First Look at Premium Finish SS Ratchet and WFC Starscream

Meh. Bad pictures, but I can't see ever shelling out the extra funds for these.

WHAT. IS. THE. DIFFERENCE.
But seriously, I know that if I took a side-by-side look from the original vs these I’d find something, as will likely everyone who responds to this lol, but the fact that I can only notice a lack of battle damage on Starscream as the only difference here really agitates me. Especially since they're charging almost TWICE as much for these. With each new reveal, I’m progressively shocked at the poor choices they make for figures to repaint, and the incredibly mediocre job they do. And none of this would even bother me in the least if they weren’t charging SO much for these. I keep thinking there’s some sort of catch to these things.

Ratchet looks alright, the new base color is good and I’m curious what details they added to alt mode. I missed out on 07 Ratchet’s original release so I may have to pick this one up!

Will still definitely need some paint work though xD

If the 2007 Megatron is even more gloriously shiny, I'll get that.

The rest, however, are a hands-raised cash grab. What would've been better for us and easier for Hasbro/Takara would be a "Generations Best Of" subline where they straight-up re-released recent figures that had short production runs. No reworking, no price-hike.

Can't speak for anywhere else, but in the UK if you don't secure a pre-order, odds are you ain't getting one.

jtanimator wrote:WHAT. IS. THE. DIFFERENCE.
But seriously, I know that if I took a side-by-side look from the original vs these I’d find something, as will likely everyone who responds to this lol, but the fact that I can only notice a lack of battle damage on Starscream as the only difference here really agitates me. Especially since they're charging almost TWICE as much for these. With each new reveal, I’m progressively shocked at the poor choices they make for figures to repaint, and the incredibly mediocre job they do. And none of this would even bother me in the least if they weren’t charging SO much for these. I keep thinking there’s some sort of catch to these things.

Don't see much difference for Starscream. But for Ratchet, it's pretty easy to see. The original one had very little paint, so he was just puke green all around. But here we see some detail, like his face.

I can't think about anything when all I have are a single blurry picture of Ratchet and Starscream.

I guess that Starscream will be an easy pass, but I'll keep an eye open for Ratchet.

"If any toy from the Transformers Studio Series line NEEDED A MAKEOVER, it was Ratchet."

Fixed it for you.

Anyway, both are an easy pass, especially SS, as I've got the Earthrise version (which hasn't got any cr@pple-damage paint on it).

Another sub-par, overpriced effort from Bakara.

Does anyone here remember when, price-be-damned, their repaints and efforts used to be good-to-amazing? They've really lost their way...

The original Ratchet was so bad I shelled out for MB-06 instead. I might get this but the backpack still bothers me.

Only obvious changes on Starscream is the red paint on the bottom tip of his wing which probably indicates some changes to his alt mode colors. Also looks like the stripe around his waist goes all the way along his side instead of just the front. His battle damage will be whatever he had on the Netflix series.

I plan on getting both of these. So far the only PF figure I haven't felt the need to order is SS Megatron, just don't care for that mold, but maybe I'll change my mind when people start getting them in hand and comparing.

Emerje

primalxconvoy wrote:Does anyone here remember when, price-be-damned, their repaints and efforts used to be good-to-amazing? They've really lost their way...

Maybe for some, but that SS Bug Bee is the best painted we will ever get for sure. Compared to the original, it's night and day. Not having the mold, and for only 15$CAN more than the regular release, it's like ordering the Henkei version from back then.

However, the prices on the voyagers and leader are absurd.

The only thing I would want from this line is a lighter violet Shockwave. I don't really like the super dark purple. But judging from all the other releases, there won't be much difference.

-Kanrabat- wrote:

primalxconvoy wrote:Does anyone here remember when, price-be-damned, their repaints and efforts used to be good-to-amazing? They've really lost their way...

Maybe for some, but that SS Bug Bee is the best painted we will ever get for sure. Compared to the original, it's night and day. Not having the mold, and for only 15$CAN more than the regular release, it's like ordering the Henkei version from back then.

However, the prices on the voyagers and leader are absurd.

I suppose officially, and at a CHUG scale, but wasn't there an OSKO version painted to a (higher) quality?

Are we sure that's really even a photo of Premium Finish Starscream? If so, then he's a complete and total worthless waste of HasTak's money and the factory workers' labor to make, and a waste of our money to buy. I can't make out any deco detail improvements of note, not even something basic like painting side edge stripes on the robot mode side of the wings.

Looks blurry. Hold on, let me put on my glasses. Nope. Still blurry.

Ratchets figure was too small for me in the first place.

Starscream has a bit too much greebling to have detailed or paint enhancements, I decided I didn't need more of that mold and didn't get the rainbow trio so it's gonna be the same for repaints.

This new ratchet brings up an interesting question, Which premium version has been the best?

