TF Views

What's mistransformed? The wings look done "right" when he doesn't have Vorath on, so I'm assuming that's intentional--make the wings whole again when combined, to emphasize the combination and also provide a more Gundammy explodey-wing-bits vibe.

EDIT: Wow, I totally referred to Skystalker as Vorath by mistake. Huh.

BWprowl wrote:And suddenly, robot mode combination.

Dude taking the pictures can't transform Mindwipe's wings or tail section worth a damn, but the combination he's figured out works very well, I tried it myself. A word of advice: clipping the axes to Mindwipe's knees apparently flexes them so they don't clip onto Skystalker's arms so well afterwards, so you may want to forgo that step. I did.

Drat, I took a crappy photo of my Skystalker sitting on Mindwipe's shoulder a few weeks ago and forgot to post.

I don't think it does much for each of them, but it's alright I guess.

I hadn't seen that combination, it's a very unusual idea. I don't like how Mindwipe's head ends up facing downwards though. And it's really just a mess when they're together, adding almost nothing to Mindwipe considering he already has black wings and a broad chest.

Onslaught Six wrote:Also, Japanese people should take all photos of all Transformers forever. Mindwipe has never looked 'so good.'

I was just thinking the opposite, that they put so much work into making these glamor photos that there's no way to tell what the toy is REALLY like. Skystalker is a cool little figure, but he is NOT that cool, those photos make him look like the most boss pimp of the whole line. And Mindwipe's underhand daggers aren't remotely that interesting in real life.

BWprowl wrote:'Cept for all the mistransformed wing bits. It always kinda kills me when people miss fairly obvious steps in a toy's transformation.

I agree that those photos muffed a few bits on each. But in his defense, on Mindwipe there's a clear sense of "done" stop before the tail goes into the back, I skimmed the instructions and still didn't realize that was the case until my 3rd transformation.

Onslaught Six wrote:What's mistransformed? The wings look done "right" when he doesn't have Vorath on, so I'm assuming that's intentional--make the wings whole again when combined, to emphasize the combination and also provide a more Gundammy explodey-wing-bits vibe.

EDIT: Wow, I totally referred to Skystalker as Vorath by mistake. Huh.

Wow, that is too natural. This one isn't a headmaster.

Anyway, the entire torso and back on Mindwipe is one chunk that is totally mistransformed. The tail ends up jamming into the back (there's a gap for this) and the torso closes up in front. This straightens the head out as well, Mindwipe isn't supposed to be mopey. You can see the track and pegs where it actually locks down in this pic: http://i905.photobucket.com/albums/ac25 ... _SKY15.jpg
that pic also highlights the fact that mistransformed, the chest armor is sticking way out, while in my photo (crummy though it may be) you can clearly see the chest is flush with the shoulders.
The tail section here is supposed to be jammed into the torso: http://i905.photobucket.com/albums/ac25 ... _SKY16.jpg

Eh, I don't have him yet, so I dunno what you're talking about.

Anyway, that's the point of photos, to make the toy look badass--perhaps moreso than he actually is. Remember when some Japanese guy took pics of Stratosphere, and I instantly wanted him? That's the key. These guys are selling Hasbro's toys for them.

Onslaught Six wrote:Anyway, that's the point of photos, to make the toy look badass--perhaps moreso than he actually is. Remember when some Japanese guy took pics of Stratosphere, and I instantly wanted him? That's the key. These guys are selling Hasbro's toys for them.

And then you ended up with $20 of crap though. That's what I'm talking about, these glamor photos sell something that isn't there, it's like Playboy, those women only exist in the lenses of the photographer, he's not shooting a model so much as using the model to bring his imagination to life. In those Japanese pics, Skystalker's fugly knee issue is covered up in all but 1 picture, via cleverly-shot angles or even using limbs and accessories posed to obscure it.

It's funny, when Hasbro pulls this sort of stunt, everybody gets their knickers in a twist, but when a fan does it, it's art.

JediTricks wrote:

Onslaught Six wrote:Anyway, that's the point of photos, to make the toy look badass--perhaps moreso than he actually is. Remember when some Japanese guy took pics of Stratosphere, and I instantly wanted him? That's the key. These guys are selling Hasbro's toys for them.

And then you ended up with $20 of crap though. That's what I'm talking about, these glamor photos sell something that isn't there

Hey now, Mindwipe and Skystalker are far from crap, they were well-worth the money I paid for them. Hell, people on /toy/ are going apeshit for Skystalker simply because he's so cool on his own.

