Tag Archives: Predacon

My Transformer Collection Showcase, Transformatorium

Transformers Collection – Armada

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Big Angry Trev and his Armada (toys)

And so the great undertaking of cataloging my massive collection continues!

Armada was a really fun Transformers toyline.  It introduced a whole new race of Transformers – Mini-Cons, who could attach to larger Transformers to unlock new abilities.  It also gave fans what we had been waiting for for nearly 20 years – a Unicron toy!

 

Transformer Armada Autobot Figures

*Item #ARA001: Transformers Armada Autobot Optimus Prime

*Item #ARA002: Transformers Armada Mini-Con Sparkplug

(Reference: Photo #P00163)

 

*Item #ARA003: Transformers Armada Autobot Jetfire

*Item #ARA004: Transformers Armada Mini-Con Comettor

(Reference: Photo #P00164)

 

*Item #ARA005: Transformers Armada Autobot Red Alert

*Item #ARA006: Transformers Armada Autobot Red Alert (2nd unit)

*Item #ARA007: Transformers Armada Mini-Con Longarm

(Reference: Photo #P00165)

 

*Item #ARA008: Transformers Armada Autobot Scavenger

*Item #ARA009: Transformers Armada Mini-Con Rollbar

(Reference: Photo #P00166)

 

*Item #ARA010: Transformers Armada Autobot Overload

*Item #ARA011: Transformers Armada Mini-Con Headmaster Rollout (combined with Overload)

(Reference: Photo #P00167)

 

*Item #ARA012: Transformers Armada Autobot Hot Shot

*Item #ARA013: Transformers Armada Mini-Con Jolt

(Reference: Photo #P00168)

 

*Item #ARA014: Transformers Armada Autobot Smokescreen

*Item #ARA015: Transformers Armada Mini-Con Liftor

(Reference: Photo #P00169)

 

*Item #ARA016: Transformers Armada Autobot Blurr

*Item #ARA017: Transformers Armada Mini-Con Incinerator

(Reference: Photo #P00170)

 

*Item #ARA018: Transformers Armada Autobot Sideswipe

*Item #ARA019: Transformers Armada Mini-Con Nightbeat

(Reference: Photo #P00171)

 

*Item #ARA020: Transformers Armada Autobot Laserbeak

*Item #ARA021: Transformers Armada Autobot Laserbeak (2nd unit)

(Reference: Photo #P00172)

 

*Item #ARA022: Transformers Armada McDonald’s Autobot Hot Shot

*Item #ARA023: Transformers Armada McDonald’s Autobot Hot Shot (2nd unit)

*Item #ARA024: Transformers Armada McDonald’s Autobot Hot Shot (3rd unit)

*Item #ARA025: Transformers Armada McDonald’s Autobot Hot Shot Smokescreen

(Reference: Photo #P00173)

 

*Item #ARA026: Transformers Armada Optimus Prime (keychain)

(Reference: Photo #P00174)

 

 

Transformer Armada Decepticon Figures

*Item ARD001#: Transformers Armada Decepticon Megatron

*Item ARD002#: Transformers Armada Mini-Con Leader-1

(Reference: Photo #P00175)

 

*Item #ARD003: Transformers Armada Decepticon Thundercracker

*Item #ARD004: 9ransformers Armada Mini-Con Zapmaster

*Item #ARD005: Transformers Armada Decepticon Starscream

*Item #ARD006: Transformers Armada Mini-Con Swindle

*Item #ARD007: Transformers Armada Decepticon Skywarp

*Item #ARD008: Transformers Armada Mini-Con Thunderclash

(Reference: Photo #P00176)

 

*Item #ARD009: Transformers Armada Decepticon Tidal Wave

*Item #ARD010: Transformers Armada Mini-Con Ramjet

(Reference: Photo #P00177)

 

*Item #ARD011: Transformers Armada Decepticon Demolishor

*Item #ARD012: Transformers Armada Mini-Con Blackout

(Reference: Photo #P00178)

 

*Item #ARD013: Transformers Armada Decepticon Cyclonus

*Item #ARD014: Transformers Armada Mini-Con Crumplezone

(Reference: Photo #P00179)

 

*Item #ARD015: Transformers Armada Decepticon Thrust

*Item #ARD016: Transformers Armada Mini-Con Inferno

(Reference: Photo #P00180)

