Toy Review - Earthrise Doubledealer

[GoktimusPrime]

DOUBLEDEALER
Series - Generations
Sub-line - Earthrise
Hypo-line - War for Cybertron
Size/class - Leader
New/remould/redeco - New
Wave - 1
Released here - July 2020
Approximate Retail Price - $100
Approximate Size - 18cm
Allegiance - Decepticon
Alt-mode - missile truck
Main Features/Gimmicks - double spy, connects with other Earthrise figures for Micromaster interactivity
Main Colours - blues, grey, black
Main Accessories - Missile rocket front and rear, x2 missile pods, mortar gun, ramp/wingaling, radar pod

Comparison with G1
https://i.ibb.co/t4mTzBQ/Earthrise-doubledealer01.jpg

Comparison with Generations
https://i.ibb.co/gzwJ2rz/Earthrise-doubledealer02.jpg

Autobot robot mode
https://i.ibb.co/cg6QS57/Earthrise-doubledealer03.jpg

Wings deployed
https://i.ibb.co/zfB8zm0/Earthrise-doubledealer04.jpg

Decepticon robot mode.
https://i.ibb.co/9hHBf8Y/Earthrise-doubledealer05.jpg
Definitely weaker than the Autobot mode which is a shame considering that this is Doubledealer's true form. The way that the large missile attaches via the platform panel makes for a weak connection and it's prone to disconnecting. I wish that they would've made the platform connect more tightly or just allow the missile to connect directly to Doubledealer's body. There are also no Decepticon insignia visible in this mode. :(

Wings deployed
https://i.ibb.co/KwjgKyD/Earthrise-doubledealer06.jpg

The Autobot robot mode can change its Autobot insignia to Decepticon. I guess this is kinda neat but I would've preferred to see these logos on the Decepticon mode where they belong. These panels are not visible in any other mode.
https://i.ibb.co/DpMcDzT/Earthrise-doubledealer07.jpg

Missile truck mode
https://i.ibb.co/pr8sZJ2/Earthrise-doubledealer08.jpg

Launch configuration
https://i.ibb.co/qjtQrNK/Earthrise-doubledealer09.jpg

I haven't photographed it, but the faux "Knok" Powermaster engine is detachable, but only the centre part. Not sure what the purpose of this is. It doesn't look to be able to fit one of the "Cassette" Micromasters. <shrugs>

P.S.: Just worked out that a "Cassette" can fit inside Doubledealer's Autobot mode's chest. This ought to be doable in all modes.

[Paulbot]

I should know by now that leader toys are short these days, but seeing that he’s shorter than the G1 toy which I think of as short anyway, is still disappointing.

[Unicran]

I should know by now that leader toys are short these days, but seeing that he’s shorter than the G1 toy which I think of as short anyway, is still disappointing.
I strongly agree here.

On the plus side, the mobile missile launcher vehicle mode is dcent looking.

[Maruten]

I wasn't expecting too much from this guy but in hand he's fantastic. I just wish his two little buddies were on the shelf next to him rather than in a Selects four pack that will be hard to get hold of.

[Sinnertwin]

I wasn't expecting too much from this guy but in hand he's fantastic. I just wish his two little buddies were on the shelf next to him rather than in a Selects four pack that will be hard to get hold of.

He was at PopCultcha and last I checked at Oh My Primus also for $40 PP
They are around if youre keen on getting them.

[Krayt]

Well.... I had such high hopes for DD.... but Hasbro has given up.

The purple wings are amazing!!! plastic is great, lines are sharp... the entire rest of the it feel like a bad KO.

Hands don't fold in far enough
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EcSy-jmUcAgkQmB?format=jpg&name=small

Not enough robot head clearance to change to Bird mode

Upper legs are too wide to fit properly into lower legs for Bird mode (Not quite as bad in vehicle mode)

Knees are supposed to click into upper leg in bird mode... sure! good luck with that

Leg issues make "attaching" the feet in Bird and vehicle mode pretty hard to do.

Ramp/Tail has one curved side (allows to angle down for ramp), and one square side preventing movement in the "up" direction.... but of course they want it "UP" for vehicle and robot mode!!!
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EcSy-jlUMAIjJfv?format=jpg&name=small
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EcSzEYjU0AIIm50?format=jpg&name=small
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EcSzEYsVAAEcQ6e?format=jpg&name=small

Bird feet totally did not want to stay on.... might just be the sides were switched, (covered foot side on outside of bird is best, 95% stable) but the mount is still too wide and straining the foot.

