Beast Hunters DLX Smokescreen & Bulkhead

[griffin]

From Wave 2, we see two more Deluxe Class toys - Smokescreen and Bulkhead.

Both are new moulds, and feature the Beast Hunters spikey armour theme.

With these two figures being number 7 & 8, and Ripclaw being number 6, we still don't know who number 5 is yet... but with 4 new figures in wave 2 on top of the 4 in wave one, it will mean a much larger range of characters on shelves quickly. (provided Hasbro and the Retailers don't over-supply the first wave again)

[Bowser The Second]

Smokescreen looks like his spikes can be removed. That's a big plus.

[ILikeSoundwave]

Smokescreen is a get for me, but not sure about BHead

[SharkyMcShark]

I'm trying to remember a time when transformers actually bothered transforming in accordance with their design instead of having the vehicle mode become humanoid in shape and then plastering fake car bits all over.

(am aware that 'vehicle mode becoming humanoid' is a transformation)

[GoktimusPrime]

I'm trying to remember a time when transformers actually bothered transforming in accordance with their design instead of having the vehicle mode become humanoid in shape and then plastering fake car bits all over.

IMHO it was the good old days when Transformers were designed as toys for the sake of being toys, without needing to conform to any animation/movie model. Back then, artists had to "translate" a toy into a cartoon model. Now toy engineers have to "translate" cartoon models into toys. I prefer the old method.

[Gouki]

IMHO it was the good old days when Transformers were designed as toys for the sake of being toys, without needing to conform to any animation/movie model. Back then, artists had to "translate" a toy into a cartoon model. Now toy engineers have to "translate" cartoon models into toys. I prefer the old method.

I far prefer poseable action figures to ugly bricks (excluding the Diaclone stuff, they tend to be pretty, small bricks), nostalgia aside.

[Pipesqueak]

IMHO it was the good old days when Transformers were designed as toys for the sake of being toys, without needing to conform to any animation/movie model. Back then, artists had to "translate" a toy into a cartoon model. Now toy engineers have to "translate" cartoon models into toys. I prefer the old method.

Agreed. I hate fiddly transformations and floppy figures that won't stand the test of time for the sake of trying to mimic anorexic character designs. Give me bulky, sturdy, robots that are destined to become the collectors pieces of tomorrow, not next week's broken trash.

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

Smokey has me intrigued. I guess the armour would have to transform as well to fit over the car.. Hmmm. I'd rather see more of the figures with removable armour than a remould methinks.

I far prefer poseable action figures to ugly bricks (excluding the Diaclone stuff, they tend to be pretty, small bricks), nostalgia aside.

Me too, but I'd rather see a toy designed as a toy first, character model after. Should mean that the toy is more fun and intuitive.

[liegeprime]

So is this a new mold just for Smokey? I didn't like the idea of him just a repaint of Knock out. That mold didn't suit him IMO. I hope the armor is removable. I like the weapons that came with this Beast Hunters but I don't know if ill buy the same character again just for it. they really should come out with weapons packs ( I know, one can dream)

[SharkyMcShark]

Agreed. I hate fiddly transformations

The lack of fiddly transformation is my main issue here. Look at the new pics that have been released

http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-...screen-176634/

Instead of engineering it so that the front end of the car will collapse into the chest of the robot (which looks like it would not have required anything extraordinary or unprecedented design wise) they basically have the entire car hanging off the back of the robot and fake pieces on the front, as you can see from the below images:

Underside of the car

Back of robot mode

Side of robot mode

I don't even have issues with the car parts go on the back of the robot transformation scheme in general (RiD Sideburn, Cybertron Hot Shot etc), it's just the laziness of then pretending like it transformed the same as in fiction that gets me.

I fully cede that some show/movie designs are too complex to mimic in toy form and am willing to make concessions for those, but this just stinks of laziness - there's nothing here that they couldn't have done properly.