Studio Series discussion

LordGigaIce

Another babka?
Citizen
I skipped SS '86 Bumblebee because the Netflix version was good enough.

I would have skipped SS '86 Optimus, because ER is good enough. I only ended up getting him as a Chanukah gift, and he's not in my main collection.

So... honestly... SS '86 Seekers? ER may be based on a design from 2006, but I like that design. And the moulded detailing makes it pretty interesting whereas a faithful Sunbow update in the present means flat and uninteresting.

No doubt it'll have improvements... but ER is good enough short of reviews making this thing out to be incredible.
 

Princess Viola

Dumbass Asexual
Citizen
I completely skipped out on the ER Seeker mold because, honestly speaking, I think the Classics Seeker mold is pretty mediocre at best and ER was just 'the Classics Seeker...but bigger and with some more articulation'

So I'm looking forward to this new mold.
 

CoffeeHorse

Exhausted, but still standing.
Staff member
Council of Elders
Citizen
Classics got a free pass for being G1 with knees at a time when when the only alternative was G1 without knees. ER got a pass because we'd gone through over a decade of Starscream designs being in such absolute free fall that going backwards to a 2006 design was a gigantic step back in the right direction. POTP Starscream was just embarrassing. We hit rock bottom and needed to go back.

I think about how much iterative improvement we've seen with Optimus Prime since 2006. Classics Deluxe was a travesty. Classics Voyager is strangely charming with its kibble, but the tricks they've learned since then to make the truck's mass crumple up and disappear are astonishing. And then there's Starscream. I wonder what we'd have now if we saw A N Y iterative improvements to the transformation in the nearly 20 years since Classics. We're about to get something. SS86 probably has some issues of its own, but at least things are moving again.
 

lastmaximal

Administrator
Staff member
Council of Elders
Citizen
I thought that too about SS86 Commander class Op, but having one in hand it's pretty remarkable. I still like the Earthrise Op mold very much, as I rediscovered when I made the Pepsi Convoy custom. But the engineering on SS86 is interesting, like they took a bunch of tricks and ideas from the different Optimus Primes of recent years and brought it to bear on this design while adding some new ideas. That's what comes to mind when CoffeeHorse mentions a design evolution, and one reason it was worth starting over during WFC -- a lot of Archer-era CHUG was solid and good enough (and they are good toys in general), but new takes created a lot of room for better or just more. Funny enough, the one gap was the Seeker, and while pressing that old design into upscaled service made sense, it was disappointing for them to not even try.

More recently, the Reactivate Starscream was a chance for them to try another take on it, and this is another new one that iterates on the old in similar ways. I like a lot about it, not least that cleaner back. You can get away with a weird jet nose hanging off the back at Deluxe class, but a bigger chunk dangling off the back at Voyager class just looks inescapably dumb. And that's the first place I looked for a make-or-break, and they delivered.

I only have two reservations at this point, and the second is a big one that I think is similar to what others have said.

First, the main drawback for me from the SS86 Op mold is that it's TOO clean. While the flat, clean Sunbow model aesthetic works for me in some cases (love my MP Sunstreaker), there's a weird sense of, idk, uncanny valley almost everywhere else. Like my brain expects SOMETHING to use the space, but it's just weirdly smooth boxes and panels. I'm not looking for Milkovich art style diseased Stege greebling, just a little texture or visual interest. Latter WFC and the lines since have hit a great balance with that. The proportions are also distracting, again because the eye is used to something else. The mini-MP-ing of these makes them feel a bit bland, ironically maybe even a bit 3P-ish because the latter went so hard aping that style. I feel that in spades looking at this Seeker sculpt.

Second, and this is the big one, it feels a little bit like remarrying in later life to someone who wants kids. Even saying you're open to adoption (sidestepping biology to further the metaphor), the whole question of wanting to go through the whole commitment of starting over NOW is not a small question. I don't mean to cheapen the valuable nature of family and relationships; just focus on the cost and time and maybe even competing for/chasing down the harder to obtain releases (some of these will likely be store exclusives, cue the whining) and the whole thing. I've started over once already, this is another six-plus-the-redecos-i-know-I'll-want-LIKE-SUNSTORM-GODDAMMIT. I might just be too old for this jive.

