Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron

Wednesday, June 27th, 2018 11:43PM CDT

Categories: Movie Related News, Toy News, Reviews
Posted by: william-james88 Views: 37,376

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This toy has been found in the US for a few weeks now but has yet to reach saturation. And while there are several video reviews out there for this bad boy, there are several aspects of his that I wanted to address since they took me a bit by surprise.

Firstly, people have been saying from day one that he was a BIG voyager. But I was always curious about how big he really was, since he is often paired up with Studio Series Optimus, who is the smallest voyager Optimus Prime figure we have ever gotten so far (for any line). Well it turns out he is indeed big. He dwarfs the previous Revenge of the Fallen Megatron mold, as well as any voyager movie mold I paired him with. He is even a head taller than Power of the Primes Hun Gurrr who is himself a decently sized voyager (as are any voyagers from the Prime Wars Trilogy).

So that's a major plus. He does look better than the previous ROTF voyager not only thanks to the lack of a backpack but also since he can pose better and stand more upright. His left "hand" is actually split so the elongated fingers don't have to be oriented the same way all the time.

Also, while he does not have the great paint job of the movie the best version (which is next to him in the previous images) his paint job is serviceable. I like the highlights they make in a gunmetal grey as well as the gold on the chest. The legs are beautifully painted too. Basically, it looks good... from the front.

And that is where the main problem lies. This toy being so big comes at the cost of him being hollow. Now that transformation scheme can work and it has given us some incredible transformations before, like Prime First Edition Bulkhead. But here it is quite easy to see thanks to the gaping hole on his side.

The other problem with viewing from he side is the head. He seems to have no neck if you lay the head flat against the body but while you can stretch it up, it ends up looking odd at the sides.

He also ends up feeling very light. Now that is partly due to some of the plastic used. I hear the expression "feels like a KO" thrown around a lot and most of the time, it is undeserving. This figure as a whole does not feel like a KO (a lot of work went into this guy), but some of the plastic used is the very rigid yet light plastic we find on cheap KOs (like the oversized Prime Abominus toys). It isn't used a lot, but we can see it mainly on the biceps with the big mushroom peg. It's the kind of plastic that leaves a big seam to show the separate mold halves.

Speaking of pegs an biceps, there is one aspect of this toy that is really odd and it's the right shoulder joint. Now most toys have the bicep move along the shoulder, but here the shoulder separates in half so you end up seeing the toy's innards when moving the shoulder for any pose you might want to do. Only happens on the right side with the left side being more traditional.

My other gripe is the feet, they are just a mess. Both the right and left side have some obvious kibble hanging there. The panels do not look at all like the are a part of the foot, they just look like there was nowhere else to put them, which is too bad because there could have been some decent integration if they could peg and be more flush with the rest of the foot.

The Transformation to alt mode is more complex than I would have imagined for a toy which just looks like a pile of scrap on alt mode. I would have called the transformation fun if pieces didn't easily pop off. The reverse kneecaps (so in the back of the leg) come off easily. So much so that I lost one of them and have been doing this whole review with only one of them. Bet you didn't notice! There is also an issue with the panels that cover the thighs. They hold fine but because the movable hinge they are stuck to offers ridiculous resistance, they will also pop off when transforming.

In alt mode, the toy is fine. It looks incredibly different from the voyager. It has a completely different shape where instead of being on the wide side, it is on the long side, closer to the recent live action Batmobile. Definitely sleeker than before. There are no wings of any kind, which I am told is not accurate to what we see in the film and that turns out to be true.

But honestly, I don't care. The robot mode is far more iconic to the film than the alt mode is, and if I had to freeze frame a clip just to make sure it was inaccurate I think its safe to say that it is not something I would have known off hand. My bigger issue is the giant claw hand sticks out in the back so it looks like this tank has a bad case of hemorrhoids. I will say that the original ROTF voyager Megatron mold rolls much better than this one. Maybe I have the treads misaligned but mine does not roll at all. In the end, I like this sleeker tank and I really like those twin guns it has at the side.

I do like this toy even though I never liked the alt mode but I do wish pieces did not fall off. The robot mode is awesome enough, just don't turn it to the side.

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Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1967318)
Posted by Cyrano on June 28th, 2018 @ 12:37am CDT

Thanks for putting in the effort to do this, I always get a lot more out of photo reviews than video. This guy seems pretty competently done overall and is certainly a better film likeness than the previous efforts, but for once I don't think that's an advantage. I find the old green crabtank voyager a lot more interesting and satisfying, almost charming. The face on that one is pretty hard to beat. All the same, I'm really glad that this exists for those that have pined for a film accurate version.

