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And finally, Transform Element OP Leader (Optimus Prime), one of my recent favorite figures, out of the 1986 Transformers: the Movie. This is solid, well-built, well-engineered, and has the feel of a Fans Toys figure to me (though maybe less paint). It’s also the cleanest sculpt for Optimus yet, definitely besting Takara’s forthcoming version 3 Masterpiece (MP-44). The transformation has a few tricky moments (see Paik4Life’s video on YT for great tips), but I enjoy it a lot. This Matrix chamber is a thing of beauty, and he’s articulated enough to hold it open. His alt mode is the cleanest of any MP-scale Prime we’ve seen—in fact, the only one that completely hides his waist (with the exception of Toyworld’s Primorion, but that’s kind of a different Prime, based on Studio Ox).

Fans Toys Hoodlum (Hot Rod), one of my recent favorite figures, out of the 1986 Transformers: the Movie. I do feel this is an improvement over the Takara Masterpiece version, mostly in terms of sculpt and proportions. The lack of head tilt is a bummer, though. The alt mode isn’t as svelte as that of the Takara Masterpiece, I think it’s more than worth it to have an opening canopy that can sit dianaughts—love it!

Mastermind Creations Azalea (Arcee), one of my recent favorite figures, out of the 1986 Transformers: the Movie. I think she’s almost as nice a sculpt as Fans Toys Rouge, but significantly more enjoyable to transform. The only glaring flaw is that only her fists—and not the open hands nor hands that can hold her guns—will work with transformation, and it’s a drag to have to switch them out. Hence, no guns for Arcee here… The alt mode sculpt is again almost as good Fans Toys Rouge, and arguably fits together more tightly. Plus, she scales pretty well with these dianaughts as riders!

My recent favorite bots, right out of the 1986 Transformers: the Movie! These are all from third parties: Arcee by Mastermind Creations (aka Azalea), Hot Rod by Fans Toys (Hoodlum), and Optimus Prime by Transform Element (OP Leader).

A closer-up 3D bot mode video of Mastermind Creations R-50 Supermax, which is in the fundraising stage to be produced, in cooperation with Planet Steel Express (3D stereovideo conversion by me). Visit planetsteelexpress.com/R50token to back it! See previous posts for more.

3D bot mode shots of Mastermind Creations R-50 Supermax, which is in the fundraising stage to be produced, in cooperation with Planet Steel Express (stereopair extraction/creation by me). Visit planetsteelexpress.com/R50token to back it! See previous & next posts for more.

(🔀) A 3D bot mode video of Mastermind Creations R-50 Supermax, which is in the fundraising stage to be produced, in cooperation with Planet Steel Express (3D stereovideo conversion by me). Visit planetsteelexpress.com/R50token to back it! See previous post for parallel version; see previous/next posts for more.

(⇈) A 3D bot mode video of Mastermind Creations R-50 Supermax, which is in the fundraising stage to be produced, in cooperation with Planet Steel Express (3D stereovideo conversion by me). Visit planetsteelexpress.com/R50token to back it! See next post for cross-eye version; see previous/next posts for more.

3D alt mode shots of Mastermind Creations R-50 Supermax, which is in the fundraising stage to be produced, in cooperation with Planet Steel Express (stereopair extraction/creation by me). Visit planetsteelexpress.com/R50token to back it! See previous & next posts for more.

A 3D alt mode video of Mastermind Creations R-50 Supermax, which is in the fundraising stage to be produced, in cooperation with Planet Steel Express (3D stereovideo conversion by me). Visit http://www.planetsteelexpress.com/R50token/ to back it! See next posts for more.

Insert Matrix here… I like that this new Studio Series 38 Optimus has enough articulation to hold his chest panels at this angle. Swipe for a straight-on photo, in which he still looks a bit stocky, but not too badly. The cab itself is very solid and everything tabs together neatly. The side detailing on the gas tanks and wheels is also nice. The one flaw is a fairly large hole just forward of the trailer hitch (too bad the blaster couldn’t somehow fold and fill that in).

Well, look who was randomly in stock at my local comic store! (Still waiting on Barricade, Sideswipe, and the Siege leaders / any of wave 2…?) This figure is *excellent*—interesting transformation, clean alt mode, cool painting and details, great articulation. Thought it looked a bit stocky in photos, but in-hand and posed the proportions are fine. Arm articulation is particularly good. The shoulder butterfly tilt looks especially good. And check out all that torso detailing.

A 3D summary of my Top 10 3rd-Party Transformers of 2018, with first place at upper left, going in reading order. In general, Optimus wins last year, with 4 of 10 slots; Breakdown and Unique Toys also scored 2 slots each. For alt modes, trucks win, with 4 of 10 slots (not counting ST Commander’s missile carrier thing), followed closely by Lamborghinis with 3 of 10 slots (2 of the same character). Functional doors or cockpits are also present on half of these—love that trend.

Winding down now: my No. 2 pick for Top 10 3rd-Party Transformers of 2018: WeiJiang Commander! This MP/leader-size figure is modeled after Hasbro’s much smaller Studio Series 05 Optimus Prime, but the remolding and repainting are so extensive (and superior), I think it deserves a 3rd-party label (and not 4th-party or KO). And what a reimagined figure it is—gorgeous, painted, solid, sturdy, ratcheted. This is by far my favorite version of the DOTM Optimus Prime truck—loads better than the official leader class. I wonder if WeiJiang might also make a similar tribute to the newer SS-32 Optimus.

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Part two of my No. 3 pick for Top 10 3rd-Party Transformers of 2018: TFC S.T. Commander, based on crossover concept art by Don Figueroa of Optimus Prime as GI Joe Rolling Thunder! Here is the basic bot mode, alt mode (dig the turrets!), and one of the many base modes. (See previous post for more.)

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Part one of my No. 3 pick for Top 10 3rd-Party Transformers of 2018: TFC S.T. Commander, based on crossover concept art by Don Figueroa of Optimus Prime as GI Joe Rolling Thunder! This is an awesome original mold, and TFC has knocked it out of the park, with a solid stellar bot, GI Joe tribute alt mode, armor, and base modes a-plenty. In my opinion, TFC’s best release BY FAR—well done! Stay tuned for part two of this figure.

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Part 2 of my No. 4 pick for Top 10 3rd-Party Transformers of 2018: Maketoys Thunder Manus with Divine Armor, their take on God Ginrai! Here is the Thunder Manus (Super Ginrai aka Powermaster Optimus Prime) mode, as well as the core legends-size Manus (Optimus Prime) and Powermaster figure. Manus himself is a bit kibbly, but I can overlook that given the size, detail, and integration. See previous post for God Ginrai combined mode and alt.

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