Toy Review - Platinum Edition Breakout Battle

[griffin]

Another Promo-Review thanks to Hasbro Australia, who sent me a couple items last week to review and promote here (and globally).
For the benefit of fans I've made sure that the watermarks are not covering the toys in the photos... once the images appear on the global
fansites crediting the source, no one is going to be able to get away with claiming the images as theirs. Websites (and online stores) still get the
exposure without needing to spoil the images. :rolleyes:

This Review will be moved to the Reviews section later. Please post comments, (and photos & your own reviews when it ends up being released).

Series - none (TF4 movie Generations)
Sub-line - Platinum
Size/class - n/a
Wave - n/a
New/remould/redeco -redeco TF4 AOE Voyager Optimus Prime, redeco Generations DLX Skids, redeco TF3 DOTM DLX Crankcase.
Released here - September 18th - Myer exclusive
Approximate Retail Price - $??? (I'm thinking maybe AU$100)
Approximate Size - 18cm (Optimus Prime), 18cm (Vehicon), 14cm (Rollbar)
Allegiance - Autobots (Optimus & Rollbar), Decepticon (Vehicon)
Alt-mode - Cab-over truck (Optimus Prime), Rallycar (Rollbar), Chevy Suburban (Vehicon).
Main Features/Gimmicks - Movie scene (sort of). Number 20 of 30.
Main Colours - off-white, brown, dark brown, grey (Optimus Prime), black, blue (Vehicon), white, purple, dark purple (Rollbar)
Main Accessories - Gun & missile (Optimus Prime), striking claw weapon (Vehicon), double-gun (Rollbar).

This set was shown off at BotCon and SDCC, so I haven't gone into too much detail with this review as I did with the other Platinum set.
However, the Rollbar toy is the first of that mould for me because I missed out on Skids last year, and am still waiting for their next release because I
don't want to be paying up to $100 for one of ebay. As such, I don't have anything to compare Rollbar to in this review, and I don't want to review it
as if it is a new release mould.

Official Images first.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/transformers/2014/aoex25.jpg

I was also hoping to have my Japanese Voyager Rusty Prime by now to include in the first posting of this review... but it still hasn't, so I'll add
comparison photos later.

I also had to take all the robot photos of the Vehicon three times because it wasn't transformed properly during one set of photos (arm not plugged
in), and the previous version (DOTM Crankcase) wasn't right in the second set of photos (horns were attached incorrectly). Naturally I didn't notice it
until AFTER I was editing the photos on the computer. :rolleyes:

Front of the box, with a battle scene that looks more like a collage of other images.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c101.jpg

Back of the box, describing part of the movie leading up to this scene. It is also amusing to notice the amount of steps of each toy, with the older
figure (Vehicon) having a much greater number than the other two moulds that came out in the last 12 months (due to the policy of simpler, more
playable transformations).
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c102.jpg

Opening the trademark flap of these Platinum Edition boxes.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c103.jpg

The inner tray is nicely presented, with a cardboard shed and explosions at the back... but I wonder why Rollbar is in vehicle mode if the other
non-Movie character Vehicon is in robot mode. Clearly those two vehicle modes are based on the human vehicles in the Movie, so it would make
more sense having them both in vehicle mode to match the scene... or both in Robot mode to match Optimus.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c104.jpg

The entire contents. The gun for Rollbar is in the bag of instructions.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c105.jpg

Straight out of the packaging.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c117.jpg

All in vehicle mode first.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c118.jpg
.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c119.jpg

All the accessories. (I don't think I realised before that the Voyager Optimus toy's gun was a missile launcher, because the previous two
versions had missiles that were the same colour as the gun.)
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c120.jpg

Very similar sizes between the two Deluxe toys and the Voyager toy, which is almost double the price in stores.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c121.jpg

First up, Scrapyard Optimus Prime. This is where I would compare it to the Japanese one, to see who got it looking closest to the movie truck. The
weathering/rusting paint effect looks nice on this one, but I think the red flames should have been more faded... and a painted hole on the radiator
to match the movie version.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c122.jpg

The gun can go on top, but it looks a bit weird.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c123.jpg

With the other two versions I currently own.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c124.jpg

This is probably my favourite mould so far with the TF4 toys, and it is a shame that the Japanese (black) Nemesis Prime is so expensive on the
secondary market... as I'd love to get more of this mould... and maybe one day replicate this famous photo of mine.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/880.jpg

