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News Credits: 65 · by **Wolfman Jake** » Mon Jun 02, 2014 10:50 pm

I had sworn off the live action movie toys after the letdown that was the Dark of the Moon line. I sold off my large (nearly complete) collection of characters from the first two movie lines, and concentrated instead on Classics and Prime. Anyway, with all the new movie toys cropping up at retail, Prime done, and Generations all but on hiatus, it's becoming VERY hard to resist picking up the new toys. I know, if I get some of them, like the Dinobots, I'm going to have to fill out the movie roster again (but this time, I'll stick to just on-screen characters - no expanded universe stuff).

There is a big advantage to starting over again, in that I won't have to bother with several iterations of the same characters as they were incrementally improved over the years with better sculpts, engineering, and paint applications. That said, if I were to collect the movie toys again, I want to poll my fellow collectors for the best versions of each character. In rough order of importance, I'm looking for the best toys that correctly match on-screen scale, sculpt, and paint apps. As far as scale goes, I'm tempted to forget the Leader Class altogether and save a lot of money (except for Jetfire). Also out are the Human Alliance versions, since they are in there own scale and far from complete in terms of character roster.

I've got some ideas already, like the Movie Advanced "Revenge" Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, DOTM Barricade, Premium Series Blackout, etc., but I'm always open to opinion and want to make sure I spend my money wisely this time. Obviously, Takara versions are fair game, like Takara's Sidearm Sideswipe.

News Credits: 1 · by **RhA** » Mon Jun 02, 2014 11:44 pm

What a headache that would be. Well, good luck on round two. I can imagine that some of those toys are gonna be a lot harder to grab.

News Credits: 22 · by **Rodimus Prime** » Tue Jun 03, 2014 4:09 am

Right off the bat, the 1st thing comes to mind is due to the fact that there was never a Leader Class DoTM Megatron or Shockwave, you'd have to start with the Voyager Class for the leaders and bigger characters and go to deluxe for the smaller ones, if you want to keep accurate scale.

I think you should start with the most prominent characters for each movie, such as Bee from 2007, Jetfire from 2009, and Ironhide from 2011. Then go for the leaders, then the rest of them. Good luck with getting them all, it'll probably be more difficult (or more fun, depending on how you look at it) this time around.

News Credits: 12 · by **GuyIncognito** » Tue Jun 03, 2014 7:19 am

If you're interested in some like-new figures, 100% complete with instructions (and cardbacks for Deluxes and smaller), PM me!

I've got about 100 figures from 2007 - DOTM (and only one of them is a BB!) that I've been meaning to sell on eBay, but haven't gotten around to it. I could send you a list later. There are some good, even great, figures in there, but I need to purge my collection.

News Credits: 65 · by **Wolfman Jake** » Tue Jun 03, 2014 7:42 am

You've piqued my interest, GuyIncognito. Please do send me a list. Any photos would help too. I hope you don't mind if I cherry pick your collection for on-screen characters.

I'm still looking for input on the best versions of each character available. For instance, here is my breakdown of the Autobot cast from the first movie:

Optimus Prime - Movie Advanced Voyager "Revenge" Optimus Prime (HFTD mold)
Ironhide - Dark of the Moon Voyager Ironhide
Ratchet - Dark of the Moon Deluxe Ratchet
Bumblebee - Movie Advanced Deluxe "Battle Blades" Bumblebee
Jazz - Premium Series Deluxe Jazz

Thoughts? Opinions? Suggestions?

News Credits: 95 · by **-Kanrabat-** » Tue Jun 03, 2014 7:15 pm

Wolfman Jake wrote:You've piqued my interest, GuyIncognito. Please do send me a list. Any photos would help too. I hope you don't mind if I cherry pick your collection for on-screen characters.

