Just got it this morning. I'll review as I play with it...

ROBOT MODE

Pretty big, like the other leader class toys. About the same size as Megatron, but more bulky. Detailing is great all over (although nowhere near as good as that custom we have recently seen on Ebay - there's only so much Hasbro can do for that price!). Gimmick are pretty cool : slide a lever forward on the right forearm to extend the cannons. On the left forearm, slide back the black plate to move the claws forward. Pushing down on the upper chest assembly will trigger lights and sounds (shoulder cannons + main cannon). The shoulder cannons light up green, the main cannon red. You hear a sequence of 3 different sounds (various cannon sounds) with lights flashing. Pretty cool. You can also activate the lights and sounds by pushing on the main cannon (it activates sounds #1, similar to the one found on Armada Megatron). Poseability is pretty good : head, shoulders (full range), upper arms, bicep swivel, elbows, poseable claws (all 3 fingers), hips, knee swivel, knees, feet and toes to some extent. Nice use of click joints too. Lower back leg kibble gets a bit in the way during extreme poses, but I don't think it's that bad. You get him to take very dynamic poses.

TRANSFORMATION

Holy crap, that wasn't easy! It requires a lot of manipulation to get from robot mode to tank mode. Automorph gimmick hides the head as push down the upper chest assembly. Arms cannons end up being stored in the lower legs through hinges and tracks and sides of the tank are spring loaded (as are the 2 cow catchers). The most difficult part was to fit the arms flush against the body to close the sides of the tank. Took a bit of massaging, but I guess it'll become easier after a few transformations. Moving the main cannon into place is also a challenge : you have to hold a spring-loaded panel on the side of the turret while you open a second one and move it over the main cannon while you swing it into place. Hard to explain, you'll see when you get it.

TANK MODE

Pretty much the size of G2 Megatron. Big and heavy! Turrets move independantly, main cannon moves up and down (at last!). You can activate the sounds and lights by pushing on the main cannon or by rotating the upper turret (the left side triggers a different side than the right). The tank rolls on 5 little wheels. There's even another twin cannon located on top of the 2nd turret. Brawl is armed to the teeth! Again, a lot of mechanical detailing all over. Too bad it gets a bit lost in the green. Also, the plastic feels a bit soft. Thick but soft.

Overall, it's an awesome figure and it has everything I'm looking for in a quality Transformer : size, complexity, electronics, gimmicks. DLX Brawl can burn in hell, Leader Brawl is immensely better. Is this the best movie figure? I don't think so, but it's quite close.

Overview of the features :

-lights (green for auxiliairy guns, red for main gun)
-sounds (3 different ones)
-automorph : head/chest, arm cannons, upper turret (minor)
-spring loaded cow catchers
-spring loaded tank tracks (front portion only)
-spring loaded turret panel

how the heck did you get one so early!?

i doubt ill ever be able to get hold of one over here

Got it from toy-wave.com, they had it in stock of a couple of hours a few days ago.

Green lights? Sweet.

Also forgot to mention that the plastic parts that appeared to be white in previous photos are actually grey. Also, strangely, the back of the head is made of clear plastic but there is no light-up feature for the eyes, they're painted red.

Pics are needed!

Just found out that there are 2 buttons on the top turret to activate sound #2 and sound #3. So either you push the buttons or you turn the turret left or right. Clever.

Awesome! Thanks for the pictures. Me want him.

Yet another feature uncovered : the grey parts on the lower legs can be pivoted down, they're shin blades! Feel like getting kicked in the stomach now?

Hows there shipping? Im tempted for a Clear Window Bumblebee.

Check their website, shipping estimates on there. Price was decent for EMS, but item came bubblewrapped with paper (no box). Item was in perfect shape though.

Looks good! What custom?

Nice review, and even nicer pics

I love deluxe Brawl and I wasn't initially impressed by the LC version, but I really must have this guy now.

Thanks for the review and pics!

I still can't figure out why they went with Leader Class Brawl of all bots. His Deluxe toy seemed okay, and while not perfectly in scale, it wasn't as grossly out of scale as some others.

Blackout is supposed to be the biggest Decepticon, but now he's not even in the top three for toys. Also, his toy was... meh at best.

Starscream's toy was nice, but also grossly out of scale. An F-22 is about twice as long as a tank. Also, Starscream has FAR more significance than Brawl.

Brawl was one of the most cannon-fodder characters I've seen (barring Bonecrusher), already had a remotely in-scale toy, had a DECENT toy, and yet was granted a Leader class. Why?

Because he's a total effin' badass, and kids love tanks that put on light shows and make noise?


Seriously, though, I am totally in love. Best-looking Tankformer EVER. I'm so sorely tempted to replace his head with one from a burned-out G2 Megs...

Great review.

Looks like a lot of bang for ones buck.

I wish the same effort went into LC Megatron.

For some reason I think I like the sand colored Brawl better. Details don't get as lot & the teal doesn't bother me any.

Well, they're all just toys after all, we should not look any further... They came up with a good design with good gimmicks, so they went with it. Maybe we'll get new leader molds in 2008, who knows... I agree that Blackout and Starscream deserve better. Leader Blackout and Ultimate Starscream?

here is one..MAN that looks good
http://cgi.ebay.com/transformers-movie-bra...1QQcmdZViewItem

Sweet picture. I love when figures are to scale (more or less).

I am absolutely picking this guy up in both decos. This one for the movie accuracy and the desert deco for the sheer awesomeness of it.

Side note: so I assume Ult Prime that you are megatroptimus from the 2005 boards? Why not use the same screen name? Just out of curiosity.

He's almost too awesome to handle.

That looks awesome, but $511.00? That's an outrageous price to pay for a new Transformer, even if it is a custom.

It's a sweet figure, but I still think Brawl is an odd choice for the leader treatment.

Brilliant pics mate. Gotta go ask Mrs Shockprowl for more cash now!!!

Which leader toys are available at the moment? I've only found megatron and optimus.

Damn.. I need more shelves and money

I don't remember which one came first (UP or megatroptimus) but I'd rather use megatroptimus here too if I had the choice.

To answer the other guy, Brawl is not officially out yet, shipping end of August apparently.

And you did not share this with us until now? Haha... im just kiddin with you bro. It sure sounds complex though per your transformation report.

So go ahead and change your name. I just did and it is messing me up, but I will get used to it.

So how do you like Leader Brawl a little later? Still living up to your expectations?

Plus a 2 jet engines powers a tank!

Yes, I still love Brawl. The only thing that bugged me were the cannons that often wanted to fall off easily when I was transforming him. But that's understandable because if they were attached permanently, they could break. Now I got used to transforming him, so they don't fall anymore.