Zoids x Transformers x Diaclone: T-Spark Synergenex Label

[Xehn]

I can't believe it took nearly 20 years since the Takaratomy merger for Zoids and Transformers to cross streams.

There's (nearly) zero chance of this figure getting any sort of western release and it's gonna be spendy, but probably not Adamas Machina BF spendy. Diaclone is a fairly boutique toyline and while it's smaller than typical Zoids scale (1/60 vs 1/72) that's still fairly chunky. Will probably be ~25-30k yen if I had to make an estimate. Current Diaclone however is a very high quality product line well worth its cost (it's become my current collecting focus, so the addition of it to this mix is extra special for me).

[Zoidstar]

Transformers x Diaclone x Zoids!? Whelp I'm definitely on board!

[dchan]

There is so much new Zoids product in the works! I love the idea of the Optimus Prime Shield Liger (though personally I would like to see Beast Wars characters too).

The disappointment I felt when the video got to the "Godzilla/Transformers" part though, and it turned out to just be recolors of existing figures hahaha

[Snowflake]

It would be insane not to release all of these in the west..
Yeah the Godzilla ones are baffling. All they get is a little logo on the chest? Like an 80s Halloween costume with a plastic smock with a picture of the character? Do they have any idea what Godzilla fans would pay for an original mold?

[Zoidstar]

Yeah, I got a bit hyped when I saw the TFxGodzilla, then they showed that repaint Grimlock with Megatron's head...

[Leon35]

Ok; I am in love with the concept art for the Shield D Prime. The red on the shoulders reminds me of the Shield Liger with Red Holotech plastic we saw on the back of the english DVD for Chaotic Century.

The transformed form is incredible! I am not super familiar with Diaclone, although if understand correctly, this isn't going to be a model kit or a proper figure, but a modular toy. I would like to order two.to display both forms, but I am worried about cost. Again I dont know much about Diaclone's but just a quick google search shows that even the newest ones are CRAZY expensive. Anyone know more about this line?

other small things;

It looks like Zoids is getting ANOTHER Monster Hunter colab. That could mean sales were really good for the first one! Nice. Transformers is also getting one, but they specifically get to celebrate two anniversaries. Huh.

Was there another Zoids Patlabor thing happening? Ive been seeing chatter about that but all I know about is the existing model kit.

Oh! Transformers x Macross is going to be a BIG deal for quite a few people I know.

Transformers Godzilla seems fine. No real opinions on it.

Not impressed at all with the spider man colab. Hard pass.

[Xehn]

Aug 27, 2024 10:50:50 GMT -5 Leon35 said:

Again I dont know much about Diaclone's but just a quick google search shows that even the newest ones are CRAZY expensive. Anyone know more about this line?

what do you want to know? it's been my primary collecting focus for a while now, so hit me. I'll answer anything as best I can.

[Maethius]

Woah... I actually thought this was fan art!

[Hanyoutai]

The Hunter Wolf MPD seems to have also done well, cause he's getting his own crossover comic called Code Name B.U.D.D.Y.~ Some art of it here. Code Name B.U.D.D.Y. was announced before the Synergenex video, though, which didn't mention it, so I'm inclined to think there's going to be more on top of that, but like the Monster Hunter Collab, didn't say anything specific.

[Snowflake]

I don't think Zoids is getting another MH collab (though I would love it), I think this video was just put together before that part was finished, and not released 'til now.
And yes the modular aspects of Shiel-D are most welcome. Zoids used to have all kinds of stuff like that. Even Blade Liger's tail piece comes off and becomes a drone, right? I'm just really surprised they started with SL instead of Liger Zero

[Leon35]

I am not sure...the other monster hunter collab was announced so long ago now; I think it might be something new. But I agree that its weird that it didnt get a lot of fanfare this time, or even acknowledge the last one.

[Xehn]

Aug 27, 2024 18:16:22 GMT -5 Snowflake said:

I don't think Zoids is getting another MH collab (though I would love it), I think this video was just put together before that part was finished, and not released 'til now.
And yes the modular aspects of Shiel-D are most welcome. Zoids used to have all kinds of stuff like that. Even Blade Liger's tail piece comes off and becomes a drone, right? I'm just really surprised they started with SL instead of Liger Zero

The video had "COMING SOON" splashes for both Patlabor and Monster Hunter in regards to Zoids collabs, which they wouldn't use for the kits that are already released, so I do think we're getting more from both IPs.

