Classicsverse Silverbolt: just a dog or a complete turd?

I wish to register my deep disappointment with classicsverse Silverbolt. I love the original toy, which, despite its simple transformation, neatly hid the wings at the robot's sides and folded the nose-cone behind the robot out of sight. I was hugely excited to hear about the character's inclusion in the new universe lineup. But in the new version, the wings appear rigid and the nose of the plane bobs up annoyingly above the robot head. The result is the one of the worst examples of 'robot superglued to underside of plane, just fold down my legs and we're done' in tf history. To be fair, the alt mode looks ok from above -but a terrible mess from side on - and the paint job looks very nice. But unless he was woefully mistransformed at Botcon, this mould is laziness robotified.

Rant ends.

No really, don't be shy, tell us how you really feel. ;)

I was wondering if anyone else would notice how the Universe Silverbolt is just a two-peice jet with the robot bits hidden underneath. Similar to Targetmaster Needlenose.
So much hype on this figure with AU Toyfair, and a really nice jet mode, but the conversion and robot mode are disappointing.
Will still get it though... :p

I too was pretty psyched about this toy when it was first revealed, as I had all the Aerialbots when i was a kid! But, apart from the colours like you said, i'm not a big fan so far.

With the original, you're right that his wings folding back was kind of distinctive - this one has it reversed i think? In the original, doesn't the nose end up pointing down, not up? I really don't like his zig-zag style wing! Perhaps the zig-zag effect is to simulate a lightning bolt zig zag? Lame if so :P

It's hard to judge a figure based on just photos.

When you look at Classics Silverbolt's Alt & Bot mode:

http://www.seibertron.com/images/eve...niverse092.jpg

http://www.seibertron.com/images/eve...niverse096.jpg

http://www.seibertron.com/images/eve...niverse087.jpg.

The transformation does look pretty simple with his "Jet Shell" seemingly sitting on top of his bot mode :confused:

Compared to his G1 toy Alt & Bot mode:

http://www.seibertron.com/images/toy...verbolt005.jpg

http://www.seibertron.com/images/toy...verbolt010.jpg

http://www.seibertron.com/images/toy...verbolt030.jpg

& to his G1 Cartoon Alt & Bot mode:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...lt-vehicle.jpg

http://images.wikia.com/transformers...erialbots2.jpg

http://images.wikia.com/transformers...rbolt_Key1.jpg

& his G1 Comic Bot mode:

http://image.comicvine.com/uploads/i...erbolt_150.jpg

His Classics figure looks very dissimilar to any G1 incarnation of him. :confused:

Oh well, all this comparison stuff won't stop me from picking him up :D

I was dissapointed too but was also expecting it. Hasbro sucks at making large toys as they stuff them with sound and light gimmicks that occupy a lot of space in the figure and hinders its complexity as it leaves no room for packing away kibble.

But to be fair they've been incorporating gimmicks into large 'formers for years.
G1 had plenty of large bots with lights and sound gimmicks.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by griffin

Will still get it though... :p

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Pulse

Oh well, all this comparison stuff won't stop me from picking him up :D

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nod nod

Mind you, from the top the altmode looks pretty damn sweet. If there was a way to ditch all the undercarriage junk and simply have the top half be a Transformer (Silverbolt or not), I'd be sorely tempted to pick it up.

But yeah, the backpack-altmode effect is a real disappointment.

Looks close to that comic one to me.

Also is it just me, or does it look like they forgot to fold the outside wings back? Looks hinged to me there.
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Vaporizers reviews

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MV75

Looks close to that comic one to me.

Also is it just me, or does it look like they forgot to fold the outside wings back? Looks hinged to me there.

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Looking down on the plane mode, I don't think the main wings are foldable. The hinges we see underneath the main wings in bot mode are for the vertical stablising wings.

Drat, I was hoping that wasn't it and it was double hinged.

Ah well, I'll continue to call it Angel-bolt then. :D
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Bmw m43

Silverbolt - especially one trying to stick to comic/cartoon appearance - was always going to be a plane with a robot tucked underneath. While I'm not saying that's ideal, I'm perfectly happy with what I've seen of this toy so far. It does what it should - look like Silverbolt in both modes.

I agree. While the transformation may suck, I do believe that both modes look good.

