Evasion is a way more solid toy out of the box. This one is a bit more ambitious, and may appeal more to G1 enthusiasts, but he's a little floppier in places. Lower legs in particular might need a little extra TLC to stop being annoying if you plan to pose and play with him a lot.

 

I was thinking of Takara's MB-01 version of the mold, though I may have been mixing that up with a different, "cleaner" red and blue Optimus without the flames and grunge.

 

Hasbro had one in their "Autobots United" box set that had brighter, G1-style colours and the silver stripe on the cab and robot.

 

I have the one you linked and IMO the SS-38 still beats it. IMO its no contest at all...Unless HasTak releases one in more movie accurate colours?

 

Found one of these luckily at a Walmart, and it's great fun! I love how he looks in robot and vehicle mode, and the amount of posing he can achieve while have a super clean figure makes this a really great time!
However, I'm very hesistant to call this "the best" Optimus Prime, because...

Well he looks good, in both robot and vehicle mode, it's just that getting him from one end to the other is uncomfortably super fiddly. There is a noticeable order of operations you need in order to make him transform smoothly without all his bits crashing into each other, and while there is some clever engineering, with his calves locking into his thighs while his knees become the back of the car, this leads to a suprisingly loose feeling robot mode. Maybe I'm spoiled by the Seige lads, but I feel like just holding him will make his legs disintegrate into jellyfish tendons and his back unclips.

All in all, alright! But I'm content with this being the only Studio Series I own, and still anticipate the new Earthforce figure

 

Cut the tabs off the backs of his ankles. It’s an easy and good fix for the lower legs that’s been mentioned several times in this thread.

 

I like Evasion a lot, but think this one is a close second (if not superior) - however, I never wanted to pick up Siege & can't comment on that one.

 

His back doesn't unfold if you do it correctly. Those two side panels that covers the front wheels need to be folded in at 90° not just folded over

 

I love the Robot Mode. The vehicle Mode is an absolute Shitfest to get it to fit together properly. but whatever.
(I plan on buying another one to keep in bot mode, because fuck Transforming it again.)

Here's mine.


(Also found a way to store the weapon that's NOT in the Instructions.)

 

Already figured it out months ago but cool  

 

Well... its new to me since i never knew about it.  

 

I got one last week. I love the transformation, it reminds me a lot of WFC Optimus, who's still probably my favorite. Reminds me, gotta try his axe on this figure.

 

Finally did that last night. It really does fix things when it comes to the legs. It’s a big difference.

The deluxe WfC Optimus from a while back or the recent Siege Voyager figure? He has a lot in common with Siege. I think he does it better. The WfC deluxe is one of my favorite figures ever.

 

Makes you wonder why they put it there in the first place.

 

i have noticed his feet have become a lil loose on mine tho after cutting the tabs off.. nothing major tho

 

Mine just feel easier to pose.

 

It's all good he only stands here at work with snarky looking Thundercracker anyway.

 

In theory, it's to lock the bumper piece in place so that it's the actual ankle joint that articulates. In practice, none of the tolerances of the surrounding parts work with this design. The actual ankles are tighter than the bumper swivel, so the bumper tends to move first and then knock everything else out of place as a result.

 

Huh...I just futur'd that stuff up and its all tight without snipping the tabs

 

you did what now?