Video review of Studio Series SS-78 RotF Sideswipe

Friday, July 9th, 2021 7:48am CDT

Categories: Toy News, Reviews
Posted by: -Kanrabat- Views: 34,441

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Greetings Seibertronians!

TonTon Review just posted his video review of the SS-78 deluxe class RotF Sideswipe!
Last time we saw a Movie Sideswipe release was for the SS-29 DotM version from 3 years ago back in 2019. So that version was long overdue.

This is a repaint/retool of the previous DotM version, but this time Sideswipe has a roof in car mode. Of course, this results in a heavier backpack. The paint job is also very different from the previous version with more paint than ever before. SS-78 comes with all the accessories SS-29 had.

TonTon also provided us with an extensive comparison with SS-78 and SS-29.

See the review below:

So what do you think of this version?
Please leave a comment!

Credit(s): Youtube

This article was last modified on Saturday, September 18th, 2021 11:52pm CDT

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Re: Video review of Studio Series SS-78 RotF Sideswipe (2109625)
Posted by EvasionModeBumblebee on July 9th, 2021 @ 8:33am CDT

Jolt is looking great, very excited to get ahold of it. Sideswipe looks snazzy too, I like the darker plastic color with the added silver paint in bot mode. The lack of headlights is pretty weird though.

Re: Video review of Studio Series SS-78 RotF Sideswipe (2109629)
Posted by william-james88 on July 9th, 2021 @ 9:54am CDT

Is that a new headsculpt on Sideswipe?

Re: Video review of Studio Series SS-78 RotF Sideswipe (2109632)
Posted by EvasionModeBumblebee on July 9th, 2021 @ 10:12am CDT

william-james88 wrote:Is that a new headsculpt on Sideswipe?

I think it’s the same sculpt but with some new silver paint. The paint does make a lot of difference, though!

Re: Video review of Studio Series SS-78 RotF Sideswipe (2109635)
Posted by -Kanrabat- on July 9th, 2021 @ 10:42am CDT

william-james88 wrote:Is that a new headsculpt on Sideswipe?

Same head, but differently painted.

Re: Video review of Studio Series SS-78 RotF Sideswipe (2109643)
Posted by blackeyedprime on July 9th, 2021 @ 11:29am CDT

Kinda prefer the original, probably because of the smaller backpack and a spoiler on the car -plus I'm using it as WFC Rid steeljaw anyways.

Re: Video review of Studio Series SS-78 RotF Sideswipe (2109708)
Posted by JazztfLaw on July 10th, 2021 @ 7:35am CDT

As much as I love the ROTF vehicle mode, it still suffers from past figures of this form... the ugly backpack. Best thing that could've happened to, Sideswipe, was becoming a convertible.

Re: Video review of Studio Series SS-78 RotF Sideswipe (2109778)
Posted by william-james88 on July 10th, 2021 @ 11:37pm CDT

JazztfLaw wrote:As much as I love the ROTF vehicle mode, it still suffers from past figures of this form... the ugly backpack. Best thing that could've happened to, Sideswipe, was becoming a convertible.

Agreed

Re: Video review of Studio Series SS-78 RotF Sideswipe (2110108)
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on July 13th, 2021 @ 8:02pm CDT

Man, Jolt looks incredible! He looks so much better than that first image made him appear.

Sideswipe is also really well done, like the new paint on the head to improve it.

Looking forward to both of these figures

Re: Video review of Studio Series SS-78 RotF Sideswipe (2110124)
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on July 13th, 2021 @ 8:32pm CDT

Jazz really does make the best travel companion. this little dude is still my favorite SS figure. and he has the honor of maybe being the highest in altitude transformer ever photographed? 41,000 feet!

Re: Video review of Studio Series SS-78 RotF Sideswipe (2110134)
Posted by TF-fan kev777 on July 13th, 2021 @ 9:18pm CDT

That is pretty awesome D-Max! And inspiring, the family is having Christmas in St. Thomas, I gotta start thinking about which bots get to come with for some photo fun.

Re: Video review of Studio Series SS-78 RotF Sideswipe (2110262)
Posted by EvasionModeBumblebee on July 14th, 2021 @ 11:28pm CDT

Great pics, D-max! Really like the outdoor pics.

Brought a few figures with me to my new place, Evasion Prime isn’t Studio Series but he does scale nicely with them! These are some of my favorite figures:

6B0C61F8-D34B-4FD5-B0A9-FB302819E687.jpeg

I also brought Thundercracker and Scrapper as future customs projects while I’m here.

I’ve been looking for Grindor around here but have been unsuccessful so far. Haven’t seen any Studio Series between 3 Targets and 3 Walmarts now. . .

