Pictorial Review of Transformers: Robots in Disguise Combiner Force Activator Soundwave

You know, those speakers on his shoulders remind me of his Animated incarnation

Ig89ninja wrote:You know, those speakers on his shoulders remind me of his Animated incarnation

They're not cannons?

Is the box any different? Any paint apps? I've already got the base model but
I'm interested to know if his is the only detail.

Sabrblade wrote:

Ig89ninja wrote:You know, those speakers on his shoulders remind me of his Animated incarnation

They're not cannons?

You and your canon fetish.

Sabrblade wrote:

Ig89ninja wrote:You know, those speakers on his shoulders remind me of his Animated incarnation

They're not cannons?

They might, but they look more like speakers to me

Ig89ninja wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Ig89ninja wrote:You know, those speakers on his shoulders remind me of his Animated incarnation

They're not cannons?

They might, but they look more like speakers to me

Speakannons? Blasting you with sweet tunes and deadly missiles.

Meh! i think i'll stick with my Warrior Class CF Soundwave

Looks okay, but I wish there was a way to attach Laserbeak to Soundwave's chest. A way to use the Activator gimmick in robot mode, or at least fold away the guns, would be nice too.

Va'al wrote:a different pattern on the scanning sticker. Check it out for yourselves in the images below!

They are all different - I don't know how different but I've had to look through a lot over the months and I've hardly ever seen 2 the same.

For example I looked through 7 Warrior Windblades to find the one with a straight logo and each logo was unique.

Or Compare this Soundwave to the others shown :

RAR wrote:

Va'al wrote:a different pattern on the scanning sticker. Check it out for yourselves in the images below!

They are all different - I don't know how different but I've had to look through a lot over the months and I've hardly ever seen 2 the same.

For example I looked through 7 Warrior Windblades to find the one with a straight logo and each logo was unique.

Or Compare this Soundwave to the others shown :

Cool.

Va'al wrote:Notified by fellow Seibertronian Sabrblade, we checked in with AllSpark user SwiftEagle who reports a Transformers: Robots in Disguise Warrior class Soundwave variant found. The new version has some added plastic to the otherwise entirely lightpiped facesculpt, adding the traditional faceplate, and a different pattern on the scanning sticker.

Is it new sculpting? I was under the impression that the mask was always there, they just didn't paint over it so it would match his Prime look (the added paint matches the package art).


Emerje

Emerje wrote:

Va'al wrote:Notified by fellow Seibertronian Sabrblade, we checked in with AllSpark user SwiftEagle who reports a Transformers: Robots in Disguise Warrior class Soundwave variant found. The new version has some added plastic to the otherwise entirely lightpiped facesculpt, adding the traditional faceplate, and a different pattern on the scanning sticker.

Is it new sculpting? I was under the impression that the mask was always there, they just didn't paint over it so it would match his Prime look (the added paint matches the package art).

Capture.JPG

Emerje

I thought about that too when writing the story, but the person who found it said it was a new piece of plastic - so I don't know, is the answer here.

Va'al wrote:

Emerje wrote:

Va'al wrote:Notified by fellow Seibertronian Sabrblade, we checked in with AllSpark user SwiftEagle who reports a Transformers: Robots in Disguise Warrior class Soundwave variant found. The new version has some added plastic to the otherwise entirely lightpiped facesculpt, adding the traditional faceplate, and a different pattern on the scanning sticker.

Is it new sculpting? I was under the impression that the mask was always there, they just didn't paint over it so it would match his Prime look (the added paint matches the package art).

Capture.JPG

Emerje

I thought about that too when writing the story, but the person who found it said it was a new piece of plastic - so I don't know, is the answer here.

And I never checked that Soundwave I saw at TRU, stupid stupid!

he does look ten times better with a face plate but the alt mode is still horrible. Looks terrible in general and just doesnt fit the character at all. But from the looks of the picture its a retool, the faceplate looks to be attached to the head and not just painted on. Plus if it was paint why would they use blue and not the grey thats on the arms and legs?

Tell me, what the hell is the logic behind that mask? Does Soundwave's face-protecting visor not conceal his face enough?

PrymeStriker wrote:Tell me, what the hell is the logic behind that mask? Does Soundwave's face-protecting visor not conceal his face enough?

