Toy Review - Siege Reflector (Refraktor)

WARRIOR
Series - Generations
Sub-line - Siege
Sub-sub-line - War For Cybertron
Size/class - Deluxe
New/remould/redeco - New
Wave - 3
Released here - June 2019
Approximate Retail Price - $29
Approximate Size - 12.5cm
Allegiance - Decepticon
Alt-mode - Artillery Hovercraft
Main Features/Gimmicks - Kodak Moment(TM)
Main Colours - purple & grey
Main Accessories - rifle, shield, stomach module

Photos

In box
https://i.ibb.co/VVhhrz5/SIEGE-refraktor01.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/cJ9F1dn/SIEGE-refraktor02.jpghttps://i.ibb.co/PwDTWjD/SIEGE-refraktor03.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/D9KF9NF/SIEGE-refraktor04.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/dfDKSPL/SIEGE-refraktor05.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/hFxRg6X/SIEGE-refraktor06.jpghttps://i.ibb.co/xg4kSCm/SIEGE-refraktor07.jpg

Fake mortar mode when you only have 1 Refraktor and try to cheat through MS Paint :p
https://i.ibb.co/xXfCfcc/SIEGE-refra...ector-fail.jpg

Actual mortar mode if you're lucky enough to have found 3 Refraktors
https://i.ibb.co/51xyrG7/SIEGE-refraktor09.jpg

Comparison with G1
https://i.ibb.co/K7d6FP6/SIEGE-refraktor08.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/RB3WMxR/SIEGE-refraktor10.jpg

More MS Paint trickery in this digitally faked group photo :p
https://i.ibb.co/hWqNrqG/SIEGE-refraktor-reflector.jpg

Thoughts
Awesome toy. I just wish that it weren't so goddamn freakin' RARE! :( *deep.sigh*

Great toy... once you have a set. Expensive (especially for what I paid!) but worth it for those who grew up with the 84-86 era Transformers.

The camera mode is great and the robot mode really sings to the G1 cartoon Reflector.

The jet mode... yeah well it's a non-event, really. But I don't care because I can make the camera mode.

I am looking forward to this figure but I think saying a toy is goddamn freaking rare when it is actually only just start being founs in stores is very misleading. It is not even shortpacked.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dirge

The jet mode... yeah well it's a non-event, really. But I don't care because I can make the camera mode.

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If you have 3 you can make a better-looking jet mode. Of course, the camera is the main draw, but the combined jet is a thing you can also do if you feel like it.

(image belongs to PrimalFury off TFW2005)
https://i.ibb.co/hKp5HvG/62087022-92...96515328-o.jpg

Everything's a jet these days once you lay it flat

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sinnertwin

Everything's a jet these days once you lay it flat

---

https://i.ibb.co/zbRzbpb/temp.png

Got 2/3 of this fine boy today. Very details and solid figure with really nice colours. Size would be an issue, but he is approximately a Cybertron scout, which fits well. One more of this guy to round out my three and my 1984 Decepticons will be complete. :)

His arms seem abnormally long in a lot of these photos...

More than anything I'm impressed with your MS Paint skills.

Finally completed the set! I added stickers (actually meant for TR Astrotrain) to give blue and red highlights to "Spyglass" and "Spectro." I've left my "Viewfinder" unaltered.

https://i.ibb.co/G7H56Wq/SIEGE-reflector01.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/sK7sxzX/SIEGE-reflector02-spectro.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/vYJRk9S/SIEGE-reflector02-spyglass.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/4d7w698/SIEGE-refle...viewfinder.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/M1BZJYh/SIEGE-reflector03.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/55Fb505/SIEGE-reflector04.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/BjPLHW9/SIEGE-reflector05-spectro.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/fFGJ22R/SIEGE-reflector05-spyglass.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/VqzYX4m/SIEGE-refle...viewfinder.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/d2Nn8Dm/SIEGE-reflector06.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/hZ7TQF9/SIEGE-reflector07.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/7QwqHnq/SIEGE-reflector08.jpg

If Hasbro had released Refraktor as a Leader class toy with three small combining figures in a Leader size box and a Leader size price tag ($90-100 / $70 on sale) but no other changes from what we get buying three separate deluxes would we think it was a good buy? I think we probably wouldn't but because we're buying three things separately ($20-$35 each) does it seems like we're not spending leader class prices - even though we are?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Paulbot

If Hasbro had released Refraktor as a Leader class toy with three small combining figures in a Leader size box and a Leader size price tag ($90-100 / $70 on sale) but no other changes from what we get buying three separate deluxes would we think it was a good buy? I think we probably wouldn't but because we're buying three things separately ($20-$35 each) does it seems like we're not spending leader class prices - even though we are?

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I would love for an exclusive set of the three bots in G1 deco. :D

I wouldn't even classify Reflector as a Deluxe class figure. 3 Commander class figures for $90 is a bit of a rip when you look at it like that.

