IS it confirmed and assumed that the other 2 seekers will be released?

 

Nothing for Skywarp yet, but Starscream has appeared in the comics in a body specifically based on this mold, has a TRU listing and had a leaked bio on the Australian TRU website.

 

Ah lovely.

I guess it would be silly to only have 2 out of 3 of them.

 

Silly, but it happens...

 

He looks awesome. I generally only collect movie figs, but I pre-ordered him to go with Leader Starscream, and I'm really glad I did. Thanks for the review!

 

I said "scale of the robots", not meaning the scale of the vehicle mode was included.

 

I'm sure if hasbro doesn't give us a Skywarp Takara will.

 

Is there a US release date for this set?

 

Nice review and pictures, thanks! But, not matter how hard I try I still cannot unsee

Spoiler

the birdbeak face staring at me right in the middle of his chest

^^ hidden in case you don't want to see it too.

I'm good with my MP TC for a definitive representation at this scale.

 

I got this guy yesterday and I think that I might like this figure more as Thudercracker than I do as Jetfire. Though that may have something to do with the visual interest of blue over white.

 

you respectfully hid it...

I did not listen. I looked at the front page.

I CANT UNSEE THIS NOW.

my bad. I should have listened. its SO right there.

 

Got him this week with my BBTS order. I like him! Is he lighter and more hollow then previous leaders? Definitely. But he is fun, and for kids a much simpler transformation. I kind of wish he was less evil Decepticon and more Thundercracker's current iteration, maybe come with a buster and screenplay as accessories. But he's pretty sweet overall.

 

Has anyone a photo of this with all the guns off bas the nullrays? Also, perhaps with the rear wings folded out of sight?

Lastly, are the 3P intakes around for this dude? For botmode I mean.

 

The primary difference I see from Jetfire:

* Obviously the colors and new molding. The blue is pretty dark, much like the G1 toy as opposed to brighter or lighter blues in cartoon-inspired deco.

* I'm not too crazy about the head. Feels too narrow and forehead-y, probably to accomodate the crown when Starscream comes out.

* Parts seem to fit together a tiny bit better than with Jetfire, with the exception of one of the 'flaps' on the chest/intakes chunk, which refuses to close completely on mine.

* The new null ray guns that replace Jetfire's boosters look OK, but are too big, and the back part hits the wings if you want to move the arms with them mounted on 'em.

* I wish he had the stick-up shoulder intakes. The stuff behind the head doesn't cut it.

* Wish he came with Buster the dog too, but faulting that would be incredibly nitpicky.

--

Overall, there's nothing wrong with this (that wasn't wrong with Jetfire, but while I love Jetfire, this doesn't work for me. Perhaps it's my 'inner Geewunner', but I can't get excited about Thundercracker, whether it's about the size, the details, or something else. Fine toy, but it's not for me, and I'll probably end up passing on future leader seekers.

 

ok, i have some problems with the mold (and there's just no getting around that it just "feels" too big ~ Voyager seeker, my kingdom for a voyager seeker!!! ~ he feels way to huge next too Menasor and ruins his "super robot" vibe) but it's gotta be said that the colors on this guy are REALLY nice: the blue is super rich, the silver paint pops, and the gunmetal grey on his thighs is about 1000x better than the crappy dull swirly grey we typically get from Hasbro/ the Red is a nice shade that pops but isn't too bright, and while I'd have PREFERRED a translucent fauxpit on the chest, the color on it is fantastic.

Setting aside my G1ness, and remembering that for the most part CHUG has been about modern updates rather then slavish reinterpretations I can let things like the missing shoulder pillars go (although i wish they'd done a little something to make the mold more different from Jetfire ~ maybe with F-22 styled square/sawtooth thrusters you could have achieved some detail that would make the seekers look more different AND have something more "shoulder pillar-esque" ~ i'd also have done something with the rear wings, maybe hinged them so they could fold straight back with tails to let the main wings form the more classic Seeker silhouette.

The head sculpt is a bit odd, but honestly works a lot better in person then in pictures.

First thing i did was chuck all the extra accessories ~ i kept the original Jetfire forearm blasters, the oversized ones are just too gigantic, and the Jetfire ones seem more null-ray-esque to me anyways. definitely cleans up his overall look.

Minor gripe, but i really wish the nose cone folded up somehow, i wanted to set him in a sitting pose on my computer speaker and he's got plenty of articulation but the nosecone wrecks it.

 

Some additional thoughts on Jet mode: i really, really, really wish they had remold the back section of the vehicle mode, this would have allowed:
• the tail wings to be smaller, they are too large in relation to the front ones.
• the tail wings to fold back in bot mode, giving the seeker remold a more classic silhouette with just he large wings
• remove the clips for the Jetfire fastbacks that aren't included anyways
• Remold the thrust nozzles to be more F-22esque

 

How neat would it be if Hasbro redecoed this guy into Dai Atlas?

 

I don't know if it's intentional, but this seems to be a running joke with the seekers. TF Prime Starscream has Movie Starscream's bird face on his chest as well.

Even though he's a Jetfire repaint, I really, really love CW Thundercracker!


Combiner Wars Thundercracker by Harvey Dent, on Flickr


Combiner Wars Thundercracker by Harvey Dent, on Flickr


Combiner Wars Thundercracker by Harvey Dent, on Flickr

 

I got Cracker last week, and I kinda half expected to be let down since I've had Masterpiece Screamer and Skywarp for years, but I really, really like Thundercracker. In real world use I think I might like it better, just due to the fact that it holds poses really, really well. If I can find all the little bits I think I'm just going to let go of the MP seekers and get the other CW ones, I don't really collect MPs anyway.

 

Picked up thundercracker from Target just now.

I must say, I wasn't expecting him to be so lightweight and hollow.

also I noticed his wings are supposed to be able to swing back like an F-14 Tomcat, there's even tracks for them to do so. but sadly they don't move. which is odd to me. Why put in a that gimmick only to not have it be functional?

Anyway, I've never had the pleasure of finding a Jetfire so this is my very first time being exposed to this mold. and like I said it's pretty much super hollow and super thin plastic all over. makes no since especially at this price they are.

The light piping is totally pointless as only this odd singular eye(sarcasm) in his forehead vent seems to light up.

The only thing I like is basically staring at the bot mode from the front, the legs are really not that great especially the feet being stuck in that stupid pose which forces you to spread his legs out. an ankle tilt could have easily been implemented.

I like certain aspects of the jet mode, but the wings having a gimmick that was given the shaft at the last second is a huge bummer to me.

To me this toy is just more or less a statue. the super thin plastc is a huge downer to me, i can even see my hand though parts of it. :C

And please don't make me talk about the utter disappointments that are all his guns. the plastic is as thin as my fingernails. but hey, at least they can peg on top of eachother so he can have 3 cannons on each forearm right.