[Snowflake]

Aug 27, 2024 22:45:24 GMT -5 Xehn said:

Aug 27, 2024 18:16:22 GMT -5 Snowflake said:

I don't think Zoids is getting another MH collab (though I would love it), I think this video was just put together before that part was finished, and not released 'til now.
And yes the modular aspects of Shiel-D are most welcome. Zoids used to have all kinds of stuff like that. Even Blade Liger's tail piece comes off and becomes a drone, right? I'm just really surprised they started with SL instead of Liger Zero

The video had "COMING SOON" splashes for both Patlabor and Monster Hunter in regards to Zoids collabs, which they wouldn't use for the kits that are already released, so I do think we're getting more from both IPs.

I mean I hope you're right, I just think it's a lot easier to imagine they just made a mistake. There's an image of an upcoming Patlabor-Zoids crossover manga, and it just has the wolf. I don't think it's getting a second crossover.

[Leon35]

Aug 27, 2024 11:05:03 GMT -5 Xehn said:

Aug 27, 2024 10:50:50 GMT -5 Leon35 said:

Again I dont know much about Diaclone's but just a quick google search shows that even the newest ones are CRAZY expensive. Anyone know more about this line?

what do you want to know? it's been my primary collecting focus for a while now, so hit me. I'll answer anything as best I can.

I guess...what should I expect when opening up a box of this? All I know about Diaclone is that they were the "original" transformers. Its where the name "Convoy" comes from for Optimus. I generally have no clue what the original toys were like, or what the current toys are like, how expensive they are, etc

[Xehn]

Aug 28, 2024 21:07:14 GMT -5 Leon35 said:

Aug 27, 2024 11:05:03 GMT -5 Xehn said:

what do you want to know? it's been my primary collecting focus for a while now, so hit me. I'll answer anything as best I can.

I guess...what should I expect when opening up a box of this? All I know about Diaclone is that they were the "original" transformers. Its where the name "Convoy" comes from for Optimus. I generally have no clue what the original toys were like, or what the current toys are like, how expensive they are, etc

Ignoring legacy for the moment, modern Diaclone is a very solidly-constructed toyline. The exact presentation will depend on the figure you're cracking open, and while I generally find everything to be well worth its MSRP, that part is up to you. The one thing I notice with, say, many Transformers fans, is they care about size more than quality. If you look at general opinions on certain Transformers toys, you'll see people complaining about a toy being "a Legends Class (approx $10-13) figure being sold as a Deluxe (approx $20-$25)" while totally disregarding that as a result of its smaller size, its engineering is far more involved (the new Studio Series '86 Deluxe Class Bumblebee, as an example, is significantly smaller than the Siege series Deluxe Ironhide, who has a far simpler transformation, with simpler parts, to make up for his size). (it's also true that Transformers toy sizes have been shrinking over time but that's... another story.)

The reason I mention this is because it's easy to look at a Diaclone release and compare its size to that of a Transformers release that costs roughly the same and feel like you're getting ripped off. But there are some things you can't really tell until you have something in-hand on the table in front of you.
It's like the difference between a Marvel Legends figure of Spiderman (the articulation is there, but the materials suck, the paint is barely there, accessory count sucks) and a MAFEX or SH Figuarts version of the same design (all that sculpted detail, full paintjobs, all those accessories).

Diaclone doesn't skimp on painted detail (clarification: if something is depicted as having deco, the toy will have that deco, unless it's like, individual control console buttons, which would be ridiculous at 1:60), and unlike Transformers stays far away from that unpaintable POM/PA plastic as well as the flexible plastic that Transformers is prone to using in pointy bits For Safety Reasons.
Most mecha in the line feature tons of 3mm or 4mm accessory ports, jointed fingers (usually just all four fingers fused and jointed at the base), and tons of cross-compatible gimmicks (modular cockpit cores, interchangable accessories, combination functions, not to mention the tiny (1" tall) pilot figures (with nine or ten points of articulation each!)
The plastic is durable and dense, joints are ratcheted where needed, nothing is "hollow" just to save a few pennies.

That's not to say there haven't been the occasional QC problem but from what I've seen it's never been major. Takaratomy are pretty good about helping with problems when they arise for collectors in Japan, at the very least, as well.