Rocket has 2 pegs at rear for attaching.... one is too short and wont fit properly into rocket holder.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EcSzEY9UEAAKzci?format=jpg&name=small
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EcSzEY8U4AETxfE?format=jpg&name=small

Official bird mode has tail attach to rocket, rocket clip to legs, which are folded closer into the body (bird body shorter than vehicle body) . This mode is not intuitive. The intuitive way is to leave legs in vehicle position, allowing tail to attach to legs directly, and rocket clip to tail but remain removable without losing tail.

OFFICIAL:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EcSy5AtU8AAnKW_?format=jpg&name=small
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EcSy5AvVcAA4xRZ?format=jpg&name=small

My Way:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EcSy-jaVAAAUTPF?format=jpg&name=small
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EcSy-jmU8AApvwn?format=jpg&name=small
(Why did this go upside down???)


Both vehicle modes can take Skar with a ingenuity, but non-official bird looks better to me.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EcSy5AsVAAAEk2i?format=jpg&name=small
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EcSy-jaVAAAUTPF?format=jpg&name=small

Despite the above complaints, Decepticon symbols can be visible in bird mode. And just like the seekers with their upside down wing insignia being the proper way to display, the "true form" of DD does this too.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EcSy5AtVAAAThpb?format=jpg&name=small

[Bemblebuu]

Bought this figure over the weekend and pretty much agree with Krayt. Bird mode is really weak and you could essentially slap the same wings on any transformer and call it a bird mode.

Quality of joints is an issue for my figure too; the knee swivels are loose and a lot of pressure is needed to transform DD correctly and even then things don't always fit where they're intended.

Hopefully Double Dealer isn't a sign of Hasbro going all out on the cheapening of future Leader class figures.

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

@Krayt
Is that the Skar from that 4 pack in those photos?
If so, would you mind taking some pictures of DD with Knok connected to DD too?

Maybe you can reattach the tail section? It might have been installed upside down.

I hope not all of them are funly like these ones. I love the concept of a character like DD

[Krayt]

@Krayt
Is that the Skar from that 4 pack in those photos?
If so, would you mind taking some pictures of DD with Knok connected to DD too?

Maybe you can reattach the tail section? It might have been installed upside down.

I hope not all of them are funly like these ones. I love the concept of a character like DD

Yes it's Skar from 4 pack, but the tapes DO NOT connect. The chest is hollow and fits 1 tape, but not on display at all, so can't match G1 Robot mode with Knok on show. You can however nearly do his positioning in Bird mode, where the chest piece had Knok inserted and then stuck to the back of the rocket... only here use the peg on the cassette to insert into back of rocket, not held by the chest piece.

Skar is only placed in my pics by flipping wings out, and sliding into the free space above the Hips... T piece of waist is wide, hence the wing separation you can see.

Tail section is buggered for all. You can pull the piece and flip it over, or just force past the "corner" to flip up, but both will weaken over time.

And if you don't get a "funly (:p) one, it'll be a miracle....

[nalops]

I was really considering Doubledealer because it's such a unique concept but hearing of the issues with it, I guess I'll skip it unless it's cheap or something.

[Sutton]

This is one of the weakest Transformers I’ve bought in a VERY long time.

Nothing has been designed with any real thought - the bird wings sort-of store away, but not really. The robot hands sort-of fold away, but not really. The legs peg in with difficulty in both alt modes. They transform differently for each mode too for....reasons?

The launch/ramp dismantles when folding because of the square hinge.

The robot fists are visible in launcher mode unless you plug accessories in.

The missile just kind of hangs on the bird mode back, partly floating in mid air.

The robot head is pretty much visible out the back of the carrier mode.

The deception symbols can flip up for bird mode, but wrong way round. Meanwhile, they can show in bot mode where we don’t need them.

The missile halves fit together loosely.

The carrier rolls poorly because of the wings underneath not being designed in any good way.


The positives I can point to are the bird mode head - that’s really good - and the paint applications look like g1 stickers (in a good way).

But overall....this feels like the hasbro design interns’ first (and last) attempt at designing a transformer. It’s bizarre that this is being sold at the same price and in the same line as the superbly designed leader class Optimus.

