Toy Review - Generations Thunderwing

(Please post comments, photos or even a fully comprehensive review - these are just brief details to start you off)


Toy Review - Thunderwing

Series - Generations
Sub-line - (Generation 1)
Size/class - Deluxe
New/remould/redeco - New
Wave - 5
Released here - December 2010
Approximate Retail Price - $25-30
Approximate Size - 17cm
Allegiance - Decepticon
Alt-mode - Fighter Jet
Main Features/Gimmicks - 2 missile launchers
Main Colours - White, blue, aqua, black, purple.
Main Accessories - 2 missiles, 2 launchers


http://www.toycollectors.com.au/tftoys/gen11.jpg

When I first saw the video reviews of this guy, I was disappointed since it looked to be another Universe Silverbolt/Darkwind/Skyfall (i.e. robot tucked underneath a jet).

After receiving it a few weeks ago when my RK order came through, he's actually not that bad and I actually don't mind him even though his transformation is pretty much as I mentioned above.

He displays well in bot mode and my only gripe about him is that he's a little bit shorter than most of the other Generation deluxes - however, you can cheat a bit and make him slightly taller by not putting his feet flat (Classics Jetfire style feet design).

I like also how his guns can combine to form one big gun - his detachable 'drone' on the nose of the jet is pretty useless in my opinion - would have been cooler if it actually turned into a mini con or another weapon or something.

One thing I have noticed (as well as a few other people) is that his vertical fins/wings on the back of the jet mode seemed to be attached too tightly or the pins are slightly too big for the hole as there are plastic stress marks forming on the edge of them.

Overall, I'd probably give this guy a 8.5/10 - definite must buy (even for those people like me who had no idea who Thunderwing was)

This toy is much nicer than I was expecting. :) The jet mode is mistransformed in packaging leaving the robot head exposed.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vector Prime

I like also how his guns can combine to form one big gun - his detachable 'drone' on the nose of the jet is pretty useless in my opinion - would have been cooler if it actually turned into a mini con or another weapon or something.

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The drone is a simple tribute to the G1 toy - and I think it works well in that regard. I like how the landing gear clips the drone in... far more secure than a simple peg like on the G1 toy (or other drones like BW Depth Charge's drone/gun).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vector Prime

One thing I have noticed (as well as a few other people) is that his vertical fins/wings on the back of the jet mode seemed to be attached too tightly or the pins are slightly too big for the hole as there are plastic stress marks forming on the edge of them.

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I don't have that problem on mine. <shrug>

I like this figure and how the designers have tried to make him different from your regular Seeker. That being said, him being that small and squat makes me wished they made a Voyager version. :(

And no, I don't have any problems with the stress marks...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gekisou

I like this figure and how the designers have tried to make him different from your regular Seeker.

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He's based on G1 Thunderwing, who was never a Seeker.

Comparison...
G1 Thunderwing-->http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y22...hunderwing.jpghttp://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y22...en_matrix1.jpg<--Generations Thunderwing

Does anyone else's Thunderwing have an extremely loose waist joint? It feels like there should be a peg behind his crotch just to make him more secure.

But at least he's not suffering Brian Kilby Syndrome... so far.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GoktimusPrime

He's based on G1 Thunderwing, who was never a Seeker.

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Yeah... I know that. I have G1 Thunderwing and he is in fact my first Pretender as a kid.
I meant, since he is a jet and deluxe size, it would have been easy to try to make him seeker-like and the designers didn't do so. :)

My first Pretender was Waverider (b'day present back in '88)... although Thunderwing was my first Mega Pretender (b'day present in '89!). In fact, he's the only Mega Pretender I have as I never got Crossblades or Vroom. :p

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Paul Agnew

Does anyone else's Thunderwing have an extremely loose waist joint? It feels like there should be a peg behind his crotch just to make him more secure.

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Yeah, mine has that... his hips keep swinging front and back heaps like he's... ya know... in a Michael Bay film. :p "Check out mah Matrix pimp-bling!"

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y22...s/Quagmire.gif

This toy has his flaws, but ultimately I think he is an awesome tribute so I can over look them. He reminds me of Classics Jetfire in that way, a little akward but full of nostalgia, also I like the chracter of Thunderwing better.

He is a bit bulky in the torso too, but that is very much a pretender thing.

I kinda wish they'd make more Pretnder hommages with pretender like molds.

Simple fun and awesome hommage figure like Universe/Henkei Cyclonus and Classics Jetfire

Ooh Thunderwing!
I'm really digging this guy for the reasons of his character, this figure and the fact that I've never owned the original. :eek::D

This mold, whilst simple, is very enjoyable and gives me a very similar vibe to when I was transforming the Classics Starscream (Seeker) mold for the first time - It's not inherently difficult but works very well. ;):)
The colours are top notch with use of contrasting greens with appropriate gold and black highlights and purple used well to break up large sections of the Alt mode. :D
The 'combined' gun is a little lame and the drone, understandably due to budget, is somewhat useless but a nice addition that harkens back to the Classic Pretender figure. :cool:

Really, this guy is a must - he'll surprise you more than you think as whilst his transformation is simple, really, I can't see how they could of made him more intricate or how that would've made him any better :confused:
He achieves exactly what he is meant to and the only real thing that could've made him that much more awesome, well... 3 things, is that if he was a little taller, had a Corrupted Matrix accessory included and was of Voyager Class in size. :rolleyes::)
I highly recommend him and if you're sitting on the fence, don't worry as he's not as disappointing as a Power Core Combiner. :cool:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hursticon

I highly recommend him and if you're sitting on the fence, don't worry as he's not as disappointing as a Power Core Combiner. :cool:

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That's for sure.

It must be pretty popular, as I haven't been able to find him anywhere yet, but found quite a few stores that have had the wave in though.

I say "only if" you're a Marvel comic fan. The affection for the character makes this toy in my opinion. When I opened it I was initially disappointed to see the robot underneath but I was quick to notice it was mistransformed: the part of the chest that is supposed to cover the head was in robot mode position. It seems a waste that the arms don't transform at all and that the shoulder guns block movement. I find the small drone a bit useless but it stows away so well you can forget about it. The chest/wings transform is nice and, although short, the robot mode looks really nice.

I wish there was a way for the wings to 'lock' out, as I find they easily fold in during play. :/

Thunderwing rocks...but I only wish he was a voyager...
with a dark matrix necklace accessory...
;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Grievous

Thunderwing rocks...but I only wish he was a voyager...
with a dark matrix necklace accessory...
;)

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totally agree with this.

He is really a cool figure, more for the nostalgia factor, but do really like him anyhow. Good paint apps, easy to transform, looks good on shelf. Now if only some third party releases a matrix for him (I bet they will :p)