Dark of the Moon Deluxe Sideswipe Review

[GoktimusPrime]

Toy Review: Dark of the Moon Sideswipe

Links to pics:
Vehicle mode (http://www.seibertron.com/images/toys/uploads/1299333892_Snapshot%202011-03-05%2021-57-43.jpg)
Robot mode (http://www.seibertron.com/images/toys/uploads/1299333892_Snapshot%202011-03-05%2021-57-16.jpg)

Series - Dark of the Moon
Sub-line - ?
Size - Deluxe
New/remould/redeco - New
Wave - ?
Released here - ?
Approximate Retail Price - $30
Approximate Size - 'bout the same size as ROTF Sideswipe
Allegiance - Autobot
Alt-mode - Corvette Stingray convertible
Main Features/Gimmicks - Mech Tech
Main Colours - grey with black and silver highlights. Clear transparent headlights, red tail lights. Robot mode has cobalt blue accents (same colour as mech tech weapon)
Main Accessories - Looks like a 6-barrelled pump-action shottie with flip out blade (push on the rifle stock to flip out sword)

cbb typing a proper review - so just brief comments here.

* Colours aren't as nice as ROTF Deluxe Sideswipe. The toy mostly uses a plastic that's like a "silver" grey (i.e. it's really grey that that's trying to pass off as silver). Not as bad as Hasbro grey, but I can see how this might bug some people. It doesn't personally bother me, but I can forsee a lot of collectors repainting this toy silver themselves.

* Upper door panels on mine doesn't sit flush.

* Toy has an open roof and there are two reasonably detailed seats inside. Looks like a Diaclone pilot could sit there... I'll have to test this out when I get back to Australia.

* Whereas Skids had two MechTech ports on the roof, Sideswipe has three - one on top of the boot (in front of the spoiler) and one on either side of the car - allowing you to mount his Mech Tech Weapon either on top or on the side.

* The MechTech weapon is a big gun with a flip out blade. The blade has characters from the language of the Primes written on it which says, "Peerless Under Heaven" -- the same as the Japanese writing inscribed on Drift's sword. Okay, I made that up... I have no idea what the writing says. It could say "Chick-Chick-Boom" or "Property of Sunstreaker"... who knows. :p :p

* The transformation is fiddly as one might imagine for moofie Sideswipe - though not quite as fiddly nor satisfying as ROTF Sideswipe. The engineering in this toy isn't as complex as ROTF Sideswipe as some engineering may have scaled back to cater for the MechTech gimmick - but it's not bad either. There are some clever elements to it and the toy does offer some articulation which ROTF Sideswipe doesn't have.

* DOTM Sideswipe's arm blades consist of only a single panel which flips over, whereas ROTF Sideswipe's arm blades have two panels which both flip over and combine to form the blades. It still works well, but not quite as cool as ROTF Sideswipe's blades.

Overall ROTF Sideswipe is the better toy, but DOTM Sideswipe is still a reasonably decen figure in its own right. The engineering is relatively simpler, but not inelegant.

Recommended if you can get it cheap. Not sure if I'd pay full price for this toy.

[SkyWarp91]

Wait isn't this meant to be in the reviews section?

[GoktimusPrime]

All the DOTM reviews appear to be posted here insted of the reviews section. I'm assuming this is to prevent revealing any potential spoilers to people who are trying to avoid them -- whereas it's more at your own risk when coming into this movie news section.

I'm assuming that the DOTM review threads might be moved to the review section once the toys are officially out on Aussie shelves or when the movie hits cinemas. <shrug>

[SkyWarp91]

Ah k, fair enough. Well I'm definitely going to pick up this figure as it has appeared on screen in DOTM (I'm primarily a movie-verse collector), probably will paint it silver too. If it shelfwarms I'll buy two more and paint them red and yellow lol

[dirge]

I've moved this to the review section (with a redirect).

[GoktimusPrime]

Coolies. :) I'll post any future DOTM review threads here (that's if I get any more DOTM toys in the near future... not sure if I will)

In the mean time, perhaps the DOTM Skids review thread (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=10581) can be moved to Ratbat's Reviews section too?