I'm still looking for input on the best versions of each character available. For instance, here is my breakdown of the Autobot cast from the first movie:

Optimus Prime - Movie Advanced Voyager "Revenge" Optimus Prime (HFTD mold)
Ironhide - Dark of the Moon Voyager Ironhide
Ratchet - Dark of the Moon Deluxe Ratchet
Bumblebee - Movie Advanced Deluxe "Battle Blades" Bumblebee
Jazz - Premium Series Deluxe Jazz

Thoughts? Opinions? Suggestions?

Those in bold in your quote are already decided and perfect.
I cant tell about Jazz and I think you chose the DotM Ironhide for scales issues. I prefer the 2007 version but it would indeed be too large.
Here's my suggestions on top of my head for the rest:

RotF deluxe Skids and Mudflap.

RotF "Green Burger" voyager Megatron (DotM is awesome but too small).

2007 Movie voyager Starscream, premium version. (RotF mode have a perfect jet mode --ignoring the ass-hands-- But the robot mode have all kinds of problems and is just bad looking. The 2007 mold have "missiles hands" but the bot mode feel powewrful and will scale perfectly with Optimus and the rest. Get the Premium for that shiny coat of paint.)

DotM deluxe Topspin, Leadfoot, and Roadbuster.
DotM deluxe Q.

RotF voyager The Fallen.

DotM del. Crankcase

DotM del. Soundwave

HftD legion Ravage

DotM del. Barricade

Supreme class RotF Devastator

And I'm out.

by **SJ21** » Wed Jun 04, 2014 9:33 am

I also have some movie stuff I would be willing to part with for you. It is almost all on-screen characters. Once you have your list, shoot me a pm and I will help you out.

News Credits: 65 · by **Wolfman Jake** » Wed Jun 04, 2014 11:23 am

Thanks for the offer, SJ21. I'll PM you soon with a list of wants.

News Credits: 639 · by **ScottyP** » Wed Jun 04, 2014 12:12 pm

If I had to go back and rebuild, I'd stick to Leaders and HA to start, then find the rest of the on-screen characters through Voyagers on down. Then again, I'm a big fan of the larger scale stuff.

News Credits: 65 · by **Wolfman Jake** » Wed Jun 04, 2014 5:07 pm

Yeah, sometimes the bigger figures are wonderful (ROTF Leader Optimus Prime). Sometimes, they are quite a letdown (DOTM Leader Bumblebee). I'm sticking with Voyager ROTF Optimus Prime as my standard for scale this time around. That will keep scale similar to my classics shelf, and allows for better scaling with ROTF Leader Class Jetfire, which is the only real option for that character.

News Credits: 65 · by **Wolfman Jake** » Sat Jun 07, 2014 10:05 pm

Well, I've put together my list of on-screen movie characters for each film (except for the upcoming Age of Extinction). I welcome comments, suggestions, or alternate ideas on the best representations for each character.

Transformers (2007)

Autobots:
Optimus Prime - Movie Advanced voyager "Revenge" Optimus Prime (Takara-Tomy)
Bumblebee - 2010 deluxe Battle Blades Bumblebee
Ironhide - DOTM voyager Ironhide
Jazz - Premium Series deluxe Autobot Jazz
Ratchet - DOTM deluxe Ratchet

Decepticons:
Megatron - DOTM voyager Megatron
Starscream - Target Exclusive voyager Deep Space Starscream
Barricade - DOTM deluxe Barricade
Blackout - Premium Series voyager Blackout
Bonecrusher - 2007 deluxe Bonecrusher
Brawl - 2007 deluxe Brawl
Frenzy - 2007 deluxe Barricade
Scorponok - 2007 legend Scorponok
Dispensor - Movie Advanced deluxe Dispensor (Takara-Tomy)

Revenge of the Fallen

Autobots:
Skids - ROTF deluxe Skids
Mudflap - ROTF deluxe Mudflap
Jetfire - ROTF leader Jetfire
Wheelie - ROTF legend Wheelie
Sideswipe - Autobot Alliance deluxe Sidearm Sideswipe (Takara-Tomy)
Arcee - ROTF legend Arcee (or Human Alliance Arcce, Chromia, and Elita-One).
Jolt - Movie Advanced deluxe Jolt

