The Energon Pub

[Hotrod]

It appears there is another variant in the world of Transformers in the Classics line. Powered Convoy of Allspark.com first noticed that there was some differences between his Classics Starscream and the Skywarp he got in his Target exclusive Classics Ultra Magnus Vs. Skywarp set. Powered Convoy noticed that Classics Starscream from the first wave of Classics and Skywarp differed in that the jet intakes along side the Seekers' heads have been remolded. Here is the difference described by Powered Convoy:

"If you look at Starscream, the angle at which it slants up from his chest towards the intake is steeper, ending just above his "ear muffs". And there are 4 rectangles above the top of the slope. On Skywarp the slope ends below his "ear muffs" and there are 5 rectangles above the top of the slope instead of four."

That is not where the mystery ends. Our own Cyclonus_3009 brought something to Seibertron's attention. It appears that the Classics Starscream released with Classics wave two share the same remold as Skywarp. Seibertron discovered the proof when he preformed a head swap with Skywarp and a Starscream. Here are some images that show the change in the mold:

Skywarp


Wave 1 Starscream


Wave 2 Starscream (after custom head swap)


Wave 2 Starscream and Skywarp (after custom head swap)


Wave 2 Starscream with Wave 1 Starscream (after custom head swap)

[Nemesis_Apoc]

That's interesting. Hardly noticable, but cool once you examine the details.

[Redimus]

Why are Hasbro making these barely noticable totally unnesserery mold tweaks on the classics? It seems strange (and expensive) to alter a mold if you arnt gonna actully achive any kinda useful change.

[Greed]

Wow, what a difference.

[sparkofchaos]

wow how that makes a world of difference. i have to say that the first wave of head sculpt seems too much of a rush to get the job done. I have the same problem with megatron's face too. It also looks too unfinished. Maybe with a possible release of its repaint into galvatron, we might get to see a better head paint/sculpt. but yeah the new face that Skywarp has is definitely much more polished and handsome looking than what starscream has.

[Ninja Sixshot]

that change really is barely noticeable.

[TazD]

That's great news as I haven't bought Starscream yet. Does anyone know how to recognize the packaging for Wave 2 Starscream?

[ChrisR291]

they should fix the wings/launchers problem...

[Mike Decepticon]

Look closer, is it me or does wave 2 Starscream's face look painted?

[DecepticonRedAlert]

I'm going to wal-mart tomorrow so how can I tell if its wave 1 or wave 2 starscream

[Quaternion]

Uh, big deal, Hasbro. Why did they decide to just remold the intakes such an unnoticable amount?

By the way, for those of you that cant read, Screamer's head in the latter pictures is really Skywarp's head on Screamer's body. Buying a new wave 2 Screamer won't get you that cool head (unfortunately).

[ShGarland_1383]

Wow. I don't think I would have noticed the changes if I didn't study the pictures posted here. Killer find!

[hotrodimus prime]

skywarps head is a huge improvment

[Primus_feather]

I wonder if this will make Wave 1 Screamer a rarer figure given its just being a earlier mold.

[NightFall]

Well, I could just paint mines, which I will someday.

[William]

muggezifter

[Skowl]

That's alot of attention to detail on Hasbro's part, I wonder what's the logic behind the change, when they could have done a straight-up repaint. I don't think anyone would have complained about that.

Then again, some Transfans will complain about anything...

"wah wah wah Skywarp's intake valves aren't molded steep enough wah wah Hasbro sucks!"

[Liege Evilmus]

They altered Bumblebee alittle too changing the size of the well that his rub sign sits it so it'll fit better. Minor tweeks aren't all that uncommon.

Still even with it being well described, I could still hardly notice ant difference. I was hoping this article was going to be about Thrust or Dirge.

[Megatron Wolf]

I dont think they should have remolded Starscream and re-released it. If they would have keep SC the way he was and just remolded it for Skywarp then they would be two diffrent figures in and not just a simple hasbro repaint. But i know why they did it. To geet more money. We all know that all the hardcore collectors are going to try and find both versons and buy them. Posssibly even 2 of each. If hasbro is going to remold a figer so they can re-paint it and re-name it then leave it for that TF. Dont change it back to its base name just to have another figure out there.

[Ultra Markus]

I have both and i think your full of your self
there is no variation. its the same mold

[Dclone Soundwave]

I hadn't even noticed that. Damn, the things I miss so easily. Still, it's not like I'm the only one........

[Megatron Wolf]

I have both and i think your full of your self
there is no variation. its the same mold

You have Skywarp and Starscream or the wave 1 and wave 2 Starscreams?

[Agamemnon]

I have both and i think your full of your self
there is no variation. its the same mold

I've got them in front of me right now. There is indeed a slight difference. I'll see if I can do a side by side pic for ya.

[Ultra Markus]

i have the wave one starscream right when it came out the very first time and skywarp and ramjet they all are exactly the same body.

[Agamemnon]

Here are some pics. I reversed the two just so it could be apparent it's not a perspective thing. I hope this works...





It's subtle, but it's definitely there. Short of using a ruler or caliper (which I do have access to and will do if asked) I don't know how to be more definitive.

[edit] found some tools to do the measurement. I estimate the difference to be about 1.8 mm. Miniscule for sure, but definitely there, and definitely noticable, in my opinion.