My Custom Skywarp (Transformers Siege WFC)

When Transformers' newest line (War for Cybertron) switched from Siege to it's next wave called Earthrise, I knew that my chances of finding a Skywarp figure to complete my three Decepticon Seekers were almost non-existent.

After all, even when it was first released, Skywarp came in a specialized bundle that wasn't easy to find in the first place, and in the secondary market, it was selling anywhere from $150-$200 by scalpers so I had resigned to the idea that I wasn't going to own one.

Then one day while out shopping, my wife informed me by phone of the current crop of figures that were in the aisle at our local Walmart. Nothing that I needed but she did say there was a Siege Starscream.  I already had that figure but I decided that now was the time I was going to attempt my first customization.

So I asked her to bring home the Starscream figure and I set myself to the task.

There was quite a bit with the disassembly. I hadn't realized how many screws I would have to remove, but luckily everything came apart nicely and was easy to organize. Once it was all in pieces I began coating everything that would be recolored in a black base coat. 

Once everything was coated in black it was time to do the detail work.  Which included cleaning up the overspill areas, adding purple highlights, making some areas a charcoal gray color.  Things like that.

Once it was all painted, there were just two final steps.
Step 1: Take some silver paint and dab it on my brush, then wipe almost all of it off.  Then take the dry brush and wipe it on some of the areas to create a worn metal highlight. Giving it a real word "used" appearance.
Step 2: Coat everything in a clear matt varnish to that the paint will set and not get scratched off.

Once those were done and dry, it was time to reassemble. And let's just say I was not disappointed.

So there you have it. I finally got my Skywarp to complete my original three Decepticon Seekers.  And you now know how I did it. Thanks for reading!

Transformers WFC Earthrise Deluxe class Ironworks

About this figure:
          This time we have a review for a very different figure and character.  Ironworks was not in the G1 toyline until late 1989.  He did not have a figure in the original Japanese Takara Diaclone or Microchange lines. He never appeared in a cartoon until Transformers: Zone in 1990 airing in Japan.
          To top it all off, Ironworks doesn't even transform. Well, not in the traditional sense, he's a modulator.  Which is a fancy way of saying all his limbs pop off and reconfigure into a different shape.  But he has multiple connection points as well, similar to Titan's Return's Soundwave or Overlord.

Pros:

• The first toy based on this character in 30 years.
• Easy to transform.
• Works well with Micro-Masters, or connecting to a titan in base mode.

Cons:

• Potential for losing parts since the limbs all separate from the main body.

Final Verdict:


          Not a bad figure.  I like that it has a connection to the original G1 line even if it came in at the end of G1 as mainly a base accessory and not an actual figure.  However, in that same regard Ironworks almost feels out of place with the other G1 bot in this War for Cybertron line because of the fact he wasn't really a part of the original Transformers generation.

          Still, I see tons of playability with this figure as either a base for Micro-Masters or an extension/companion for titan class bots in their base configurations.  I'm glad I picked him up.

Transformers WFC Earthrise Deluxe class Cliffjumper

About this figure:
          One of the original 1984 group of Autobot mini-vehicles, Cliffjumper started out as a Porche 924 Turbo, part of Japanese company Takara's Microchange line of toys.  Part of the deal with Hasbro to bring Transformers to the United States, Cliff has undergone many changes over the years through various toy releases.  (Many of which were just retooled versions of Bumblebee.)

          Through it all, he has remained a stalwart fan favorite, worthy of inclusion in the second wave of the War for Cybertron toy line.

Pros:

• A perfect recreation of his G1 look.
• Solid balancing. Cliff is very easy to stand and pose in a variety of positions.
• It comes with several accessories that give you many options for display or play.
• Even has that huge honking gun that he fired at Megatron in the first episode of the G1 cartoon.

Cons:

• Transforming from car to robot mode can be difficult because certain pegs fit very snug.
• Priced as a $20 deluxe figure despite being half the size of other deluxe figures.

