BotCon 2013 Machine Wars Sandstorm Revealed

Nice. Skyhammer was an excellent mold with a cool weapon, this looks like a good choice.

I think they went a little overboard on the stripes, but otherwise nice. I don't like how they're mixing movie and non-movie molds. They should just stick to the movie molds

YES, I CALLED IT, I SO CALLED IT!!!

*ahem* Sorry about that

Looking great, and surprised they included the MechTech weapon. InstaFav'ed.

welcometothedarksyde wrote:I think they went a little overboard on the stripes, but otherwise nice. I don't like how they're mixing movie and non-movie molds. They should just stick to the movie molds

I dunno. The way I see it is: It's not COMPLETELY a movie mold unless it was in the movie. So, figures like Terradive and Tomahawk had potential to become Neo-G1 figures in my collection. I've actually really wanted them to release a figure that would finally open the door for Skyhammer to become a Neo-G1 figure.

That being said, because Darksteel is a Qucikstrike homage, and, despite what so many people here say, Skyhammer is pretty clearly an Air Hammer homage, I'm just gonna keep those two together on display.

It's nice. Not all that accurate to l figure, but cool. It needs a new less movieish head. How much could that really have cost ? Funpub is really cheap. All repaints should have new heads mandatory. Something else should be exclusive besides the deco.

Gorgeous!

Great mold, great deco, glad to see it!

I... I think I owe JelZe a few dollars...

This would be extremely awesome ... with a new head.

This is weird. I mentioned a few weeks ago that the new Generations Sandstorm could be repainted into Ultra Pretender Skyhammer, and now the more recent Skyhammer gets repainted into that other incarnation of Sandstorm!

And yet...I never bought MW Sandstorm for the same reason I can't get too excited about this guy: That color combination is just really off-putting. I'm usually not one to complain about that. Hell, I never complain about "neon" because I respect any color loud enough that the toy looks like it actually wants to blind me. But something about the helmet and other accents being in that same caramel hue that Batman toys inexplicably get decoed in every few years...I love this mold, but this is the first reveal so far that I have no interest in.

Seibertron wrote:This would be extremely awesome ... with a new head.

Seems to be a reoccurring theme with some figures this year.........

Mindmaster wrote:I... I think I owe JelZe a few dollars...

I take Mini-Cons and Microns I kid, I kid.

Skyhammer happens to be my favourite DotM mold, and I like Sandstorm as a character. And really, the head does not need changing, it's fairly accurate to the G1 toy with the crest and mouthplate.

Not bad, I think it would have been much better if they ditched that crappy DOTM weapon for another and painted his hands.

Two toys at once for Sandstorm, and Hoist. Funny how things work out.

We've been sitting on a list of rumored BotCon 2013 attendee only figures for a while now, but since this morning's reveal of Machine Wars Sandstorm lends some credence to the list we've decide to go ahead and share it. Keep in mind the list below is "rumored", although Machine Wars Sandstorm appears to be confirmed and Machine Wars Thundercracker has already been hinted at by TFCC.

• Machine Wars Prowl from Classics Mirage
• Machine Wars Sandstorm from Transfrormes: Dark of the Moon Skyhammer
• Machine Wars Starscream from Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Terradive
• Machine Wars Thundercracker from Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Dirge
• Classics Starscream mold repainted into the Rainmakers

Oh no, not MORE Classics Starscreams!

RAcast wrote:Oh no, not MORE Classics Starscreams!

I feel really, really sorry for that mold now... Poor guy.

So let's see...

Set 1: Prowl and Sandstorm
Set 2: Starscream and Thundercracker
Set 3: Rainmakers

Then Electro should be the freebie. That should complete the MW lineup except for Hubcap, Mirage and Soundwave.

I'd like it if they reissued the original Electro toy, but in new, less GPS-vulnerable plastic. It's a decent toy, especially for the time, but the shitty plastic makes it ridiculously rare and overly expensive.

I would honestly love more classics seekers.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Then Electro should be the freebie. That should complete the MW lineup except for Hubcap, Mirage and Soundwave.

Well Cybertron Defense Red Alert is the perfect mold for Soundwave, but I doubt they'll do it.

If they do a Soundwave with another mold, it just won't be the same.

Burn wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Then Electro should be the freebie. That should complete the MW lineup except for Hubcap, Mirage and Soundwave.

Well Cybertron Defense Red Alert is the perfect mold for Soundwave, but I doubt they'll do it.

