3A TRANSFORMERS - DOTM Optimus - Official Announcement

Discussion in 'Transformers News and Rumors' started by iOnlyEatEnergon, Jan 25, 2015.

  1. davidhunternyc

    davidhunternyc Well-Known Member

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    I just opened Optimus today. I am a bit nervous about articulating him but I would like to put him in this salute pose that was in the ThreeA lookbook. Has anyone been able to replicate the following pose and if so can you post a video on how to do it? I don't want to stress any parts on him. I would appreciate it. Thanks.

    [​IMG]
     
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  2. davidhunternyc

    davidhunternyc Well-Known Member

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    I did finally get my very first Transformer and it sure enough is 3A's Optimus Prime DOTM. I was so excited to get it. I did have to pay a super premium price to get it because I just missed the Bambaland exclusive by a few days. Was it worth it? Yes, with some caveats. There are YouTube video reviews of this figure and a couple of threads on this forum about 3A's Prime but none are super critical. The final version differs from 3A's look book version quite a bit. Some of it is good but other parts are a big disappointment. Here are my observations:

    First, I remember someone saying that 3A's Optimus Prime is a poor mans version of Prime 1 Studio's Optimus. Yes, 3A's Optimus is cheaper to buy than Prime 1 Studio's version but I have seen the details on the Prime 1 Optimus and, looking closely, it too comes up short. Prime 1's Optimus, because it's a statue, doesn't move at all. Bummer. That is why I sprung for 3A's version. Now that I have lived with it for a few days there are things which 3A could have done better.

    1) With 85 points of articulation, I was under the impression that this was going to be a super-posable Prime. Though posable, his movements are quite limited and is my biggest disappointment. He is not quite the statue like the Prime 1 Studio version but he is far stiffer than expected. The ratchet joints in the arms and the legs are stiff and difficult to adjust. They seem on the verge of breaking. I try not to move the arms and legs too much which defeats the purpose of having all of these points of articulation. All the joints should have been ball joints so Optimus could be super-posable. The ball joints that Optimus does have are easy to maneuver and have just the right amount of give and tension. It's a shame 3A did not use them exclusively. I could've had fun posing Prime into configurations that match the DOTM movie. Not being able to handle him or pose him without fear of breaking him is a big disappointment.

    I noticed some poses in 3A's look book which isn't possible with the production version. The shoulder barrels are larger than in the look book version (a plus, more movie accurate) but restrict arm movement.

    2) Too many frail parts, especially the two wings behind the legs. They barely attach and fall off too easily.

    3) The eye sculpt is important on any figure and 3A didn't get it right with Optimus. 3A seems to have a problem accurately rendering and lighting eyes with their figures. Their previous Transformer, Bumblebee, had inaccurate eyes also and it was ultimately why I decided to pass on this figure. Optimus Prime's eyes are too beady. You can barely see the lights when turned on. Also, the eyes are the wrong color. The production Optimus has white beady eyes. In the movie, Optimus has blue glowing eyes. 3A replicated Optimus's eyes from the movie accurately and beautifully in the look book. What happened with the production version? The eyes are a major disappointment to me.

    4) There is too much white wash on the tires. It wouldn't bother me too much but at the feet of Optimus are two more tires that are pure black. What? The upper tires are battle worn but not down where he walks the tires are brand new? He must have just had his tires changed.

    5) Again, I don't know why Bambaland would only include the eliminator cannon in the exclusive. It's crucial that Optimus have it, especially for the price people will pay for this figure. I hope Bambaland will start selling his gun separately so collectors can purchase it. It is a necessity.

    6) Fingers in the hands, though articulated should be able to spread also. It's odd that the fingers have to be close up all of the time. Not a major concern for me but it is something.

    7) Overall, I praise the sculpt and paint of this Optimus Prime but some of the interior cavity areas of this figure are a bit flat. Details like the hoses, pistons, and some grill areas aren't chiseled enough into the sculpt. Paint could have articulated these areas to create a better sense of separateness and relief but the spray paint is of one monotonous color. This would have been extremely time consuming to detail these minute areas and would raise the price of this figure considerably. Would it have been worth it? Perhaps. Should Prime have been assembled from more parts to make him even more convincing? For instance, what about using real hoses and moving pistons? Difficult questions but other toy manufacturers might want to look at these slight weaknesses and improve upon them with their versions of Optimus Prime.

    So in the end, I am very happy with the 3A Optimus Prime. Perhaps this is still the best DOTM version you could buy at this time. I just wish it were better. I wanted to articulate Prime into some super cool poses. Again, my biggest disappointment. This isn't going to happen. I almost have to treat him like a statue which kind of defeats the purpose. If I wanted a statue I would have bought the Prime 1 Studio version.

    So there you have it. An honest look at 3A's Optimus Prime. Thank you all for your input, help, and support.
     
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  3. Nightrain

    Nightrain Senior Villain

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    I've learned from collecting Hot Toys that articulation does not mean super poseable. They should be treated as poseable statues as opposed to action figures.
     
