SS 86 Ironhide Review Provides Best Comparisons Yet

william-james88 wrote:
So enjoy the screenshots from the review below and let us know what you think.

Sabrblade wrote:

Gauntlet101010 wrote:This is the last Ironhide I'll ever get.

Unless Takara goes and makes a Premium Finish redeco.

Emerje wrote:I get that the engineering bumps him up to Voyager, but size is just too far out of scale. Even the previous deluxe figures weren't really the right height, but they were still pretty tall for the price class. I don't think I could be happy with any excuse anyone could imagine up for making him this small at this price point. I don't think expecting him to be the same size as Grapple is wanting too much, not when they've already cut so many corners by giving him just one accessory and completely hollowing out his hands.

Between Ironhide and Override I'm not at all happy with the direction Voyagers are taking, not when they keep giving us less and less and asking us to pay more and more. At least with Override you can say they'll probably only get one use out of the mold so they have to offset the cost, but we know that wont be true with Ironhide.

Emerje

-Kanrabat- wrote:I may have an unpopular opinion, but all that clear plastics everywhere worries me. Especially so many JOINTS are clear. Plus that clear plastic painted red over just won't color match anything.

There should have been NO clear parts at all with the windows painted a kind of blue instead. It would have been even more "cartoon accurate" and it would have been more solid.

ZeroWolf wrote:It's a difficult issue because of some folks complaints about the YouTubers ethics. This approach offered the best compromise so that we could still news these leaks and offer credit where credit was due.

If you want to watch his reviews check out the review forum where he posts them, along with all the other reviews from users like Lore Keeper, and ChuckDawg.

Now back to Ironhide please.

Sowndwave76 wrote:I think people need to pump the brakes in regards to the size, specifically the height of this new Ironhide...
I'm pretty sure it's not camera angle, figure pose/positioning, editing, etc., but what I'm seeing in the photo of the SS86 and ER versions side-by-side is that the ER version is MAYBE 1/4" taller at most, and probably closer to 1/8".

And yes, I said in a previous post that I would've liked him to have been a little bit taller. And by "a little", I literally meant by 1/2"-ish.

Whoever said this figure is as short or even close to the height of the Datsun bros...
Pshhhh.
I truly don't mean any offense by this, but stop and actually look at these images...
Or look on your own shelf/display and compare your Siege or ER Ironhide or Ratchet to one of the Datsun mold figures...
Saying any version (including this new one) of Ironhide (or Ratchet) is the same size as Smokescreen, Bluestreak, Prowl, etc., is absurd.
That's the same as trying to claim this new version is as tall as Inferno and Grapple.

It's also pretty bunk to compare this new Ironhide to Wreck-gar. Wreck-gar (while a legit voyager figure imo), is taller than he should be. Probably so other bots would fit better onto the cycle mode.
But Wreck-gar's figure is as tall as those of OP, Megatron, Blaster, Rodimus (or extremely close to), Cyclonus, and taller than Inferno, Grapple, Springer, and all of the ER seekers... I literally just confirmed this with my own figures.
I always thought he was the same size as Springer. But even if he's really supposed to be a bit bigger, there's no way he's supposed to be as tall as those first 5 I listed.
If anything, that photo just shows how out of scale Wreck-gar is, not that SS86 Ironhide is overly small.

Again, sure, I would've appreciated him being as tall as Hoist and Trailbreaker. But 1/4-1/2 of an inch shorter is "too short"?? No way.
It's not like he's been made the same height as Jazz or Sideswipe.
All this to say, in the grand scheme, I think the height is pretty on point.

Emerje wrote:15+ is just the Japanese way of designating something as being for collectors since typically a 15 year old isn't buying "toys" but is likely "mature" enough for some collectibles like Nendoroids which do say 15 and up on the box. Funny thing is I'm holding a Japanese copy of Studio Series Bumblebee Movie Cliffjumper in my hands right now and it says 5 and above right on the front of the box, as do just about every other Deluxe SS figure I'm looking at online, but oddly both Bee Movie Soundwave and Ravage say 8+ (for those that want to see for themselves it's the white box at the top with a number surrounded by Japanese characters).

