Misc & Excl 2015 Hasbro Toys - review links, comments & official images

[griffin]

Next up are the other 2015 Kreo I got from Hong Kong... the Battle Changer Gen1 sets.

There are six single sets in two waves, and two double packs in one wave.
Single wave 1 - Optimus, Bumblebee, Starscream, Grimlock
Single wave 2 - Hound, Shockwave
Double wave 1 - Optimus w/ trailer & Megatron, Ratchet & Soundwave w/ Ravage, Rumble, Frenzy, Laserbeak.

The Optimus with trailer is a darker colour, has different stickers, and slightly different legs to allow for a tab for the trailer.
Unfortunately, neither Optimus could transform completely into truck mode, as the arm part that has the window of the cab, has to connect in three
parts, and there is not enough clearance for the windows to sit above the grill part without bits falling apart from the distorted strain.

I liked the Soundwave and Hound best, while Bumblebee isn't too bad for a fully convertible kreo figure. Megatron was disappointing, mostly because it
looks like a boat instead of a tank, and the side panels on the legs are moveable, but don't actually move between modes.
The bonus with Soundwave is four of his "cassettes", which can combine with him in both modes for a super-mode robot and jet form.

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This was a QC issue with my Megatron. The socket piece for the arm had the socket crushed as if it was caught in the mould as it closed for the
next injection of molten plastic. As such, it won't attach in robot mode, but is able to use the "hand" to hold together in tank mode. And for some
reason, the ball on the other end was smaller, so it wouldn't lock into sockets either.
Even if Hasbro was releasing these in Australia, they wouldn't provide a replacement part... but at least I would have been able to exchange it at the store.


All the 2015 Kreo so far released, except the 12 Mini-figures.

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[griffin]

Here's the robot modes, which I forgot to include in the last posting.

Since I can't get Megatron's arm to attach (due to the defective part), I just have it plugged onto its leg.

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[griffin]

The Platinum Edition Blitzwing/Astrotrain pack arrive from Amazon yesterday, and these toys are really loose.
If they can't resurrect these old moulds, then maybe it is best to retire them if they can't produce toys that can transform easily or stand properly in robot mode.

The colours for Blitzwing are okay, but the odd clashing colours of Astrotrain (without any explanation) is as bad in person as it is in photos online.

This was the only Platinum Reissue set I am planning to buy after seeing the huge prices being asked for some of them (especially the Insecticons)
because they are all new decos.
When the box artwork and packaging were first revealed I was keen to buy and display sealed... but not at these prices.

Worth getting as a novelty if you are Gen1 fan and bought all those other Ehobby redecos a decade ago... but not worth getting if these would be your first versions of Blitzwing and Astrotrain.

I probably won't bother with any photos, but will post them up later if I do.


Some photos that I do have to post up, are recent Rescue Bots toys...

These arrived yesterday from Amazon - the Amazon exclusive Heatwave, and the two Vehicle packs.

First up is Heatwave, which is like with the other Amazon Exclusive Rescue Bots toy (Optimus as a Towtruck).

In 2011, the first year/series of Rescue Bots, six transformable toys were released, of the six robots in the cartoon... and all six were re-released in
Series 2 in 2013, with new parts for the Energize sub-line.

In 2012 (which I refer to as Series 1.5 of Rescue Bots) there were two new moulds in this size-class released for Rescue Bots - Hoist and Medix - and
neither were on the cartoon... they were just padding for the toyshelves and for kids who would have to wait a whole year for "new" transformable
toys and the second season of the cartoon.
These two toys didn't see a re-release like the first six of this size-class.

Now in 2015, during the fourth year of Rescue Bots, Amazon have given these two moulds a second life, as Exclusives with new colours and new
heads. (and we saw a re-release of the original Hoist and Medix this year as well... to the dismay of all those parents and collectors who were
paying up to $100 for each of them on ebay because they were so rare)

Just like with Optimus, this one comes in a bag in a plain brown box.
And just like Optimus, it has the original instructions for the earlier toy (with the Medix head) and just the new name on the top.


With the original Medix.

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Again like the Exclusive Optimus, this has a new head for the toy, that doesn't look to be the same as any previous Heatwave toy (so isn't just a
mix-n-match, this head was created for this toy).


With two previous transformable Heatwave toys - from 2011 (fire-truck) and 2014 (boat).


And the pair of Amazon Exclusive toys.

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Next up are the two Vehicle packs.
The Tunnel Rescue Drill comes with the Graham Burns figurine from 2013 & the Morbot figurine from 2014. This Drill vehicle was previously released by
Hasbro for their Marvel Heroes toyline.
The Shark Sub Capture comes with the Dr Morocco & Blades figurines from 2013 (in the same 2-pack). I'm not sure if the Shark vehicle has been
released previously.


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Out of packaging.
The Drill has one moving gimmick - the spinning drill.
The Shark Sub has two moving gimmicks - the chomping jaw, and moving tail (when it rolls along the ground).


At first glance I thought it was just a straight repack of the previously released figurines, but having them next to the original versions, each one
has something different. Three have paint apps removed, while one has paint added.

Below, the left pairs are the originals - the right pairs are the ones with these new Vehicles.
Blades has the grey paint on the arms missing and the orange paint on the shins missing.
Dr Morocco is only missing the yellow paint on his jacket button... and a VERY slightly different shade of colouring of the clothes.
Morbot is missing the purple paint on the end of the gun arm.
Graham has ADDED yellow paint to the helmet, different coloured boots & belt, and a noticeably different shade to the colours of the clothes and skin.

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[griffin]

These are my 2015 SDCC exclusives photos, which includes the Fembots, Devastator and Kreo set, as it's unlikely that the Devastator or Kreo sets will spawn their own separate review topic. (and it would be off-topic posting all of these in the Fembot 3-pack review)

Boxes.


Devastator first.


Vehicle modes with the regular versions in robot mode.


Comparison in robot mode (regular on left, SDCC on right).


Comparison of vehicle modes (regular on left, SDCC on right).


Combined mode comparison, with Gen1 (reissue) & Actionmaster.


Combiner Hunters 3-pack.


The only photo I have of them out of packaging at this time. Since there is already a review topic and comparisons, I probably won't bother doing my own.


Kreo set.


Comparison with last year's Kreo set.
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This year's set has metallic shiny lettering and character art, so it looks darker at this angle.

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The "artefacts" of this year's set... with some things that appear to homage Back to the Future and Goonies.


And the "artefacts" from last year's set for comparison.