I'm writing to dicuss the differences in some of the Screen Battles (diarama) Transformers and their packaged counterparts.
The first one I got was Longarm (which I promptly head swapped with my packaged one). With the exception of the doors ("Mike's Towing" -- I dare you to call the phone number), rear panel, and Mikaela (Memphis's own Megan Fox) in the driver's seat, there's no noticeable difference. If you're looking for a driving Mikaela, legless (non-transforming) Bumblebee, or simply want to cut Orson out of his towing fee, this box is for you.
The second one (and one I most wanted) was Barricade in the "First Encounter" set. Simply put, this is an excuse for Hasbro to continue distributing movie Barricade which has been super hard to find (off of eBay) since Thanksgiving. While externally there has been no difference (do all original Barricade have the headlights highlighted with silver dots?), I've been having the hardest time trying to "eject" Frenzy. Is Frenzy not present due to the (better-looking) Frenzy diarama figure being in the box? If so, this would mean that a clever-looking slug (molded in black, not silver) is in the place where Frenzy should go. If not, then I clearly don't know how to get him out. (HELP!) I don't like having Sam (*cough*Spike*cough*) and Mikaela in such limited poses (how many fences will Sam have to jump over in his lifetime?), but like the characters included in this scene. In the background, I thought Barricade fought 70s Bumblebee that night (not the new version).
In the Desert Attack box, 3 of the SOCCENT soldiers defend themselves against a slightly dust-covered Scorponok. The "sandy" paint adjustment consists of sand-colored paint rubbings on Scorponok's claws and back. They are insignificant, and his regular paint apps seems to flow uninterrupted. When compared to packaged Wave 1 Scorponok (sitting on the same Wal-Mart shelf), the addition seemed pointless. (Now had they airbrushed the 'sand' over his tampos...) The soliders are well detailed. (I wish their names were used on the box.) I thought the black soldier carried a machine gun in the movie (in a blatant homage to G.I. Joe's Roadblock), but it's been 5 months...
The "Bumblebee gets captured" box also caught my attention (not owning a non-battle-damaged new version), with its Sector 7 troops. Fortunately, I discovered a Bumblebee amongst the non-movie characters, and saved my curious mind a few bucks. If you're interested in the Sector 7 agents, or don't have new Bumblebee or the Evolution of a Hero 2-pack, this box may catch your eye.
Oh... and for the Variant quest, most parts I didn't mention look roughly the same, but the numeraled parts (for Longarm, his back windshield; for Barricade, under the front of the car) have numbers with an "A" behind them. If the movie figures are individually numbered, this may set the diarama versions apart.
I close this article with one BIG question. How do I get Frenzy out of Barricade's front end without a screwdriver?!?
-- Cybertronian.
