The Energon Pub

[william-james88]

In Demand Toys have uploaded may new images of the next batch of Transformers Studio figures to hit store shelves. Below you will find stock images showcasing the actual finished figures, as opposed to painted samples or CG renders. The images include SS 62 Soundwave (Revenge of the Fallen), SS 63 Topspin (Dark of the Moon), SS 64 Cliffjumper (Bumblebee) and SS 67 Constructicon Skipjack (Revenge of the Fallen). You will let us know which of these you intend on getting or if you already preordered them, since these have been up for preorder for a while now. These should be coming out in 2 month's time.

[william-james88]

Just curious, but do we know for a fact that Soundwave had 2 modes in ROTF? Because as far as I know, he was only ever a Robot with no legs floating around in space.

[Sabrblade]

Just curious, but do we know for a fact that Soundwave had 2 modes in ROTF? Because as far as I know, he was only ever a Robot with no legs floating around in space.

He was only ever seen in satellite mode in the movie, but with his robot mode head always deployed as if it was part of his altmode.

[ZeroWolf]

Then what's the unshrouded head that others have been talking about?

[Sabrblade]

Then what's the unshrouded head that others have been talking about?

I dunno, I wasn't part of that conversation.

[william-james88]

Just curious, but do we know for a fact that Soundwave had 2 modes in ROTF? Because as far as I know, he was only ever a Robot with no legs floating around in space.

He was only ever seen in satellite mode in the movie, but with his robot mode head always deployed as if it was part of his altmode.

But thats my question, how do we know that's an alt mode? As opposed to his robot mode, or that he even has 2 modes.

[Sabrblade]

Just curious, but do we know for a fact that Soundwave had 2 modes in ROTF? Because as far as I know, he was only ever a Robot with no legs floating around in space.

He was only ever seen in satellite mode in the movie, but with his robot mode head always deployed as if it was part of his altmode.

But thats my question, how do we know that's an alt mode? As opposed to his robot mode, or that he even has 2 modes.

Because, at the time, Hasbro and Paramount kept referring to the satellite mode as Soundwave's altmode.

The following is an early concept design for his robot mode, which Soundwave would have transformed into after scanning a black Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck in an early draft, and which Hasbro used as a basis for designing the ROTF satellite toy's robot mode after the plans for Chevy altmode were scrapped.

[jtanimator]

Holy snap, somehow I'm just noticing that Cliffjumper is a remold of BB Movie Jeep Bee. Which I have no problem with, since that figure was my absolute favorite Bumblebee mold from the SS line. I'm just surprised nobody's jumped on pointing this out.

[Shockwave_640]

Then what's the unshrouded head that others have been talking about?

In the movie, while in “satellite mode” Soundwave’s head was much more sleek and longer with a faceplate and a sort of visor (this can be seen on the alt mode of the old deluxe) while presumably in robot mode his head was pretty much just DotM Soundwave’s head (also seen on the old toy in robot mode). This new SS opts for lazily just using the standard Soundwave Robot head rather than having it become screen accurate for the alt mode, which is no real surprise given the alt mode in general for this figure is pretty terrible in my opinion.

[jtanimator]

Pretty disappointed that Soundwave lost the lathered up silver paint he was covered in. With such a weak alt mode, while also missing Ravage, that was one of the main things going for him.

[EvasionModeBumblebee]

Just curious, but do we know for a fact that Soundwave had 2 modes in ROTF? Because as far as I know, he was only ever a Robot with no legs floating around in space.

He was only ever seen in satellite mode in the movie, but with his robot mode head always deployed as if it was part of his altmode.

But thats my question, how do we know that's an alt mode? As opposed to his robot mode, or that he even has 2 modes.

There was concept art for Soundwave’s robot mode in ROTF, which the toys and video game model (ROTF era) are based on. In the movie itself, though, we only see the Satellite mode. It’s a case similar to DOTM Shockwave, where we don’t see another mode in the movie itself so Hasbro came up with something.

The shrouded vs unshrouded head thing is about the ROTF deluxe, which had 2 heads: one for satellite mode (which is meant to resemble the head we see Soundwave with on-screen in ROTF, though it is different from the final film version), and a separate one for robot mode that’s based on the concept art. Since the SS figure is just based on what we saw on-screen, with a new robot mode specifically for this figure, it uses the same head in both modes.

Honestly, the included stand with that orbit backdrop is really neat looking - I’m thinking I might pick this one up, I’ll have to look at some reference pics to see what I could do with paint.

[MCutter]

"Hey you darn kids! Get off my lawn!"
Does anybody else hear that?

[YRQRM0]

Soundwave looks quite terrible imo. The original is a more interesting design, at least looks closer to the movie in terms of how "busy" it is, and has FAR better pain. This looks like a random TLK Soundwave.

Cliffjumper on the other hand looks awesome and a lot of fun.

[william-james88]

Holy snap, somehow I'm just noticing that Cliffjumper is a remold of BB Movie Jeep Bee. Which I have no problem with, since that figure was my absolute favorite Bumblebee mold from the SS line. I'm just surprised nobody's jumped on pointing this out.