Cheers. :)


If it shelfwarms I'll buy two more and paint them red and yellow lol

Hehe, nice. ;) If they get discounted low enough you could buy a few more and repaint them:
+ black (for movieverse Deepcover)
+ white and black and tack on a police siren strobe (for movieverse Clampdown)

I'm assuming the yellow one will be Tigertrack... maybe you could call the red one "Lambor" (Sideswipe's G1 Japanese name) -- despite not being a Lamborghini... but would be more meaningful than calling him "Corv." :p

[GoktimusPrime]

Okay, after more fiddling around I finally got the door panels and windows to sit flush. It's tricky - everything needs to be aligned properly; my problem was that I didn't have the legs tucked in far enough, which you wouldn't think would effect the doors since they're attached to the arms. But yeah, it's one of those kinds of Transformers where everything needs to be transformed exactly in order for all the panels in the vehicle mode to sit right. So it's achievable, but you may need to fiddle to get it just right.

Here's I took of it just after I managed to get it right (or at least more correct than I had before)...

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/dotm_sideswipe_car.jpg

And here's a pic I took which demonstrates Sideswipe's lightpiping. His eyes use blue transparent plastic, and not clear transparent plastic painted blue -- so it works really nicely. :)

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/dotm_sideswipe_lightpipe.jpg

Btw, I let this kid play with Sideswipe today and I don't know what he did, but the blade on the Mech Tech weapon wouldn't flip back in all the way. It was stuck half way. I had to yank on the trigger really hard a lot of times before it realigned itself correctly. And now I gotta be gentle with it or the same problem happens again. I think what happened was that he just played with the gimmick as any kid would - repeatedly pressed the trigger hard, then it got stuck.

I see this as a significant flaw in a toy's gimmick that's designed for children. Surely Hasbro needs to ensure that the Mech Tech gimmick can stand up to standard rigorous toy play. He wasn't abusing it or anything (I was near enough that I would've noticed if he were bashing the toy). So that's a downside. :(

[Paulbot]

I'm assuming the yellow one will be Tigertrack...
I'm assuming you are the only person on this board that would think a yellow one would be Tigertrack rather than Sunstreaker. :p

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

"Property of Sunstreaker
LOL

I dunno if I am excieted about figurea that are almost exactly the same as ones I already have. The grey plastic looks drab too.

[GoktimusPrime]

It's an entirely different toy from ROTF Deluxe Sideswipe - not a retool. But it is the same character. That's why I decided to buy it here for cheap... other original DOTM characters like Top Spin etc. I'll get when they come out locally, that way I'm getting them MOSC and I get to keep the backing cards and paperwork.

The place where I got Sideswipe from has a DOTM Jolt too which I'd like to get cheap cos that's also a character I'd rather not pay full price for, especially if his appearance in DOTM is as underwhelmingly unspectactular as in ROTF. But the guy wants to sell it for about $25, which is of course how much I'd pay in AU MOSC. I keep trying to haggle the price down but he won't budge. I'll keep trying and see if I can wear him down... but if he refuses then screw it, I might as well pay about the same price back home for a MOSC one!

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

It's an entirely different toy from ROTF Deluxe Sideswipe - not a retool. But it is the same character. That's why I decided to buy it here for cheap

Yeh, but I don't feel the love for this Sideswipe as much as say Optimus. As far as I am concerned with DOTM, I would like to see new characters. I reliase that most of the DOTM mould are new, but a lot of them looks the same as ROTF. Making them an easy pass for me. MY wallet is releaved though.

[GoktimusPrime]

That'd be because Prime did more whereas Sideswipe was a one-trick pony.

"Remember me? I killed Sideways!"
"Uh-huh... did you do anything else memorable?"
"Uuhhmmm... Look, a purple distraction!"

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/Transfan%20Meets/Sydney%20Meet%20November%202008/sydmeet_2008_11_16d_small.jpg

[gekisou]

Could you post an image of the words you described? I'm curious to what they say...

[GoktimusPrime]

Extensive image gallery here (http://tformers.com/article.php?sid=15324).

