I got this sets a few weeks ago since I missed the SDCC set and was afraid that the Takara versions would stand out too much among the rest of my WFC/FoC collection. Being all shiny and fancy-shmansy.

Honestly, I couldn't be happier. The Combaticons are all nice and tight. More so than my retail and G2 sets. Same goes for Grimlock. The only QC issue I had was a bit of a paint mishap on Brawl's visor and I'm pretty sure I can fix that up with a dab of paint.

I'm actually surprised at how much I enjoy Grimlock as well. I was originally planning on selling it as I already had the standard version and was pretty happy with that one, but the vac metal bits just look really striking in person. And the few added paint applications just make some of the details pop a lot more.

Honestly, if you like the base moulds already, I can't recommend this set enough.

 

Thanks for the reply! I will definitely pick it up when I see it at retail!

Thanks for the heads up! The Takara versions look beautiful but I'm wary that metallic paint will fade over time? Can anyone verify that?

I do like the basic bot modes...it's just that the combined form is 'ugly' for me. I don't mind Grimlock too and I really liked the basic mold of him.

 

$84.99 @ bbts

 

Finally picked up this set. Here are my thoughts:

1. Grimlock.

The gold chrome makes the figure look high end but I concur there's a green tint to it. I don't quite understand the flak this mold its getting. Sure it's not as 'heavy' as say the older CHUG TFs but its not KO quality.

Joints are tight and every thing clicks I to place well. Only gripe is the hollow belly in Dinobot mode but I can live with it.

2. Bruticus

The paint job saved this figure IMO. As a collector I want my figures to be as accurate as possible to the source material. I skipped the TakaraTomy's version because I'm wary of paint chipping and the colours are too er, bright. However, IMO they have the best paint job.

Hasbro's reason that kids pretty more colours (G2 version) doesn't cut it for me. As long as the toys look cool and there's playability, kids will like it. Growing up, me and my buddies were never attracted by bright colours.

The individual bot modes are fine with me but Swindle is too bulk IMO. Plastic quality wise...feels the same as Grimlock.

Bruticus combined form...the official combined form is too lanky for me and the arms are too long. I'm going to have to try out some fanmodes to make it look better.

Review scores:

1. Grimlock - 8/10

2. Bruticus - 8/10

 

just got this guy, it's not bad at all.
ill keep it as my 'stock' foc grim, since i have foc metallic grim, foc g1 grim, foc g2 grim...

 

Sorry for the zombie thread but a few weeks ago, I bought this set and I just had to let off some steam.

I knew that the molds for the Combaticons were seriously flawed. That they scaled badly with each other, that they had limited articulation and that Bruticus looked ridiculous but I didn't realize the build quality would be so awful.

I was OK with them until now, having barely touched their combined form but playing around with Bruticus today... Man is that thing bad. It's torso is in two parts that don't lock together properly so moving it's arms can actually cause it to flap about. There might be a broken tab there but it clearly needed more than one tab.

Bruticus has to be one of the worst figures I've bought in a while. Thank god I bought Gen Springer and Rhinox at the same time. And I can't wait for Microblaze Creations to release their Not Onslaught. That should do a lot to fix this thing, even if it'll still be far from perfect.

 

Thank you, I will stay away from this one.