If they do a Soundwave with another mold, it just won't be the same.

Well, assuming UT molds are still too old and worn to make new figures from, that just leaves customs. Fortunately, the best custom Soundwave made from the Cybertron Defense Red Alert/Universe Countdown mold already exists as a template:






Sandstorm looks okay for what he is, though I don't have a great deal of affection for the character. If indeed Thundercracker and Starscream share a package, I'll get off very cheap this year with those two and their fellow 'Cons Skywarp and Megaplex. Throw in Obsidian and I walk away with my wallet only badly wounded, but surviving.

Though if BotCon 2012 is anything to go by, the figures will be mixed up with each other, in little "versus" sets, so I may end up stuck with a few surplus Autobots...

Not that I have any interest in MW Sandstorm, but a new head may have helped.

Actually, I think GDO Springer's head would have been PERFECT for this.

Meh.

My eyes are bleeding, but it's a good kind of pain.

This list is all well and good, but hasn't Sabrblade mentioned in the past that figures before a certain year, are off limits to the club due "mold degradation" and extra fees? then again the club has proven fickle in the past; like with the use prime Skyquake mold even though some of us said it was too new for them to use.

Sandstorm looks GLORIOUS!

El Duque wrote:Machine Wars Starscream from Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Terradive

I sincerely hope not.

Starscream was GARGANTUAN in Machine Wars. He should either be reflected as such in new toy using a larger size class mold, or keep his original 1997 toy's body.

After all, the original teaser we saw for this set had him in his 1997 toy body, anyway.

Sabrblade wrote:Sandstorm looks GLORIOUS!

El Duque wrote:Machine Wars Starscream from Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Terradive

I sincerely hope not.

Starscream was GARGANTUAN in Machine Wars. He should either be reflected as such in new toy using a larger size class mold, or keep his original 1997 toy's body.

After all, the original teaser we saw for this set had him in his 1997 toy body, anyway.

Of the available molds, Terradive is probably the closest they can get to Starscream. The only other possibility is the Universe Silverbolt mold, but the Club already used up their new heads allotment.

And since the third and final Voyager figure has been revealed, there are nothing but Deluxe molds left to work with anyway.

That just leaves the Custom Class figure to speculate on...

If these turn out to be accurate then it's shaping up to be a nicer set than I was expecting. I still can't justify going after too much on the secondary market but depending on how the decos turn out I might just have to add the Rainmaker pack on to the want list with Stryka and Obsidian. So my priorities from the Machine Wars set are the guys that don't actually have anything to do with the original Machine Wars line. I guess I'd go for SS, SW and TC as well if I ever happen to catch them for the right price, but not as high a priority. I have my DotM Skyhammer on my Classics shelf as a stand in Rotorstorm, so that being used as his mouldmate here makes an awful lot of sense to me.

Henry921 wrote:That just leaves the Custom Class figure to speculate on...

Soundwave from Warpath?

waaaaghlord wrote:

Henry921 wrote:That just leaves the Custom Class figure to speculate on...

Soundwave from Warpath?

If anyone for Soundwave, I'd guess RTS Perceptor.

I believe the custom class figure has to be a toy that they are already using in either the box or the add ons.

waaaaghlord wrote:I believe the custom class figure has to be a toy that they are already using in either the box or the add ons.

It wasn't in 2008 with Shattered Glass Nightbeat.

Though to be fair it was every other year, so you may be right.

It was Overkill from Classics Grimlock in 08 wasn't it? Same year the figure was used for SG Grimlock.

edit- No, Overkill in 07, Nightbeat in 08. They'll have got the Nightbeat kits from the factory at the same time as the Club Nightbeat figures though so I guess that makes Overkill the oddball, out of left field guy.

If the Classics Seeker mold is getting used, as the cartoon Rainmakers, maybe the Custom Class bot will be the orange comic version of Sunstorm?

Henry921 wrote:Of the available molds, Terradive is probably the closest they can get to Starscream. The only other possibility is the Universe Silverbolt mold, but the Club already used up their new heads allotment.

And since the third and final Voyager figure has been revealed, there are nothing but Deluxe molds left to work with anyway.

OR, since all 12 of the 1997 toys are going to appear as characters in this story anyway, they could have just not made a new Starscream toy.

this is on par with the rumors i heard as well. as other mentioned, starscream from terradive and soundwave from perceptor are part of that rumor.

Sabrblade wrote:

Henry921 wrote:Of the available molds, Terradive is probably the closest they can get to Starscream. The only other possibility is the Universe Silverbolt mold, but the Club already used up their new heads allotment.

