Toybox REVIEW: Transformers Legends LG-60 Overlord

Release Date: January 2018

RRP: 9180 yen

It was a sad day in the Transformers fandom when it was announced that TakaraTomy wouldn't be continuing with the Legends line as Hasbro moved into the Power of the Primes range - instead bringing over the US versions without any changes as part of a wider brand unification. Many (including myself) will miss Takara's more cartoon-inspired decos, but at least the beginning of 2018 has some pretty hotly anticipated releases. Amongst them is Transformers Legends LG-60 Overlord, a brand new version of the Decepticon general from the second Japanese-exclusive anime series Transformers: Super God Masterforce. The original toy was an exclusive release to Japan and Europe, however with Overlord gaining new popularity thanks to the Last Stand of the Wreckers and other IDW comics the time has finally come for this fan favourite to receive an updated figure. This figure is an extensive remould of Leader class Titans Return Black Shadow, however as that was not released as part of the Legends line this is the first time the mould is making its way over to Japan. And honestly, its better suited to (and arguably intended for) Overlord in the first place.

Toybox REVIEW: Transformers Legends LG-42 Godbomber

Release Date: May 2017

RRP: 7560 yen

When TakaraTomy revealed that their version of Titans Return Powermaster Optimus Prime would be heavily remoulded to match the original toy and released as Super Ginrai, Transformers fans immediately speculated that a Godbomber wouldn’t be too far behind. They were of course correct, and now the originally Japanese-exclusive Super God Masterforce character (who was eventually released in the West as “Apex Bomber”) has returned with full compatibility with Super Ginrai to form God Ginrai. Transformers Legends LG-42 Godbomber is current only available through the Legends line, with an American release still unconfirmed even though the Super Ginrai mould is being brought over as “Magnus Prime”.

Toybox REVIEW: Transformers Legends LG-35 Super Ginrai

Release Date: December 2016

RRP: 9180 yen

One of the most anticipated 2016 releases from TakaraTomy’s Transformers Legends line also happened to be one of its last. Over in the West the year saw Hasbro’s Combiner Wars come to its end, replaced with the Headmaster-inspired Titans Return. Kicking things was a new version of Powermaster Optimus Prime, however simply giving the figure wasn’t enough for Takara. In Japan there was no Powermaster Prime, with the figure instead becoming the entirely new character of Ginrai – an ordinary human with the power to join with a lifeless Transformer body, eventually becoming the Cybertron leader in Transformers: Super God Masterforce. As a fitting way to mark the stark differences between the new characters, Transformers Legends Super Ginrai is an extensive remould of Hasbro’s figure – boasting an all-new face, chest, arms, feet and more.

Custom Figure: Classics Metalhawk

3 out of 4 Autobot Pretenders done! For the Masterforce pretender leader I used an Energon Windrazor (took me AGES to track one done on ebay for a reasonable price!) and proceeded to add gold, red, blue and white paint. I'm glad I decided to go for a gold body in the end, rather than the yellow colour that was used in the cartoon. Anyway here's 2 pics of the original figure, followed by images of my custom...

Custom Figure: Classics Bludgeon, Landmine (Lander) and Waverider (Diver)

A 3 figure G1 Pretender extravaganza of customs to show off this time round, with a custom Bludgeon made from a Cybertron deluxe class Unicron, and the first 2 of my big project to create classics versions of the whole cast of Masterforce (well, second and third if you want to be precise, since I did already do Blackzarak...)! Lander is made from a Movie scout class Hardtop and Diver is made from a Movie Scout class Storm Surge.

As before I'll give you an image of the original G1 figure first so you know what I was going for. Enjoy!

Custom Figure: Transformers Classics/Universe Blackzarak

Though not my first custom, here's the first one thats gonna go up on this blog! *applause*

Not alot done to this figure actually, I just took a Cybertron series Dark Scorponok (which I got damn cheap in TK Maxx last year)- which is already a blatent homage to this character, and got painted over the horrid sky blue plastic that was ruining the figure's deco. For the horns I took the figure's visor, cut it up and superglued the horns to the side of the head, then painted over them to match the helmet.

Just so you're in the know, Blackzarak was one of the big bad guys in the japanese exclusive Masteforce G1 series (the first pic). Then theres a pic of the unmodified Dark Scorponok...so you know what I had to begin with! And finally there's the finised product.