Classics Ultra Magnus City Commander Armor Announcement

Oh yes Hasbro is so dumb for not spending the time on making a whole new trailer for a repaint store exclusive in a filler line.

Looks incredible, but... If the much smaller scale Cliffjumper upgrade was 100$, will this cost 300$ or what?

I wish you guys would approach Takara and sell the rights to them for a hefty sum, then they could incorporate it into the Heinkei line (they haven't released Cliffjumper or Magnus yet).

Most of my recent purchases have been of the non-Hasbro/TakaryTomy variety, or of the very limited collectors' lines, and they are currently the centerpieces of my collection.

Quint-01 is something we should have had as collectors back in the 80s, and is just a fun piece to display.
The four Revoltech characters are triumphs of design.
THS-02 likewise is a really superb piece.

Companies like Apple and Google make their mark by way of innovation and creative thinking. Hasbro - and most companies in the world, for that matter - profit by capitalizing on an idea that an Apple or a Google generates. They have a chance right now to jump into the growing after-market segment of their buyers... many of us having been consumers of the franchise since the get-go. If they would spend a little energy in research, Hasbro could come up with something like Revoltech, instead of the 3" Titanium line, or an Ultra-class Ultra Magnus w/ transforming armor in Classics 2.0 instead of a pair of repaints that indirectly ended up pissing most of us off.

What is more likely, and probably more preferable in the end, is this burgeoning, energetic secondary market coming up with awesome (and much wished-for) stuff like this, while Hasbro management tries to come up with new reasons to release more recolors of the Cybertron Mudflap mold.

You say that as if it's a bad thing.

If that is the case, then hooray for me.

Maybe i should get that classics UM figure now.

I'd consider getting a Classics Magnus just for this. If it could find its way to the UK that is...

I really like the robot mode, but I'm still a little worried how the colors will work in trailer mode.

Oh that's lovely, I can't wait to preorder one!!

Of course with my luck I'll be working when the preorders go up, and when I come home they'll be sold out. *sigh*

Looks at the armor. I have only one thing to say that will sum up how I feel.

WANTS!!

That looks hot, I'll buy if it's less then $100 or so.
Otherwise I'll have to think about it.

p.s. Fansproject, could we please see some coloured art of the trailer mode?

Now this is a must get, I just hope it dosen't cost as much as the CJ upgrade kit.

Definitely. I'm STILL waiting on my CJ upgrade kit from them. I'll bite, but only if they are from an reputable online retailer.

I'll wait until I see it colored and transformed before I drool over it, but it's looking pretty sweet as is.

finally an organized way to get it!! YES!!

I'll be watching for this one..missed the CJ one, and was not going to pay the crazy prices I saw on Ebay!!

I kinda like it, and I'm glad it's available for (some of) those that want it, but it's not for me, especially for the kind of prices it'll wind up going for. I think I'll stick to designing my own.

I wonder how much it will be, if its too much I'll stick to my little Magnus.

If memory serves, the CJ kit originally went for around $30. That was directly from the people involved in it's production. I think I remember seeing a Yahoo Japan page that I couldn't get translated at my work computer. Then an email directly to these people was introduced and as more and more people contacted them, the price gradually increased to $100. Crazy, I realize, but CJ's kit was supposed to be a limited run, and due to demand they decided to make more. Business worked well for them: as more and more people contacted them, they increased the price until no one would pay it. That would be the cut off point for production. I'm sure that was a test for the Starscream kit and now the UM kit. Due to the high demand, I've heard this will be mass-produced like the SS/Skywarp upgrade kit, and sold at one of the online stores like BBTS or TFSource. That should keep the price down to some degree. I still don't see a $300 tag for something they are going to make a lot of. They'd have to know that they'd be sitting on a lot of product that won't move at that price.

I try to be optimistic like you, but people still buy the custom transformable G1 Arcee sets and the cartoon-accurate Wheelie and Cyclonus for incredible prices, so custom-makers feel they are right to ask such prices for these.

Since I most likely won't be able to afford this, I'm still waiting for the second best thing to happen - that Takara (not influenced by Hasbro's decision) will release all the seekers in the Heinkei line...

Sweet

500 pieces is not a lot.

If they are going to make a blow mold, then maybe it will be cheaper. If they are pouring resin for all these pieces then expect high prices.

Hey, I seriously do feel your pain on those and agree 100%. But I will say this: the Arcee, Wheelie, and Cyclonus sets are all limited runs. I can't remember the exact number right now, but I know there weren't too many made of each. Every so often the Wheelie and Cyclonus show up on ebay and it's usually just 1 of each. They are usually sold for right around the opening bid. Arcee on the other hand seems to have hit a stop. There's one on ebay right now for G1 colors (pink!) that is at regular cost (I think, I may be wrong) from when they were being made in the first place. It's been in the ebay stores section for at least 2 months. There have been a few offers made, but it hasn't sold.

