Fanstoys FT-17 Hoodlum (Masterpiece Hot Rod)

Discussion in 'Transformers 3rd Party Discussion' started by daimchoc, Nov 15, 2015.

  1. pezley

    pezley Well-Known Member

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    20210413_091612-01.jpeg I'm sure I've said it plenty of times but as the conversation is back up again.... Awful figure.

    From his lack of articulation, his awful proportioned vehicle mode, his paint chips out the box, the fact his torso has no securing mechanism, his puffy lifeless face sculpt, the headlights which fall off... just so many stupid decisions in his design.
    I articulated the shoulders because that was the first thing that struck me was why are they so high... I would also modify the head to have articulation but if you do, there's no reversing it. So props to those who have done it.

    As @TigerBlade has already said, it's the best Hotrod display piece going. As much as I hate it, if you find a pose you like and never touch the figure again, he has served his purpose.
     
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  2. ChromeMagnus

    ChromeMagnus Well-Known Member

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    IIRC someone on Shapeways sells an upgraded neck for Hoodlum to improve the head articulation.
    HasTak's Studio Series 86 Hot Rod has a much better face sculpt. FT certainly needs to give Hoodlum the 2.0 treatment.

    upload_2021-4-13_9-29-42.png
     
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  3. timcourtois

    timcourtois Well-Known Member

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    I had the shapeways neck extension. Unfortunately, I could never get it to fit in vehicle mode. I kept trying to get it to work, and eventually it broke.

    If you're just going to use it in bot mode, it does improve the look. But if you want it to be fully transformable, I don't recommend it.

    Of course, it could have been user error. But I'm pretty decent with hard transformations, and I still was never able to get it to work. So... data set of 1 I guess.
     
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  4. ThatGuyCalledBlaster

    ThatGuyCalledBlaster Well-Known Member

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    My lord, Hoodlum indeed is one hell of a looker.

    Was just recently getting myself into getting my hands on him after seeing @pezley's shoulder upgrade, which fixes the main issue I had. Already ordered and shipped MP-28 but TFSource has him on backorder for some reason (they probably fucking lost it and have to find it or some shit...), so that's giving me more reason to jump, haha.

    A lot of the issues Hoodlum seems to still have are either fixable or only really problems if you're fiddling with him a LOT, including transformation. I wouldn't transform this guy even if you paid me if I had only one copy, not gonna take any chances. The real one that still kinda irks me is the face. Still dumbfounded to this day why FT scrapped the one seen on the unpainted prototype cause it looked SO FUCKING GOOD.
     
  5. Blingotron

    Blingotron Too Poor For Floor Polish

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    Oh, I never realized they had that original face. You're right, it looks WAY better compared to the bloated face they released him with. If they kept that original face I might've been able to convince myself I didn't hate his stubby alt mode as much as I do.
     
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  6. jcb213

    jcb213 Well-Known Member

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    You forgot to mention his juiced forearms that just look ridiculous.

    This figure was a huge disappointment when I got him because he should have blown Takara Hot Rod out of the water and he ended up being disappointing in too many ways. Takara is better articulated and more enjoyable both to mess with and transform. It’s too bad the Takara one has that terrible chest and undersized head. Neither offering is completely satisfying.
     
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  7. Christiano

    Christiano Banned

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    It really looks like an upscaled non-Masterpiece that was knocked off but not significantly improved in any notable way. Everything from his calves and shins to his arms and face sculpt all look like a quick drawing of Hot Rod; they barely resemble the character you see in the animated movie.
     
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  8. timcourtois

    timcourtois Well-Known Member

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    So I bought these Hoodlum "forearm blaster effects" from eBay that some people have gotten:
    Fanstoys Hoodlum - Forearm blaster effect - Style 2 | eBay

    Am I doing something wrong? THEY DON'T FIT! First one I tried putting on just broke because it was too small to fit around the pipes.

    I glued it back together & I'm trying to make some adjustments to see if I can get it to fit, but I'm mystified.

    Has anyone else had this issue? Any recommendation?
     