  4. davidhunternyc

    davidhunternyc Well-Known Member

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    Yes, I now understand that articulation does not mean super poseable but 3A's Optimus Prime it is very difficult to pose into anything other than a standard upright pose. Even this is difficult to keep him balanced without falling over.
     
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  5. Retroheavy

    Retroheavy Well-Known Member

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    UPDATE 10.18.2016

    SHIPPED/NOW SHIPPING

    DOTM | OPTIMUS PRIME Retail Edition*

    -This is from their facebook page. So he should be hitting regular retailers like BBTS soon.
     
  6. crazee928

    crazee928 Well-Known Member

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    anyone here from the sf bay area that's interested in a bamband exclusive prime and bumblebee? they're awesome figures but they take up too much space in my collection and i'm thinking of selling both of mine locally, not wanting to worry about shipping these huge boxes. pm me - thanks!
     
  7. Retroheavy

    Retroheavy Well-Known Member

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    Just got shipping notification from bbts! Gonna let set in my pile of loot until after the holidays though.
     
  8. EndWar

    EndWar Well-Known Member

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    Mine arrived finally & wow he is so big it couldn't fit into my display cabinet!
    I'm not comfortable with his eyes sculpt (the eye lid is too thick) and his foot looks too big (I'm referring to the center portion between his two toes).
    Also I feel strange why the paint looks better on camera than in real life which look too dull & dusty?
    It seems like 3A have 'simplified' or skipped on his inner mechanical parts detailing (gears, spring, pistons, etc.) quite a lot... smaller figure like DMK model captured these details much better I think. For a figure at this size I'm wishing a more accurate details.
    Anyhow, good figure overall. Now can wait for their next take on TF4/TF5...
    IMG_20161120_084235.jpg
     
  9. Cheem The Rup

    Cheem The Rup Well-Known Member

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    © Iamonfire

    ae3ec81fgw1fa8tja098jj20rs15ohdt.jpg ae3ec81fgw1fa8tjcxkgfj20rs15ob29.jpg ae3ec81fgw1fa8tioojo5j215o0rsx65.jpg ae3ec81fgw1fa8tirycr1j20rs15oe81.jpg ae3ec81fgw1fa8tiuqv4ej20rs15o1kx.jpg ae3ec81fgw1fa8tixbllgj215o0rs1kx.jpg ae3ec81fgw1fa8tj6i4o0j20rs15ob29.jpg ae3ec81fgw1fa8tj038zyj215o0rs4qp.jpg
     
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  10. FACEBOX

    FACEBOX Well-Known Member

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    Awesome pictures.
     
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  11. unmc2001

    unmc2001 Well-Known Member

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    How can you tell if it’s the exclusive edition if the box is sealed for DOTM Prime?
     
  12. davidhunternyc

    davidhunternyc Well-Known Member

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    Do you have the original brown cardboard shipping box? It will say "exclusive edition" on the outside. If you open the original packaging the exclusive edition has the blaster cannon (gun) inside. The retail version does not.
     
  13. unmc2001

    unmc2001 Well-Known Member

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    The brown shipper box says “online edition”
     
  14. davidhunternyc

    davidhunternyc Well-Known Member

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    The online edition is not the exclusive edition with the blaster cannon.
     
    Last edited: May 12, 2019
  15. unmc2001

    unmc2001 Well-Known Member

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    Thanks
     
  16. davidhunternyc

    davidhunternyc Well-Known Member

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    You’re very welcome. That blaster cannon is essential. It’s a shame it was not included in the online edition. I bought the online edition first and sold it for 1/2 the price and then payed a small fortune for the exclusive edition. I am still convinced that the 3A Optimus Prime DOTM is the greatest Transformer figure ever made, despite my rather harsh criticism above. He needs his blaster cannon. Even so, the sculpt and the materials can always be better. I will pay for a better version but the DOTM figure is already history. I doubt a better will come along.
     
  17. Bob 121

    Bob 121 Well-Known Member

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    Funnily enough, I have two of the blasters, one from DOTM Prime and one from AOE Prime and they never left the box. Never liked that blaster design, especially paired with Prime.
     
  18. davidhunternyc

    davidhunternyc Well-Known Member

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    7E3531AF-5ACC-4D6F-B102-38564518EF68.jpeg
    Hah! I think totally the opposite. For a year I displayed Prime without his cannon and now that he has it in his hand I love the contrast in color and texture that the blaster brings to the figure.
     
    Last edited: May 13, 2019
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  19. Bob 121

    Bob 121 Well-Known Member

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    You're right about those, it's the shape and form of the blaster itself I never liked. Something about how it just abruptly ends at the back makes it too much of a comically oversized pistol to me instead of something that could have been a cool rifle or whatever. Coupled with the fact that I've never been a fan of detachable weapons and prefer integrated ones such as Prime's swords and Bee's cannons, it'll probably never wind up on my shelf.

    To each their own, however.
     
  20. davidhunternyc

    davidhunternyc Well-Known Member

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    Bob, if you honestly don’t want the blaster I’m certain you can get good money for it on eBay. Many people bought the online edition and were disappointed the blaster was not included.