Checking the Seibertron gallery the only Legends figures I can find with 15+ on them is Blitzwing, G2 Megatron (same mold) and Octane which I have to assume is an error because there's nothing particularly special about those three figures and Black Convoy (using the Octane mold) is 5+ like the rest of the line.

Emerje

ZeroWolf wrote:It's a difficult issue because of some folks complaints about the YouTubers ethics. This approach offered the best compromise so that we could still news these leaks and offer credit where credit was due.

If you want to watch his reviews check out the review forum where he posts them, along with all the other reviews from users like Lore Keeper, and ChuckDawg.

Now back to Ironhide please.

YoungPrime wrote:Meh, still not sold on it. Especially putting him next to Wreck-Garr and expecting the same price.

H3ll, I wasn't even sold on the ER version vs SIEGE Ironhide and now this for about $8-$10 bucks more???

NOPE! That transformation means nothing to me... He should've been taller. Not SS86 Wreck-Garr tall but still taller than that is currently. So I hope HasTak doesn't try to make more of a habit of these dwarf accessory-less "Voyager Class" figures.

EnergonHangover wrote:I still have my old G1 Ironhide and it's definitely one of those figures that needs a modern update! Since I've missed or been disinterested in all the recent Ironhides, I'll do my best to pick this one up. The color scheme, especially in vehicle mode, is a bit bland but that's nothing the inevitable third party sticker set can't fix.

primalxconvoy wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:It's a difficult issue because of some folks complaints about the YouTubers ethics. This approach offered the best compromise so that we could still news these leaks and offer credit where credit was due.

If you want to watch his reviews check out the review forum where he posts them, along with all the other reviews from users like Lore Keeper, and ChuckDawg.

Now back to Ironhide please.

I don't want to dwell on this topic, but is that as close to an official stance on the matter when Seibertron reports such material at the front page? I'm going to add a link from these comments (and screenshots) at the thread about "stolen" TFs for future reference. Also, my original comment was simply giving credit where it was due. There's no point always criticising a website, especially when it's performed due diligence or met different people half-way.

Solrac333 wrote:So that IS supposed to be Ironhide? I thought that was a prototype of the figure. The reds don't match and there is no yellow stripe. How is that a "Studio Series" when it looks wrong? Looks like a deluxe too.

primalxconvoy wrote:

blackeyedprime wrote:

primalxconvoy wrote:Also, in places like Japan, such figures are NOT always aimed at (young) children

That might be true but studio series was definitely aimed at children over there when I went as it was one of the few ranges of Tfs non speciality stores stocked. Or maybe half of that is just toysRus Japan trying to be more American. Coca Cola. Wonderbra.

The studio series, from my own limited observations, seems to have been sold in a handful of shops in Japan, just like most TFs, as they aren't that popular in Japan with kids (unless there's a dedicated Japanese release of a film or a TV show and associates marketing), they're pretty rare to see in most shops.

The main Takara Tomy "Transformers" styled toys for kids in Japan currently is this:

- https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinkan ... Shinkalion

However, was due diligence, TT's website lists SS86 Arcee as being aimed at/suitable for (depending upon the translation?) children who are 8 years old or above.

Screenshot_20220807-181413.jpg

That said, this could still be sure to my original point of a toy company following the existing logistics, restrictions and laws to deliver collectibles to adults.

Lore Keeper wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:It's a difficult issue because of some folks complaints about the YouTubers ethics. This approach offered the best compromise so that we could still news these leaks and offer credit where credit was due.

If you want to watch his reviews check out the review forum where he posts them, along with all the other reviews from users like Lore Keeper, and ChuckDawg.

