spoilt...

Do you think any Optimus has ever done the whole "Small Optimus, but combined with trailer makes Big Optimus" thing better than PMOP?

God Super Fire Convoy was teh r0xx0r!!

'Cept for having too many joints, whereby placing him on any smooth surface swiftly led to him doing the splits

shaxper · Post by **shaxper** » Sun May 22, 2005 2:52 pm

Am I the only one who still hasn't seen Galaxy Force in stores? All I can find are shelf-warming Energons

Aaron Hong · Post by **Aaron Hong** » Sun May 22, 2005 2:56 pm

shaxper wrote:Am I the only one who still hasn't seen Galaxy Force in stores? All I can find are shelf-warming Energons

*raises hand*

Galaxy Force has been making its rounds in the collectors' circles though. Up to the super-PVC-sized transforming Convoy.

Shanti418 · Post by **Shanti418** » Sun May 22, 2005 7:09 pm

Yeah, all my stores are choked with last wave Energons, not to mention overflowing with Alt. Wind/Swin. It's funny seeing all the SixShots warming the shelves after having to hunt around for a Shockblast a few months ago.

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Sun May 22, 2005 9:51 pm

The Cybertron figures should be hitting shelves in the next couple weeks. They've already been released in NZ. My local shops have mountains of the final wave of Energon. If I had any desire to pick them up, most of the combiner pieces are in ready supply. Unfortunately, I have neither the desire nor the funds to do so. Bring on Cybertron!

shaxper · Post by **shaxper** » Mon May 30, 2005 1:52 pm

According to TRU, the release date is July 19th.

dexom · Post by **dexom** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 11:17 pm

um you guys do know that flame convoy is a decepticon, right?
try this:

http://www.takaratoys.co.jp/galaxyforce ... /gd07.html

?i think they call him scourge?

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 8:00 pm

dexom wrote:um you guys do know that flame convoy is a decepticon, right?
try this:

http://www.takaratoys.co.jp/galaxyforce ... /gd07.html

?i think they call him scourge?

Yes.

That figure, in person, is bloody spectacular (imo)!

Rumor has it that Frank Welker is going to be voicing the character in Cybertron. (Note, RUMOR)

metalhead24 · Post by **metalhead24** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 3:42 am

I was going to post a topic to ask which TFs I should spend my money on when I go home on leave, but now I think I have my answer! I can't wait to get my hands on Optimus Prime!

dexom · Post by **dexom** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 1:07 am

hey Prof,

i was wondering if its a missconception or isn't predaking suposed to have wings?

Autobloke · Post by **Autobloke** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 11:49 am

Hey, yeah! Even those little orange stubs your pic has isn't enough - there should be goldy bits too, shouldn't there?

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 2:27 pm

dexom wrote:hey Prof,

i was wondering if its a missconception or isn't predaking suposed to have wings?

Indeed he is. But the Predaking in question is sans parts...thanks to Ebay snipers.

Autobloke · Post by **Autobloke** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 2:46 pm

Then surely "Why Predaking have no arm OR WINGS?"

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 3:12 pm

Autobloke wrote:Then surely "Why Predaking have no arm OR WINGS?"

If you've got a couple of minutes, check out www.mylittletransformer.com and watch Episode 2. You'll get it. It won't be funny, but at least you'll get it.

I kid, I kid, everything on that site's hilarious.

Autobloke · Post by **Autobloke** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 10:09 pm

It's now in my 'favourites' list. Yay!