Since I’ve been a fan of Diaclone Reboot I am not going to take responsibility for “Transformer Fans.” I never said I thought it should look like Optimus Prime I said it should look like Convoy, from Diaclone. I don’t want Prime but I do want a figure that’s an homage to the original toy. And in more ways than looking like Convoy how about a trailer with a point. Beyond that I want a toy that’s fun and preferably new... since being new is something you’re on about... Speaking of new, what’s new here exactly? A jet-mode the looks worse than Diabattles and Trijetter. Vehicles-Modes that look worse the Trivers, BP, pretty much everything released so far. Carrying crates like Battle-Buffalo? Here let me show you what’s new.... Behold the Thrill of a trip to UStorage! Gasp as you recreate the ending of Raiders of the Lost Ark! Is the Ark behind that 18th box Indy, sick! Hold on to your seats while you attend Monday Company Meeting! That’s one hell of a PowerPoint presentation Sarah!! Where in the actual fuck is the update to the INSIDE of Convoy’s trailer? The problem right now is this line went from the HEIGHTS OF CREATIVITY to shit like this... Rad BOX TT, how’d you dew it. Because I am a fan of Diaclone Reboot NOT TRANSFORMERS. I am going to go ahead a call a missed ball, a missed fucking ball. Not praise it simply cause they slapped Diaclone Reboot on the side and charged me $300. Sorry I don’t love it, believe me I wish I did, but I am also not alone.
The base looks pretty cool tbh I didn’t even expect that, the possibilities for toy photography that this line is bringing is phenomenal.
People have been clamoring for a customizable base options since the cancelled prototypes were shown. This provides that. Want a repair bay? check. Want a transport? check. Want a weapons base? check. At this point there are enough modular options out there to do quite a bit with it, and I can only suspect more coming down the pipeline. I really don't get the vocal trashing of it. It is what it is, and it's not going to change. Skip it and move on.
If my “trashing it” is offending anyone personally, apologies. If you don’t get the “vocal trashing” just consider its Convoy. It’s kind of an important release to whiff on. When is the last time a Diaclone Reboot release made the front page of this site. If this was some whatever character or release who gives a shit but they turned one of the most important releases into a StorageMax. It’s kind of anticlimactic to say the least.
What I've noticed with Diaclone is that the price comes down eventually to the point where you can save a few bucks. It is not as drastic as MP's or SoC, but its not bad.
Maybe I'm wrong, but my understanding is that in Daiclone terms, Convoy wasn't really anything special. It was only Transformers (and give the credit to Marvel) that the Convoy mold became something bigger then a transforming truck amidst a variety of vehicles. From that perspective, this is an appropriate update. The versa system seems to be Takara's current gimmick for the line, and it seems to fit in with their design asthetic. Looks similar to some proposed designs of lunar/ Mars rovers that are out there - crew cab on electric mobility unit with cargo area in the back, so sure seems like a space truck to me.
@Pharoid you keep saying that sort of storagemax thing. I’m curious what you would have expected from an update of a toy that had a trailer that opened up and turned into a play base for Diaclone figures 40 years ago? the trailer is still a trailer, and it still opens up into a play base for Diaclone figures, so are you saying you’d rather it didn’t? Is it just that they showed it could be used to transport a bunch of maneuver suits in their cargo crates, instead of putting some cars in it instead? What about all the other pictures of how you could use the unfolded trailer as a base (again, just like the original)? I get that you think it’s boring or uninspired, but it’s basically the same as the original toy’s trailer, just updated for the new toyline. Isn’t that what the whole reboot line has been so far? also echoing @cylence here, the Car Robo figures came out in the toyline and were nearly immediately scooped up to become Transformers, so any of the “real robots” figures were kind of secondary to other toys in the line before they became far more known as transformers. a lot of that notoriety you’re talking about - are you sure that’s just Battle Convoy, in isolation, or are you putting it in a different light because it was repurposed as Optimus Prime?
