Curious History of Third Party Transformers
@3PTFmoments
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A trek through the history of 3rd Party Transforming robots, includes KOs and occasional custom. Run by CZ Hazard/Ceno Kibble/ @DiaBraveSid
Joined October 2022
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Submissions are open again.
What interesting 3P or weird KO needs some spotlight and historical context shone on it?
Post them on this pinned thread, used subs with pictures get credit.
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MMC release Kultur (Tarn) and they're so confident that Tarn will be revealed as Roller, they include that head reveal.
The MTMTE comic would later reveal Tarn was Glitch, not Roller.
#NewProfilePic
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As seen on Reddit (parody, before someone asks)
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Fans Toys Fortress Maximus, if it gets released, will be almost double the height of the already insane Haslab Unicron.
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1984 to 2012... did he, did he die?
An early 3P offering that led to several retailers being sent Cease and Desist orders. It wasn't the reshelling of the mold which was the problem, but using trademarks like Autobot on an obvious unlicensed Volkswagon.
This could have got Hasbro into trouble if they hasn't acted.
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Ratchet / Ironhide G1 heads, a brief thread...
We start with Best Toys, who did these clip-on heads.
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Maketoys Galaxy Meteor, that rare thing; a non G1 Masterpiece style 3P toys. Embrace and support them all! A great take on Gakaxy Force/Cybertron Starscream.
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Just a custom, but how many of you would buy this if a 3rd Party or Hasbro made it real?
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Lewin Toys Captain America style oversized MP-10 KO is crazy on a few fronts, one being the paint job, the other being its size...
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MMC take on the Decepticon Justice Division. Individual pictures below.
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A-plus Toys Animated Dirt Boss
Cancelled.
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A Shattered Glass style Kultur repaint sports a Glitch style head, and contains a choice of totally not Decepticon or Autobot masks.
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Yes! Turtle Headmaster.
Someone make this!
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Fans Project City Commander
The single biggest seismic shift in TF collecting history. An add-on kit for Classics Ultra Magnus, which spawned repaints, add-on kits, "4th party" add-ons, customs, repro labels and inspired thousands of other 3P projects.
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Me: I want a G1 styled Bulkhead
Also me: I'm alright thanks.
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The DJD are always popular and Iron Factory have a hard-core following, so let's do EX31-35, their amazing combining Tarn DJD set...
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Annual reminder that I still want MMC Fort Max.
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Perhaps the most famous Generic transforming robot of all time, Bloodthirsty, the War Dolphin.
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Remember the early third party companies making trailers for MP-1?
Some things never change.
Off brand Lego compatible trailer for Lego Optimus Prime.
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Hearts of Steel Cyclops / Shockwave creates Stalin, Hitler, and other historic bastards to spread terror, hatred and war to speed up humanity's technological advancements to make Earth a better home for Cybertronians
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Anyone else wish the four drones had been given individual robot modes and been their own characters?
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Your face or mine?
MMC released a more comic accurate Glitch face for their Kultur/Tarn, after going all in on the popular Roller fan theory.
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Even the name Lemon Tree Purple Potato can't stop this Masterpiece style Shockwave THAT FREAKING TRANSFORMS INTO GALAVATRON'S SHIP, THE REVENGE, from being absolutely awesome.
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Hey, all 3P companies... Fortress Tiberious when?
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The first 3rd Party MP: MMC Cyclops, based on Hearts of Steel art (below), turns into a steam-paddle warboat.
Incredibly complex, the first run was plagued with tabs that broke during transformation. Solution; remove the tabs in the warehouse for second run.
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A fair warning when you open up Fans Hobby Arch Enemy for the first time.
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Annual reminder that MP style Gilthor/Guiltar was taken from us!!
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FansProject TFX-06 Parallax Armor
After the success of City Commander and Protector, it seemed like FansProject could do no wrong. Enter an add-on kit for Classics Prime, rather than a trailer, it heavily modified the alt mode looked and robot mode.
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There's oversized KOs, and then there's this guy... Sentinel of Liberty Prime
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As we mentioned the WarBugs, let's take a proper look at the FansProject Causality Insecticons and their repaints... Read on.
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Maketoys Chaos Paladin was not only a great interpretation of IDW The Fallen, it was also a... Powercore Combiner!?!
Which just shows it wasn't the PCC concept that was lacking, just the execution.
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TFC EX-002 Battle Rollar.
Sometimes a simple idea can be overthought. Roller (from Prime's trailer) updated as a standalone figure; Rollar.
What could go wrong... Read on.
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So, what was the very first aftermarket product for Transformers? Most people will say a accessory pack. No.