I got Kmart to price match Big W (as their online catalogue clearly shows Wave 3 Deluxes) so I paid $19 each, which is close to the price of a Commander Class figure ($18). :)

More photos

Robot in disguise
https://i.ibb.co/Y2mnZkc/SIEGE-reflector09.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/5c1YLN6/SIEGE-reflector10.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/rmhxDwV/SIEGE-reflector11.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/mypnYpZ/SIEGE-reflector12.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/Xj5QjGk/SIEGE-reflector13.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/VN17Cj1/SIEGE-reflector14.jpg


Up till now I've been fan moding the Mortar^camera mode with the robot arms resting at the back. Didn't realise I was doing it and I guess it was out of G1 bias. But I flipped Spectro and Spyglass around and transformed them the same way as Viewfinder then reattached them, and sure enough it creates a better looking and more solid camera. Upon closer examination of the stock photo this is the correct way to transform them for this mode.
https://i.ibb.co/5L0NNC2/SIEGE-reflector15.jpg

Here are rear views of the official way (top) and my previous unofficial more G1-esque transformation (bottom).
The arms don't tab in anywhere on the unofficial mode, they just dangle there. Nor do the legs really lock in. But with the official mode everything locks into place and the robots all connect more tightly.
https://i.ibb.co/SJndL0s/SIEGE-reflector16.jpg


Now of course the official mode doesn't show where to place the remaining two lens pieces. I'd been using one as a film winder and lifting Spectro's head as the main switch like on the G1 toy. But it looks a bit goofy (especially from behind with the exposed robot face). Another way is to simply place both remaining pieces atop Spectro and Spyglass and imagine one as the winder and the other as the main/shutter speed switch. <shrugs>
https://i.ibb.co/b1RkZwC/SIEGE-reflector17.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GoktimusPrime

Now of course the official mode doesn't show where to place the remaining two lens pieces. I'd been using one as a film winder and lifting Spectro's head as the main switch like on the G1 toy. But it looks a bit goofy (especially from behind with the exposed robot face)

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Mind you, the official way has two robot chests on the back (rather than the more generic greeble of the floating arms)... so what difference is a face added into the mix? :p

I do agree, though the arms locked in makes more sense. I've just tucked them away on mine (with the head-button, which is faithful to G1).

Where do you find the official combined mode instructions from? I've managed to work it out myself but I'm not sure everyone would be able to figure it out.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fungal Infection

Where do you find the official combined mode instructions from?

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It's not in the instructions but the official transformation for the combined Mortar Mode is shown on the back of the box, but yeah, somewhat odd that they didn't bother to include it in the instructions. Not sure why. :confused:
https://i.ibb.co/BgbLcSr/temp.jpg

Tha_Phantom was mucking around with my Reflector recently and flipped up Viewfinder's feet to form a faux-viewfinder. :)
https://i.ibb.co/nQvg954/SIEGE-reflector18.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tha_Phantom

If you have 3 you can make a better-looking jet mode. Of course, the camera is the main draw, but the combined jet is a thing you can also do if you feel like it.

(image belongs to PrimalFury off TFW2005)
https://i.ibb.co/hKp5HvG/62087022-92...96515328-o.jpg

---

I've given that fan mode a try, and honestly the pictures are a bit misleading - it doesn't hold together that well, and aligns a little crooked too. I've already come up with a couple of alternate fan modes that (IMHO) are a lot more interesting and stable. I'll take some pics later if I get some time.

Also - when in their 'compact' form for the camera, we could always just say they're disguised as energon cubes lol :p

Overall I'm really enjoying these guys as a set, fingers crossed for a G1 toy set with new colours, heads and the extra camera parts - I would happily double-dip on these guys.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sutton

Also - when in their 'compact' form for the camera, we could always just say they're disguised as energon cubes lol :p

Overall I'm really enjoying these guys as a set, fingers crossed for a G1 toy set with new colours, heads and the extra camera parts - I would happily double-dip on these guys.

---

Supposedly there's a G1 toy inspired boxset in the works, according to Daim Choc on FB

Good robot mode only a pity about it's size but I love the feature of a rampart atop the shield and it's possible to mount the gun on top of it. The alt. mode on the other hand is easily forgettable and FOC Shockwave's spaceship mode obliterates it.

P.S. It would've been better if the alt. mode was presented as a mounted gun than a spaceship.

Finally got my 3. Yeah the individual altmodes are pretty crap, they should have put big handles on them so they could be held by gestalts or something as guns. However the robots themselves are pretty good and I absolutely adore the camera mode! It was a lot more intuitive to put together than I thought it would be. This is def a toy where you wanna grab all 3 :)

So far easily my fav of Siege, which is saying a lot considering how much I love Shockwaves altmode :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by GoktimusPrime

Now of course the official mode doesn't show where to place the remaining two lens pieces. I'd been using one as a film winder and lifting Spectro's head as the main switch like on the G1 toy. But it looks a bit goofy (especially from behind with the exposed robot face). Another way is to simply place both remaining pieces atop Spectro and Spyglass and imagine one as the winder and the other as the main/shutter speed switch. <shrugs>

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I put one on top and leave the other attached to the front before putting the lens on. I think that makes the most sense.

I'm amazed how well the 3 go together and all guns forming for the stand.

The official instructions, which were posted in the news section last month as a link, so might have been missed...

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2019/082701.jpg

That's from the TakaraTomy website, and it only uses two of the front shutter/lens/disk-thingies for the combined camera mode.

Yeah, these guys are sweet.

https://i.ibb.co/SXdbN8L/71183931-10...38738432-o.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/M5GwLRQ/71171332-10...73339392-o.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/dfsg8zR/71495999-10...60705792-o.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/Zmy6w2q/71397799-10...22325504-o.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/rZcXwYZ/69774966-10...14563840-o.jpg

Is it wrong that I am getting a nostalgic, near sensual buzz from handling a toy SLR? There is something about the way it fits in your palms anyone under 30 won't get.