I've decided to further narrow my collection. I was mostly collecting G1 and Classics figures. However, I'm a sucker for realistic alt modes. It's what I loved about G1, it's what drew me back in during RID, and it's why I actually like the movie toys. I'm really enjoying the Prime cartoon and like the looks of those toys too. However, 4 different lines are gonna be too much. I like to keep my collection small and streamlined. So I've got to decide what to do. G1 is definitely staying. Right now, I'm leaning towards having representations of the characters I like in the fiction more than anything. I'll get rid of all my classics as I'll have the G1 toys to represent the characters from G1. I'll buy one toy of each Prime character. So the help I need is with movie toys. I can't decide which ones to keep/buy of each character. On one hand, I really like the leader and HA figures. RotF Prime and Leader Starscream are like masterpieces. Ironhide and all the HA look really good on the shelf with them. Problem is, I'd never get the whole cast in those lines as we'll never see a leader Ratchet, Blackout, or Bonecrusher. DotM Megatron and Shockwave are just rumors at this point. On the other hand, I can get everyone in relatively close scale if I go with Voyager and Deluxe. There just is no Jetfire in that size. For this option, I need your opinion on what is the best version to get of each character. Based on alt mode accuracy, detail and accuracy of the bot mode, and relative scale. For example: Voyager Ratchet will go better with the deluxes, but might be too large next to Battle Blades Prime. The deluxe is a better mold IMO, but is a bit small next to deluxe Bumblebee. I could throw in a few leaders so Prime is bigger than the voyager autobots, but there is no Leader DotM Megatron yet, so I almost have to go Voyager only so the big baddies match up. Should I use Voyager Ironhide and Ratchet and have them too big with Prime, or go with the deluxes but have them too small with BB and the rest? How will I decide? I'm going to list all the characters from each movie, and the top choices for those. Please copy and past the list, and highlight the one you think I should use to represent the character. If you think there is a better option, add it and tell me why you think it's better than what I have listed. Movie I Prime: Battle Blades voyager or Wal-Mart deluxe ( maybe the japanese deco that comes with the G1 reissue ) Ironhide: HftD Deluxe or One of the many Voyagers ( specify which is the best IYO ) Ratchet: DotM Deluxe or movie 1 Voyager ( specify which deco si best ) Jazz: Movie 1 deluxe Bumblebee: Movie 1 concept deluxe, HftD Battle Blades, DotM Deluxe Megatron: DotM Voyager ( don't like his design from the other movies ) Starscream: RotF Voyager ( or one of his repaints ), or DotM Deluxe Brawl: Movie 1 Deluxe Bonecrusher: Movie 1 Deluxe Blackout: Movie 1 Voyager, or RotF Grindor Barricade: Movie 1 Deluxe, or DotM Deluxe Scorponok: Movie 1 or RotF black redeco Movie II Skids: Deluxe Mudflap: Deluxe Sideswipe: RotF Deluxe, HftD Sidearm, or DotM deluxe Arcee Triplets: Deluxes Jetfire: Leader? Too big... Wheelie: Legends or Deluxe Commander Doomwheels: Voyager - Wide release or TRU Exclusive white Devastator: Legends or Supreme Long Haul: Voyager MixMaster: Voyager Rampage: Deluxe - Wide release or TRU Exclusive red Sideways: Deluxe Soundwave: DotM Deluxe The Fallen: Voyager or Robot Replicas ( since he didn't transform in the movie anyway ) Movie III Dino: Deluxe Q: Deluxe Leadfoot: Deluxe Topspin: Deluxe Roadbuster: Deluxe Brains: N/A Sentinel Prime: Voyager or Cyberverse Crankcase: Deluxe Crowbar: deluxe or second crankcase if not released Hatchet: cyberverse, hopeful deluxe SUV mode, or kitbash Crankcase Am I forgetting anyone? I'll highlight in green when a final decision is made on each. Thanks for the help.
