Toy Review - Transformers Prime AM-26 Smokescreen

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9th January 2013, 03:32 PM
GoktimusPrime

Toy Review - Transformers Prime AM-26 Smokescreen

Series - Transformers Prime
Sub-line - Arms Micron
Size/class - Deluxe
New/remould/redeco - retool of Knock Out
Wave - AM-26
Released here - N/A (Japan, November 2012)
Approximate Retail Price - 2100yen (about AU$23)
Approximate Size - 13.5cm
Allegiance - Autobot
Alt-mode - Sports car
Main Features/Gimmicks - 5mm weapon ports
Main Colours - White and black
Main Accessories - "S-2" Arms Micron model kit toy

Images.

Thoughts:
+ The retooled head is the only real effort put into this toy. Everything else reeks of laziness. In vehicle mode the entire toy is just white. Only some of the robot parts add some black accents in robot mode, but even then it's just so colourlessly dull.
+ As with all Arms Microns toys, Smokescreen relies on user applied stickers to add detail, but HEAVILY so in this case. :(
+ The 5mm ports are unsightly in vehicle mode, especially the two "handlebar" posts sticking out from the back.
+ The toy shares the same flaws as Knock Out... no attempt was made to fix the problem of the head not having anywhere to really solidly lock on in robot mode, so it just floats there same as Knock Out.
+ The retooled head does look very very nice and is exquisitely painted with details. If only that standard was applied to the rest of the toy.
+ I haven't opened up or assembled S-2 yet. Can't wait to be disappointed by it.

I'd only recommend this toy if you're desperate to have a Smokescreen toy now (I got this toy before BH Smokescreen was announced), even then I wouldn't recommend paying full RRP for it (I got mine on sale for 1527JPY (approx. $16)). Otherwise wait and see if the Beast Hunter version is any better (if nothing else, at least it'll be an original mould :o)
11th January 2013, 10:33 PM
GoktimusPrime

So I finally got around to assembling S-2 today. Total piece of crap Arms Micron toy... the plastic quality is so damn flimsy it's not funny. :( The only redeeming grace of S-2, and I must admit it's a pretty good one... the robot mode is a very obvious homage to G1 Devcon!! :eek:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y22.../devcon_S2.jpg

I don't think this is quite cool enough to go and BUY a TF Prime Smokescreen if you don't already want this toy... but for those who already have one, I think it's a neat bonus.
14th January 2013, 11:54 PM
GoktimusPrime

I've posted comparison photos of Smokescreen and Knock Out here.
18th February 2013, 08:07 AM
5FDP

Had a fiddle of Goki's yesterday and it was my first hands-on experience with the AM series. I thought I would like it being a G1 sticker purist... how wrong I was. Unlike G1, this toy seemed to rely heavily on stickers for details that should have been coloured / accentuated by default.

Thanks Goki - you've saved me some money because I'll be skipping this line.
18th February 2013, 01:16 PM
GoktimusPrime

Yep... I thought I wouldn't mind the stickers either, but they just don't work. G1 toys are relatively not as detailed or rounded in their sculpting, so there's lot of more flat surfaces to put stickers on. It just doesn't work as well on modern toys with superior sculpting that are meant to rely on paint apps and tampographs for added detail. I don't mind applying stickers on reissues, because these are reproductions of old toys... but with modern toys it's just crapola. And as you said, AMs are really too reliant on stickers for details (although Smokescreen is an extreme example, the others aren't as bad as him). Good example - TFPRiD Vehicon vs AM Vehicon - I have both, and I much prefer Hasbro's. As with Smokescreen, the Vehicon comes with stickers that cover up the transparent headlights, which look really nice _without_ the stickers, and the stickers actually ruin it! It's a clear case of "less is better" with some of these stickers. Also, AM Vehicon's Decepticon logo is applied ON the chest, which has a window covering a nicely detailed interior where there is a flat panel for the insignia... but the sticker cannot be directly applied onto that panel because it's covered by the window!! Hasbro's version has the insignia tampograhed on that panel, then covered by the window - beautiful!