And since the third and final Voyager figure has been revealed, there are nothing but Deluxe molds left to work with anyway.

OR, since all 12 of the 1997 toys are going to appear as characters in this story anyway, they could have just not made a new Starscream toy.

Wait. What about Sandstorm? Is he meant to be a clone too? Or Prowl/Mirage for that matter?

dat camo

Henry921 wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Henry921 wrote:Of the available molds, Terradive is probably the closest they can get to Starscream. The only other possibility is the Universe Silverbolt mold, but the Club already used up their new heads allotment.

And since the third and final Voyager figure has been revealed, there are nothing but Deluxe molds left to work with anyway.

OR, since all 12 of the 1997 toys are going to appear as characters in this story anyway, they could have just not made a new Starscream toy.

Wait. What about Sandstorm? Is he meant to be a clone too? Or Prowl/Mirage for that matter?

The Autobots, at least, are their true selves.

Thus, 1997 Hoist, and not 1997 Sandstorm, have been rendered redundant by these new toys.

Sabrblade wrote:

Henry921 wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Henry921 wrote:Of the available molds, Terradive is probably the closest they can get to Starscream. The only other possibility is the Universe Silverbolt mold, but the Club already used up their new heads allotment.

And since the third and final Voyager figure has been revealed, there are nothing but Deluxe molds left to work with anyway.

OR, since all 12 of the 1997 toys are going to appear as characters in this story anyway, they could have just not made a new Starscream toy.

Wait. What about Sandstorm? Is he meant to be a clone too? Or Prowl/Mirage for that matter?

The Autobots, at least, are their true selves.

Thus, 1997 Hoist, and not 1997 Sandstorm, have been rendered redundant by these new toys.

So if some figures have already been rendered moot, why not Starscream as well? And as the three revealed Decepticons are clones anyway, a Starscream figure could fill the same role in fiction.

Well, if that is the confirmed list of add ons for this years Botcon, I'm definitely saving a lot of money. This set is not to my tastes but for those who like it, I hope you enjoy them. Depending on how they look, I may try and get the Rainmakers but I have a feeling I can easily pass on them.

Can't wait for the Botcon coverage and new toy reveals.

I love this mold, I picked of three of them and I can't wait to get my hands on this.

waaaaghlord wrote:It was Overkill from Classics Grimlock in 08 wasn't it? Same year the figure was used for SG Grimlock.

edit- No, Overkill in 07, Nightbeat in 08. They'll have got the Nightbeat kits from the factory at the same time as the Club Nightbeat figures though so I guess that makes Overkill the oddball, out of left field guy.

Forgetting Universe Rumble and Inferno from Cybertron Scrapmetal are we? 2006. Let's see what the list has, and who they're based on:

2006: Universe Rumble and Inferno (Cybertron Scrapmetal (red))
2007: Classics Overkill (Classics Grimlock)
2008: SG Nightbeat (TFCC Nightbeat)
2009: SG Thunderclash (BotCon 2009 Thunderclash)
2010: G2 Sideswipe (Universe Sideswipe, unique plastic colors)
2011: Animated Minerva (Animated Arcee, unique plastic colors and unofficial retooling)
2012: SG Longarm (RtS Special Ops Jazz, unique plastic colors, and unofficial retooling)

Starting in 2009, they use molds also used for the sets and starting in 2011 they start retooling. I wonder what they'll do nest.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

waaaaghlord wrote:It was Overkill from Classics Grimlock in 08 wasn't it? Same year the figure was used for SG Grimlock.

edit- No, Overkill in 07, Nightbeat in 08. They'll have got the Nightbeat kits from the factory at the same time as the Club Nightbeat figures though so I guess that makes Overkill the oddball, out of left field guy.

Forgetting Universe Rumble and Inferno from Cybertron Scrapmetal are we? 2006. Let's see what the list has, and who they're based on:

2006: Universe Rumble and Inferno (Cybertron Scrapmetal (red))
2007: Classics Overkill (Classics Grimlock)
2008: SG Nightbeat (TFCC Nightbeat)
2009: SG Thunderclash (BotCon 2009 Thunderclash)
2010: G2 Sideswipe (Universe Sideswipe, unique plastic colors)
2011: Animated Minerva (Animated Arcee, unique plastic colors and unofficial retooling)
2012: SG Longarm (RtS Special Ops Jazz, unique plastic colors, and unofficial retooling)

Starting in 2009, they use molds also used for the sets and starting in 2011 they start retooling. I wonder what they'll do nest.