Before that, a very rare Fusion Cannon for Action Master Megatron was released in the 90s, under license from Takara, who never released AM Megs.
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One of the big winners from yesterday's Favourite add-on question (wasn't a competition), FansProject Crossfire 2A and 2B which turned the Energon / ROTF Bruticus from overlooked reissue to one of the best upgraded we've ever seen. Two whole new limbs plus feet, hands and extras
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iGear 'Con Air Raptor Squadron
A thread...
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Metalhead custom from Animated Bulkhead, won first place at Botcon 2015 custom class.
I saw it in person, it was excellent.
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Was this the ballsiest first release in 3P history, or does Studio 01 Cell take the prize?
Planet X Genesis - Omega Supreme heeds the call of the last Prime!
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Mechanic Studios are still working on their Insecticon train as of Feb 2022.
Fingers crossed. Comic inspiration below.
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The FansProject Aerial Appendage add-on kit turned the shelf-warming ROTF Superion reissue into a must have piece. Read on...
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Unused Hearts of Steel designs. Okay attention 3P, we need these.
Scourge as Zeppelin
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Fansproject TFX04 Protector add-on kit, worked with Classics Hot Rod to make him all Rodimusy.
Another great set, following on from the success of the City Commander add-on.
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Although there were a few different add-on kits for FIC Bruticus, Microblaze Creations just went ahead and made a brand new Voyager sized Onslaught for the set, and new feet.
the colours of the mass retail version of the Fall Of Cybertron Combaticons. (2012)
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When is a KO not a KO.
When it's ToyCo Astro Magnum, and any version (Galactic Man, Shockwave) built under license, but that doesn't stop plenty of KOs still happening, especially with the molds sold off.
Shockwave mold and KOs thread
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The first ever 3P Amimated figures, Isaac Sumdac, Sari, and Captain Fanzone, from Impossible Toys.
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You can remove the helmet from MMC R-01 Terminus Hexatron (Sixshot) if you want your character to look like this.
For some reason.
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Iron Factory EX-20 Wing of Tyrant
One mold. Many repaints, a thread...
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During their final days, Maas Toys releases Flat Stack, so people can recreate the scene where Overlord squashes Pipes (picture below).
As the designer had already designed Carnifax, he used the CAD files from that to ensure a good fit.
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One of the big successes of early 3P and the first big combiner, TFC Hercules!
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I don't get the connection with Godfather and the Stunticons, but still cool.
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Planet X Genesis - a pretty spot on WFC Onega Supreme-alike
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2013 April Fools gag Feral Queen
A joke so effective, they ended up making her, which started a snowball effect.
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The other Roller, based on the IDW comics, MMC R-34 Cylindrus.
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Iron Factory release a version of Maximus Ambus called City Commander Final Battle Armor. This represents Ultra Magnus at his biggest and strongest from the MTMTE comic (pictured below).
Sadly, it's a Legends Class toy, and hasn't been upscaled to fit a the IDW/MMC scale.
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01-Studio anounce their Unicron analogue Cell, but are worried about Hasbro and try to make it look like different by adding the display stands to shoulders and removing the head from early reveals.
Definitely not Unicron mate. Nothing to see here.
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One of the rarest 3rd Party toys ever, Perfect Effect PE-DX02 Aranea. An excellent, high production value Deluxe class Black Arachnia.
I sold one on ebay a couple of years back and it got bid up over $600
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X-Transbots Taiho comes with female companions, thankfully rocking more of a Binaltech Asterisk vibe than Kiss Player...
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One of the earliest third party full figures, MMC Knight Morpher, takes Optimus Prime back to the Steam age, based on an IDW miniseries called Hearts of Steel. Original comic designs follow...
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Should Thunderwing always be a Pretender? Or should they move on from his origins?
I liked the Stormbringer compromise.
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TFC Trinity Force, a large CHUG/MPish version of Road Caesar.
Similar to the MP carbots in size, with a nice large combined mode.
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Planet X Mors (FOC Starscream) alt mode.
No reason;)
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The first ever Impactor figure was almost released in 2011/2012 as iGear Presser, however huge backlash accusing it of being a Warpath retool meant the project was axed.
Although a similar transformation, it was an entirely new build and required unique tooling.
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Impossible Toys Nightbird, a repaint of their Acree, was the first transforming Nightbird toy released, available at TFcon 2010.
It wasn't the first Nightbird figure though, nor the first one by Impossible Toys, because...
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One of my favourite 3rd Party sets ever.
