Toy review - Studio Series 44 Optimus Prime (Dark of the Moon leader class)

[Magnus]

Series - Generations
Sub-line - Studio Series
Size/class - Leader
New/remould/redeco - Remould of Studio Series 32 Optimus Prime with new parts
Wave - 3
Released here - N/A
Approximate Retail Price - N/A
Approximate Size - 17cm
Allegiance - Autobot
Alt-mode - Peterbilt 379 tractor with refrigerator box trailer
Main Features/Gimmicks - trailer transforms into armoury and jetwing flight tech pack
Main Colours - red, blue, grey
Main Accessories - trailer, gun, sword, axe, shield, jetwing guns

Vehicle mode







Optimus Prime transforms into the familiar Peterbilt 379 truck. Several parts were remoulded to create Studio Series 32 Optimus, and among the changes was a brighter red plastic compared to the darker red of SS05. For some strange reason, when the roof panel that rotates to expose Optimus's head was remade, the running lights were omitted from the mould.

Rather annoyingly, there doesn't seem to be any ground clearance at the front of the truck, so the six wheels can't catch and roll. Optimus therefore slides along surfaces when pushed.

Optimus himself features different paint applications to the SS32 version of the mould; the windows are painted silver over blue plastic where they were previously blue paint over transparent plastic, and the bonnet now has the screen-accurate yellow paint gradient in addition to the blue flames.

The big draw for the vehicle, of course, is the fact that it has a trailer. It's suitably large and boxy, making Optimus more imposing when attached. Sadly, the trailer is largely devoid of paint, the only paint being the blue on the refrigeration unit and black on the tyres.

While the base figure is a voyager class figure, the leader class price point is justified by the amount of plastic parts in the trailer, which feels like there is probably another voyager class figure's worth of plastic in there.



Next to Dark of the Moon Megatron.

Transformation

Surprisingly complex for a figure of this size. The way the nose of the truck folds to become the arms and sides of the torso is particularly involved.

Unfortunately, the rectangular peg that holds the front bumper together snapped after a few transformations. Hopefully this is a one-off as opposed to an inherent weakness in the mould and I was just placing too much stress on the joint. It may be best if owners connect the bumper at an angle and then straighten the two halves, as opposed to connecting them straight-on.

Robot mode









The SS32 version of the mould is substantially modified from the original Studio Series Optimus, with a more screen-accurate chest, abdomen, forearms, and thighs, a more compact back, and different lower legs. The end result is, save for the legs, better-looking than SS05.

Articulation is what you would expect - ball-jointed neck, rotation in two axes for the shoulders, rotator in the upper arm, hinged elbow, rotating wrist, rotating waist, rotation in two axes at the hips, a thigh rotator, a hinged knee, and movement in two axes at the ankle. The waist rotation, rearward leg movement at the hip, and thigh rotation can be hindered somewhat by the wheels on the thighs, but Optimus can accommodate most poses one might want.

The faux chest windscreen is painted red and silver over blue plastic, where these parts were red and blue painted over transparent plastic on SS32.

The one mould change from SS32 is the abdomen, which is accurate to the modified abdomen from Dark of the Moon. This part can be switched out for the abdomen piece from Studio Series Jetfire, which will allow this figure to combine with Jetfire.





The gun comes from SS32, but the sword, axe, and shield are new.

Trailer

The trailer splits into two large components: the circular armoury with mounting points for Optimus's weapons, and the Jetwing flight pack.







The armoury stands 21cm tall, and has numerous 5mm ports along its interior, as well as tabs moulded specifically for the sword and axe.





The Jetwing has a wingspan of 37cm, making for an imposing silhouette, although the wings can be folded in to take up less room on a shelf. Annoyingly, the Jetwing's engine nacelles are only moulded on one side, and are visibly hollowed out when viewed from the front.





The included display backdrop is a shot of the Driller in Chicago.

Verdict

I was reluctant to get Studio Series Optimus at first, because I already owned some very good moulds of movieverse Optimus; I was driven more by a sense of 'completionism' to see and experience for myself the 'powered-up' forms of Optimus as well as the trailer. As you would expect, the larger figures like RotF leader Optimus and MPM-4 look more screen-accurate in both modes, so this is far from a 'definitive' movieverse Optimus, but the figure has nonetheless grown on me.

If you don't already have a Studio Series Optimus Prime, this is the one to get, being the most complete and screen-accurate version of the mould; however, its lack of domestic availability is the biggest point against it. The lack of paint for the trailer and weapons, the inability to roll freely, and the hollow engine nacelles for the Jetwing are also downsides, but the play and display options this figure has help to compensate for these shortcomings.