The 2007 Best Buy Premium Voyager Ratchet?


Transformers (2007) Premium Ratchet (Best Buy) Gallery

The DotM Deluxe Movie the Best Ratchet


Or will this one dethrone them as the best representation of Movie Ratchet?

Overcracker wrote:This new ratchet brings up an interesting question, Which premium version has been the best?

Studio Series is definitely the best of them mold-wise IMO, though the deco is more arguable. The MTB and SS Premium go for a paler, flat green which lines up with the Prime 1 Studios statue, but looking at screenshots from the movie, the Best Buy might be closer to the actual on-screen color.

If you want what will likely be the perfect version of Studio Series Ratchet then the Premium Finish line (lines?) has you covered. And if you want an even dirtier version of Siege Starscream for some reason then they've got you covered there, too.

PF SS-04 Ratchet right off tones down the day glow green of the original release and gives us a much more accurate yellow-green. And the new paint work on the head pulls out all the right details in his face that the blob of gray paint from the original figure never could. The rest of the new paint details throughout his body make this almost look like a new mold. The rescue truck mode isn't so bad itself adding extra touches of silver to the top and wheels and sharpening up the tampographs on the sides. This will be a must have for many Studio Series collectors.

PF WFC-04 Starscream is, as expected, not much different from the original Siege figure, just with a lot more grit and wear. The figures don't share any of the same "damage", but the new version has a lot more of it, especially in the Tetra Jet mode, which was already quite a bit. only real obvious pallet change is the red used appears to be a little paler and his face is now gray instead of silver. Outside of that there's a little extra red on his lover wing tip and his "belt" now goes around his sides instead of just the front. For most this will be an easy pass.

Both figures are due out in January 2022 and will be available outside of Japan through Hasbro Pulse and many of the site sponsors you see on this very page.


















Original stock photos for comparison:




















Original stock photos for comparison:

That Ratchet is LEAGUES above the original. I'll consider him.

As for Starscream, look like he was on the wrong end of a bukkake fest.

Premium Ratchet is a HUGE improvement in alt mode. A few touch-ups I’d have to add, but not bad. I’d like to pick it up, these are available on Pulse, right?

EvasionModeBumblebee wrote:Premium Ratchet is a HUGE improvement in alt mode. A few touch-ups I’d have to add, but not bad. I’d like to pick it up, these are available on Pulse, right?

Yes, usually a day or two after Japan.

Emerje

That Ratchet may be the first Premium figure I buy. Bumblebee is a second option and maybe Siege Optimus in spite me not liking the show. I'll preorder Ratchet and hope Bumblebee pops up as well

Outside of that there's a little extra red on his lover wing tip...

His lover wing tip, eh? Do we want to know what that looks like...?

with all the sculpted details on the siege molds, all that starscream would have needed would have been a simple wash to make those details pop. kind of a wasted opportunity. but that ratchet.... oh I might need him.

Does anyone know if they're planning on applying this premium finish to all of the previously released figures?

First thing that popped to mind is a premium finish SS Devastator

Starscream still looks like dogsh*t. It seems that Bakara hasn't learnt from fan-feedback that cr@pple-damage is NOT wanted for re-releases (by either those who already bought the original, or those who wanted a clean version).

transformers_va wrote:Does anyone know if they're planning on applying this premium finish to all of the previously released figures?

First thing that popped to mind is a premium finish SS Devastator

Unfortunately there are only two more figures from each premium line (For SS it’s rumored to be SS-32 Prime and Jetfire) from what we know so far. Maybe there will be more waves in the future, but that’s all we know about for now.

I’m impressed with Ratchet, so I’d really like to see them tackle figures like ROTF Starscream that I missed out on at retail.

Ratchet looks a LOT better. Shame the figure still has the backpack, but even so, that's a huge improvement. Starscream though, eh. I'm quite happy with the Siege version.

EvasionModeBumblebee wrote:Unfortunately there are only two more figures from each premium line (For SS it’s rumored to be SS-32 Prime and Jetfire) from what we know so far. Maybe there will be more waves in the future, but that’s all we know about for now.

Cool, thank you!

I'd definitely be happy with Premium Finish Jetfire! Whilst not too happy with the character in the movie, I do enjoy the alt-mode (SR-71s are just cool)

EvasionModeBumblebee wrote:Unfortunately there are only two more figures from each premium line (For SS it’s rumored to be SS-32 Prime and Jetfire) from what we know so far. Maybe there will be more waves in the future, but that’s all we know about for now.

How accurate is that list you're talking about? I've seen some say SS-06 is Shockwave, but also said SS-02 could be a Camaro Bee while also saying WFC 04 would be Soundwave. All seems like guessing to me, those super dark and grainy teasers were barely decipherable. If SS Jetfire is coming I'll be curious what kind of wizardry they put on him because that was already a great looking figure.

