Transformers: Legacy United Energon Universe Megatron is Something that Exists

OK, in the 40th Anniversary line, we have a tribute to a toy made during the 20th Anniversary. I am suddenly acutely aware of my own mortality. Sorry, this is gonna be both fairly brief and fairly negative.

 

The 2004 Transformers Energon Megatron toy (leader class)

Lets try to unpack this. This version of Megatron appeared, obviously, in Transformers Energon. I wrote a retrospective on that yonks ago, but it was notable for being the 20th anniversary series. It didn't do many direct tributes, more remakes and name reuses, but the influence was felt in more than a few toys, which is why this Megs looks a lot like the original Galvatron. As Energon was also a direct sequel to Armada, this makes the toy a representation of the same guy we saw as a leader class recently, which also explains his famous tank/sword accessory. That's a weapon either referencing his previous form, or made from his own corpse following his resurrection. Was it a good toy? Well, for its time it was pretty memorable, but not one that aged well. It wasn't a toy that especially prioritised articulation, it was more about gimmicks than leg joints, more so than most of its time, but it had a lot of style. I liked how it looked, but never how it moved or felt. Definitely a design that would benefit from a do-over. So, with this new Core Class toy we have a toy that's a homage to a homage. And one that you'd suspect would be at best a tenth the size of the original, but with hopefully more useful articulation by a country mile. Then again, its in the consistent disappointment that is the Core class. Is it any good? Well, not hugely.

Starting with the robot form I find myself feeling oddly nostalgic, while also debating how much I can file under "acceptable for the price". Visually, it looks like a scaled down version of the original, with a few things understandably omitted, and the materials changed, but no shortage of paint. Good, that's what basically we're here for. Its nicely presented, swapping out translucent for opaque plastic, and retaining some elements of the old gimmicks. The tank/sword is present, as are the shoulder cannons which now work on 3mm peg. Articulation is also dramatically improved; this toy features ball joints rather than a spring-loaded conversion. Where the weaknesses start to occur is in the shoulders. There's a tab there for the purposes of the altmode, which is fair enough, but this ends up limiting the range of motion. The cannons can get in the way too, bumping into the wings. Now, this isn't a problem if you position them forwards, but why wasn't this just pinned in the first place? I mean... yes. You can have megs gunfighter things up now, but this feels like a life and lemons situation. Also, while this toy really isn't lacking in plastic, this is one where they've had to make compromises and hollow things out. Like the back of the head, the tank/sword, nosecone, forearms and legs. Classy. Given the sheer mass of the altmode, I'm not surprised, but I am disappointed. All that being said, its not actually a bad robot mode, sitting on the good side of average for a core overall.

 

The same general vibe continues into gunship mode, although it is perhaps a touch worse as the robot form was given priority. On the one hand, the look is definitely there, and its doing a better job hiding the head than the much larger original. Its also pleasently chunky and big for a toy in the Core slot. On the other, the hands don't collapse and so stick out under the wings, while the hollowness and such are more obnoxious. Case in point: the tank/sword, which just ends up pointing the blade backwards. Now, given that the tank itself is hollow, could we not have it fold up? Or possibly evoke the original gimmick, and stow the blade in the big empty front end? As small altmodes go, its not bad. Its certainly not bad. But it so easily could have been better.

 

Now, I have some very mixed feelings about this toy, and I have been back and forth with my editing. Part of that's the whole "jeebus, twenty years" thing, I admit, and I’m glad it it exists. But a lot of it is the toy being frustratingly close to being good, but not. It feels like an earnest attempt to modernise an older design, but its also feels like every cost-saving trick they could have used, they did. Some designs just don't work out when scaled down, and while its not without its merits, this was too much to ask of a core class. I got this for £3, so I really shouldn't complain, but this would have felt bad value at RRP. Otherwise, there isn't a huge amount to say. It does what it needs to, it is something that exists, but it exists in a sub-average size class. In the meantime? I’m just gonna have a brief midlife crisis, see you soon.

Kitbash: Stargrave Mercenaries

Now, a sprue I've used an awful lot in my Chem-Dog army is the Stargrave Mercenaries kit. My original Chem-Dog prototype was one of those models, and various stowage and gubbins have been sprinkled through my builds since. Had I not found that Cannon Fodder box, it could very well have been that I built my army around them. I recently acquired another box cheaply, a benefit as I was refitting my infantry, and it followed that an article about them was overdue.

