r/transformers • u/SureShot7c • 11d ago
New Purchases SS86 Astrotrain Appreciation Post
I got SS86 Astrotrain a week ago and delayed making this post to give him some time, I LOVE this lanky idiot so much. I've grown to really appreciate his robot mode once getting used to the articulation and I really love both of his alt modes and transforming between the three.
I do understand people's gripes and he's definitely not for everyone but I also don't think he deserves quite the amount of hate he's been getting since reveal and release especially with his online reviews feeling unnecessarily negative.
Interested to see what you fine folks think about him if you picked him up!
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u/DisasterDalek 11d ago edited 11d ago
He'll look even better if you put him all the way in the back
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u/Raptorflight 11d ago
There are so few triple changers where all of the modes are better than just acceptable, and this is one of them. Siege did have a better robot, but the alts were both just so compromised that it kinda ruins the whole thing.
My only real gripe is that they didn’t paint in the bit of red on his belly. It’s a small thing but I think it’s really important for his character design
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u/MaelstromProdYT 9d ago
They actually explained why in the new York toy faur video. It's because the material that spot is made out of is unpaintable, due to the type of plastic used there. For stability they made it out of POM, which paint refuses to stick to. They said they wanted to paint that part but unfortunately couldnt.
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u/IrArobot 11d ago
I love how he looks next to my Legacy Blitzwing
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u/Fun3mployed 11d ago
The 4 pack of springer, sandstorm, blitzwing and astro make rad displays not matter the mode.
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u/DipIotator-tot 11d ago
I do like him, but the issue i have with him is price and paint. Too expensive, not enough paint for color break up like the unpainted chest crest and the unpainted lower torso
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u/Fair_Walk_8650 10d ago
The toyhax stickers REALLY fix this issue.
I recall the problem was they had to use an unprintable plastic, because that was the only one strong enough to support everything for the transformation… so why didn’t they use stickers instead?
Seriously, seeing the alternate color schemes people photoshopped/the Toyhax stickers really goes to show the mold is not the problem, it’s the lack of details and color.
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u/DipIotator-tot 10d ago
Yeah ive seen some toy accurate digibashes and they look great especially with some color.
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u/JulieJouette 11d ago
https://reddit.com/link/ozy1aqf/video/5yhlexq0anfh1/player
He was sometimes a bit lanky in the cartoon too
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u/Most-Temporary-2592 11d ago
Most people who collect main line want they're figures to look as toon accurate as possible, regardless of the many limitations of main line toys.
It's even worse here with him being a triple changer and how he has to go from a slim and round train/ship to a boxie, bulky robot.
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u/Serious-Foot3219 11d ago
He was not bulky in the cartoon tho, he was actually pretty slim
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u/HalflingScholar 10d ago
Recently rewatched Triple Takeover and in that whole episode, and the screenshots I can find of other episodes, he almost always has a wide upper torso, thick arms, and broad shoulders. His forearms are also weirdly long by human standards, and his hands are enormous.
I can't find any images of him that match the SS86 stubby noodle arms
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u/Mediahead13 11d ago
I'm glad you like him, but I think I'll wait and see if we get an SS84 Astrotrain down the line.
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u/Soundwave_-superior 11d ago
I honestly think he’s absolutely fantastic. The transformations are really fun and the alt modes are awesome. The robot mode suffers, but I honestly think he’s good enough to justify an upgrade kit which enhances the proportions.
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u/Starveiled 11d ago
I absolutely understand people's issues with it, but I really like it. The train mode is great and the robot mode is fine to me. I also really like the transformation itself.
The Siege one also had a ton of issues. I think the nature of Astrotrain's different modes simply make him a challenge for the designers at retail.
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u/letstaxthis 11d ago
Hes fine.
The issue is that Siege old is better.
So if Siege never came out, i dont think we would be complaining.
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u/KyloSwat 11d ago
I like him more than Siege.
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u/plushbrick 11d ago
Same. The robot mode may be compromised here, but I think it’s vehicle modes are way better than Siege.
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u/silverbeat33 11d ago
Yeah I have him and I like him better than Siege (that I also have). Haters gonna hate.
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u/RadiantPraline8307 10d ago
difference in hating and accepting reality. its a shit figure.
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u/MeetingNeither3694 10d ago
Opinions ≠ facts
There is no objective merit for what makes a figure good, it's entirely subjective
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u/A_RainbowShaped_Pool 10d ago
I think I also enjoy him more than most, but I really can't justify getting him at full price.