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1967349)
Posted by -Kanrabat- on June 28th, 2018 @ 4:31am CDT

Now if only my Laval TrU would bother getting new stock....

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1967350)
Posted by Bucky on June 28th, 2018 @ 4:52am CDT

Don’t know how long they’ll last, but SS Brawl and Megatron are both on Amazon for regular retail price of $29.99 each, with release dates for July 3rd and 5th respectively.

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1967375)
Posted by Carnivius_Prime on June 28th, 2018 @ 9:29am CDT

Had Megatron for weeks now and I really enjoy it. Heck, I barely even notice the hollowness anymore (I sometimes have the guns positioned downwards under the arms anyways and there's many other TF figures that are somewhat hollow from the sides... many movie Bumblebees tend to be) and never even noticed any issue with the neck or feet that you point out. The only thing that does bug me about the feet is the little grey wheels used for rolling in tank mode. I'll probably paint them black sometime soon so they ain't as noticable. The rear knee pieces had come off a couple times when I first got him but they were easily fixed. I really like the tank mode too. Definitely one of my fave non-realistic tank forms of any TF. Overall I found this figure to be a lot of fun.

Would have been nice to have the metallic paintjob but I guess it couldn't fit in the figure's allocated budget like it did for little Jazz.

(that Hun-grr looks kinda bad... though I had the old G1 figure and suppose that's what an update would probably look like but he was never a particularly good looking design in either mode. The Terrorcons in general were ugly things so I never bothered to get the rest of the team at the time. That Drift reminds me how random and bizarre making him a triple changer was cos no toy can seemingly reproduce it all in one)

Studio Series Optimus, who is the smallest voyager Optimus Prime figure we have ever gotten so far (for any line).

I got a DotM Voyager Optimus Prime in charity shop a couple weeks ago and he's a tiny smidge shorter than Studio Prime and noticablly smaller in the torso (really odd proportions...I don't know what they were thinking with that one).

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1967442)
Posted by CobraKai on June 28th, 2018 @ 3:59pm CDT

Great pictorial review. I agree this is much better than a 30-40 minute video of you tubers listening to themselves talk. More please.

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1967490)
Posted by Hip-Hoptimus Rime on June 28th, 2018 @ 10:16pm CDT

I just got SS Brawl from a fellow collector. I wasn't going to buy him, but he was cheap. Glad I did, because he's really pretty cool.

Blows away the Deluxe, for sure. Some say he's better than the Leader. I have to disagree, but the SS is pretty cool all around.

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1967496)
Posted by william-james88 on June 28th, 2018 @ 10:51pm CDT

Cyrano wrote:Thanks for putting in the effort to do this, I always get a lot more out of photo reviews than video.

CobraKai wrote:Great pictorial review. I agree this is much better than a 30-40 minute video of you tubers listening to themselves talk. More please.

This is very kind of you. I do these because I myself much preffer pictorial reviews. And I dont see them around much anymore. I ony do them when I have something to say for a new product and this year Canada hasnt gotten stuff first so I am usually too late to the party. Wasnt sure if Megatron was too late or not. Would you guys like me to do Brawl?

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1967501)
Posted by Hellscream9999 on June 28th, 2018 @ 11:14pm CDT

william-james88 wrote:Would you guys like me to do Brawl?

Yes

I will read any figure you review

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1967502)
Posted by william-james88 on June 28th, 2018 @ 11:25pm CDT

Hellscream9999 wrote:
william-james88 wrote:Would you guys like me to do Brawl?

Yes

I will read any figure you review

That is most kind, thank you.

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1967610)
Posted by galvatron00 on June 29th, 2018 @ 1:15pm CDT

@Carnivus Prime: Those videos you posted were awesome!! Subscribed to that channel now, thanks!

@WJ88: Excellent write up!! I suggest creating a thread of your own just for that. Go through all the bots ever, I'll read all of them!! ;)^

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1967633)
Posted by william-james88 on June 29th, 2018 @ 3:10pm CDT

itscramtastic wrote:@Carnivus Prime: Those videos you posted were awesome!! Subscribed to that channel now, thanks!

@WJ88: Excellent write up!! I suggest creating a thread of your own just for that. Go through all the bots ever, I'll read all of them!!

