This is exactly the reason as to why I’ll never replace my copy of MP-12 Sideswipe. There’s just something about that figure that never grows old to me. I never took the bait on Bad Cube Steamroll because of it.

 

I'm honestly shocked at how many people seem to dislike transparent windows, not only for practical reasons like more fragile joints but from a purely aesthetic standpoint as well. While there is the odd figure here and there that manages to pull off painted windows without looking terrible (usually cases where the windows are really small), 90% of the time it makes the figure look dull and cheap, like an oversized Legends-class figure. If painted windows had been the norm for WFC figures I don't think I would've been tempted to get back into collecting.

 

I actually really like the windows on ER Optimus, but it's mainly due to the fact that the painted part is covered with a layer of clear plastic so it gives it more dimension.

 

Me too, I don't consider those painted windows, there's still clear plastic there that gives them a much more premium feel. I mean like what most of the Combiner Wars toys had:

 

The clear windows usually just show off robot kibble with a fake fondant-y dashboard or a tiny tiny cockpit on a jet transformer. Painted windows are cheap but they don't show off anything. Just looks like a cartoony windscreen

 

I definitely prefer them to be tinted a bit so the robot kibble isn't overly visible but as long as there's not like a face staring through the windshield or something I still think it looks way better that way. I'll concede that painted windows are the superior choice for toys that are explicitly designed and painted to look as similar to their 2D animated counterparts as possible (like the Animated toys or the cel-shaded Siege Prime), but never when more realistic styling is used.

 

Am I the only one who really likes CW Optimus' altmode?

I really love the gray breakup.

 

The prices that the Prowl + Ironhide 2-packs are going for really grind my gears. Two deluxe figures ought to be $40 together, right? Why are they $170 on Amazon? I know it's an exclusive, but aaaghh...

 

That’s why I hate Amazon exclusives. The figures remain at retail price all through the preorder period. As soon as the figures release, however, their prices skyrocket.

 

cw optimus has a great alt mode

however the same cannot be said for the robot mode

 

Inferno from PotP is my favorite Combiner torso. I know that mold has some wobbly issues when attached with limbs, but my love for the character makes it hard for me to care. Also I can just headcanon whatever his Combiner's name is since Hasbro didn't bother to give him one. I'm currently torn between Fire Convoy & Firestormer. Either way, he's still an awesome figure to me & makes a great commanding officer for my CW Deluxes.

 

It’s a good mold within that line, but I think it’s much more suited to Hotspot’s deco.

 

I call him Fahrenheit

 

Why did this make me smile? XD

 

I'd rather have an Optimus toy that doesn't use up valuable real estate on a chest cavity and removable matrix, especially since I don't even really consider it an Optimus Prime accessory, it's a Rodimus thing.

 

Where do you want the head to go?

 

I have no preference. They want it to swing into the chest, go nuts. But don't spend your budget on a windshield that opens to reveal a painted matrix on my account.

 

Then where do you store his fists?  

 

SS86 Grimlock looks cheap.