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Always seems like TFs sacrifice the bots for the helicopter modes. All the copters I have are kinda subpar. Even the highly regarded Skyhammer, the knees just kill it for me.

Va'al wrote:Now, if we were talking about this other version of that character...

*sigh* Still hoping Hasbro will find a way to use this mold.

If they can make a G2 Menasor, surely they can figure out Animated Blackout. Maybe some kind of crazy 10-year-Aniversary crossover online-exclusive thing, with green Ratchets and tattooed Starscreams?

Delta Magnus wrote:Eh. The head/chest ruins it for me.

Carnivius_Prime wrote:Ew, just no. No no no.
(me definitely not a fan of Animated's simplistic cartoony style)

Yes, that is the issue with Animated and Bayformers, really. The style is carried across pretty much the entire line, and if you don't like either, you really don't like them. I personally don't mind (and in fact really like Animated), but I understand entirely.

Noideaforaname wrote:*sigh* Still hoping Hasbro will find a way to use this mold.

If they can make a G2 Menasor, surely they can figure out Animated Blackout. Maybe some kind of crazy 10-year-Aniversary crossover online-exclusive thing, with green Ratchets and tattooed Starscreams?

That could be very cool indeed! Though Animated Starscream can stay where it is.

Burn wrote:

Microraptor wrote:

Burn wrote:I see the anti-Stalker conspiracy has extended to include even his nemesis, poor Rotorstorm, excluded in favour of that over-rated pile of poo known as the Alpha Bravo mold.

At least we can agree on Skyhammer

Burn, while I share your G1.5 enthusiasm, I cannot support your disdain for our lord and savior Alpha Bravo.

I wouldn't have such disdain for him if SOMEONE (who I won't name but his name starts with V, ends in L and has a'a in the middle) made him out to be something relevant!

Wassup.

Noideaforaname wrote:
If they can make a G2 Menasor, surely they can figure out Animated Blackout. Maybe some kind of crazy 10-year-Aniversary crossover online-exclusive thing, with green Ratchets and tattooed Starscreams?

I would just LOVE it if Hasbro came out with a 2 pack of Animated Blackout and Prime Breakdown. You could call it a "we love you fans" pack.

Va'al wrote:

Delta Magnus wrote:Eh. The head/chest ruins it for me.

Carnivius_Prime wrote:Ew, just no. No no no.
(me definitely not a fan of Animated's simplistic cartoony style)

Yes, that is the issue with Animated and Bayformers, really. The style is carried across pretty much the entire line, and if you don't like either, you really don't like them. I personally don't mind (and in fact really like Animated), but I understand entirely.

That's the funny thing. I do like the style of both Animated and the movies. I can also see how this would work really well in the cartoon. But in plastic form he just looks kinda...doofy?

Topic: A Leader class Blackout/Grindor would be awesome. Especially as we could then recreate the ROTF Forest Scene entirely with Leader class figures (though admittedly Megatron could do with a new one).

Delta Magnus wrote:That's the funny thing. I do like the style of both Animated and the movies. I can also see how this would work really well in the cartoon. But in plastic form he just looks kinda...doofy?

From the way you wrote it, I gather you didnt see him in the cartoon.

I have yet to actually watch Animated, unfortunately. I'll get round to it eventually.

I do love the style though, especially on 'cons (though the Autobots from the line look great too). Some guys I'm looking to get once I've cleared some space are Oil Slick, Swindle and Prowl.

Delta Magnus wrote:I have yet to actually watch Animated, unfortunately. I'll get round to it eventually.

I do love the style though, especially on 'cons (though the Autobots from the line look great too). Some guys I'm looking to get once I've cleared some space are Oil Slick, Swindle and Prowl.

Great guys to start with! Some of those will be appearing on upcoming lists

william-james88 wrote:

Delta Magnus wrote:I have yet to actually watch Animated, unfortunately. I'll get round to it eventually.