Thanks but its quite a bit of work and I dont have the time with my babies to take care of. So it will only be the one off here and there. Thanks for the encouragement though, I culd do more when I have the time.

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1967635)
Posted by galvatron00 on June 29th, 2018 @ 3:12pm CDT

william-james88 wrote:
itscramtastic wrote:@Carnivus Prime: Those videos you posted were awesome!! Subscribed to that channel now, thanks!

@WJ88: Excellent write up!! I suggest creating a thread of your own just for that. Go through all the bots ever, I'll read all of them!!
Thanks but its quite a bit of work and I dont have the time with my babies to take care of. So it will only be the one off here and there. Thanks for the encouragement though, I culd do more when I have the time.

Oh I totally get it, I'm just mentioning the audience is definitely there!

Also, Studio Series Starscream is my new favorite not Walmart MP Starscream Starscream figure. If that makes sense. :lol:

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1967683)
Posted by Carnivius_Prime on June 30th, 2018 @ 2:08am CDT

itscramtastic wrote:@Carnivus Prime: Those videos you posted were awesome!! Subscribed to that channel now, thanks!

They really are. I wish there were more but of course that kind of thing is extremely time-consuming and I'm amazed at the skill and patience of those that make them.

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1967700)
Posted by galvatron00 on June 30th, 2018 @ 7:24am CDT

Carnivius_Prime wrote:
itscramtastic wrote:@Carnivus Prime: Those videos you posted were awesome!! Subscribed to that channel now, thanks!
They really are. I wish there were more but of course that kind of thing is extremely time-consuming and I'm amazed at the skill and patience of those that make them.

It’s pretty wild. Stop motion is always awesome to me ;)^

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1967883)
Posted by Autobot Roadburn on July 1st, 2018 @ 3:53am CDT

BBTS just put up preorders for Studio Series Jazz and Lockdown for $22 apiece if anyone's interested! They've also had Brawl and Megatron up for a bit now.

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1968056)
Posted by william-james88 on July 2nd, 2018 @ 12:04am CDT

As with the previously reviewed Studio Series Megatron figure, this toy has been found for a little while in the US and other parts of the world. However, these wave 2 voyagers are seldom discussed and have yet to reach saturation. It seems people are on the fence, especially due to them being a heftier price tag in certain areas. I personally think Brawl is a great figure and thanks to some encouraging comments, I took some images to show you more of the figure in detail in this new pictorial review.

Brawl comes with two accessories that he can either hold in his hands or have tabbed to his sides.

While Megatron was one of the biggest voyagers we have ever gotten from Hasbro, Brawl is more average. This is by no means a negative, and below are several comparisons to show you where he would fit on a size chart for this line.

While Megatron did have a previous voyager class toy to compare him to, Brawl had a deluxe and a leader, but no voyager. While the deluxe was not a bad figure at the time, this feels like a completely different character almost. The backpack of the original deluxe is almost gone. It is a very impressive transformation especially since a the alt mode and robot mode do not share a lot o common detailing and yet we still get minimal kibble in either mode. I do prefer the head sculpt of the previous deluxe. While the new one may be more accurate, I did like the deluxe looked more streamlined, almost like what you would expect from a "classics" rendition of Brawl. Taking the transformation into effect, the deluxe basically becomes that in general by comparison.

He has great sculpting as well, in areas that probably would not need it regularly. It's like you can see the inner mechanical workings of the robot. The paint is well distributed as well and brings out some cool details. As with Megatron, some of the plastic used here does feel cheaper than the rest and with it being coloured green it really reminds me of that cheap army man plastic. We see it on the tank cannons and launchers.

Since a lot of the tank panels "disappear" in robot mode, a big struggle with Brawl in the past has been to collapse them somewhat. The leader went a little overboard with many panels overlaying themselves to the point of it looking a little ridiculous.

But this new voyager does it so efficiently, it feels like it is crazy for them to have ever been envisioned any other way.

His transformation may be the my favourite new Transformation from the Studio Series line. He is intuitive but has some fun tricks like the previously mentioned legs. It's impressive that the lean mean killing machine robot becomes such a brickish tank. I love how there is less of a visible head syndrome than the previous leader and deluxe. My only issue with the tank mode is that the hands are visible, but it seems more of a problem of execution than design since they part they create should not be elevated. Great looking tank though, especially thanks to the great paint job on the camo deco.

