Today we have for you the robot and vehicle images of Goldbug from the Botcon 2008 Convention exclusive box set of figures. We’ve already posted about Prime in robot mode here and his alt mode here.

 

Goldbug’s face is colored like his G1 namesake in blue, but the rest of his colors liken him more to the G1 Deluxe Insecticons. Specifically Chop Shop’s general body shape and color scheme.

  

Remember to check out Botcon.com for more information on the exclusives, the convention and all other things Botcon.

Images of G1 Goldbug and Deluxe Insecticons hail from TFU.INFO.

In the current tradition of dragging things out as long as possible before every gets to see the full set, Botcon.com posted the alt mode of the already revealed ‘Shattered Glass’ Optimus Prime based on the Classics mold of Prime. This is the first figure revealed thus far in the Botcon Convention Exclusive box set of figures.

So far I have to say that I’m liking this figure. I love all the detailing in the vehicle mode from the ‘Til All are Gone!’ to the cracked windshield. The color scheme in robot mode reminds me of Black Zarak’s scheme, particularly with the splash of gold on the crotch. Maybe not so much with the pale red, but thats what it made me think.

Botcon.com has revealed the first figure from the 2008 Convention Exclusive box set of figures. The figure is a repainted Transformers Classics Optimus Prime mold. The theme this year is called ‘Shattered Glass’ and takes place in a ‘mirror universe’ of sorts, where many things are reversed. In this case, the Autobots are the villains, while the Decepticons are the heroes. Optimus will lead the evil Autobots.

I must admit, its a bit disappointing they only showed the robot mode for this figure considering the past two years, they revealed both modes.

Powet board member Tigerpaw has shared some info with us from the Transformers Collector Club:

At 7:44pm EST tonight, a listing of the first wave of the upcoming Universe/Classics 2.0 toys was posted in the Transformers Collectors Club Forums. Also posted was news that the Seacons re-issue, and club exclusive Nightbeat toy that have been rumored, are now officially a go, with hopes that they’ll be ready in time for Botcon. Pre-orders will be in March with the figures shipping in April.

Then at precisely 7:45pm, the Master Collector servers crashed from the ensuing rush of traffic.

At 8:20 or so, the servers came back up, and I finally got a look at the post. The rundown:

Wave 1 of Classics 2.0/Universe

Deluxes:
Sunstreaker
Prowl
Tankor (Octane)

Ultras:
Onslaught
powetglide

A picture was posted of Sunstreaker but per club rules, it is not allowed to be reposted. It’s not known at this time whether pictures of the other figures will be posted or not.

We saw some design and proto images of Tankor/Octane at Botcon. Onslaught was revealed in the image above not too long ago. Since I’m also a member of the club, I logged in to see Sunstreaker and, although he looked mistransformed a bit, he appears to be a nice addition to the line.

The Transformers Club website revealed the cover to the January issue of the Collector’s Club newsletter featuring the upcoming Universe (Classics 2.0) Onslaught. They also go on to say that five figures will be revealed inside the publication most likely including Onslaught. The publication should make it into club members’ hands soon revealing these promised figures.

Also announced, Nightbeat will be joining the Seacons as the next member exclusive figures available for purchase only to club members.

From the site:

December 2007 – We are pleased to announce that our next Club Exclusive, along with the previously announced SEACONS, is none other than NIGHTBEAT, the galaxy’s most reliable detective! Both the Seacons and Nightbeat are scheduled for a Spring 2008 release. For a quick sneak peak at our all-new exclusives, available for purchase to all club members, be sure to check out the latest issue of the Transformers Collectors’ Club Magazine!

TFW2005 reported a couple days ago on a few pictures that popped up on a Japanese toy board. The pictures appear to be of two packaging samples with the figures inside. One package is a two-pack featuring Classics Jetfire and Classics Grimlock. The other package is another two-pack featuring Classics Optimus Prime and Classics Ultra Magnus. Both feature Classics packaging with a pop-up display of each character in robot mode. I have attached the pictures because I’m sure my description is severely lacking, but they speak for themselves.

This will be a great chance for people who missed out on figures, particularly the Target exclusive Ultra Magnus, that was available only with Classics Skywarp.

 

I attended Botcon 2007 this year and was able to get my hands on all of the exclusives. I decided to do a quick hands on with all ten exclusives. I divided it up into two 10 minute videos because its long, a little boring, and not very in depth. If you’d like me to do a more in-depth look at each of the exclusives with more background information and the full transformations, please let me know by commenting on this post below. Thanks!

Part 1: Dirge, Thrust, Thundercracker, Dreadwind and Bugbite

Part 2: Springer, Huffer, Weirdwolf, Alpha Trion, and Phasing Mirage

For the initial announcements on each figure in the main set go to the following links:
Thundercracker
Dirge
Thrust
Dreadwind
Bugbite

[EDIT – CRAZY: It has been brought to my attention that Don Figueroa did the art for the cover of the box set and not Dan Khanna. Apologies.]

The fifth and final figure in the Botcon 2007 Exclusive set was revealed today. Dreadwind will be a repaint of Classics Jetfire with a remolded head designed by fan club artist Dan Khanna. As always, I have mirrored the images below.

When I first heard that Dreadwind would be one of the exclusives, I hoped that we might get a Darkwing to go along with him. I was a big Darkwing fan when I was younger because I had the toy and he had an unusually cool transformation for the time. If you compare the two G1 characters in jet mode to the jet mode of Classics Jetfire, Darkwing is actually a much closer match. Going by robot mode, though, Dreadwind wins out since he has the cockpit on his chest, while Darkwing’s chest is the underside of the plane.

Source for image of G1 Dreadwind head: TFU.Info.

“We’re Doomed. Not that it matters.”