Emerje

If they ever make a WFC Soundwave, I wonder if it would be the Siege version or the Netflix version? Will it come with both Ravage and Lazerbeak? Will the paint job be a bukkake of grime like for Starscream?

-Kanrabat- wrote:If they ever make a WFC Soundwave, I wonder if it would be the Siege version or the Netflix version? Will it come with both Ravage and Lazerbeak? Will the paint job be a bukkake of grime like for Starscream?

Siege for sure, most likely no tapes, but it'd be the NetFlix tapes if he did, and yes.

Emerje

Ratchet looks really sharp. And he still reminds me I need the DotM Ratchet still too

The Takara Premium Finish figures are out, some for a little while and others just a few days ago. So, we have video reviews for four of them now. Seibertron Japan correspondent MattinJapan gave us his review for Megatron which just came out (yay more of that Siege mold!) which gave us the idea to do this roundup. These reviews give us a good idea at the deco, which is what this line is all about. We also have reviews from Ultrazilla, PvP and Gavinstoycupboard. Enjoy them and let us know if you'll get any of these. If you do want them, they are all available at various online importers, like bigbadtoystore.

About time we got something for this line. I can't believe they haven't revealed the rest of the line yet

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:About time we got something for this line. I can't believe they haven't revealed the rest of the line yet

Depending on how these overpriced things sell, the line may be cut short.

The film versions look ok, but there are (oversized) KOs that have come out with better paint jobs, so these official versions are really TLTL. I'm not sure if BB has been released with better paint, but the overall "extra" paint still doesn't seem detailed enough to warrant an extra purchase if I've got the original.

The WFC figures look even worse than before and I'll be sticking with the slightly oversized, but vastly superior KO versions (which, ironically, have less paint apps than the originals, thanks to the lack of cr@pple-damage paint apps).

TT really are out of touch with their roots here. They used to release gorgeous metallic, matte-painted, chromed, glossy or want other type of "premium" finish, but all of these just like either "meh" or awful.

primalxconvoy wrote:TT really are out of touch with their roots here. They used to release gorgeous metallic, matte-painted, chromed, glossy or want other type of "premium" finish, but all of these just like either "meh" or awful.

I agree so much here.

For me a PREMIUM paint job for an official WFC toy is not one with a worse bukkake than the original.id pay extra for chrome metallics but not this.

This release just seems redundant with the Netflix Megatrons out there. And I don't understand the halftone damage pattern. Although I'd be interested to see a direct comparison between the two.

Gauntlet101010 wrote:This release just seems redundant with the Netflix Megatrons out there. And I don't understand the halftone damage pattern. Although I'd be interested to see a direct comparison between the two.

Did Takara get that Netflix one? Because these premium finish toys are made for the Japanese market.

william-james88 wrote:

Gauntlet101010 wrote:This release just seems redundant with the Netflix Megatrons out there. And I don't understand the halftone damage pattern. Although I'd be interested to see a direct comparison between the two.

Did Takara get that Netflix one? Because these premium finish toys are made for the Japanese market.

They got all the Netflixes.

Guess they don't have enough Megs.

LOL

I seriously wonder what was the point of that overpriced Megatron when there's similar options in the Netflix line. TWICE. Both available for the Japanese market.

-Kanrabat- wrote:I seriously wonder what was the point of that overpriced Megatron when there's similar options in the Netflix line. TWICE. Both available for the Japanese market.

I wonder, are those Hasbro "imports" produced in lower quantities than TakaraTomy originals?

Jelze Bunnycat wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:I seriously wonder what was the point of that overpriced Megatron when there's similar options in the Netflix line. TWICE. Both available for the Japanese market.

I wonder, are those Hasbro "imports" produced in lower quantities than TakaraTomy originals?

The Hasbro imports are part of the same batch as Takaratomy originals.

I've started hearing more that the line was cancelled at 4 each SS and WFC. shame, i was actually looking forward to seeing what Jetfire Prime would look like in premium, but the others kinda really let me down for the most part, so maybe it's best I just imagine what could have been

PvP has shown that Meg's paint up close.

All of my wat.



Newspaper print.

I'm very glad to have gotten the first Netflix Megs with his red babies.

-Kanrabat- wrote:PvP has shown that Meg's paint up close.

All of my wat.



Newspaper print.

I'm very glad to have gotten the first Netflix Megs with his red babies.

OMG! Dot Matrix printer!

First-Aid wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:PvP has shown that Meg's paint up close.

All of my wat.



Newspaper print.

I'm very glad to have gotten the first Netflix Megs with his red babies.

OMG! Dot Matrix printer!

Hasbro uses the same dot matrix stuff on Studio Series toys to convey rust, nobody complained (aside from me).

Also we did post a review of that Megs December 9th. I guess it didn't have enough swear words to get people's attention.