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We've seen a fair bit of Predaking already, at the New York Toyfair and at the Australian Toyfair, and even though it should still be another 3 months from release, some people in Asia have managed to get their hands on it and posted up a heap of photos, of its combined mode and its individual modes.
Cool. The combined mode shots make him look a lot better than before. Proportions are nicer.
I can't decide if I like this or not though I suppose the inevitable 300 dollar plus AU price point will settle the matter finally.
So that answers my questions about how much kibble will be involved. I actually think I would have prefered it if those combined mode thighs were kibble and not backpacks connected to Headstrong and Tantrum. Still that's a minor complaint as I'll be displaying him in combined mode.
Also hopefully the stickering process won't be as terrible as Trypticon.
These pics were actually posted by Hasbro China on their Wechat platform, so they are technically not "in-hand" photos.
Divebomb's backpack is rather clever for the combined mode, but it hurts his bird mode.
I hadn't even consider the sticker process in my deliberations!Quote:
Originally Posted by DELTAprime
Actually with the exception of the tail, it's no worse than the G1 figure.Quote:
Originally Posted by Paulbot
I just don't know, when I look at it I think RID designing and I cant forgive that back kibble. If they release a box set from sdcc or takara I'll grab one, otherwise it can stay on the shelves.
The thing is though that in terms of backpack kibble, is it any worse than the G1 figure.Quote:
Originally Posted by ZoonMaster5000
Are these proto shots or final? Because Rampage's head looks like a red block with no face - not even eyes
No but that’s the problem it’s no better when it should be. Especially being voyager size they should be able to hide it a bit betterQuote:
Originally Posted by bowspearer
Divebomb is the Predacon I'm most familiar with (as he was the one I've had since being a kid) but to compare I went and got him.Quote:
Originally Posted by bowspearer
The G1 's "backpack" is in height about 1/2 to 2/3 the height of his body so the head is about halfway down (central, balanced), while the new one has the head so far down is accentuates the backpack making it look (way too much) bigger.
The "backpack" is short enough that it's just on his back leaving the legs and tail separate (and the waist swivel unaffected); he's streamlined, more animal like. The new one looks like a block with a head attached.
The original "backpack" is molded like engines/boosters so they seem to have a reason to be there on this bird (as much as Laserbeak's for instance). The new one again fails with this from what I can see
I'll accept I have a 30 year bond with the original so my expectations are high and using the wings to make the torso is clever. But I think I'd prefer to have seen a remold of POTP Swoop for my preferred POTP Divebomb.
I actually don't think the head situation is that bad, looking at comparative photos. The photos which show him in a flight position on Seibertron have the head in the same position. What might be causing the issue is that the top of the backpack features those two black blocks which lack moulding, which I'll address shortly. I think the problem is more that with the top piece of the backpack being the same colour as the head, the head gets lost visually far easier than it does on the G1 figure. I'd have kept them yellow - unless something in Predaking's deco was so crucial that it meant they had to be black.Quote:
Originally Posted by Paulbot
The moulding is definitely the problem there, but I'd argue that not in the way you're arguing it is. I note that behind the 2 black strips across the top are what looks like part of an air intake system and the tailwing assembly looks like a thrust nozzle. The problem I see is that top black piece. Had it been actually moulded as a pair of air intakes, then the whole backpack would easily have looked like a scramjet with wings, which would have been incredibly fitting for Divebomb. Sadly, those 2 unfinished parts have let the entire backpack section down compared to what it could have been.Quote:
Originally Posted by Paulbot
I appreciate where you're coming from but I don't see how it would have been possible for them to do that, have the proportions as they do and give Predaking a giant backpack with wings.Quote:
Originally Posted by Paulbot
My preference for a new Divebomb toy would be a remold of Swoop but yes that'd be impossible with the current giant Predaking. But if Predaking had been designed in scale with and was compatible with the other combiners it would be fine.Quote:
Originally Posted by bowspearer
Scans from a Japanese hobby magazine this month, features Predaking over several pages... and since the Japanese release is expected to be the same as the Hasbro release, these photos should be fairly accurate to what we will see released here mid-year.
A really nice touch is the transforming Prime Master. Really wish they'd done that with the other enigmas.