stratosphere pictorial review

Discussion in 'Transformers Feedback & Reviews' started by ckhtiger, Jun 12, 2009.

  1. ckhtiger

    ckhtiger old skool fool

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    hi folks, this is my first photo review, so please be kind! anyway, I really like this figure, but different pictures have shown him in a less than positive light, so I wanted to share with everyone how awesome he is. I guess I'll start with the alt. mode first.

    he's a cargo jet with a good amount of detail molded in. some nice paint apps on the canopy and tail, and "C.G.R.D 6-77" printed underneath the front windows. I'm not sure what that means. the vertical fins on the tail can tilt inward and outward, and the back fin supports pivot downward to make the cargo hatch spring open. the little optimus stores in there, and as the door opens, he comes rolling out! very neat. the wheels on the side of the plane also have a cover that closes, making the jet more streamlined when in the air. a very kibble-free design.

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    I decided to use g1 jetfire as my comparison figure. they're surprisingly close in size:

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    here's the little micromaster-sized prime that he comes with. I hadn't noticed it until taking the pictures, but half of his grille is off-color. I'll have to paint that later.

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    another thing that I like about this figure is its easy, but not say, universe silverbolt easy, transformation. the instructions make it painful, but he can actually be transformed in about a minute. you start off by unclipping the bottom from the top, and then the feet pivot down and then out. that was the most difficult part for me to figure out because of the way the instructions are, and the tightness of the joints. after that, you pretty much just stand him up, swing his arms out, which splits the nosecone, snap him in place, and you're done!

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    ok, now for the good stuff, robot mode. I like him standing with his legs full extended, and his wings in a vertical position. it makes him very tall and lean. I also included the "official" leg transformation so that you can decide what you like better.

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    finally, a pic to show how he towers over his optimus buddy, and one to show his extreme ballet skills! I hope you've all liked my review, I'd appreciate any comments.

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    *edit* here are the requested pics. stratosphere WILL stand on his toes, it's just that the ankle joint isn't meant to hold in that position, so it's not very stable. I also don't think it looks very good.

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    here he is with his buds bumblebee and ironhide:

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    and much to my surprise, not only is the cargo bay too small for wst prime, it's just too small for the non-transforming prime cab that came with the soap bubbles. all that is in the way with that one is the tips of the smokestacks. here's pics that also show the size difference of the little guys:

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  2. MidnightBliss

    MidnightBliss Well-Known Member

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    That is a lot of backpack! I actually like kibble so....this is great. He looks good. I'll keep an eye out for him.
     
  3. Autobot Burnout

    Autobot Burnout Que Sera, Sera

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    Hmmm...He looks okay, but can his feet be configured to that they look more like feet and less like boatshoes?
     
  4. Shin Densetsu

    Shin Densetsu I WILL DESTROY YOU Content Contributor Veteran

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    Not a bad figure, I like it, miss the space shuttle gun. It would have been cool to have weapons, his bio describes him as having weaponry. The engineering is very impressive. Fun to pose as if the mini-Prime is Stratosphere's action figure to play with.
     

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  5. ckhtiger

    ckhtiger old skool fool

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    nope, the feet are one big piece of un-jointed plastic.
     
  6. Autobot Burnout

    Autobot Burnout Que Sera, Sera

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    Well, what I mean is can you take the boatshoes, fold them up so the bottom of the "feet" becomes the front of his legs, and simply stand the figure up that way? The boat shoes are what kills the toy for me, as I can't see a giant TF with feet like THAT (I also hate Energon Cliffjumper's mold BECAUSE of a similar reason)
     
  7. clonemanager

    clonemanager Hunter

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    Appreciated for every effort to take these pictures.

    Indeed.. I wouldn't buy this ... speaking of cargo plane transformers; I think this is one of the worst ever made. I like my Cybertron Jetfire much better... although it has its own faults...

    Stratosphere's long skinny legs really turn me off.. and the skiing boots...
     
  8. Zherbus

    Zherbus In Shogo Hasui, we trust.

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    Yeah, I saw him at Toys R Us and would have nabbed him except for the feet make me remember that I don't need to buy everything.

    Great pictorial review though, it's just not an appealing figure from the waist down.
     
  9. ErechOveraker

    ErechOveraker I'm with Plowking.

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    Oddly, the lack of little space shuttle gun is what made me not want to get this. That big glaring whale hole on the top there will just always remind me what was supposed to be there too.

    Cool pics though man, thanks.
     
  10. jorod74

    jorod74 Psycholagnist (Ret.)

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    Damn, gonna wind up getting him and doing what i will with Leader Jetfire- leave him in alt mode.
    Great pics and the use of G1 Jetfire helped with scale.
    nice job.
     
  11. Mechafire

    Mechafire Abyss Watcher Moderator News Staff

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    Just got this guy.

    If you can accept the feet, I can guarantee you will love this figure.

    I'm surprised, I thought this was going to be a shitty figure, but to my surprise, I actually really like him.
     
  12. Sage o' G-fruit

    Sage o' G-fruit Critics gonna critique

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    Loving this guy, but man, that Prime is ugly.

    Is anyone else going to use him as Movie Omega Supreme?
     
  13. microclone

    microclone Well-Known Member

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    a rather bizzare Tf and one that could have almost come from the same skool as sky lynx

    ckhtiger, good photos BTW.
     
  14. col

    col Artobot

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    Thanks for the review! Could you take a few photos of him in robot mode with some other ROTF figures?
     
  15. ckhtiger

    ckhtiger old skool fool

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    ok, I'm looking for photo requests now, if I'm gonna take some more pics. so far I've got them for pics standing on his tippy-toes and with other rotf figures. any other requests? I'll wait a few days before going at it again.
     
  16. My03Tundra

    My03Tundra LOVES TO EDIT POSTS!!

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    Wow. I just picked up Stratosphere and color me impressed! I was a bit on the fence with him, but with TRU's sale with him at $18 I picked him up. In vehicle mode he has NO robot kibble which is very nice. His transformation (as described) is pretty easy but still is fun.

    His robot mode, in the movie, would be as tall if not taller (with wings up) then Devastator. As I see him, he'd be like Omega Supreme and be the big muscle that could go toe-to-toe with the big guy. Or, he'd just be the flying muscle who'd carry most of the guys to where they wanted to go.

    As for the "boat" shoes I think of it like this. If you were a honkin' big transformer who could transform at high rates of speed, wouldn't you want something big and stable to land on?
     
    Last edited: Jun 14, 2009
  17. Spoon

    Spoon Banned

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    If I get him, in my little personal TF canon, he will fulfill a similar role.
     
  18. Lumpy

    Lumpy Taylor Swift Action Master Super Mod

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    yeah...the shuttle woulda been an awesome feature...my cousin just picked him up and likes him alot, so i may get him at some point in the future, but i'll probably wait for a sale, or a cool recolor...using him like omega supreme is a good idea though...
     
  19. zephon

    zephon Well-Known Member

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    thanks for the pics!

    Has anyone tried using a WST G1 Optimus in the cargo bay instead of the movie Prime he came with?
     
  20. col

    col Artobot

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    Could someone take some photos of him in robot mode next to other ROTF figures? Thanks!