Comparisons to the deluxe.

And you can stick the accessories on the tank too.

My only issue is how odd the shoulders look when compared to the massive forearms, but I don't have that many issues, especially since that specific issue fades away when you start posing him. So, good looking tank, nice robot mode, fun and original transformation for a realistic tanks Transformers. I call this one a winner.

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1968060)
Posted by william-james88 on July 2nd, 2018 @ 12:10am CDT

Carnivius_Prime wrote:I got a DotM Voyager Optimus Prime in charity shop a couple weeks ago and he's a tiny smidge shorter than Studio Prime

NOPE

DOTM Voyager Prime is a small voyager, but not as short as SS Prime

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1968062)
Posted by ZeldaTheSwordsman on July 2nd, 2018 @ 12:18am CDT

Re: Megatron's tank mode and the wings... Basically, Josh Nizzi designed it with both a ground mode (which is what the Studio Series toy models) and a G1 Tracks-style flight mode with fold-out wings (these can be seen fairly clearly when Megatron flies to the Nemesis, and when he flies off after shooting Sam). However, careful watching of Megatron's transformation and driving after the foundry fight reveals that for whatever reason the ILM animators left the wings deployed even when rendering the tank driving on the ground. He definitely captures the look otherwise, does the best job of all of them at capturing the tank's proportions and includes the targeting sensors (the two smaller barrels) omitted by previous toys. He just doesn't have the retractable wings, which is a shame. I guess that was beyond either the price point limits or beyond the level of complexity they were willing to go for. Oh well. He's a gorgeous figure otherwise (I fall under the category of those who don't mind the torso gaps. Still want to see him photographed next to Cybertron Megatron or Galvatron, since that mold has a similar torso gap but still looks damn fine)

As for Studio Series Megs' big size... Has anyone stood him next to a Unicron Trilogy Voyager like Vector Prime? That'd be the real test.

And as for Studio Series Optimus being a small Voyager, is he smaller than Classics Voyager Optimus?

You can get a good look at Nizzi's designs and drafts for ROTF Megs here, if that helps:
http://www.joshnizzi.com/portfolio/tf2/

william-james88 wrote:
ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote: And AoE Drift isn't exactly much better. Thank gods for the TLK redesigns - I suspect the artists not wanting to be murdered in their beds by the toy designers was a factor there.

I dont get it, TLK Drift is far worse than AOE Drift. At least the toy designers were able to have his robo chest detail come from the actual front of the car. For TLK, they just said **** it and used nothing of the car, leaving it as a massive loose shell sticking out his backside.

I was referring to the movie design itself with Drift, not the toy designs. His TLK design seemed to have abandoned the helicopter mode and made his car kibble more prominent. I may have been imagining it, but even after checking pictures on the wiki it still seems that way to me. A shame it hasn't actually resulted in better toys... oh well.
At least Megatron's new decidedly-less-BS design has resulted in good toys for him.

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1968080)
Posted by Evil Eye on July 2nd, 2018 @ 3:47am CDT

Brawl looks good! I'll definitely get him if I can. I do still want the Deluxe/Small Brawl (Smol Brol?) even if I end up making a new, female head for the mold and having her as my OC Ironsides (AKA "Asuka as a Transformer with an even worse attitude and a really bad German accent).

I will say my singular complaint with him, from what I can see, is the lack of a rotating turret, though the fact the secondary turret can rotate is cool. Still, looks awesome and I do want him. Tanks are neat and it's always good to see more.

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1968094)
Posted by ZeroWolf on July 2nd, 2018 @ 4:52am CDT

If that would be your asuka...who would be your shinji?

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1968097)
Posted by Evil Eye on July 2nd, 2018 @ 4:56am CDT

ZeroWolf wrote:If that would be your asuka...who would be your shinji?

Probably Cybertron Shortround. Poor sap can't catch a break with women. :-(

...And now I want to headcanon Movie Overcast as a Rei expy. Cute but completely inscrutable (and also the mono-eye ties in nicely with Unit 00). In truth only wants love.

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1968099)
Posted by ZeroWolf on July 2nd, 2018 @ 5:05am CDT

Black Hat wrote:
ZeroWolf wrote:If that would be your asuka...who would be your shinji?

Probably Cybertron Shortround. Poor sap can't catch a break with women.

...And now I want to headcanon Movie Overcast as a Rei expy. Cute but completely inscrutable (and also the mono-eye ties in nicely with Unit 00). In truth only wants love.

