The Transformers Thread (licensed) Next

[JB0]

I still say they should give up and recast Silverbolt as an XB-70, where a big block on the plane's underside is RIGHT.

[M'Kyuun]

14 hours ago, mikeszekely said:

You know what's better than a two-pack of Studio Series torso-forming Commanders?  How about finally getting the MIA Age of the Primes torso-forming Commander the same weekend?  That being Commander-class Silverbolt.

Among the Combiner Wars torsos I always thought that Silverbolt was probably the best, but side-by-side with the new one really hammers home how off it was.  The torso and forearms straight up have better proportions.  The deco is also much more cartoon-accurate; the CW toy might have been copying the G1 toy with the red chest going straight across and the all-black shoulders, but AotP Silverbolt's white shoulder wings and red vest with white in the middle is more accurate to the cartoon.

I'm a bit disappointed, though, that with all the budget a Commander-class affords it's still not totally accurate.  The Autobot badge on his right collar is something you'd expect on the G1 toy, but the cartoon has nothing on the red and a big ol' badge right in the middle of all that white.  Less obvious infractions include missing gold on his lats and knees, and missing red on his hips.

Like the limbs, Silverbolt is less a robot that turns into a plane and more a robot with a plane on his back.  I know it's going to be cause for some complaints, but for better or worse, it's cartoon accurate.  You can fold the wings back, like the G1 toy (and how a lot of 3P versions of the character are depicted), but per the Sunbow art they're not actually supposed to be.

As a Commander who's slightly smaller than an earlier Voyager release, much of Silverbolt's budget went toward accessories.  He's got a gun, a larger cannon, plus large chunks of arms, legs, and torsos for his combined mode.  And, just like Menasor's bits turned into Motormaster's trailer and Devastator's bits turned into Long Haul's trailer, Superion's bits do stuff too.  Whatever you're doing with them, though, you're going to start by folding in the knees and toes on the legs and sticking them together, then accordioning the arms up (very much like Menasor's) and sticking them on the sides of the legs.  This forms what I call "the brick" (though at this point I'm tempted to call it the port-a-potty).

Silverbolt's articulation is not too shabby.  His ball-jointed head can look up and tilt sideways a fair bit, though downward is pretty limited.  His shoulders rotate and move laterally 90 degrees.  His biceps swivel, and his elbows bend a little over 90 degrees.  No wrist swivels.  His waist does actually swivel, but he's limited to a little under 45 degrees in either direction due to his backpack.  His hip skirts can hinge up, allowing his hips to move 90 degrees forward on a ratchet, about 45 degrees backward due to his backpack, and slightly over 90 degrees laterally.  His thighs swivel, and his knees seem to bend 90 degrees, though using a tranfsormation joint will effectively make his knees double-jointed and able to bend 180 degrees.  His feet can't tilt downward, but due to his transformation they can tilt 90 degrees up and pivot 90 degrees.

Silverbolt is meant to hold the small gun in either hand.  When he's not wielding it, a tab under the barrel can plug into a slot on either side of the fuselage on his back.  Side note, I wish the little wings on the gun were bigger.

For use with Silverbolt's bot mode, take the brick and stand it up (so that the Superion fists are at the top).  Take the torso piece, fold the chest down, make him do a split, and turn the legs so the openings for the combiner ports are facing the same direction as his crotch.  Tabs on the brick will plug into Superion's thighs.  Then, take the cannon and use a pair of tabs to clip around the cannon, mounting it to the top of the brick.  Now you've got a kind of fortified gun emplacement.  I guess.

It might sound weird, but AotP Silverbolt's transformation is less like the G1 toy or Combiner Wars toys, and a bit more like Kingdom/Legacy Blaster's.  You open up Silverbolt's chest and fold his head into it (while folding out Superion's), but you also fold his arms into his torso as well (once you've folded in his fists and bent his elbows backward).  This will leave little bits of his forearms sticking out of his sides.  Fold his feet up, turn his thighs inward 90 degrees, then use his hips and upper knee (transformation) joint to bend his legs around to his torso.  Those bits of forearm sticking out of his sides will slide into a gap in his calves.  Once the robot parts are effectively a rectangle, you can lock the wings into tabs on his legs, double-hinge the forward chunk of the fuselage over Superion's face, and rock the tail back into place.  Finish it off by opening the cockpit section and folding out the nose.