 

So, a brief review. The Stargrave Mercenaries kit is made by Northstar Military Figures, a company which seems to be a kind of low key awesome. While Stargrave is thier sci-fi system, they also do historical, and they do a lot of rules/miniature agnostic stuff, offering support of Gaslands and Xenos Rampant. Their sprues tend to be a kitbasher's joy, if possibly lacking in flair. The Mercenaries were talking about today, for example, have a very varied selection of weapons and armour styles, something of real benefit to theft/looting style of the Chem-Dogs. The overall style tends towards Cyberpunk, maybe? The downside is that they lack a compelling melee option for the sarge, and tend towards a realistic 28mm scale rather than a heroic one, so some kitbashing is unavoidable to make them fit 40K conventrions. If you're making human sci-fi infantry though, getting a box of these is highly recommended as a bits resource. And if the style of this one doesn’t appeal, Northstar do a bunch, and a lot of female coded models too.

With these, I decided to continue the recent trend, and do them up as a battleline unit I hadn't previously fielded: Cadian Shock Troops. Yes, I know this is dumb when I've used actual Cadians for Catachans, but I was always a contrarian. The justification for this is while these models seem better equipped than the Cannon Fodder I mainly field, they don't strike me as elite. More like a slightly more professional unit that got first dibs on some better kit. Following on from that, I decided to use leftover Cannon Fodder arms and backpacks to help them fit my theme, but I kept these as male coded. At least so far as the term applies to gaskmask wearing soldiers at 28mm scale, but you know what I mean. I've done a lot of girls lately, lets have a few boys in the interest of balance. Mechanically, Shock Troops function like a less cool middle ground between stock infantry and Death Korps, having less options than either, but have what is known as a "sticky objectives" ability. I see these chaps as having convictions for armed robbery, call 'em The Payday Squad.

 

These were modelled and painted in my usual manner, although I did make one Innovation. I sculpted gasmasks onto the heads while still on the sprue. I was going for a less bulky, more practical style than my usual, and this was a nice convenience. Actual painting was however delayed due to a head cold, and when I returned I was surprised at the rate they moved forward. I don't think I’m a good painter, I know I’m not a good painter, but I am an efficient one, and having done a hundred or so of these soldiers in various forms? Well, perfectionism gets worn away, and optimizations are found. So, here's my technique for speed painting some penal legion plebs.


1) Basecoat with Color Forge Trench Brown spraypaint.
2) Drybrush your guns and obvious metal bits with a gunmetal. I mixed my own here, aiming for darkish tones, but your preferred metallic grey is probably fine.
3) Pick out the boots, backpacks, and gasmasks in Vallejo German Grey. This is a near black which suits military garments. Pick out the occasional additional element like the odd helmet too.
4) Pick out the rags, and the occasional fabric detail, in Vallejo English Uniform.
5) Now apply a drybrush of Vallejo Hot Orange to what remains, I.e the main body. How hard you go at this stage will dictate how bright it will be. Avoid flesh areas.
6) With the main colours done, now go in add a few little details. I.e. a silver to pick out cutting edges, a gold for contrasting on the guns, a brown or yellow for haircuts, and your preferred method for lenses.
7) Tidy it all up.
8) Now start on the flesh areas; apply some watered-down Armypainter Tanned flesh.
9) Once dry, apply some watered-down GW Kislev Flesh, trying to keep to raised areas, and let that dry.
10) Wash the entire model with GW Agrax Earthshade.

 

Done, right? Well, there's the bases. I tend to come at that at the start of and the end of the process.
A) Before spray-painting, but after the model was attached, texture the base. I normally use a very thin coating of poundshop gap/filler paste, but better options exist. You don’t need a lot, just enough to remove the smooth finish of the base and add imperfections.
B) With the model largely painted, now use a paint like GW Stirland Mud on the base. You can mix your own, I do, or use another brand, we're basically looking for a brown texture paint with sand in it.
C) Once that dries, drybrush it with GW Zandri Dust. Maybe pick out areas like the knees at the same time to suggest dirt and wear.
D) Apply some flock to the base if you have it. I used some 6mm tufts here.
E) Finally, paint the rim of the base with Vallejo Black.

OK, perhaps not my best or most interesting work, but hopefully tableworthy, and of use to you. Cheers.