Now admittedly, they're not perfect. I largely like Mindwipe for weird personal reasons, I'll have to write a real review of him soonish.

JediTricks wrote:And then you ended up with $20 of crap though.

I didn't buy Stratosphere yet. But I'm sure I'll like him when I do. We have different tastes in toys.

That's what I'm talking about, these glamor photos sell something that isn't there, it's like Playboy, those women only exist in the lenses of the photographer, he's not shooting a model so much as using the model to bring his imagination to life. In those Japanese pics, Skystalker's fugly knee issue is covered up in all but 1 picture, via cleverly-shot angles or even using limbs and accessories posed to obscure it.

It's funny, when Hasbro pulls this sort of stunt, everybody gets their knickers in a twist, but when a fan does it, it's art.

The only time I complain about Hasbro photos is when they're recoloured and retouched so the actual plastic looks like it's been painted kickassedly when the real toy pales. These are pictures of the production piece and aren't retouched at all--just cleverly done. The toy can still actively look like that, which is what I'm worried about, I guess. (On top of that, they look kickass.)

BWprowl wrote:Hey now, Mindwipe and Skystalker are far from crap, they were well-worth the money I paid for them. Hell, people on /toy/ are going apeshit for Skystalker simply because he's so cool on his own.

Now admittedly, they're not perfect. I largely like Mindwipe for weird personal reasons, I'll have to write a real review of him soonish.

I think JT meant Stratosphere.

BWprowl wrote:

JediTricks wrote:

Onslaught Six wrote:Anyway, that's the point of photos, to make the toy look badass--perhaps moreso than he actually is. Remember when some Japanese guy took pics of Stratosphere, and I instantly wanted him? That's the key. These guys are selling Hasbro's toys for them.

And then you ended up with $20 of crap though. That's what I'm talking about, these glamor photos sell something that isn't there

Hey now, Mindwipe and Skystalker are far from crap, they were well-worth the money I paid for them. Hell, people on /toy/ are going apeshit for Skystalker simply because he's so cool on his own.

If you re-read the quote, you'll see I was referring to Stratosphere, not Mindwipe & Skystalker who I gave high marks to. Notice that this is the thread I started by saying nice things about Mindwipe.

Onslaught Six wrote:I didn't buy Stratosphere yet. But I'm sure I'll like him when I do. We have different tastes in toys.

But once in a while, I'm right even with your weird tastes. Rampage is an example, no? Or was that your other half, o86? I can't remember, I seem to remember you guys not agreeing on that though.

The only time I complain about Hasbro photos is when they're recoloured and retouched so the actual plastic looks like it's been painted kickassedly when the real toy pales. These are pictures of the production piece and aren't retouched at all--just cleverly done. The toy can still actively look like that, which is what I'm worried about, I guess. (On top of that, they look kickass.)

Sometimes you complain about the shadow effects Hasbro adds, it looks like paint but it's photo-based, makes a toy look great and then in person there's no paint wash and it's ass. That's the exact same thing.

The toy won't generally look like that without exactly the 1 perfect pose and complimentary lighting viewed from the 1 angle, that is not a good tool for information IMO.

JediTricks wrote:But once in a while, I'm right even with your weird tastes. Rampage is an example, no? Or was that your other half, o86? I can't remember, I seem to remember you guys not agreeing on that though.

We did, initially. I hated Rampage, he loved him for his offbeatness and crabwalkerness. Eventually I warmed up to Rampage, to the point now where he's just sort of okay. But he still tries to do too much and fails because of it.

Sometimes you complain about the shadow effects Hasbro adds, it looks like paint but it's photo-based, makes a toy look great and then in person there's no paint wash and it's ass. That's the exact same thing.

The toy won't generally look like that without exactly the 1 perfect pose and complimentary lighting viewed from the 1 angle, that is not a good tool for information IMO.

Maybe you're right. But it still feels like the Mindwipe situation is much more replicate-able than the obviously photoshopped Hasbro pics.

I found him! A single one. Bought him, took him out, played with him for a day.

Yesterday I was transforming him back to Vehicle Mode (not the first time I did it, either, I'd turned him back and forth several times) and his leg snapped off. Gonna call Hasbro today to get a box to send him back in to get a replacement. (If they send me back the crappy Prime repaint, I will be pissed.)

Besides the breaking, though, he was 'great.' Sucks that he had to bust. I actually had fun transforming him back and forth! The non-movie toys are way better than the actual movie ones.

I have been meaning to get Mindwipe and that little guy.

Dom
-vouches for Stratosphere.