I'll highlight the figure that is best, as long as its scale isn't absolutely horrible. The scale won't be perfect, but I'll try to keep it relatively reasonable. So that what I've highlighted will be easily distinguishable from what you've highlighted, I'll use red. Movie I Prime: Battle Blades voyager or Wal-Mart deluxe ( maybe the japanese deco that comes with the G1 reissue ) BB Voyager is a great mold, and looks much better in robot mode, as well as being more accurate (it also has swords) Ironhide: HftD Deluxe or One of the many Voyagers ( specify which is the best IYO ) I'm not sure. HFTD is good if you choose Deluxe Ratchet and want the two in scale, but the Voyager from the first movie is good. If you choose him, definitely use the Premium version. It's awesome. I don't know how good the DOTM Voyager is. Ratchet: DotM Deluxe or movie 1 Voyager ( specify which deco si best ) I don't have the DOTM mold, but I've heard it's good. I suppose it could be a better choice, unless you really want him to be in scale with the other Autobots, in which case you should use Movie 1 Premium if you want Ratchet from Movie 1 and ROTF or the current Target exclusive if you want DOTM Ratchet Jazz: Movie 1 deluxe Use the Premium one if you can Bumblebee: Movie 1 concept deluxe, HftD Battle Blades, DotM Deluxe It's the best mold, and has fun features like a built-in gun and axe and a battle mask Megatron: DotM Voyager ( don't like his design from the other movies ) Starscream: RotF Voyager ( or one of his repaints ), or DotM Deluxe Better scale Brawl: Movie 1 Deluxe Leader is much better though Bonecrusher: Movie 1 Deluxe Blackout: Movie 1 Voyager, or RotF Grindor Blackout is more interestingly colored than Grindor, and was a more important character. If you can, however, I'd strongly recommend Premium Blackout. It's got much better looking paint. If you don't use Premium, you might want to get the Reprolabels to take care of the missing markings. Barricade: Movie 1 Deluxe, or DotM Deluxe I don't know. The DOTM Deluxe is better looking, but smaller. If you care more about individual looks, use DOTM. If scale matters more to you, use Movie 1. If you use Movie 1, the Premium version is way better. It has the missing vehicle mode markings, and the rear glass is painted. Scorponok: Movie 1 or RotF black redeco Much more accurate Movie II Skids: Deluxe The HA version is much better Mudflap: Deluxe Same as Skids Sideswipe: RotF Deluxe, HftD Sidearm, or DotM deluxe Use ROTF Deluxe if you like the vehicle mode better or can't stand the lack of paint on the DOTM Deluxe. Use the DOTM one if you prefer its vehicle mode and don't mind the plain look. HFTD is a great mold, but I can't stand the ugly red flames and red windshield. Arcee Triplets: Deluxes Jetfire: Leader? Too big... The scale is actually pretty good with everything else here; Blackbirds are huge planes Wheelie: Legends or Deluxe Better scale Commander Doomwheels: Voyager - Wide release or TRU Exclusive white I think the white one is more accurate to the version in Shanghai, and the red one is like the one that forms Devastator, and since you'd already have the red one for Devastator, I'd use the white one. Devastator: Legends or Supreme Better scale, unless you really want the Constructicons to be individual robots Long Haul: Voyager MixMaster: Voyager Rampage: Deluxe - Wide release or TRU Exclusive red Depends on which deco you like best. The yellow is kind of plain, but I don't like the yellow bits on the TRU one, which, aside from the few yellow parts, is much more accurate. Sideways: Deluxe I don't have them, but the Reprolabels for Sideways look awesome; you might want to look into those. Soundwave: DotM Deluxe The Fallen: Voyager or Robot Replicas ( since he didn't transform in the movie anyway ) Better scale Movie III Dino: Deluxe Q: Deluxe Leadfoot: Deluxe Topspin: Deluxe Roadbuster: Deluxe Brains: N/A Sentinel Prime: Voyager or Cyberverse Better scale, and much more detailed/better looking Crankcase: Deluxe Crowbar: deluxe or second crankcase if not released Hatchet: cyberverse, hopeful deluxe SUV mode, or kitbash Crankcase Assuming you can kitbash it or get someone else to do it, this would be best if there isn't an official one made
What if I throw out the scale question all together? What would be the best version of each character scale-be-damned? Kinda like G1.