Hah, love those choices, and that's more the sort of thinking I had when tf x Eva was announced...then all we got was MP 10 redecoed as unit 01.

Almost picked up ss starscream yesterday in symths but I just couldn't bring myself to pay £32 for it

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1968105)
Posted by -Kanrabat- on July 2nd, 2018 @ 5:41am CDT

Well, Will, this make me want Brawl all of a sudden. I had no interests before and I meh'd at the video reviews. However, seeing clear pictures for once convinced me. As for the visible hands in tank mode, they barely count. They look more like mechanical details than anything else. It's not conspicuous like ROTF voyager Starscream or FOC Jazz.

Now, if only my local TrU would bother having new Movie stuff...

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1968110)
Posted by Qwan on July 2nd, 2018 @ 6:25am CDT

Black Hat wrote:
ZeroWolf wrote:If that would be your asuka...who would be your shinji?

Probably Cybertron Shortround. Poor sap can't catch a break with women.

...And now I want to headcanon Movie Overcast as a Rei expy. Cute but completely inscrutable (and also the mono-eye ties in nicely with Unit 00). In truth only wants love.

Come on now guys, I'm trying not to spend even more money going back to pick up old toys :-(

Still not sold on Brawl, but Megatron remains very tempting. Thanks for the great review Will, I too am a big fan of pictorials over video!

ALSO! I finally grabbed Studio Series Blackout yesterday for... relatively cheap thanks to the Big W sale. He's not the best thing ever, but I can safely say I like him much more than I did Grimlock. The jury's still out on whether I like him or Starscream better, but I think it's probably still Screamer - Blackout's just giving him a run for his money right now thanks to New Toy Shine

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1968112)
Posted by Carnivius_Prime on July 2nd, 2018 @ 6:48am CDT

william-james88 wrote:
Carnivius_Prime wrote:I got a DotM Voyager Optimus Prime in charity shop a couple weeks ago and he's a tiny smidge shorter than Studio Prime

NOPE

DOTM Voyager Prime is a small voyager, but not as short as SS Prime

Weird i must have measured it wrong (or not transformed them properly) cos yeah now i do it again DotM is a tiny bit taller... either way, DotM Prime is a crappy version of him with ridiculously poor proportions with a tiny torso and overly long legs (with comically large feet from the side). People complained about Studio Prime's colour layout but I think that particular deco of that Evasion Prime mold looks much worse (even the regular version looked like a poor KO in terms of colour).

DSC_0492 (1).jpg

Added Classics Voyager G1 Prime cos was mentioned above.

Regarding Brawl... I will get him at some point, his design just never appealed to me as much as most of the others and the forearms and hands (I hate hands that are blocked off on one side of the hole by kibble. Hated that on Evasion Prime too come to think of it) on that toy do bug me a lot in robot mode. He certainly doesn't make me want him as much as Starscream and Megatron (both of those I leapt onto the purchase button as soon as I saw them for sale). Nice pics though.

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1968609)
Posted by Carnivius_Prime on July 4th, 2018 @ 7:54am CDT

i am so confused. i've had Studio Ratchet for a few months now and for some reason always thought his windows were painted on and used that as a negative when comparing him to previous ratchet figures and yet today when i was slicing his roof rack so it can fold with the roof and not have to drape down behind him i see that the windows are indeed transparent (if very dark) and now my whole concept of reality is shaken. They've always been transparent, right? :O

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1968624)
Posted by william-james88 on July 4th, 2018 @ 8:40am CDT

Carnivius_Prime wrote:i am so confused. i've had Studio Ratchet for a few months now and for some reason always thought his windows were painted on and used that as a negative when comparing him to previous ratchet figures and yet today when i was slicing his roof rack so it can fold with the roof and not have to drape down behind him i see that the windows are indeed transparent (if very dark) and now my whole concept of reality is shaken. They've always been transparent, right? :O

Yes. Crowbar is the only wave 1 deluxe to have painted windows.

