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Post by iacon45 on Sept 16, 2021 18:30:49 GMT -5
Mastermind Creations Kultur: AKA "Tarn" Solid figure. In modern days, he's Leader Class, being slightly taller than Kingdom Galvatron and wider. Lots of detail, good articulation, an excellent head sculpt. Transformation is actually rather simple, even moreso than their Override/Nitro Convoy I also got. Which is perfect, because it's not Tarn if he's not transforming over and over and over again. Solid piece, would definitely recommend for anyone getting into the 3rd party scene. I've been tempted to get this since it's looking less and less likely we will ever see an official Generations Tarn from Hasbro. Hell, since he was in the CV cartoon to an extent, I'd take a Cyberverse release. Going back to Kultur, I think I've seen reviews on him. He doesn't have any kind of rollers or wheels in vehicle mode does he?
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Post by Optimal Megatron on Sept 16, 2021 18:45:40 GMT -5
Nope, the treads are hard molded with no wheels to roll on, not least because the shoulder treads split in half to form the upper part of his arms.
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Post by Optimal Megatron on Sept 18, 2021 13:18:55 GMT -5
Origins Bumblebee So, this is a great little toy, as much of a pain as it is to find. The saucer mode is solid, and the transformation is a little panel-y, but after you figure it out, it's pretty simple. I had to chuckle that his robot mode is pilot accurate with VW beetle hood feet that he doesn't even have yet. Accessories are a jetpack that mostly works for him and fits the general Earthrise/Siege Cliffjumper/BB mold better, and a pistol. Also fuel rods that match the pilot and which the toy has no way to securely hold at all, but they're there for if you want to have a diorama I guess?
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Post by Optimal Megatron on Oct 1, 2021 16:45:37 GMT -5
So, both Target's website AND Brickseek's DCPI searcher said this wasn't in stock locally, so consider me surprised when I walked into Target on a whim because I was getting dog stuff for the new puppy at a nearby PetSmart and it was just sitting on the shelf. Don't let your online tracker dreams be dreams, I guess. Worlds Collide Set: Bumblebee: It's Yellow Cliffjumper with a Bumblebee head. Slightly more yellow than the VW Bee, less than Bumper's neon yellow from Selects. That's about it. Toy-Accurate Black Arachnia: This isn't a huge changeover from standard Kingdom BA. The colors are what you see on the packaging, complete with the mutant head. For only the second use of the mold, some parts are kinda awkward on this one. I have trouble keeping the thighs into the spider-abdomen in beast mode, and some of the joints or pivots are a little looser than on BA. The chestplate apparently was a concern with some people in the original for clicking in TOO hard and they were worried about it snapping. This one's been trimmed down, but as a result, the chestplate isn't as secure. Gravity won't tug it out, but the slightest pressure from your fingers will. Nemesis Primal: So this one's similar to BA. Different paint job, different head. The Nemesis head with the narrower eyes and faceplate looks a bit more aggressive than Primal's default one, and the paintjob all over the figure is just a bit more popping out at you than Primal's de facto look. I really like the purple on the beast mode to really highlight that he's different from Primal when not showing the robot mode parts. His chest plate is a little looser than Primal's but other than that, he's still in good condition. All the gimmicks work the same, and I think the blood red on the swords actually makes them look a bit more fancy than Primal's somewhat boring blue/gray even if that was show accurate. Fangry: What ho, it's a toy mold from five years ago. Fangry's a sharing his mold with all three Monsterbots, and is probably closest to Grotusque in overall setup. Transformation's similar, though his shoulders, chestplate, and claw hands are all unique tooling for this version, including a tech spec chestplate. The joints that flip inward to become the ankles of Fangry's robot mode and his knees are considerably looser after the mold reuses, it seems, so while he can stand on his own, a slight shudder or thud nearby could send him toppling very easily. Also, he doesn't have the double barreled gun that the other moldmates had, so Fangry will just rip your face off with his bare hands. Now, when will we get Squeezeplay and Horri-bull?
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Post by iacon45 on Oct 1, 2021 19:13:49 GMT -5
I saw a 3P kit that comes with a gun for Fangry and also a piece that will take the wings and allow him to form a shield with them like the original G1 toy did. I'm trying to find a link to it but I seemed to have misplaced it along with the link to the 3P shoulder attachment for Kingdom Mirage Mach posted on Twitter.
Speaking of Fangry, I think I got lucky on mine. The knees are loose but not quite as loose as other copies and he seems rather sturdy if I have the legs turned ever so slightly.
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Post by Optimal Megatron on Oct 4, 2021 19:31:17 GMT -5
SS Wreck-Gar:
He's pretty good! Sizable, accessories are what you'd expect for a Wreck-Gar, show accurate. However, the internal parts crunch to get his bike body into his torso and back is suitably unintuitive that I recommend looking up a video guide for how to transform it the first time. Once I did, I had an "ah-HA" moment and it was easy to go back and forth. But before that I was just not seeing where they were supposed to sit.
Probably a solid 8.5/10.
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Post by triumshockwave on Oct 6, 2021 19:09:14 GMT -5
I had a hell of a time figuring out how to get him into bike mode at first. There's like one extra joint in there that's hard to see even in the instructions.
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Post by Optimal Megatron on Oct 7, 2021 22:27:22 GMT -5
I had a hell of a time figuring out how to get him into bike mode at first. There's like one extra joint in there that's hard to see even in the instructions. Yeah, that was basically it. I didn't quite get it until watching EmGo's "just transform it" video and seeing how the torso looked from the outside as you transformed it. After it's easy! but the instructions are kind of unhelpful. Cyberverse Deluxe Snarl It's Snarl. he's a deluxe. Cyberverse's stylized aesthetic. Decent articulation, simple transformation. He's not bad! The fact his gimmick bit sets his tail backpack offcenter to his shoulders annoys me distinctly out of proportion. Also, soft rubbery plastic sword deforms a little. Annoying, but what can you do? I think I like my PotP Snarl better, but this one isn't bad.
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Post by machsabre on Oct 7, 2021 23:45:42 GMT -5
There's something about that tail though? It can serve as a big bulky sheath for his sword... Which is probably why it's off center on his back (to grab it) or can fit on his hip.
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Post by Optimal Megatron on Oct 12, 2021 11:54:38 GMT -5
Studio Series Sharkticon:
One of the best SS ones out here. They COULD be lazy with this design. I love the Legends Sharkticon mold, but its legs basically just have the Sharkticon face on the back of them. This one didn't, and the added parts count lets both robot and beast mode be pretty independent (aside from the unavoidable robot head slightly sticking out of the mouth). Good articulation, chonky size.
This guy works great alongside the Allicons, or as a bigger Sharkticon if you troop built the smaller Sharkticons. I grabbed two myself, and while one has a jaw that's a little loose on its joint, it's not a deal breaker, and the other one is solid, so it doesn't seem to be a widespread issue.
Definitely in my recommend books from the SS toys.
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