Childhood vs Encore Soundwave

[kurdt_the_goat]

Just a quick one, i know there's been several Soundwave comparisons, but i managed to get my original Soundwave back so i'm doing one anyway!

Now, i'm not sure if he's a first run, or euro classics one, but he's my original and that's what matters!

I was shocked to find my Encore Soundwave instructs those red stickers to go on the gun barrels as opposed to the front of the cassette player, which, now that i look at my original, seems like the right place for them :o

Original left, Encore right

http://australian-postcodes.com/grayskull-soundwave-snarl/P1070131.jpg

http://australian-postcodes.com/grayskull-soundwave-snarl/P1070138.jpg

[jaydisc]

Are the heads different?

[kurdt_the_goat]

Marginally (except the obvious yellow). One's got a piece slightly thicker than the other, and some of the fine details in his ears appear a bit sharper on the old one i think (which could be mold degredation). I'll take some pics tonite.

[GoktimusPrime]

Yeah, Encore Soundwave uses the Soundblaster head, which is 'rounder' and 'fatter' compared to the original Soundwave head which is 'flatter' (for lack of better words). You'll notice that Encore Soundwave also has Soundblaster's cassette deck buttons and door hinges. Encore Soundwave is essentially a repaint of Soundblaster, but with a retooled chest door. I suspect that the original Soundwave mould might be inaccessible thus they had to use the Soundblaster mould. But at least TakaraTOMY went to the effort of retooling the chest door which is more than what Hasbro did for their Soundwave reish.

[kurdt_the_goat]

http://australian-postcodes.com/grayskull-soundwave-snarl/P1070152.jpg
http://australian-postcodes.com/grayskull-soundwave-snarl/P1070153.jpg
http://australian-postcodes.com/grayskull-soundwave-snarl/P1070154.jpg

Obviously you're right about the differences Goktimus, but i wouldn't say there's a separate Soundblaster mold in it's entirety - rather, there's only one mold but by now it consists of various redone parts as bits have degraded or broken over the years. Probably because Soundwave was used before Transformers, his mold was already on it's last legs by the time Soundblaster came out. My guess is Hasbro simply thought people would like the Soundblaster double door on the reissue, so they used that one.

[5FDP]

But at least TakaraTOMY went to the effort of retooling the chest door which is more than what Hasbro did for their Soundwave reish.

I actually don't mind the double cassette deck. Since he was reissued with both Laserbeak and Ravage, it's convenient to be able to store them both. I'm sure you'll also agree it's more fun when staging a scene...

Soundwave - "Laserbeak - eject; Ravage - eject"

Ravage - "Dude, I'm already out... the bird's hoggin' all your chest space"

:D

[gekisou]

I didn't pick up the Encore release cos I have the 'Book' Release for Soundwave (missed out on Soundblaster unfortunately) and I understand why Takara made the two molds (single and double chest cavity) and am happy they did so.

I also understand why Hasbro used the double chest cavity, cos they didn't have a Soundblaster and using the double chest version would give it a variant.

Also, I never had an original Soundwave so getting the re-release, even if it is the bastard child of Soundblaster and Soundwave parts, made me very happy.

Thanx for the pics but one question... WHY DID YOU DETACH THE HEAD?!!!!!
*ahem*

[jaydisc]

Wow, the difference is so minimal.

[GoktimusPrime]

Yeah, it's not a huge difference. I think Encore Soundwave is a fine reissue - only purists would really be fussed by the differences (then again, G1 purists don't collect reissues in the first place, so I guess it's rather moot :p).

Obviously you're right about the differences Goktimus, but i wouldn't say there's a separate Soundblaster mold in it's entirety - rather, there's only one mold but by now it consists of various redone parts as bits have degraded or broken over the years. Probably because Soundwave was used before Transformers, his mold was already on it's last legs by the time Soundblaster came out. My guess is Hasbro simply thought people would like the Soundblaster double door on the reissue, so they used that one.
What I suspect happened was that in 1987 the Soundwave mould was retooled to make Soundblaster. Since then they've lost the Soundwave mould but the Soundblaster mould has survived - hence why Soundwave reissues are now all based on the Soundblaster mould.

The same thing happened with Optimus Prime and Jazz, both of those toys are actually based on the G2 moulds. The mould differences are minimal - but the most noticeable difference on Jazz was the "poop eating" grin, which fans complained about but TOMY did retool the face to make it more G1 accurate for Encore Jazz.

[liegeprime]

What I suspect happened was that in 1987 the Soundwave mould was retooled to make Soundblaster. Since then they've lost the Soundwave mould but the Soundblaster mould has survived - hence why Soundwave reissues are now all based on the Soundblaster mould.


erm didnt Takara Issue out - in the book type series a Soundwave then Soundblaster... was the Booktype Soundwave's tapedeck different as well ( as in fits only 1 tape) from the original. Anyone have this fig to compare to the original? I only own the original and Takara reissue (under classics line) so Im curious...

[gekisou]

Yes... the book version of Soundwave only fitted one tape in its chest. And the head did look different, I compared my 'book' Soundwave to pics of the original and could see the difference.

[liegeprime]

Yes... the book version of Soundwave only fitted one tape in its chest. And the head did look different, I compared my 'book' Soundwave to pics of the original and could see the difference.

Cheers, erm can you post pics of the difference when you get the chance please:), thanks!

[GoktimusPrime]

This page (http://homepage3.nifty.com/redalert/toybox/tf/g1/g1d02/tfg1d02.html) has pics of reissue TFC-10 Soundwave. It appears to be the same as Encore Soundwave in terms of using the Soundblaster head, buttons and door hinges, but with a retooled flat chest door.

Here are comparative photos I took of G1, Encore and Hasbro reissue Soundwaves:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/soundwaves-1.jpg
G1 Soundwave's buttons are three separate 'pieces' whereas Encore and Hasbro Reissue's Soundwave's is a single piece. G1 Soundwave also doesn't have the visible hinges under the chest door whereas the others do.

And here's comparative pics of G1 Soundwave, Hasbro reissue Soundwave and Soundblaster (reissue):
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/soundwave_soundblaster.jpg

[kurdt_the_goat]

What's the deal with those red stickers on the front of the cassette mode then? The Encore release definitely says to put them on the guns, but even that original in box has them on the front of the cassette player!

[5FDP]

That's a nice looking G1 Soundwave box Gok *hint* :D

[liegeprime]

Thanks for the photos Gok. Okaaay so that's how they did it with the flat chest booktype one. hmmm, Thank goodness I was able to keep my original.

@Kurdt: The red stickies should be at the legs actually, but yeah the encore one instructs to stick it somewhere else. The original stickies instruction for G1 has them at the legs, i dont know why the new instructions says otherwise. Just take a look at all the original G1 catalogue.

[GoktimusPrime]

What's the deal with those red stickers on the front of the cassette mode then? The Encore release definitely says to put them on the guns, but even that original in box has them on the front of the cassette player!
Yeah, they're meant to be for the guns/batteries, but some people put them on the front as "speakers." I got my G1 Soundwave second hand and the previous owner had put them on the front. I would've put them on the guns, which is what I did with my reissues.

That's a nice looking G1 Soundwave box Gok *hint* :D
I got it for free from school classmate. He'd long lost his Soundwave and Buzzsaw, but he still had the box which he gave to me. I found my first G1 Soundwave at a market for $5... unfortunately 5 years ago the head snapped off, but Demonac helped me to get this one (and I gave him my old one which he wanted for parts :))

[5FDP]

I got it for free from school classmate.

I would be happy if I got it for free as well. It's one of the last few boxes I am after.