Can't tell if you're serious or not...

 

Wow, that's some interesting insight, thanks!

I just wish I had a chance to attend a Hasbro Q&A or something, or perhaps meet John Warden at some convention; and I would express my appreciation for the brand, and wish future success and all that good stuff.....


THEN. ....

I would ask:

"Are you aware of the condition that a lot of your brand new toys come out of the box in?"

I'd be curious to hear his response to such a direct question like that.

 

HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAH!!!!

 

If you're actually serious about that, think of all those times when TF fans "complain" that a figure takes 5 minutes to transform. Now do that back-and-forth. Now do that 100,000 times. For every new toy the factory ever releases. The toys would never even leave the shipping docks. That's a ridiculous amount of hours and manpower.

This is mass retail manufacturing, not hand-crafted artisan materials.

 

True, true.

I supposed I'm referring more to the leg joints that are like jelly, or the panels that simply fall off when touched.

But yeah, the transformation process might be a tough one to account for.

 

The hands on this guy suck so very much. If only they had a wrist swivel they would be fine, as is they are in such an unnatural fixed position they are useless.

Other than that and the excessive arm kibble, he's ok.

 

I would love a 3rd party to make a kit with sleek new arms, and while they're at it make some new feet too. Those planks he stands on could easily turn into better feet.

 

Just got these guys home so no real in-depth thoughts yet, just snapped some pics.

 

Ok, so I just transformed Blackout for the first time into vehicle mode.

First, holy shit that transformation. That was some RotF era engineering and I missed it so much. I was getting frustrated at one point as I could not figure out why some of the panels wouldn't really peg together, but it seems to be a case of "you just gotta get certain parts of the transformation done first and then these magically work for some reason". I also had a bit of issue getting the panels on the arms unfolded and moved around right when trying to get those all put into place, it felt like I was trying to move stuff passed stuff it wasn't meant to move passed in that way or something, I dunno. I also had a little snag when unfolding his rotor blades, totally on me as I was just moving something wrong, but there's definitely stress marks on the two blades where the blades split to form the cape now and that sorta worries me.

It was a GOOD transformation though, absolutely was, like I said it takes me back to what I think was the peak of Transformers engineering and it felt really good. The end result as an impressive looking and HUGE helicopter mode that does it justice.

Robot mode, since I didn't really comment on it here earlier, looks amazing, again really does the character justice. This is the Blackout we have been waiting for so long to finally have. My one real issue is just the fact that he really just kidna gets in the way of himself. Like...a lot. He's bulky almost to the point of detriment. He just looks so freaking good, like it is night and day with the old voyager. Though to be fair, even the DotM Cyberverse figure was better than the voyager.

It's also really, really impressive how just sooooo much helicopter compresses onto his back like that, blown away by that part of the transformation.

Scorponok is nifty too. I had originally thought it was literally just the targetmaster scorps we got with the cyberverse figure, but no, it is an all new figure and it looks really nice.

So yeah, absolutely love this guy, glad to finally have him as the wait was killing me, especially since I really did have no idea if or when I'd manage to get him. Do recommend him to anyone maybe on the fence.

 

Someone mentioned pulling the pins on the hands and flipping them around- I think I'll try that tonight.

 

I just got this guy and he's amazing. So much fun. The hands bothered me for all of two seconds before I was re-enacting the opening of TF1. The transformation is crazy fun, the alt mode is huge, the robot mode is incredibly detailed and despite the kibble I didn't find the posability hampered at all.

Really, really glad I decided to get this guy.

 

he does actually have a quite a lot of paint, particularly over the clear plastic sections, plus tonnes of tampos. In fact Grimlock's is probably more basic in terms of paint, given how it's most dry brushing in one colour and with plenty of parts left unpainted.

Anyway, I know a couple of similar things have been posted with alternative weapon configurations, bur here's mine. It's not very elegant, but it does put the rotor at the wrist, though it does mean you have the tail just hanging off:

 

Jeez, people, stop taking pictures of him with other, taller Leaders! Throw in some Deluxes or something.

 

That question is terrible because it doesn't in any way suggest that there is a problem.

YOU think it sounds like a good accusatory question, but take a good long look at it and you can easily answer it as if you're actually praising it. This is precisely why people need to phrase their questions better because if you keep fielding these kinds of questions you're automatically leaving an out you didn't intend.

 

I wish my Long Haul was out of storage, guy is such a good figure and I miss him haha. I think I have Mixmaster out still, will see if I can get a pic with him if that would suffice?

Looking at my Blackout in alt mode now, he definitely has those same stress marks by the hinges that others have reported. Shame. That's not a long term, will eventually break worry is it?

As for his hands, they honestly don't bother me. If you open them up it doesn't look that bad, do wish there was a wrist swivel though.