I finally exchanged presents with my oldest friend, and he bought me a Sonicron figure.

 

Now I have a Music Label White Soundwave and think that toy is really great, so this new update to the original had a lot to live up to.

 

Robot mode is fantastic looking on display. All the parts to his weapons fit inside for tape deck mode, including the barrel of the rifle. It features 2 heads to choose from, though I prefer the one that is already attached. The only thing so far I don't like about robot mode is this long flap that extends out his rear. I may have transformed it wrong but I don't believe so.

 

Likes: Pose-ability is great. Details are outstanding, every little button and label on the toy is great looking. Buttons are clear red which look cool. Tape deck is spring loaded and pops out nicely. Captures the character well.

 

It DOES work with the original cassettes, which is really cool.

 

Ball and socket joints, of sorts for the head, wrists, waist. Just about every joint works well. Great looking on display as a robot.

 

Cassette deck is great looking too...IF you can get it to transform with out breaking. I gave up on my first try, the 3 tooth tab and groove connectors have me worried they will break or wear. It's just with the legs I am having some difficulty, the rest is fairly easy, except for bits that had fold out doors, like the arms and head. YOu have to pry open a flap or door so that the body part can swivvle away, that's not easy, at least on the first try. Then there is the mid section that can push into the torso. It has a spring loaded section that locks it into place, problem with that is it seems to jam a bit. I just used a pen to push down from the inside to pop it back into robot mode.

 

What I think they should have done is used the magnets found in the boxes flap and put them in the legs to hold them together instead of these 3 tooth tabs.

 

Which do I like better? It's a tough call. ML SW is cool, plays actual music, but doesn't work with the original tapes, plus mine is white, so it's shattered glass SW. The headphones that made into rumble and frenzy were a good idea, just think they could have executed it better.

 

For $30-40 I'd go with Sonicron and probably NEVER transform it. I may wind up having to tone down the overly complicated tab system for transform if I am to transform it again, ruining the value.

 

I hope somebody comes out with a cassette transforming Rumble and Frenzy that works with this thing.

It really is amazing how far we have come as a fan base, for some cleaver transfans to get together and make fantastic products like this thing. Watched a couple reviews on youtube, apparently the BTS company improved on the mold for the B figure - soundblaster, but some of the reviews just didn't address some of the same issues I had.

 

One stated that the deck would not stay closed with the cassette inside, I found that if you hold the button down, close the deck and then release it locks safer and secure. I have had MANY G1 soundwaves, and KO's and one of the most horrible breaks on the toy is the dang cassette door tab. Impossible to fix so that it works ever again with replacing the whole door. So I ease the door closed by holding the button down and then releasing when closed.

 

I really don't care that the buttons don't actually work on the toy, they look great and have fantastic detail. I have the Blasters from Microchange where the buttons DO work, as well as the speakers in his legs, so I think unless this thing was made to actually record and play back sound, it doesn't matter to me.

 

The blaster worked with using a special cassette that was a radio, the dial on the side of the chest actually tuned the frequency on the AM dial for the cassette. I wonder if they could have engineered a YackBack type of record and play back cassette for this toy? That was a fairly small device, simple and would nail the voice recorder idea.

mine should be coming any day, got him 29 bucks on bigbadtoystore.com

Screw it, just ordered one. This is the second 3rd party item I ever bought. Ironically, the first was also from BTS (Matrix Upgrade kit) which was a great addition.

mine came the other day, and is a pretty neat figure. He is a bit loose in some places though.

That BBTS sale had me tempted too, but I didnt go for it.

I'll probably get him during the next Clearance sale. I was tempted to get him but decided to wait until my tax return. I just hope Toy Arena puts Warcry and Flameblast back on sale then also. If not I'll still get all 3 $40 is still better then the $60 they wanted

Checked UPS status....he will be here tomorrow... I don't usually take pics/reviews, but I can't wait to get my hands on this guy....

 

Wow, he's back at $40 on BBTS? Glad I ordered him at the $29 they were asking for a few days ago.

Checked UPS status....he will be here tomorrow... I don't usually take pics/reviews, but I can't wait to get my hands on this guy....

 

Wow, he's back at $40 on BBTS? Glad I ordered him at the $29 they were asking for a few days ago.

 

I'm sure the price is going to drop again since he is marked for clearance. Just have to wait for the next big sale. though if he stays at

$40. I'm not going to bother with him. I wouldn't pay $60 thought about $29 so why would I bother with $40? LOL

Checked UPS status....he will be here tomorrow... I don't usually take pics/reviews, but I can't wait to get my hands on this guy....

 

Wow, he's back at $40 on BBTS? Glad I ordered him at the $29 they were asking for a few days ago.

 

I'm sure the price is going to drop again since he is marked for clearance. Just have to wait for the next big sale. though if he stays at

$40. I'm not going to bother with him. I wouldn't pay $60 thought about $29 so why would I bother with $40? LOL

Yeah, $60 dollars for an unofficial figure is too much. I know the cost is high due to a lower production rate, but come one......I can't for the life of me bring myself to pay what many of the 3rd party companies are asking for when it comes to their figures (no matter how cool FP's Rodimus and Magnus armor and that Springer/Warbot Defendor look).

 

I'll think about paying upwards of $60+ for a G1 reissue (depends on what character) but can't separate myself from that type of money for a 3rd party project.....not knocking those who have no problem, just my own preference.