This is promising as a design, and it looks very dynamic (if a little too lithe at first glance, rather than something a bit more substantial). And it's the first real update we've gotten since Classics, and a good one. Has a lot going for it, but those two personal hurdles are not small hurdles.
 

Magnusblitz

Well-known member
Citizen
I'll be curious to see how they do the coneheads. I don't have nearly as many grievances with the ER mold as some here, but one thing I never liked about it was how short the coneheads' heads were.
 

Superomegaprime

Wondering bot
Citizen
I'll be curious to see how they do the coneheads. I don't have nearly as many grievances with the ER mold as some here, but one thing I never liked about it was how short the coneheads' heads were.

My guess is like how the old Universe figures did them or they'll use the means they did for the most resent verison
 

Fullstrength Motleypuss

Well-known member
Citizen
So I just noticed in the newer set of pics at TFW that the new seeker mold is a partsformer. Can't say I'm crazy about that - I generally buy everything but this is creeping closer and closer to a pass for me.
 

Undead Scottsman

Well-known member
Citizen
It's only a parts former if you want maximum show accuracy; you can just leave those bits on his legs like they are on the ER mold if it bothers you that much.
 

unluckiness

Somehow still sane
Citizen
I'll be curious to see how they do the coneheads. I don't have nearly as many grievances with the ER mold as some here, but one thing I never liked about it was how short the coneheads' heads were.
The prototype shown off looks like it has plenty of room to store longer coneheads in jet mode but I think the limiting factor will be that the conehead has to use about the same amount of plastic as the standard seeker head.
 

CoffeeHorse

Exhausted, but still standing.
Staff member
Council of Elders
Citizen
So I just noticed in the newer set of pics at TFW that the new seeker mold is a partsformer. Can't say I'm crazy about that - I generally buy everything but this is creeping closer and closer to a pass for me.

Meanwhile I'm wishing the wings were on similar pegs. Imagine the fun customizers could have with a Seeker that's as modular as the original toy.
 

Onyx

Active member
Citizen
Gonna have to pass on the new SS 86 Seekers. They're STILL using ER with the Devastation troop and the Thundercracker w/ Reflector set. If they were going to make a new Seeker mold, they had the option to do Slipstream justice. Then use the new female Seeker mold to put out gender swapped EVERY Seeker ever!

Have they not seen Cyberverse or Earthspark?
 

Exatron

Kaiser Dragon
Citizen
I've been mulling over the SS reveals for a few days. I love the AotP stuff that was shown off, but I'm a lot more mixed on SS.

I'll start with the good. I'm really looking forward to Windcharger. As best I can recall, I believe he and Cliffjumper were my first Transformers. I definitely have a soft spot for him. I'm not loving the giant feet, but I think I can live with them just fine. Also looking forward to Airachnid and Barricade.

Nemesis Prime is a maybe. I want to know more about the differences, how easy it is to swap parts, etc. If I can easily swap his unique parts and not have them look out of place, I could see getting him just for that. I just can't recall what types of joints he has and want to see the colors side-by-side with the AoE version.

Thundercracker is also a maybe. I'm perfectly happy with Earthrise and have no need for new versions. However, I also love the seekers, so I can't say I'm going to discount them either. I appreciate that they did keep the option for keeping the tailfins on the feet. That looks better, and I'm not fond of just sticking them on the back. My main hope is that the new mold displays well alongside Siege and Earthrise. I still want the full welcoming committee, Slipstream, etc., whatever mold they use. I'm not interested in replacing everything, though. Redoing the rainmakers, Cloudcover, Sandstorm, Red Wing, etc.? No thanks. Adding to them with other characters using this mold? Sure.

