I saw Premium Jazz and Premium Barricade in person tonight at my local hobby store and they're really disapointing. Barricade looks HORRIBLE. The painted windows are fugly, it totally ruins the figure. I don't even think they're see-through anymore. A complete disaster.

As for Jazz, he doesn't have painted windows (thank God), but the silver paint looks terribly cheap. Looks like a custom job with a spray can of silver paint. I was expecting something much nicer. If anything, the grey of the original version is closer to what we see on the real car, plus it has some naturally sparkle to it.

Anyway, that'S why I ended up picking up Stealth Bumblebee instead of Premium Bumblebee: I just feared stupid paint apps like on Barricade. Plus, the black/blue Allspark Power figures look really nice together (BB, Arcee, Stockade, Overcast, Incinerator).

Yeah, I wasn't super impressed with the paint job on the Premium Ironhide I saw, it was a bit sloppy, and I felt that a $3 set of reprolabels on the original figure was probably a better way to go to capture any missing details (plus like with Barricade, the windows were better on the first release).

Really, of the Premium figures, I'd say that Best Buy Megatron was the best executed, followed by Target Prime and BB Rachet. It seems with the rest there is the need to make other changes that seem a bit wonky (going to the light grey plastic with Blackout, etc.) - I also bet part of the problem may lie in the fact that these figures were intended to be as first released, so adding a step where new paint applications are required just wasn't in the original design and engineering plans for their production - and I think it shows.

However, I will pick up Target Starscream, as I like that figure, but the tan plastic used for the original release was an odd choice - I may also get Premium Bee too, but it depends on how sloppy the yellow looks in person (from my experience, yellow paint and toys is often the worse combination - and I've noticed that most of the Concept Bees have pretty sloppy paint apps on their doors).

I got Premium Megatron on Friday at Target.

I'm loving him. He looks so much better than the first release (which I also have). There are even rust spots in a few places. His eyes even have some paint, though it's hard to notice unless you look from the correct angle).

The Premium Ironhide, Bee, Prime are the ones that hold the most interest. Blackout was pretty movie accurate already and fixed him up with some stickers from Reprolabels.

As for Jazz and Barricade, meh. Painted windows don't bug me so much as it does others. I mean, if there's detail like little seats and a steering wheel, then yeah, painted window would piss me off, but if there's nothing to show except kibble (or nothing at all), then painted windows are not a problem. I have yet to see any of the other's in person.

I did however take the spring from my old Leader Megatron's cannon and put it in the flail hand of Premium Megatron, so now both his arm weapons have spring functions.

I don't like the copper paint apps on Premium Megatron (on the wings). Enough with the battle damage shot, it always looks like crap. Gimme nice and clean figures.

Well, considering Megatron looked this way in the movie, it was a good choice. However I did notice on Saturday that there was a stress mark on one of his chest plates and they all don't close correctly when I transform him (may have just been this particular one). I may swap him for another Premium Megs.

I did however get Premium Jazz cause the one I saw didn't look bad. Good points and bad points:
Good:
Painted rear window, tail/reverse lights, painted feet, painted rear end of the car to match up with the vehicle, and other little paint job improvements.
Bad:
Spoiler won't fold all the way up w/o a little push, mouth could have been redone but wasn't.

So for me, the good points far outweigh the bad. I may get the sticker set from Reprolabels and give him a truly ultimate movie look (Pontiac/Solstice tags and license plate).

Considering this, I'm not so turned off to possibly acquiring Barricade. Again, in regards to that, painted windows don't bug me, and the ones I saw on Barricade looked pretty cool. (I would have gotten both but I didn't have enough at the moment).

And, I just ordered Premium Prime from HTS a few minutes ago.

Premium Prime was cool, enough changes and what not to make it worth it. Megs, I like, particularly more so than the original..But, I had thought he would be more silver, and not, again, just more colored plastic. I saw they tried to add some wash like damage effect all over him, and it looks ok. I actually liked the Ironhide so far the most..Just his new over all glossy look, and more decals, nice touch. The Blackout was great too..Being darker, although his battle damaged paint scarring looks awful. But it was nice to see the 4500 on there. I kinda want the Jazz, and definitely want the Bumblebee..As for Barricade, I'll have to see him in hand to see if I want him.

I finally saw these guys in the store yesterday and agree 100% - both were total passes.

Barricade's car body panels weren't even painted, I'd say the reprolabels on the original toy results in a better looking 'bot. And Jazz's paintjob was terrible - a thick, gloopy semi-gloss silver paint that was totally scratched up...

Premium?

It's a series movie toy redecos with what were supposed to be superior paint applications, which in practice, have been a bit hit or miss.

They include:

1. Target exclusive Robovision (Voyager class) Prime - ligher blue molded plastic, silver finish limbs
2. Best Buy exclusive (Voyager class) Megatron - silver finish similar to Cybertron Galvatron
3. Best Buy exclusive Rachet - metallic green paint on truck body panels, some robot bits that were green plastic are now black
4. wide release Premium Blackout - weathered paint job with details such as "4500X" on the tails, black robot limbs are now grey/beige; nicely painted mini-Scorponok
5. wide release Premium Ironhide - black paint job, more truck detail paint apps, giant (movie inakkurate) Autobot logo on hood, some robot bits that were black plastic are now grey
6-7. wide release Premium Barricade and Jazz (as discussed in this thread)
8. wide release Premium Leader Prime - new head and swordy flip out weapon - I for get how the paint apps are supposed to be different
9. wide release Premium Leader Megatron - uses a dirty gunmetal metalized plastic instead of the light grey of the original
10. wide release Premium Concept Bee - new head, more accurate pin-stripes, supposed to be completely painted with a metallic finish paint (he's not out yet)
11. Target exclusive Deep Space Starscream - metallic finish plastic and paints with more accurate Air Force squadron markings (also not out yet)

Of the ones I've seen in person (which, at this point, excludes Leader Prime, Premium Bee and Deep Space Starscream), I'd say that Robovison Prime, Best Buy Megatron and Rachet are much better than the "standard" releases. Leader Megatron is pretty good, Ironhide and Blackout aren't too bad (but the originals with Reprolabels will probably look better to some). Barricade and Jazz are lame - I'd say that the originals with Reprolabels would look much better.