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1968625)
Posted by Carnivius_Prime on July 4th, 2018 @ 8:44am CDT

william-james88 wrote:
Carnivius_Prime wrote:i am so confused. i've had Studio Ratchet for a few months now and for some reason always thought his windows were painted on and used that as a negative when comparing him to previous ratchet figures and yet today when i was slicing his roof rack so it can fold with the roof and not have to drape down behind him i see that the windows are indeed transparent (if very dark) and now my whole concept of reality is shaken. They've always been transparent, right? :O

Yes. Crowbar is the only wave 1 deluxe to have painted windows.

i'm an idiot

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1968675)
Posted by ZeldaTheSwordsman on July 4th, 2018 @ 2:04pm CDT

Carnivius_Prime wrote:
DSC_0492 (1).jpg

Added Classics Voyager G1 Prime cos was mentioned above.

Thanks. So yeah, he is one short Voyager considering that Classics Prime is on the short side for a Voyager himself:

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1968889)
Posted by Emerje on July 5th, 2018 @ 6:02pm CDT

Black Hat wrote:...And now I want to headcanon Movie Overcast as a Rei expy. Cute but completely inscrutable (and also the mono-eye ties in nicely with Unit 00). In truth only wants love.

Ah, see, I was thinking something completely different and Rei being movie Arcee for obvious reasons.

Really just need to buy a bunch of Chromias.

Emerje

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1969412)
Posted by william-james88 on July 7th, 2018 @ 11:36pm CDT

I bought Studio Series Jazz and Lockdown the other day and seeing as how there aren’t too many photos out there (if anyone has found them in the US please let us know, we have yet to news a sighting) I wanted to give you a pictorial review of both. Especially as there are some aspects of these figures that I was unaware of until getting them and wanted to share. However, my Lockdown broke, and the store I bought it at was sold out within a day, so I will only have Jazz for you today.

Another thing before I begin, with a house full of young kids, I could only snap these pics when the sun was almost out, but even then I find there was enough natural light for some crisp pics, hopefully you like them too.

Now onto Jazz and my main complaint: HOLY F%&K is he small. People said he was but I was just not ready. You pull him out of the packaging and there is just so much empty space. Especially compared to Lockdown, who turns out not to even be that tall a deluxe. Now you are wondering how small, well here are some pics of his Legends scaled vehicle mode (no exaggeration).

Yup, that is him next to a Legends figure.

Here are some pics of him in robot mode where he is at least between legends and deluxe class (rather than just being as tall as a legends figure).

So yeah, really small. And with these studio series toys selling at a markup compared to deluxe toys from the Generations line in several countries and retailers, this bites. MSRP in Canada is $29.99, while Generations deluxes are $19.99, just to give you an idea.

I know why he’s small, it’s so he can be in scale with the other toys in the line, as seen here, which does work.

So now that I have that size issue off my chest, is the figure any good? Well, him being small does bring about some issues. Unlike an actual legends class whose design was always based to be in that class, Jazz having his movie proportions feels very light and dainty. He is not particularly easy to pose because everything is made so small with very thin joints. He does not feel solid. He has a far too generous ankle tilt that will reveal gaps in his knees. These gaps are not related to the transformation, they aren’t slots for pegs, so I don’t really know why they are there. I also have an issue with the feet. It's probably accurate but they are just nubs and look off.

As may have seen before, he does have a backpack and it does take away an otherwhise sleek silhouette in many action poses. I do like the accessory. It can be used as a handheld gun in one had or, like in the film, it can attach to one of his arms to give it the look that his arm transformed into the gun. That is probably my favourite aspect of the toy. Because it sure ain't the car mode.

So yeah while the car mode is small, that is not the main complaint. Instead that would be the gaps. It is very easy to make him gappy in alt mode so I highly recommend you read the instructions and look at a video just to make sure you have everything pegged in correctly. I read the instructions and still had gaps but I have fixed it since. There is lots of stuff crammed into him since half his robot mode body is not made up of car parts. And as you saw, the car is smaller than the robot, so there's lots to stuff in there.

The colour is good. I could do with more detail though, especially in the back, which is just silver paint. Plus for a “premium” style toy, those black plastic wheels look cheap as hell. Don know why they didn’t paint some rims, it’s not like the car body needed tons of paint. You can hook the weapon in the back but it dos not hold well and the look does not work for me.

So there you go. Overall, better than the original deluxe in terms of proportions, aesthetic and transformation. But this little dude feels flimsy, especially in the legs, and by no means is this toy worth the asking price.

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1969413)
Posted by Sabrblade on July 7th, 2018 @ 11:42pm CDT

william-james88 wrote:Here are some pics of him in robot mode where he is at least between legends and deluxe class (rather than just being as tall as a legends figure).

So, like an old Basic/Scout class figure.

