Fuyoh!
Cog
The original Cog was part of the 1987 Fortress Maximus set and this 2018 update, a fine figure on its own, has been described as DLC for the recent Generations Fortress Maximus. To lend credence to that, the new Cog's guns bear a strong resemblance to the original Cerebros gun and were probably meant for Generations Cerebros.
Given the plethora of pegs and ports on Siege Cog and the way it can be dismembered, however, it's plain the figure was designed primarily as an accessory set for other figures. Once disassembled, Cog's parts do indeed function as stylish accoutrements for the discerning Autobot warrior. While platform shoes might seem a questionable fashion choice for the battlefield, this type of fighting footwear was once in vogue in Japan. (See God Ginrai, Victory Saber, Super Fire Convoy, etc.)
The Cybertronian Omnifunctional Modular Battlefield Assault Tech System is clearly Hasbro's studious attempt to avoid saying "Takara's 5mm joint system" but marketing dissembling aside, this makes Siege figures compatible with 5mm parts going back four decades. This includes non-Transformers Takara SF Land classics like Henshin Cyborg, Microman, Diaclone and Blockman so you could grab some wings from a three-decade-old Blockman set, attach the 5mm pegs on the parts to the 5mm ports on Sideswipe to turn him into a flying car. "How droll," you say? Well, the sky's the limit when it comes to 5mm connectivity.
There are, as always, minor quibbles. The pegs on the Cerebros guns are a tad small for Cog's fists, moving the figure's slightly-loose legs at the too-tight hips might end up dislodging the legs and the "battle damage" is less suggestive of a mortal struggle with a Decepticon than an unfortunate encounter with a soused artist going Jackson Pollock with silver paint.
Siege as a whole, however, is shaping up to be a sensational line by Hasbro and Takara Tomy. Who could have foreseen the designers would be attempting a tetrajet Seeker 35 years later? Who would have guessed the Soundwave figure would include an easter egg based on a feature with only a few seconds of screen time?
It only goes to show you don't always have to discard old ideas; you just need to understand why they worked then, update them to meet raised expectations and restate the case for them today.
Cog
The original Cog was part of the 1987 Fortress Maximus set and this 2018 update, a fine figure on its own, has been described as DLC for the recent Generations Fortress Maximus. To lend credence to that, the new Cog's guns bear a strong resemblance to the original Cerebros gun and were probably meant for Generations Cerebros.
Given the plethora of pegs and ports on Siege Cog and the way it can be dismembered, however, it's plain the figure was designed primarily as an accessory set for other figures. Once disassembled, Cog's parts do indeed function as stylish accoutrements for the discerning Autobot warrior. While platform shoes might seem a questionable fashion choice for the battlefield, this type of fighting footwear was once in vogue in Japan. (See God Ginrai, Victory Saber, Super Fire Convoy, etc.)
The Cybertronian Omnifunctional Modular Battlefield Assault Tech System is clearly Hasbro's studious attempt to avoid saying "Takara's 5mm joint system" but marketing dissembling aside, this makes Siege figures compatible with 5mm parts going back four decades. This includes non-Transformers Takara SF Land classics like Henshin Cyborg, Microman, Diaclone and Blockman so you could grab some wings from a three-decade-old Blockman set, attach the 5mm pegs on the parts to the 5mm ports on Sideswipe to turn him into a flying car. "How droll," you say? Well, the sky's the limit when it comes to 5mm connectivity.
There are, as always, minor quibbles. The pegs on the Cerebros guns are a tad small for Cog's fists, moving the figure's slightly-loose legs at the too-tight hips might end up dislodging the legs and the "battle damage" is less suggestive of a mortal struggle with a Decepticon than an unfortunate encounter with a soused artist going Jackson Pollock with silver paint.
Siege as a whole, however, is shaping up to be a sensational line by Hasbro and Takara Tomy. Who could have foreseen the designers would be attempting a tetrajet Seeker 35 years later? Who would have guessed the Soundwave figure would include an easter egg based on a feature with only a few seconds of screen time?
It only goes to show you don't always have to discard old ideas; you just need to understand why they worked then, update them to meet raised expectations and restate the case for them today.