It just wasn't enough protection against rabid G1 fanboys, I'm afraid

Faceplate looks nice, and does get the toy about 1% closer to actually looking like Prime Soundwave.

ScottyP wrote:Faceplate looks nice, and does get the toy about 1% closer to actually looking like Prime Soundwave.

Wouldn't that be 1% away from looking like Prime Soundwave? Prime Soundwave had a full visored face with no faceplate.

Kurona wrote:

PrymeStriker wrote:Tell me, what the hell is the logic behind that mask? Does Soundwave's face-protecting visor not conceal his face enough?

It just wasn't enough protection against rabid G1 fanboys, I'm afraid

He's still better protected from them than Drag Strip is.

The Robots in Disguise line is continuing strong in all its classes, including the one steps. Believe it or not, Hasbro is going to release a third mold for Strongarm in the one step class, meaning a completely new transformation. That means Strongarm has had a new one step mold for each year and subline. You can see the previous molds following the new one whos only image we have is in it's package. The 5 mm port on the top is interesting and hints at a possible interactivity with the new mini-cons coming out.

This new toy was found on Red Mercury, a Japanese import site (since several Japanese Transformers fans feel the need to import Hasbro products and these will cost them $22 each) and it also had a listing an image for another new one step, Heatseeker. This character is getting a lot of attention in the toyline with also getting a legion class toy. None of the other stunticons are getting this much attention.

Enjoy these two new in package images. You can see the robot mode as a render on the side.





Here are the previous Strongarm One Step molds


Transformers: Robots In Disguise Strongarm Gallery


Transformers: Robots In Disguise Strongarm Gallery

Zeedust wrote:

Kurona wrote:

PrymeStriker wrote:Tell me, what the hell is the logic behind that mask? Does Soundwave's face-protecting visor not conceal his face enough?

It just wasn't enough protection against rabid G1 fanboys, I'm afraid

He's still better protected from them than Drag Strip is.

But the only thing Drag Strip really has in common with his G1 namesake is his color scheme, and only partly at that. The back half of Drag Strip's altmode is colored more like Wildrider, and the overall vehicle type of the altmode is more of a normal-looking car than an F-1 racer.

Not to mention his personality. Instead of the victory-obsessed braggart that G1 Drag Strip was, RID Drag Strip is basically an evil Ralph Kramden, complete with Wildbreak as his answer to Ed Norton.

Sabrblade wrote:Not to mention his personality. Instead of the victory-obsessed braggart that G1 Drag Strip was, RID Drag Strip is basically an evil Ralph Kramden, complete with Wildbreak as his answer to Ed Norton.

He is obsessed with being promoted which is like another type of race to victory so I guess that works for Dragstrip eh?

Deadput wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:Not to mention his personality. Instead of the victory-obsessed braggart that G1 Drag Strip was, RID Drag Strip is basically an evil Ralph Kramden, complete with Wildbreak as his answer to Ed Norton.

He is obsessed with being promoted which is like another type of race to victory so I guess that works for Dragstrip eh?

He's still more Jackie Gleason than he is G1 Drag Strip:

Sabrblade wrote:

Deadput wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:Not to mention his personality. Instead of the victory-obsessed braggart that G1 Drag Strip was, RID Drag Strip is basically an evil Ralph Kramden, complete with Wildbreak as his answer to Ed Norton.

He is obsessed with being promoted which is like another type of race to victory so I guess that works for Dragstrip eh?

He's still more Jackie Gleason than he is G1 Drag Strip:

Not disagreeing just stating there are a few subtle similarities/connections.

I do like these two guys quite a bit especially compared to the so far pretty dull Heatseeker who I thought was going to be a scientist or a smart guy at first due to the legion toy having a monocle which I now realize is a a missal targeting scope thing and his name sort of sounding scientific or related to seeking heat sources.

Would of broken the mold for stereotypical Stunticon thug but I guess we still got Slashmark who I can't tell if he is a stand in for Dead End or Offroad.

His so far only toy is white and blue which is like none of the standard Stunticons except Breakdown loosly but Wildbreak already fills that homage and better.


The Menasor render makes his colors different though but they still look not much like Dead End besides a little red. (His right leg)


So is Slashmark a homage to any past Stunticon or is he the most original of the new guys (Wildbreak, Heatseeker, Slashmark)?

