I think also, their production schedule must have changed to some degree due to dx9 and Keith with their stunticons.

That may or may not impact their (FTs) pace, too.

If i were them, I'd aim to get motormaster and silverbolt out, and bare minimum one limb from each, preferably 2, by year end. Get astrotrain and brawn out early next year to cater to those who aren't going for their combiners (personally I'm going for xtb's menasor) as well as to get some quick wins with fan favorites. Then finish out the combiners with warpath and beachcomber mixed in, whenever they'll come.

 

For the short term I expect Motormaster, Silverbolt and Blurr to be out by the end of the summer at the latest (I want to say by July, but recognize how overly optimistic it sounds). I would expect Warpath first among their minibots, but the only "evidence" is that they showed him first which has been proven to be meaningless in the past.

As for schedule change I would say only in that Menasor got fast tracked. I expect they would have done the Aerialbots completely first before Menasor without the competition. I know I see comments about figures like Skullcruncher being bypassed, but so far among figures with actual preorders (not counting ShowZ who just created dummy preorders for everything almost, that isn't FT's fault for putting them up for preorder) only Motormaster has jumped ahead. The other 2, Silverbolt and Blurr, are their oldest unreleased shown figures that haven't been delayed for redesign.

As for Astrotrain, even if they fast tracked him I wouldn't expect him until late Spring next year or into the Summer.

 

I have retired three times in the last 12 months

 

I’m eligible for AARP in 14 months  

 

I'm 45. Thought I was the oldest

 

Would be nice to call someone else oldtimer for a change...  

 

How old are you?

 

48, celebrating 49 in July. Would like to get Thomas before I hit 50 but we all know how FT release schedules are  

 

anyone ever look at you funny or ask you if you think you're too old to collect toys?

 

No, actually the opposite. I’ve gotten nothing but good comments regarding my collection and many were impressed by the way I have them all neatly displayed. My grandson is my biggest fan, he especially likes the Dinobots  

 

Most of my family and friends think they cost too much but I explained that there's a lot worse things I could be doing

 

I missed the last 10 pages of posts...anything that matter happen in them?

 

Happily finding out that my 42 year old butt isn't the oldest in the thread for once. 

 

^ Ditto here on all counts

 

I'm only a 36er so I'm safe for now it appears, lol. Really looking forward to this release. I know Ft have a bit of a back log but look at it another way, so much to look forward to  

 

Okay, I took my old person nap so now I have some clarity for discussion. It's awesome that we're getting Astrotrain but why no current news on Blitzwing? Can't they get to releasing both around the same quarter? (I really mean ASAP before my arthritis kicks in  )

 

Oh, man... Arthritis would make a bot with a difficult transformation way worse.

 

are we looking at another 3yrs before release?

 

Who will Fanstoys name Jerry?