Like I mentioned before, I think why the Premium figures ended up kind of hit and miss is that they were designed to be produced as originally released, so adding a step where new paint applications are required just wasn't in the original design and engineering plans for their production - and I think it shows (e.g. Premium Ironhide's formerly translucent plastic windows are for some reason now painted over - I'd be willing to bet that this is the result of cramming in a step where formerly unpainted bare plastic body panels in the original now need to be painted over with the "Premium" finish).

So far I've seen Leader Prime and Megs, Voyager Blackout and Ironhide. Megs sparked my interest enough to buy him. I got him out of the box, TF'd him, noted that the visor cover for the alt mode was still not wide enough to cover his face (ie. it's the same damned piece) and prompty took him back the following day. Leader Prime.... well, there's not enough to warrent me buying him a second time and I'm really attached to my custom so, meh. Blackout....I hate that toy. It doesn't matter how you color a turd it's still a turd. And lastly, I was impressed with Ironhide but I just couldn't buy him. Shelling out an extra 10$ here or there for one I already have is one thing but once you get past that mark it's simply not justifiable IMO. I'll pick up BB and SS and call it a day until Crasher/Fracture shows up.

i got the premium megs too and i feel the same way about him.

Probably won't see these at all in Spain. Our distribution has been ok so far when it comes to movie figures but normally we get F**K all. Shame as I realy want Megs, Prime and BB. Maybe a Barricade to put strobing lights in Jin style.

So far, I really haven't been to into any of the figures, aside from maybe the Best Buy exclusives. Oddly, saw Premium Ironhide and Blackout at Walmart about a month ago, and they didn't look any different from the original versions. Even the mini scorpinok figure was unpainted, and I had to check a couple times to even make sure they WERE the premium figures (but they were. They had the metallic "Premium" strip on the box) I didn't know what the deal was. Then today I saw the same to figures at a Target and for some reason, they look much, much better than I remember them being when I originally saw them.

I also saw a Premium Jazz, but wasn't too turned on by it either. The paint does look like some cheap attempt at a metallic look, and for some reason, he had weird black splotches in a few areas, so I decided to pass on him. The only premium figures I'll probably pick up are Bee (just because I love the mold) and Prime.

I'm betting someone bought the Premiums, swapped them with their original figures and returned them to the store.


I hadn't seen that, but of the ones I've seen the silver paints scratches look kind of black, maybe this one had worn patches that appeared black. (I doubt they "primered" the silver, but maybe they did).

I saw a bunch of Premium BBs yesterday and the paint jobs were pretty meh. I could even see fingerprints on the hood of some. I wonder if Takara's version will be better.

Well, that's a bummer...

I just picked up Premium Bumblebee today. I like the additional details but the paint application is a bit uneven in places.

Only premium I'm interested in is Deep Space Starscream. The rest of them are

What's the head detail like aside from the battle visor. Is there a red spot representing the Autobot logo on his head? That's what I'd like to see.

As for Barricade, I solved the window problem. I swapped out the clear windows from Vers. 1 Barricade and Premium Barricade while holding onto the painted head and shiny "POLICE" lettering with additional paint apps. Then applied some clear finisher to him so that the lettering wouldn't chip and scrape off. I may get the set from Reprolabels just for the little Frenzy flipping the bird. Have all but Premium Bumblebee.

I picked up a Stealth Bumblebee a couple days ago and I plan on buying another Jazz toy, probably a Premium one or one of those Target exclusive ones. My plan is to use the arms from the Stealth Bumblebee as arms for Jazz. I'll use the pieces from the original arms to cover the new arms. I'll also use some Dr. Octopus claws for his hands.

Then I will have the Stealth BB head to swap on my original movie BB toy.

Well, I just purchased Premium Bumblebee online, realizing the fact it's better to pay a little bit of an upped price (four bucks over MSRP ain't too bad), rather than waste the time and gas looking for one in store.

And with that my Movie series is done. On to Animated.

I just saw that Jazz today. I really think these premium figs are cool, but I do kinda agree. Their not really worth it if you already have em cause they look the same. But premium Megs is another story....

Well I just happend to find a Premium BB in at the Walmart last night. The last one they had. I would say that once I get my Orange Prime sword and Allspark cube...my movie collection will be done.

And then yes...on to Animated and Univers/Classic2.0. Lord my bank account is gonna get a work out over the next several months!

What Orange Prime sword and Allspark Cube (what size is the cube).

i think that he meas the stuff done by fans.

i picked up premium meg and barricade. as for meg, though it is done with a good job for paint which is better than the original one, yet is still far away from my expectation. to me, the window of barricade is really bothering, but the rest is all OK.
im still struggling with myself for the premium prime. the only thing im concerned is his rabbit-like ears and the unpainted Autobot icon on the cab hood, which is painted in red in the original version.

i think i ll pass the rest. blackout is really fragile. alt mode looks good but the automorph is just too easy to break!!!

As for Barricade, I was able to switch out the windows from the original version with the Premium verison. As for Prime, the Autobot icon is a simple fix. Put on a bit of red paint over the Autobot logo. Then gently wipe the surface so that the outline of the logo will be red like on the original version. As for his "ears" it doesn't look bad. It would have been better if they'd had a head that was a cross between the regular and Premium versions.