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1969439)
Posted by ToaLeePrime on July 8th, 2018 @ 4:27am CDT

There's a trick to getting rid of the gaps in vehicle mode. Underneath the roof of the car is a clear blue peg, and in the back of the waist there is a peg hole, make sure they are tabbed together and you will get a much cleaner car mode.

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1969440)
Posted by Carnivius_Prime on July 8th, 2018 @ 4:32am CDT

No. I disagree with your Jazz review a lot. I dunno what you've done with the car mode there but there's no way it should have huge gaps like that. Even on the ones I've seen where they have some gaps it's nowhere near like that. You've either got a faulty one or you've done it wrong. and I very much disagree about the "doesn't feel solid" bit. I've had mine for a about a couple months (bought with Lockdown who is also awesome) and I've played with it loads and it feels pretty damn solid to me with a well transformed compact torso, stiff joints, poses well, can balance good (I don't even often have the rear feet stabilisers folded down but they're there when I need to pose him in a way that needs the extra support). My only real negatives about the figure are that the backpack is kinda large and the shin pieces being all attach to the ankle joint is a bit odd but I bloody love this lil shiny dude. Heck I even paid more than the RRP price for both Jazz and Lockdown by about £7 each and I still felt no regrets (unlike Grimlock, that dino mode still bugs the hell out of me, there's so many things wrong with it for the £53 I paid and gonna have to spend more money on the upgrade kit to fix some of it). Jazz has been one of my most genuinely enjoyable figures of the past year and one I even take with me out and about sometimes like to rehearsals when I'm sat there waiting for my scene and bored out of my mind. I like your photos a lot but I really find myself disagreeing a lot with your reviews.

Pic I just took of him balancing on one foot without even needing the black stabiliser bits folded out of the ankles. Put him on the edge of the desk cos I had no fear he was gonna fall over. I even stomped on the floor a bit.

DSC_0560.jpg

Now he's going in my backpack cos I got a 7 hour rehearsal today and I'm just a nobody in some dance scenes and a footman in the ball scene so I'm gonna need lil Jazz here to keep me company in between.

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1969444)
Posted by -Kanrabat- on July 8th, 2018 @ 6:02am CDT

Why so many people got the "gappy car"? As mentioned above, there's a tab behind Jazz's waist that tab under the roof. THAT is what will remove the gaps. My guess is the instructions are obviously unclear for this step.

I can't seem to embed the precise part of the video properly but clicky the link:

https://youtu.be/9d0QzhELPVY?t=6m45s

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1969445)
Posted by ZeroWolf on July 8th, 2018 @ 6:09am CDT

I think it might have caused problems with jazz being a smaller class or cheaper than his counterparts. So this might have been the best in a very bad situation. Unless there was other characters which are in the same boat who could have been in a 'scout' wave

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1969453)
Posted by Solrac333 on July 8th, 2018 @ 9:07am CDT

Yeah. I'm not paying $20 for a scout class sized figure. I am fine with my old Premium Deluxe Jazz as my Jazz.

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1969456)
Posted by Blitzwing is bae on July 8th, 2018 @ 10:32am CDT

man, he sure is small, especialy with rippersnapper(who i got yesterday)

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1969457)
Posted by Sabrblade on July 8th, 2018 @ 10:33am CDT

Jazz was the smallest Autobot of the first movie.

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1969470)
Posted by william-james88 on July 8th, 2018 @ 12:31pm CDT

Sabrblade wrote:Jazz was the smallest Autobot of the first movie.

Then don't call him a deluxe and charge that same amount.

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1969478)
Posted by Jelze Bunnycat on July 8th, 2018 @ 1:08pm CDT

william-james88 wrote:
Sabrblade wrote:Jazz was the smallest Autobot of the first movie.

Then don't call him a deluxe and charge that same amount.

They did that before with RiD 2001 Wedge. It's basically a repeat of... logistics issues shall we say. Figures with variable scale that weren't really designed for set price points have to fit in them anyway.

Nice argument against toys having to adhere to media scale tho.

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1969479)
Posted by ZeroWolf on July 8th, 2018 @ 1:43pm CDT

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:
william-james88 wrote:
Sabrblade wrote:Jazz was the smallest Autobot of the first movie.

Then don't call him a deluxe and charge that same amount.

They did that before with RiD 2001 Wedge. It's basically a repeat of... logistics issues shall we say. Figures with variable scale that weren't really designed for set price points have to fit in them anyway.

