Toy Review - Transformers Generations Voyager Sandstorm

[GoktimusPrime]

Series - Generations
Sub-line - N/A
Size/class - Voyager
Wave - 3
New/remould/redeco - Significant redeco/retool of Generations Springer
Released here - not available in Australia (released globally June 2013)
Approximate Retail Price - $40-50
Approximate Size - 18cm
Allegiance - Autobot
Alt-mode - Armoured car, VTOL aircraft
Main Features/Gimmicks - Triple-changer
Main Colours - Orange, amber and black
Main Accessories - missile, missile launcher/gun

Stock image (http://tfwiki.net/mediawiki/images2/a/ae/Generationstoy-VoyagerSandstorm.jpg)

Not as nice as Springer and is more of a panel/shellformer. Having said that, it does fundamentally work in giving us a reasonably solid Classicsverse Sandstorm toy. I find the car mode to be the better of the alt modes. I wish the arms were better incorporated into the VTOL mode, but instead they kinda just hang along the sides. It's not bad per se, but certainly not as well done as Springer. But I do appreciate that the designers are trying to make Sandstorm more distinctive from Springer and not just 'copping out' with a simple repaint with a few new parts. So while not as good as Springer, Sandstorm's still a reasonably good toy in his own right.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/avatars/jaam_jaam.gif Recommended. :)

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/Triple%20Changers/triplechanger_sandstorm1_zpsf11d7f01.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/Triple%20Changers/triplechanger_sandstorm2_zps901244c0.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/Triple%20Changers/triplechanger_sandstorm3_zps622709ad.jpg

[doublespy]

His rear wheels in buggy mode look a bit too big, making them look like a clear add-on/after-thought kinda deal. Also, too much kibble on the back of robot.

But like Goktimus I do appreciate the designer's effort to make this mold as different as possible to Springer. A very solid and clever retool on an already fantastic mold.

[heroic_decepticon]

I'd buy this for sure! Haha...
I'm a real fan of this toy... even better than Generations Springer in my reckoning.

I have lots of photos and review here - http://heroicdecepticon.blogspot.hk/2013/06/hasbro-transformers-generations-wave-2.html

Extract of review:

I'd like to say that Generations Sandstorm is an awesome figure. I am very impressed. It's hard to recall another recent year release that is so awesome (but I have not opened my Generations Springer yet, sue me!). In terms of playability, ease of transformation and poseability, it is one of the best in the Classics / Generations line. It is intricate, but not overly complicated.


Box / packaging - 7 out of 10
Instructions - 7 out of 10
Robot mode - 7.5 out of 10
Dune Buggy mode - 8 out of 10 (works really well, all panels and parts fit snugly)
VTOL Aircraft Mode - 8.5 out of 10
Overall - 8 out of 10


Heroic's recommendation? BUY!

[Lord_Zed]

Yeah he is pretty good, nice and tight compared to that mess called Blitzwing.

I prefer the VTOL mode to the buggy mode, the giant wheels just look forced, as If some hoon decided to put giant wheels on their armoured car. :p

[nofacej]

I think the problem with the rear wheels isn't so much their size, but the fact they don't line up with the front wheels. I also think he looks better with his g1-esque backpack/tail thing flipped down in robot mode and his turbine's angled diagonally backwards.

[DELTAprime]

Got him in the mail today, looks great. I just wish Hasbro could get their yellow paint to match their yellow plastic. I have Takara figures that match yellow paint to plastic well, not sure why Hasbro can't figure it out. Also some yellow plastic doesn't match the rest of the yellow plastic, ie: hips don't match thighs.

EDIT: Yellow plastic seems kinda weak, I've broken the tab on the landing gear and have a stress mark on another tab.

[i_amtrunks]

I've yet to open him but he is a spectacularly stunning toy in his box. The yellows and oranges just pop, and the light piping is brilliant. The images posted by everyone do not see to do his colours justice imo.

Since he is fundamentally the same toy as Springer, I've said he is certainly worth a purchase, I sent about $33 to get him posted from Amazon.

Can't wait to have a transform or three, keep going back to Springer and Sandstorm has such prettier colours.