Now back to Ironhide please.

primalxconvoy wrote:

Emerje wrote:15+ is just the Japanese way of designating something as being for collectors since typically a 15 year old isn't buying "toys" but is likely "mature" enough for some collectibles like Nendoroids which do say 15 and up on the box. Funny thing is I'm holding a Japanese copy of Studio Series Bumblebee Movie Cliffjumper in my hands right now and it says 5 and above right on the front of the box, as do just about every other Deluxe SS figure I'm looking at online, but oddly both Bee Movie Soundwave and Ravage say 8+ (for those that want to see for themselves it's the white box at the top with a number surrounded by Japanese characters).

Checking the Seibertron gallery the only Legends figures I can find with 15+ on them is Blitzwing, G2 Megatron (same mold) and Octane which I have to assume is an error because there's nothing particularly special about those three figures and Black Convoy (using the Octane mold) is 5+ like the rest of the line.

Emerje

That's what I've already stated.

As for the Legends figures, most of the ones we checked (both at home), and at the toy shop(s) we visited at the time had a "15+" rating. Chicken or the egg here, but it was probably related to the sexual content of the comics that came with those figures. However, the age rating wasn't bonding and toy shops were not always even aware that the rating was there. If any of the figures from Legends were below 15+, I can only assume it was down to the lack of sexualized themes in the pack-in comic at the time.

The "15+" rating is, arguably, the closest that such toys can be to bring an "adult collectible" (which, I assume, may necessitate different legal restrictions, etc). However, the point here is that there's no clear distinction between "MP" and "other TFs" as being "adult" and "kids". There's obvious evidence to suggest the average "CHUG" figure (even if they have an age rating below "8+") is aimed at collectors (in terms of aesthetics, character choices, etc), while adhering to legal requirements and/or additional features that will help it sell in its capacity,/function as a toy (for children). MPs, are also aimed at "15+", just like many "CHUG" toys in Japan, and arguably aimed at both collectors and (by the same legalities above) at minors under the age of legal adulthood (20/21 in Japan, in most cases).

I didn't want to go rummaging around for my Legends boxes (most of which do have a "15+" rating on them, from what I remember), but here are some random ones that were lying around, taken from MP, POTP, SS86 and Earthrise. All of them, barring SS86 Perceptor (which seems to be suitable for ages 3+) are aimed/suitable for ages 15+.

I would add that, in Japan, Takara has seemingly "cut their losses" with TFs aimed at kids as their major demographic (possibly due to the shrinking population, the lower popularity of TFs in Japan and/or the dominance of Bandai with their Power Ranger/Super Sentai styled toys). Takara may have joined forces with Tomy due to their shrinking market share. It might also be why, ironically, they stopped making "collector focused" toy paint jobs of most CHUG figures (sharing the costs with Hasbro) and why they doubled-down on an even smaller demographic of TF collector for their "anime-centric" MP line.

Emerje wrote:
What you keep stating is that it's 15+ isn't adult, and you're right, that's the 18+ designation. I'm saying 15+ is the the universal cut off for collectibles, it has nothing to do with safety or contents.

I checked the age on 32 figure boxes in the Seibertron gallery, only 3 were listed as 15+, one of which had an exclusive repaint (Black Convoy) that was listed as 5+. 15+ was an anomaly and possibly even an error, it was far from being the rule. It had nothing to do with the comics, there's more objectionable content in Weekly Shonen Jump. I think you're misremembering this.

Legal adulthood is now 18 in Japan like in the US, though things like gambling and alcohol are still off limits until 20.

SS86 Perceptor is 5+, SS figures put it right on the front of the box instead of the back or bottom like other Transformers.

I think they realized that selling Transformers to kids was potentially taking away from other robot lines they were trying to promote to the same audience. They're still trying to push Zoids the last I saw and there's that new one I can't remember the name of with the little police robots and vehicles. I think the whole brand unification came about because Hasbro wanted to lean heavy into cartoon accuracy with WFC which was already TT and they just jumped in early with PotP.