Since their names are different and there are already established versions of the original Stunticons not part of this team although both the Takara exclusive Wildrider states he and Breakdown from Prime were at once point Stunticons and so far Dead End is just some Energon Vampire dude and not stated as part of them I'm going to headcanon that the Stunticons were a rotating group of guys who often replace dead members or members who quit and only Motormaster and Dragstrip remain of the first group.

Unless the show or official word states otherwise then I'll accept fact but I like this head canon since it reminds me of how Combiner Wars started the trend of alternate members of Combiners which is a concept I like a lot.

The new Strongarm seems to use the "Fold Open" transformation that was seen on Combiner Force Bumblebee. Really nice transformation.

Yeah, Slashmark looks to be the Breakdown homage despite Wildbreak's presence on the team. It looks like only Drag Strip and Motormaster actually resemble their namesakes' decos, while Heatseeker has Wildrider's/Offroad's colors, Slashmark has Breakdown's colors, and Wildbreak has, uh, Prime Breakdown's colors, being predominately dark blue when none of the G1 Stunticons had dark blue as their main color, thereby making Wildbreak have the most original-looking deco if one forgives the resemblance to Prime Breakdown's colors.

Wildbreak looks more like an amalgam of War Breakdown and Wildrider/Brake-Neck with the red windows. Strangely, his personality is like G1 Breakdown.

Sabrblade wrote:Yeah, Slashmark looks to be the Breakdown homage despite Wildbreak's presence on the team. It looks like only Drag Strip and Motormaster actually resemble their namesakes' decos, while Heatseeker has Wildrider's/Offroad's colors, Slashmark has Breakdown's colors, and Wildbreak has, uh, Prime Breakdown's colors, being predominately dark blue when none of the G1 Stunticons had dark blue as their main color, thereby making Wildbreak have the most original-looking deco if one forgives the resemblance to Prime Breakdown's colors.

Maybe Dead End is banned to be part of Menasor because no one wants a vampire to combine with them
!

Am I the only one who hopes that Motormaster is called "The Motormaster" instead of just a name because it sounds cooler and more like a title?

Although this new season is 20 something episodes do you think the so far toy only characters will show up? (Bludgeon, Skywarp, Blastwave, Stormshot, Stormhammer, Skysledge, Twinferno) and if we will see Jazz again or if we find out why Roughedge an Autobot is hanging with Starscream?

I wonder why they have made 'at least' couple of reverse deco Strongarm's now - perhaps Patrol (Black) would make more sense then a more or less negative colour scheme.

Deadput wrote:Am I the only one who hopes that Motormaster is called "The Motormaster" instead of just a name because it sounds cooler and more like a title?

I don't, because I want that "The Motor Master" thing to stay exclusive to the Animated version. That was his thing. I want RID Motormaster to find his own unique quirk.

I saw Tesco have reduced both RID Activator Combiners and Crash Combiners - which normally would be good - but I don't think they are doing it to make space for the new waves - I think they are doing it to stop selling them - so that means I will have to hope Smyths are true to their word and stock them.

It's strange the Dragon Rescue Bot Bumblebee is pretty much out already (ages before I expected to see it) and yet Soundwave no sign of - if they still have not got (or barely got) AC Sideswipe out in the UK then - with that delay then really they should have had Optimus/Soundwave and Optimus all out at the same time to use the line better - as if they sell the previous waves with even more Bumblebee's that would be trouble.

I hope Chefatron changes his mind and gets that AC Optimus to review.

Perhaps they will get a card standee in some places like the ones they have for the Movie - but for Combiner Force...

I'm a little disappointed the card standee's lack Voyagers though - as I expect Movie Voyagers will essentially be online only to me. It seems pretty likely the same is going to be true for the Combiners too - but who know some are saying tomorrow is an important street date for Transformers.

I just really want a Legion Bisk and Blurr though - I'd not be super surprised if Legion Cyclonus never shows up though.

ToaLeePrime wrote:A target exclusive perhaps? Like the battle masked Megatronus?

Has anyone else seen the soundwave variant? I cant find him in chicago subrubs, just like i was never able to find chromedome variant.

Seibertron wrote:

ToaLeePrime wrote:A target exclusive perhaps? Like the battle masked Megatronus?

