I have to agree on Kup. I think a lot of people are getting carried away just because it's a new Kup toy but really it's a very poor update of his original design and that headsculpt is horrendous. Perceptor looks nice in robot mode but the alt mode is one of the ugliest in the entire CHUG lineup.
Exhaust gun placement, if you pay too much attention to it, the exhausts in Car mode are VERY uneven,
I really do like the look of Kup, but the head is still horrible even after paints, I think the iGear head will make it a must-buy for more people than just me!
I've seen the test video of the iGear head and it certainly makes a positive difference but I still can't get past the big feet, the shoulder wheels and the panels on his arms. On the G1 toy and animation model and also some of the recent IDW art Kup's arms are free of kibble so I think it makes him look a bit odd to suddenly have panels hanging off them. I know compromises have to be made with the toys not being able to "cheat" and make parts disappear into thin air but I think on this occasion the design team could have done a lot better and stuck to the G1 design in the same way as they did with Classics/Henkei Hot Rod. Kup is by no means the worst CHUG mold but at UK prices it's not one I'm willing to pay out for.
Oh man, I JUST finished taking pictures! I'll get the pics tomorrow when I'm re-set up for pics. The "fake" exhaust is a couple of mm longer and higher set than the gun, but I fixed the length with a file, not sure what I can do about height though
I think this toy looks totally awesome. Never liked the old design, but totally loving the "new-retro" truck alt. mode and how the robot mode still retains a lot of Kup's major details. Also: big gun = AWESOME. Can't wait to add this guy to my Classics Autobot lineup.
I'll be picking him up, but I completely agree. The proportions and kibble would be unnecessary if he were done right, which we know hasbro can do. I know some people will say that you have to update things to get kids to want them, but I really fail to understand how a kid would want this design (and a number of other redesigns) over a figure that looked more like his animation counterpart or the Nick Roche designs Vehicle is fine I guess, the clear lights in the front and back are nice touch. I would have preferred a futuristic pickup or at least an older looking ford design (with the round fenders and what not) but what ever, cant change it at this point.
I would have liked an older looking pick-up design as well, but having held this one in my hands (ooh-er) I just really like it, it's retro-futuristic, and in 2 years will look quaint, like all retro-futuristic things. I do like that picture... if only I had a Roadbuster in the post and someone to replace Blaster...
