Generations Thundercracker Review (with pictures)

Discussion in 'Transformers Feedback & Reviews' started by FatalT 71, Mar 7, 2011.

  1. FatalT 71

    FatalT 71 Mr. JazzHunter

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    First off, please excuse the picture quality - they were taken with my iPhone, and I used the best lighting I could find around here. So, my apologies if they're not the greatest. And bear with me, this is my first time reviewing anything.

    [​IMG]

    Generations Thundercracker arrived via UPS from BBTS today, along with Scourge, Kup, and Wheeljack. And while the other three are newer molds, I was all about getting Thundercracker out of his packaging and getting a good look at him. I love the shade of blue used here - it's not really cartoon accurate, but it's more evocative of the old G1 Thundercracker I had back in the '80s. You'll notice the Deception symbols on his wings are inverted, which, when his wings are transformed results in the symbols being right side up -

    [​IMG]

    Of course, once he's in robot mode the null rays totally block out the insignias, but I'll give Hasbro the A for effort in trying to make it look decent.

    [​IMG]

    In robot mode, he's as good as any of the other Seekers. Again, I really like the color scheme - the red really stands out very well on his waist, shoulders, and even on the jet intakes. I had worried that Thundercracker might be a bit loose, given the fact that the mold has been around for a while - I've read stories of floppy Acid Storms and Starscreams. I'm happy to report that all the joints are nice and tight, without being too tight. Never once did I worry about having to apply too much force. His cannons fit very well into his shoulders, and don't fall out if you look at him the wrong way - a welcome change for those who own KO or Henkei Thundercrackers, I'm sure.

    [​IMG]

    He fits in very well with my Universe 2.0 Starscream and Classics Skywarp, as shown here (sorry again for the picture quality). Definitely a nice feeling to have him as part of my collection.

    If you like the Seeker mold, I'd say get Generations Thundercracker - he should be cheaper to pick up at retail (if his wave ever reaches retail that is :D ) than ordering a KO. I don't have a Henkei or Botcon Thundercracker to compare him to - if you already own one of them, you may wish to pass on the Generations version. But if you need a Thundercracker to round out your Seekers collection, or if you're a fan of the Seeker mold in general - definitely get him.

    Edit: Didn't see optibotmus' video review posted - I shouldn't do my first review and and deal with an 8-year old at the same time. Mods please move if necessary.
     
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  2. guard convoy

    guard convoy The Big Daddy

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    I got mine in today as well, best use of the seeker mold to date, that thing is rock solid
     
  3. Red leader

    Red leader Well-Known Member

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    super pleased to grab TC today, really happy to have the seekers completed at last, now they just need to do a Sunstorm :) 
     
  4. MidnightBliss

    MidnightBliss Well-Known Member

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    I love my TC. So much tighter than the Henkei one I have. I like the shade of blue better as well.
     
  5. Trailbreaker77

    Trailbreaker77 Camaro Club! Veteran TFW2005 Supporter

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    Nice, I can't wait to find this guy so I can put my Botcon set away for safe keeping.
     
  6. Thenames9

    Thenames9 D-d-d-d-duel!

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    Good review, excited to get him! :) 
     
  7. Switchblade

    Switchblade Well-Known Member

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    Hasbro definitely saved the best for last with the Classics Seekers. I got T-Cracker last week with the rest of his wave from BBTS and, in spite of being the sixth version of the same basic figure I've bought, he was my favorite of the four, just edging out his future reincarnation, Scourge. For me, this is the best use of the Classics Seeker mold. The colors are gorgeous - I love the metallic blue and the dark red paint. Even the Decepticon symbols look better painted than usual. The mold is nice and solid, too, which is good after the floppy hips I ended up with on Dirge. It sucked having to wait four and a half years for my favorite Seeker, but I'd say it was well worth it.
     
  8. VectorPrime404

    VectorPrime404 Banned

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    Notice a pattern with the mass-retail Generations Seekers blowing their exclusive/import counterparts out of the water?
     
  9. Acteon

    Acteon Overworked

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    If I had to nitpick I could have done without the red on the shoulders, but otherwise, pure win. Can't wait to get mine ^^
     
  10. MrFX

    MrFX Collecting never ends...

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    That's how it should be! The latest to come out should have improvements over the previous versions.
     
  11. VectorPrime404

    VectorPrime404 Banned

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    I know, it's just kind of ironic because here we have the perfect ones being the cheap-to-acquire mass-retail versions instead of ultra-pricy exclusives.
     
  12. MidnightBliss

    MidnightBliss Well-Known Member

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    Well....they have had extra time to get the damn thing right.
     
  13. FatalT 71

    FatalT 71 Mr. JazzHunter

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    They definitely got it right!
     
  14. Keiichi

    Keiichi Well-Known Member

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    Got mine in today and it is fantastic, but one thing does bug me: in fighter mode, if you've got the legs locked in all the way his tail section is angled downwards slightly. I'm a TF noob and my only other experience with this mold is Dirge (who has no tail, of course) so this is probably old news to everyone else, hehe.

    Just a minor thing, I otherwise love it. The colors are superb!

    [​IMG]
     
  15. SPLIT LIP

    SPLIT LIP Be strong enough to be gentle

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    The seeker mould is pretty old. Combined with slightly outdated engineering and possible mould-degredation, I'm surprised the mould is as good-looking in jet mode as it is.

    I still wish the robot mode was less chunky and had better articulation. Still the coneheads are pretty nice toys and TC's deco is slick as hell. I hope I can find him, and hope a new Skywarp is on the way. (afterall, they did release Starscream in a new deco in Universe 2.0)
     
  16. Cracka J

    Cracka J judas in my mind TFW2005 Supporter

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    TC is definitely my favorite seeker to date. Got mine last friday and I haven't stopped fiddling with him since. Detail is just so nice and just such a solid color scheme for an awesome character. Love this dude.
     
  17. FatalT 71

    FatalT 71 Mr. JazzHunter

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    The tailfin pointing slightly down is normal. At least in my experience with the Seeker mold.

    You'll be very happy with this guy - if there's mold degradation, you wouldn't be able to tell. All the joints are tight, and the cannons fit very well into his shoulders and don't fall out if he takes a spill. Hope distribution improves and you can find him because he rounds out the Seekers very nicely. A Skywarp and Starscream with matching design schemes (wing stripes, Decepticon logos that are right-side up on transformed wings, etc) would be a godsend. So would a Sunstorm.
     
  18. Feralstorm

    Feralstorm Good Morning, Weather Hackers! TFW2005 Supporter

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    Even though I have the Botcon 'cracker, I'm looking forward to this guy, especially if the quality is as good as implied around here.

    Tired and dated as the classi-seeker mold might be, part of me still hopes they keep pumping out repaints/variants until the steel falls apart at a molecular level. (recently bit the bullet and got a KO CMHS purple generi-seeker, and seriously thinking about a Sunstorm and maybe others)
     
  19. Keiichi

    Keiichi Well-Known Member

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    I appreciate the confirmation! I figured that was the case as I checked out galleries of some of the other molds who exhibited the same thing. Puts my mind at ease :) .
     
  20. Red Alert

    Red Alert Security

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    Got mine today and he is sexy.

    Looks like all the previous issues have been fixed.
    No loose Null rays
    No floppy arms or legs
    No stress on wings and fins