General Information Official images and text below in italics are from Target.com: Build the Battlefield Beyond -- The siege is over, but the War for Cybertron has just begun. The Autobots and Decepticons have left Cybertron, but their battle rages on as they speed through space in pursuit of the Allspark. Now, fighters must instantly adapt to battle anywhere in the cosmos. With the highly advanced A.I.R. (Adaptable Interconnection Retrofitter) Locks system, the fighters don’t head to the battlefield -- they become it. Bots capable of converting into Modular Battle Stations can A.I.R.-Lock together in custom configurations to fit the needs of battle. Earthrise collectible figures allows fans to build out epic space battle scenes, featuring figures that can convert into Modular Battle Station modes and connect together to expand the battlefield (each sold separately, subject to availability). Decepticon Seekers, Skywarp and Thundercracker, convert into classic G1 jet modes in 30 steps and come with 4 weapon accessories. Fans can add to their Seeker army collections! Transformers and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro.
After the release of Starscream in the first wave of Earthrise figures, it was expected that Hasbro would also be releasing his fellow G1 Seekers, Skywarp and Thundercracker. Fans would eventually get their wish, but instead of being a mass release this pair was released in Summer 2020 as a Target exclusive two pack. As of the writing of this review, the set has been somewhat difficult to order online as it goes into stock and sells out quickly. Some fans have had luck in stores, but for the most part they are elusive right now. If history is any indication, they will pop up briefly en masse (possibly on clearance) before disappearing for good. These two figures are redecos of the Earthrise Starscream figure. This review will focus on the new decos for this sculpt. Check out Starscreams' review for a more detailed look at the sculpt. Packaging: The back of the box shows the Seekers in both of their modes. The transformation is listed as having 30 steps. There are no cosells but these figures came out at the same time as the Decepticon Clones in a two-pack (repackaging and repainting the previously released Legends Class figures). Accessories: The blasters are cast in the appropriate colors for each Seeker meaning purple for Skywarp and blue for Thundercracker. Each features a 5mm peg towards the top that allows you to attach it to any 5mm port. The tip of each weapon can accommodate Blast Effects that are packaged with some Siege and Earthrise figures. There are no actual Blast Effects packaged with this set. SkywarpRobot Mode: Skywarp is mostly made up of black and purple plastic. The purple has a nice, metallic shine to it and it blends nicely with the black. Most of the torso and waist plate are painted silver with a bit of gunmetal used on the turbines in his chest (or it could be a different application of the silver, it's darker for sure). Silver is also found on his feet. A bit of purple is used for the thrusters on his lower legs. The wings show purple and white stripes on them, a feature borrowed from his G1 animated counterpart. He looks great from a deco perspective. For the most part, Skywarp's joints are just as tight as those on my copy of Starscream. His weapons also attach and hold in place without an issue and Blast Effects attach and hold in place. Transformation to Vehicle Mode: (Instructions apply to both figures)
Note: On both Skywarp and Thundercracker fans may experience issues where the wings pop off during transformation. Some fans have suggested filing parts down to fix it. On both my Skywarp and Thundercracker, a wing can easily come off during transform, but they snap back on easily. My Thundercracker's left wing comes off very easily, but Skywarp is generally okay unless you pull on the wings. Your mileage may vary, just be aware this may be an issue. Vehicle
Mode: Robot Mode: This figure uses the G1 cartoon as its color referenc.e The blue on the figure is lighter than the blue used on the G1 Thundercracker toy, lining up with the animation model. There is liberal use of silver paint from the pylons that flank the head to the chest and even on the feet. Gunmetal grey is used on the chest turbines and the knees. Black paint is used for the thrusters on his lower legs. The wings feature red and white lines as well as purple Decepticon symbols. The deco is good, but there is nothing particularly outstanding about it. Vehicle Mode: There are no mold changes to this mode, but keep in mind what I said above about the wings having potential to come off. Interestingly, Thundercracker (and Skywarp) both avoided having the "waist panel" issue that affected Starscream. Go figure. Finally, his joints are just as tight as my copy of Starscream, so no worries there. Final
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