  9. Christiano

    Christiano Banned

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    The guy who makes those is on the boards and he's good about follow-up. Just ask @pezley what the issue may be.
     
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  10. pezley

    pezley Well-Known Member

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    Hi @timcourtois , there's always a possibility I sent you the MP28 ones by mistake. Pop me a PM and ill get them sorted for you
     
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  11. timcourtois

    timcourtois Well-Known Member

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    Thanks pezley! PM sent. Appreciate the follow up! :) 
     
  12. nobody1898

    nobody1898 Well-Known Member

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    Having got the studio series Hot rod, I really wish Hoodlum's chest wasn't so flat, just a few angles would have really improved his look.
     
  13. Stardiver

    Stardiver Toy enjoyer

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    Had to mess about with Hoodlum to stop me wasting money on ss86 Hot Rod. Don't need a non-MP Hot Rod amongst a full MP collection :lol 

    I still like this guy. Like his bot mode, like his alt mode, transformation isn't awful for an FT figure. I certainly do hope TT or someone else does a better one in the future, but for now I'm happy.
     
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  14. Tekkaman Blade

    Tekkaman Blade Professor of Animation

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    a 3rd party should just upsize the studio figure to mp scale and give that hot rod the premium paint treatment
     
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  15. ldl0021

    ldl0021 Well-Known Member

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    I'm thinking about picking up this figure to use as my CHUG scale Rodimus, the kingdom Rodimus looks atrocious... I wouldn't be transforming Hoodlum, but at least he looks the part, more so than the POTP or the Kingdom version. Only other decent CHUG scale Rodimus I own is the Fansproject version.
     
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  16. ErickCruz

    ErickCruz Well-Known Member

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    I have Hoodlum as my stand-in CHUG Rodimus (he does have the alternate face for that) but I'll still be getting the Kingdom Rodimus as I feel he is a better figure all around. Comparitively speaking you'll get more from the Hasbro Rodimus for the same money that Hoodlum cost at release.
     
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  17. Christiano

    Christiano Banned

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    Get the shoulder kit from @pezley if you do. It’s a huge improvement.
     
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  18. Magna Jet Convoy

    Magna Jet Convoy Well-Known Member

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    Just finished reading the bio on the back of Hoodlum's box for the first time. Surpisingly there's ZERO mention of his Targetmaster companion; Firebolt. Gosh, even back in the G1 days each Nebulon got a couple of lines allocated to them. we usually had a handle on their previous lifestyle, occupation etc before the 2 armies of Fort Max & Scorponok arrived on Nebulos. We also got specifics of what sort of weapon they transformed into, its capabilities and range etc. Heck, the poor little guy isn't even named on the back of Hoodlum's box - sheeeeesh!!!!

    Unless this info is listed somewhere else my friends??

    Has anyone compared, posed and photographed Hoodlum beside Takara MP-09 Rodimus Convoy? Would love to see some pics - and maybe even a review of them.

    From everything I've read, the most recent re-issue of this guy (2nd reissue or 3rd???) has completely addressed and fixed ALL the shortcomings of the original release. Please comment and correct me if I'm wrong!!
     
  19. Christiano

    Christiano Banned

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    I have pictures of them together on my laptop, but I’m in Indianapolis right now and won’t get home until later. Hoodlum is only about a half-inch taller than Hot Rod, but it makes a huge difference. Depending on which ‘mode’ you keep MP-09 in, he’s about 8.75-9.00”, I think. So, he’s about 1-1.5” taller than Hoodlum.

    Even the reissues had the hood paint-chip issue and those awful-looking shoulders. But those can be fixed.
     
  20. InsaneJester17

    InsaneJester17 Well-Known Member

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    I've said it before and I'll say it again. If your MP '86 crew is all Fanstoys already, Hoodlum is a must. MP-28 just looks silly and small with them. Hoodlum is probably one of the worst of FansToys, but he looks good on the shelf with Koot, Rogue, Apache, Tesla, Jabber and Takara Magnus.

    MP28:
    20190419_065115.jpg

    Hoodlum:

    IMG_20191017_162438.jpg IMG_20191025_084737.jpg
     
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