Revoltech

[Hot Rodimus]

Just wondering if many of you have collected the transformer revoltech figures.

They are always on ebay and the pictures look fantastic, I am toying with getting a Rodimus one when I have replenished the funds after my recent splurge but before I do I would love to hear your opinions/thoughts on them.

Cheers in advance guys.

[GoktimusPrime]

Nope. Not interested in a Transformer that cannot transform. Already put up with that rubbish with Action Masters! The "Pat Lee" deformed proportions don't appeal to me either. JMO. :)

[roller]

i had a megatron one, when you tried to move its arms and legs they fell out of the sockets

[iceburn]

i do...got the lot from Kyle

http://icebu12n.multiply.com/photos/album/58/Revoltech_Series

[Robzy]

No, but I'm interested in Revoltech Macross figures.

Not interested in a Transformer that cannot transform. I tend to agree :)

My only exception are Robot Heroes! (which I've lost interest in)

[Golden Phoenix]

I got all 5 of the Transformer ones. I just like them because they are so easy to play with.

[Lord_Zed]

I don't have any Transformer Revoltechs, but I do have a couple of Macross, Patlabor and Super robot ones. Quality varries a little from figure to figure, most of mine have had tight joints though.

There sculpted in a slightly posed fashion rather than perfectly symetrical, this however means its really easy to achieve awesome action poses, more so than almost any other figure line. Microman might be one of the excpetions, however a posed microman looks like an action figure, a posed Revoltech often looks more like a fixed pose figurine as the joints are usualy fairly well done.

Back when the dollar was high I would have said Revoltechs were the best value action figure on the market, now however they cost a bit more so its a harder sell, If you like putting Transfomers in exagerated comic or toon poses then you'll probably getb a kick out of them.

[liegeprime]

They're nice if your after fully poseable figures. Kinda like Marvel legends only its TF characters. Lots of points for articulation but does not transform to their alternate mode. Its cool to put in different poses , have to be wary though as some parts can be lost - the hands and alternate heads. I dont have Rodimus but I do have Megatron, Starscream and Prime. If your not interested in Action figures only for TFs this might not be for you. They are like Actionmaster only more points of articulation, and they're made of bendable type of plastic as well.

[roller]

i think Ark-Ivor calls them "Revol-ting" hahahahaha i like it

[springah]

i love 'em. anime style, posable Transformers? hell yes.

[Hot Rodimus]

Thanks for the opinions.... I was mostly concerned about the quality which from your comments seems to vary but is usualy of a good standard.

I can see the arguement of it not transforming (I have quite a few action masters that I bought as a kid and for the most part like) but who here hasn't spent countless hours arranging and posing their collection just so it looks more dynamic or cooler? These things while not being able to transform seem to provide the possiblilty of some really cool displays and I am sure I will waste time with them just trying to 'capture the essence' of the charater:D

Thanks Guys

[griffin]

Yeah, not every Transformers-branded product has to have the gimmick/feature of conversion, some have the feature of articulation or detailed sculpting to reflect their form in fiction. When these elements conflict, you end up with one toy that transforms and one toy that is poseable or visually accurate to fiction. The Revoltech line caters for those collectors wanting a 'character toy' that is more poseable than the 'convertable toy', in a slightly different stylisation.

[Hot Rodimus]

I agree Griffin, to me they are visualy appealing though one dimensional. Mind you this is something I am kinda used to since as a kid TF's back then were more than likely only accurate in one mode and not bot and alt so one tended to display the figure predominantly in one mode ( or maybe this was just me?) . This has changed dramatically and maybe a major contributing factor as to why I have once again 'returned to the fold'.

I think statues can illustrate this aswell. There are some awesome statues out there from what I have seen in members collections and in the Queen Street Mall Toyworld (man i could drop a few grand in there in 5 minutes easy). They do even less than an action master or revoltech figure but visualy they are striking and manage to capture a character in a dynamic or striking pose that appeals to a large section of collectors. Eventualy when I have gotten back on top of my collecting I hope to purchase a few of these too.