I detest all electronics in TFs.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by griffin

I was wondering if anyone else would notice how the Universe Silverbolt is just a two-peice jet with the robot bits hidden underneath. Similar to Targetmaster Needlenose.
So much hype on this figure with AU Toyfair, and a really nice jet mode, but the conversion and robot mode are disappointing.
Will still get it though... :p

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I think I prefer the cardboard version...:p

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gamblor916

But to be fair they've been incorporating gimmicks into large 'formers for years.
G1 had plenty of large bots with lights and sound gimmicks.

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But did they get in the way of transformation so much? Plus with technology today more should be able to be done to make it a better toy.

I have to admit that I am getting tired of Tfs with electonics, but all it is is a lame noise gimmick. Energon Voyagers were bad for that(Mirage for example). I would rather have some appropriate gimmick that didn't need massive batteries (maybe lighty eyes/weapon).

One thing I disliked about CYB Optimus was that for the two light gimmicks he had, it took 2 AA Batteries that completely upset the balance. Surely they could've used smaller batteries?!?!?!?

I don't mind electronic gimmicks perse, but I find many of Hasbro's gimmicks are generic, lazy inclusions. They have a strong tendency to cause the Transformer by be simpler in detail and/or transformation than you would otherwise expect. I avoid Transformers designed around a battery/speaker box.

_Good_ electronic gimmicks seem to be rare post Beast Wars (which used them sparingly).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dirge

I don't mind electronic gimmicks perse, but I find many of Hasbro's gimmicks are generic, lazy inclusions. They have a strong tendency to cause the Transformer by be simpler in detail and/or transformation than you would otherwise expect. I avoid Transformers designed around a battery/speaker box.

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I'm w/ Dirge here. Not a hater but they do have a tendency to pervert the quality of TF.

As for Silverbolt, I do agree I am severely disappointed by the transformation. But as Jaydisc pointed out both modes do look really good and the head sculpt is just a winner. That tips the toy to a very decent toy.

If this wasn't G1 Silverbolt though I doubt I'd be as generous. I am curious as to what they'll use this as repaint though. And as Griffin touched upon, Needlenose came to mind.

I'm fine with electronics, as long as they are used sparingly, but why oh why does Hasbro think that the sounds grabs they use need to be set upon such easy to set off triggers?

Silverbolt looks nice enough for me to want him, although he will probably be one of the last Classics figures I'll get.

:)I can make my own Pwooooo Pwoooo sounds thank you, I don't need any electronic gimmicks to help me be an idiot:p:D.

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Originally Posted by 1orion2many

:)I can make my own Pwooooo Pwoooo sounds thank you, I don't need any electronic gimmicks to help me be an idiot:p:D.

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Making the sounds yourself is also more fun... :p

*Ka boom*

yeah the concept is rather bland, classics 2.0 toys are lazy in that they dont have much character design references from across the transformer series.

It seems as though the only figures that have electronics "that add to the TF" are Leader-sized ones (eg. Unicron). Ultra-sized down, there doesn't seem to be any purpose for electronics at all.

Just my 2 cents... :p

i would loved classics powerglide to have some sort of electronics , he could say some of his awesome phrases.

"and a way..we..go.."

As he is an Ultra, I strongly believe he will have electronics.

im not crazy about electronics in tfs

like orion said, i can make my own sounds

plus batteries weigh them down and theres the danger of leaking batteries and damaged electrical gimmicks if you drop the figure.

Silverbolt looks alright to me, but wheres Superion?

I was never crazy about G1 Silverbolt in either mode. I liked him because of his characterisation = fear of flying! The bot-box underneath (a la Sky Lynx) bugged me in what was meant to be a sleek, fast Concorde. The new one seems to be a great homage to my eyes.

Not a big fan of big TF's. To often I buy them and then feel buyers remorse as thier lack of detail or intresting transformation, make them little more than oversized and overpriced deluxes.

While Silverbolt is a good hommage, at ultra prciepoint I can't help but feel cheated by his simplicity. Although his colours are all wrong, I think I prefer Powerglide.

what could be worse is that they release a classics superion using the superion maximus model, and charge you the same price as an ultra size transformer , then two months later Takara announce they will do a Henkei classics Superion, then some months later some chinese factory makes a knock-off version of G1 superion.

Your logic is all backwards. They already have the KO g1 superion. :D
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New mexico dispensary

first i've actualy heard of this figure... and i must say, LOOKS AWESOME!

I will be getting this toy only because it is an excellent tribute to the G1 cartoon/comic character. However I am sure that I will be utterly dissapointed from the design point of view because as a 'Classics' it appears to have about the same engineering level as his 20+ year old original toy.