Via Lost-Zzl on Weibo, we have a look at a previously unseen redeco of the Transformers Generations Roadbuster toy. Sporting a green deco with brown camo and white weapons, this deco is something of an oddity – however, there is a Generation 2 style “Autobots” tampograph on the back of the vehicle / robot mode leg, which suggests this is more than a mere custom. Additionally, the user also has in-hand images of other, known upcoming releases from the TCC, so it stands to reason this too is a leak from the collectors club, or more likely, the convention.
Our money is that this is one of the Botcon 2015 at-show souvenir figures. The deco and the use of the Generation 2 Autobots logo – plus the placement of the white in robot mode – is a match for the unreleased Generation 2 toy, General Optimus Prime – which would make sense, given that there is a Megatron in the 2015 convention boxed set.
Check out the images after the break.
Thundershot
I've had all three of mine displayed together for weeks now… General Optimus is really cool looking.
Dragonclaw
I've been in favor of this since day 1…we always used to order the exclusives blind and I'd love to continue doing it. The main reason they always throw out is the registration line is always hell and that would make it worse, but I think it'd still be faster and more efficient than the regular reg line / store line cluster&$@#
I got mine already (from Tony) and this is definitely a Botcon figure, especially with Pete saying that 1 add on set is Unreleaaed G2…as much as I'd rather Hound be nice and beefy like an Autoroller should (my choice would have been the Breakdown mold being used again) it's likely from Scoop based on the blacked out comic image shape.
Grimlockimus
A handful of new photos popped up recently for General Optimus. Nothing confirming or denying him being a Botcon exclusive (though c'mon, it's pretty likely) but it does show him off next to his fellow Roadbuster look-alikes.
videriant
Good points.
I usually play devil's advocate, but I'm not feeling it today. I can only form a couple of points in favor of keeping the items a secret and they're all weak.
Swoop Dogg
I think it would be nice if they had an option to buy all the at-show exclusives during registration. Hell, if they had some sort of option like "buy all the add-on sets for $xxx.xx" I would probably do it to avoid the club store lines at the con – even if it meant not knowing what they are.
griffin-of-oz
They can never answer why they keep 65% of the Convention toys secret, when just two toys secret (like the attendee figure and Custom Class toy) achieves the same result – something that is a surprise at the event for those who are there, which I do love.
All those years that they failed to sell out their Primus packs but had popular at-show toys, could have swayed the fence-sitters to sign up just to make sure they didn't miss out or pay double the price later on the secondary market (like the Rainmakers 3-pack or Sweeps 3-pack and any other at-show set that sold out at the convention). More sales of attendee packs means more money before the convention, and more money during the convention from all those extra people buying up the at-show toys for themselves and for their friends. (the knock-on effect of those extra people attending instead of getting a non-attendee pack)
Keeping two-thirds of the toys secret limits the sales of attendee packs and therefore limits the ability to sell out of at-show toys (like last year, which failed to sell out of attendee packs and all of their at-show toys).
The idea of marketing is to use your best assets to gain the best return, and for FunPub their best asset is their exclusive toys. Everything else they offer is now possible elsewhere, so hiding their best assets only hurts sales, both before and during the convention.
Seriously, if Flywheels was advertised as being an at-show toy this year, how many more people would register to attend just to make sure they get the pair of "battlechargers" before they sell out (if Flywheels sold out at the show because of the announced reduction of toy numbers this year)?
Attending BotCon or any convention is a LOT of money, so you need more Pros than Cons in your columns to make it worthwhile to commit to it… and not knowing 65% of the toys beforehand is one less Pro to weigh up against the Hundreds of dollars needed to get there.
Bass X0
…but the original toy wasn't in a ridiculous neon color. He may not be a dump truck, but it still works as a homage.
Autobot City Comics 2008
And you don't think us all bitch and bad mouthing them isn't buzz lol
gearacondelta
It maybe aimed at Gen. Prime, but all I see is mass-production type calibur, from Dorvack.. (in bad colors)
Autovolt 127
I would hope so, and packaged together.
That's a interesting idea. I never would have considered that.
I have a feeling he will be in next years set for some reason….similar production numbers with Battletrap.
Thundershot
Sorry, Hound and Flywheels are just logical speculation from people. SG Lio at least has an image, if obscured.
Flywheels is just as a logical guess as Hound. Then again, the club doesn't always follow common logic. (I still want my Machine Wars Megatron, Optimus, Prowl, Hubcap, and Soundwave to complete that set…)
Matty
Oooh I like this idea.
BScorpinok75
I think knowing the at-show exclusives before hand would create some extra buzz for the club…
Matt_M
That's a pretty great paint job. With the reduced quantities I'm sure he'll go for a pretty penny for scalpers, especially if he's an Optimus Prime.
If they are going to use Orion Pax for a 3rd recolor, I would prefer G1 Overload.
influence82
The deco looks good. Pete and Brina of Funpub must be furious at this stolen item. The factory is not as secure as they would like. This is the cost of using foreign factories. If it is Optimus Prime then it will be popular and sell well. That is how it is with these toys. If it is a less popular character then it would not sell well.
Liokaiser
That would be very sweet has I like that mold.
WishfulThinking
This one from the Galvatron colored repaint on the Lio Convoy promotional material in the subscription magazine.
Sgt. Hound is pure conjecture as a companion piece to Gen. Optimus, I suppose.
If we want to do mad speculations, then I'd say Fractyl finally gets a deluxe figure as well…possibly from Animated Swoop, if BW TM Terrorsaur's mold is long gone.
xZAOx
Where did you get Sgt. Hound and SG Lio Convoy from? And Flywheels is just from us all making the obvious deduction, right?
Thundershot
So what are the potential rumored souvenirs?
General Optimus Prime
Sgt. Hound
SG Lio Convoy
Flywheels
What else? Usually we have rumors flying around this close to Botcon. Something almost always slips out.
WishfulThinking
They are free to change their minds, you know.