Other angles of these three AOE toys.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c125.jpg
.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c126.jpg

Robot mode.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c128.jpg
.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c130.jpg

Close up of the head.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c127.jpg

The face sculpt is the same as the regular version (Platinum Voyager version with the shiny parts has a face-plate - which I didn't realise until I
had the toys together).
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c129.jpg

Comparing Vehicon with the Crankcase toy from TF3 DOTM.
(I find this one of the most frustrating DOTM toys to transform into vehicle mode, because I can't get the head to go where it is supposed to, in order
to have the pincers fit under the vehicle... which is why I had to "adjust" the pincers in my vehicle mode photos, but are hidden in most to not notice.)
Vehicle modes are very similar, with just a few minor paint app variations, and a different coloured weapon.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c131.jpg

The front of Vehicon has the Cemetery Wind logo, or something similar to it.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c132.jpg

Details are the same on both sides. Anyone have any thoughts on if the number at the front means anything? As you will see on the Rollbar toy,
often paint-apps have hidden or homage meanings.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c133.jpg
.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c134.jpg

Robot mode.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c135.jpg
.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c136.jpg

Close-up of the two.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c137.jpg

Crankcase was the toy that had a running change at the beginning of its release in 2011, in that the middle finger spike was changed to a regular
finger... either for safety reasons, or vulgarity. Vehicon is using that second mould, so can't do the same "expression" as Crankcase.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c138.jpg

Finally, Rollbar.
As noted above, this is my first toy of this mould, but since it is supposed to be a redeco (chronologically), I am treating this review as such.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c142.jpg

Just like Vehicon, the paint apps on both sides of this toy are the same.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c144.jpg
.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c143.jpg
.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c145.jpg

And underneath, which would be more interesting next to the Skids toy to show the differences.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c146.jpg

Robot mode. The product number is on a really bad spot, as it shows up really significantly in robot mode.
It is also very back-heavy with no heels, as the centre of gravity forced me to have the arms (and guns) out the front a bit to stop it from falling backwards.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c151.jpg

Close-up of the head.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c152.jpg

The back of the box shows the shoulders as tyres (as above), but Skids has panels folded down... which would make Rollbar look like this. The
instructions are a copy of Skids, so both ways would be deemed official... but to differentiate the different moulds it is good to have alternate
transformations (like Coneheads in 1985).
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c153.jpg

Another thing I only realised from the back of the box (which is not in the instructions), is that the two guns combine. It actually came packaged
combined (the smaller one plugged into the back of the big one - see my 9th photo after the official image). The keen eyed people will see that the
toy on the back of the box actually has two small guns - one in the right hand and one attached to the back of the big gun in the left hand. No idea
why they messed that up, as each arm has flip out guns (intentional for the Skids toy as a homage to the original Skids), so didn't need even more
guns in the stock image.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c154.jpg

The set of three in Robot mode. Vehicon's pincers make him almost as tall as Optimus.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c139.jpg

I really like the Optimus toy in any colour, so that was a plus for me. Plus, Rollbar is a new toy for me, but even if it wasn't it was better than
average for a Deluxe toy (and would be even better if it had feet with bigger heels so that it didn't fall backwards for being so back-heavy).
Vehicon on the other hand is the let-down of this set. It was a great choice of three vehicle modes for the diorama of this Movie scene, but
Vehicon as a Transformers toy is one of my worst DOTM toys. My Crankcase toy no longer has the dreadlocks moving on their hinges on
sides of the head, which is needed to transform it. Forcing it will break them because they are so fragile.
As a bonus, the inner tray makes for a nice diorama display on your toy display shelves.

All three in the Farmageddon display.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c147.jpg

Then the chase from the farm.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c148.jpg

A Convoy with his fellow Autobots. ;)
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c149.jpg

I can't remember if Optimus was in his new truck mode in the movie before or after he met up with the other Autobots.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c150.jpg

A couple group shots of Autobots in robot modes.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c141.jpg
.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c155.jpg

Both Platinum set figures that were reviewed in my two reviews this week.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c140.jpg

Look out for an update post or extra photos in the next day, as people post comments and questions here and on other sites.

Once again, thanks to Hasbro Australia for the opportunity to review and promote these sets for them.
.