Re: Video review of Studio Series SS-78 RotF Sideswipe (2110268)
Posted by Autobot Roadburn on July 15th, 2021 @ 1:18am CDT

Had a really weird find at Target today - I finally tracked down a Studio Series Grindor today and only realized after I picked it up - it wasn’t Grindor. As far as I can tell, the box is still sealed, the plastic ties are still in place and the tray has Ravage in his spot, so this is either the most skilled and elaborate toy swap I’ve ever seen or the factory tossed an old wave one Blackout in the box. I’m still pretty confused right now

Re: Video review of Studio Series SS-78 RotF Sideswipe (2110291)
Posted by TF-fan kev777 on July 15th, 2021 @ 9:20am CDT

Autobot Roadburn wrote:Had a really weird find at Target today - I finally tracked down a Studio Series Grindor today and only realized after I picked it up - it wasn’t Grindor. As far as I can tell, the box is still sealed, the plastic ties are still in place and the tray has Ravage in his spot, so this is either the most skilled and elaborate toy swap I’ve ever seen or the factory tossed an old wave one Blackout in the box. I’m still pretty confused right now

My bet is on a toy swap. If you are careful enough you can cut a piece of tape the same size to go over the one you cut when opening. In theory the ties can be removed carefully with tweezers from the back of the clamshell to free the figure and in theory replaced the same way from the front but it is REALLLY hard to do.

Now, to be clear, I am not some shady toy swapper. I'm just OCD and at one time (years ago) tried saving all the packaging, even the ties to be able to put them back to almost new condition. The difficulty of messing with those ties changed my thinking really quick. So my bet is on a toy swapper with an incredible amount of patience and skill.

Re: Video review of Studio Series SS-78 RotF Sideswipe (2110304)
Posted by Ig89ninja on July 15th, 2021 @ 11:13am CDT

TF-fan kev777 wrote:
Autobot Roadburn wrote:Had a really weird find at Target today - I finally tracked down a Studio Series Grindor today and only realized after I picked it up - it wasn’t Grindor. As far as I can tell, the box is still sealed, the plastic ties are still in place and the tray has Ravage in his spot, so this is either the most skilled and elaborate toy swap I’ve ever seen or the factory tossed an old wave one Blackout in the box. I’m still pretty confused right now

My bet is on a toy swap. If you are careful enough you can cut a piece of tape the same size to go over the one you cut when opening. In theory the ties can be removed carefully with tweezers from the back of the clamshell to free the figure and in theory replaced the same way from the front but it is REALLLY hard to do.

Now, to be clear, I am not some shady toy swapper. I'm just OCD and at one time (years ago) tried saving all the packaging, even the ties to be able to put them back to almost new condition. The difficulty of messing with those ties changed my thinking really quick. So my bet is on a toy swapper with an incredible amount of patience and skill.

It’s actually easier than that to open SS boxes, you just have to carefully unfold the flaps at the bottom and then fold them back when you’re done (not a toy swapper, just like reusing boxes for cityscapes.)

Re: Video review of Studio Series SS-78 RotF Sideswipe (2110309)
Posted by TF-fan kev777 on July 15th, 2021 @ 11:40am CDT

Ig89ninja wrote:
TF-fan kev777 wrote:
Autobot Roadburn wrote:Had a really weird find at Target today - I finally tracked down a Studio Series Grindor today and only realized after I picked it up - it wasn’t Grindor. As far as I can tell, the box is still sealed, the plastic ties are still in place and the tray has Ravage in his spot, so this is either the most skilled and elaborate toy swap I’ve ever seen or the factory tossed an old wave one Blackout in the box. I’m still pretty confused right now

My bet is on a toy swap. If you are careful enough you can cut a piece of tape the same size to go over the one you cut when opening. In theory the ties can be removed carefully with tweezers from the back of the clamshell to free the figure and in theory replaced the same way from the front but it is REALLLY hard to do.

Now, to be clear, I am not some shady toy swapper. I'm just OCD and at one time (years ago) tried saving all the packaging, even the ties to be able to put them back to almost new condition. The difficulty of messing with those ties changed my thinking really quick. So my bet is on a toy swapper with an incredible amount of patience and skill.

It’s actually easier than that to open SS boxes, you just have to carefully unfold the flaps at the bottom and then fold them back when you’re done (not a toy swapper, just like reusing boxes for cityscapes.)

Oh duh, how could I have forgotten that. I learned that the hard way paying extra for a packaged version of Ratchet from a Chinese eBay seller last year, when it was obviously a factory defect shoved into a new box. That was the 1 and only time I tried a Chinese eBay seller.

Re: Video review of Studio Series SS-78 RotF Sideswipe (2110311)
Posted by LinaNui on July 15th, 2021 @ 11:56am CDT

Hey IG89ninja. Looking at your banner, have you completed the SS Devastator yet?

