And still better looking then some of the other combiners out there.

 

As a standalone figure, Hotspot sure looks amazing especially with the poses it can pull off.

 

Same here, fam.   Missed the boat on the earlier releases so now I'm just waiting till Yes Model does a rerelease or something.

 

Check eBay, Ali express they should have some in stock. I recently ordered Blade and First Aid from my local 3rd party Tf seller here in Australia. Just arrived this afternoon and I asked him when he will restock streetwise and Groove and he say next month hopefully. If I remember Terry tfs club has the other 4 members in stock.
TerryTFSclub, Collect Your Transformers and Enjoy The Fun!

 

I wonder what the best replacement hands for Hotspot would be - I think he needs them. POTP Unicronus Rodimus' ones might work, but they lack splay, but they do have that hook in the palm so they hold weapons well.

I wonder. Maybe SS oversize Optimus' or the OSKO Classics Optimus' replacement hands.

I can't really find a place to put a logo on him either as any place you'd logically put it would end up upside down in one mode or another.

Hopefully someone will make some boot fillers for him sometime I dislike those hollow toes.

 

Pending my receival of the set, I'll have my company design a small upgrade kit. It'll be mostly for the combined mode since I imagine most people will display them that way. Boot fillers should be easy enough though.

 

3 down, 2 to go. Looking good here!

 

I rather like this set's version of Streetwise so that alone has prevented me from using them in combined form, they also go quite nicely with some of the Stunticons I have. I'll likely get the GT Protectobots eventually so once I do I'll decide if any of them are something I want to keep combined - but I don't have my overscale KO or TFC set combined either - I guess I just like the Protectobots as individuals, or at least more than I do combined. I still don't have a normal scale Vulcan - (thought I do have the other 4 in normal size), I've not completed Ordin quite yet either - I think he might complement that set perhaps. I think ever since my MMC Predacons suffered a horrible fate the day I opened them from new I've been reluctant to combine combiners so they don't suffer a similar tragedy of fate.

I hope Yes Model consider doing a similar upscale for Fansprojects Dinoforce/Pretender Monsters and / or the Technobots too - though I hope if they do the technobots they might want to tweak the ankles combination as the original has a tendency for the legs to come undone to easily - but I do like those as individuals (especially Strafe) and I'd appreciate them in this size so that would be a tricky one to decide on if to combine them or not too.

It's kinda amusing I guess wanting smaller combiners in medium size, while also wanting the bigger ones even bigger - perhaps we need a new trend - make the bigger ones a bit smaller.

 

Found 4 of the set in stock on tfsafari, and after finding the 5th on eBay, I took the plunge and ordered them. It'll take a while to get here due to Corona type shenanigans, but I'll get them all eventually.

Hopefully...

 

When I was trying to unpeg the doors for the proper shoulder transformation I accidentally unpegged the entire part and I think I like that better it really improves the range of the shoulders too. I think it makes the arms look more natural to.

 

Finally a group shot with core bots (with all extra parts) and Optimus Prime. Some of them with little customs.

 

I don't know why in some reviews, the youtubers put the ladder left or right in the back and not centered if there's pegs and space for connection.

 

Well they did it, as per Maketoys original instruction.

 

I leave the ladder as is it so that I can display the missile pods.

 

I think it seems quite possible to make an additional ladder piece to allow it to extend further there is certainly the space for it.

 

Some nail polish and joints becomes just right.

 

Which parts of Guardia didja applied the nAil polish?

 

Into the huge ankles ball joints and joints on what becomes Defensor elbows, I mean the abdomen pieces on First Aid and Blades and where First Aid legs pegs to the rest of his body, the ball joints.

 

Finally got the last part of this set yesterday, and... The transformation was a fookin nightmare. It took an age to sort out, my fingers hurt from all the pointy bits, and to top it all, the rotating arm panels on Hotspot both broke off. I was that pissed off I just plugged the damn things into place and left them like that, because I sure as hell aren't going to transform it again.

Thing is though, he looks great. Easily the best looking Defensor out there, if a bit small for an OS figure. Size wise, he fits alright with Havoc and Ordin on the 'petite combiner' shelf.

The biggest issue I have is with those upper arm ratchets. I'd there any way to tighten them up so I can get a decent pose out of them?

 

Did you check out video reviews first before attempting to transform and combine 'em?

Better be safe than sorry coz these toys aren't cheap.