You are 100% right about the helmet that the edges should be just back at the back edge of his jawbone. However, I think there may be practical aspects to it. There are likely to be multiple faceplates and with the mechanism they rely on the friction at those edges. Also, I think it is slanted because it would leave a space inside the helmet that may break the inner head/neck sculpt. I have a hard time seeing how it could limit any degrees of articulation. Since it is a render, the head may need to be a little bigger, up higher, more neck, trim bottom of helmet up to edge of jaw line, how does the head recess in the area, what happens in transformation. I know this is listed as a new design but this one may be farther along. Once we get a prototype we can get a better view.

 

It took me a second to see the "We still can't get it right" part but when I did, I couldn't stop laughing. That's so perfect.

Depending on the QC, he may be named Shitpiece yet by the collectors.

I didn't like the split chest on Downbeat either until I got it. It's really quite nice and does a lot for the figure. I suspect this will be the same but looks crappy because it's a grey prototype.

 

I like everything about this over FT's, except for the headsculpt. No split chest is pushing me to this.

 

Will wait for this guy.  

 

Dammit.. I have a pre-order for Koot already, and have been pretty happy with what I have seen of him.. but now I may have to re-think that. I am not the kind of collector who can double dip MPs, so I need to be choosy, lol.. but I think I am starting to like this one even better than Koot  

 

Well, xtb never fails design wise... Bravo!

 

Now THAT is Kup. FT have done some great figures, but XTB have absolutely trounced them with this one.

 

If he's about as tall as KFC Crash Hog and UT Buzzing, this will be my Kup. He'll look great next to them, MP Magnus, MP Rodimus and either FT Apache or MMC Saltus. I honestly have no need for that FT midget, even if he looks good too.

 

Yep, that's basically where I am. FT just went way too small for me on hoodlum and koot. Need more info to see if Apache, Saltus, or XTB Virtus ends up being the Springer of choice.

 

If I could take the lower half of XT and put it on the top half of FT xD

My only crit is I think the head and chest look a little undersized here [but I really am okay with how the head looks!].
But darn do I love how sleek that alt mode looks.

Totally looking forward to seeing more, though! XT always does some of my fav takes

 

I have to say I have been excited about most KFC and XTB stuff since Transistor. Ibot / Keith has mentioned their new factory and management and higher QC so now I'm even more excited. I know they were moving up in the rankings but if they really reinvested, it should payoff for them and fans. I'm thinking this Locke figure might be one of the first few to come out from that new process.

I asked about the fembots in another thread, which I'm pretty excited about those but also talked about the new challenges! Just knowing some of them are already designed and awaiting the right time for production under a better process are pretty awesome. If he answers my question about combiners . . .
 

 

paen and aeigis are the first from the new one

 

X-transbots better speed up things now. With no reveal at the recent China hobby event of either this or Springer they risk losing out. The battle is now and, not like with Inferno, post Takara MP and other 3p's.

Or...are they gonna follow the way of their hoist and trailbreaker; that is aiming to release the 'ultimate' version after other 3p releases...(but before takara's)?

 

they are speeding things up. it all depends on if you want to wait. hes coming out in q4

 

Their Springger, aka "Virtus", looks the best out of the 5 (6?) options in bot mode. They captured the clean and rounded shape of the toon with no visible alt mode pieces. To me the post movie characters looked more like robots in bulky armour rather than the original tf which were more square designs with easy to tell alt mode parts hanging off.

I didn't know about this Kup, but I also see the same things I'm liking if the other MP XTB designs.

 

well ft just showed a colored version of theirs and it looks like crap

 

Meh...some people don't care about what comes first, especially when we are talking about characters that haven't been represented properly ever in 30 years of existence. I only care about what looks the best and can wait even if something never comes than buy an ugly one just because it's available.

 

Isn't this the figure all the xtb fans flood into the FT threads to talk about? I don't see the big deal. Tiny arms, tiny chest, huge waist, huuuuge legs, off colors. Not the koot killer a bunch of fanboys would lead you to think it is.

 

Not to mention all the pics of qc issues that'll flood this thread once it drops.

 

the color and chest are certainly better than the ft version.
its nice to have a lot of options