Emerje

Sowndwave76 wrote:I just think collectors weigh-in more than they'll admit (or know).

william-james88 wrote:

Sowndwave76 wrote:I just think collectors weigh-in more than they'll admit (or know).

They don't. And we all have the evidence staring at us in the face whenever anyone complains about shelfwarming. If collectors were buying up all the figures from generations and studio series, then we wouldn't see them much in stores, they would sell out. But they don't.
You can prove me wrong and buy every SS figure you see if you want.

Wolfman Jake wrote:There really is no question in my mind that Studio Series '86 Ironhide is a huge improvement over the Earthrise release a few years ago. This is perhaps a "mini-Masterpiece" at last for old Ironhide. Also, I won't be clamoring for a DK-2 Guard repaint anytime soon. Given that it's very much a Diaclone reference, I think Guard is best represented by the very G1/Diaclone partsforming method of transformation homaged in the Earthrise Ironhide/Ratchet mold. In fact, I might say that Guard wears that mold best with his black color scheme hiding a lot of the limitations of the design.

primalxconvoy wrote:

Emerje wrote:
What you keep stating is that it's 15+ isn't adult, and you're right, that's the 18+ designation. I'm saying 15+ is the the universal cut off for collectibles, it has nothing to do with safety or contents.

You're partially right. However, "collectibles" (aimed at adults) and "toys" (aimed at children) follow different legal requirements (drop tests, toxicity of materials etc). Thus, your final point is incorrect.

I checked the age on 32 figure boxes in the Seibertron gallery, only 3 were listed as 15+, one of which had an exclusive repaint (Black Convoy) that was listed as 5+. 15+ was an anomaly and possibly even an error, it was far from being the rule. It had nothing to do with the comics, there's more objectionable content in Weekly Shonen Jump. I think you're misremembering this.

Although I can't/won't check through all of my own boxes, I don't believe I've misremembered things. Most of the boxes for the Japanese version of Titans Returns ("Legends") were indeed 15+.

As for the comics, I disagree. The sexualised themes were enough to either warrant the 15+ designation or be "acceptable" to accompany such as product aimed at that age group. I disagree that Shonen Jump featured equivalent content. My Japanese friends, who are themselves mothers, found the content of the pack-in comics questionable (ironically as they assumed the toys were aimed at younger children).

Legal adulthood is now 18 in Japan like in the US, though things like gambling and alcohol are still off limits until 20.

Indeed it is, which was a recent change. However, as you stated, some things are not still permissable:

"...Not everything changed when the age of adulthood dropped to 18. Even though you are an adult, in Japan you are not allowed to:

Buy alcoholic beverages.
Buy tobacco.Gamble and bet on things like horse races.
Enter the national pension system.

The legal age for all of the above is still 20..."

(Source: - https://japan-forward.com/japans-legal- ... that-stay/ )

However, compared to the UK, where "adulthood" is, for most things, 18, socially it could be argued that in Japan/US, the age of adulthood is still possibly 21. Regardless, it's not "15".

SS86 Perceptor is 5+, SS figures put it right on the front of the box instead of the back or bottom like other Transformers.

Thank you, yes, that's true. The safety instructions still state that it's not suitable for anyone under 3 years though, if my translation is correct.

I think they realized that selling Transformers to kids was potentially taking away from other robot lines they were trying to promote to the same audience. They're still trying to push Zoids the last I saw and there's that new one I can't remember the name of with the little police robots and vehicles. I think the whole brand unification came about because Hasbro wanted to lean heavy into cartoon accuracy with WFC which was already TT and they just jumped in early with PotP.

Emerje

I think that might be partially true, but I believe Takara were also spending too much money on "cartoon accurate" CHUG figures and realised they could simply release MPs in that style and either release Hasbro's usual lackluster paint schemes, or possibly pay half with them to make fairly decent figures, somewhere between the (paint) quality of the two companies.

As for more evidence of the "15+" state of Takara TFs, see below.