[GoktimusPrime]

Mind you this is something I am kinda used to since as a kid TF's back then were more than likely only accurate in one mode and not bot and alt so one tended to display the figure predominantly in one mode ( or maybe this was just me?) . This has changed dramatically and maybe a major contributing factor as to why I have once again 'returned to the fold'.
Keep in mind that the majority of Transformers were created as toys first. The cartoon, comics etc. were created afterwards pretty much as a means of advertising the toys. So really, the toys are completely accurate to themselves and if there are differences between the way that the toys look compared to the show or comics it's because the show or comic artists have chosen to make those differences and not because the toy designers were somehow inadequate in mimicking the show/comic models.

That's why I personally avoid using the term "show-accuracy" with most TFs as, to me, it falsely implies that the show is more visually accurate than the toys (and thus implying that the toys are by default "inaccurate") which, for the majority of Transformers, just isn't true. There are exceptions to this (e.g.: live action movie, Animated etc), but for the most part the toys were created first.

Having said that, there's no denying the massive appeal that show-likeness has over TF collectors - it's absolutely a very strong and appealing factor. And unlike Action Masters, Revoltech aren't intended to be part of the mainstream line of Transformers and never dominated the TF toy line like Action Masters did. They're just a quiet side-line that some collectors can buy if they want, whereas Action Master's dominance in the 1990-91 lines is seen by many fans as being G1's death knell.

[Golden Phoenix]

That's why I personally avoid using the term "show-accuracy" with most TFs as, to me, it falsely implies that the show is more visually accurate than the toys (and thus implying that the toys are by default "inaccurate") which, for the majority of Transformers, just isn't true. There are exceptions to this (e.g.: live action movie, Animated etc), but for the most part the toys were created first.

If only the shows were more toy accurate.
Hot shot would really have reasons to complain about his shoulders

[GoktimusPrime]

Lol... absolutely. Some of the early G1 comics had better toy accuracy though. ;)

Examples:
Optimus Prime & Soundwave (http://www.tfarchive.com/comics/marvel/covers/uk001.jpg)
Mirage, Jazz & Hound (http://www.tfarchive.com/comics/marvel/covers/uk002.jpg)
Thundercracker (http://www.tfarchive.com/comics/marvel/covers/uk005.jpg)
Jazz (http://www.tfarchive.com/comics/marvel/covers/uk009.jpg)
Mirage (http://www.tfarchive.com/comics/marvel/covers/uk010.jpg)
Here (http://www.tfarchive.com/comics/marvel/?s=uk_011_020)
Megatron (http://www.tfarchive.com/comics/marvel/covers/uk021.jpg) - colours aside the drawing is fairly toy-accurate
Ironhide (http://tfwiki.net/w2/images2/e/e3/Ironhideg1firstappearance.jpg)
Ratchet (http://tfwiki.net/w2/images2/3/33/Ratchetg1first.jpg)

The BotCon Japan 2000 exclusive comic "Cybertron Chronicles" (by Ichikawa Hirofumi) also featured several G1 and G2 characters all drawn toy-accurately, like good ol' Ironhide...
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/avatars/g1_ironhide.jpg

:)

Mind you, some of the Revoltechs are more comic-accurate (re: Dreamwave) than they are comic-accurate, e.g.: Optimus Prime, Ultra Magnus, Megatron and Starscream seem to be more based on their Dreamwave comic models rather than their G1 cartoon models.

[griffin]

It's obvious why the toys couldn't be drawn in the cartoon and comic exactly like their toys - many toys, especially in Gen1, didn't look very 'biped' (humanoid) with their engineering and kibble. Toys that later reflected that more humanoid look were bound to occur, without all the kibble the convertable toys were burdened with.
Same with the issue of colour, sometimes it is more visually markettable to adjust the colour of cartoon or comic characters in a certain way to match or contrast with other particular characters, and we then have toys occasionaly released in an 'anime' colour scheme, like 'Bookstyle' reissue Starscream or Henkei Cyclonus.

