Monthly Archives: September 2023

Transformatorium, Videos

Australian Radio First – Ravage by Cybertronic Spree

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In an exclusive to The Big DJ Trev Show on KRR.fm, for the first time on Australian Radio, we are proud to present Ravage – the newest album from Cybertronic Spree.

For anyone unfamiliar with the band, Cybertronic Spree released their first album in 2019; Transformers 1986, containing covers from soundtrack of that cult-classic The Transformers: The Movie.  Known to perform live in excellently crafted costumes of beloved Transformers characters such as Hot Rod, Unicron, Shockwave and Soundwave, the band had found a successful niche within the pop-culture world.

Album Review – Cybertronic Spree: Transformers 1986

Ravage is a collection of new original music by the band, with heavy 80’s influences.  However don’t let me spoil it for you – why not take the opportunity to listen for yourself!

Tune in to The Big DJ Trev Show from 6 to 9pm AEST on Thursday October 5th to hear the album played for the first time on Australian Radio!

For those in Central West NSW, tune into to 98.7fm.  For everyone else around the world go online to KRRfm.org.au.  To celebrate the new album Ravage, not only we will be playing tracks from this new album, but having a Transformers themed night, complete with music from Cybertronic Spree’s first album, as well as music from the live-action movie soundtracks and other Transformer musical releases!

So tune in, rock on and roll out!

 

Album Review – ‘Transformers: Roll Out’

Album Review – Respect The Prime 1986 Revisited

Transformatorium, Transformer Toy Reviews

Figure Review – Bishōujo Bumblebee

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Less than 6 months ago we saw the first two Transformers, Optimus and Megatron, of the Bishōjo line (Japanese term for cute girl).  These are a series of statues based off of Shunya Yamashita’s illustrations of various movie, game, and comic characters in the Japanese Bishōjo style.

Review: Bishoujo Transformers

Well now we have the third offering – Bumblebee.  And lets face it, who didn’t see this coming eh?  Bumblebee is in everything.  I mean, who did you think it was going to be – Blot?  Bumblebee continues to bathe in the spotlight in everything Transformers, even if he did take a back seat in Rise of the Beasts.  So how does Bumblebee stack up against his predecessors?  Lets take a look!

Whereas Prime and Megatron were portrayed as young women, Bumblebee is very much portrayed as a teenage girl, befitting his stature as a younger Autobot as well as  being physically smaller than most of his brethren (in G1 anyway).

In ROTB Prime was the worried older brother. Here he is the cool older sister

The colour scheme too is very much a shout out to his G1 incarnation.  Yellow dominates the clothing, along with black straps and touches of pale blue (for the windows).

The more you look at this figure, the more nods to Bumblebee’s robot and vehicle modes you notice.  These include headlights on the boots, a spare tyre backpack, a V for Volkswagen on the belt and a hoodie which is very indicative of Bumblebee’s robot head.

Headlights on shoes
Bumblebee Helmet-hoodie
V. V is for Volkswagen
Spare Tyre backpack (wish mine was in a backpack rather than my gut)

A sticking point for me is the price of this figure.  These are static figures with no articulation,  but at least Prime and Megatron came with a couple of removable accessories such as face masks and shoulder cannon.  Bumblebee comes with no accessories whatsoever.  Also Bumblebee is a significantly smaller figure in comparison to the other two.  I was therefore disappointed to see that the vast majority of online stores priced this figure the same as its two predecessors.  Even $10 or $15 cheaper would have been appreciated.

Smaller, yet just as expensive

Overall, price aside, this is a cute kitschy figure which will look good amongst similar figures on your display shelves.  Bishōjo Bumblebeeonce again proves that Transformers can turn into anything, and is much more family friendly than the last time Bumblebee got a human form.

Moonracer & Cyber Bee Mouse Pads

What do you think of these statuettes?  Cool or just weird?  Pop you thoughts in the comments section below!

