Diaclone DA-85 Powered Greater is made to Enhance Every mode of Battle Convoy

With a name like "Powered Greater", it calls to mind the idea that the combined form with Battle Convoy could be some sort of \homage to Powered Convoy (if only in spirit rather than name or appearance).

Sabrblade wrote:With a name like "Powered Greater", it calls to mind the idea that the combined form with Battle Convoy could be some sort of \homage to Powered Convoy (if only in spirit rather than name or appearance).

Yeah I thought that too.

Not sure how I feel about this set. I had hoped that a Powered Convoy reimagining would be a silver version of V-Max with a new trailer it could combine with. This one feels and looks a little more like God Ginrai which isn't necessarily a bad thing and I've already ordered it on Amazon Japan, but it isn't really what I wanted.

More pictures from BBTS:






Emerje

Alt modes & weapons are all pretty cool. But the bot mode is like an easy target practice for its enemies, I'd dub him Michelin Man.

Armada vibes with this photo.

Day 618 of waiting for Transformers Armada Masterpiece news.

very cool

Yeah the diaclone forums elsewhere have been popping off pretty heavily about this guy. I'd kinda given up on our sub-forum here

I do like the Wing Saber Energon Prime look- almost wish you could invert the "wings/arms" and the legs like the Energon Prime/Wingsaber toy- that's probably still my favorite combined prime outside of Fireguts God Genrai.

The main thing I dislike about this new (add-on?) is the price... sure, by mass it's probably equal to +$50 compared to Shadow Convoy (trailer-less and black version of the V-Max). But also if prices scare folks, definitely the wrong line for you... makes the Transformer Masterpieces a lot easier to swallow price-wise. Though i think i've finally given up on that front of collecting.

Emerje wrote:Not sure how I feel about this set. I had hoped that a Powered Convoy reimagining would be a silver version of V-Max with a new trailer it could combine with. This one feels and looks a little more like God Ginrai which isn't necessarily a bad thing and I've already ordered it on Amazon Japan, but it isn't really what I wanted.

More pictures from BBTS:






Emerje

How bad has the shipping been with Amazon.JP lately? I had swapped away from them because it felt like I was getting reamed in shipping (before Covid)... but at the rate it's taking TFSource and BBTS to get stock in... maybe "roughly same price at the end of the day" is worth dealing with it. (though I've always been leery of trying to do returns with amazon.jp- shipping product back would be a pain unless we can do it via the US Branch- I imagine they're independent entities though).

TulioDude wrote:

Armada vibes with this photo.

Day 618 of waiting for Transformers Armada Masterpiece news.

I'm sorry bro, I know pics like this make the waiting hurt more. Just remember I'm here for you. Honestly, I was expecting a set that looked more like Ultra Magnus. The listings could be a little more clear that you need the core Convoy set.

SpikeyTigertron wrote:How bad has the shipping been with Amazon.JP lately? I had swapped away from them because it felt like I was getting reamed in shipping (before Covid)... but at the rate it's taking TFSource and BBTS to get stock in... maybe "roughly same price at the end of the day" is worth dealing with it. (though I've always been leery of trying to do returns with amazon.jp- shipping product back would be a pain unless we can do it via the US Branch- I imagine they're independent entities though).

Shipping isn't great so the final price is pretty even between Amazon and BBTS. Wouldn't be so bad if these didn't have such ridiculously large boxes. At least you'll get them a few days after release.

I've had good luck getting replacement parts from Japanese stores like AmiAmi so I can't imagine Amazon Japan being too difficult to get issues corrected. You can always get Amazon Japan Prime if you think you'll need some leverage, it's only $5 a month, I had it for a little while but never used it, it doesn't have an effect on international shipping prices.

Emerje

Emerje wrote:

SpikeyTigertron wrote:How bad has the shipping been with Amazon.JP lately? I had swapped away from them because it felt like I was getting reamed in shipping (before Covid)... but at the rate it's taking TFSource and BBTS to get stock in... maybe "roughly same price at the end of the day" is worth dealing with it. (though I've always been leery of trying to do returns with amazon.jp- shipping product back would be a pain unless we can do it via the US Branch- I imagine they're independent entities though).