The big one, though, is Grimlock. He has me completely rethinking how I engage with Studio Series. He looks really good. However, I can't see getting him. I've been pretty completionist with the live action movie SS stuff. I can't do that with Dinobots at this scale. It's just way too much money and space for stuff I don't love that much. I would have kept going if they were scaled to the older Leader AoE Grimlock. I might've even gone for Commanders. Titans are just too much.

That decision is helping with something I've been grappling with for a while. My collection has gotten too large. I've been working on sorting out stuff to eliminate. SS stuff has been largely exempt from that. I think that's changing now. I think I can see unloading a fair bit of what I have, and passing on a lot more going forward.

Alpha Trion's first on that chopping block. He looks fine. I don't really want him, though.
 

Platypus Prime

Well-known member
Citizen
Could always do what I do. Wait YEARS due to a mix of economics and apathy, so your Collection Upgrades come in weird jumps and nothing ever matches. Like how I used a Cybertron Downshift as my Wheeljack till Reveal The Shield, then years after I went straight to Origins Wheeljack. Or from a 'couple limbs changed for variety' Bruticus Maximus from the Energon days, and I just ordered a Age of the Primes Vortex Saturday to get started on a new Bruticus.

My last 'normal' Megatron was a Henkei one I got out of a clearance bin at a con, and later I got Super Megatron, but sold it in the medical fiascoes to keep things above water. I am considering getting a Primes Megatron, but not sure. I do have my giant GI Joe one, still.

I'm not saying it's the best way to work, but it does save gas.
 

lastmaximal

Administrator
Staff member
Council of Elders
Citizen
I'm content to skip Grimlock, and excited to be looking at these Dinobots (word is they're open to making the rest in that size class) from afar. I'm good with my earlier Leader class one, and honestly this Titan is looking a bit off -- maybe it's just the prototype, but the face looks oddly flat on the sides. Like they just sculpted greebling onto a rectangle.

I think that's a good policy on the Seekers. Like the WFC era ones, I may do the core six (and maybe sell the ones I have) and be more selective outside. Hopefully for redecos outside that they'll do new ones that weren't covered in the last batch -- SUNSTORM, G2 Starscream, Action Master Thundercracker -- but even if they do make, say, G2 Ramjet again, that's where I may be inclined to skip. I think the option of keeping the tailfins on the feet might help with the uncanny-valley thing I mentioned. More kibbly shapes.

(Funny enough, I went from considering the Dramatic Capture set if it had a lighter blue Thundercracker to definitely knowing that if I do get the set, he'll be the first to go so I can keep the pretty Reflectorses.)

TLK Nemesis Prime, well, I skipped the AOE one for this, so I'll be glad to get it. The render has the arms in a proper blue that the display copy had in gray, so I'm hoping the latter was just a proto to show the retooling. Hope the parts that are gray have a darker shade (hoping for it all to be painted may be a bit much) that doesn't wash out the details.

Barricade I was open to, but I have yet to see a picture of this one that makes me like it. The feet in particular are a little baffling. Again, I may be content to fall back on my TLK one.

TFOne Alpha Trion... if I get it, I'll repurpose it as someone else in the archetype but not Alpha Trion himself. Come to think of it, I never got Alpha Trizer, so maybe this can also inherit that name in some fashion.

TFOne Airachnid, on the other hand, I am most excited for. This was the design I think I wanted most to be made out of the movie, and the name/character is long overdue for a good toy.

(For the Frame Era combiners, I'm half wondering about just getting the Commanders from each, so I can display at least Motormaster and Silverbolt as if they WERE the combiners, with the disclaimer of "just don't look too closely". I might yet cave on Devastator, if only because the CW one has always been way too big... I half wonder if the KO people will try something, though, as demand for that particular team seems very intense right now. But then, they have mostly stayed out of mainline stuff...)
 

Donocropolis

Olde-Timey Member
Staff member
Council of Elders
Citizen
Yeah, this is the first Titan that I actively do not want. Cybertron Metroplex and Black Zarak were "want but don't need" situations, but I've mostly sworn off Bayverse designs.
 


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