Has anyone else seen the soundwave variant? I cant find him in chicago subrubs, just like i was never able to find chromedome variant.

I think the Chromedome one was only a mistake that only ended up in that area.

Tis a shame since I would love for Hasbro to do official variants like that it makes sense.

Deadput wrote:

Seibertron wrote:

ToaLeePrime wrote:A target exclusive perhaps? Like the battle masked Megatronus?

Has anyone else seen the soundwave variant? I cant find him in chicago subrubs, just like i was never able to find chromedome variant.

I think the Chromedome one was only a mistake that only ended up in that area.

Tis a shame since I would love for Hasbro to do official variants like that it makes sense.

It was found in two states, though. One of the Carolinas and Texas, IIRC.

Sabrblade wrote:It was found in two states, though. One of the Carolinas and Texas, IIRC.

Thanks for the correction...should of taken that Texas trip.

The new One Steps part of Wave 15 have been found in the US. This wave includes the new Strongarm mold and Heatseeker. They were found at Target in Huntington Beach by TFW2005 user OCProwl.

If the new Heatseeker tempts you, you can also check out a video review of him below, courtesy of Panda Prime productions.

While we previously got stock photos for Menasor, images for the other two Robots in Disguise Combiners - Galvatronus and Ultrabee - were unfortunately nowhere to be seen. Well, not so much anymore! Toys R Us' UK division has uploaded listings and stock photos for all three combiners, putting each at £35 and getting us a good look at these guys - though also somehow managing to have the robot modes of all three torso bots (Bumblebee, Cyclonus and Motormaster) mistransformed by giving them their combiner head rather than their robot head. Regardless, check out the listings for Ultrabee, Galvatronus and Menasor if you're interested and take a look at the stock photos below!

Huh Skyjack and Cyberwarp seem to be females according to the box art that's cool I think this is our first main American line mixed gender combiner. (as in the team members not the Combiner itself)



Edit: Wow Motormaster's show head is generic and I guess so is Slashmark who seems to have Bee's head in different colors.

Deadput wrote:Huh Skyjack and Cyberwarp seem to be females according to the box art that's cool I think this is our first main American line mixed gender combiner. (as in the team members not the Combiner itself)

Yeah I noticed that too, it's pretty awesome

Though technically the first would be Armada Perceptor. But for full-fledged non-mini-con combiners? ... Ultrabee

^ Galvatronus has no Tailgate component. Galvatronus is therefore both a dude and a chick simultaneously. Just science (nah but for real, I'm just gonna go with non-binary on Galvatronus because that's pretty rad!)

I really hope at least Drag Strip and Wildbreak get some toy incarnation closer to their show designs. I'd be really completely fine with non-combining ones in Warrior class! I guess Arms Micron Wildrider is a decent stand in for now, the shoulders and head work almost perfectly.

Well, one-step Heatseeker (which itself surprised me) does provide precedence for possible non-combiner class combiner component toys. Hell, the limbs all have at least one repaint of each other; that's easy Warrior-class fodder!

and fuck yeah non-binary bots

Is it just me, or do Menasor and Galvatron just wear the leg-bots as shoes or boots? At least half of the lower legs is taken up by those that form the legs, with an additional piece attached.

Kurona wrote:Yeah I noticed that too, it's pretty awesome

Though technically the first would be Armada Perceptor. But for full-fledged non-mini-con combiners? ... Ultrabee

Oh yeah Strongarm exists too so uhhh Galvatronus is the third then eh?

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Is it just me, or do Menasor and Galvatron just wear the leg-bots as shoes or boots? At least half of the lower legs is taken up by those that form the legs, with an additional piece attached.

It looks like to me that Galvatronus is pulling off a movie Bonecrusher and Sideswipe with having wheel feet.