[STL]

I have all five and love Hot Rod and Ultra Magnus of them all the most. The QC is very good across the board and the only one I have that is problematic is Prime whose head falls off way too easily for my liking. I'd highly recommend them they are great and full of personality. The range of poseability is amazing and you get a bundle of extra hands and gear to add to them. Truly astounding non-TFing pieces.

And I agree w/ your sentiments completely on the Statues/Non-TFing memorabilia. I think though you have to be a very strong lover of the art aspect of TFs as well as the character to like a piece. In my collection I have several busts and Statues which are among the most adored aspects of my collection.

I have a Hard Hero Optimus Prime statue that is the eptiome of G1 Prime to me. Commanding, resourceful, positive and calming. Rhinox is another that I adore to bits b/c of the personality and show accuracy of the statute. I have the toy but it just pales in comparison to the statue in bringing out the life of the character. The only statue that I do not have that I hope to get this year as you can tell by my signature is Hardhero Megatron. Its very high on my want list as a display piece albiet very pricey. But again, it comes from the fact I'm not solely a technical collector, I love the fiction and the characters too.

[Hot Rodimus]

[QUOTE=GoktimusPrime;75191]Keep in mind that the majority of Transformers were created as toys first. The cartoon, comics etc. were created afterwards pretty much as a means of advertising the toys. So really, the toys are completely accurate to themselves and if there are differences between the way that the toys look compared to the show or comics it's because the show or comic artists have chosen to make those differences and not because the toy designers were somehow inadequate in mimicking the show/comic models.QUOTE]

I am aware of this but the comics and cartoons being such an effective way to market the toys kind of flipped this around for me and others too I am sure. Instead of saying " Geez I wish Ironhide had all that crap around his feet and a poorly drawn head behind a windshield" we where more likely to say" Damn why doesn't ironhide look more like his cartoon character?" This was the reason that I didn't get him as a kid as Mum and I went to the toy store to buy him (thanks Mum) but once I saw what he looked like I chose something else (can't remember what now though). Maybe I haven't expressed this very well in words but I think most people would identify with the comic or cartoon rendition of their favourite transformers and not the toy as it is these forms of media which breathe life into them..

I would love to have a few statues STL and I am envious of the ones you mention, and I also agree with the points you raise regarding them. I guess some of them just hit a special note with certain people which make them appealing.

Eitherway this turned into more of a discussion than I intended which is pretty cool too see ( and says volumes about the participation of the members here!) and I will definately be getting some revoltech when the funds permit it.

[GoktimusPrime]

Maybe I haven't expressed this very well in words but I think most people would identify with the comic or cartoon rendition of their favourite transformers and not the toy as it is these forms of media which breathe life into them..
Well, as I said before, there can be no denying the appeal of show-like characters in the fandom. One thing that really made me aware of this was the surprising demand for e-Hobby Astrotrain! I pre-ordered that toy and got it from e-Hobby when it came out, as I usually do - because I thought that having an Astrotrain toy in the same colours as in the 1985 catalogue was novel. By default it was also a more show-like colour scheme too, since the cartoon model based its colours off the prototype shown in the catalogue. I paid 3000JPY for this toy... probably around $40 at the time. This eBay auction (http://cgi.ebay.com/E-hobby-CE-Exclusive-G1-Astrotrain-Anime-Color-MIB-C9-5_W0QQitemZ150317352290QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Defau ltDomain_0?hash=item150317352290&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A13 18|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50) has it going for 500USD! (O_o)

So yeah... while I'm not particularly a huge stickler for show-likeness, I cannot deny that it does have a powerful appeal factor to fans. :) I'm glad I got that e-Hobby Astrotrain nice and early while it was cheap. :D

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/Photocomic%20Deleted%20Scene/astrotrain%20and%20devastator/astrostator03a.jpg

[Defcon]

Revoltechs are great for articulation and poseing. They are kind of a novelty. I have Megatron and Starscream. Its great to have them poseing in a fight! I don't like the price of $40-$50 for them if you find them at retail in Australia, really hard to justify that price, and makes owning them feel underwhelming. Got mine cheaper though.