Shipping isn't great so the final price is pretty even between Amazon and BBTS. Wouldn't be so bad if these didn't have such ridiculously large boxes. At least you'll get them a few days after release.

I've had good luck getting replacement parts from Japanese stores like AmiAmi so I can't imagine Amazon Japan being too difficult to get issues corrected. You can always get Amazon Japan Prime if you think you'll need some leverage, it's only $5 a month, I had it for a little while but never used it, it doesn't have an effect on international shipping prices.

Emerje

I was told that Prime through Amazon Japan does nothing for you if you're outside of Japan.

chuckdawg1999 wrote:

Emerje wrote:

SpikeyTigertron wrote:How bad has the shipping been with Amazon.JP lately? I had swapped away from them because it felt like I was getting reamed in shipping (before Covid)... but at the rate it's taking TFSource and BBTS to get stock in... maybe "roughly same price at the end of the day" is worth dealing with it. (though I've always been leery of trying to do returns with amazon.jp- shipping product back would be a pain unless we can do it via the US Branch- I imagine they're independent entities though).

Shipping isn't great so the final price is pretty even between Amazon and BBTS. Wouldn't be so bad if these didn't have such ridiculously large boxes. At least you'll get them a few days after release.

I've had good luck getting replacement parts from Japanese stores like AmiAmi so I can't imagine Amazon Japan being too difficult to get issues corrected. You can always get Amazon Japan Prime if you think you'll need some leverage, it's only $5 a month, I had it for a little while but never used it, it doesn't have an effect on international shipping prices.

Emerje

I was told that Prime through Amazon Japan does nothing for you if you're outside of Japan.

It does nothing in the practical sense. What Emerge was saying was that being an Amazon Prime member might make them more empathetic to any issue you may have, they may treat you better.

Like if you have a problem with an expensive toy. Instead of asking you to ship it back if you want a refund, they coukd tell you to keep it instead and either send you another one or just give you the refund straight away.

Nothing concrete though.

This sort of makes me regret cancelling my Big Powered preorder. But I just couldn't swing it. Gosh these look so good

Sabrblade wrote:

Every time I get an update it reminds me to bust out my Gridman Crossover set. Are these figures supposed to be updates to the Omnibots or whatever those mail-away figures were called? The ones that were really simple looking and had a pull back function, just updated them in Siege?

chuckdawg1999 wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Every time I get an update it reminds me to bust out my Gridman Crossover set. Are these figures supposed to be updates to the Omnibots or whatever those mail-away figures were called? The ones that were really simple looking and had a pull back function, just updated them in Siege?

The Powerdashers, yes.

Emerje

chuckdawg1999 wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Every time I get an update it reminds me to bust out my Gridman Crossover set. Are these figures supposed to be updates to the Omnibots or whatever those mail-away figures were called? The ones that were really simple looking and had a pull back function, just updated them in Siege?

You mean the Powerdashers? Not in the sense of direct update, but at the very least inspired by the "Land-Drill-Jet" trifecta they had going.

Jelze Bunnycat wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Every time I get an update it reminds me to bust out my Gridman Crossover set. Are these figures supposed to be updates to the Omnibots or whatever those mail-away figures were called? The ones that were really simple looking and had a pull back function, just updated them in Siege?

You mean the Powerdashers? Not in the sense of direct update, but at the very least inspired by the "Land-Drill-Jet" trifecta they had going.

Yeah, these are WAY removed from those Powerdashers. If it wasn't pointed out to me I wouldn't have even known.

chuckdawg1999 wrote:Yeah, these are WAY removed from those Powerdashers. If it wasn't pointed out to me I wouldn't have even known.

Yeah, any new Diaclone designs based any of the vintage ones that were later used in Transformers have to be so far removed from those designs in order to not create any overlap with those designs.

This is why the line has mainly been either updates to original Diaclone designs that didn't see use in Transformers (like Diabattles, Big Powered, and Warudaros) or completely brand new designs (most of the Waruder toys), with the Trivers and Battle Convoy V-Max taking inspiration from the original Powerdashers and Battle Convoy but without looking at all like the G1 Transformers Powerdashers or G1 Optimus Prime.

Sabrblade wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:Yeah, these are WAY removed from those Powerdashers. If it wasn't pointed out to me I wouldn't have even known.

