Toy Review - Studio Series Devastator

[nalops]

Feels like they could've rectified the Overload/Long Haul issue by moving some of the bulk from the foot and lengthening the leg. That way Overload doesn't need to be longer on one side and Devastator has accurate split toes although I'm not sure how actually viable my idea would be.

Still, I'm excited to have this completed myself. I also haven't opened while waiting for all the members. Have Scrapper on layby at Big W and still waiting for Scavenger from TBI. Then it'd just be Overload to find. Even considering getting Skipjack and I almost never buy duplicates of a mould.

Thanks for the review!

[Krayt]

Feels like they could've rectified the Overload/Long Haul issue by moving some of the bulk from the foot and lengthening the leg. That way Overload doesn't need to be longer on one side and Devastator has accurate split toes although I'm not sure how actually viable my idea would be.

I would have been happy if done like scrap metals “shield”... just an extra piece you remove for combined mode, but leave inserted for bot and vehicle

[Gehirn]

I got my overload today thus completing Devastator. I'll try to take some more photos later but for now here are my thoughts.

Have to echo Krayt's thoughts on Mixmaster's head connection being pretty dreadful. For me Mixmaster was probably my least favourite and this issue just gave me more reason to dislike it.

The combined form of Devastator looks a lot better in person especially once you get him into a pose and out of the plain stance a lot of images on the net have him in. My only issue with the combined form is that the top half feels kinda fragile/loose due to it all resting on Scavenger's wheel and post.

In the end, this is a character/s that I had no interest in ever having but the uniqueness of them individually like the robot mode of Hightower and Rampage and the combined form has really sold me on having Devastator.

[Tha_Phantom]

Great review!
Combined mine this evening and overall am happy with it. Biggest flaw is the lack of any head articulation, not even side to side. One thing that bugs my OCD is the fingers are designed very differently on each hand and I can't articulate them or the arms in a way to make them "match", but that's probably just me who cares about that.... Anyway, the ratchets hold up pretty well considering the weight of the thing and I even got one arm to hold up a micromaster Devastator.

Also, thank you Krayt for pointing out the arm lift feature, that's pretty cool.

[Krayt]

Great review! One thing that bugs my OCD is the fingers are designed very differently on each hand and I can't articulate them or the arms in a way to make them "match", but that's probably just me who cares about that....

You could always match the arms..... just need to decide which one you prefer and source a second scrapper/set of deluxes

[Tha_Phantom]

You could always match the arms..... just need to decide which one you prefer and source a second scrapper/set of deluxes

Funnily enough I do have a second Scrapper and Scrapmetal (but not Hightower) so I can play with those without having to take Devy apart. Might see how it looks with two Scrappers.

[Gehirn]

One thing that bugs my OCD is the fingers are designed very differently on each hand and I can't articulate them or the arms in a way to make them "match", but that's probably just me who cares about that.

I have scrapper with his wheels inward so at least it matches the multiple fingers on the outside and one inner.

[Bemblebuu]

I don't mind the top half of Devastator, but from waist down he is a mess. Way too blocky and plastic looking for Studio Series figure.

[SharkyMcShark]

I don't mind the top half of Devastator, but from waist down he is a mess. Way too blocky and plastic looking for Studio Series figure.

You're right.


It's the hips I think - those big square plates scream PLAYSKOOL TRANSFORMER.


I'll still finish the combiner at some point, but I do wish that the design had either committed to the on all fours look from the movie or the more simian version from the concept art.

[Magnus]

Just go look at Scavenger and Mixmaster and figure out how they are supposed to connect. No-ones mentioned it in either individual review, but there isn't much there to talk about anyway!

Have to echo Krayt's thoughts on Mixmaster's head connection being pretty dreadful. For me Mixmaster was probably my least favourite and this issue just gave me more reason to dislike it.

The instructions don't show this, but you're meant to get the posts on Scavenger and hook them into Mixmaster's rear wheels before pushing the C-clips on Mixmaster down onto Scavenger. This will give Mixmaster a firm connection onto Scavenger.

Speaking of the individuals combiner modes... they got skipped over in the reviews too!!

I was planning on doing this once I got all eight Constructicons, but here are the individual combined modes as standalone pieces:

















On Devastator himself: he turned out a fair big bigger than I was expecting, since it seemed like the combined modes were 'compacted'. He's heavy, too - the individual Constructicons may only have limited mass, but put eight of them together and you end up with something quite hefty.

I know some fans have taken exception to Devastator's bipedal stance, but I think that the idea of Devastator as a hulking brute that towers over others is better served as a biped than as a quadruped. Besides, concept art as well as the original promotional image that showcased Studio Series Devastator's components depicted him as a biped.

Gripes? The connector peg on Hightower should have had a tighter joint so that it could support the combined weight of Hightower and Scrapmetal if someone wanted to raise the left arm at the elbow, and I had to tweak the ankles a bit to get Devastator to stand when ratcheting the hips forward in order to avoid a slouching, hips-forward stance. Otherwise, I'm quite happy with Devastator and think he was worth the wait.