The Energon Pub

News Credits: 1235 · Sun Sep 05, 2010 3:09 pm

I saw this figure at Wal-Mart the other day and I passed in favor of Hailstorm. I figured they had just given him the Cannon Bumblebee treatment, then I saw a video review and realized it was closer to the Battle Blades Bumblebee treatment with a whole new mold. I decided to go back to Wal-Mart and luckily he was still hanging on the pegs. He stands up so much better and is more easy to pose. He doesn't have the arm blades but they gave him sweet pistols for him to duel wield. He also has an epic head reveal. I don't mind the red paint and if you don't either than I suggest you get this figure. He is the best sideswipe.

News Credits: 1 · Sun Sep 05, 2010 3:12 pm

will be repainting yellow to be my movieverse Sunstreaker

News Credits: 14 · Sun Sep 05, 2010 3:17 pm

Yeah, he's very cool, though I'm kind of hoping he's repainted blue.

He's a much better mold than the original.

News Credits: 1235 · Sun Sep 05, 2010 3:28 pm

Atomatron wrote:will be repainting yellow to be my movieverse Sunstreaker

That's a good idea and would love to see it when you are done.

Sun Sep 05, 2010 4:54 pm

Atomatron wrote:will be repainting yellow to be my movieverse Sunstreaker

Ditto.
That is, once I learn how to paint, get the materials needed, and find a new suitable head.

News Credits: 3 · Sun Sep 05, 2010 8:35 pm

He does look interesting...but I don't like how he looks. Don't really like the red window tint with the silver, the red paint looks crappy, and I hate when they leave the wheels all black. If (when) he get's a repaint I'll consider it.

News Credits: 11 · Thu Sep 09, 2010 9:02 am

I can't stand the red paint, but I'd love to see a repaint as either Sunstreaker or Tracks.

News Credits: 217 · Thu Sep 09, 2010 9:06 am

I used to have so much love for characters that had pistols rather than big honkin' guns (ie. RiD Hightower) but after Alternity Bumble and ROTF Brawn I'm getting a little bored of them.

I still want Sidearm Sideswipe, mind. I'm just not as excited as I might be.

News Credits: 3 · Sun Nov 14, 2010 3:40 pm

LOST Cybertronian wrote:I saw this figure at Wal-Mart the other day and I passed in favor of Hailstorm. I figured they had just given him the Cannon Bumblebee treatment, then I saw a video review and realized it was closer to the Battle Blades Bumblebee treatment with a whole new mold. I decided to go back to Wal-Mart and luckily he was still hanging on the pegs. He stands up so much better and is more easy to pose. He doesn't have the arm blades but they gave him sweet pistols for him to duel wield. He also has an epic head reveal. I don't mind the red paint and if you don't either than I suggest you get this figure. He is the best sideswipe.

I second this recommendation. The weird thing about this paint job is that it looks so much better in hand than in photos or reviews. I was bothered by the silver grill at first, thinking it would have looked better in red with the flames, but in person it works and I cannot explain why. It simply just works.

I also was not a fan of the red windows at first. I did not like them on Nest Sideswipe, thinking they make him look evil. I like my first release Sideswipe a lot more than I thought I would (though I waited until deluxe Dead End came out to get him thinking I wanted Swerve instead), especially when I started fiddling with it. But red does not work with that mold (as a bot, con is fine to me). It does with this one.

I really love the transformation of the torso on Sidearm. I think the way his red window ends up on top of his chest looks amazing. My only major gripe with the new transformation is that I cannot lift his doors up like wings for an areal movie-type shot.

My other gripes are: 1) the tail lights are not painted; 2) the hood pieces that folds around his forearms are a bit loose and can move the wrong way too easily because his arms are so short; 3) his feet spurs are not clear plastic.

I was bothered by his unpainted rims, but in person I'm glad they are straight black because I think there is already enough silver on him. In pictures and video the rims looked like they needed to be painted and the flames looked terrible. I'm amazed how much different he looks in hand. I might take a silver sharpie to his rims, but more than likely I'll wait to see if Reprolabels makes a sticker sheet to correct some of the paint issues.

To me, I now call sword Swipe Metalhawk, and Sidearm Phoenix. I came up with this because of the shape of the head, the metallic finish on the first along with the blades, and the red flame on the second.

On a side note, looking at the feet there is no question in my mind that the proper transformation is to rotate the feet 180 so the wheels are on the inside. The only problem is he does not stand as well this way, but he looks great! ;)^

Edit: I need to be smarter with my phrasing and look up names more often so I don't keep misspelling them. :BANG_HEAD:

Sun Nov 14, 2010 6:08 pm

I really like the look of this guy but nowadays I really like to stick to movie-accurate paint schemes. Hmm...should I really go for the TakaraTomy version or stick with Hasbro?

