I don't believe it's a new head mold. It seems like the nose/mouth portion of the battlemask has been removed. The question is whether this and the backpack stuff are factory changes or modding.

 

From the boxart it looks like it's a factory change.

 

If modded, I'd sure like some instructions. If I can get the backpack to collapse like that as well as replace the rubber bits with something softer for the pistons and something harder for the blades, I'd be one happy camper.

 

There's definitely some cutting involved if it was modded based on what I tried on transformation.

 

He still has those stupid gargantuan popeye style forearms with those tiny ass hands... NO BUY! Well.. Maybe I'll buy... TO STEAL THOSE BLADES AND GIVE 'EM TO SIDEARM SIDESWIPE! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAA...... HAAAAA!!!!  

 

Oh shellformers, u so silly.

 

This does look better than early pics, especially in the head. It looks pure evil! I'll prolly still wait for a clearance on this one, just like the first HA sideswipe.

 

Hmm. The pic on the front of the package looks like the whole battlemask is gone, as the forehead chunk is missing, too. On the back, it's there, though without the gold paint app.

Quit being weird, Hasbro.

 

Nice color scheme & some definate retooling going on there, I'll still pass though.

 

I really like this black redeco,it looks pure awesome.

 

Definite possibility - either way, I love the colors on it. And the box art gives me the impression it's a factory change, although the eyes are red on the figure and blue on the package, so maybe the person with the figure did mod it.

 

It's a mod. Check out Kenji's post on the second page, you can see where he's cut away some plastic for the fit:

????------ HA? [Shadow Blade Sideswipe] - TF????? - HK-TF ???? - Powered by Discuz!

 

Evil Sideswipe is evil........... looks pretty sweet, new face is badass..... but, brown wheelshoes? Really?

 

Hmm car mode and new bot head =  
Mikeala figure and silver parts = eh..not so much!
50-50 buy...

 

^Ahh ,thank you very much sir!  
Excellent mod to the back kibble!

 

A must pass suddenly turned into a must buy.

 

Still not buying it.

 

Looking at that other page, it ain't a new head, he's chopped half the mask off, painted the head crest bit gold and the eyes red. Shame.

I can't figure out what he's chopped off for the backpack mod..... I just see lots of scary mashed up plastic 

 

And pass again, just realized it's been modded. I just need Mikaela.

 

I wasn't going to buy this anyway.... but the thought of a new head had me wondering if we'd see that head reused on a new HA Sideswipe next year, w/o that backpack.