[Sutton]

I was really considering Doubledealer because it's such a unique concept but hearing of the issues with it, I guess I'll skip it unless it's cheap or something.

To give an idea how bad he is - I was probably going to replace my T30 Doubledealer with this guy. But given how craptastic this turned out, now I’m not so sure. T30 isn’t G1 accurate, and that Blitzwing mold has it’s own issues, but at least it’s fun and interesting. And it’s taller!

[Krayt]

This is one of the weakest Transformers I’ve bought in a VERY long time.

The missile just kind of hangs on the bird mode back, partly floating in mid air.

The robot head is pretty much visible out the back of the carrier mode.
The carrier rolls poorly because of the wings underneath not being designed in any good way.



So it’s not just me then :p...

It’s supposed to clip onto the legs with the weird clip on the missile.... but I only realised that when it annoyed me enough to spend time working out what the hell the clip was supposed to do.

With the rolling issue, are you folding the bottom of the wings? They should be straight....

And the head.... that’s what the ramps for...

[Sutton]

Yep, wings are straight. It rolls, but the wings droop enough on mine to scrape.

I realise the ramp hides his head, but it's in the same way if I put on a hat, I'm in 'disguise'.

[nalops]

I've been pretty happy with the quality of the Siege and Earthrise figures I've gotten so far but hearing Doubledealer's issues has me slightly worried. Really hope this is a one-off thing, otherwise I might have to skip future waves.

[Sutton]

I've been pretty happy with the quality of the Siege and Earthrise figures I've gotten so far but hearing Doubledealer's issues has me slightly worried. Really hope this is a one-off thing, otherwise I might have to skip future waves.

Yeah, just to be clear on this - these aren't tolerance issues or errors on my or Krayt's copy; it's designed this way.

I've already figured out 2 alternate bird configs that both more stable and more....well, bird.

[nalops]

Yeah, just to be clear on this - these aren't tolerance issues or errors on my or Krayt's copy; it's designed this way.

I've already figured out 2 alternate bird configs that both more stable and more....well, bird.

Oh ok. So, it's really just the design of it that's the problem. Not sure if that makes it better or worse.....Still, I think I'll be fine skipping it unless it's $49 or around that.

[Sutton]

Oh ok. So, it's really just the design of it that's the problem. Not sure if that makes it better or worse.....Still, I think I'll be fine skipping it unless it's $49 or around that.

I suppose it depends how badly you need the character - when Hasbro fluffs up another more common character, like CW Optimus, POTP Starscream etc, it doesn't matter - because we know we'll get another version soon enough. But this guy's pretty obscure so it's doubtful that will happen again...definitely not for a long time, anyway.

[Maruten]

I'm a lot more concerned with the robot mode than the alt mode(s) or transformation, and from that perspective this guy is fantastic. Worth considering the criticisms if he's not just going straight onto a shelf in bot mode though.

[GoktimusPrime]

An undocumented configuration for the Decepticon robot mode:
https://i.ibb.co/tmzyZLn/Earthrise-doubledealer10.jpg
This also appears to be an intentional configuration as there are two pegs on either side of the missile that serve no other purpose than to be plugged between the side holes on the forearms, allowing it to rest along the underbelly. I haven't tried it yet, but for additional G1-accuracy you could split the missile up and have the rear half rest on the back and the front half on the underside. The configuration that I have shown here obviously takes all of the weight off of that irritating back panel. Splitting it in half would make it lighter but I'm not sure if it would still make that panel more susceptible to falling off (should be less susceptible though).


To give an idea how bad he is - I was probably going to replace my T30 Doubledealer with this guy. But given how craptastic this turned out, now I’m not so sure. T30 isn’t G1 accurate, and that Blitzwing mold has it’s own issues, but at least it’s fun and interesting. And it’s taller!
Aside from that annoying panel, I honestly don't mind Doubledealer. I recently sold off my T30 Doubledealer. It's unfortunate that on both toys Doubledealer's avian robot mode is the most compromised mode, because that's really Doubledealer's true form (the humanoid robot mode is just a disguise). But I'll take ER over T30 because at least the Decepticon mode is a proper avian form, whereas on T30 it's just a jet. It looks like another alt mode, not his true robot form as it should be. And the most compromised part of the avian mode is the missile attachment, but this can be circumvented by just attaching it to the underbelly (which looks more G1 accurate anyway). :) T30's jet mode is perfectly fine, but it's not Doubledealer to me. Doubledealer is meant to have two robot modes and one vehicle mode, not one robot mode and two vehicle modes. But hey, that's just me - and as people like me are selling off their T30 Doubledealers, it means that those who missed out on it and want one now can get them for cheap. :)

P.S.: The fact that I also still own Generations Blitzwing also made T30 Doubledealer more superfluous to me.