As with the robot mode, Silverbolt's jet mode is both an improvement over the Combiner Wars version but not quite there.  Like, it's a lot closer to a Concord than whatever the CW toy was, but the proportions, nose, and wings are altered just enough to be legally distinct.  A robot with a jet on his back still winds up being a jet with a robot underneath; in that regard, the rectangle that Silverbolt squeezes himself into is actually a more compact than the CW toy, plus Superion's antenna kind of give me VF-1J vibes.  However, his feet are an eyesore.  I think it might have been better if they swiveled and sat on top of his shoulders instead of on the sides (though they way they work winds up integral for combined mode).  Or, if you look at the Sunbow art, there's black and red nacelles sticking out from under and past the front of his wings (likely a misinterpretation of the G1 toy's chest and shoulders).  If the feet could have turned 90 degrees somehow they might have passed as those nacelles.

You might have noticed that Silverbolt's hip skirts have molded wheels on on them.  The front landing gear unfolds from the back of Superion's head, and his pistol plugs into a port under the nose.

Pull the torso of the gun emplacement, and lay the brick part flat.  You can leave the torso in a split, but turn the thighs back around so the front is at the front.  Plug Superion's but into a the clips you used to hold the cannon on, while tabs on his thighs plug into slots on the fists.  Fold the back clip down and plug it into a pair of square notches on the brick, then fold the chest backward over it and tab it into the brick as well.  fold the barrel under the cannon, turn it over, and bend the rear slightly so that a peg hole lines up with a peg on the brick (actually Superion's back clip).  Lastly, fold out the little wings on the sides.  You've now got something that at first kind of reminded me of a fancy airport terminal, which would have worked well with the Aerialbots.  Heck, a ramp or something might have emulated the G1 toy's base mode.  But, no, Hasbro apparently decreed that combiner kibble must be a trailer, even for planes...

So we fold out a pair of red clips.  Lift Silverbolt's wings, and the red clips grab onto his thighs while a pair of tabs plug into his butt.  Fold the wings back down and they tab into the edges of the brick.  For this mode, you're technically supposed to split and fold down Silverbolt's tail (a feature that was designed just for this mode, since it doesn't need to do so for robot or combined mode).  I guess the cannon is the tail now?

Let's be clear, the idea of a Concord or really any jet hauling around a big brick of kibble, even a big brick with wings, is a bit absurd, and I prefer my airport terminal idea.  That said, I don't hate this as much as I thought.  There's more wing, the Concord neck sticking off the front, and some Superion chest kibble on the back, but if you ignore that and squint this "super mode" gives me Ark vibes.  Maybe this is Silverbolt's Cybertronian mode, then?  Regardless, there's no law that says you have to connect the kibble to Silverbolt, and if nothing else it's a convenient way to keep all his kibble in once place.

I'll do a review of the combined Superion mode when the other two Aerialbots are released.  For now, I actually really like this Silverbolt.  On his own merits, yes, he's still a brick of a robot under a plane that turns into a robot with a plane on his back, but that's inherently going to be a thing when you're working from the blocky G1 toys and Floro Dery's Sunbow designs (and before anyone brings up Maverick, just no- he's still a plane with a ton of robot kibble underneath, but one where they ridiculously over-engineered the transformation to try to spread the robot out flatter for minimal gain at the cost of humps on the dorsal fuselage and limited robot articulation, which I don't think is actually an improvement on any level).  But he's still a good robot with a plane on his back, and an improved jet with a robot underneath.  The combiner kibble doesn't really do anything for me in either robot or jet modes, but it's at least consolidated and read when we do combine him.  He gets a recommend from me.

Brilliant review as always, Mike. Whilst my criticism of Takara's approach to jetformer designs hasn't changed, what I can say is that they're consistent in their approach and they delivered what most fans want, a toy that looked like it walked right out of the Sunbow toon. Beyond my less than ecstatic view of Silverbolt himself, I can't say that I like the implementation of his combiner kibble in the least whereas in the cases of Motormaster (by all means the best implementation, I think most would agree) and Long Haul's questionable winged battle trailer I take a less critical view. I think your idea of turning it into a terminal or some other stationary accoutrement not attached to the jet itself would have served far better. I get why, but in this case, further compromising an already compromised Concorde wannabe with a giant ugly add-on pancake does not make for an appealing jet. At all.  For me, however, it's neither here nor there as I'm passing on the entire team for lack of appeal. I'm just grumbling to grumble b/c I'm old and that's what us old fogies do- offer unpopular, unsolicited opinions free of charge. You're welcome. 😄

I will levy an extra criticism that Silverbolt doesn't have rotating wrists. That, at minimum, should be standard at this class/price point, but really he should also have hinged fingers like SS86 Prime. 