Nice argument against toys having to adhere to media scale tho.

So this isn't the first time it's happened then?

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1969480)
Posted by Jelze Bunnycat on July 8th, 2018 @ 1:59pm CDT

ZeroWolf wrote:
JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:
william-james88 wrote:
Sabrblade wrote:Jazz was the smallest Autobot of the first movie.

Then don't call him a deluxe and charge that same amount.

They did that before with RiD 2001 Wedge. It's basically a repeat of... logistics issues shall we say. Figures with variable scale that weren't really designed for set price points have to fit in them anyway.

Nice argument against toys having to adhere to media scale tho.

So this isn't the first time it's happened then?

Similar circumstance. Starting with Beast Wars, toy sizes have been strictly regulated by Hasbro. Takara tried to follow suit with BW Neo, but for Car Robots, they went their own way with sizes and prizes. Upon import as RiD 2001, some problems occured:

- Wedge was significantly smaller than his Deluxe-sized team mates, and originally priced as such.
- Team Bullet Train was in-between Size Classes, between Deluxe and Mega to be exact.
- The G1/G2 Molds had no real size class when initially designed.

Took some juggling, especially with paint and pairing them with others. Universe 2003 had similar problems.

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1969483)
Posted by ZeroWolf on July 8th, 2018 @ 2:21pm CDT

I see, thanks jelze :-)

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1969496)
Posted by Emerje on July 8th, 2018 @ 3:17pm CDT

Animated was also largely inconsistent.

Lugnut on the right is a Voyager while Lockdown on the left is a Deluxe, as are the two in front.

Emerje

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1969500)
Posted by Jelze Bunnycat on July 8th, 2018 @ 3:40pm CDT

Emerje wrote:Animated was also largely inconsistent.

Lugnut on the right is a Voyager while Lockdown on the left is a Deluxe, as are the two in front.

Emerje

What they lack in height they make up for it in bulk, and vice versa.

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1969520)
Posted by william-james88 on July 8th, 2018 @ 6:39pm CDT

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Nice argument against toys having to adhere to media scale tho.

Thats not relevant and it was never what was being discussed. I do not mind a toy being smaller to fit a scale. What I mind is pricing. This toy clearly has less going on than the other deluxes in the line so charging as much sucks. They could have given him some extra stuff if they wanted to sell it at that price (maybe some mini figures of Sam and Megan Fox?). Like what they did with Sqweaks. That is a small deluxe, but the whole package comes with enough stuff that I didnt feel like I was cheated.

Also, thanks guys for pointing out what is responsible for the gaps, I will amend my review.

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1969527)
Posted by Jelze Bunnycat on July 8th, 2018 @ 6:51pm CDT

william-james88 wrote:
JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Nice argument against toys having to adhere to media scale tho.

Thats not relevant and it was never what was being discussed.

Talking in a general sense there in case it ever popped up. Feel free to ignore it, everyone.

I do not mind a toy being smaller to fit a scale. What I mind is pricing. This toy clearly has less going on than the other deluxes in the line so charging as much sucks. They could have given him some extra stuff if they wanted to sell it at that price (maybe some mini figures of Sam and Megan Fox?). Like what they did with Sqweaks. That is a small deluxe, but the whole package comes with enough stuff that I didnt feel like I was cheated.

Jazz' size vs. price, I agree with you there. A smaller Size Class would have been a good idea, but... were there characters similar in size? I'd imagine... no, no, not those two! :shock:

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1969528)
Posted by william-james88 on July 8th, 2018 @ 6:53pm CDT

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Jazz' size vs. price, I agree with you there. A smaller Size Class would have been a good idea, but... were there characters similar in size? I'd imagine... no, no, not those two!

They would sell at least as much as a dread. And we could also get the bikes in that size class.

Re: Pictorial Review for Transformers Studio Series Revenge of the Fallen Megatron (1969530)
Posted by Jelze Bunnycat on July 8th, 2018 @ 7:00pm CDT

william-james88 wrote:
JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Jazz' size vs. price, I agree with you there. A smaller Size Class would have been a good idea, but... were there characters similar in size? I'd imagine... no, no, not those two!

They would sell at least as much as a dread. And we could also get the bikes in that size class.

I was thinking about Arcee, Chromia and a (new-mold) Elita-1, but they'd be tiny, wouldn't they? Was the RotF size chart ever made public?

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