Comments on: When someone asks if you’re a god, you say yes if you’re Sunstorm

By: Toys R Us Exclusive – Masterpiece Thundercracker | Pax Cybertron

Toys R Us Exclusive – Masterpiece Thundercracker | Pax Cybertron — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 16:59:24 +0000

[...] again is just Hasbro trying to reduce the price as much as possible, he’s just stunning. Some folks will argue that SunStorm looks better, I disagree. Thundercracker’s blue and gunmetal grey [...]

By: begbert2

begbert2 — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 04:40:23 +0000

Since you asked, there are basically (in my world-renowned opinion) two basic types of kibble: kibble that adheres closely to existing body parts, and kibble that sticks out on its own. Examples of the former are the large hood-chests of Jazz and the Datsun brothers and, yes, the vertical tailfins of Starscream; examples of the latter are the door-wings on Jazz and the Datsun brothers, and the wing-wings on starscream. One of the notable differences between the two types of kibble is that the former is usually looked upon neutrally or even favorably for using alt-mode parts well (unless it’s fake kibble) unless it restricts articulation, and the latter is quickly subject to criticism unless it looks good from some sort of stylistic point of view (making wings a popular choice).

So: storing tailfins and a bit of plane side on the side of the legs is cleanly and efficiently storing the required alt-mode bits; hanging large slabs of plane with fins sticking awkwardly out of them in a failed attempt to sort of imply misshapen oversize scabbards is a sad design failure, that happens to look like ass. Which is made worse by the fact that it had already been shown that the failure was unnecessary by the prototype.

Oh, and also, it wasn’t GeeWon. Which would be less of a problem if the Masterpiece line wasn’t explicitly about creating versions of G1 characters with a much higher standard of design and engineering, and of improved cartoon and/or vehicle mode accuracy. So yeah – this was supposed to be G1 Starscream, so pointlessly deviating from the show models kind of is a minus.

If this wasn’t supposed to be G1 Starscream, then sure, hang big ungainly plane slabs off his hips. Or have them sticking out of his eye sockets, whatever. But that’s not the situation here.

By: Finnius

Finnius — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 03:42:47 +0000

Haha… This comment is funny to me.

By: Carl Sagen

Carl Sagen — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 13:37:47 +0000

Jesus you guys, I’m just saying we have an MP11 Starscream and now an MP11 Thundercracker and Sunstorm, it just seems Skywarp is a natural follow up.

Jesus, you jump all over me like I just said something about Obama.

By: Erik

Erik — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 17:02:41 +0000

Do you really think Wal-Mart is going to take a chance on the same toy that didn’t sell before with only a few changes?

By: Andrusi

Andrusi — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 13:08:27 +0000

“Hey, Wal-Mart! Here’s the same toy you couldn’t sell before, only this time he has a slightly different kibble arrangement. You want this, right?”

By: Carl Sagen

Carl Sagen — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 10:21:03 +0000

I’m talking about the new mold, not the old one.

By: Regalli

Regalli — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 04:23:36 +0000

That is some glorious orange. Clearly you are a man of fine tastes, good sir. *Tips hat, takes a sip of tea and wanders off*

By: David Willis

David Willis — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 22:15:08 +0000

They gave Walmart MP Skywarp a few years ago. Eventually he clogged the clearance aisles, marked down to $30. $15 in some places. Not a great seller.

By: Erik

Erik — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 21:49:46 +0000

Hasbro already did Skywarp. I don’t remember it being a big seller either so since Hasbro DOES have a brain, I seriously doubt they’ll release him again.