Well, I finally broke down and bought my first Star Wars themed transformer.

 

Coming from someone who doesn't really have any SW merchandise (save ONE Darth Maul statue) and who essentially grew up on the movies I thought that it couldn't be THAT bad when Hasbro combined the two licenses.

 

I stand corrected.  :redface

 

After always looking at the pics online of the various SWTF toys, I was always indifferent, thinking that most alt modes were movie accurate and looked great, but the robot modes looked almost unfinished - or forced... I am not sure.

 

But the Emperor's shuttle was always a favorite of mine. I love the design, and it actually looks really cool, like on this toy:

 

 

The wings fold up, just like in the movie when it lands at a heliport:

 

 

And as you can see, the cockpit opens and the small Palpatine figure fits inside.

 

Now - the bad part.

 

This is essentially a 'pieceformer' - the three wings come off, and form the 'kibble' on the body in other places. The transformation isn't very difficult, just unfold the arms, legs, and flip down the cockpit to reveal an UGLY head.  :tdown

 

The robot mode is where it all goes to pot. The plastic is feels cheap and thin, and the connectors of the wings to the ship are very flimsy and tend to fall off.

 

Articulation is fairly nice - maybe a different head and better grade plastic, and it wouldn't be so bad.

 

 

All in all, not a good purchase for me. But as I have seen elsewhere on the boards, it might make a good repaint into something else. Astrotrain, perhaps?

 

Thanks for reading....

 

Joe

Nice review. Now I know to stay away

I have trod down the path of SWTF too and I found that path is covered piles of horse crap.  SWTF are poorly made. The plastic does indeed feel cheap and the whole construction is quite rickety.

thats why you use them for kitbashes

Well, you made the bot mode look better than it does on the package.

 

I give you major props for that.

 

I agree, the head sculpt is what really kills this one for me. The rest of it actually looks pretty good...

 

I miiiiight just pick one up if I happen to have some spare cash.

 

Oh BTW, how is the head attached?

Not too sure, to be honest.

 

Looks like a pin is inserted into the underside of the head, which is one molded piece - instead of the two halves held together by a screw on a ball joint. The head can turn right to left, no up or down movement at all.

 

No (obvious) way to remove it without compromising the head.    :tfmad

Not too sure, to be honest.

 

Looks like a pin is inserted into the underside of the head, which is one molded piece - instead of the two halves held together by a screw on a ball joint. The head can turn right to left, no up or down movement at all.

 

No (obvious) way to remove it without compromising the head.    :tfmad

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

DAMMIT :tfmad

I grabbed my 7 SWTF's the other day to change them into robots to mix-up the display a bit. I did one (Obi) and remembered why they're in alt-mode on the shelf!

 

I loved SW as a kid so I like these as it means I can expand my TF collection and not get into a new hobby. The robots do suck though!

I have to disagree with you on this one. I almost wrote a review of poor palpatine this weekend.

 

I do agree that putting the wings down on his hips makes him look lame. But the shoulder "fanmode" (?) has two benefits (that you dont mention) A) it makes the robot look so much cooler and B) he is not longer a parts former.

 

As for quality - i agree that the SW:TFs suffer from a QC issue. But as a general rule they have been getting steadily better. Palpatine & D.Maul are the sturdiest ones to date (to be fair - the jedi star fighter is by far the best mold. and looks good in both modes. However my Obiwan (Wave1) has weak knees and hips - and i dont know if that issue is fixed in the Aniken edition (WAVE2).

 

As for the head - i think it makes a nice cross between the Human character and a robot character. For me it gives off a very Megatron and/or Unicron feel. I like it. Its very fitting for the BIG BAD. and much more successful than Vader.

 

I love his accessories - the saber that turns into a missle, the roof that turns into a (albiet clumsy) Blaster, and the Wing/shield is not as clumsy as Vader's.

 

I am enjoying my SW-TFs but have learned to stay with OT characters. The PT charaters and ships just dont hold enough interest for me.

(besides - figures like Grevious are complete WTF's in both modes?!?!)

 

I am looking forward to the FALCON! Seriously.

 

But stay AWAY from the Fett mold. Unless you really love Boba.

(and this warning comes from a guy who is enjoying the line)

 

I have been completely discouraged by SW figs and the brand ever since #2 came out.

Aside from a Clone Wars Fig, these are the only SW figs i have bought in YEARS.  As a Combination of the two worlds - these figures really are a success. Maybe not from a FANWANK sort of way - but they are.

 

Now if they can just make the designs a little more cohesive (which i think the emperor and Obiwan are steps in the right direction) and the figures a bit sturdier - they could have a real nice future.

 

JMO

Hunter

 

EDIT: OMFG!!! I CANT BELIEVE I DID THIS! AFTER READING  YOUR REVIEW I WENT TO GO CHECK ON THAT MINI PALPATINE THAT I HAVE NO REAL RECOLECTION OF - AND @%$#@%$ I REALIZED I THREW IT OUT WITH THE PACKAGING!!!

CURSE CURSE CURSE. Actually  its not really a big deal - but i hate being stupid and i hate having "broken toys" when there is no reason for them to be....

man that sucks, sorry, Hunter...