Mine just arrived and I was shocked by how tiny the box ended up. I *love* it. Just like with the Select toys, I wish Hasbro would move to smaller, more fitting packaging for everything they put out!

 

Especially since they already released Combat Hero Megatron in Selects. One of my favorite Optimus Prime redecoes, especially since Powerlinx Armada Optimus has a very similar color scheme to him, and anything that reminds me of the UT is always a plus.

 

What we really need is a real G2 based Megatron to go along with this mold

 

Licensed new light tank pleaz

 

This can't be said enough.

 

not a single soul do the headswap yet?

 

Do you mean with ER Optimus Prime?

 

exactly. i want to see how holyday prime head look on ER prime

 

Apparently not.

 

Apparently not.

 

Who's Ion Blaster is that?

 

It’s the blaster from PC-16 Jinrai Prime

 

Hmmm this might look good in Action Master colors

 

I'd be down for that, especially if the truck mode and trailer are decoed like Action Master Optimus' truck.

In general, I think transforming Action Masters' alt modes should homage their vehicle when possible.

 

A thing I noticed while watching reviews - All the Volvo-specific stuff seems specifically designed to interfere with the core figure as little as possible. Basically a thin cosmetic shell on an otherwise completely independent transforming skeleton.

That means this guy could effectively be reskinned as pretty much any modern long-nosed semi (licensed or otherwise) with extremely minimal retooling.

The kneecaps and backs of the lower legs are pretty much it, and even those are just sort of slotted on top of the toy’s underlying structure, not integral to it. Get a new license with Peterbilt? Bang - Mold’s already 85% ready to go with no reeengineering necessary.

Given how authentic to a real semi the back half is (unlike 99.5% of previous Primes), I very much wonder if that was the goal in the first place - to develop a modular platform for licensed one-offs, promotional items, and the like.

 

That may be part of it.

I think a big part was developing it as an Amazon crossover.

An Amazon truck had to be white or navy. It had to be a Volvo.

But they wanted the robot mode to resemble Optimus Prime. Not Ultra Magnus or Magna Convoy. So it had to be designed so that the robot color scheme and the truck color scheme weren't really connected.

 

We've been getting an increasing number of licensed alt modes in generations scale the last few years, while it's 100% possible that this mold will get it's vehicle mode reshelled, I personally doubt that'll be the case. They've used the VW mold twice now rather than making G1 Goldbug from the Cliffjumper mold like the SG one. They've also used Ectotron twice (licensed Cadillac) and Maverick twice (licensed F-14) and they've used Lockheed licensing 3 times (2 releases of Maverick and Ultimate X-Spanse) as well as NASA licensing at least twice as well, so we know they're not opposed to using molds with licensed alt modes more than once.

 

Seeing Christmas Optimus pre-sell out on UK Pulse just as I'd finally decided I needed it has left me feeling rather unfestive. If there isn't any general stock after pre-orders go out then Christmas is cancelled!

 

I need to stop coming into this thread, because all of these pics are really making me want to pick him up....