Final Verdict:
          Cliff is just a really cool toy.  And even though he costs as much as other deluxe figures while being smaller, his many accessories make him almost like a mini leader class figure.  While I'm still not sold on his weird alternate vehicle mode that resembles a rocket-powered snowmobile car, at least those parts can be combined into a giant cannon for re-creating those moments where you "got Megatron dead center in my viewfinder."
          
          The car mode is one of my favorites so far, with the majority of the hinges and seams being where they would be on a real car, the biggest exception being the doors.  But even with some of these minor flaws, this was a figure I excitedly added to my collection, despite never being a big fan of the character.

Transformers WFC Earthrise Leader class Optimus Prime

About this figure:
          Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots.  Honestly, if you're reading this and you don't know who he is, are you really a Transformers fan and/or collector?

          Optimus has been around since his release as part of the Japanese Diaclone line in 1982/83 when he was known as Battle Convoy.  A short time later, he was included in the licensing agreement between Takara Toys and Hasbro.  In 1984, he was brought to the US market with a brand new backstory courtesy of Marvel Comics along with the new moniker of Optimus Prime.

Pros:

• Some of the best sculpting and detail on a Transformers figure ever.
• Incredible engineering, how they worked out his transformation I do not know.
• Convenient weapon storage so you do not lose loose parts.
• It has a very G1 appearance. 
• Includes a trailer this time, unlike the WFC voyager class Siege version.
• He comes with a freakin' Matrix of Leadership that actually fits in his chest!

Cons:

• In a side by side comparison, the trailer is much shorter than the original G1 trailer.
• When in vehicle mode, the trailer attaches so close to the truck cab, that it cannot turn without the two making contact.  The junction should have been placed further back, near the rear axle.
• Hasbro skimped on the tires.  He is not an 18 wheeler. Because of the lack of "duals" on both the truck and trailer, this Optimus is a 10 wheeler.

Final verdict:
          I almost passed on getting this figure.  I mean, I already own the Cybertronian version that was released last year in the Siege line, so why would I need another one so soon right?  Also, the pricing is different. Siege Optimus was a $30 voyager class figure.  And even though Earthrise Optimus is the same size, he comes with more accessories this time so he is upgraded to leader class and his price goes up to $50.

          So given all this, why?  Because it's an amazing figure.  It really is.  This one instantly became one of my favorites.  Just look at him in the picture below alongside Prowl and Ironhide, how can you not love that guy? 

          The best part is, he's out there in stores now so check those toy aisles and grab one if you find him.

Transformers WFC Siege Micromasters Roadhandler & Swindler

About these figures:
          Roadhandler (in red) and Swinder (in grey) are both members of the Autobot Race Car Patrol.  Both were characters used in Marvel's The Transformers comic book continuity. In Japan, Roadhandler is the leader of the Race Car Patrol and all of the members are portrayed as childlike.

          Swindler is the physically weakest of the team, instead, relying on his intelligence.

Both characters had figures made in the 1988 G1 Hasbro line, and again as part of the 1990 Zone line in Japan.

Pros:

• Both figures transform relatively easily. 
• Swindler stands on his own with little trouble.
• Vehicle mode for both figures are very nice sculpts.
• Both figures combine together to create a weapon for larger Transformers.

Cons:

• Roadhandler is top-heavy in bot mode and has trouble standing without hunching over.
• Swindler's arms are very stiff at the shoulder joint making transforming a touchy situation.
• In their combined weapon mode they are very heavy and unbalancing to a larger figure.
• The ball joints in their legs can pop apart very easily. Luckily they go back together just as easy.

Final verdict: 

          Unlike the Decepticon cassette Micromasters, these figures just feel out of place when it comes to playability.  Their vehicle modes are cars like several of the Autobots, yet they are so small compared to even the deluxe class figures that they just don't fit in with the rest of the team.
They do however scale nicely with the titan class figures and look really cool when posed alongside Omega Supreme when he's in his rocket base mode.

          If you have Omega, these guys are worth picking up just for that reason alone if you can find a retailer that still has them.

          Just keep them away from titan class Decepticon Trypticon. Because they are crunchy and good with energon sauce.