[griffin]

Deluxe Sideswipe
Series - Dark of the Moon
Sub-line - Mechtech
Size/class - Deluxe
New/remould/redeco - New
Wave - 2
Released here - May 2011
Approximate Retail Price - $24-30
Approximate Size - 14cm
Allegiance - Autobot
Alt-mode - Corvette Stingray convertable
Main Features/Gimmicks - Convertible Mechtech weapon
Main Colours - Grey, black
Main Accessories - Mechtech weapon


http://www.toycollectors.com.au/tftoys/mt15.jpg

(The cutting back of paint aps looks the worse on this figure - it just looks so plain and boring in both modes)

[kaiden]

+great robot mode
+good mechtech weapon

-horrible plastic colour and they still use the shiny painted pictures on the packaging
-alt mode looks off with the 'convertible' area
-mechtech weapon is redundant since sideswipe already has two blades.

i gave his mechtech weapon to skyhammer - imo its much better suited.

[Decepticon]

Looks cheap as in car mode. Horrid colour and being a convertible, it shows it has no floor. I rate this as the worst deluxe ever

[GoktimusPrime]

Can this thread be merged with the already existing DotM Deluxe Sideswipe review thread (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=10588)?

Thankyewverymuch. :)

[Golden Phoenix]

Merged thread.

[i_amtrunks]

The toy itself is fairly good, easy to transform, fits back into alt mode easily enough, the shape of the car mode is quite nice, I mainly got the figure as my missus really liked the convertible car mode.

Blades are not as fun this time around, as mentioned by others, the colour is terrible, it is flat and one toned in a grey that if you painted a room that colour would make the inhabitant manic depressive in about 3 days.
The car mode has no floor, and the weapon is not only redundant as it is another blade, but like all emchtech weapons looks terrible when the weapon is not fully deployed. Why couldnt they have some method of keeping the weapon fully deployed at all times?

Only worth getting if you are a Sideswipe lover, someone who cna paint him in a nice metallic paint (if it will stick) or can get him reasonably cheap, he is not worth the $25-$35 he is being sold for in most stores.

[GoktimusPrime]

it is flat and one toned in a grey that if you painted a room that colour would make the inhabitant manic depressive in about 3 days.
lol :)


Why couldnt they have some method of keeping the weapon fully deployed at all times?
Boxed Mech Tech TFs can keep their weapons deployed (they have a lock mechanism - though I haven't worked it out for Skyhammer yet ;)) -- but yeah, the Deluxes can't lock out, which is stupidly annoying. It's especially annoying when the mechtech weapon is a melee weapon, because you can't have one hand deploying the melee weapon and play with the figure to make it fight at the same time... not properly anyway. It becomes downright impossible when you're controlling a second figure for it to fight. So for example, it's jolly hard to make Sideswipe deploy his blade and make him duel with a Decepticon toy at the same time.

Just as well he already has blades. I actually prefer Sideswipe's mechtech weapon in its undeployed mode as a gun, since it actually serves a purpose as a range weapon. The dude already has two blades - doesn't really need a 3rd. I use it as a "surprise" weapon, like one time I had Sideswipe fighting RtS Lugnut and Luggie had trapped both of Sideswipe's blades, and it would've been too close for Sideswipe to launch his explosive rounds at Luggie without copping damage to himself, so Sideswipe just flicked his blade and slashed Lugnut by surprise. This only made Lugnut mad. ;)

But it's more aggravating with toys like Roadbuster who doesn't already have a melee weapon... Thundercracker has a blade... but come on, what's the fun of having a chainsaw if ya can't use it!! (I really wanna make 'em go all "Armies of Darkness" on each other. ;))


Only worth getting if you are a Sideswipe lover, someone who cna paint him in a nice metallic paint (if it will stick) or can get him reasonably cheap, he is not worth the $25-$35 he is being sold for in most stores.
Agreed. If you can find him now at Kmart for $22 then it might be okay, but definitely don't pay full retail for it. I paid $19 for mine, which I think is okay... mind you, it was loose. So $22 for one MOSC is good IMO.

