Going in for the kill:

As a tip for posing this guy: rely on the ab-crunch for bending forward poses, don't use the hips as they take him off balance. Assaultus here is perfectly capable of some good poses, it's just a matter of balancing him properly. I did not install the new joint yet and am not sure if I will because he's not really having too much of a problem holding the poses I want to put him in.

 

I do.

 

Nah. I mean, I agree, the (necessary) flatness of chest looks less like an accurate cartoon chest and more like a toy chest painted in cartoon colors. But even if it were spot-on cartoon accurate I prefer the toy/OX design. For some reason the Combaticons in the cartoon, especially Swindle, stood out as memorable enough to my child brain that I want the individual Combaticons to look like the cartoon versions, but Bruticus himself made less of an impression on me from the cartoon. I think my memory of Bruticus was shaped more by hours of looking at the catalog/checklists that came with some of the figures. MMC did a fantastic job of delivering my personal preference- cartoon for the Combaticons, toy/OX for Bruticus. My only minor complaint is that switching to the toy/OX style chest meant swapping out Onslaught's cartoon chest for the toy version.

 

If the combiner toon chest was made out of Blastoff's parts, then yes, but since this is not the case I prefer the toy chest plate.

 

Sounds like a plan for shoe painting?

 

Did you collapse Incursus' thighs all the way in? It brings me back memories about Feral Rex so called "higher settings"

 

Nope, I left them out...could've sworn that's what the instructions wanted, but maybe I just watched the wrong review. It does add some extra articulation that I would miss if it were collapsed.

 

Did you mean that the Toy doesn’t translate well? Cause I do prefer the Toon look, mostly cause the silver is kinda too jarring. I like the cooler colours from the purple and brown. I’m also kinda sick of the toy look as well.

 

I very much prefer the toon look but I can see the appeal of the silver toy chest especially since it matches with the hip skirts.

 

Fantastic photos & poses Sup3hobo. Did you do anything to replace or reinforce any of the joints first? Also, did you know there's a panel in the bottom of the add-shoes that folds out and fills the gap where the heel is?

 

I did not add or replace anything to the current joints. Everything was stock in these photos. And thank you for pointing out the filler pieces that slide out for the silver feet!

 

I think it doesn't translate well because it's not a full toon styling. You're used to seeing grey thighs and abdomen and not blue so your brain is probably saying: 'something's off'.

I have no doubt it'd look incredible with grey thighs and abs. As it is he looks much better with toy chest and head because that's what he's more accurate to in combined mode.

And therein lies the beauty of pants imo. You can have your cake and eat it but I don't wanna start another 'debate' in that respect. The lines are well and truly drawn there.

 

I just prefer the normal deco without silver.

 

do you have any pics illustrating this feature?

 

Same, though the silver OX deco is definitely one to not ignore either. Either way, the toon head looks better, personally.

 

exactly

 

Bottom view of silver shoe with heel panel partially folded out

 

I think I'll go with the toy head and toon chest most of the time, but may swap the heads out from time to time. The toy head did show up in the cartoon at least once during Bruticus' intro, so I think of it less as a toy head and more like an alternate head (much like MP Inferno/Grapple).

 

I do. The only thing that's really tempting me with the upgrade kit is the feet and gun but I totally prefer the regular chest plate and head.

 

I will always prefer toon to toy for Bruticus