Found Crosshairs yesterday.

 

If you completely take the "favourite" part out and go with the merit of the mold, and judge all the figures with the same criteria: no gaps (or minimal), minimal kibble, robot and alt mode, transformation, articulation, weapons, quality issues (lack of) and esthetics that matches the animations and original G1 figures then you get:

I'd have to go with the a tie for winner:

Sideswipe: with wrist articulation missing being the only caveat.
Hound: with the transformation being a bit tricky
and Shockwave (if you discount the extra armour parts)

Then the runner-ups, but not by much
Mirage: (kibble)
Starscream (Seekers): alt mode legs sticking out a bit
Optimus Prime: arm and back kibble.
Spinister: (gaps and kibble)

Then the rest, but note that it's a very hard list to compile as almost all of the figures are great overall.

While Jetfire that others are going with, he does looks great and will always be a favourite figure of mine, but in all honesty, the kibble in alt mode is simply horrible in the undercarriage, and he does have other flaws that could have been avoided if Hasbro had tried a bit more effort.

Ironhide mold has a lot of quality issues, the gaps are horrible with this mold, and the side panels simply flap and don't tab. Both my Ironhide and Ratchet have almost all of the tabs not aligning correctly.

 

I stated this in the review thread for Mirage. And I'll repeat it here too:

I want to love this figure. I really do. To me, it's right on the verge of being great.

But the leg transformation, specifically the translucent blue panels, ruin it for me. The leg transformation is awkward. It isn't as smooth as it should be. The panels are constantly fighting me when I try to put them in the correct position in going to car mode or back to robot mode. They also get in the way of the rest of the parts in the leg which hinders transformation.

I will say though, that the faux chest in robot mode and the back of the car doesn't bother me in the least.

 

Tail section which sticks out above his head, and inner thigh.

He loses points for kibble with his hands sticking out just like that in alt mode, and the second cockpit doesn't snap-in on mine in the under-carriage.

 

I've come to the conclusion that the faux cockpit is not meant to snap in to the under-carriage. All the other tabs on the pelvis and wings hold it tight there.

 

Shockwave is the best for me... he is faithful to G1 cartoon/comics and that eye !!!! The size is not an issue for me at all and the shock glider strikes fear in the sparks of my Autobots. I can’t wait for earthrise starscream so I can move them both to my marvel comics shelf. Sky fire is a gem but the 80.00 price with q/c issues (wtf hasbro) keep me from picking up the other seekers. Gotta eat.

 

Love this color. Should have picked up Piranicon...

 

With respect to the best, I've got to go with Sideswipe. I liked the mold so much that I got Red Alert as well - the first time I've doubled up on a non CW mold since T30 (Springer/Sandstorm). I haven't been all that sold on the voyagers and leaders for this line.

Hound and Mirage are also great, albeit not perfect, figures.

 

The paint on the battle mask was jacked up, the chest plate wouldn’t tab in(fell off constantly), the left wing was so tight the plastic stressed when transforming it. It was bad. The worst part I have yet to see another one. If I find one in the wild again I will give him one more chance.

 

Are you sure you were attaching the chest armor correctly? Cause it took me awhile to realize I wasn't. Once I figured out the right way it stayed on perfectly fine.

 

One of his legs comes off sometimes when I'm posing him but it's not really bothersome. The main reason I was happy to get them is I feel my Ironhide should be just a smidge taller than Ratchet.

 

OP looks kinda strange...

 

yeah there's something off...but i can't put my finger on it

 

Ratchet in G1 mode and diaclone mode.

 

I came across a second Mirage. So I plan to donate it at this year's Christmas toy drive with some other stuff.

 

Turns out that swapping LG Twin Twist's target master with Crosshairs's hammer dealie is a pretty good trade.


Twin Twist seems to have acclimatised to his new gear pretty quick.

The only problem is that I had previously given the little guy to POTP Ricochet, who is now once again in need of a partner. Any ideas?