Despite my dim views on the Legacy Aerialbots, I'm still going read your review on Superion. Overall, I think they've done a pretty good job with the combiners thus far, and while I opine that they've leaned perhaps a little too much on the frame system, I can't argue the vast improvement in stability that it offers compared to the Combiner Wars gestalts. If I was only into the combined forms, I'd likely get these guys, as I could overlook the egregiously compromised jet modes and just enjoy the giant hunk of articulated plastic before me, but such is not case, and I would always notice the inaccuracies and imperfections thus eroding my enjoyment. I'm hoping there'll be a better legends scale team at some point. MS did a great job with their Bruticus, so hopefully their Aerialbots aren't far behind and their jet modes are at least marginally more accurate to their RW counterparts. I digress, but anyway, I image Takara's Superion will deliver another show-accurate combiner and I'll check out the reviews in spite of my leanings.

[M'Kyuun]

9 hours ago, JB0 said:

I still say they should give up and recast Silverbolt as an XB-70, where a big block on the plane's underside is RIGHT.

Either an XB-70 or a B-1B Lancer. The Lancer makes more sense as s serviceable combat platform plus it shares numerous similarities with the Concorde. I'll never understand why they used a Concorde in a group of military fighters in the first place when the Bone existed. However, in terms of their completely ignoring a huge chunk of fuselage and just compacting the entire robot into an enormous rectangular cube on the bottom of the plane, it would certainly be closer to the XB-70 than either the Concorde or the B-1 and they wouldn't have to exert any additional effort at good engineering, innovation, or regard for accuracy in the least, as usual.

[davidwhangchoi]

On 5/13/2025 at 9:46 PM, davidwhangchoi said:

so this is a triple changer, a truck and plane? 

 

On 5/13/2025 at 10:54 PM, mikeszekely said:

I wish I knew.  I mean, you can see that the stage definitely has wheels and looks like it folds up into a trailer.  But I don't see any wheels on Basara Prime.  He does have the truck window chest instead of the normal Fire Valkyrie chest, though... maybe Basara Prime can cube up, chest out?  Then maybe connect to the overhang on the back of the stage?  

so mike, it turns out our guess was correct. 

[Scyla]

I’m not a fan of the blue leg vents. They would have looked much better in a dark red. The trailer is also too garish and too much Hot Rod. A grayish-blur would be better I think. Like this it takes too much away from the center piece which is Basara Prime/VF-19 Kai. 

Edited Tuesday at 08:21 AM by Scyla

[JB0]

I think Nekkimus Prime is kinda awful. The Optimus chest and abs looks terrible on the Fire Valkyrie, and Space Winnebago mod  looks hilariously bad(I kinda love it). The "truck cab" mode is... it's just embarassing. I was happier when I thought they just backed the Gerwalk into the camper.

 

I wish they'd drawn more design cues from Rodimus Prime instead of forcing this to be Optimus Prime. The Space Winnebago makes it clear SOMEONE thought he should be Rodimus. 

...

I still think he should really be hybridized with Armada Starscream, though. 

[Black Valkyrie]

 

I don`t know what to say, it seems I won`t be getting it, what a shame.  

 

[M'Kyuun]

Gotta LOL looking at comments here and elsewhere on the interwebs concerning Basara Prime. Some things just should not be crossed. Looking at the general shapes of Prime and the VF-19, these things are so incongruous that no amount of wonky engineering can satisfactorily merge the two. I will concede, however, that the fighter mode, especially in light of Takara's usual fare, turned out better than I expected. However, I imagine one need only turn it over to be confronted with blocky Prime's chest where the actual VF-19 is all sleek complimentary contours. The addition of Hot Rod's retrofitted trailer is pure money grab; it's superfluous, adds nothing to the core character, certainly does not a good combination make so far as a ground vehicle, and exists purely to increase the price of the figure. The only way I'd ever consider getting it is if it was sold at retail as a voyager or deluxe minus the trailer. It would make for an interesting oddity among my other crossovers, but I imagine this is going to be much more expensive and exclusive, so I'm going to pass.

[sh9000]

Hasbro/Takara Tomy please bring back the Transformers Collaborative line to cars from popular TV shows and movies.

[mikeszekely]

Optimus and the VF-19 clearly don't mix. It's a shame, though, because the Fighter mode doesn't look too bad. They WAY overthunk this one. 

11 minutes ago, sh9000 said:

Hasbro/Takara Tomy please bring back the Transformers Collaborative line to cars from popular TV shows and movies.

This. I mean, I could make a distinction between this Synergenex stuff and Hasbro's "proper" Transformers Collaborative, but lately Hasbro's done Naruto, Sonic, and football helmets.

[Black Valkyrie]

 

https://news.tfw2005.com/2025/07/01/takara-tomy-synergenex-series-macross-7-x-transformers-basara-convoy-official-stock-images-541197

 

[M'Kyuun]

2 hours ago, sh9000 said:

Hasbro/Takara Tomy please bring back the Transformers Collaborative line to cars from popular TV shows and movies.

