RID is definitely the more unique of the 2 in my opinion, granted I take it less as a tease of something coming and more of an offhand comment that he prefers Prime as a first responder type in general.
I get that he's not your taste, and if it doesn't work for you then he just doesn't, but the G1 Skyquake's real-world inspiration was a weird-looking concept. I think the problem was they could have either kept Cyclonus' jets' sleek lines for a new Metalhawk interpretation -or- they could do a design faithful to JG1 Metalhawk's jet, but they couldn't do both. And since the last Metalhawk we got was a Triggerhappy redeco, they sided with trying to please the JG1 fans knowing MH would be sitting on home shelves next to Star Saber and the coming Deathsaurus. Maybe we'll get a look at a sleeker retool from Cyclonus if they decide to do Ferak in Selects or somewhere. --- And hey Hasbro Transformers designers, if any of you guys are reading this, how about those possible retools/redecos from Evolution Beachcomber? I mean sure, there's going to be the usual suggestions, but consider this: why not retool him into a deluxe Bumblebee AWE Striker homage for the Buzzworthy line? C'mon, it'd sell, and just imagine the look on the Joe team's faces when your little deluxe is a much better toy than than the one they designed? OK, if that isn't sellable to the folks in Marketing, consider an AWE Striker homage 'Bee from the upcoming G1-Sandstorm-we-don't-is-coming sandrail/buggy alt? And the copter alt could even be a neat homage to the G.I.Joe Tomahawk. There, think how much you'd show the Joe team up if you pulled that off.
If he meant it as any kind of hint at all it was probably for the Animated Optimus leaked for 2024. That makes sense, but if they wanted to go with a more traditional jet mode then they should've based him on a different mold that could actually pull it off. The same amount of retooling on either Armada Starscream or Jhiaxus would've given us a much better overall figure even if the robot mode wouldn't have been quite as G1-accurate.
If it was one of the preorders from before they took it down, it was listed as a February release. Pretty sure that was in error and probably won’t be out this month.
Preternia reporting this too. https://twitter.com/preterniadotcom/status/1620868906046083072?s=46&t=cjUM7LrhfQUpeA6A1jRtEg
Yeah, I can see that. RID would be quite amazing in the current Legacy style. We'd lose the electronics, but they're honestly not necessary. I only used them when combining with Ultra Magnus because you were forced to when you attached the weapon and it would automatically go off. I'm fine with a silent, but deadly ...poor word choice... RID Prime. & & JTPrime said they've been in port at the US for a while, now. They're in the States. It's not uncommon for BBTS to say April, but actually get them in sooner. The original preorders said February, but I'm absolutely certain they're coming in any day now and we'll be hit for 'em. And I'm okay with that, I needs me some of that plastic magic that is Metalhawk. YEEEEEAH BOI! DOH! That's right. -_- I keep forgetting about Animated anything at this point. I know, Prowl was in the live stream but he's an absolute nothing for me.
Also, Pulse is usually last, and they have been up to a month early getting stuff in based on their ETA's. So their May stuff could come in April, and the June stuff in April or May. Tarn was more than a month early compared to their original ETA.
Evo Wave 1 arriving in January was on track though. They always put a couple month buffer on release dates to accommodate for shipping issues. Like last year with all those shipping issues happening they revealed Legacy Wave 1 in October but they had release dates in July yet eventually released in April. The first wave of the year pretty much always aims to release in January, the next in April, then July, and followed by October. Basically as long as a wave releases some time in their quarter they are on track.
Retail is where I found mine. Target. They're popping up here and there for the upcoming reset which should be done any day now. This is true. It's not unheard of for them to receive products early. Just unheard of in recent years. lol (They've gotten better, recently.) Pulse is a conundrum. Most things are late, in general, but lately they've been close to retail and sometimes beat their partners. (Walgreens, for example.) Neither did I. Learnt me somethin' today.
