It's funny. After all the many uses of both the Siege and Earthrise Seeker molds, not a one of either has been a release of the still-in-demand G1 Sunstorm.
I’m honestly shocked we haven’t gotten a Sunstorm in all of his orange goodness in Selects or mainline.
They see me scrollin'. They hatin'.
Just got L.E. Armada Megatron this week.
Concerning not just the figure but the line itself, my critiques are that while the overall products feel great in-hand, I've experienced some serious quality control issues. At the premium I pay to collect...I'm at a point in my life where I just think there should be more. Megs, (and the Skids I bought this week too), are great examples.
Aesthetically, the Megatron sculpt is faithfully and beautifully represented. He also feels not just solid, but downright "chonky". I would have waited an eternity for this character to have proper hips and ankles, but not at the expense of losing his shoulder mobility. I realize that there is articulation at the shoulders, but this new version does a worse job than the original and, at the price, it should be a better design. There should also be better attention to detail with paint apps throughout the production process. The half-painted faux track on Meg's right shoulder is inexcusable...especially when the picture on the box I couldn't see through was painted correctly.
The lack of accessories is also inexcusable. However, concerning the Skids I bought, he was missing the rifle he was supposed to come with. I don't know if this is because at some point it slipped out through the open-window package, or it just wasn't put in, but it is really disappointing for the price. I have the receipt...If I can find another at Walmart, I guess I'll exchange him. ( Was also missing the Golden Disks from my Ark...but that is a crisis for another time.)
Back to Megs. For $60, If Hasbro isn't going to include the gimmicks and accessories that made the original so great, It kind of feels like I'm buying the character incomplete. It shouldn't be unreasonable to get Leader-One, eight to ten 5mm Minicon port plugs to make the new play pattern retro to the old line, some launching missile effects for the turret launcher, and a clear energon blade accessory for Meg's left-hand port. IMO, this shouldn't be something collectors have to go searching for as expensive, obscure pack-ins or 3p add-ons.
This is all feedback...I'm not bitching. I want Hasbro to excel. I also WANT to love this new version of my favorite Megs, and so I DO.
I know there are finely-tuned budgets that Hasbro has to stay within, but it is the same for overly decadent collectors as well, and even more so for the single mother of three who somehow still found a way to put food on the table and make sure I had a Fort Max for Christmas. For my money, it's time to be as accountable to the consumer, Hasbro. Make it happen on what you have to work with, it can be done. T3h power is yours.
Ending on a positive note, here's my Megs upgrading himself with Construx-Armor before Armada Unicron's hunters detect his temporal anomaly and come looking for him. Who needs a Dark Saber, right?
*Edit: The turret launcher also needed to be 5mm so it would fit on Meg's hand port as well....but that's just icing on the cake at this point.