NewAge H51 Hawk (G1 Legend Ironhide)

Discussion in 'Transformers 3rd Party Discussion' started by williammmw, Dec 18, 2021.

  1. Ashpolt

    Ashpolt Well-Known Member

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    I got Ironhide over the weekend love him, ended up ordering Ratchet as well (though it's from ShowZ so won't dispatch until after CNY).

    I understand why people might not like the van mode, but I love it! I don't really care about accuracy, I'm very much going off "vibes" and I think it's a really cute somewhat chibi van. Bot mode is obviously a huge improvement over v1, I don't think there's any debate over that.

    That said, overall this round goes to Magic Square IMO - which, tbf, I totally expected because their Ironhide is absolutely fantastic and probably one of my top 3 toys of last year, so NA not clearing that high bar isn't really an issue, this is still a really fun, well made toy that I'm glad to have in my collection.
     
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  2. Retroheavy

    Retroheavy Well-Known Member

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    Mine set just showed up. Haven’t transformed into bot mode yet as I’m surprisingly smitten with the van modes.
    They do have a chibi look to them as @Ashpolt mentioned. Should look really nice parked next to their Bee and CJ.
     
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  3. RameezTheElite

    RameezTheElite Nemesis Prime Connoisseur

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    I guess I could play devil's advocate and show everyone what NA was trying to go with from a design philosophy standpoint, but I do agree that the V1 Alt mode does look better, cause it actually looks like a van. the G1 Vans never really looked like vans, just rectangles with windows. If we reference this source material, then it definitely accomplished its goal of being a Chibi G1 van, and I think it works well if you can see that as a pro rather than a con.

    Either way, the V1 does look better, but I don't think the V2 vans are bad if you like the G1 Aesthetic cranked to max settings.

    [​IMG]
     
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  4. fatfaso

    fatfaso Well-Known Member

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    I just got my V2 vans today, and I’m pretty impressed. The transformations are weirdly both complex AND easy (legs are intuitive, but untabing the first tab when going from alt to robot per Golden Zhen video instructions is basically impossible… start to untab the top near the middle of the van, then untab the whole side of the van starting from the front bumper and you’ll be able to complete the first untab). Also, the spinning parts on the side of the front windshield do make a difference in the looks, but man, they are tiny and a bit difficult to spin (mainly because all of my parts were pretty tight on the vans). That being said… I really enjoy the V2 vans. They are very cartoon accurate and the panels don’t look all that bad in real life. The paint is fantastic on both vans (or lacquer finish… whatever). I have V1 Ratchet and while I love his alt mode, I have to admit that the panels don’t hang together that well in bot mode, where that isn’t the case with the V2 mold. But if you’re going for a realistic looking van, you’ll obviously be disappointed with the V2 alt modes. Honestly, both versions are fun. If you skip V2 because you have V1 and you’re happy with them, you aren’t missing out… V1 is still great. But if you are just jonesing fora new transformation, this definitely fits the bill and is a ton of fun. Solid recommendation from me.
     
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  5. Cha Chi

    Cha Chi Minimondomayhem

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    Interesting that they are bigger... I asways wanted toon accurate van bros but alas selling up and buying new ones seems like work. It is nice that vans are chunky too that gives them good presence, the v1 is accurate upto the point if vans being really small.

    I will straight trade like for like anyone who is unhappy theirs in UK.
     
  6. TIKnTIN

    TIKnTIN … beating a dead horse with a broken record, LoL!

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    but that's the problem, this WASN'T NA's design philosophy standpoint. all their previous carbots were more real world accurate versus being "toon" accurate. i bought into collectiong NA three years ago because of that when i saw jazz, the datsun bros, and van bros alts that looked like mini replicas of MP scale real world style alts.

    if they've now decided to go more "toon" with real world vehicle alts, then that's a direction i don't want them to go. :( 
     
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  7. fatfaso

    fatfaso Well-Known Member

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    I hear you (I’m a big car guy, so alt modes matter to me), but I think a lot of the 3P companies are chasing the toon replica train… companies see what sells and then go in that direction. Even official Takara MP bots look more toonish than when originally released. I’m glad I got my Newage Datsun bros. Who knows if they’ll make as much of an effort to keep
    Them looking like real world cars if they ever make V2 molds.
     
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  8. LeoJ

    LeoJ Well-Known Member

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    Yeah I would’ve loved accurate VW beetles and I’m hoping for accurate mig-25 if they ever make blitzwing
     
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  9. fatfaso

    fatfaso Well-Known Member

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    Man, I was just thinking that NA could have another hit on their hands if they beat everyone else to market with the triple changers. The latest MP
    of Blitzwing looks damn good (the MiG isn’t perfect, but it’s not horrible like the mainline version… completely acceptable… but I’ve seen an older MP version where they prioritized the plane alt mode and it shows).
     
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  10. RameezTheElite

    RameezTheElite Nemesis Prime Connoisseur

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    I totally see that, except I could also make the point for Grimlock and Bumblebee. Bumblebee is an older release but imo it is the perfect design at that scale and I don't see anyone making a better version in many many years. Grimlock is a newer release and I can say it is the most accurate toon looking Grimlock in every sense of the way.

