It’s so weird to me that a $14 deluxe like cloudburst is covered in tampo paint apps but voyager and leaders get shafted.

 

Depends. Seems the solid blocks of colour is usually painted on (Optimus has a lot of red paint on the trailer parts) while the more intricate or g1 toy details are left to stickers like the trailer stripes.

 

Has anyone considered transplanting leader Rodimus' spoiler to the TR deluxe Hot Rod mode? Possible? Impossible?

 

You'd potentially run into issues where the TR figure's spoiler wouldn't fit in Rodimus mode.

 

He said to fit Leader's spoiler back to the TR deluxe. You would sacrifice the Leader's Hot Rod and combined mode having any spoiler by doing that.

 

I keep noticing the tab hole in the combined mode's upper chest and vehicle mode's hood. Is that used to peg anything in particular? It doesn't seem to be used for anything and, if so, that is precisely where I'm going to mount the Powermaster I build for him.

 

It's for Hot Rod's backpack to lock in.

 

They've gotten more advanced with the tampographing printing as of late. TR Brainstorm, for instance, had a number of tampoes that replicated his G1 stickers in design.

 

Got this guy last night and after transforming him this morning into all his modes...

Rodimus Prime looks okay in his full robot mode. Not as cool as Optimus, especially with his Hot Rod legs making up his arms and the two different colored red plastics. His Hot Rod bot form is okay despite most his car mode hanging off his back, and even car mode is fine. But Winnebago vehicle mode...it's just Hot Rod carrying a trailer with very visible fists in front and horribly placed stickers. I wasn't expecting MP levels of conversion, but at least the MP Rodimus's vehicle mode was more involved in not looking just like Hot Rod with a trailer on his back end.

 

That's exactly it. I'm not a fan of this Leader Rodimus but the spoiler is the one thing I don't like on the TR mold. I just can't see how it's attached on the leader and if it's compatible in anyway. It's a crazy idea, I know, but I had to ask.  

 

This is a great toy. Hasbro did a real good job making this "evolution " gimmick work for Hot Rod/Rodimus. His gun is G1...his bot mode is robust and tough. My son (9) loves all the modes, thinks the matrix gimmick is all sorts of kick ass.

That said..from my perspective... optimus wins this wave easily.

The best part of this presentation is Rodimus Prime. He looks cool.. but very stout and blocky..a new look for him for sure. Leg articulation is very good, but arm articulation really leaves a lot to be desired. When I seen the legs become arms..I immediately thought "well no shit..the arms should have a GREAT range of motion" not the case. Outward movement of the arms is pretty limited. The thighs in the shoulders is a bit of an eyesore.
Bottom line...great kids toy..great fiddle with TF.

Death winnebago is pretty lackluster. Not mocha to say about it except mine tabs together nicely and turns into a brick.

Hot rod...jeesh..this is a mess.
I may get flamed on for this..but I cannot help but feel "battle in space" hot rod when I hold this. Car mode is simply ugly.

UGLY.

bot mode is once again..ugly. the chest is very boring, and the way the arms and shoulders look just gives the impression of an ugly..cheap toy. The plastic quality is decent..but it's just ugly...it feels and looks like BiS hot rod..and now I feel that way I kinda hate the stand alone hot rod.

It's a great toy. It's fun..my son loves it.

Rest assured this will be one that can separate the fan base. Some will love it..some will hate it. I realize it's a cool toy that has a decent rodimus mode...but just don't buy this thing for hot rod. It's really a shitty figure if you ask me.

 

Can you post pics of the toy cars/hubcaps, I may try to find those.

 

Meant to reply earlier! The spoiler looks like it's held on by one easily accessible screw so you could try to use this spoiler.

I haven't taken it off though to confirm but I doubt it's glued or held on any other way.

 

Is anyone waiting for the takara version or doesn't matter just go for Hasbro because it will anyway look the same?

I was thinking qc etc. Takara might still be better.

 

Tbh I think QC on Hasbro toys are about the same. I've had my share of duds from them.

 

I really like the Prime mode on this guy. Rodimus is great. Hot Rod is good, too....just not exciting. TR Hot Rod is far more fun in that regard.

Shoulders kind of drive me crazy, but I kind of like setting Hot Rod's forearms in this way:


I can't say it really helps with the articulation, but it looks pretty sweet.

Early on, I noticed the peg that Hot Rod's head/front bumper rotates on was stressed, so I've avoided opening the chest to remove the matrix. It looks like the stress marks stem from the two tabs that clip into Hot Rod's chest in Prime mode. Instead, I have been pulling up from the backpack and disconnecting the chest last. I know that kind of ruins the gimmick, but I'd rather Hot Rod survive.

 

You're REALLY trying to make excuses for multi colored outside clip on wheels on a $50 LEADER CLASS FIGURE?

 

I really like this overall. I’ve been a big Hot Rod/Rodimus fan since I was a kid and this is the first roddy toy since the originals that, for me, has truly balanced fun and looks.

It has its issues, like fists being front and center in combined alt mode, combined alt mode being a bit fussy to tab together, little vestigial arms peeking out in combined bot mode (which can be remedied with alternate transformation) and breathtakingly awful stickers, but none of that stuff truly bothers me.

My favorite part of the set is Hot Rod. Sleek wedge alt mode and clean geewunny bot mode. The hips have very limited forward motion despite the movable skirting but it looks like I might be able to safely cut away a bit of plastic under the skirt to get more range if I really need to. Regardless it’s my favorite mainline Hot Rod figure since the original.

I’m curious to see if any aftermarket parts will be made for this. I can imagine a set with an engine to plug into Hot Rod’s hood and covers for the fists in alt mode would be welcome.

 

I've decided to buy this figure. What are the best ways to avoid breaking it?