-Kanrabat- wrote:G1 is nostalgia bait so that parents introduce Transformers to their children. It's parents who are holding the purses string after all.

-Kanrabat- wrote:G1 is nostalgia bait so that parents introduce Transformers to their children. It's parents who are holding the purses string after all.

DeathReviews wrote:The simple truth when you boil it all down, is that Hasbro is reacting to the global economic downturn by charging us more, and giving us less. Like many other companies, they are jacking up their prices to cover the increased costs of production and distribution. They are also trying to disguise it (or make it slightly less overt) by keeping the price CLOSE to what it was before, but reducing the amount of product you get. Also with rhetorical shell games about 'engineering levels' and 'part counts'. But as the saying goes, no matter how thin you slice it, it's still baloney.

Sabrblade wrote:I've been a kid who buys and plays with Transformers for DECADES!

william-james88 wrote:I have no clue why people buying toys in a kids toy aisle strive so much to think that they are the main consumers, how does that matter in your life?

william-james88 wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:I've been a kid who buys and plays with Transformers for DECADES!

Me too! A wise man once said we don't stop playing because we get old, we get old because we stop playing!

Nemesis Destron wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:I've been a kid who buys and plays with Transformers for DECADES!

Me too! A wise man once said we don't stop playing because we get old, we get old because we stop playing!

Great words indeed!

william-james88 wrote:Thanks to this Twitter post, we have news that the third wave of Transformers Studio Series core class figures have been found in the US. That includes Wheelie and Ratchet. If anyone is wondering, the only new core class figure in wave 2 was Exosuit Spike and in wave 4 we will have the DOTM Laserbeak (Bumblebee predeco toy) and SS86 Rumble (blue). The toys were found in a Target in Idaho but other subsequent sightings have popped up over the US, like in California. AHM Joy is the person who posted this sighting on Twitter.

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:I may have an unpopular opinion, but all that clear plastics everywhere worries me. Especially so many JOINTS are clear. Plus that clear plastic painted red over just won't color match anything.

There should have been NO clear parts at all with the windows painted a kind of blue instead. It would have been even more "cartoon accurate" and it would have been more solid.

Yeah, I feel like a lot of people who speak in favor of translucent windows wouldn't do so as much if the original Diaclone molds had had opaque windows from the get-go instead.

For Ironhide and Ratchet, no "Diaclone" arguments hold any grounds for some... Obvious reasons.



Regardless, I non-ironically want an updated version of that exact toy. Roof-sled, goblin proportions, head behind the windsheild, and all that jazz. Add improved articulations and BAM! Truly "Diaclone" Ratchet/Ironhide!

william-james88 wrote:

Sowndwave76 wrote:I just think collectors weigh-in more than they'll admit (or know).

They don't. And we all have the evidence staring at us in the face whenever anyone complains about shelfwarming. If collectors were buying up all the figures from generations and studio series, then we wouldn't see them much in stores, they would sell out. But they don't.
You can prove me wrong and buy every SS figure you see if you want.

-Kanrabat- wrote:

DeathReviews wrote:The simple truth when you boil it all down, is that Hasbro is reacting to the global economic downturn by charging us more, and giving us less. Like many other companies, they are jacking up their prices to cover the increased costs of production and distribution. They are also trying to disguise it (or make it slightly less overt) by keeping the price CLOSE to what it was before, but reducing the amount of product you get. Also with rhetorical shell games about 'engineering levels' and 'part counts'. But as the saying goes, no matter how thin you slice it, it's still baloney.

That process clearly began in the R.I.D. Prime / Generations F.O.C years.
The toys were getting smaller and cheaper but the prices remained the same. Then as the prices increased, the quality went up in Generations T-30. But before the quality took a nosedive again, the massive price hikes began with the movie toys in TLK.

Now, not only do the toys became smaller again, but the next mega price hike is also already starting. Canadian Toys R Us is the prelude.