SG Optimus Prime [Wheels CT02]

@robfromzonebase SG Optimus Prime [Transformers Blokees Wheels CT02] He comes with smoke stacks or a spoiler for the truck cab. #zonebase #transformers #blokees #blokeestransformers #shatteredglass ♬ Song 3 - BABYMETAL & Slaughter To Prevail

I've been meaning to assemble the newest Blokees Wheels CT kit for a few weeks now. For one reason or another, the more involved kits have been getting pushed to the side. Well, now that a little more time is finally loosening up, I'm slowly getting some of that precious hobby time back. I found myself adding CT02 to my Sunday build schedule instead of just sticking with quick-build kits.

CT02 is the Shattered Glass version of the standard Optimus Prime truck and trailer set, which was CT01. Obviously, it's a straight repaint, but that's kind of what's fun about this kit.

Evil versions of Optimus Prime are nothing new. There's Black Convoy or Nemesis Prime, Scourge from Robots in Disguise 2001, or even Clone Convoy and Gilthor, who go all the way back to the '80s. Evil versions of the hero are a pretty well-worn trope. The same goes for mirror universes. Almost every fictional universe has one.

One of the things that makes Shattered Glass stand out, however, is the alternate colors the characters received, and they are pretty fabulous. Optimus is a wonderful combination of black and purple, which any goth kid can tell you looks fabulous.

Now, to be fair, Optimus's trailer was black in G2. And that's part of what's fun about these color schemes. A lot of them are based on prior decos. For example, SG Starscream resembles the traditional Skyfire/Jetfire colors.

Optimus fortunately has an alt mode that looks great in almost any color, but purple really works for him. You don't see many purple tractor-trailers on the road, so it feels a little alien. Not to mention, the original Shattered Glass Optimus used the 2006 Classics Optimus Prime toy as its base, which was a slightly sleeker take on the classic cab-over-engine design of G1 Optimus.

The standard Blokees Wheels version of Optimus tends to be more in line with that 2006 toy, while the CT01 truck and trailer set allows for a more traditional-looking truck, with the spoiler being optional. The same is true with this version, though I went with the spoiler on my build because I honestly really like that Classics toy. In purple, paired with the black trailer, it just looks fabulous.

A nice difference between SG Optimus and your standard Prime is the placement of his Autobot symbols and other graphics. In late G1, through G2, and even into Machine Wars, you'd see things like enormous symbols on alt modes, various logos like "AUTOBOTS," symbols on windshields, and random sayings like "BIG STICK."

Various bits that, honestly, you'd see on cars around that same time frame.

I still remember a kid in high school with a white truck featuring matching purple splashes down the sides and the words "SPLASH AT YA!" across the windshield.

Which somehow was cooler than my beat-up Escort with mismatched fenders and band stickers.

Even though Shattered Glass isn't specifically G2, some of these decos have that same non-traditional energy, and these little wild touches really add to the overall look.

One thing I found very fun with CT01 was the ability to connect the Combat Deck robot to Roller. However, while I thought that was neat, I wasn't as inspired to do it because traditional G1 Optimus Prime didn't really use them that way.

HOWEVER, it's definitely something I could see Shattered Glass Optimus Prime doing.

Regular Optimus would send Roller to help find kids trapped in a mine. This Prime would send Roller to cave it in on them.

Not to mention, sending the Combat Deck robot on a mission just sounds so rad, doesn't it? Normally, it just sits around inside the trailer. I imagine it'd like something to do, and being paired up with Roller on little missions is just the way to get it out of the trailer and make it feel more productive.

I'd also like to think the two wouldn't get along.

Just the Worst

Before Harry Potter, "The Worst Witch" offered magic users a school to learn spells. I knew it as a special that would air every October on cable pretty often—HBO, Disney Channel, maybe TBS… it was on practically all month, and it was fun as crap while it was at it.

The special features the titular worst witch, Mildred Hubble, being an underdog at Witch School. Halloween comes, and the Grand Wizard is coming to visit for the holiday celebrations, and all hell breaks loose.

He performs probably one of the worst songs ever, sounding like he was making it up on the spot, all while in a montage straight out of a NyQuil-induced nightmare.

In the end, Mildred comes out on top and is rewarded with questionable time with the Grand Wizard as a prize. Mildred… maybe consider a career in HVAC repair instead?

Ah, the Sweet Smell of Manual Labor

It's Labor Day, Zone Base readers! A holiday meant to recognize the efforts of those who work, and I've been working my ass off lately, so this holiday break is arriving at just the right time.

I hope to spend some time working on a few kits and organizing my hobby space, while hopefully getting in a swim or two as well.

Being a holiday week—a much-needed holiday week—I hope you all can understand me taking a little break around the site and having a slightly lighter week. Of course, next week the full schedule will return.

Thank you all for reading Zone Base. It's a labor of love, and I appreciate every one of you taking time out of your busy days to support it. Please don't forget to share the site with others.

And as always... be excellent to each other.

Freddy has to Potty

Judging by the pee pee dance Freddy is doing, he even scares himself! These low rent mail order commercials were all over local channels when I was a kid. The Nightmare on Elm Street Dream Package does look like a great deal just in time for Halloween in 1989. Know what else is scary? The price!

Originally Posted 10/10/2024