First Look at Premium Finish SS Ratchet and WFC Starscream

WHAT. IS. THE. DIFFERENCE.
But seriously, I know that if I took a side-by-side look from the original vs these I’d find something, as will likely everyone who responds to this lol, but the fact that I can only notice a lack of battle damage on Starscream as the only difference here really agitates me. Especially since they're charging almost TWICE as much for these. With each new reveal, I’m progressively shocked at the poor choices they make for figures to repaint, and the incredibly mediocre job they do. And none of this would even bother me in the least if they weren’t charging SO much for these. I keep thinking there’s some sort of catch to these things.

If the 2007 Megatron is even more gloriously shiny, I'll get that.

The rest, however, are a hands-raised cash grab. What would've been better for us and easier for Hasbro/Takara would be a "Generations Best Of" subline where they straight-up re-released recent figures that had short production runs. No reworking, no price-hike.

Can't speak for anywhere else, but in the UK if you don't secure a pre-order, odds are you ain't getting one.

I can't think about anything when all I have are a single blurry picture of Ratchet and Starscream.

I guess that Starscream will be an easy pass, but I'll keep an eye open for Ratchet.

The original Ratchet was so bad I shelled out for MB-06 instead. I might get this but the backpack still bothers me.

primalxconvoy wrote:Does anyone here remember when, price-be-damned, their repaints and efforts used to be good-to-amazing? They've really lost their way...

Maybe for some, but that SS Bug Bee is the best painted we will ever get for sure. Compared to the original, it's night and day. Not having the mold, and for only 15$CAN more than the regular release, it's like ordering the Henkei version from back then.

However, the prices on the voyagers and leader are absurd.

-Kanrabat- wrote:

primalxconvoy wrote:Does anyone here remember when, price-be-damned, their repaints and efforts used to be good-to-amazing? They've really lost their way...

Maybe for some, but that SS Bug Bee is the best painted we will ever get for sure. Compared to the original, it's night and day. Not having the mold, and for only 15$CAN more than the regular release, it's like ordering the Henkei version from back then.

However, the prices on the voyagers and leader are absurd.

I suppose officially, and at a CHUG scale, but wasn't there an OSKO version painted to a (higher) quality?

Looks blurry. Hold on, let me put on my glasses. Nope. Still blurry.

This new ratchet brings up an interesting question, Which premium version has been the best?

The 2007 Best Buy Premium Voyager Ratchet?


Transformers (2007) Premium Ratchet (Best Buy) Gallery

The DotM Deluxe Movie the Best Ratchet


Or will this one dethrone them as the best representation of Movie Ratchet?

If you want what will likely be the perfect version of Studio Series Ratchet then the Premium Finish line (lines?) has you covered. And if you want an even dirtier version of Siege Starscream for some reason then they've got you covered there, too.

PF SS-04 Ratchet right off tones down the day glow green of the original release and gives us a much more accurate yellow-green. And the new paint work on the head pulls out all the right details in his face that the blob of gray paint from the original figure never could. The rest of the new paint details throughout his body make this almost look like a new mold. The rescue truck mode isn't so bad itself adding extra touches of silver to the top and wheels and sharpening up the tampographs on the sides. This will be a must have for many Studio Series collectors.

PF WFC-04 Starscream is, as expected, not much different from the original Siege figure, just with a lot more grit and wear. The figures don't share any of the same "damage", but the new version has a lot more of it, especially in the Tetra Jet mode, which was already quite a bit. only real obvious pallet change is the red used appears to be a little paler and his face is now gray instead of silver. Outside of that there's a little extra red on his lover wing tip and his "belt" now goes around his sides instead of just the front. For most this will be an easy pass.

Both figures are due out in January 2022 and will be available outside of Japan through Hasbro Pulse and many of the site sponsors you see on this very page.


















Original stock photos for comparison:




















Original stock photos for comparison:

Premium Ratchet is a HUGE improvement in alt mode. A few touch-ups I’d have to add, but not bad. I’d like to pick it up, these are available on Pulse, right?