I doubt it's dead. Basara Prime is on the Takara side of the fence, although it wouldn't surprise me if Hasbro had it on Pulse for a very limited time. Anyway, I'd say the crossovers are popular with the majority of fans (I have absolutely no evidence or stats to back that claim, but merely my own interest level and the fact that they've been making these for some time now, and with budgets tight, I doubt they'd invest in stuff that they think is going to fail or has no track record of success). With a Tron film around the corner, I think they'd be very smart to have a lightcycle in the pipeline. Even if the movie tanks, Tron has enough of a fan following to make such a release profitable, methinks. I'd certainly buy one. I want a Batmobile, too, or several, as well as Airwolf and maybe Blue Thunder. I think the former helicopter has a better shot than the latter and that's fine; I'd buy it! Anyway, there are still IPs to plunder for crossover figs so I doubt Hasbro's done doing them.

8 minutes ago, Black Valkyrie said:

 

https://news.tfw2005.com/2025/07/01/takara-tomy-synergenex-series-macross-7-x-transformers-basara-convoy-official-stock-images-541197

 

OMG. It's an abomination!

[Scyla]

I’m still much more positive about the release I just wished they would have made a couple of different decisions (mostly the color and the design and inclusion of the trailer).

I will still preorder it day one and I’m looking forward fiddling with it.

[anime52k8]

I kind of like how incredibly stupid the combined trailer mode looks.

[M'Kyuun]

16 minutes ago, anime52k8 said:

I kind of like how incredibly stupid the combined trailer mode looks.

Different strokes, truly. Personally, not a fan, but glad you dig it and if you order it, I hope it brings a smile for, if for no other reason, just how ridiculous it is.

[jenius]

They really should have just made a Rodimus toy that looked more like a Fire Valkyrie in battroid mode and had the trailer transform into the stage. Transforming into the plane and mating the crumpled plant to the trailer is madness.

[danth]

5 hours ago, Black Valkyrie said:

Orguss tank mode?

[mikeszekely]

1 hour ago, danth said:

Orguss tank mode?

Ok see now I'm back in on this...

[anime52k8]

I wonder how this is gonna scale with a 1/100 or 1/60 VF-19? The trailer-stage with the giant mic and guitar might look cool with a proper Fire Valk if the size is right. 

[M'Kyuun]

3 hours ago, danth said:

Orguss tank mode?

That was my initial impression, too, but it wasn't a good one. 😄 I'm not a big fan of the Orguss mecha anyway, but they are what they are and if that was the inspiration here due to its relation to Macross, it's a bit of a miss IMHO. I think they were just trying anything to shoehorn that stupid trailer/stage accessory in there to justify a higher price. I would have been far more impressed had they figured out a way to transform him so that Prime's chest at least forms a somewhat passable truckish looking front end, but I'm guessing they didn't even try.

[davidwhangchoi]

As i shared in the other thread, the alt mode is so stupid, i kinda want it.

I think i'm in. 

[JB0]

15 hours ago, anime52k8 said:

I kind of like how incredibly stupid the combined trailer mode looks.

Same. The Spacejet Winnebago and Orguss Tank modes fall into the "so bad it's good" category for me.

[mikeszekely]

For me it's going to come down to price, where Synergenex has been all over the place. Like, I was in for the Godzilla Megatron and the Monster Hunter Optimus, but the Zoids Optimus was announced with a $300 price tag.

[Dangard Ace]

Rockimus Prime is up on Amazon Japan.  
 

https://amzn.asia/d/3gacoQq

[sh9000]

https://www.hlj.com/transformers-macross-7-basara-prime-tkt09333#

https://hobby-genki.com/en/transformers/56739-transformers-aotp-18-autobot-skydive-action-figure-4904810093336.html

https://www.amiami.com/eng/detail/?gcode=FIGURE-188368

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/11220217

https://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/NEOGDS-903587

For the price I think I'd buy another HMR Valkyrie or do a partial payment for the DX Fire Valkyrie instead.

Edited 10 hours ago by sh9000

[mikeszekely]

I'm not going out of my way to buy from a Japanese site, but if it turns up on Pulse for $120 or less I'll bite.

[Negotiator]

that crotch gap is a bit much.  Though, I suppose you wouldn't notice if a guitar is covering it up.

[Chronocidal]

Every time I look at it, it gets closer to a Gurren Lagann joke xD

.. I'll need to see if I can't print myself a drill-guitar... and maybe a set of Basara's shades to wear on the chest.

Edited 7 hours ago by Chronocidal

[davidwhangchoi]

hmm... 16400yen... tempting