I tend to have more Autobots too though largely due to me not being a fan of the colours of a lot of Decepticons :-/

 

I have a question. The tolerences for all three of the WFC:S Powerdashers seem to be way, way, way above what the original release of the molds were. Did I just get shitty early copies and the powerdashers are representatives of what is intended? Or did they improve tolerences for the exclusives. Is there any way to improve peg+oil and joint tolerences on the originals?

Great post.

I just want to echo this sentiment. We just got a near-cartoon perfect SKYfire. We just got Tetrajets. We just got official mass release-ish RAINMAKERS FFS. I'm half surprised they're just importing the Seacons. Probably just doesn't fit the line but seems like it's a shoe in.

We're really *almost* there aren't we? Next year we'll get F-15 voyager seekers finally, which means we can bet that a Conehead 3 pack is a 2020 Target exclusive a-la the Rainmakers. We're getting a good Hoist which means a good Trailbreaker (finally). We're getting a great looking Grapple which means a good Inferno eventually. Wheeljack is finally arriving too.

So what's left that doesn't have a mold yet? A new Sunstreaker, which I bet is coming in Earthrise, Tracks and Blaster. And then in 2021 probably a better Galvatron, Cylconus and WFC leader class-style Rodimus Prime. And then that's like... it. All obscure and Japanese characters.

I'll collect Transformers forever, but it certainly feels like we're reaching the end of something through WFC.

 

the seacons are imports more so because they dont fit the budget of hasbro size classes, they've got a lot of paint and a lot of accessories compared to regular deluxes and voyagers.

personally on the coneheads, i dont think they will be a 3 pack. each conehead traditionally has unique tooling, the rainmaker 3 pack was identical molds. i see it happening more this way:
starscream and 1 conehead as mass retail (like starscream and thundercracker in siege)
1 conehead as a selects release (like redwing)
1 conehead as a battlepack/amazon exclusive (like skywarp)
3 pack of skywarp, thundercracker and sunstorm (like the rainmakers)

remember that the rainmakers were sold for less than the retail value of 3 voyagers, i find it unlikely they would do the individual tooling for each conehead and do those as a 3 pack only

 

Yeah you're right. That's probably exactly how they'll do it in order to spread costs.

They'll probably do Thrust at retail. The vertical lift fans maximally diversifies him from starscream, whereas Dirge and Ramjet are similar enough to be straight repaints with the same wing mold (which Hasbro has done before IIRC) with different arm blasters.

Seriously though... what's with Hasbro and not giving Skywarp a normal retail release? It was always strange to me back int he Universe 2.0 / Classics 3.0 days they did Universe Starscream (awesome!), Thundercracker and then Acidstorm, for some damn reason.

 

Siege Rumble seems like the rare case of the original 1980s figure being a lot better than the new one. What the hell are the cassettes supposed to be now, anyway? they look bizarre attached to anyone.

 

Shields, supposedly

 

Amazon Exclusive set...

 

YAYYYYYY!

 

Barricade needs more purple, just a little splash on the chest/hood.

 

If it's one or the other, I'd much rather they keep the same guns and give them both unique wings. I can't stand Dirge with Ramjet's wings and I'd have to pass on him if that ends up happening again. Usually I wouldn't mind some slight deviation from the source but Dirge was my first G1 toy lol.

 

I need a second pair of eyes (I'm wearing glasses btw). Siege Smokescreen's mid torso and lower groin. In my version, the former looks to have some gunmetal gray painted on it while his lower groin is unpainted. I just need a confirmation please? Thanks in advance.

 

Not really a normal retail release if it's exclusive...

 

Mr Bluestreak (or "Silverstreak"):

 

Ready to rock.

 

I like it too. While the Spartan head is cool, it just does not fit the design style of the overall figure. It's too smooth and rounded and looks out of place. The Autobot version better fits the blocky G1 aesthetic with a bunch of molded detail. If they had also remolded the rest of Decepticon version to have more smooth surfaces it would look like the head actually fit the body.

 

Uhm... That's the answer as to why there's no normal retail release...

Albeit, exclusive only in the US.

 

Would love to hear the story that goes with "the Autobots wanted to recruit an oppressed miner with good intentions who was seduced by Decepticon class rhetoric, and, in Optimus Prime's infinite wisdom, decided the best guy to get him to change sides was the old money snob."

 

he’s been an exclusive a lot. It’s just what they’ve decided to do with him. Probably because they don’t want to plug the shelf up with one mold. I went to a target tonight and I saw 5 starscreams and 4 Thundercrackers and 1 megatron. That’s something they kinda don’t want to do. For fans they know the difference but for kids and even parents they think it’s the same toy. That’s why retools don’t share waves with eachother. That’s why in combiner wars the Arialbots and stunticons got split in the first two waves. Because there were molds that were the same on the teams.

and it’s not like skyward is hard to get. He’s still instock on amazon.

 

I'm with you. In fact, I don't care for the helmet on the 3-pack version at all. Doesn't fit well with the overall design.

Agreed. Transformers has generally been pretty well balanced between the two sides in terms of coolness.

I really want Aragon to complete me collection, but $70 for three deluxes is a bitter pill. I don't want hologram Mirage that badly and Decepticon Impactor is of no interest at all, especially considering I've order the regular one. I guess I'll keep my eyes open for an Aragon on eBay that's not too horribly priced.

 

Might be easier/cost efficient to buy the 3-pack and sell off IDW Impactor and blue Mirage?

After you get all three in hand, you'll probably just end up keeping them all...