I don't mind fake parts at all, as long as they improve the look of the bot mode and hide well in alt mode, which this certainly does. Hot Rod/Rodimus' design just doesn't seem to lend itself to a transformation without using fake parts; too many sections have to move and go to places that just don't work for a toy. Not to mention Hot Rod, and Rodimus especially, never transformed in a consistent way.

I've been really impressed with the amount of detail on this figure, and does a lot of things better than the masterpiece-lv. figures.

His chest and backpack look way, way better than MP-28's
His collar section looks way, way better than Hoodlum's (my biggest gripe with that figure by far)
His skirt section is done way better than both

Speaking of his collar section, it's impressive that they got the design right, but it sucks that it's unpainted. I wonder how difficult it'd be to color match it....

 

I think this Hot Rod will end up being one of my all time favorite Transformers. Really looking forward to having it in hand. Here’s some cropped screenshots I took from @PrimeVsPrime ’s recent review.

 

Well, I went ahead and pre-ordered this guy since he just went up in Japan today.

Haven't bought a Transformer in at least two years....looking forward to seeing if I feel that same excitement I used to or if I'm "over it."

I already bitched about the faux parts, but hey, what're ya gonna do? Robot mode looks great except for the pipes on his arms. Bad sculpt and flat grey looks pretty "off" after the chrome MP parts. Of course, my MP 28's chromed flaked off, but the Targetmaster version stayed nice and shiny.

I also think the car mode is too damn stubby, but again...no point in bitching, I'm already committed to buying it! Eh....worst case I end up not liking it and I'm out 40 bucks.

 

One of my first thoughts about this figure was "someone's gonna make better aftermarket pipes for his arm" because I agree they look pretty underwhelming but they also look super easy to replace/upgrade.

 

Must...resist....jealous thoughts!  

 

Me too. Oh wait, I own him already!

 

How in the world do you guys get these releases this early?? Woah...

 

CMD Store

 

Even did a review thread earlier:
Studio Series 86-04 Voyager Hot Rod

 

Looks so good that I got over the faux chest.

 

If it was just a little taller it'd be perfect for my collection.

 

Because people are dumb.

It's a monkey's paw. Clearly the $30 price point went in to additional paint and engineering to achieve a more accurate look to the animation. Compare him to WfC Deluxes (including Ironhide and Impactor) and you can see where there would have been hollow bits in a $20 figure.

To avoid *any* feux parts, they'd either have to over engineer the whole thing... making an unstable pile of panels at an even higher price point, or they'd have a hollow mess.

 

As a Bayformers collector I'm absolutely jealous you guys got such a beautiful figure. I've never had a figure that passes *all* my requirements until him. He's no longer just good, he's goddamn perfect. I literally cannot think of any flaws with this guy, not even nitpicks!

 

Lol... Im an active seller on Carousell..

 

I'm gonna say this as a fan of movie figures too.

We'll never get a PERFECT Movie figure. They cheat so much, use so little car parts in robot mode, that it is literally impossible to get perfect transformations and non-kibbly robot modes without either a ridiculously large parts count or shape memory polymers. Both of which are prohibitively expensive for a retail figure intended for 10 year old kids.

G1 figures on the other hand are made of simple geometric shapes that, while they may not always have a lot of alt mode parts on them...do have a lot of said parts on them. It is also infinitely easier to turn a robot made of simple shapes into a vehicle than a Bayverse robot with little to no alt mode parts on them, and complex shapes and designs.

This is why we can get "perfect" G1 figures like Hot Rod, and why it's so hard to get a perfect Movie figure. Closest thing to perfect if you ask me is SS Shockwave. Without an alt mode to really turn into it was clear the focus was on the robot mode, nd the tank is a convincing enough pile of robot parts on vague tank tracks where it works.

 

Oh sweet jeebus, yes....

 

Getting a legit MP figure at Voyager pricing is a steal.

 

I'm very excited for this figure.

Now, that the architecture is there, the question is, when is the masterpiece version coming out?

 

What do you think the Masterpiece would do better? For an extra $100+?