[Krayt]

Just dug out my skids for a comparison to your rollbar review comments...

1: yup, the original is just as unbalanced due to lack of heels.

2: the shoulder rocket launcher paint is really lacking on Rollbar. Skids has nicer red rockets on a silver launcher unit.

3: can you try angling the doors up more and see how the code blends in? I place mine more like a "Prowl" mould sits. Skids code is the same place, but is black print on blue blastic, so not as harsh to see

[MayzaPrime]

So Griffin when you review them do you get to keep them?

Cause that would be cool :D

[Sky Shadow]

Griff - you can click down Rollbar's toes to make him more stable.

[BigTransformerTrev]

A pretty cool set but since I already have these 3 molds I'll be giving it a pass unless I find it in a clearance sale



So Griffin when you review them do you get to keep them?

Cause that would be cool :D

I was wondering too, but I presume he would since they have now been taken out of the box and played with. Perks to running the longest serving TF fansite eh ;)

[griffin]

I've been begging them for a few years now to review upcoming toys, either by loaning them to me (to post back) or have someone in Sydney do the reviews from their office.

This year at Toyfair THEY actually resurrected the idea - not me. I didn't object, but told them that if they were for me to keep, I wouldn't be comfortable with too many... and only send ones they really want promoted that I can "earn" by putting in a lot of time and effort promoting here and globally.
(they need value for money and we're only a "small" site in terms of public marketing, so there's a limit to how many items they can just give away for free like this, by interstate courier, which is why I don't want to be greedy - I want them to get as much or more back, to warrant the occasional toy to review in the future)
Furthermore, any non-review items offered (or thrown in a package as a bonus) that I didn't want or need, I've rejected, or promised to give away for free... I will not get free stuff just so that I can sell it, as that isn't right. And so far, I've only kept one item for myself that wasn't sent for me to review (Construct-Bots AOE Hound).

[Paulbot]

In earlier promo photos I'd not noticed that it came with a barn from Prime to park in. It's a nice, and rather rare, touch to include diorama set pieces in the set.

[MayzaPrime]

Griffin, I for one will be buying this set thanks to your review... :p

:D

I think it is a great idea that Hasbro Aus are sending you stuff to review.

[BigTransformerTrev]

I've been begging them for a few years now to review upcoming toys, either by loaning them to me (to post back) or have someone in Sydney do the reviews from their office.

This year at Toyfair THEY actually resurrected the idea - not me. I didn't object, but told them that if they were for me to keep, I wouldn't be comfortable with too many... and only send ones they really want promoted that I can "earn" by putting in a lot of time and effort promoting here and globally.
(they need value for money and we're only a "small" site in terms of public marketing, so there's a limit to how many items they can just give away for free like this, by interstate courier, which is why I don't want to be greedy - I want them to get as much or more back, to warrant the occasional toy to review in the future)
Furthermore, any non-review items offered (or thrown in a package as a bonus) that I didn't want or need, I've rejected, or promised to give away for free... I will not get free stuff just so that I can sell it, as that isn't right. And so far, I've only kept one item for myself that wasn't sent for me to review (Construct-Bots AOE Hound).


I wouldn't stress mate. It's very noble and above board the way you are handling the situation but considering the huge amount of money you spend on hasbo products each year, the pittance it would cost this giant company to part with the odd toy that they manufacture by the tens of thousands, then add on top of that the website you maintain that talks about their products I think you are in the green :)

[griffin]

I just don't want people to get the wrong idea, thinking that I'm chasing up free stuff from anyone I can. Anything that I've recently been reviewing (toys & licensed items) was offered without me asking for it... and even before these ones, items I've been offered or sent, almost all have been given away in competitions.
I even offered to pay for upcoming toys from Hasbro, but since it wasn't possible, I said to only send items they want promoted. That way neither of us is seen to be taking advantage of the other.

[griffin]

It is fascinating to track these two reviews on other fan sites, so that I can see what other fans think of these toys... to see that almost all other sites are posting up one or the other set (as news), but not both. And oddly enough, Seibertron didn't feature either set. Usually both of the big two global fansites copy each other with their news pages.

Another reason I'm tracking the reception of these two sets is that if I did a good enough job promoting these two sets, I might be allowed to review the Dinobot 5-pack... so fingers crossed.

Until then, I might do some more feature reviews of new toys I've bought, as extra "payment" for the donated ones.