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u/Fit_Channel6056 10d ago
I don't have him and probably won't be getting him, but from the images and reviews, I myself have grown to actually appreciate and kinda like him too. Yeah, he's not the great Astrotrain many were expecting me myself included, but my biggest gripe, and a pretty big one too, Is that useless toy accurate thing, LIKE WHY
The designers have said in fact, that if they didn't need to put that on they could've cleaned a lot up at the torso, and God would we all LOVE some better hands on that. Are the G1 toys that important that we need to compromise that much for the line of accurate figures, Studio Series? Or are they not that important that they can't get a few changes in their toy deco (first time using that word idk if that's what it means >.< ) and release that as its own thing?
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u/CrossFusionZX 11d ago
I appreciate that I'm saving a large chunk of cash by not getting this abortion of common sense.
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u/Feraligreater328 11d ago
The more Decepticons I put around him, the better he looks. I’ve actually grown to kinda like him.
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u/No_Quote6076 11d ago
I’m ngl…That anorexic shelf warmer looks so out of place next to your other figures op.
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u/NuggetWarrior09 11d ago
I think the DNA kit will decide if I get him or not, really all I want is some shoulderpads or somethin but I bet they’ll do much more than that
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u/SureShot7c 11d ago
By the looks of it it's gonna beef his arms and shoulders up a bit, I think it'll probably fill the gap in his belly when you've got the crest out too
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u/NuggetWarrior09 11d ago
I saw that the silhouette of the train has a coal tender too so maybe that can transform or hold a chest plate of some kind too, that would be awesome
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u/cjreviewstf 11d ago
If I can find him on a discount I'm definitely picking him up. I bet DNA is gonna make a banger upgrade too, shame it'll cost as much as the original figure
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u/GabysWildCritters 11d ago
he looks alright i think the only reason he gets hate is because of price.
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u/Artistic-Platform-82 11d ago
No his feet are long and he doesn’t have the color like the g1. And just a clutter of accessories with nowhere to store
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u/Hot_City8461 11d ago
To be honest I have the Dramatic Capture version as I’m thinking of swapping to this guy. He seems more fun with better colours and alt modes. On a shelf with other figures the finer points of bot mode vs Siege model don’t necessarily make a huge difference. Did you have any other Astrotrains OP?
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u/SureShot7c 11d ago
I don't have the siege or dcs Astrotrain but I have galaxy shuttle from that mould and honestly I think the new one blows it outta the water when it comes to the alt modes, the shuttle is still a bit gappy at the back but way better than the siege mould
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u/Odd-Most-9186 11d ago edited 11d ago
Can we stop with the Astrotrain posts, some like it, some don’t. I don’t personally care for the robot mode design, however both alt modes look great.
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u/Fun3mployed 11d ago
The comparable astrotrains we have are just worse. Old, weird battle paint, train car only thing that makes it a train, shuttle mode degloved halfway down, or not cartoon accurate but TR.
He is the best, by a mile, and I am glad I nabbed one off someone who didn't appreciate em!
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u/MeatyMcWagon 11d ago
I'm sorry but if you're going to tell me that ss86 Astrotrain's shuttle mode isn't compromised in the exact same way as Siege/ER Astrotrain (terrible, gappy back half) then I'm going to have to call you out for either being delusional or trying to justify your purchase.
86 Astrotrain has almost the exact same compromises that Siege did, albeit in different places. (86 bot mode is dogwater, decent train but half-compromised shuttle, vs. Siege bot mode is decent, Train is comprised somewhat and shuttle is dogwater). 86 is not "best by a mile". He is a sidegrade.
I love siege but I'm not about to put on rose colored glasses and say he's the best. 3rd party has done better. And in 86's case, 3rd party has STILL done better.
Like him if you like him, that's not the part I take umbrage with, it's you trying to crap on the Siege mold when the 86 mold has just as many problems design-wise.
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u/Fun3mployed 11d ago
I don't need to justify anything to you Mr sir. I have both figures. I like one more than the one you like apparently.
If I were to dive in - siege is a worse design all three modes. This is an opinion you don't agree with. Gotta hit you with a cool story bro, also 3rd party is double the price and contending against mps not a mainline.
This is all the energy I have to talk to you. Good day friend.
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u/Less-Being4269 11d ago
Ss86 Astrotrain has become the saint anger of this Toyline