Decepticons:
The Fallen - ROTF voyager The Fallen
Soundwave - DOTM deluxe Soundwave
Ravage - ROTF legend Ravage
Scalpel - ROTF scout Scalpel
Grindor - ROTF voyager Grindor
Demolishor - ROTF Toys 'R' Us Exclusive Shanghai Showdown Demolisher with Skids and Mudflap
Devastator - ROTF supreme Constructicon Devastator
Rampage - Toys 'R' Us Exclusive deluxe Rampage Among the Ruins Rampage with Bumblebee and Ravage
Mixmaster - ROTF voyager Mixmaster
Longhaul - ROTF voyager Longhaul
Scrapper - Movie Advanced Constructicon Devastator (Takara-Tomy)
Hightower - Movie Advanced Constructicon Devastator (Takara-Tomy)
Overload - Movie Advanced Constructicon Devastator (Takara-Tomy)
Scavenger - ROTF voyager Demolishor
Scrapmetal - (no toy available)
Sideways - ROTF deluxe Sideways (both light gray and dark gray versions)
Insecticon - 2010 scout Insecticon
Ejector - ROTF scout Ejector
Buffalo MPV Decepticon - 2007 deluxe Jungle Bonecrusher

Dark of the Moon

Autobots:
Sentinel Prime - DOTM voyager Sentinel Prime
Dino/Mirage - Movie Advanced deluxe Dino (Takara-Tomy)
Que/Wheeljack - DOTM deluxe Que/Wheeljack
Brains - (no toy available)
Topspin - DOTM deluxe Topspin
Roadbuster - DOTM deluxe Roadbuster
Leadfoot - DOTM deluxe Leadfoot (Takara-Tomy) or Target Exclusive Human Alliance Leadfoot

Decepticons:
Laserbeak - DOTM Human Alliance Soundwave with Laserbeak
Shockwave - DOTM voyager Shockwave
Igor - (no toy available)
Crankcase - DOTM deluxe Crankcase
Crowbar - DOTM legion Crowbar
Hatchet - DOTM commander Hatchet
Junkheap - AoE Power Battlers Junkheap
Tank Decepticon - ROTF deluxe Deep Desert Brawl
Audi R8 Decepticon - ROTF Dead End
Superfund Decepticon - 2007 deluxe Payload
Devcon - (no toy available)
Watch-bot - (no toy available)
Pickup Decepticon - 2007 deluxe Dropkick
Police Car Decepticon - 2007 deluxe Recon Barricade

News Credits: 112 · by **megatronus** » Sun Jun 08, 2014 4:47 pm

ScottyP wrote:If I had to go back and rebuild, I'd stick to Leaders and HA to start, then find the rest of the on-screen characters through Voyagers on down. Then again, I'm a big fan of the larger scale stuff.

^This.

Outside of figures I can integrate into Classics (which is a lot), my dedicated Movie Collection consists of 4 Leaders (APS Optimus, APS Brawl, HFTD Starscream, & DOTM Sentinel Prime) and 4 HA figures (Jazz, Barricade, Roadbuster, & Soundwave).

News Credits: 65 · by **Wolfman Jake** » Tue Jun 17, 2014 7:13 pm

Well, things are coming along with my movie collection v2.0. I may post some pics soon, after a few more eBay purchases arrive at the end of the week.

For now, though, I have a question for anyone who has both the Hasbro and Takara-Tomy versions of Battle Blades Optimus Prime on hand. I know that the red plastic used for the Takara release is a deeper, richer red...but that's not true of all of the plastic on the figure. The abdomen piece and the forearms are obviously a deeper shade of red, but the plastic that forms the nose of the truck, is a much lighter, brighter shade. It's not obvious in pictures on this site, but if you look under the right light, you'll see it, plain as day. I'm wondering if this lighter shade is about the same shade as the Hasbro version's red plastic. My reason being, there is a bit of stray blue paint (a thin streak about 3/4 of an inch long) on the left arm guard (nose of the truck) on the Battle Blades Optimus Prime Takara-Tomy figure I just received. I'm wondering if getting some spare parts from the Hasbro version will work as a replacement truck hood. The pieces should be very easy to swap. Those panels pop off all the time if you move the arms into any sort of interesting or dynamic pose.

