Toy review - Studio Series 56 Shockwave

[Magnus]

Series - Generations
Sub-line - Studio Series
Size/class - Leader
New/remould/redeco - New; some parts from Studio Series 13 Megatron
Wave - Four
Released here - N/A
Approximate Retail Price - N/A
Approximate Size - 19cm
Allegiance - Decepticon
Alt-mode - Cybertronian tank
Main Features/Gimmicks - Screen accuracy
Main Colours - Grey, purple
Main Accessories - Wheelie, Brains, paratrooper

Vehicle mode









A low-slung, hulking Cybertronian tank. It's not elegant, and it's not pretty. It has a strictly utilitarian look to it, and it gives the impression of something meant to ram through barricades or piles of debris. Screen accuracy is moot, since we never saw this mode in Dark of the Moon.

The vehicle is charcoal grey-black, with purple paint applied in what looks like a dry-brush fashion - think Studio Series Grimlock and his metallic green. It gives the impression of a purple paint job worn through use and combat. There is some soft, rubberised plastic on this figure - in addition to the hose, the front of the cannon barrel, the large blade, the visible left hand, and the spikes at the front of the tank are made of soft plastic. Some silver paint has been applied to these parts.

Some reused parts from Studio Series 13 Megatron can be spotted - the sculpted bars that partially cover Shockwave's face come from Megatron. At the back, the parts that will form the tops of the thighs in robot mode are also from Megatron. The front tank treads on Megatron are also used, but since they're recessed in the body of the tank, they're not immediately recognisable.

Accessories

Shockwave comes with three small figures - Wheelie, Brains, and a NEST paratrooper. All three are moulded in soft plastic - possibly the same black plastic the soft parts on Shockwave are moulded in.



Wheelie and Brains stand at 1.5cm tall apiece, but the body sculpts are nonetheless highly detailed. Both figures are painted, and even have painted eyes. Wheelie's balance is rather precarious, while Brains is more stable on his feet.



The NEST paratrooper is about 3.5cm to the top of his helmet. He comes attached to a synthetic white 'parachute' via a series of strings.

Transformation

Pretty simple.

Just one thing to watch out for when transforming to tank mode: the instructions show the rear attachment point for the hose sticking out the back and the hose curving around the side of the tank, but I find that the hose isn't long enough for this. I've done what EmGo did, which is to swing the hose attachment point on the back around to face forward and have the hose tucked under the folded back.



Robot mode









Shockwave is short for a leader-class figure - he stands just short of 18.5cm at the top of his head, and he measures 19.5cm at the highest point on his back. Nonetheless, Shockwave is a bulky figure. More of the purple paint is on display, and now we see some more silver dry-brushing, this time on the lower torso.

The large blade occupies a different spot on his left arm in vehicle mode to robot mode. On my example, at least, the fit of the blade's post in either socket is looser than I'd like.

Shockwave is well-articulated - the head is mounted on a ball joint, and the 'neck' is mounted on a pivot that moves forwards and back, and this is mounted on a panel that tilts forwards, so Shockwave can look down.

The shoulders have two axes of motion, the upper arm has a rotator, and the elbow bends on a hinge. The wrist has limited flexion.

The hips have two axes of motion, there is a thigh rotator, the knees bend, and the feet move up and down and have inversion.

The most obvious parts from Megatron are the aforementioned tops of the hips, but eagle-eyed observers may also recognise the hip and shoulder mounting plates from Megatron as well when transforming him.



Shockwave next to DotM Megatron.





With Wheelie and Brains.



The backdrop is of a street in Chicago, with paratroopers and V-22 Ospreys in the sky.



Displayed with the paratrooper.

Verdict



Shockwave is a great-looking figure. Sure, he's simple to transform, and he's short by Studio Series leader class standards, but he has bulk and no shortage of moulded detail, and the purple paint really looks good on him. Don't be put off by the reused parts from Megatron; this is no remould.