Cybertron Thunderblast.

Discussion in 'Transformers Feedback & Reviews' started by Negativedark, Dec 14, 2005.

  1. Negativedark

    Negativedark Stealth Gesalt

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    I was rather surprised to find her at my local Wal-Mart last night, but hey, why look a gift horse in the mouth.
    Vehicle mode- Thunderblast is a speedboat of some sort in this mode. There is a good amount of detailing on her. This is also a well armed boat. In adition to the large missile launcher gun she has two torpedos made of translucent orange plastic that peg onto holders on the side. A small machine gun is located near the front of the boat, and can pivot 60 degrees. Due to her being a shell former thier is no kibble whatshoever in this mode.
    This may just be me, but I think the boat looks like something that Cobra would build and use. I got the same vibe from Sideways jet mode.

    Transformation- This transformation is the perfect example of a shellformer. I kid you not. Unfold boat parts, unfold curled up robot.

    Robot mode-The down side is all the boat sides hanging off her back. So what is the upside? She looks fairly decent. They tried to make the boat parts look like wings, and she reminds me of the sweeps with that. The robot looks very femine, and she holds her gun fine. The shoulder joints are strong enough to hold it up. The only problem I have is that the arm will swing to the side from the wight. The cyber key gimmick transformes the missile launcher int a missile launcher that can fire the orange torpedos.

    In conclusion, I think whether or not you will want to get Thunderblast depends on how much you like Shellformer transformations. If you hate them, then skip her. If they don't bother you, then I recomment her.
     
  2. Mister D

    Mister D Bloosh Compatible

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    I love boat TFs.
    I want more of them.
    But not if they're like Thunderblast.

    First, can I rant a bit about the bio? Haven't we progressed enough to avoid the pretty damsel bios? The Autobots don't want to shoot someone so pretty? F* that. ERA all the way. Shoot the bitch.

    The boat mode is quite nice, and arguably the most convincing boat mode yet. While the purple, silver and orange colors may be a bit odd for a military craft, she IS a Decepticon, and that makes it ok. The hull is intact, so there is zero visible kibble from above OR below, which may be a first for boat TFs.

    The rear missile launcher is well done, and is mounted on a turret which can both rotate and elevate. The key gimmick is lame, though, transforming the missile launcher into... a missile launcher. *Yawn*

    Robot mode is where it falls apart. Open the boat's hull and you'll find a complete robot sitting there waiting for you (legs open - let's not ask why). It's an ok robot mode I guess. The bot has good articulation, and a good sculpt (though why the hell does every female TF have to have heels and open hands?). There are nice touches - a matrix like design on the chest and thigh high boots- but all of it is tough to appreciate because I keep being distracted by the big honking boat on her back. She may well be the queen of all shellformers, and irritates me in ways I've not felt since BWN Break.

    She's a boat. She's a chick. She's a Decepticon. All that will make her highly sought after by collectors. She doesn't deserve the attention. If you have a choice between her and pretty much any other deluxe toy, pass on her. I'm not saying don't get her, there's just enough there, and the toy is cheap enough, that I don't quite regret the purchase. But I'll be damned if I buy a repaint.

    Grade: C
     
  3. Feralstorm

    Feralstorm Good Morning, Weather Hackers! TFW2005 Supporter

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    Oh well, not all female characters have to be good role models, especially when they're Decepticons. Definitely a shellformer, which is obviously a deal-breaker for some. Doesn't bother me much, as the designers did at least try for a Sweep-like wing arrangement, looking like she's wearing a hang glider of some sort. (better than the BW/BWNeo "Animal chunks hanging off all mt joints" look IMO) Tblast doesn't really stand on her feet, but usually makes a tripod between a toe and the wigtips. I think a pretty good job was done making a feminine robot that didn't go overboard with it, though personally I would've tweaked the proportions a bit so the chest/upper torso wasn't the largest part of the body. I wish the face sculpt was a bit nicer - looks a bit flat and featureless. I'm not asking for the anime-girl face from the cartoon, but something a little closer to the Energon Arcee face, or Thunderblast's own package art (Anyone know who drew that? Looks like it might be Guido)

    I like the toy quite a bit, but I can definitely see why some wouldn't.
     
  4. starkaz75

    starkaz75 Well-Known Member

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    Isn't it obvious?! So they can bitch slap each other when they get into a fight!
     
  5. Tannerbot2000

    Tannerbot2000 Well-Known Member

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    First off, feralstorm has the best sig ever.

    On the the toy, she is pretty good, with a fair ammount of usable articulation, looks good in both modes, and i like box launchers, so thats a plus for me, but there is something intangible about her that isnt quite right, and it isnt the shellformer bits. She is still fun, but something bothers me about her
     
  6. Negativedark

    Negativedark Stealth Gesalt

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    The fact that she feels so light?