    It doesn't suit everyone and I totally see that. I too would have liked a more realistic van such as their V1 or the MP, but sarificed were made (for the better?) I'd really have to see it in hand to enjoy it but so far it seems that the people here enjoy it so far. I feel that the small nature of the figure never allows pictures to do it any sort of justice, but I plan on picking these guys up and seeing how they fare. It might be the case where we just have to 'get used' to the vans being boxes with wheels
     
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  11. Ryan F

    Ryan F Transform and Roll Out!

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    Haven’t they always been a bit hit and miss, though? Neither of their Bumblebees gets the proper beetle proportions right, and their seeker mould has the wrong-shaped wings. NA Megatron is far more toon than a real Walther. To me, it’s not that NewAge have suddenly changed tack - sometimes their alt modes are realistic and sometimes they aren’t. And that’s pretty much been the case from their very first release.
     
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  12. DickDastardly00

    DickDastardly00 Well-Known Member

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    They took this direction from Bumblebee 2.0. I think it's a little late to realize that. They will probably also do a 2.0 revision of Jazz and the Datsun as they are completely out of scale and different from the rest of the collection
     
  13. Phase Sixer

    Phase Sixer Well-Known Member

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    Jazz and Datsuns match MP scale and the “holy” scale chart when next to Prime. Also they did Mirage not that long ago and his scale is the same. I think their scale is fine. If they ever did them again I don’t think they’d change their scale.
     
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  14. EndoSickness

    EndoSickness AKA Tim Kay's Nerd Crate

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    How long did you wait, man?
    I ordered their Sif, way before CNY and nothing happened.
     
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  15. TIKnTIN

    TIKnTIN … beating a dead horse with a broken record, LoL!

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    yes, there of course have been better alts on some releases than on others. i'm not expecting perfect real world replicas. there will always need to be some compromises to make the transformation to bot mode. but they still seemed to have given a shiate about making them look like what they were supposed to look like, at least compared to MS they appeared to care more. but yes it seems more inconsistent lately. i was pleasantly surprised that MS put more real world details on their constructicon set versus what NA did. if it wasn't for the fact MS devy towers over their menasor, it would have been my main devy vesus having gotten NA for that, which matches better with MS menasor and Zeta superion. i think NA devy is the first release that i have major disappointment with it in lacking the real world touch in details for individual alts.

    both NA BB versions look unmistakably like a VW beetle, more so than MS. the seekers though missing the wing flaps still look great as jets they are supposed to represent. sucks to make the extra purchase(s), but you can add the flaps on if you really need to fix that.

    i have to disagree with that. BB v2 alt looks great, and i like it better than v1. it may have been a scale reset, but it was still a great alt for me, albeit they made it chiba, which i didn't mind personally in this case given how small they made it.

    also i don't think NA will do a reset on the remaining earlier carbots given they released mirage at that exact same scale to match them.

    anyway, back on topic. think i'm gonna pick up v2 ironhide to check out first hand. really doubt i'll go all in and replace the three v1 vans i got, but i do like the improved bot mode enough to try and give this a chance. it would have been ratchet since it came out first, but i dislike that extra pearl coat finish the added unevenly to it, as well as missing the jetpack accessory.
     
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  16. Acteon

    Acteon Overworked

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    Arrived in 7 days, China to UK. It's usually not that fast, something put a fire under these boys but I couldn't say what.
     
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  17. Retroheavy

    Retroheavy Well-Known Member

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    Just transformed mine. I really like him. It’s hard to get upset at a figure’s shortcomings in this scale. The bloated forearms and the giant hinge through the middle of his shin and knee are maybe my biggest gripes but they kinda fade away in-hand with him being so small. I think a slightly better head sculpt or alternate faces would have helped a lot.


    I think the sled accessory would have worked better if it doubled as a topper in alt-mode to cover all those panels and hinges on the roof. Might have helped make the van look a little less boxy as well.

    I thought the windshield was gonna bug me but I love how it works and looks in-hand.

    Paint, materials and construction are top notch as always with newage.

    88C95F67-F414-474A-8192-EAD0B53F7D38.jpeg
     
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  18. DickDastardly00

    DickDastardly00 Well-Known Member

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    Yeah I was wrong with scale, they match. But they're made in different style from the all other models that come after BB 2.0. For me they will need an upgrade. We were having a discussion that, after all, van bros alt mode isn't so bad if you think it's based on the Sunbow design. As it is BB 2.0, I love it. For this reason I think they will also redo the Datsun and Jazz. They are not very in line with what came out after BB 2.0, in my opinion. They could be done a lot better today, with new joints and maybe a less chunky style. Sorry for my bad english ^^

    You disagree with what? o_O  Where did I ever write that BB 2.0 is worse than 1.0? I love 2.0, for that I hope they remade some old ones like Datsun
     
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2023
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  19. Hobart Paving

    Hobart Paving I would prefer not to.

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    I get what you mean, but Iron Factory Blitzwing came out six years ago and Unique Toys Horrorcons four years ago.
     
  20. magicube

    magicube Legends Scale Collector

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    I'm eager to see how Shattered Glass Ratchet and other potential repaints turns out. I'm holding off (so far atleast) on regular Ironhide and Ratchet because I already have and adore the MS vans but I think this mold looks great as well.
     
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