Yeah, any new Diaclone designs based any of the vintage ones that were later used in Transformers have to be so far removed from those designs in order to not create any overlap with those designs.

This is why the line has mainly been either updates to original Diaclone designs that didn't see use in Transformers (like Diabattles, Big Powered, and Warudaros) or completely brand new designs (most of the Waruder toys), with the Trivers and Battle Convoy V-Max taking inspiration from the original Powerdashers and Battle Convoy but without looking at all like the G1 Transformers Powerdashers or G1 Optimus Prime.

Yeah, it's kind of funny actually- in some other forums you see fans (of both Diaclone and Transformers) hoping we'll see modern updates of the OG Transformers (that we see homages to with Selects these days- like Red Hoist or Black Skids).

The 'magic' of the Reboot line (i never had originals) is the 1/60 scale. Transformers in general have a hard time sticking to a regular scale as it is, and often- if comparable in robot mode only.

One thing that made the Power Dasher comparison to the Trivers line not crystal clear was some of the color choices, but they've since added more to make up for it.

https://www.takaratomy.co.jp/products/diaclone/product_details/trivers-trijeter-dc.html

https://www.takaratomy.co.jp/products/diaclone/product_details/trivers-tridasher-sb.html

and of course

https://www.takaratomy.co.jp/products/diaclone/product_details/trivers-tridigger.html

I've actually been much more excited for what TakaraTomy has been brewing with Diaclone, than I have been with what Hasbro has been doing with Transformers as of late... I don't know if it's the over saturation of mold usage, the plague of (hard to get) exclusives... or just fatigue...

But it's one reason I've been less active on these forums as of late... Though the supply shortages and my preference to try and find toys in stores, versus just soulless preorders hasn't helped matters much.

Lately, my collector habits have shaded to collecting Marvel Legends, and sadly my 2 Diaclone figures are still packed away from my move and will be for several months yet, but there has been so much good looking stuff in this line I wish I would/could get more

My only Diaclone figure is the crossover with Gridman. I opened the box but have yet to take it out and fiddle with it.

I still kinda want to get the other 2 Triverse mechs I didn't get, but I am still happy with my current duo, they are enough for me

Amazon Japan says Powered Greater has been delayed from February to May.

Emerje

It was bound to happen. Ever since we got our first look at Battle Convoy V-Max in 2020, a reimagining of the figure that would become Optimus Prime, and our first recolor with V-Shadow we knew Powered Convoy (the figure that would become Ultra Magnus) probably wasn't far behind. Then we got the Powered Greater add on set for Battle Convoy V-Max and it seemed like that was as far as the Powered Convoy homage would go, but now we're getting our proper homage with Diaclone DA-92 Armor Wrap Combination Powered Convoy!

Proper may not be quite the right word since this version still isn't a car carrier, but it does pare up a blue version of the Battle Convoy V-Max figure (minus trailer) and a dark version of the Powered Greater upgrade set. It's a mostly successful translation of the original Powered Convoy, at least the blue V-Max, but the repainted Powered Greater really looks more like it's intended for V-Shadow and is shown paired with him in official stock photos. It's also pointed out that through some parts swapping you can make all blue and all red versions of V-Max, but if you pair those up with V-Shadow you've basically made a new Diaclone take on Albegas or Voltron II.

Pre-orders are open now and can be found at many of our site sponsors and Amazon Japan, but is only available through their high priced third party sellers. Release is expected in late September for around $300 depending on the seller.

















Ultra Magnus reissue Powered Convoy redeco for reference.



Contents:
Battle Convoy body A
Battle Convoy body B
2 Guns
Bullet core (A)
Bullet core (B)
A-Mechanism
B-Mechanism (right)
B-Mechanism (left)
B-Mechanism (2)
2 B-Mechanism (3)
Arm unit (right)
Arm unit (left)
Wing unit (right)
Wing unit (left)
L-Launcher
Bullet core (C)
Bullet core (D)
Weapon (A)
Weapon (B)
4 Weapons (C)
Joint parts
4 Diaclone Member Ver.2.0 figures
2 Seals
Brochure
Instructions

Sorry I've been a stranger here for a while. TF:Legacy hasn't really gotten going yet imo...

But I have been neck deep in the diaclone reboot for a few years now....