Also, if anyone has the new "Revenge" Optimus Prime from Takara-Tomy's Movie Advanced line, are there two different red plastic colors used as I found above with their previous (2010) release?

News Credits: 112 · by **megatronus** » Tue Jun 17, 2014 8:53 pm

Wolfman Jake wrote:Also, if anyone has the new "Revenge" Optimus Prime from Takara-Tomy's Movie Advanced line, are there two different red plastic colors used as I found above with their previous (2010) release?

I just got the Revenge version in the other day! I've only had the Hasbro version previously (sold it about a year ago), but can safely say the Revenge version is deeper, richer... superior. I haven't yet decided whether or not I will free him from his plastic prison, but from what I can tell through his box window, the red plastic is consistent throughout the figure.

Also, Revenge Optimus has chrome! CHROME!!!

Hope that helps.

News Credits: 65 · by **Wolfman Jake** » Tue Jun 17, 2014 9:35 pm

Thanks for the reply. If you do decide to take him out of the package (Do it! You know you want to! :DEVIL:

), take a good look at the arm panels/truck nose hood for color consistency. Like I said before, not all lighting makes it obvious, so try a few different sources of light, including some sunlight. If the plastic color layout matches that of the "Autobot Alliance" version, I might be tempted to pick up "Revenge" Optimus Prime and just Frankenstein my perfect version of the figure (no bronze plastic joins and shins, for instance).

News Credits: 112 · by **megatronus** » Tue Jun 17, 2014 9:41 pm

Wolfman Jake wrote:Thanks for the reply. If you do decide to take him out of the package (Do it! You know you want to! ), take a good look at the arm panels/truck nose hood for color consistency. Like I said before, not all lighting makes it obvious, so try a few different sources of light, including some sunlight. If the plastic color layout matches that of the "Autobot Alliance" version, I might be tempted to pick up "Revenge" Optimus Prime and just Frankenstein my perfect version of the figure (no bronze plastic joins and shins, for instance).

Sure thing! I tried it under both yellow and white bulbs, and it all looked the same. If I open him up, I'll take a closer look.

News Credits: 2 · by **Spider5800** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 8:28 pm

I'm really surprised everyone keeps suggesting DOTM Ratchet. If I was going deluxe Ratchet, the ROTF mold is far superior IMO.

He's taller, the weapon is more screen-accurate, and I like the coloring from the first two movies much more.

News Credits: 65 · by **Wolfman Jake** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 10:11 pm

I'm tempted to pick up the ROTF deluxe Ratchet now, believe it or not. I like the DOTM Ratchet. It's the best for vehicle mode accuracy and is very faithful to his on-screen robot model, but his size puts him out of scale, sorely. The voyager version from 2007 is way too big too. Thanks for that side-by-side of the two deluxe Ratchet molds. I think the ROTF will scale nicely with HFTD voyager Optimus Prime and DOTM voyager Ironhide. Could you do me a favor? If you can, please take a picture of ROTF deluxe Ratchet with Battle Blades Bumblebee and DOTM deluxe Bumblebee, just to see how the sizes compare. Right now, all I have is DOTM Ratchet, and I'm using DOTM Bumblebee because the Battle Blades Bumblebee figure (although superior) is TALLER than deluxe DOTM Rathcet.

Not that DOTM Bumblebee is bad, but he's not the best Bee out there.

News Credits: 2 · by **Spider5800** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 10:42 pm

The big issue I see for you is Battle Blade Bumblebee is pretty tall for a deluxe. He's far and away the most screen-accurate deluxe Bumblebee available, but he's gonna be about a head taller than deluxe Ratchet and probably pretty close to your DOTM Ironhide's height.