I'm beginning to really sincerely enjoy hearing your perspective. I like that you're so passionate about the line, but I do disagree with some of your points. I like that this gives you the flexibility to make it a straight up storage container, or a full fledged multi-tiered, busy repair bay, command center and beyond with all the included accessories. I mean, they're giving us a giant hospital bed/repair platform and some catwalk/balconies! This is like a dream come true for me. The designers toed an impossible line by referencing pre-g1 designs without being a literal portrayal of Convoy. It's its own thing. I personally would've liked it if they nudged a little more towards resembling G1 convoy by a few degrees, but I'm happy with where they landed. Cheers and looking forward to hearing more of your take!
I would have expected it to have something reminiscent of the Trailer. You had a Roller that was spring-loaded, fires out of the back. You had command-tower-ship? I don’t know what, that went up on an articulated arm. It fired missiles, it had a claw, a moveable radar dish, you could close the Trailer and leave the command-tower-ship whatever thing outside of the Trailer in vehicle-mode. Awesome. It was loaded with playability. I DON’T expect firing missiles but where is all that fun? Where is the ship-tower thing on an articulated arm? Why is Roller part of Convoy’s body. That original trailer was loaded with fun and playability. It’s noticeably absent. I can only hope TT intends to sell the interior gimmicks to fans for another $200 so the Convoy Trailer has something remarkable about it. Thanks I’m a drama queen. I think my issue here is how much I loved the Trailer as a kid. When you opened that toy you knew Hasbro had ripped you off. Clearly that Command Center had Pilots. It was loaded with features.
Maybe I’m missing something but the way a few people are commenting makes me thing these are much rarer than I had assumed? Would anyone care to clarify?
No worries. I think there's tons of play value in this because of the modularity, which really is the point of this line. Man, if you could find a buddy who lived nearby and bought this, I'd totally be curious about your take after playing with it a bit in person!
Well... there is a problem with that... Yes, people (me included) have been asking for customizable bases, but you need PARTS to use with them, and Takara hasn't been nice in that regard. Quite the opposite, if you want Takara official desks, chairs etc, well, you need to get them together with $100+ exclusive repaints!!! There is no cheap parts sets like other companies (e.g. bandai) offer. That's pretty bad in my opinion, and drives many people to 3rd party parts, 3d parts or make-it-yourself parts (that's where I am...). Also, prices are getting crazy. I think this release is cool, but not 30000 yens cool (list price). Just to put things in perspective, a DX Chogokin VF-1S recently released had a list price of 18000 yens! As I said before, Takara can put the price they want, no explanations, but they may end up killing the line with those prices and no cheap parts sets. On a lighter note, someone pointed out that is crazy to see a wheeled vehicle towing a treaded one, which is true . I also would like to ask why on earth the trailer needs four jet thrusters facing foward, not even in the rear?
We still get the command pod. It raises up, it has weapons bays, it rotates, it may be able to stay up with the bays closed, that remains to be seen. We've got a number of manipulator arms and weapons, we just don't know if there are attachment points on the command pod they can use, but the whole damn thing is covered in ports, so I'm not ruling it out. Yes, there isn't a robot + roller comparison, but I'd guess that may be a cost issue. Would you pay $100 more for another vehicle? I'd almost guess that DA-60 might have initially been the roller equivalent; they've already shown it integrates pretty well. Again, maybe just me, but 7 year old me wasn't wowed by Prime's trailer. 43 year old me sees lots of potential in Battle Convoy EX's base crawler.
It does come with a decent number of options from the parts list, we just haven't got a shot of them not buried under other figures. The DA-64 set just gives more. Plus I'd guess anyone with Big Powered has a handful of accessories that can be donated too. But I get the point... I already do expect some pricy mall exclusive add ons. I keep wondering that myself... it's an emergency escape mechanism when the Waruders break through the lines.. just hope everything is strapped down.
Already is. DA-64 comes with "bonus" parts for DA-65. It's why that is more expensive than the other 2 packs they've released in the past.
I'll be interested to see what people can come up with and build from all the panel parts that the new trailer provides! They seem like proper building bricks, what with the ports and slots.
i mean, the tank tread trailer is definitely not a new thing for convoy considering Star Convoy’s alt mode This thing actually has a number of design elements from Star convoy, from the gold accents to the shape of the double barrel turrets(which are now on the trailer and not the shoulders). This new convoy seems to have hit a lot of different topics with its homages (henshin cyborg, etc)