I've also gotta say, for £35 combiners (compared to how in total the CW combiners were around £90-£100)? I'm pretty impressed by some of these. The combined modes don't look terrible (Galvatronus in particular strikes quite the awesome silhouette; the legs are perfect and he's only slightly brought down by his arms) and I really love how Grimlock manages to look great in his robot mode. The vehicle modes for the car bots and Motormaster are all pretty great too. These don't look amazing, but there's certain good points to be found

Kurona wrote:

Deadput wrote:Huh Skyjack and Cyberwarp seem to be females according to the box art that's cool I think this is our first main American line mixed gender combiner. (as in the team members not the Combiner itself)

Yeah I noticed that too, it's pretty awesome

Though technically the first would be Armada Perceptor. But for full-fledged non-mini-con combiners? ... Ultrabee

This seems like a good topic for Vector prime, when we get a return. I've always wondered how mixed genders work in combiners, especially after reading the AVP:FB logs about gender dysphoria in cybertronians. But no matter what, I'm certainly getting Galvatronus.

Terrsolpix wrote:

Kurona wrote:

Deadput wrote:Huh Skyjack and Cyberwarp seem to be females according to the box art that's cool I think this is our first main American line mixed gender combiner. (as in the team members not the Combiner itself)

Yeah I noticed that too, it's pretty awesome

Though technically the first would be Armada Perceptor. But for full-fledged non-mini-con combiners? ... Ultrabee

This seems like a good topic for Vector prime, when we get a return. I've always wondered how mixed genders work in combiners, especially after reading the AVP:FB logs about gender dysphoria in cybertronians. But no matter what, I'm certainly getting Galvatronus.

I wouldn't expect a return of AVP anytime soon, since Fun Pub lost the Transformers license at the end of last year and the AVP Facebook was run under their tenure.

Sabrblade wrote:

Terrsolpix wrote:

Kurona wrote:

Deadput wrote:Huh Skyjack and Cyberwarp seem to be females according to the box art that's cool I think this is our first main American line mixed gender combiner. (as in the team members not the Combiner itself)

Yeah I noticed that too, it's pretty awesome

Though technically the first would be Armada Perceptor. But for full-fledged non-mini-con combiners? ... Ultrabee

This seems like a good topic for Vector prime, when we get a return. I've always wondered how mixed genders work in combiners, especially after reading the AVP:FB logs about gender dysphoria in cybertronians. But no matter what, I'm certainly getting Galvatronus.

I wouldn't expect a return of AVP anytime soon, since Fun Pub lost the Transformers license at the end of last year and the AVP Facebook was run under their tenure.

Completely forgot about that Hopefully we get someone willing (and with the clearing) to take up the mantle

Terrsolpix wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Terrsolpix wrote:

Kurona wrote:

Deadput wrote:Huh Skyjack and Cyberwarp seem to be females according to the box art that's cool I think this is our first main American line mixed gender combiner. (as in the team members not the Combiner itself)

Yeah I noticed that too, it's pretty awesome

Though technically the first would be Armada Perceptor. But for full-fledged non-mini-con combiners? ... Ultrabee

This seems like a good topic for Vector prime, when we get a return. I've always wondered how mixed genders work in combiners, especially after reading the AVP:FB logs about gender dysphoria in cybertronians. But no matter what, I'm certainly getting Galvatronus.

I wouldn't expect a return of AVP anytime soon, since Fun Pub lost the Transformers license at the end of last year and the AVP Facebook was run under their tenure.

Completely forgot about that Hopefully we get someone willing (and with the clearing) to take up the mantle

Oh, there's no shortage of anyone willing. It's just a matter of being allowed to do so officially. But at the moment, it's not a priority, especially considering how long and extensive the AVP Facebook ran and how it went out with a bang.

So just a few thoughts on Warrior Blurr and Soundwave before i go to bed. These are both stellar toys I am happy to have and I love their original transformations. A real breath of fresh air. And I have no quarrels about the paint, they both have a nice amount of it and it adds decent detail.

The best part of Blurr is how the entire cockpit and top of the car stores away on his back. I love transforming him back and forth. The only problem with Blurr is how the 2 wheels that arent on pins dont roll well.

As for Soundwave, I really like how he doesnt have extraneous kibble in robot mode. He is a great looking robot. His main problem (and its pretty major, making him no longer a contender for a "best soundwave toy") is how visible and contrasting his robot arms are in alt mode. There is 0 effort to hide them or have them blend in. Its like someone gave up and really ruins what could have been a fun vehicle mode.

Ugh. Combiner force is nothing but pretty colors and lack of details

I know they are probably lots of fun playability wise and are great for kids but I'm not feelin' it personally. I guess combiner wars/titans return is more my speed.