Much more likely, they did this because big retailers would have a hard time swallowing four similar jets and three similar cars in the exact same wave. Swapping out characters means they still had the option of selling the other two limbs to more collector focused venues like Diamond and online retailers, whereas the alternative would probably just have been a Helecopter Slingshot and a Pickup Truck Wildrider.

It's speculation, but it lines up much better with what we've been told about toy distribution than what you're saying.

 

I dig it - the wheels on the chest look great, and I can't wait to see how he transforms. MY one gripe is that I don't understand how his hands are supposed to work.

 

They are just forward facing 5mm ports instead of up and down. Which opens a lot of options with some older minicons and such if you know the tricks.  

 

I'm thinking swords like Cybertron Defence Hotshot

 

I would be ok with that.

I don't think their swords look similar but I would very much like a Hot Shot out of Rook.

 

kabaya Defensor
There are nothing wrong with extra add-on as long as you can recreate the original or something that looks like the original.
New bots/vehicle: for new collector
Old bots: For retro collectors

I wonder if Hasbro will make premium collector set?

 

Hotshot could be a good repaint of Rook, but how about Movie Bonecrusher? Both have 6 wheels and both have a claw on top.  

 

Hotshot
(repaint): Inferno, Artfire
Slighty retool: Grapple
Mass panel remold: Onslaught

I really do see Rook will retool as Brawl, Blade repaint/retool as Vortex, OffRoad as Swindle, One of the jet lime as Blast off.

There you go. You only needed to remodel the skeleton panel and doing minimum retool on the limes and you will have one extra combiners.

 

Nah, Brawl will be a new mold so there is a vehicle with treads. Then the remold will be Nosecone when Computron comes out.

 

Actually, that would be an Alpha Bravo retool, since it's the Alpha Bravo mold.

 

It wouldn't even need a retool, he has Vortex's head.

 

The only real problem here is the amount of time one would have to wait to get all five original members together.

 

But ABs rocket gauntlets don't belong to vortex, so he would at least need new arms.

 

After I have seen Movie, Superlink, Wob or other incarnation of characters, some slightly change may apply. Remember it is a $12-14 kids toys!! Just keep it simple:

Streetwise share the same structure with Deadend. Streetwise front chest is total different from G1. As long as it is a police car, pass.
Vortex just needed to be an Armor Helicopter. All you needed is repaint and change the head right. (Slighty retool may be betteR)
Swindle: off road (as long as it is an off road vehicle!!)
Brawl is a hard case. APC is close family to a tank. Just give a tank cannon on top and you are done.
All the legend figures are supposed to be arms/legs.

 

Rook looks ok his hands look terrible the alt mode does not look right.

 

So what you're saying is that a Combaticon needs less firepower?

 

Wow the protectobots are turning out pretty amazing. I love this design, but I cant help but feel it kind of gives out an Universe Onslaught or the first movie Wrekage vibe.

 

That would be a pretty cool retool. I could also see him as Movie 1 Wreckage but in the ROTF Bludgeon/IDW ROTF comics Wreckage deco.

I hope this happens. Brawl needs to be a new mold.

Technically they're now selling for $20 but to me this increase is no problem for me.

 

Leg pics in The Defensor photo set. Someone is listening - thank you