If you were a Hasbro executive and wanted to make the most money possible on a new toyline, what's the first thing that comes to mind? REPAINTS! and, to a lesser extent, retools. Concentrating on creating new molds that could be milked multiple times for cash, and satisfying our desire for more Classics, here are the 1984-86 originals/repaints they could replicate. Star means we've already got it. Original Mold: Starscream* Repaints: Skywarp*, Thundercracker Retools: Ramjet*, Dirge, Thrust Original Mold: Prowl Repaints: Bluestreak, Smokescreen Original: Ironhide Repaint: Ratchet Original: Sideswipe Repaint: Red Alert Original: Rumble Repaint: Frenzy Original: Laserbeak Repaint: Buzzsaw Original: Inferno Retool: Grapple Original: Bumblebee* Repaint: Cliffjumper* Did I miss any?
prime and magnus...but we're getting them...also nemesis prime could be added since he's such an overused but fun looking figure still...
Hm... well, you could add Hubcap to Bumblebee/Cliffjumper, but they'd have to retool his head at least sense he's basically got the same color scheme as him. As for getting a Nemesis Prime repaint out of Optimus... I'd only be for that if it were done up as an exclusive in a two pack with Sunstorm. Personally, I really like the concept of Nemesis Prime (yes, I'm a sucker for the evil twin plot-lines), however, I can see how some people don't. So, for those that don't feel NP should be part of the "Classics" line they can ignore the exclusive like some are inevitably doing with Devastator.
a nemesis prime sunstorm two pack would be sweet....id totally buy that...and hubcap and bumblejumper could be added, but id say change the colors a little....BJ can be orange, and hubcap, i dunno, but remold their heads as well...
I'm really hoping for Sunstorm, Dirge and Thundercracker. would also be stoked for anime grey Space ChooChoo and either Diaclone Red or translucent "invisible" Mirage...
Hm... I like the idea of the Diaclone Red Mirage... but what would they call him? Also, I hope they do an show accurate Astrotrain, but I'm hoping for a store exclusive. I wouldn't want to bog down the line with too many repaints that end up being the same exact character. Just like I think the translucent Mirage and Starscream ideas are awesome, but again it's something I'd rather see done as an exclusive.
If I was the Hasbro Executive, I would aim for the Prowl/Bluestreak/Smokescream mold...they're design is pretty good and on top of that, Hasbro can milk the mokd 3 times...besides, everyone "loves" cars!
Yellow Mirage as Dragstrip. Bleached Bone Sideswipe as Breakdown. Repaint smokescreen or bluestreak as Deadend. Repaint the Optimus Prime from the 2-pack with megs as Motor Master. I don't know who to do as Wildrider...
Well I can't speak as an Unbias buisness man, cause I'm a fan. But If I was in charge, the next couple of waves would look like this. Wave 4: Deluxe: Prowl Jazz Ironhide Sideswipe Thundercracker Wave 5: Deluxe: Ratchet Bluestreak Blitzwing Dirge Voyager: Shockwave Wave 6: Red Alert Wheeljack Smokescreen Thrust I think 3 waves would be enough for a collectors line for a year. You could always thin them out so they spread out over a greater time period. (Like they did by spliting Wave 2 in half.) If you did it that way you'd only have 7 new molds, 4 Slight remolds, and 3 Straight repaints and have 14 new figures.
I think this is more of a "what retools already existed" thread than a "what ideas do we have for possible retools" thread. There have already been a lot of those, after all. That being said, here are a few more G1 repaints/retools to add to the list: Trailbreaker and Hoist Huffer and Pipes Gears and Swerve Windcharger and Tailgate Brawn and Outback Rewind and Eject Jazz and Stepper Also, this is a tiny noodly point, but wouldn't figures like Prowl, Ratchet, and Red Alert actually be considered "retools" because they have extra pieces added (the sirens). I know, it's nitpicky.... but Universe Ratchet with his lame painted siren proves how important having an actual siren mold on a toy really is.
I recognize and understand that Ratchet and Ironhide were Botcon 2k5 exclusives, but it'd be awfully nice if there were mass releases of those toys in the Classics line. It'd be so cool to have the Towline mold mass-released as Ratchet and Ironhide. A man can dream, though.
Folks: Here's some ideas for the existing molds: Cc-Astrotrain in black as Midnight Express Cc-Grimlock in red and blue as Grotusque (who looks quite suitable in robot mode) Cc-Megatron as Pointblank (weird, but he does have the 'wings') Cc-Rodimus in yellow with red flames as Hot Shot
Then a metallic blue one with pale blue flames and yellow headlights as Sideburn. They could release the three versions together and call it the "Hot Rod Homage Full-Circle 3-pack!"