[griffin]

The Japanese Rusty Optimus toy finally arrived today, so here are the comparison photos I promised.

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c156.jpg

Most of the photos I had seen previously online of the Japanese one were the robot mode, which had me preferring the Hasbro version... but now
that I have had it in truck mode, the paintwork makes the Japanese one look slightly better in truck mode (it actually looks like an abandoned
junkyard truck, compared to the Hasbro version just looking dusty).

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c170.jpg

The Hasbro one still looks better in robot mode (to me), but neither capture the red and blue you can see through the dirt of Optimus in the
movie in robot mode. Since these are parts that are mostly hidden in truck mode, I don't see why either version didn't put some "weathered" blue or
red on those parts.
It's not like they spent all their money on painting the whole exterior of the cab, because the Japanese version has splotches of the pinkish-red "rust"
on the robot parts (which actually works against it for not looking like rust or weathering), while the Hasbro version has more of the brown "dirt"
painted on its robot parts.
Side by side though, the Japanese one is just way too white to be considered the "Movie-accurate" Optimus toy. It actually looks more like an
Ultra Magnus redeco Optimus toy.
As such, if I had to choose one, I'd probably prefer the Hasbro version... because it has the better robot mode (the mode I display the toys in), it
has a plausible vehicle mode deco that they replicated well with paint (being dusty instead of rusted), and it comes with a cardboard diorama
tray for display.

Anyway, the rest of the photos for others to make up their minds with.

The images on the back of the box made the Hasbro one look whiter.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c157.jpg

On the front of each, the same artwork is used for Optimus, although, the Japanese one looks like it might be the Silver Knight artwork since it is so
white. You can still see hints of blue on the Hasbro box art.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c158.jpg

It's amazing to think that that is all paint covering both of them.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c159.jpg

I couldn't get my Japanese one to transform properly, as you can see in the photo above, a little tab kept getting pushed up on the roof of the cab.
When I looked for the reason, I found that the front middle panel of the cab was not glued together properly, so it stuck out just a millimetre. It
might not seem like much, but that tiny difference can affect the whole alignment of larger parts, which you then do see as significant (like the
BotCon Scorponok shoulders). Below is the part that wasn't glued in far enough, making it press against the robot neck inside the cab in Vehicle
mode. The only thing I could do is sand down a little off the front of that part, so it could then slide in next to the robot neck, instead of pushing it
up through the roof of the cab.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c160.jpg

With it fixed, I could go back to taking photos of the Vehicle mode.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c161.jpg
.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c162.jpg
.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c163.jpg
.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c164.jpg
.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c165.jpg
.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c166.jpg

The paint method of both appear to be different as well. Either the Hasbro one was brushed on, or the resolution of their spray was finer, because the
Japanese paint deco looked like one of those bad reprints of a 1980s comic.
From a distance it looks really nice, but close up it looks really bad.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c167.jpg
.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c168.jpg
.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c169.jpg

Robot mode.
The Japanese version uses the face-plate head, while the Hasbro one uses the mouth head... which could be an element of personal preference to
collectors choosing one or the other.
(I also think that the blue robot eyes on the Japanese version is too bright, as the Hasbro one has slightly darker eyes... while the other two Red
Optimus toys have black eyes)
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c171.jpg
.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c172.jpg
.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c173.jpg
.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/c174.jpg
.
The colors of the Japanese version in robot mode keeps reminding me of the limited edition version of the Dual Model Kit - http://tfwiki.net/wiki/File:DOTM-DMKOptimusPrimeSpecialColorVersion.jpg
.

[Yongeltron]

Great work doing such a thorough job on this! It's really awesome to be able to see such a detailed side-by-side comparison of these two guys.

I personally really prefer the look of Hasbro's "Scrappy" over Takara's "Rusty" so this only makes me want this Breakout set even more! :)

It's interesting to see the Takara paint job up close. On some pictures I had seen, it looked as though there were fingerprints in the paint (talk about quality control!:p). I realise now that it was just a visual artefact from taking digital pictures of a printed dot-pattern.

I do have a question though. The feet and helmet on the Hasbro one seem to have a blue-ish tinge to them in some of your pictures. Can you confirm whether there is any blue in the colouring or if it's just a dark metallic grey? I see the tiny bits of muted red in the joints and on the missile so I'm wondering whether Hasbro is actually trying to do a very subtle blue/red colour scheme here.