 

*Item #ARD017: Transformers Armada Decepticon Predacon

*Item #ARD018: Transformers Armada Mini-Con Side Burn

*Item #ARD019: Transformers Armada Mini-Con Skid-Z

(Reference: Photo #P00181)

 

 

Transformer Armada Unicron Figures

*Item #ARU001: Transformers Armada Unicron

*Item #ARU002: Transformers Armada Mini-Con Dead End

(Reference: Photo #P00182)

 

*Item #ARU003: Transformers Armada Sideways

*Item #ARU004: Transformers Armada Mini-Con Rook

*Item #ARU005: Transformers Armada Mini-Con Crosswise

(Reference: Photo #P00183)

 

 

Transformer Armada Mini-Con Team Figures

*Item #ARM001: Transformers Armada Mini-Con Destruction Team Dualor

*Item #ARM002: Transformers Armada Mini-Con Destruction Team Drill Bit

*Item #ARM003: Transformers Armada Mini-Con Destruction Team Buzzsaw

(Reference: Photo #P00184)

 

*Item #ARM004: Transformers Armada Mini-Con Road Wrecker Team Dualor

*Item #ARM005: Transformers Armada Mini-Con Road Wrecker Team Drill Bit

*Item #ARM006: Transformers Armada Mini-Con Road Wrecker Team Buzzsaw

(Reference: Photo #P00185)

 

*Item #ARM007: Transformers Armada Mini-Con Sea Team Waterlog

*Item #ARM008: Transformers Armada Mini-Con Sea Team Oceanglide

*Item #ARM009: Transformers Armada Mini-Con Sea Team Stormcloud

(Reference: Photo #P00186)

 

*Item #ARM010: Transformers Armada Mini-Con Air Military Team Gunbarrel

*Item #ARM011: Transformers Armada Mini-Con Air Military Team Terradive

*Item #ARM012: Transformers Armada Mini-Con Air Military Team Thunderwing

(Reference: Photo #P00187)

 

Transformatorium

Blackarachnia Mouse Pad

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Well it’s been a few years since we got a Transformers-themed Wrist Rest Mouse Pad.  In early 2017 we saw pads made of Arcee and Windblade, followed several months later by Elita-1.  Now nearly two full years later we have the latest one, and it’s the character that near everyone predicted would be next.  So let’s look at the Blackarachnia Mouse Pad.

 

The Artwork

Classy!

The first Transformers Wrist Rest pads that came out were definitely Anime themed in their artwork.  The follow up one of Elita-1 was more G1 Cartoon/Comic themed and even those who abhor these Mouse Pads admitted it was excellent artwork of her (from the neck up at least).   This Mouse Pad definitely goes back to an Anime style, and is rather indicative of the artwork from the comic included with the Legends Blackarachnia figure.

Translated comic courtesy of Tets’ Toys and Shenanigans

An odd inclusion in the artwork is her licking a claw with an organic tongue.

 

The Physical Attributes

The dimensions and… er… squidgyness… of the Mouse Pad are on par with what has come before.

What is a shame is that unlike the other Mouse Pads, this one does not come packaged in a hard plastic shell, making it harder for those who choose to display them rather than put them to conventional use.

 

An Already Busty Character

Legends Box Art

It’s rather ironic that these Mouse Pads accentuate the female chest, yet the Legends Blackarachnia toy and box art actually show Blackarachnia with an even bigger bust than the Mouse Pad has! The previous Mouse Pads got a lot of scorn from certain sections of the fandom for giving a Transformer breasts.  It will be interesting to see if those sections get angry again here, considering Blackarachnia has always been portrayed in cartoons, comics and toys as actually having breasts.  In fact the original Beast Wars toy had massive mammaries!

Voted at the academy ‘Predacon most likely to develop back problems’

Why these silly little Mouse Pads cause such controversy has always been a bit beyond me, since they are representations of fictional shape-shifting alien robots. Plus pick up any DC or Marvel comic and you’d be hard pressed to find any artwork showing a single female Super Hero rocking something smaller than Double D’s.  Funnily enough the outrage often seems to be more from male rather than female Transformer fans, who tend to find the whole thing bemusing.  But to each their own and it’s understandable that this kind of product is not everyone’s cup of tea.