Iron Factory EX-06 - EX-10 Ashura Knights gave us all 5 War Within Dynobots (with a Y) in a Legends style, straight from the Dreamwave comics
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Planet X Bugs PX17/18/19.
Read on...
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Maketoys Blindfire (Technobot Strafe) transforms into something very, very similar to the Vic Viper ship from Gradius, which means...
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GCreations Garatron (GODS-01)
IDW Stormbringer Thunderwing, he's not the Pretender he used to be.
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A fun KO to end the day, and yeah, those colours are awesome, but who is the head?
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Look closer...
Display of figures from across the series' history
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I feel we don't talk enough about this toys Avengers Quinjet alt mode.
Maketoys Cross Dimensions Buster Stealthwing - a reimagining of Jetfire for a new universe, in movie homage colours.
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Iron Factory EX-14, an awesome War Within style legends class Prime. Read on...
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TFC Toys Supreme Tactical Commander STC-01B.
Optimus Prime X GI Joe Rolling Thunder
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We continue our look at early Iron Factory releases with EX-16 Pink Assassin. A playful cartoon take on Arcee.
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TFC's Poseidon combiner (Seacons) has six of the most metal names ever, every one of them could be a heavy metal band.
Mentarazor, Cyberjaw, Bigbite, Ironshell, Deathclaw and, best for last, Thousandkills
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Peak 2010 Energy
(Titanium Rodimus, FP City Commander, FP Warbot Defender)
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If you loved BTS Sonicron you'll be pleased to know they also made Ravage, Ratbat, Rumble and fRenzy.
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What did everyone think of the TFCon 3rd Party Panel?
There were a few gems hidden among the Masterpiece, mini-Masterpiece, and Micro-Masterpieces! Here are my favourites, what are you looking most forward to?
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I never get tired of sharing this one. FansProject Glacialbots / devolved Quantron(Computron).
The subtle nods to the previous alt modes is insanely clever.
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DX9 Carry, and all-in-one Studio Ox inspired Masterpiece sized Rodimus Prime.
A really cool figure in many ways.
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Defunct UK trader Masterforce issued a buyer beware for X-Transbots Apollyon in 2014: "WE DO NOT WANT TO STOCK THIS PRODUCT AS IT WILL PROBABLY BE AWFUL IN QUALITY".
They agreed to stock it on the condition of no refunds or replacements.
It became their best selling 3P item.
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Iron Factory EX-22/23/24 War Giant. A fantastic Legends scale take on the Combaticons and Bruticus
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Iron Factory EX-05 Irom Giants Maiden Miko The Hunter, Iron Factory's first female character, was very nearly the first Windblade figure on the market.
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We've looked at TFX-06, we still have the awesome Maketoys Thunder Manus and Fans Hobby Power Baser, but let's look at an early 3P Powermaster Prime, XOvergen Trailerforce.
Worked with Classics Prime.
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MMC does a version of Strika called Titanika, retooled from their Roadbuster/Bulkhead mold.
And it looks great!
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MakeToys Cross Dimension Buster StealthWing (Jetfire) is basically an Avengers Quinjet.
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Till All Are Gone through the Roof and we can only afford KOs of KOs of KOs.
Shattered Glass KO City Commander with Shattered Glass Optimus Prime.
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Artfeather Bumblebee reshells Classics Bumblebee into a realistic Volkswagon, and voilates several protected trademarks in the process.
Hasbro issue C&D legal threats to many retailers.
Stoopid Artfeather
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Years before the very popular Haslab, KFC released one of their best toys: Simba; a Masterpiece style Victory Leo which was fully compatible with MP-24 Star Saber.
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SG Kultur/Tarn with a choice of face-tion logos.
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FansProject Exo-Realm femmesaurs Echara and Comera predate POTP Slash. First seen in 2016, released in 2017, and POTP Slash saw relase in 2018.
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GIVEAWAY - WIN THE (probably) WORST THIRD PARTY TOY
To celebrate 3k followers, I'm giving away the worst 3P toy; Xovergen Grand Patriot.
Follow this account and
@DiaBraveSid
and RT this to enter. Full terms on second post.
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TFC Uranos, the first 3rd Party Superion starting way back in 2013 (10 years!!!!)
All SIX members of this squad combine. Wait, six?? Read on...
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Nicee and Mooka boxed know exactly what audience they're after, huh?
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Maketoys launched their alternate universe Cross Dimension series with Striker Manus.
Best first, eh?
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Your mission: find a time machine, go back to Botcon 2012 and grab Overlord (ROTF Bludgeon repaint), grab this Head Robots add-on kit, take a staff from MOTU 200X Skeletor, make a throne and hey presto... Skele-Lord!
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