    I like the transforming gun. I figure she changes it once she finishes all her missile fireing. Actually I've been fond of guns that change into differint guns ever since I played with my friends G1 Razorclaw.
     
  7. Mister D

    Mister D Bloosh Compatible

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    Thought a bit more about her, and my opinion hasn't changed. But to clairfy, it's NOT just that she's a shellformer - it's that she's just a shell. Her "transformation" is basically "open box, straighten legs." To go back, "tuck and close". At least the CR Brothers and New Beasts had some puzzle box element to them. Sure, some could be maddening to transform, but you still had to transform her. For me, and I guess many of us, half the fun (or more) of transformers is that they actually transform - you turn a thing into something else. Here, that element is completely missing. It's a robot in a box. The box is nice, and the robot is nice. But a transformer should be more than a robot in a box.
     
  8. Renidragon

    Renidragon Toys on my table!

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    I wanted to compliment you on this, but I couldn't find the right words to get across how I wanted to say it. So you get this. :thumb  :thumb  :thumb  :thumb 
     
  9. KA

    KA Well-Known Member

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    i'd just like to chip in by saying thunderblast would be better if the toy had actual cleavage like feralstorm's sig.
     
  10. Feralstorm

    Feralstorm Good Morning, Weather Hackers! TFW2005 Supporter

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    Quoted for ego. :) 

    T'would be a goofy thing to do, but I gotta admit (as an unmarried hetero male person) I saw that the toy had a 'plunging neckline' with a blank spot inside, and thought "That area needs a little more... detail." :) 
     
  11. KA

    KA Well-Known Member

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    box, heheh.
     
  12. Ra88

    Ra88 Dutchman!

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    From what I could tell from the animation model though, her boobs are colored gold/orange (same as her stomache), not purple. :wink:  And nope, not joking here. :) 
     
  13. starkaz75

    starkaz75 Well-Known Member

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    Could you imagine the outcry from parents' groups if a toy had cleavage? Back in the 90's when Playmates had the liscense for Star Trek figures, they made figures of the Klingon sisters, Lusa and B'etor, for their Generations line. They had cleavage, and they were allegedly pulled from the shelves because of the complaints.
     
  14. Tannerbot2000

    Tannerbot2000 Well-Known Member

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    Thank you, that might be it, cause i realy cant find it on my own, she just bothers me some is all i can realy say, not to much, but the bother is there
     
  15. meetoblivion

    meetoblivion aka chazzy

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    hey, just wondering, how many missiles did your thunderblasts come with? mine had 3, 2 in the plastic and one floating around in the package....

    the mold is pretty good. extremely light though, i wonder if it floats. i like the little gun on the front, nice addition to the boat. the robot mode's not too bad, if you forget about the boat hanging off the back. it's really not too noticeable, besides she's a typical anime girl, not like...override...
     
  16. Mister D

    Mister D Bloosh Compatible

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    Mine had two missiles, one to mount on either side.

    And how can you miss that boat hanging off the back? This isn't E-Ironhide's face, Overhaul's missile shaft, or the top of Red Alert's head. This is a BOAT, which is at least as large as the robot herself.
     
  17. Feralstorm

    Feralstorm Good Morning, Weather Hackers! TFW2005 Supporter

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    Ohh.. think I saw that screen grab. That's just the bottom of her bra. ... Yeah, that'll do. :) 

    On another note, Thunderblast works quite well as an angel for the top of my Christmas tree.
     
  18. meetoblivion

    meetoblivion aka chazzy

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    the thing is, if you look at her from the front, you don't know it's a boat. you know she has some big ass cape around her. her boat parts aren't really protruding, they're pretty flat actually.
     
  19. Orodruin

    Orodruin @deathformer TFW2005 Supporter

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    I just bought mine, and I FREAKING LOVE THIS BOT!

    The colors are beautiful. Same as E-Galvatron I think, or close enough at least. Great scheme. The gun rocks. Big gun turns into bigger gun. The deck gun is a sweet bonus and it rotates 360! The transform is fun, which is good since it's so simple. I just like how it's all about rotating the legs like that. Great arm articulation, I like the hands, and great peg holes for the gun.

    The shell thing is only a minor detriment for me, though it does seem to make posing her a little tricky. The shoulder joints seem a tiny bit loose on mine but she's holding the gun up well enough with a bent elbow. I think my main complaint though is the torpedo/pontoon things- the missiles should clip on a little further from the hull.

    But yes... very much loving this bot. :thumb 
     
  20. Baby Bumblebee

    Baby Bumblebee Well-Known Member

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    i love this mold very nice boat