[Dimi194]

Thanks for this awesome review-super keen to get this set now. I agree that the printing thing they did with the Rusty version is a little odd (Mine arrived on Wed), and the original pics made him looks more grey/silver, which I was expecting, as opposed to the white/red which was on the final model. Still happy with both, but I like the mouth head better so will certainly be grabbing this set, even if I didn't really like the 'Vehicon' (which I do!)
Thanks again!

[griffin]

I do have a question though. The feet and helmet on the Hasbro one seem to have a blue-ish tinge to them in some of your pictures. Can you confirm whether there is any blue in the colouring or if it's just a dark metallic grey? I see the tiny bits of muted red in the joints and on the missile so I'm wondering whether Hasbro is actually trying to do a very subtle blue/red colour scheme here.

Under a bright light, it does indeed have a very faint blue tinge to that dark plastic on the head and feet... but too faint to be obvious.

[kurdt_the_goat]

It wasn't until I saw that red missile in Prime's gun that i realised it was there at all in my regular TT version!

[Omega Metro]

I think that it's great that both versions of rusty Prime are quite a bit different from each other.

[Yongeltron]

Under a bright light, it does indeed have a very faint blue tinge to that dark plastic on the head and feet... but too faint to be obvious.

Sweet. Thanks for confirming.

For me, even if it's hardly noticeable, that's still extra points in favour of the Hasbro. Actually, especially if it's hardly noticeable, because I love finding and savouring that kind of super-subtle detail.

I've seen some heated discussions online about which version is more screen-accurate. For me though, the fact that those colour design elements are indeed still present on the toy makes me appreciate the Hasbro version more as a representation of the character in that period.

It's definitely a good thing that the Hasbro and Takara versions are such different takes on it. It makes for a much more interesting purchase decision than just whether to pay import price for a few more paint-apps on an almost identical toy.

[Holdobot]

Robot Kingdom have just listed their Pre-order for this set. It is priced at US$89, available on the 1st Sept. That, I guess means Myer will be definitely breaking the $100 mark.

[Sinnertwin]

Robot Kingdom have just listed their Pre-order for this set. It is priced at US$89, available on the 1st Sept. That, I guess means Myer will be definitely breaking the $100 mark.

Go with Robo -at least they put padding in their boxes.
Myer has his regular retail at $169. Yeah, you could wait for a Myer sale, but delivered to your door, i think that's a much, much better price.

[Omega Metro]

Go with Robo -at least they put padding in their boxes.
Myer has his regular retail at $169. Yeah, you could wait for a Myer sale, but delivered to your door, i think that's a much, much better price.

If Myer was to have 20% off toys at some point, it would work out roughly the same price as RK's shipped and converted price. Would really prefer the Myer option cos RK are just painful.

[Yongeltron]

Go with Robo -at least they put padding in their boxes.
Myer has his regular retail at $169. Yeah, you could wait for a Myer sale, but delivered to your door, i think that's a much, much better price.

Hear hear.

Plus you'd probably get it considerably quicker too if you shell-out the little bit extra for express postage (especially vs. waiting for them to go on sale here). All that, and it's still probably cheaper than you'll be able to get on retail in this country.

Seems like a no-brainer to me.

[Kyle]

The paint method of both appear to be different as well. Either the Hasbro one was brushed on, or the resolution of their spray was finer, because the*
Japanese paint deco looked like one of those bad reprints of a 1980s comic.
From a distance it looks really nice, but close up it looks really bad.


It's interesting to see the Takara paint job up close. On some pictures I had seen, it looked as though there were fingerprints in the paint (talk about quality control!:p). I realise now that it was just a visual artefact from taking digital pictures of a printed dot-pattern.

The rust pattern of TakTom Rusty Prime's truck mode exterior is actually tampo printed (stamped on like stickers), not sprayed or painted on. Exterior robot mode panels are painted though.

[Thurmus]

Do you think the white Optimus will be released on it's own? Don't really want the other two.

[Holdobot]

Go with Robo -at least they put padding in their boxes.
Myer has his regular retail at $169. Yeah, you could wait for a Myer sale, but delivered to your door, i think that's a much, much better price.

That is such a pity, I do prefer to get things from Aus. But Myer tax is always a hard pill to swallow.