I do love the style though, especially on 'cons (though the Autobots from the line look great too). Some guys I'm looking to get once I've cleared some space are Oil Slick, Swindle and Prowl.

Great guys to start with! Some of those will be appearing on upcoming lists

Agreed!

I think Skyhammer is a great mold, and it worked very well for AoE Drift, which is the version of the mold I have and it is awesome. Really works. And Springer and Whirl are both amazing choppers. Blackout is equally cool, having that Scorponok area with in him and his entire back becomes a weapon! There are more good choppers out there than we may think!

I have some variation of every toy on this list except Rescue Bot Blades and G1 Whirl. Energon Bulkhead was also mentioned, i have that and some KO variations. Somebody mentioned Movie Blazemaster as worst, i'd like to add TF:Prime Deluxe Airachnia to that list.

Noideaforaname wrote:If they can make a G2 Menasor, surely they can figure out Animated Blackout. Maybe some kind of crazy 10-year-Aniversary crossover online-exclusive thing, with green Ratchets and tattooed Starscreams?

Kinda OT, but there's a bootleg that's Movie Starscream's tribal tats on a grey Animated Starscream mold.

william-james88 wrote:

TK415 wrote:I love the list! Thanks WJ. Those are all great vehicles and figures. Good list.

Where did you rank 07 Blackout?

Super kind of you!

As for Blackout, I have trouble with him (I have Grindor btw). The helicopter mode is great, no doubt about it, but I just have a huge issue with how little the robot looks with all those copter bits surrounding it. It's like there is a helicopter and a robot but they don’t share the same space. Plus, I think he is a big victim of the bay aesthetic, especially the face and legs. So while the mold is cool (like with that extra playability mode), he didn’t quite make the cut for me compared to the others. If his bot mode was more imposing and if he had more vehicle integration, it would be different. Glad you like him though!

Very interesting, thanks for the response. Those are all very fair criticisms, I can respect those. It is funny how subjective it can be. That is an accurate description and totally valid. It is interesting how somethings can be a significant drawback for one person and another person can ignore and or not be bothered by those same things. Gen Leader Jetfire seemed to be the same way for people.

Blackout is one of my favorite figures. (For the record I love G1, and still have some of my G1 figures that I played with as a kid. I love both G1 and the Bay movies)

william-james88 wrote:Glad you like him though!

That is a really nice way to disagree but to say that we can like different things and keep it all positive. Thanks.

While I am not trying to disagree with you WJ, or convince you otherwise, and I am sure you would feel the same if you had Blackout, I think what you described is exaggerated on Grindor and not as bad on Blackout.

I think that Blackout is more cohesive and doesn’t suffer nearly as much as Grindor does from those drawbacks. The black and white contrast draws those drawbacks out a bit more. On Blackout the dark colors blend better, making the figure more seamless. The legs, head, and robot percentage compared to copter are more glaring on Grindor. To me Blackout looks like a massive football player like a lineman, or like an ogre, all massive body and muscle.




http://www.seibertron.com/transformers-toys/view/revenge-of-the-fallen/grindor/1852/2/124/

TK415 wrote:While I am not trying to disagree with you WJ, or convince you otherwise, and I am sure you would feel the same if you had Blackout, I think what you described is exaggerated on Grindor and not as bad on Blackout.

I think that Blackout is more cohesive and doesn’t suffer nearly as much as Grindor does from those drawbacks. The black and white contrast draws those drawbacks out a bit more. On Blackout the dark colors blend better, making the figure more seamless. The legs, head, and robot percentage compared to copter are more glaring on Grindor. To me Blackout looks like a massive football player like a lineman, or like an ogre, all massive body and muscle.

Awesome post man, thanks for elaborating. And I can see it. Yes, my criticism of having the bot and helicopter not occupy the same space does seem to be fixed with Blackout. Interesting how jut the plastic colour can make a difference.