[SharkyMcShark]

Sad to hear that this figure has its issues. As a design concept it's fairly left field, which I always like. A triple changing missile truck/mecha bird/robot? Usually I'd be all over that kind of weirdness.

[Krayt]

OMG the strain on the poor tail pegs!!!!

Slide it back like 1cm... it has grooves to fit into!!

[Sutton]

I'm a lot more concerned with the robot mode than the alt mode(s) or transformation, and from that perspective this guy is fantastic. Worth considering the criticisms if he's not just going straight onto a shelf in bot mode though.

I agree with this so much. You often get really varied reviews on TFs, much more so than any other pop-culture things I'm into, but that's because our reasons for buying these things tend to vary so much.

Some people like the characters, and couldn't care less about the engineering - some people never transform their figures AT ALL which blows my mind. Meanwhile others collect based on engineering and design, and couldn't tell you anything about the characters.

I'm a little of both personally, but none of these approaches are wrong...I just notice that it does influence reviews somewhat.

I'd also note that my own bias leads me to be much more critical of updates to the earlier bots - 84 up to the movie - while figures from season 4 onwards tend to get more of a pass from me. Crosshairs as a repaint of Ironhide? No problem. But that equally-lazy new Arcee? Burn it with fire.

I don't know why that is, but I'm aware of it.

[SMHFConvoy]

Would've been nice if the instructions showed you to fold the wing tips down so you have clearance for the wheels of the missile truck to roll freely, but nice toy overall.

[Deano85]

https://tikssw.dm.files.1drv.com/y4mJTsFWUKY67RuSWmKbHKYVideyzkyxV-YeNcb4EWm9j1cPXMl0RIpbwIU5TEfmeIcwo2bTTxvywA5o21bF lvVlq-QE8eL5T9q171YxVoUoqoAZn8O6u0REDzFHvUFFelt_baC8cz-dhEIVuAeDgYQH_F1UmWOa8DeCvqrEpA6W8OE--OfwND36R0e0Igm4NOlOB-wyxkXBxtlnAeuJGkmNQ?width=542&height=640&cropmode=none

[Autocon]

Wow head is small and feet big. Well you know what they say about big feet

[SMHFConvoy]

Wow head is small and feet big. Well you know what they say about big feet

Custom made shoes?

[Deano85]

Custom made shoes?

Perfect effect feet for combiner wars

[SMHFConvoy]

Perfect effect feet for combiner wars

Lol, I meant a man with big feet would need custom made shoes :D

[reillyd]

https://tikssw.dm.files.1drv.com/y4mJTsFWUKY67RuSWmKbHKYVideyzkyxV-YeNcb4EWm9j1cPXMl0RIpbwIU5TEfmeIcwo2bTTxvywA5o21bF lvVlq-QE8eL5T9q171YxVoUoqoAZn8O6u0REDzFHvUFFelt_baC8cz-dhEIVuAeDgYQH_F1UmWOa8DeCvqrEpA6W8OE--OfwND36R0e0Igm4NOlOB-wyxkXBxtlnAeuJGkmNQ?width=542&height=640&cropmode=none

Aww. He is so cute in little black booties!

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

Had a nice review types up but my login timed out, so here's the short version.

Mine doesn't suffer many of the issues that some do.

It's not perfect though. Knee transformation to bird mode seems overly complex for little effect. Shame the Decepticon insignias are upside down for bird mode.
Extra weapons are cool and he feels chunky nough to look like he could successfully work by himself.

It Sucks and that Knok and Skar are so hard to find.

Overall a competent figure. Not terrible, not amazing.

[shockNwave]

I've got Countdown (Universe) and love the prospect of having both of these toys side by side considering the mobile launcher modes and the shoulder mounted missile robot modes.

Although now that I've read the reviews I'll have to pass on this one. Such a shame really. 😢