[SharkyMcShark]

The giant wheels make both the VTOL and the buggy mode look forced.

Poor effort.

[Paulbot]

It was designed as Sandstorm first it seems, big wheels and all (maybe not so big). Nick Roche posted his concept design from 2010 on Twitter (http://twitter.com/NickRoche/status/364780908349366273/photo/1) over night.

[kaiden]

got this today and was quite disappointed.

the biggest issue is the huge wheels as everyone has pointed out. in car mode, they just look so ugly.

robot more is its one saving grace. the colours are very nice and the two tones of orange pop out very well when standing next to other TFs. The headsculpt is really nicely done and the light piping is better in Sandstorm than Springer.

i imagine my Sandstorm to be hovering off the ground maneuvering and blasting away akin to Space Harrier.

all in all its still a great toy even if the alt modes are better on the G1 toy, just not as great as i was hoping it to be.

[1AZRAEL1]

While not as good as Springer, still a great figure. Fun to transform, buggy mode is cool.

A few problems I found though. Gun doesn't fire the missile very well, and he is quite back heavy.

[1AZRAEL1]

I've also found thay pushing his feet back a notch will stop his heel spurs from collapsing backwards and prevent him from falling over.

[SuspectimusPrime]

I'd buy this for sure! Haha...
I'm a real fan of this toy... even better than Generations Springer in my reckoning.


Totally agree with HD here - Sandstorm is my favourite of the three. I really like the fact that he ended up looking so much different from Springer.


I've also found thay pushing his feet back a notch will stop his heel spurs from collapsing backwards and prevent him from falling over.

I keep him displayed like this too, and don't have a problem with him not standing 100% upright like Springer. He's got a huge backpack and needs to lean forward. Love Roche's design on his headsculpt and adds to the humbler front line soldier look.

[Jim_jim]

I also agreed the look of the wheel but the robot mode is stunning. the plane mode is also ok as well. As a remould, I think it is doing a pretty good job.

[The Scream Man]

Yeah Im in the same camp. i don't like it quite as much as Springer, but its a near thing. I think car more is the weakest, but I like the VTOL and Robot forms.

He has a cool BULK to him that Springer doesn't have. they did a great job of making one mold feel like 2 very different figures, and i appreciate that effort.

[BigTransformerTrev]

Sandstorm was one of my first dozen Transformers ever gotten, and I used to play with him ad nauseum. Really dug both his modes, even if the wierd tail thing coming off the back of his dunge buggy mode looked weird.

Compared to the G1 toy I think this version's alt modes are weaker - cool, but weaker. Don't get me wrong, I like this figure, and it's great to finally have another Sandstorm toy that is a triple changer and references the original character, but could have possibly be done better. I do like his robot mode though, looks like he is ready to rock!

Instructions - useless as always, but after transforming Springer he wasn't much of a challenge anyway.

Overall, glad I got this guy, not thrilled but quite happy :)

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

Wow, haven't gotten mine yet, but am impressed at how many new parts he has. Or should that be original?

I see;
lower legs
chest
shoulders (?)
gun
knee pointy bits
head
wheels of course.

Thats a bit like how they used FOC Jazz's base to make FOC Sideswipe, but this one just seems to work a lot better.
Can't wait to get mine!

[Zommael]

I don't have Springer* so can only view Sandstorm on his own merits, but I think he's great. He's a complex toy for sure but that's because of his three different modes, which are really well differentiated from each other. I particularly enjoy just how many different parts and panels move from one place to another for the transformation from buggy to VTOL, a bit of detail that could easily have been overlooked. The orange and yellow colour scheme really pops and is a nice choice in my opinion. He has plenty of detail and good articulation in robot mode. I would strongly recommend this toy.

Can anyone tell me exactly how the gun fits to the cockpit in VTOL mode though?

*Nor will I ever. Springer is my least favourite Transformers character. I just can't stand him for some reason.

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

Can anyone tell me exactly how the gun fits to the cockpit in VTOL mode though?

The first triagnle piece from the top front of the gun (near the barrel) plugs into the nose of the chopper underneath. You'll need to fold the landing gear all the way and and fiddle about with it and it just somehow clips in.