I'm just going to suggest figures for the first 5 Autobots In-scale: Optimus-Ultimate Optimus without the armor Ironhide- I've heard the movie 1 voyager is good Ratchet-Target DoTM Voyager ratchet Jazz-deluxe movie 1 deluxe Jazz Bumblebee-there are tons of deluxe Bumblebees, but I've heard the Battle Blades one is good Or you could go the Cyberverse/Legends Route Out of scale Optimus-Jetwing Prime Ironhide-DoTM leader Ratchet-DoTM deluxe Bumblebee and Jazz-Human Alliance
Slightly off topic, but if you're looking for movie figures and wanting to rid of Classics style stuff, I've got quite a bit of movie 1 stuff that I really have no desire for, and would probably be interested in some of you Classics stuff if you're looking for some trade action.
Movie I Prime: none of them; ROTF Prime is the one to get (blades or hooks; your choice). A really great figure that is the best incarnation of movie-verse OP Has/Taktom has produced. Ironhide: Black Voyager Ironhide (I'm happy w/ the first release of him) Ratchet: Toss up really, but DOTM Ratchet is easier to get (get it soon; it's a Target exclusive) and has an updated deco. Jazz: Movie 1 deluxe Jazz Get the non-battle damaged one. It looks better in robot but you do get a less accurate weapon (not a big deal in my book). Bumblebee: HftD Battle Blades Tough choice; all three are pretty good molds. I'd go with HFTD Battle Blades because you get more bang for your buck with the visor and the blades. Megatron: DotM Voyager ( don't like his design from the other movies ) Starscream: RotF Voyager Best version of Screamer. I don't have the leader sized one though. Brawl: Movie 1 Deluxe The shoulders are fixed in the tan ROTF version. So it is a toss up between a show accurate one with shoulders that don't peg in well or a fixed one that is the wrong color. Personally the shoulder thing isn't that big of a deal to me. Bonecrusher: Movie 1 Deluxe—I'm sure you mean the tan one; there is a Jungle Bonecrusher that was released which is green. Blackout: Movie 1 Voyager, or RotF Grindor—Either one is fine. I prefer Grindor's color scheme over Blackout but Blackout is more movie accurate. Barricade: Movie 1 Deluxe, or DotM Deluxe Depends if you want Frenzy or not. DOTM is more movie accurate (except for the legs) though. Scorponok: Movie 1 or RotF black redeco—Skip. Really horrible toy. Get the legends version instead. Movie II Skids: Deluxe Mudflap: Deluxe Sideswipe: RotF Deluxe I don't have Sidearm SS but the paint job is nicer than the DOTM version. Arcee Triplets: Deluxes Jetfire: Leader? Too big... Too bad, it's a pretty nice figure. Get him if you decide to get Leader OP. Wheelie: Legends or Deluxe—Deluxe is too big IMO Commander Doomwheels: Voyager - Wide release or TRU Exclusive white Comes with Ice Cream twins that are a bit more show accurate. Devastator: Legends or Supreme Long Haul: Voyager Payload is also a good figure MixMaster: Voyager Rampage: Deluxe - Wide release yellow or TRU Exclusive red—Red is harder to find Sideways: Deluxe Soundwave: DotM Deluxe skip; a really horrible figure. Get the DOTM version instead. The Fallen: Voyager or Robot Replicas ( since he didn't transform in the movie anyway ) See if you can find the blue one with removable face mask. Movie III Dino: Deluxe Q: Deluxe Leadfoot: Deluxe Topspin: Deluxe Roadbuster: Deluxe Brains: N/A Sentinel Prime: Voyager or Cyberverse Leader if you can afford it. I don't have the others but Sentinel is a great figure (a bit of a steep learning curve at first but once you figure it out he's great). Crankcase: Deluxe—I hope they release a voyager sized one because the deluxe is too small IMO. Crowbar: deluxe or second crankcase if not released Hatchet: cyberverse, hopeful deluxe SUV mode, or kitbash Crankcase Even though I know some of the scale is still off (Starscream should be at least Leader sized for example) I'm pretty happy with my movie figures. The relative scale is close enough in real life and the leaders are leader sized so they have the bulk necessary to look right in both modes.
Yeah, I'm not getting why OP has no HAs on that list, particularly after the comment about liking realistic alts. For Barricade and Jazz at least, the HAs are hand's down the best versions of those characters in the movieverse. Skids and Mudflap as well, I'd say.
It's because HA are horribly out of scale with anything other than Leader Ironhide, and barely with leader Prime and Starscream. So I'd consider that group a line to itself and no where near large enough to get every character.
These would be my picks, they kinda have some scale to one another. Almost forgot you'll need DotM Voy. Shockwave.