[GoktimusPrime]

They are kind of a novelty.
Well said... and yeah, I can't justify paying that price just for a novelty personally. :p I might consider getting a Revoltech if I found one cheap enough. I'd take one for free - hell, I accepted a box load of Transformers Animorphs once for free so I don't think there's anything TF related that I wouldn't accept for free*. :D :)

-----
*Azn'd!

[Lord_Zed]

Well said... and yeah, I can't justify paying that price just for a novelty personally. :p I might consider getting a Revoltech if I found one cheap enough. I'd take one for free - hell, I accepted a box load of Transformers Animorphs once for free so I don't think there's anything TF related that I wouldn't accept for free*. :D :)

-----
*Azn'd!

Ummm aren't all toys kind of a novelty? I can't really see any difference between a Transforming toy and an Action figure in that sense there both toys.

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

My biggets disappointment wiht revoltch, aside from the ugly choice of DW looking Optimus, was the way the sculpting gets in the way of posing sometimes. As an example with Megatron, tring to get his foot pointing to the side for balance ends up with it pointing down.

They are very dynamic though and one little challenge I like to give myself is to try and make them look bored or just standing around. Its harder than one would think ;)

I do have all of them though and think Megatron and Hot Rod are the best. I must say, overall I like them.

[griffin]

Don't be put off by anyone trying to talk you out of them if you like them. There are enough people who like the Revoltech Transformers Toys, to warrant buying them if you wanted to.

[STL]

I grabbed my Revoltech for $23 a longtime back on a HLJ preorder but online prices from the eBay seller Shingstar have gone between $24 to $27 to ship just one of them. He seems to have only Hot Rod and Starscream. At the price point of a Deluxe, they're very good for what they offer and even better in mnay cases.

[GoktimusPrime]

Ummm aren't all toys kind of a novelty?
Ssh! By novelty I mean something that's not really what I consider part of the main Transformers line, much like TF Jrs and Choro-Q TFs.

[turtle boy]

I have all 5 R/tech tfs. and I must say, as cheep as i got them, I also like them enough to pay upto $25 for them. $50 is over kill though. My words would be, Grab em, they are cool fun to play with.

[Lord_Zed]

My biggets disappointment wiht revoltch, aside from the ugly choice of DW looking Optimus, was the way the sculpting gets in the way of posing sometimes. As an example with Megatron, tring to get his foot pointing to the side for balance ends up with it pointing down.

They are very dynamic though and one little challenge I like to give myself is to try and make them look bored or just standing around. Its harder than one would think ;)

I do have all of them though and think Megatron and Hot Rod are the best. I must say, overall I like them.

I agree about Optimus, why did Pat Lee Always make his windows look like boxes?

[GoktimusPrime]

Cos he can't draw? (oh snap!) :p

[jacksplatt11]

Cos he can't draw? (oh snap!) :p

Well, he can put a pen to paper so... evidently, he can draw... Perhaps, you should say, he can't draw well?

[turtle boy]

Or he has no idea what a truck is supposed to look like?

[STL]

While I'm not a fan of Pat Lee as a human being his art was decent enough. Not the best of the IDW artists but still very solid. I had serious issues with his storytelling too as always think of that sequence between Superion and Devastator and how poorly it was thought out.

That said, you have to give him credit. He took the TF licence and was instrumental in the franchise's success as a comic series. All of his series and issues averaged around the 60K mark. The current comics don't even come close to that. I think he's an abominal human being and have nothing but contempt for him but I think that allegations that are constantly made against him that he cannot draw or is a pathetic artist are unfounded and fail to objectively view his contribution.