And starting in 2013, they offer the custom class figure fully assembled, but unpainted, to registered attendees one per person as an optional alternative to taking the class.

Sabrblade wrote:And starting in 2013, they offer the custom class figure fully assembled, but unpainted, to registered attendees one per person as an optional alternative to taking the class.

Aw, but where's the fun in that?

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:And starting in 2013, they offer the custom class figure fully assembled, but unpainted, to registered attendees one per person as an optional alternative to taking the class.

Aw, but where's the fun in that?

With how demanding getting into the class usually is, them offering the figure to non-classmates feels quite generous and merciful to those less fortunate to get into the class. An act of goodwill, if you will.

Sabrblade wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:And starting in 2013, they offer the custom class figure fully assembled, but unpainted, to registered attendees one per person as an optional alternative to taking the class.

Aw, but where's the fun in that?

With how demanding getting into the class usually is, them offering the figure to non-classmates feels quite generous and merciful to those less fortunate to get into the class. An act of goodwill, if you will.

Drat, something else I'm going to have to shell money for on eBay

Great choice on the Rainmakers since I put them on my Botcon survey for the last 3 years. They might be more cartoon accurate than my CHMS versions. Cant never have enough seekers. I currently have 39 versions of the classics seeker mold. Greatest mold ever !

Poor choice on Starscream. If he isn’t gonna be huge them might as well keep him the same mold as Skywarp and Thundercracker. Everybody wanted the Silverbolt mold, why didn’t they just deliver ? Aside from GM and movie licensed molds, I don’t buy into the excuses of a mold not being “available”. What decides this ? If it’s piled up in the back of a warehouse and they’re too lazy to dig it out ?

Glad not to see the Perceptor mold on the list. I didn’t want to see them ruin Soundwave my not using the perfect Cybertron Red Alert mold. And I don’t need a 3 pack of huge Reflectors either. The Perfect Effect set is fine for me.

Mkall wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:And starting in 2013, they offer the custom class figure fully assembled, but unpainted, to registered attendees one per person as an optional alternative to taking the class.

Aw, but where's the fun in that?

With how demanding getting into the class usually is, them offering the figure to non-classmates feels quite generous and merciful to those less fortunate to get into the class. An act of goodwill, if you will.

Drat, something else I'm going to have to shell money for on eBay

The only one I'd really want is that G2 Sideswipe, that would complete the G2 Heroics with Gen. Gift Set Jazz, and Universe Inferno.

The rainmakers excites me very much

Rated X wrote:Poor choice on Starscream. If he isn’t gonna be huge them might as well keep him the same mold as Skywarp and Thundercracker. Everybody wanted the Silverbolt mold, why didn’t they just deliver ?

I was upset about this at first as well.

But, many have argued against our disdain pointing out that the Terradive mold has the closest head mold to MW Starscream's head as is without having to remold it.

As for it not being a big toy, others have also argued that Transformers fiction has often ignored the size of characters with big toys. G1 Blaster, for example was HUGE, yet the cartoon and comics all depicted him as just a slightly-taller-then-average guy, being on par Soundwave, whose toy was half his size.

MW Starscream being a titan may have applied for the 1997 toy, but since there was no fiction for it back then, there was little-to-no official portrayal of the guy to spell out just how tall the character really is.

Rated X wrote:Aside from GM and movie licensed molds, I don’t buy into the excuses of a mold not being “available”. What decides this ? If it’s piled up in the back of a warehouse and they’re too lazy to dig it out ?

For the Unicron Trilogy molds, they wre simply so old and worn out that they had outlived their usefulness.

For the movieverse toys, any mold that was based on a character design created by Paramount is partially owned by Paramount. The Movieverse toys that Hasbro made without Paramount's input are fully Hasbro-owned and more readily useable by Fun Pub since they would only have to deal with Hasbro to use them, as opposed to having to deal with both Hasbro and Paramount to use a more expensive mold.

As for the lack of Universe Silverbolt, again, Terradive already had a convincing-enough headsculpt.

Rated X wrote:Glad not to see the Perceptor mold on the list. I didn’t want to see them ruin Soundwave my not using the perfect Cybertron Red Alert mold. And I don’t need a 3 pack of huge Reflectors either. The Perfect Effect set is fine for me.

I agree with you on both. I did not want a Perceptor-made Soundwave or three Reflectors either.