[Bidoofdude]

Rollbar shows Crosscut's head on the box art, yet he has Skids' head on the actual toy. I liked the look of the Crosscut head better. :(

[Sinnertwin]

Do you think the white Optimus will be released on it's own? Don't really want the other two.

I doubt it, but you could always hunt down the TakaraTomy version if you're really keen. If not, you could see if anybody is interested in taking the other two off your hands :)

[Omega Metro]

Do you think the white Optimus will be released on it's own? Don't really want the other two.

I'm the opposite. Don't really want another rusty Optimus. :D

[Dimi194]

That is such a pity, I do prefer to get things from Aus. But Myer tax is always a hard pill to swallow.

I agree, so jumped ship and bought from RK-saved myself $40 :p

[Thurmus]

I was already ording some items from RobotKingdom so I added one on. Still $50 cheaper.

[Yongeltron]

Mine arrived just yesterday from RK. Woot!:D

Noticed an interesting little detail on Rollbar: The Autobot symbol on the right side of his spoiler is the movie version but the one on the left is G1!

First a flat-nose truck for movie Prime and now this? G1 fans have gotta be feeling the love from Michael Bay now!

[griffin]

Mine arrived just yesterday from RK. Woot!:D

Noticed an interesting little detail on Rollbar: The Autobot symbol on the right side of his spoiler is the movie version but the one on the left is G1!

First a flat-nose truck for movie Prime and now this? G1 fans have gotta be feeling the love from Michael Bay now!

What's the difference between them on yours? I looked on mine and one just looks a little smudged, but are both the same shape and colour.
I didn't think the Autobot symbol was any different for the Movie Universe?

[Sky Shadow]

I didn't think the Autobot symbol was any different for the Movie Universe?

The top of the eyelids look angrier than the horizontal G1 ones.

[Sinnertwin]

Angry Autobots lol
The Decepticon symbol is slightly altered too.

[Yongeltron]

What's the difference between them on yours? I looked on mine and one just looks a little smudged, but are both the same shape and colour.
I didn't think the Autobot symbol was any different for the Movie Universe?


The top of the eyelids look angrier than the horizontal G1 ones.

I think that for both Autobot and Decepticon symbols, the movie versions have a number of very minor adjustments to proportions and angles (e.g. The lines in the crest on the movie Autobot symbol are finer and it has smaller jowles.) but the giveaway is definitely the eyes.

Edit: Looking at your review pictures Griffin, I can see that the symbol on the left of your Rollbar is definitely the G1 version (as on mine) but I can't see the one on the right clearly.

[Sky Shadow]

Angry Autobots lol
The Decepticon symbol is slightly altered too.

Yeah, the Decepticons have quadrilateral eyes instead of triangles. My wife calls the Autobots the ones with the frowning face and the Decepticons the ones with the smiley faces. She thusly thinks Marvel/Sunbow got the factions wrong. Maybe the Shattered Glass universe is the 'real' one.

[Yongeltron]

I have also noticed a minor discrepancy in Vehicon/Crankcase between the toy and its instructions. It looks like a slight misassembly with the pincers (albeit a virtually inconsequential one).

The pincers on the robot mode as it comes packaged seem to be riding a little bit higher than they should (as shown in the instructions). The way they are fitted, they also won't lie flush against the robot chest in vehicle mode. (This might be why Griffin had some trouble with them.)

The solution is to detach each plastic hinge attached to the bumper, rotate it 180 degrees and then put it back on the same hinge.

It was pretty mind-bending trying to figure out why my toy wasn't matching the instructions since the issue was so subtle and the pincers are still highly maneuvreable whichever way they're put on. However, there are ultimately only four possible symmetrical configurations and only two of them have the pincers facing forward and curving inward when in robot mode.

Honestly though, it probably comes down to personal preference more than anything how you want to have them; both ways work in both modes. The way it is packaged allows the hinges to be better hidden in vehicle mode, whereas the other way has them better hidden in robot mode.

Between this and noticing the differing autobot symbols on Rollbar, I guess it's clear I'm fairly detail-oriented.:p

[Dimi194]

This set is just wow. The Prime is a great addition (and originally I thought it was going to be the highlight), but the other figures are awesome! Rollbar looks a lot better than I thought in the pics and the extra weapons give Hound a run for his money :P. The Vehicon also looks awesome (I don't own Crankcase), and I love his MechTech weapon!