It's all relative as to who is a good artist and a bad artist. Different artists have different styles too and that means that one style might appeal to you and another may not. If at least 60K worth of fans warmed to him once upon time and Marvel Comics and DC comics, and Image Comics hired him he can't be a clueless hack. There's a difference between not liking a person and objectively viewing a person's achievements and I feel that that distinction by many fans cannot be made.

[STL]

Some piccies of the non-Transforming stuff I have on display:

(I started with the Revoltech but seeing as we got a bit onto statues and whatnot I did the full round up of my bedroom. I tried Revoltech Hot Rod 5 times but it just kept on being blurry so he's noticeably absent but he's always on my desk, ready for a little twiddle.)


Revoltech Starscream
http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/3152/dscf4673ks5.jpg

Revoltech Megatron
http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/6492/dscf4672jw9.jpg

Overall display shot:
http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/7849/dscf4674bk8.jpg

Optimus Prime corner
http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/6758/dscf4671ew5.jpg

The Matrix & G1 Robot Heroes
http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/4708/dscf4670eq6.jpg

Hardhero Rhinox
http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/4891/dscf4668ma5.jpg

Metalverse Hot Rod
http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/1559/dscf4667pj6.jpg

Diamond Select Jazz
http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/6771/dscf4664ly2.jpg

Diamond Select Reformatted Megatron
http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/8529/dscf4663sp8.jpg

Diamond Select Omega Supreme
http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/9889/dscf4662md4.jpg

With all of the statues, I'm pretty selective. They have to be favourite characters or very displayable. And they have to be able to be put on display. On top of that they really have to capture the character very well for me. So yes, I think investing in non-TFing TFs is a good thing. Of course, its always going to be secondary to the toys themselves but if u have extra $$$ some are great visually and some have great play value too

As you can see, the Revoltech, even if you aren't playing with them add to the overall feel of the room. As Tetsuwan pointed out above, they are just full of life and vitality and add that spark to your display unlike static G1 toys which as great as they are are dull and lack personality. I'm not saying they're better mind you but they definitely spice up the room. It's a pity I couldn't get that image of Revoltech Hot Rod working b/c its very dynamic and lots of fun. He's always on my desk and I'm always fidgeting with him. So Revoltech along with statues and busts and whatnot have the potential imo to boost the displayability of a collection.

Among my other wants are probably the Unicron statue at some point. I'd really like that. Great representation and lots of presence about it.

[GoktimusPrime]

I've replied to the comments about Pat Lee's art here (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?p=75592#post75592)

[jacksplatt11]

I can put pen to paper and draw a stick figure, therefore I can draw... No, it's not good, but I can draw. I can also draw a box, and a damn good one at that

[Gutsman Heavy]

thank you Gok, for putting my thoughts of why I HATE Lee's style into something that isn't an angry mess. good job! :)

[Robzy]

thank you Gok, for putting my thoughts of why I HATE Lee's style into something that isn't an angry mess. good job! :)+1

I have no respect for Pat Lee (as an artist or a person)!

[GoktimusPrime]

I can put pen to paper and draw a stick figure, therefore I can draw... No, it's not good, but I can draw. I can also draw a box, and a damn good one at that
You'd still be a better artist than Dwayne Turner (http://tfwiki.net/w2/images2/7/79/Humanfactor.jpg). ;)

"Dwayne Turner's art is utterly diabolical - there's a vague stab at Bill Sienkiewicz-esque expressionism, but Turner really doesn't have the goods to pull it off, and it just looks muddy and drab." (tfarchive.com)

[jacksplatt11]

Oh yeah, that's rubbish compared to my stick figures and squares... I might even try a triangle, if I'm feeling risky enough

[Hot Rodimus]

Been a while since I checked this thread so I only just noticed the pics you posted STL. I like a lot of your stuff but that Omega Supreme and Hot Rod that you own are awesome!
Thanks for posting mate.

[i_amtrunks]

Thanks for the pic of the Rhinox Statue STL, I love that piece of art.

[heroic_decepticon]

Nope. ... The "Pat Lee" deformed proportions don't appeal to me either. JMO. :)

+1