Video Review for Transformers War for Cybertron Seige Leader Class Astrotrain

william-james88 wrote:So back to Jetfire, which I got last week, he's fine but the QC eaves much to be desired. I was wondering if everyone else had these problems. The right wrist is super loose, so he can't hold his gun straight, it always flops to one side. Also, the ratchets on his thighs are not of the same strength. One side is far weaker than the other. Are all copies like this?

I know I mentioned it a few times here but since you brought it up I've had the issue with his facemask staying on. The first one I got it wouldn't stay on at all so I took it back for another one. The mask stayed on for a few hours then it hasn't stayed on since. It just springs back off like Chromia's knickers. It's the only bummer but I don't want to take him back again.

No issue with the wrists but the genius 5mm palm peg I can see wearing down over time it already is a little delicate when it holds weight, you just get that feeling you know?

A tad loose in the thighs but otherwise the ratchets are pretty awesome especially in the arms and knees.

Those are the only ONLY things that don't make this a perfect toy for me. But I've learned to love him faults and all I mean hey I can't keep my own face mask on some days we've all been there who am I to judge right?

Astrotrain's steam engine mode looks the best it ever has thanks to the fuel tender covering up his shuttle engines. I have no issues with him being a Leader-class figure with a Voyager-size core robot, I think that's a perfectly valid use of the price point. My one issue with him is him taking the cartoon accuracy to the point of having the fin/chest fail, but I love everything else enough that I can overlook that.

blackeyedprime, CW Ultra Magnus is actually also too small and in his case it's incurable. And SIEGE Magnus' trailer may not open up in vehicle mode, but you can still cram 2 deluxes onto it.

The movie crew continues to grow...

Artic megatron will either convince me I need the siege megatron or it wont. Pictures of ratchet on here have convinced me to try and pick one up rather than find another/spend more on a Potpp sepcialist or whatever they are called. Nightbirds pics make her look nice but already having the legends I doubt I'll be picking her up. Prime will be replaced at some point if I could get a siege Prime cheap or maybe the cell shaded.

I think Astrotrain, Springer and Red alert etc all have legs that are too short which makes them look stubby. Astro trains legs are barely longer than his torso but I always liked the style of long legs to bodys (Phantom 2040/Guyver).

Cobotron wrote:

Cyberpath wrote: got a backstory for it, too.

Oh? Do tell. I love a good back story!
Head canon FTW!!!!

Basically, he joined a group of Transformers, each hails from their own alternate dimension, banded together to save realities on the verge of collapse. I never took a group-shot because I didn't buy all the toys I had planned, but the original "cast" included:
LG12 Wingblade as a Perceptor that never returned to his original body and lived on as Nijika.
LG15 Nightbird as a Nightbird that got into a freak accident with Arcee and somehow gained her ability to talk and transform.
TAV 07 Roadblock as a Constructicon we never had.
CW Viper - as a Powerglide that was suborned by the Decepticons & Cobra and ultimately broke free.
And "our" Sunbow Skyfire (that's why he stopped appearing on the show ) as the leader of the group, who at some point wanted to be better fighter so he convinced Perceptor to upgrade him into "Jetfire."
Here's the backstory for (Japan's Headmasters) Brainstorm that I posted a while back -- 1931892#p1932526 (after the Perceptor "review.")
What can I say, I like my toys to have origin stories.
And the best part is that you can have an ever chancing cast. (Like a "Reflector" body that gained his own personality and joined the Autobots, or a white Ultra Magnus with an armour, etc. Almost any toy from any line will do.)

sol magnus wrote:Responding to the review post - I love the G1 faithful robot mode on Astrotrain, and I will be getting him, but for Siege I prefer the Cybertronian Alt Modes which gives the Titans Return version a bit of a pop. Ultimately, though, I display in robot mode so I'll be getting the Leader Class when it hits.

Interestingly enough, the Titans Return version of Astrotrain serves as a better "Cybertronian" version for the character with its military train and stylized space ship alt modes.

Allow me to gush again on the special Refraktors 3 pack. I love the fact that most plastics have that special shiny/metallic color. Because said plastics are kinda soft, I don't fear any breakage in the future. But I do hope it will not become gooey from leaking plastifier.

Thanks to our very own Nathaniel Prime, we have evidence that the final of the original Seeker trio, Thundercracker, has shown up at brick and mortar retail in the U.S.! While he had been originally thought to be in a Wave with Springer, he was delayed to his own Wave instead.




Thundercracker was found at a Walmart in Daytona Beach, Florida. Do you plan on completing the original Seekers? Gonna take a pass on this one? Let us know below! If you've found a new or highly sought after figure, and haven't seen a news story about it, please let us know, with photographic proof, and happy hunting one and all!

Not sure if this has been mentioned before but BBTS has the Rainmakers in stock at the moment if anyone wants them. But, for some reason they're $120??? Geez BBTS, that's quite the markup...

blackeyedprime wrote:Since when was Omega not able to link to TR bases?

Since Never? There are several slots along the track and a flip out latchg on his calf that will hook in. There are aso ramps off his thigh that have the connector, but as they are INSIDE the base it doesnt really do any good

The single thing I don't like about Siege Leader Astrotrain is the shuttle mode. Especially the part behind the "legs" where there's just "hollow damage" that desperately beg for a panel to cover that mess. I expect Shapeway or someone else to make such a cover. Plus the part could be stored easily in the train wagon, or be used as a shield in bot mode.



Regardless, I LOVE Astrotrain and that leader is fantastic. Especially because it nail the look (despite the shuttle flaw) and it mostly transform like the original G1 toy!