My Transformer Collection Showcase, Transformatorium

Transformers Collection – Robots in Disguise (2001)

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And so the great cataloging for my personal and ever expanding Transformers Collection continues!

Robots in Disguise (2001) came out just as my interest in collecting renewed itself after taking most of the 90’s off.  The return of the Autobot and Decepticon factions, along with all the vehicle modes and combiners helped bring me back into the fold.

 

(Note: All figures in photographs listed from Top Left to Bottom Right)

 

Transformers RID(01) Autobot Collection

*Item #RID01A01: Transformers RID(01) Autobot Optimus Prime

(Reference: Photo #P00151)

 

*Item #RID01A02: Transformers RID(01) Autobot Ultra Magnus

*Item #RID01A03: Transformers RID(01) (Basic Class) Autobot Ultra Magnus

(Reference: Photo #P00152)

 

*Item #RID01A04: Transformers RID(01) Autobot Storm Jet

(Reference: Photo #P00153)

 

*Item #RID01A05: Transformers RID(01) Dinobot Snarl

(Reference: Photo #P00154)

 

*Item #RID01A06: Transformers RID(01) Autobot Skid-Z

*Item #RID01A07: Transformers RID(01) Autobot Tow-Line

(Reference: Photo #P00155)

 

*Item #RID01A08: Transformers RID(01) Autobot Supercharge Mode Prowl

*Item #RID01A09: Transformers RID(01) Autobot Side Burn

*Item #RID01A10: Transformers RID(01) Autobot X-Brawn

(Reference: Photo #P00156)

 

*Item #RID01A11: Transformers RID(01) Autobot  Spychanger Ironhide

*Item #RID01A12: Transformers RID(01) Autobot Spychanger Daytonus

*Item #RID01A13: Transformers RID(01) Autobot Spychanger Hot Shot

*Item #RID01A14: Transformers RID(01) Autobot Spychanger Side Swipe

*Item #RID01A15: Transformers RID(01) Autobot Spychanger W.A.R.S

*Item #RID01A16: Transformers RID(01) Autobot Spychanger Crosswise

*Item #RID01A17: Transformers RID(01) Autobot Spychanger Prowl 2

*Item #RID01A18: Transformers RID(01) Autobot Spychanger Mirage

*Item #RID01A19: Transformers RID(01) Autobot Spychanger R.E.V

*Item #RID01A20: Transformers RID(01) Autobot Spychanger Side Burn

*Item #RID01A21: Transformers RID(01) Autobot Spychanger Mirage (2nd Unit)

(Reference: Photo #P00157)

 

*Item #RID01A22: Transformers RID(01) Autobot Build Team Grimlock

*Item #RID01A23: Transformers RID(01) Autobot Build Team Hightower

*Item #RID01A24: Transformers RID(01) Autobot Build Team Heavy Load

*Item #RID01A25: Transformers RID(01) Autobot Build Team Wedge

(Reference: Photo #P00158)

 

*Item #RID01A26: Transformers RID(01) Autobot Team Bullet Train Midnight Express

*Item #RID01A27: Transformers RID(01) Autobot Build Team Railspike

*Item #RID01A28: Transformers RID(01) Autobot Build Team Rapid Run

(Reference: Photo #P00159)

 

Transformers Robots in Disguise (2001) Decepticons

*Item #RID01D29: Transformers RID(01) Predacon Megatron

 

*Item #RID01D30: Transformers RID(01) Decepticon Skyfire

*Item #RID01D31: Transformers RID(01) Decepticon Wind Sheer

(Reference: Photo #P00160)

 

*Item #RID01D32: Transformers RID(01) Decepticon Dreadwind

*Item #RID01D33: Transformers RID(01) Decepticon Smokejumper

(Reference: Photo #P00161)

 

*Item #RID01D34: Transformers RID(01) Destructicon Scourge

*Item #RID01D35: Transformers RID(01) Destructicon Bludgeon

(Reference: Photo #P00162)