Finishing up our look at scans from Generations 2011 Volume 2 by The Allspark we have some scans from the Design Maniax DX section of the book. This section highlights the work of Generation 1 concept art designer Masakatsu Saito who did a lot of work on the late 80s series of toys, and collects his lineart concepts for some of the toys he worked on. Some of the concepts are very familiar and recognizable – others are very out there. Among the concepts in this section of the book are:
Generation 1 Overlord – with some alternate head concepts that would have been a second cockpit for the jet when the “Mega Child” section was deployed.
Generation 1 Pretenders Cloudburst, Landmine, Waverider, Bomb-Burst, Skullgrin, Submarauder, Iguanus and Roadblock – these are pretty different to their actual toys, in fact I’m only guessing that reptilian design belongs to Iguanus! The Autobot Pretenders notably would have had more animal themed suits, with their inner robots looking more like a tokusatsu metal hero design or VR Troopers than the Transformers we know. The Decepticon trio look similar in Pretender mode, but their inner robots notably look more organic, like cybernetic versions of their shell beasts. Ironically this is the route IDW took to re imagining these guys years later!
Transformers Victory Concepts including Star Saber, Great Shot, Road Caesar, Deathsaurus and Liokaiser. These mostly look like the final versions, although Liokaiser has sketches of a large melee weapon formed from melee weapons of the six individual robots – this turns up a bit in the animation (but without the combining weapons) but is completely absent on the toys.
Action Master Concepts. Oh boy, where to begin on these? First off, we have different versions of Action Master Optimus Prime, Jazz, Grimlock, Prowl, Starscream and Megatron where instead of having transforming partners, they have animal themed armors, which turned into guns. This concept, while not used at this point, returned for the final assortment which was only released in Europe, Canada and Australia. On the same page are an unknown Omega Sentinel and Sharkticon which may or may not be Action Masters. There are other concepts, including Action Master Elites Omega Spreem and Double Punch, but most interestingly, next to these there is an Action Master proportioned concept sketch of Rodimus / Hot Rod – could an Action Master Hot Rodimus have once been designed but canned? And next to him, concept sketches of Arcee – was she also intended for an Action Master release? Endless questions abound in this chunk of the concept artwork, really cool.
Lastly there are some later generation scans showing Generation 2 concepts. A lot of this we got, but check out the shorter, squatter proportions on Generation 2 Megatron and also Go-Bot Bumblebee with his traditional head. It’s all rounded off by concepts of each version of Beast Wars Optimus Primal / Convoy including Lio Convoy and Big Convoy.
That’s a whole lot of good stuff! Many thanks once again to The Allspark for sharing all this great content with the fan community.
Thundershot
You realize you bumped a 2 and a half year old thread, right?
RedAlert Rescue
A gold Maximus would make for an interesting reissue if not him then Metroplex.
Infosaur
I always knew it looked like Scourge's pipes could rotate.
Another feature that didn't make the final cut? (come to think of it, I never tried going "up")
I thought it'd be cool if his pipes became "hip cannons".
KING KONVOY
still hoping for the BW Neo Unicron. I member some sort petition attempt. I would pre-order it.
Jericho
If I could read japanese (?) I'd buy it.
dragon
its shame neo unicron will never be made looks much better than armada version
Murasame
I want that Arcee and Rodimus Action Masters!
And Optimus with that Lion-Partner. That's really cool.
Are these Generations book available in english as well? They seem pretty cool.
Stormcrow
His arms are too long. Regardless, I still think he looks bad ass.
The_Black_Sheep
Ok I'm officially sold. I'm definitely gonna buy this book…
knoted
Average proportions should be like this :
It's a bit difficult to gauge MP10's "wingspan" from fingertip to fingertip though. It should be the same as the length from head to toes.
Personally, my own body is more like MP10 since my wingspan is about 6 cm more than my height.
Anyway, I do think MP10 fixes a common TF flaw, which consists of too short thighs and too long shinlegs.
biscuits
I would have pre-ordered this already but that gun is annoying me so much…Will buy it if there is a 3rd party add on that includes a new rifle that actually looks like a rifle >_<
artiepants
your graphic kinda shows exactly wht's bugging most people ~ the male models hands go just past his hips ~ MP-10s are nearly too his knees.
Seems really bizarre that they screwed that up so badly (Shoulda done the forearms ala THS-02). It's like we'll never get a truly perfect G1 Prime no matter how many stabs they take at it (this is pretty close though).
jleezy79
I'm digging the BW Neo Unicron. He kind of has a updated classics feel to me. Changes and "improvements" while keeping the figure recognizeable.
Mr.Deflok
Really hope the figure comes with a hint as to who the next MP will be… though I'm expecting (and hoping!) that it'll be Megatron (Galvatron would be amazing, though).
MisterFanwank
This just makes me wonder even more why HasTak didn't use the BW Neo Unicron for Armada. It looked awesome, it was a SPHERE, and it doesn't look too much more complex than the actual Armada Unicron. It had already been designed!
However, I do find it funny that Primus basically uses the same transformation, but with the waist swivel.
daytimeninja
Those concept Fort Max scans are awesome. Makes me want one even more.
009*
Looks like the new MP Prime still has to have the lower body rotated around for the transformation. It's a small pet peeve of mine that a lot of modern Optimus figures had this step.
Paxtin
Is Arcee wearing a thong in that concpet art?
ZacWilliam
Those were designs for more Action Master partners had the line continued. Look at Action Master Bombshell who got made and released in the UK he has exactly one of those animal helmet guns.
ZacWilliam
Despite what the front page says that is clearly not the first wave Autobot Pretenders there. Hawk, Tiger, and Shark? Those are the SECOND WAVE Autobot Pretenders Sky High, Groundbreaker, and Splashdown. They just moved the totems to the chest and space-suited them up a little.