Toy Review - Studio Series Shatter (car type)

[Jellico]

I have to admit I found myself wondering whether the shoulder joints were meant to come off.

We all know modern Transformers are designed for parts to pop off and be put back on again if needed. And those shoulder joints go through a wide arc during transformation without much room to play with. I get the feeling that there were a lot of broken shoulders in testing.

I get the same feeling for the fenders. A joint that could have been a simple pin looks pretty elaborate.

Maybe it should have been sent back to the drawing board as too elaborate for a small Deluxe. Those red flaps on the shoulders moving around in a couple of axis seems unusual at this size.

[GoktimusPrime]

I think it's a QC issue rather than a design issue, as in if the ball part of the ball-socket joint were a bit thicker then it may not be so prone to disconnecting. I might try to thicken it with a layer of super glue or something.

[Paulbot]

This photo reminds me why I don’t like Dropkick’s helicopter toy - it doesn’t look like the character in the movie. It’s doubly noticeable next to a more screen accurate Shatter.

[Tha_Phantom]

Shatter is a figure I REALLY wanted to like, but unfortunately she is very appropriately named.
IMO she looks great in both modes, but transformation between the two feels like SS-01 all over again.

This photo reminds me why I don’t like Dropkick’s helicopter toy - it doesn’t look like the character in the movie. It’s doubly noticeable next to a more screen accurate Shatter.

Agreed. I bought heli Dropkick simply out of obligation to complete the four (assuming a jet Shatter comes along after car Dropkick).

[Jellico]

I think it's a QC issue rather than a design issue, as in if the ball part of the ball-socket joint were a bit thicker then it may not be so prone to disconnecting. I might try to thicken it with a layer of super glue or something.

I have just put clear nail polish around the rim of the socket. Much firmer in robot mode.

I am still having trouble freeing the arms from car mode. Pushing to the side to unpeg them puts pressure on a weak part of the ball joint. Maybe I should unpeg then open the fenders before moving the arms out? I have just put another coat of polish on so will test in an hour or two when it is solidly dry.

[Silverbolt]

Im in agreeable. Shatter is fragile. I love the look of the car, and the robot is nice although i like to see her face. But she is prone to falling apart.

[Thurmus]

I was planning on trying nail polish on the bonnet piece. Glad to hear it helps.

[Jellico]

Okay. Arms are staying on well now. When transforming from car mode, untab the red panels then lower the arms out from the underside. Untab the fenders from the bumper bar and move them out of the road. Lift the roof/windscreen and you are off to the races. It is just gentle tweaking from there.

Now the fenders are a different story. A clip and a circle of plastic. I am not sure how we can tighten that up. But they are proving key to everything. That includes posing the legs and arms in robot mode.

I have to say she is a good looking Con. Really imposing. Show a bit of care while transforming and posing and she works.

[GoktimusPrime]

Show a bit of care while transforming and posing and she works.

...which makes her bad as a toy because during actual toy play you don't want to be handling her with gloves like something that's really fragile. I mean, when you want to make Bumblebee and her go to to toe in the middle of an exciting fight, come on... having to slow down and handle her with care just takes a lot of the fun out of it.

I'll have to try that clear nail polish trick.

[SharkyMcShark]

Very very mixed feelings on this.

I love the new things that it does in the transformation. There are some extra steps there that are not usually present on deluxe class figures. I love the way the lower legs spin and unfurl, and I adore the wheel flip so that it ends up inside her calves. Tolerances aside I also really like the way that a part of the hood ends up on her shoulder.

The robot mode looks great, and I love the accessories.

BUT

Aside from the well known tolerance issues in the shoulders, I find the articulation to be impeded. Legs are quite limited, and the shoulders have to be futzed with because the folded away door panels bash against the wheels on the shoulders if you're not careful.

I've found all three of the BB movie Studio Series figures I own to be quite ambitious in their engineering (BB, Dropkick, and this), and this is the one figure that is tangibly held back by it unfortunately.