The toy was revealed several months ago and a few have pointed it out since.

And thanks guys for clarifying the deal with Soundwave and his satelite mode.

[Rtron]

I might be speculating a bit too much, as there have been some figures with unique backgrounds (like Blackout or Clunker Bumblebee), but the way Earth is positioned in Soundwave's background reminds me of that scene in the first movie where the Autobots are falling into earth's atmosphere. Does this mean we might get the protoforms?

arrivaltoearth.JPG

As for Soundwave himself, I like his headsculpt and torso / main satellite body way more than the ones on the original figure, but his limbs / panels seem worse than the original ones. I'll probably remain on the fence until there's some reviews out, but I'm not hating it as much as some do. Definitely looks better than in the renders, although Hasbro's renders are very bad so that's not surprising.

[-WonkoTheSane-]

"Hey you darn kids! Get off my lawn!"
Does anybody else hear that?

Yup, Definitely.

[MCutter]

Holy snap, somehow I'm just noticing that Cliffjumper is a remold of BB Movie Jeep Bee. Which I have no problem with, since that figure was my absolute favorite Bumblebee mold from the SS line. I'm just surprised nobody's jumped on pointing this out.

Wait, what?
*compares the stock images*
Wow! I missed that, any any other comments on it. It looks like they removed the front wheels from the shoulders for a couple of the stock photos.
I do hope the drivers-side door tabs-in better on this remold.

[Ig89ninja]

"Hey you darn kids! Get off my lawn!"
Does anybody else hear that?

Yup, Definitely.

And in that graveling Dr Claw voice too!

[jtanimator]

Holy snap, somehow I'm just noticing that Cliffjumper is a remold of BB Movie Jeep Bee. Which I have no problem with, since that figure was my absolute favorite Bumblebee mold from the SS line. I'm just surprised nobody's jumped on pointing this out.

Wait, what?
*compares the stock images*
Wow! I missed that, any any other comments on it. It looks like they removed the front wheels from the shoulders for a couple of the stock photos.
I do hope the drivers-side door tabs-in better on this remold.

Yeah, interesting. I don't know that I've ever seen them remove untransforming parts of a figure for display pictures like that. Definitely helped hide its remold effect.

[ZeldaTheSwordsman]

Just curious, but do we know for a fact that Soundwave had 2 modes in ROTF? Because as far as I know, he was only ever a Robot with no legs floating around in space.

He was only ever seen in satellite mode in the movie, but with his robot mode head always deployed as if it was part of his altmode.

But thats my question, how do we know that's an alt mode? As opposed to his robot mode, or that he even has 2 modes.

There was concept art for Soundwave’s robot mode in ROTF, which the toys and video game model (ROTF era) are based on. In the movie itself, though, we only see the Satellite mode. It’s a case similar to DOTM Shockwave, where we don’t see another mode in the movie itself so Hasbro came up with something.

The shrouded vs unshrouded head thing is about the ROTF deluxe, which had 2 heads: one for satellite mode (which is meant to resemble the head we see Soundwave with on-screen in ROTF, though it is different from the final film version), and a separate one for robot mode that’s based on the concept art. Since the SS figure is just based on what we saw on-screen, with a new robot mode specifically for this figure, it uses the same head in both modes.

This is the shrouded version:

According to TFwiki that's the finalized head design.
Which is blatantly untrue, because there are severals shots where the head is unshrouded as per the toys' robot modes (although on a double-check the ROTF toy's real head isn't accurate after all ):


In fact, I'm feeling like a bit of an idiot now at least re: the head (the SS toy's satellite mode as a whole is still dodgy and he still seems too small). And also mad at TFwiki. Because I'm struggling to find any instance of his head being armor-shrouded head and minus the G1-esque crests in the movie. It does have a long backwards protrusion, but I have yet to find a single shot of it looking as it does in the render (which the TFwiki page is insisting is the "finalized head design").

If I could remember my account name on TFwiki I'd tell them on the discussion page that they're talking out their exhaust port.

Apologies to everyone for getting worked up over the head aspect..

[Nathaniel Prime]

Not sure if all Targets are doing this but I got Jet Mode Shatter for only 10$

PicsArt_06-25-04.27.05.jpg

[william-james88]

If I could remember my account name on TFwiki I'd tell them on the discussion page that they're talking out their exhaust port.

Apologies to everyone for getting worked up over the head aspect..

Don't apologize, this whole thing confused me too. And there is no shot in the film where his head looks different, it's just the soundwave bot mode head which is what lead me to think we were seeing him in his robot mode all along.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Man, Soundwave's legs look super weird. Not really a fan of that.

Topspin is also weirdly lacking yellow paint in robot mode. He needs some to break up the blue and gray like his old toy.

I would love some weird General Grievous Overload repaint, that would be so wacky and cool

[Deadput]

This ROTF Soundwave talk makes me feel like sharing these concept arts for Soundwave just to see just how many different ideas there were for him.







Josh even seemed to revisit the design back when the Decepticon protoform designs for DOTM were being concepted.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

I would have loved the silverado alt mode. That would have been really sweet