Dave's Transformers Artifact Mini-Rant: Jada NanoMetalFigs

Transformers NanoMetalFigs series 3-ish

Permalink: http://www.eyrie.org/~dvandom/BW/Artifacts/Jada4

http://www.eyrie.org/~dvandom/BW/Artifacts/Jada1 - Series 1
http://www.eyrie.org/~dvandom/BW/Artifacts/Jada3 - Series 2

This is mostly repacks, with only a few new molds and a couple of
redecos. So this will be a shorter review.

CAPSULE

$20 list price, I got it for $15.

TF NanoMetalFigs Series 3: If you have the first two sets, you're
basically paying for a lot of duplicates. Most of the new molds are pretty
bad, too. Pass unless you're a completionist.

RANT

Packaging: Same as previous waves, and the back of the box uses the same
stuff as Series 2, other than the actual picture of the contents (same
stand-up scenery, same figures-using-scenery pics). The "exclusives" are
Electrum-deco Optimus Prime and Soundwave (both series 1 molds).

I will say that some of the straight repacks could be used as bases for
redecos (e.g. Bumblebee into one of the various Bumblebee redecos, or any of
the extras into Electrum mode).

I'll just go from upper right to lower left with brief comments, not
gonna put as much effort into this as I did the other sets.

Optimus Prime: Series 2 axe version.

Bumblebee: Series 1 arms-akimbo version.

Alpha Trion: New mold, I couldn't get it out of the blister without
cutting, it must've heat-shrunk around the head. The packaging was actually
on so tightly that it damaged the paint on the head! The mold is okay, but
suffers from the face being gooped up with thick white paint. Might be worth
some time in acetone followed by repainting.

Megatron: Series 1 version.

Bitstream: Flying Seeker (Skywarp) mold in mostly metallic blue with a
few bits of silver. This is the blue seeker from MtMtE who was seen to the
left of flamethrower-wielding purple guy (Hotlink).

Galvatron: Second new mold. Not bad if you remove the millimeter thick
layer of purple paint and try again from scratch, but looks pretty horrible
with factory paint.

Optimus Primal: Series 2 version.

Rhinox: Series 2 version.

Airazor: Third new mold. Decent pose and proportions, base layer is
gold with very dark gray on the upper body, wings, forearms, and shins. Face
painted with some details very badly, as usual for the line. She's taller
than Galvatron.

Tigatron: Fourth new mold, surprisingly not a Cheetor redeco. Another I
had to cut out of the blister. Base color is white, turquoise shoulders,
face, collar, briefs, and shins. Tiger stripe patterns on the beast head
chest are decently done, at least. Taller than Airazor, although that could
be entirely due to the difference in poses.

Arcee: Series 1 version.

Ultra Magnus: Series 1 version.

Waspinator: Fifth new mold, not too bad although the metallic green
paint they used didn't really stick at the edges and corners, so he looks
like he has silver lines all over him.

Prowl: Series 1 version.

Starscream: Series 1 version, complete with the backside being almost
all silver.

Soundwave: Series 1 version, which makes no sense considering that this
mold is also included as an Electrum. I mean, there's not much to do with
the extra if you have the previous two sets as well, since Series 2 has
Soundblaster. I suppose you could do Shattered Glass Soundwave.

Optimus Prime: Series 1 rifle version entirely painted gold except for
black outline Autobot symbols on the shoulders. Another cut-it-free one.

Soundwave: Series 1 version, now in Electrum with a violet Decepticon
symbol on the chest.

So, of the 18 figures in the set, 10 are straight up reissues, three are
redecos, five are new. Not a great ratio unless you really wanted dupes for
crafting purposes.

Dave Van Domelen, already has a series 2 Wheeljack with all the paint
stripped, might hit that with a gold leaf marker now.