The Microns themselves are just rubbish that require MORE stickers. Gah!
The only AM toys I've collected have been toys that Hasbro haven't released: Voyager War Breakdown, Skywarp, Thundercracker, Jet Vehicon, Vehicon (cos the Hasbro one was taking ages to come out here, and even when it did it was initially hard to find) and Smokescreen (because I'd ordered it before news of BH Smokescreen came out). Thankfully I got my Smokescreen on sale, so I paid about $16 for it. But yeah, I'd highly recommend just waiting for Beast Hunter Deluxe Smokescreen to come out and get that instead.

I know I'll be buying a BH Smokescreen when I find one! My AM Smokescreen will just stay displayed in vehicle mode after that! :p
18th February 2013, 01:22 PM
Paulbot

I voted "no". Beast Hunters Smokescreen removes any need for this figure (as might the Japanese release of it). I would always get a non-sticked, non-porty Prime figure over an Arms Micron version (except AM Frenzy whose colours work much better than Hasbro Rumble).
18th February 2013, 01:28 PM
griffin

Some do rely heavily on stickers (like the white ones), but quite a few others don't... looking more like Gen1 toys, with just a few highlights added by stickers. It really comes down to how many different colours of plastics they use, and if those other colours are significant enough to be a good toy even without stickers.
Since Wheeljack was released by Hasbro, that was an easy one to avoid, but Smokescreen was necessary (at the time), and if the Beast Hunters version is decent and more cartoon-accurate than the Knock-Out redeco, it will be easy to pass as well (if you are only buying show characters, or JP toys that Hasbro didn't release).
19th February 2013, 08:07 PM
Tetsuwan Convoy

I votyed not even interested. Now with the coming of the BH version, which looks like a new toy/heavy remould, it is much more Smokescreen-accurate:rolleyes: .

Sounds to me that this AM version is a bugger with stickers. Much like Breakdown. 43. 43 damn stickers on that bugger@@!
20th February 2013, 02:27 AM
kaiden

still love the car mold and if those weren't stickers, smokescreen would look absolutely amazing in car mode.

Just wish hasbro would get their shit together and release breakdown and such with more show accurate weapons.

im sitting here watching season 2 and all the toys (except FE) have disappointed me.
21st February 2013, 08:49 PM
Tetsuwan Convoy

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaiden

im sitting here watching season 2 and all the toys (except FE) have disappointed me.

Yup, same here. I bet I wuld like them more if I hadn't gotten the FEs. Man they are sooo nice...
22nd February 2013, 12:59 PM
UltraMarginal

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paulbot

I voted "no". Beast Hunters Smokescreen removes any need for this figure (as might the Japanese release of it). I would always get a non-sticked, non-porty Prime figure over an Arms Micron version (except AM Frenzy whose colours work much better than Hasbro Rumble).

this, except I'm happy with the Haxbro Rumble, the weapons make it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by griffin

Some do rely heavily on stickers (like the white ones), but quite a few others don't... looking more like Gen1 toys, with just a few highlights added by stickers. It really comes down to how many different colours of plastics they use, and if those other colours are significant enough to be a good toy even without stickers.
Since Wheeljack was released by Hasbro, that was an easy one to avoid, but Smokescreen was necessary (at the time), and if the Beast Hunters version is decent and more cartoon-accurate than the Knock-Out redeco, it will be easy to pass as well (if you are only buying show characters, or JP toys that Hasbro didn't release).

And this, though with the AM chracters I do have, I haven't applied any stickers yet, I'm looking at some carefully applied paint apps here and there to replace crappy stickers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaiden

Just wish hasbro would get their shit together and release breakdown and such with more show accurate weapons.

I'd agree, to the point that the AM weapons are craptastic in most cases, but the Voyager poweriser weapons are equally as bad or worse from most accounts I've heard/read. there's a definite space here for third party parts making screen accurate weapons.

as for smokescreen, I held off in hopes of something better than a rough repaint, especially since the only similarity between the two seemed to be the curvy chest, which is significantly different between the show models.