Re: Video review of Studio Series SS-78 RotF Sideswipe (2110321)
Posted by Autobot Roadburn on July 15th, 2021 @ 1:52pm CDT

TF-fan kev777 wrote:
Autobot Roadburn wrote:Had a really weird find at Target today - I finally tracked down a Studio Series Grindor today and only realized after I picked it up - it wasn’t Grindor. As far as I can tell, the box is still sealed, the plastic ties are still in place and the tray has Ravage in his spot, so this is either the most skilled and elaborate toy swap I’ve ever seen or the factory tossed an old wave one Blackout in the box. I’m still pretty confused right now

My bet is on a toy swap. If you are careful enough you can cut a piece of tape the same size to go over the one you cut when opening. In theory the ties can be removed carefully with tweezers from the back of the clamshell to free the figure and in theory replaced the same way from the front but it is REALLLY hard to do.

Now, to be clear, I am not some shady toy swapper. I'm just OCD and at one time (years ago) tried saving all the packaging, even the ties to be able to put them back to almost new condition. The difficulty of messing with those ties changed my thinking really quick. So my bet is on a toy swapper with an incredible amount of patience and skill.

I’d assume that’s most likely what happened. Either way if it was replaced it was really well done and I’m surprised they bothered leaving Ravage in the box. Oh well, I’m probably gonna return it then and try to find an actual Grindor

Re: Video review of Studio Series SS-78 RotF Sideswipe (2110323)
Posted by TF-fan kev777 on July 15th, 2021 @ 2:00pm CDT

Autobot Roadburn wrote:
TF-fan kev777 wrote:
Autobot Roadburn wrote:Had a really weird find at Target today - I finally tracked down a Studio Series Grindor today and only realized after I picked it up - it wasn’t Grindor. As far as I can tell, the box is still sealed, the plastic ties are still in place and the tray has Ravage in his spot, so this is either the most skilled and elaborate toy swap I’ve ever seen or the factory tossed an old wave one Blackout in the box. I’m still pretty confused right now

My bet is on a toy swap. If you are careful enough you can cut a piece of tape the same size to go over the one you cut when opening. In theory the ties can be removed carefully with tweezers from the back of the clamshell to free the figure and in theory replaced the same way from the front but it is REALLLY hard to do.

Now, to be clear, I am not some shady toy swapper. I'm just OCD and at one time (years ago) tried saving all the packaging, even the ties to be able to put them back to almost new condition. The difficulty of messing with those ties changed my thinking really quick. So my bet is on a toy swapper with an incredible amount of patience and skill.

I’d assume that’s most likely what happened. Either way if it was replaced it was really well done and I’m surprised they bothered leaving Ravage in the box. Oh well, I’m probably gonna return it then and try to find an actual Grindor

I bet we'll eventually see someone even more skilled and shady leaving behind a Grindor with Blackouts hands after doing a hand swap instead of the whole figure.

Re: Video review of Studio Series SS-78 RotF Sideswipe (2110326)
Posted by Autobot Roadburn on July 15th, 2021 @ 2:07pm CDT

TF-fan kev777 wrote:
Autobot Roadburn wrote:
TF-fan kev777 wrote:
Autobot Roadburn wrote:Had a really weird find at Target today - I finally tracked down a Studio Series Grindor today and only realized after I picked it up - it wasn’t Grindor. As far as I can tell, the box is still sealed, the plastic ties are still in place and the tray has Ravage in his spot, so this is either the most skilled and elaborate toy swap I’ve ever seen or the factory tossed an old wave one Blackout in the box. I’m still pretty confused right now

My bet is on a toy swap. If you are careful enough you can cut a piece of tape the same size to go over the one you cut when opening. In theory the ties can be removed carefully with tweezers from the back of the clamshell to free the figure and in theory replaced the same way from the front but it is REALLLY hard to do.

Now, to be clear, I am not some shady toy swapper. I'm just OCD and at one time (years ago) tried saving all the packaging, even the ties to be able to put them back to almost new condition. The difficulty of messing with those ties changed my thinking really quick. So my bet is on a toy swapper with an incredible amount of patience and skill.

I’d assume that’s most likely what happened. Either way if it was replaced it was really well done and I’m surprised they bothered leaving Ravage in the box. Oh well, I’m probably gonna return it then and try to find an actual Grindor

I bet we'll eventually see someone even more skilled and shady leaving behind a Grindor with Blackouts hands after doing a hand swap instead of the whole figure.

Oh dear god I hope not lol. I’ve had a hard enough time finding these things as it is. I did manage to find the Netflix Primal and Rattrap set though so it wasn’t a total bust.

Re: Video review of Studio Series SS-78 RotF Sideswipe (2110343)
Posted by Ig89ninja on July 15th, 2021 @ 4:29pm CDT