You may want to consider a smaller 'bee, like the original movie one or ROTF if you're worried about scale.

News Credits: 112 · by **megatronus** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 10:53 pm

Look out for AOE Bumblebees too - there's bound to be 1 or 2 in the 100 we get that will suffice.

News Credits: 65 · by **Wolfman Jake** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 11:23 pm

Yeah, I might just wait for the new AoE Bumblebee. Again, I hope a voyager AoE new Optimus Prime comes along at some point. DOTM Bumblee is okay for now, though. Like I said, he's not a bad Bumblebee at all for screen accuracy, especially with the changes made to his alt mode in the third movie, but Battle Blades Bumblebee is practically a masterpiece (except for the huge forearms). ROTF Ratchet should fix some of my scale woes with DOTM Ratchet, though.

News Credits: 2 · by **Spider5800** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 11:53 pm

Yeah, I put Battle Blade Bumblebee next to ROTF leader class Optimus, original movie voyager's Ironhide and Ratchet, and original deluxe Jazz, and it works really well. But if you're trying to scale it all with the Decepticon toys (which are all over the place, sadly), then a smaller 'bee is probably your best bet.

News Credits: 65 · by **Wolfman Jake** » Sun Jun 22, 2014 12:13 am

Yeah, the Decepticons are the reason I'm scaling my movie collection to voyager for Optimus Prime and going from there. It works out well in its own way, though. Since there is really only leader Jetfire as an option, that actually scales correctly with most of the Autobot cast and voyager Optimus. Other leader figures like Ironhide and Bumblebee are a no-go anyway (too big). No leader Megatron is that great, and there isn't even an option beyond the voyager figure for his third movie (and best, IMO) look. Leader Brawl is nice, but deluxe will do, even if he is undersized. The Constructicons are a total scale nightmare, necessitating the use of legend/legion scale figures to round out that sub-cast. Still, I find skipping out on the leader size class seems to be the best way to go, and I think that kind of became Hasbro's and Takara's intention moving into the third movie anyway.

News Credits: 10 · by **gavinfuzzy** » Sun Jun 22, 2014 9:41 pm

Wolfman Jake wrote:You've piqued my interest, GuyIncognito. Please do send me a list. Any photos would help too. I hope you don't mind if I cherry pick your collection for on-screen characters.

I'm still looking for input on the best versions of each character available. For instance, here is my breakdown of the Autobot cast from the first movie:

Optimus Prime - Movie Advanced Voyager "Revenge" Optimus Prime (HFTD mold)
Ironhide - Dark of the Moon Voyager Ironhide
Ratchet - Dark of the Moon Deluxe Ratchet
Bumblebee - Movie Advanced Deluxe "Battle Blades" Bumblebee
Jazz - Premium Series Deluxe Jazz

Thoughts? Opinions? Suggestions?

Id go with ROTF Nest ratchet. Much better IMO.

And since you're going with voyager as the largest scale, why not use the HFTD deluxe ironhide? another great mold.

News Credits: 65 · by **Wolfman Jake** » Sun Jun 22, 2014 10:34 pm

Yeah, I'm going to look for a good deal on ROTF deluxe Ratchet. Why not deluxe Ironhide, you ask? He's a good figure, as I recall, but too small. The DOTM voyager scales much better with the rest of the cast, IMO, especially the cars. The DOTM voyager is quite a bit smaller than the 2007 movie version, but still quite a bit bigger than the deluxe version. He's about a head shorter than my HFTD voyager Optimus Prime and taller than even Battle Blades Bumblebee, so that fits the bill perfectly in my eyes. There are some official scale guides for the movie characters out there (directly from the design teams) and in terms of height, characters roughly like this: Jetfire > Optimus Prime > Ironhide > Ratchet > Bumblebee > various medium cars (Sideswipe and Jolt) > various smaller cars (Jazz, Skids and Mudflap) > Arcee bikes. If anyone has more extensive official scale guides, especially of the Decepticon characters, I'd love to see them!