Maybe I am just too optimistic here, but I guess it comes down to opinion. If you thought the SS upgrade kit is being sold for too much, then this UM set is going to be too much as well. The SS set is really the only thing we have to compare final cost to because it's been the only mass produced upgrade kit to hit online stores, so I guess we'll see. It's hard to think positive, but keep the hope alive!

want, will sell one of my livers for.

I'll think about it...

under 100$ = want.

More than that, and I don't think I'll be getting it.

If BBTS carries this like they had the Starscream Coronation set than I will preorder this. Cost isn't an issue for me as I'm pretty sure it'll be affordable, but I think it'll come down to what each person thinks a set like this is worth.

And, BBTS has carried 'garage kits' before. Such as Starscream Coronation sets from these guys and I recall (back in 04 or 04 don't remember) they had an upgarde set for PM Optimus Prime/God Ginrai that was around $250ish, but that also came with the Japanese reissue of God Ginrai and the upgrad kit was cheaper if you bought it seperatly though, however, I don't remember how much cheaper. Of course, the Ginrai set was made by a different group of people.

I would like this, but I won't pay more than $75 for it. Though I would end up selling my G1 Magnus Titanium, as it is filling in for classics Magnus for now.

I was very happy that I was able to get the Cliffjumper kit for $30.

This kit I will buy no matter the cost.

Fun Publications needs to get in touch with these guys. THIS is the type of stuff a Transformers Fan Club should be putting out

sent an email to bbts. here's the reply:

Agreed, you'd think the high demand would give them cause to do a second production run on the CJ upgrades, I'd love to get my hands on both though. Anyone have any idea for the price?

This looks sweeeet! How this time it would not be so expensive.


Excuse my ignorance, what does "locked SRP" mean?

I am so getting that!

Please please make it here please.........

ohh i'm going to try my hardest to get that...it's better than i thought

It will be mine. Oh yes. It will be mine. [/WAYNESWORLD]

Sales Retail Price.

Console systems lock their price, as do Bose, and probably other companies. That's why the Nintendo Wii, for example, is the same price no matter where you go.

What he's saying is, no matter where you buy this from, it'll be the same price. So one shop can't undercut the other one.

Well, there is a collectors club that should be doing this kind of thing.
But Hasbro is not dumb, just underachiever.

Oh man I want this. Anyone got a guess on the price yet? $100 USD?

wow this set looks great.
definitely will buy if the price is right...

From what I heard, this is going to be a run of 3,000, but at this point, I don't know if it has changed or not.

if memory serves, they origianlly said that this was going to be produced in greater numbers than the cliffjumper set, so that everyone who wanted one could get one! now they've gone back on what they said!

The Ultra Magnus looks amazing. It's a sure winner. I wonder what sort of production it is going through. For these custom builders, I wonder if they are doing this as their hobby in their spare time or actual job? Someone should invest in them and go prime-time with their designs. I'd definitely line up to be an investor.

On a 2nd note, I can totally understand why Hasbro wouldn't put these out. They sell toys to kids first and foremost. These kind of toys are more for collectors. So long as somebody can make these inventive custom pieces and Hasbro doesn't have a fit, then i think everyone benefits.

As I mentioned, if someone invested in these guys and went more prime-time I am sure prices will also go down.

From what I've read, they haven't gone back on anything said. This was always going to be limited. Just not as limited as Cliffjumper. They know the demand for the Cliffjumper set, so they'll make sure the amount they make meets the demand this time.

Hopefully these'll be cheap enough that I can buy 2, I hope to be able to display him in both modes.

Wants

I have a bad feeling that's going to be the case. I want it, but if it's going to be like that Cliffjumper set, I won't be able to afford it.

I hope so..

yeah, i'd drop a $100/150 on this.

i think i paid $125 for diaclone magnus, and this blows that out of the water.

Edit: also makes me think Hasbro's missin' out in the Universe line by not re-releasing Mags and Prime with trailers as Ultras or Leaders.

Name one OFFICIAL club of any toy line that produces 100% original product at the level on which you are describing.??? How is hasbro dumb? They had a good idea with classics and they are bringing it back. Whats the issue?

I contacted the guys personally and preordered 2 cliffjumper upgrades,which i got for $80 combined.I never even saw them on ebay.I intend to do the same for this Magnus set,can't see it being more than $100 apiece that way.

I hope places like bbts get this pre-order so we can have a decent chance of gettin this kit. they should also re-release the cliffjumper kit sometime down the road if this works out.