Yes! Gorgeous set of figures!

 

It almost feels surplus to requirements to talk about the Classics seeker mould. Ever since its first release back in 2006 it became a mainstay of almost every collection, repeated and redeco'd a dozen times until most of us could transform it in our sleep. Still, to further hoik up my hipster-cred I can say that Acid Storm is the one and only version of the Classics seeker I've ever owned.

I suppose I was a little resistant at the time. I'd sort of bought in on the Robot Masters seekers, having picked up the Skywarp/Thundercracker double pack a couple of years previously, and at the time I seemed to think that the new version was comparatively blocky and unwieldy. I mean, I wasn't wrong, but considering how utterly ugly and immobile the Robot Masters version was, this was still an improvement. Sure, the limited possibility of Acid Storm and his brethren is an issue, especially a good decade later, but the Robot Masters seekers could barely move at all.

On paper, Acid Storm's articulation is fine. Head, shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, all the hits. But each one is hampered in some way, stopping him from taking anything more than a few very basic poses. It's pretty lucky then that he looks plenty intimidating just stood up straight.

Transformation is a doddle, and let's be honest, most of us can do this one with our eyes closed. The resulting F-15 is... well, it's fine. Not great, just fine. There's no cheating and faux-parts at least, the chest cockpit is the real cockpit, the intakes are the same bits as the robot shoulders, but all in all there's something unexciting about the jet mode.

Except. Oh, except except except. Y'see, the young'uns hereabouts won't remember just how much furore there was when Acid Storm hit the shelves... and Thundercracker didn't. In their infinite lack of wisdom, the higher-ups at Hasbro didn't put much stock in people wanting to complete the original seeker trio, and were happy to throw Thundercracks out as a convention exclusive. If you weren't one of the 1500 people to have bought one at Botcon 2007, you'd have to make do with C-lister Acid Storm instead. Oh, the wailing and gnashing of teeth was palpable my friends.

(for a couple of years, before Thundercracker was included in Generations)

Thing is, Acid Storm looks great. I'd argue that he's never looked as good since this toy, with his muted camo deco with cheery buttery-yellow highlights. Every other version has played up his colours to an eye-searing brightness, and it just comes off as trying too hard. Here Acid Storm looks smart, combat ready and easy to fit in alongside a team of his peers. Hipster it might have been to sniff at the mainstream seekers in favour of "I was into him before he was cool" Acid Storm, I can't ever regret my purchase, because in all honesty this is one of the best decos this mould has seen in its long and illustrious life. Now that the Siege seekers have well and truly put this venerable mould out to pasture, it's nice to reflect on what has been a reliable old workhorse for a good 12 years by celebrating it at it's best.

 

Inspecting the troops...

 

Ahh yes, the days when Classic G1 inspired robots transformed into alt modes that resembled actual earth vehicles. Glad Siege made the Seekers robots bigger than the car robots but I miss these alt modes

 

Me too

 

Found some long sought-after gems at a local toy resale store!

 

So this is another nod to IDW, as the idea that these three ever had anything to do with each other before that was pure rot, but I love that Titans Return gave us these three 'Phase Sixer' bots.

 

Managed to get a Golden Lagòon Beachcomber (on his own, without Perceptor and Seaspray) for a good price.

He's one shiny hippie.

 

someone only wanted half of this pack thing, so picked him up at a sweet price

 

when good product is driven by great fiction    

 

I thought it would be fun to compare various "minicon" sized figures from across various lines. Really, they all work pretty well together. Now to get ahold of some arms microns....

 

Optimus Prime with his key staff.


Battle couple


Best buds

 

Swoop is the only approachable Dinobot.

 

You still fight for the weak! That is why you lose!

 

Standing on the shoulders of giants...

 

Make T30 Springer "Sprinter", Springer's brother.

 

let's take a moment to look back and give thanks and praise to the wonder that was Titans Return Gnaw. What a thoroughly unexpected but deeply satisfying little stud!

 

IT'HHH A TTTTHHHHHOMBIE!
"I just can't! Not to him. Not to Impactor!"
From 'Legion of the Lost', TF:UK#166