News Credits: 9 · Mon Nov 15, 2010 7:57 am

I was interested in this figure and have ordered him but after noticing that he has pistols in the end battle scene I want him all the more. Unfortunately Kapow Toys have proven to be rather rubbish.

News Credits: 9 · Mon Nov 15, 2010 7:58 am

OptiMagnus10 wrote:I really like the look of this guy but nowadays I really like to stick to movie-accurate paint schemes. Hmm...should I really go for the TakaraTomy version or stick with Hasbro?

It wouldn't be hard to paint over the red with Games Workshop Mithril Silver.

News Credits: 33 · Mon Nov 15, 2010 9:34 am

If you're going to paint over bare plastic, for a small area, use a thin layer of varnish (Gamesworkshop sell a pot) first, to make the paint adhere better.

Also, use Chainmail and then Mithril Silver - Mithril has a low pigment count and will either go thick, or require lots of layers. Chainmail will stop either happening.

*edit* Spelling is the enemy.

News Credits: 3 · Mon Nov 15, 2010 10:09 am

Thinking about it, I'd have waited for the likely inevitable "Shadow Gun Sideswipe" in black with purple windows similar in paint scheme to the new HASBSS if I knew for sure it was coming out. I don't collect HA, but I have to admit Swipe looks great in the new shadow paint scheme. I might pick up a SASS in this scheme anyway. And they just might do this because they released G1 Swipe in black during the G2 toy run. With G2 Botcon over but still in memory, maybe this will be the repaint of the mold?

News Credits: 2 · Mon Nov 15, 2010 10:37 am

OptiMagnus10 wrote:I really like the look of this guy but nowadays I really like to stick to movie-accurate paint schemes. Hmm...should I really go for the TakaraTomy version or stick with Hasbro?

Takara, who wants those awful red flames? looks silly

Mon Nov 15, 2010 12:35 pm

I'm getting two one for a g1 homage of sideswipe and one for my movieverse sunstreaker Twins movie style

News Credits: 226 · Mon Nov 15, 2010 2:14 pm

OptiMagnus10 wrote:I really like the look of this guy but nowadays I really like to stick to movie-accurate paint schemes. Hmm...should I really go for the TakaraTomy version or stick with Hasbro?

I got my Takara version yesterday, and he's definitely better without the silly red paint job.

Mon Nov 15, 2010 3:56 pm

Burn wrote:
OptiMagnus10 wrote:I really like the look of this guy but nowadays I really like to stick to movie-accurate paint schemes. Hmm...should I really go for the TakaraTomy version or stick with Hasbro?

I got my Takara version yesterday, and he's definitely better without the silly red paint job.

Thanks. I'll get him along with Takara Elita-1 (who actually looks like she did in the movie).
By the way, does anyone actually know if the Takara Battle Baldes Optimus Prime actually did end up being released with hooks instead of blades? I can't get a clear answer!

News Credits: 1235 · Mon Nov 15, 2010 5:55 pm

OptiMagnus10 wrote:
Burn wrote:
OptiMagnus10 wrote:I really like the look of this guy but nowadays I really like to stick to movie-accurate paint schemes. Hmm...should I really go for the TakaraTomy version or stick with Hasbro?

I got my Takara version yesterday, and he's definitely better without the silly red paint job.

Thanks. I'll get him along with Takara Elita-1 (who actually looks like she did in the movie).
By the way, does anyone actually know if the Takara Battle Baldes Optimus Prime actually did end up being released with hooks instead of blades? I can't get a clear answer!

Yes he does have hooks.

Mon Nov 15, 2010 5:59 pm

LOST Cybertronian wrote:
OptiMagnus10 wrote:
Burn wrote:
OptiMagnus10 wrote:I really like the look of this guy but nowadays I really like to stick to movie-accurate paint schemes. Hmm...should I really go for the TakaraTomy version or stick with Hasbro?

I got my Takara version yesterday, and he's definitely better without the silly red paint job.

Thanks. I'll get him along with Takara Elita-1 (who actually looks like she did in the movie).
By the way, does anyone actually know if the Takara Battle Baldes Optimus Prime actually did end up being released with hooks instead of blades? I can't get a clear answer!

Yes he does have hooks.

Sweeeeeeet! I must possess this object.

News Credits: 1 · Sun Nov 21, 2010 2:49 am

I picked him up last week and I agree 100%. Sidearm Sideswipe is a really impressive delux figure. I have a preferance to the red tint and deco. This seems to be one of the major complaints that I hear people make, so if you like the red, then you're good to go.