 

“Silverbolt – you have captured my essence exactly!”

So there ya go, the latest in the line of Transformer Wrist Rest Mouse Pads and something to sate fans until the Masterpiece Blackarachnia figure is released later this year.  For those of you that entered the competition on this site, well done, nearly every one of you predicted this would be the next Mouse Pad created!  So keep tuned to see which Femmebot will get the Wrist Rest treatment next.

 

Related Articles

Elita-1 Mouse Pad

Arcee & WIndblade Mouse Pads

 

Transformer Toy Reviews

Classic Toy Reviews – Generations and Timelines Wasp/Thrustinator

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These are reviews from threads I originated on the Ozformers site back when these toys were released.  Enjoy!

Note: For Multiverse galleries of these characters see HERE!

Name: WASPINATOR
Series – Generations
Sub-line – Thrilling 30
Wave: Wave 1 – 2014
Size/class – Deluxe
New/remould/redeco – New
Released here – Not yet
Approximate Retail Price – $28Aus
Approximate Size – 14cm
Allegiance – Predacon
Alt-mode – Wasp
Main Features/Gimmicks – Design based on IDW design
Main Colours – Green, Yellow, Brown
Main Accessories – IDW exclusive comic, Stinger Gun
Robot Mode
*Quite good looking, faithful to both Beast Wars and the IDW incarnations. He has good articulation and the light piping works really well with his huge optics.

Wasp mode

*To my mind the wasp mode here is better than both the Beast Wars and the Animated versions of the character. Very compact, very well coloured and very well balanced. The flapping wings are a nice touch that add a lot of play value.

Transformation

This transformation would be far easier if the instructions were REMOTELY USEFUL! I was able to figure him out because, well, if I can’t after 30 years of collecting I should hand in my Autobrand right now. But I wouldn’t give this to a little kid or a novice who would try to go soely by the instructions because Waspy would be flung out the window after 10 minutes. Once you’ve done it though, it takes about 15 seconds to transform him back

Worth getting?
*For me, as more of a G1 than BW fan (technically the same universe I know), the only BW characters (besides the odd Robot Hero) I’ve bothered to collect over the years have been Depthcharge’s and Waspinator‘s so I was happy to grab this guy to add to the collection. I’ll be bypassing the new Rhinox & Rattrap figures altogether. But if you are a big Beast Wars fan I’d say this is the figure to get for the new year. Oh, and the free comic is a nice bonus too

Name: Thrustinator
Series – Timelines
Sub-line – TFSS
Size/class – Deluxe
New/remould/redeco – Extensive remold of Dirgegun
Wave – 2
Released here – n/a
Approximate Retail Price – $46.50
Approximate Size – 14cm
Allegiance – Predacon
Alt-mode – Techno-mutated Wasp thingie
Main Features/Gimmicks – Head can become purple stinger shooter
Main Colours – purple, green, yellow, grey
Main Accessories – One missile launcher, 2 missilesRobot Mode

They had to completely use their imaginations here since it’s never been properly on screen, but in the end I suppose it was heavily influenced by what went where from his alt-mode and Dirgegun where apparently the mold came from. Hideous but kinda interesting. I always have a soft spot for any robot that isn’t perfectly symmetrical. A cool concept is that you can retract his head and put a big missile launching stinger in it’s place, which also gives him a totally purple head which is a shout out to the cartoon.

Wasp…. thingie


Bloody hideous! But whereas in the cartoon he was just a Wasp with BM Thrusts head (which I’ve included an image of here), they’ve taken the meld to the nth degree here so well done them for putting a bit of imagination into it. Having different parts of Waspinators alt-modes body and head mutated and deformed in Thrusts colours is – while garish – a kinda cool concept. That said, it’s still the ugliest thing I’ve seen since the Fuzors.

Transformation
Takes about 13 seconds to turn him from Wasp to Bot. No challenge to be found here



Overall
Well, probably my least favorite in the latest subscription service figures for me as it’s a character I care little about and I very vaguely remember showing up briefly in the final episode of BM. Nevertheless, a very interesting looking figure and creatively designed toy. If you are a massive Beast Machines fan (are there any ) and not a member of the TFSS then wait till it turns up cheap on the secondary market.

I hope you enjoyed these classic reviews from years gone by.  Got anything to add?  Say it in the comments section below!