Wave-1 PCC Commanders - Combiner modes

[griffin]

Comparisson picture of the five wave-1 PCC Commander toys in their Powerup (combiner) modes.
For those who don't know, every Commander toy has the ability to be a Combiner, but only some are packed with a set of drones (5-packs), while others are just packed with a minicon (2-packs).

My guess is that the designers picked the ones that looked best in Combiner mode and packed them with drones, as that mode would be the form featured on the packaging - the less appealing ones were then put in 2-packs which don't even show their Powerup mode.

Top row is Searchlight, Smolder and Huffer. Bottom row is Skyburst and Bombshock. In the middle are the Minicons in their Chest-armour modes (just like the Commander Powerup modes, these Minicon modes are not shown on the packaging).



I think Huffer would have been a good 5-pack Commander, but Smolder and Searchlight have flaws, so isn't surprising they were put in a 2-pack.

[liegeprime]

I agree Huffer would look great as a 5 pack commander, while the other 2 would appear like the're wearing those inflated thigh pantaloons the old Charlie Chaplain directors look like. Plus Smolder has that "why my shoulders hurt" look in that mode.

[reillyd]

Thanks for the heads up about Springwood Griffin. It saves a long drive, and at least there's free parking. After seeing your figures all lined up like that, I think I've at least got to gets me the two packs with minicons.

[jaydisc]

I think Searchlight works better with the Aerialbots.

[MV75]

I think Searchlight works better with the Aerialbots.

Scarey day, two posts and I'm agreeing with you again. The helicopter one looks great as a body. Maybe the blades might have been an issue?

Can the "chest pieces" be put on the combined bots? And what about weapon modes? Can the combiners use them?

[Zippo]

Can someone who has opened Huffer help with this q:

Where are the blue posts for the combined mode for Huffer while in Alt mode.
Its the biggest complaint I have about PCC - the colour and position of the combiner pegs in alt mode (and even robot mode for that matter)

No attempt to hide them or anything

[griffin]

I think Searchlight works better with the Aerialbots.

I agree - I took a photo of the different combinations (Commanders to Drone groups) and Searchlight with Aerialbots looked to be one of the better sets. Even better looking than Skyburst.

Can the "chest pieces" be put on the combined bots? And what about weapon modes? Can the combiners use them?

The Minicons in Armour mode can still plug into the combined modes, but only on the 2-pack Commanders (the 5-pack Commanders don't have them for some reason). Weapons can't be held though, as these combiners suffer the same problem as the Universe/Energon Combiners, in that they have no fists (and in the case of the Aerialbots, no real feet).

Can someone who has opened Huffer help with this q:

Where are the blue posts for the combined mode for Huffer while in Alt mode.
Its the biggest complaint I have about PCC - the colour and position of the combiner pegs in alt mode (and even robot mode for that matter)

No attempt to hide them or anything

The bright blue peg thing annoys me most too. With Huffer and Bombshock, they totally spoil the look of the toy. Why oh why didn't Hasbro colour them to match the toy? The toys aren't big enough to need them coloured to find them. Most pegs are out into the open, so aren't at risk of being 'lost'.
And the packaging pics are so deceptive, with pegs looking a darker blue, hidden from the angle of the photo, or as in the case of Searchlight - cropped out of the photo completely (the two top ones).

I wouldn't have a problem with the pegs sticking out, if they were coloured to match the toy. I love the Huffer toy in truck mode, but those darn blue pegs at the back....

Anyway, locations of the pegs in their alt modes:
Huffer - arm pegs hidden within truck mode, leg pegs sticking up at the back of the truck mode (can see one in the packaging pic)
Searchlight - arm pegs and leg pegs are all sticking out the back of the chinook mode.
Smolder - arm pegs can be seen at the rear of the vehicle, leg pegs can be seen under front of vehicle.
Bombshock - arm pegs stick out the back of vehicle mode, leg pegs hidden within vehicle mode.
Skyburst - arm pegs and leg pegs are all actually hidden within jet mode.

[griffin]

Had a request on the tfw2005 boards to take photos of the 2-pack Commanders with the Drone teams.

Since the legs appear to be universal in length, it allows for a bit of mix-and-match between Commanders.

But since you not only can have a mixing of Drones, you can even have switching of left and right side limbs, giving even more possible
combinations (to pick a combination that looks best for you).

I started with Bombshock, since there is interest in trying to make a more Gen1 style Combaticon set.

First, Bombshock with his own Drones, and with the Aerialbot Drones.



Then each with mixed Drones, on the left is the four I think would look best as Combaticons (blue Vortex, white Blast Off, plus a tank and jeep
for Brawl and Swindle), leaving the four on the right as an alternative combination.



Next up are the three 2-pack Commander figures with alternative sets of Drones. (I kept the drones in their Combaticon and Aerialbot sets, so that
I only needed to take 2 photos of each)
From left - Huffer with Combaticons (a bit of a Menasor look), Searchlight with Aerialbots (a better Superion look than Skyburst because of the
winged chest-plate), Smolder with Combaticons.



Skyburst with Combaticons, Huffer with Aerialbots, Searchlight with Combaticons.



And Smolder with Aerialbot Drones.



And for the ultimate Powerup, the 2-pack Commanders in Powerup (Combiner) mode WITH Minicon Armor.

[Zippo]

Thanks griffin.
Shame about Huffer .. he was one I was considering getting, along with Bombshock pack. Pitty they are really robot mode only toys thanks to the pegs in just the wrong places.

[FFN]

With that combined mode head, methinks Huffer will be redecoed as Motormaster (though named Menasor for trademark reasons).