And yeah, it's all subjective and that is why I am glad eople like you post your thoughts. My aim in this is that new collectors who are interested in older toys can get a good basis of what is out there and what they could enjoy. And when they look at the conversation, they can see the other good toys that havent been covered and mght be more suited for them. Oh and that comparison to Jetfire is pretty spot on, I have a tough time understanding why he isnt liked that much either. Thanks again for the post!

You're all wrong! Generations Sandstorm is the best!

But in all seriousness, he is the best

Decepticon Sunstorm wrote:You're all wrong! Generations Sandstorm is the best!

But in all seriousness, he is the best

I respectfully disagree, although he is just as nice as springer (who he was of course heavily retooled from)

Alpha bravo just swaggers past them both while hanging out with the rest if the helicopter posse, trying to get real pally with skyhammer

Decepticon Sunstorm wrote:You're all wrong! Generations Sandstorm is the best!

But in all seriousness, he is the best

I am sure he is. He isnt a helicopter though.

william-james88 wrote:

Decepticon Sunstorm wrote:You're all wrong! Generations Sandstorm is the best!

But in all seriousness, he is the best

I am sure he is. He isnt a helicopter though.

Close enough.

Decepticon Sunstorm wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

Decepticon Sunstorm wrote:You're all wrong! Generations Sandstorm is the best!

But in all seriousness, he is the best

I am sure he is. He isnt a helicopter though.

Close enough.

I disagree. He's as close to a helicopter as Windblade is, and that aint close at all. That's like saying he flies and helicopters fly, so he fits. The whole point of a helicopter is that you have rotors. Sandstorm doesn't.

THIS LIST HAS A NEW #1!!!!

BUMBLEBEE MOVIE
DROPKICK

Z3ROhour wrote:THIS LIST HAS A NEW #1!!!!

BUMBLEBEE MOVIE
DROPKICK

Do you own the toy? It's not very good.

Springer's legs are made of wheels like the shoulders of PRIME Breakdown:that's not good.

Springer is an awesome toy though, I'm looking forward to what Siege tries, I mean we know what the robot mode will look like but what magic will the toy do to achieve it? Also do what if it has wheels for legs? As long as its not the feet, I'm happy

ZeroWolf wrote:Springer is an awesome toy though, I'm looking forward to what Siege tries, I mean we know what the robot mode will look like but what magic will the toy do to achieve it? Also do what if it has wheels for legs? As long as its not the feet, I'm happy

It's way too unrealistic,it's obviously fragile,the worst is that Breakdown and Bee and the CYBERVERSE version has that IN STORY,THEY CAN'T LIVE!

There's no such thing as realism in Transformers

Zero, I'm super glad you posted here, cause I am ready for an update on my list:

5) CW Stormclash - Fun chopper mode, love her looks!
4) SS Blackout - Pretty awesome figure all around, giant imposing awesome helicoptor mode!
3) Whirl - I really enjoy him and his awkwardness. Love the head too.
2) Age of Extinction Drift (voyager) - Great mold, and completely different use of rotors.
1) Springer - Enough said, of the greatest Transformers toys ever made, period!

Now, on to 2 other things:

william-james88 wrote:

Z3ROhour wrote:THIS LIST HAS A NEW #1!!!!

BUMBLEBEE MOVIE
DROPKICK

Do you own the toy? It's not very good.

I fully agree with Will. I've had Dropkick for a week, and he is one weak toy. He's small, too much clear plastic, fiddly transformation, posing is somewhat limited, colors are inaccurate and off, not really a good match for onscreen, and he will not sit right in copter mode and he has a really wide crotch in robot mode.

Overall, not fond of him very much.

As for Perfectvision and Zero: Springer is an amazing toy that has a really cool design for his copter mode that can also become an armored car and robot. The wheels in the shoulders and lower legs are good and fun, I love that design cue for my bots. He doesn't need to be realistic, he never has been, he's always had some Cybertronian copter mode, it's part of who he is.

Hey Dmax, in your updated list are you only referring to the recent toys? Like for Whirl, is that G1 or generations?
And how were the rotors used differently for AOE Drift?