I would argue (almost more than the V-Max Convoy DA-65) for those curious, and willing to accept the cost (this line is not cheap) this would be an interesting "all-in-one" jumping in point if anyone's been curious about it.

The only downside to this set, is if you're esthetically trying to finish some of the other color combinations... this one kind of wombos you with a bunch of different stuff all going on at once (though the Blue/Red Convoy has grown on me).

The appeal of the original Diaclone line to me was that different sublines converted differently, e.g. transforming, partsforming, auto-conversion etc.

I was initially excited for this Reboot, expecting the same variety in conversion formats, and am still impressed by the vehicles and playability, but the exorbitant price and the fact that nothing in this reboot so far uses transformation (not even the Convoys!), have steered me away from collecting this line.

I really appreciate the reboot for what it is, I didn’t have much connection the old stuff outside of G1.

Beyond Big Powered, and Dia Battles’ head reveals I’ll have to agree on the ‘gimmicks’ standpoint.


From a play-pattern sense- I still like that a lot of it slides on rails and had a very methodical feel to it.

The TriVERS have some slight actual transformations. But the big thing seems to be part swapping. Which is something I don’t think the OG stuff actually did at all.

It might be a conscious decision on Takara's part, as a means to better distinguish this line from Transformers, in order to not self-compete too much with their own properties.

So for $300 you can make the complete big robot without having to buy one of the other sets?

chuckdawg1999 wrote:So for $300 you can make the complete big robot without having to buy one of the other sets?

Correct. If you did not get DA-65 (V-Max Battle Convoy a.k.a the Optimus Prime) they released last year (?) this is an 'all-in-one' set for the Super Robot. Keep in mind that it DOES NOT come with the Pod Grander (Trailer) that DA-65 game with.

Sabrblade wrote:It might be a conscious decision on Takara's part, as a means to better distinguish this line from Transformers, in order to not self-compete too much with their own properties.

Totally understand that Takara might not want to cannibalise its own market, because if i were to collect Diaclone Reboot, i'd have to cut down on my TF Masterpiece purchases.

I'd have to say, this line has some of the best looking mini jets, such as the Gridman Universe 01 Bullet Fighter and Cosmo Battles 02. So tempting
Release a Reboot set for Multi-Force 14 and i'll pay.

Ok, so I must have gotten behind on the Diaclone thing while I was finishing my NP and grad school. Is this absolutely breathtaking piece a single set or several figures that need to be bought separately?

I will forgo a student loan payment for this thing...I don't need a perfect credit rating THAT badly...

First-Aid wrote:Ok, so I must have gotten behind on the Diaclone thing while I was finishing my NP and grad school. Is this absolutely breathtaking piece a single set or several figures that need to be bought separately?

I will forgo a student loan payment for this thing...I don't need a perfect credit rating THAT badly...

One big set.

Sabrblade wrote:

First-Aid wrote:Ok, so I must have gotten behind on the Diaclone thing while I was finishing my NP and grad school. Is this absolutely breathtaking piece a single set or several figures that need to be bought separately?

I will forgo a student loan payment for this thing...I don't need a perfect credit rating THAT badly...

One big set.

Just don't buy it from Amazon Japan yet, the only one listed that ships outside of Japan is a ripoff, wait for the actual Amazon sale to go up. Final price will probably be around $300 after shipping, while it's currently $320 at BBTS and TFSource (and others I'm sure), but it will arrive months after the Japanese release.

Since it came up twice here's what's actually included:




You can then mix them into land and air combinations and then combine all four to make either the large vehicle or Powered Convoy.



I'm curious if there will be enough extra parts left over to do anything interesting. Looks like Powered Convoy only uses one of the cockpits like V-Max did (I stuck the spare to his butt) and only one set of arms.

Emerje

Is there anything exclusive to this set that can't be found by buying the other sets?

chuckdawg1999 wrote:Is there anything exclusive to this set that can't be found by buying the other sets?

Not that I'm aware of, but you'd be hard pressed to get V-Max or V-Shadow and Powered Greater for the same price as Powered Convoy. Heck, it's pretty hard to find V-Max for less than V-Shadow, Powered Greater, and Power Convoy combined!