Btw, where's the Autobot insignia on this toy? Mine hasn't got one cos... ya know... it's a "Premmie." :p <cough>

[Fonecrusher]

I think the mold looks great, better than the ROTF or Sidearm ones, but yeah that Hasbro gray plastic is just a killer for me. I've seen some people do some amazing custom paint jobs, but since I lack the skill, I'll wait for a redeco or retool.

[STL]

+great robot
+good mechtech weapon

-horrible plastic colour and they still use the shiny painted pictures on the packaging
-alt mode looks off with the 'convertible' area
-mechtech weapon is redundant since sideswipe already has two blades.

i gave his mechtech weapon to skyhammer - imo its much better suited.

I had the same rationale too. And it does look much nicer on Skyhammer. I want two now so that in copter mode, he's got matching massive cannons and matching Sideswipe blasters.

And agree w/ all above comments. Great robot mode. It's just the colours make this so off. If this was silver, I can see a lot more people behind this figure. The headsculpt and the design is great.

[GoktimusPrime]

I think the mold looks great, better than the ROTF or Sidearm ones, but yeah that Hasbro gray plastic is just a killer for me. I've seen some people do some amazing custom paint jobs, but since I lack the skill, I'll wait for a redeco or retool.

IMO RotF Sideswipe is definitely a better toy over this one.

[LordCyrusOmega]

Picked him up cheap along with Scanning Sideswipe.
Nice mold and simple enough transformation. Think they pulled off the roofless car nicely. Mech Tech weapon is also really nice.
This has the worst colours of movie Sideswipes to date. He just looks so drab next to the rest of them.

[SkyWarp91]

just opened the figure recently and started playing with it. This new mold is amazing but the colours and feel of the plastic is sooooo cheap. I also managed to paint the car-mode using Humbrol's Chrome Silver Enamel paint (which is NOT real TF Chrome). Be careful though, the paint still scratches off even with a good layer of Hardcoat.

[SkyWarp91]

Here's my noobish paintjob, even though it sucks it's still 1,000,000x better than original paintjob imo

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff245/gc_xiahou_nguyen/P1030416.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff245/gc_xiahou_nguyen/P1030425.jpg

[snaketales]

I finally opened mine this week (I can be a procrastinator :rolleyes:) and I like it.

I bought it mainly for the convertible car mode. As far as I know it's the only one of its type. Yes he has no floor but you can't really see it unless you're looking straight down on it

I would have preferred it to have a more shinier paint app but to be honest I don't mind the grey.

I'm not a big fan of the grey tabs that poke out the back of the car. But I do like he has a steering wheel, which I discovered while playing with it in robot mode ("what's this thing sticking out? ooooooo a steering wheel!")

Unlike ROTF Sideswipe/Swerve this is hella easy to transform. I was even able to do it without the instructions while watching TV last night, which for me with a movie toy is an accomplishment. I had no trouble with making panels click together.

The mechtech weapon is a bit superfluous - even my kids asked why a car would need a sword - but it doesn't hurt to have it.

One gripe is that the screw holding his head together doesn't seem to attach properly. First time I transformed him his head broke into two. Unlike my experience with Swerve I was able to put his head back on.

[griffin]

Well this toy sucked on so many levels... it's almost the poster boy for everything that went bad with the DotM line.
It's a smaller figure.
It's virtually unpainted.
The grey colour they used for the plastic makes it look like a cheap knockoff.
The texture/density of the plastic makes it feel like a cheap knockoff.
The sword is not painted that lovely blue colour shown on the packaging.
Making it a convertible exposes how much empty space & gaps the body of the toy has, making it look even cheaper. If they rely on roof panels to hide parts on regular car TFs, then maybe they should have given this one a floor panel to make it more solid looking.
Eh, scratch that idea, as this one has big enough panels sitting on its back already.
And most annoyingly, some of the side panels of the car mode don't interlock cleanly enough, which is going to be worse as play bends & distorts the plastic over time.

Okay, the good points...
Uh, it was in the movie.

Despite this one being a little easier to convert, just on its colour alone, I recommend the (metallic looking) TF2 version over this one. Easily.