Emerje

Man, that looks INCREDIBLE. I told myself to stick to the 2 Triverse mechs I got, but that is spectacular

Anyword on the dimension or size? I am THIS close to pulling the trigger on a BBTS preorder...



...and then dealing with the consequences when my wife finds out...

First-Aid wrote:Anyword on the dimension or size? I am THIS close to pulling the trigger on a BBTS preorder...



...and then dealing with the consequences when my wife finds out...

Package size = Width 30cm × Height 32cm × Depth 15cm

Source: TakaraTomy Mall

Sabrblade wrote:

First-Aid wrote:Anyword on the dimension or size? I am THIS close to pulling the trigger on a BBTS preorder...



...and then dealing with the consequences when my wife finds out...

Package size = Width 30cm × Height 32cm × Depth 15cm

Source: TakaraTomy Mall

A foot square and a half foot deep. Figure sizes?

First-Aid wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

First-Aid wrote:Anyword on the dimension or size? I am THIS close to pulling the trigger on a BBTS preorder...



...and then dealing with the consequences when my wife finds out...

Package size = Width 30cm × Height 32cm × Depth 15cm

Source: TakaraTomy Mall

A foot square and a half foot deep. Figure sizes?

So this might be a deal breaker, but Convoy himself is only slightly taller Earthrise Leader Optimus Prime at 7.08". However you get a lot more toy from the size. It's heavy with lots of diecast and thick plastic, high parts count and just enough chrome. And yet unlike a Masterpiece Transformer he doesn't feel like he's going to break if handled wrong (wouldn't want to drop it though!) they're adult figures made to be played with and taken apart.

But with the armor on both TFSource and BBTS list him at 12.6", though that's certainly to the top of the wings placing him around the size of a combiner or Commander Jetfire. Should look great in a collection.

Emerje

Amazon Japan pre-orders are open for Power Convoy. After the high shipping and currently lowest exchange rate we've seen since 2015 the price comes to about $300 saving $20 over the domestic import prices and could possibly go lower as Amazon Japan has the same pre-order price guarantee Amazon US has. Just keep in mind they only allow cancellation for a month after ordering!

Emerje

Emerje wrote:

First-Aid wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

First-Aid wrote:Anyword on the dimension or size? I am THIS close to pulling the trigger on a BBTS preorder...



...and then dealing with the consequences when my wife finds out...

Package size = Width 30cm × Height 32cm × Depth 15cm

Source: TakaraTomy Mall

A foot square and a half foot deep. Figure sizes?

So this might be a deal breaker, but Convoy himself is only slightly taller Earthrise Leader Optimus Prime at 7.08". However you get a lot more toy from the size. It's heavy with lots of diecast and thick plastic, high parts count and just enough chrome. And yet unlike a Masterpiece Transformer he doesn't feel like he's going to break if handled wrong (wouldn't want to drop it though!) they're adult figures made to be played with and taken apart.

But with the armor on both TFSource and BBTS list him at 12.6", though that's certainly to the top of the wings placing him around the size of a combiner or Commander Jetfire. Should look great in a collection.

Emerje

Thanks dude.

I am really leaning towards going in on Powered Convoy. It is just too cool

Bah! Amazon Japan says Powered Greater has been delayed to the end of December. It was originally due in March and then pushed to May (was looking forward to getting it in two weeks), but now it's coming out after Powered Convoy which makes me think they intentionally wanted to make that the first use of the armor instead of on its own. Still sucks.

Emerje

Emerje wrote:Bah! Amazon Japan says Powered Greater has been delayed to the end of December. It was originally due in March and then pushed to May (was looking forward to getting it in two weeks), but now it's coming out after Powered Convoy which makes me think they intentionally wanted to make that the first use of the armor instead of on its own. Still sucks.

Emerje

And now Amazon Japan says Powered Greater is shipping at the end May.

Emerje

Emerje wrote:

Emerje wrote:Bah! Amazon Japan says Powered Greater has been delayed to the end of December. It was originally due in March and then pushed to May (was looking forward to getting it in two weeks), but now it's coming out after Powered Convoy which makes me think they intentionally wanted to make that the first use of the armor instead of on its own. Still sucks.

Emerje

And now Amazon Japan says Powered Greater is shipping at the end May.

Emerje

Go home Amazon Japan, you're drunk...