2005 Board member, Negonicus, has got his hands on one of the next upcoming voyager figures from the Age of Extinction line – Voyager Drift! This wave 3 voyager is a retool of Dark Of the Moon Skyhammer. Being Drift, he naturally comes with swords for slicing up gnarly Bumblebee clones like Stinger.
Check out the images in our Feedback forum after the jump!
Digilaut
Last one of my big haul, and the only one I've yet to get out of the package…and I already love him big time.
I think there can be made a divide between people who see the glass is half full or half empty…or: whether a 'simple' remold works or not. When it comes to this Drift, I'm TOTALLY a half full guy!
Of course it would have been cooler if Drift had been a triple changing toy, although that could've potentially be a mess seeing as it has to transform in an accurate Bugatti…but so far I really can't complain – very smart remold:
-Paintjob is really gorgeous.
-Headsculpt is very nice, so much character. Deluxe was ok, this one's aesome.
-Might be a bit too lanky, but I feel captures the movie character's shape a bit better (the deluxe was a bit too stubby).
-Of course, his chest is now a circle with rotors attached, but so many details on this figure go a long way of feeling 'right: some details on his legs are similar to the movie Drift's detailing on his arms – so not accurate but in the same style – and the cockpit shoulders' ' stairs' layout sort of resemble his samurai shoulder plating.
Seeing as I don't own DOTM Skyhammer or Botcon Sandstorm, I can't say much about the transformation – I may yet be disappointed when it turns out to be awful. But looks wise, he's a total winner for me.
Do see some people are having problems with the swords' handles, so I'll be sure to file those down!
edit: yup, transformed him a couple of times…this guy rocks!
Skyclaw
This figure still rocks even with the over sized sword hilts! Actually both deluxe and voyager mold are pretty good. Leaning more towards the Voyager mold
Slingshot
My left legs hinge won't work still. It can't go up all the way to plug in to the helicopter mode.
Sponge
I used 600 grit wet dry sandpaper for the rough, 800 for the finishing, 1200 for the polish (which was overkill on my part)
And I highly recommend cutting the sandpaper into 7.25mm, or .285 in strips about 6in or 15.3cm long, then securing the blade in a vice or under something heavy with the handle hanging off the edge of a table (make sure to wrap the blade in something to prevent scuffing or damage btw), then wrap the strip of sandpaper around the handle and holding both sides of the strip pull back and forth much the way one would polish a bowling ball.
I suggest the above method because it makes it much easier to keep the cylindrical shape of the handle post intact
Also note that it doesn't take very long so be careful not to overdo it by test fitting every few strokes
Hope this has been helpful, ill post an image to clarify how to sand the way I described later today
Skyclaw
Thanks for the tip about using the X-acto blade! I will try this method and I agree with you about his mold!
Rakuen_Nox
First time with the Skyhammer mould and I'm loving it and how well it suits Drift, even the split helicopter nose looks like his shoulder pauldrons!
Also found a way to store his swords on his back by simply pegging the sword into the back of his missile launchers! They hold on through friction and risk falling out if you're messing around with drift with them in, but they stay firmly in place if you're just posing him
Gepard
^The finer the grade the better. Something like 400 grit or above will avoid tearing up the plastic too badly, though it'll take quite a while to sand it down enough at very fine grades.
Myself, I used a fresh x-acto blade to shave mine down as I didn't want to try and sand something so small. It worked very well and retained a smooth appearance. The secret is to hold the blade at right angles to the plastic and very gently scrape.
Anyhow, I picked this guy up on a whim at Toys R Us and I really like him. I hadn't had any plans to get him, seeing as I already own the Skyhammer mold and haven't been too impressed with it, but he looks incredibly striking in dark blue and gold, and seems to be an all-around improvement. This mold just sings as a swordsman.
Skyclaw
What grit of paper would you suggest for this?
Skyclaw
I just picked up this guy over the weekend and I must say, I really like him! I had Skyhammer mold once before, but i had too many QC issues with and returned it and never looked back. I know this mold is a repaint for Drift, but I dont know if its the colors, the swords, or Drifts head, but this one is better I feel.
Also, ONLY on Drifts left hand has a tiny, tiny stress mark after placing his swords in his hands and the other doesn't have a stress mark, but I have heard that you can take a hair dryer and change the adjustment warm or hot and carefully apply it to the stressed mark area and it should either fade away or reduce in visibility.
Hopes this helps!!
Slingshot
The left leg on mine won't go all the way up for vehicle mode. I've tried multiple times but it's like the joints jammed or something.
Any suggestions on how to fix that?
Shin Densetsu
Thanks for the tips. I was pissed to see stress marks on the hands after putting the swords in. The hands are new, anyone try the swords on Skyhammer? Wonder if they're a better fit on Skyhammer.
Slingshot
We've got him down here in Cincy. No Slogs though
He's a really great figure. Too bad the guys a remold. Would've been nicer to have a new mold.
gbm
I love how this figure pegs together in alt mode. It's perfect.
Fallout
^yeah, him and slog are insanely common. meanwhile galvatron and hound seem to have never hit shelves.
Dachande
The holiday season will see these guys show up in droves. Heck, the one Walmart I frequent had four on the shelf for about a week or two.
SPLIT LIP
He's on Amazon for $17.
Skyclaw
Still looking for this guy! oh well
Sponge
So, the handles on the swords are definitely to large, 5.12mm to be exact, which is an unperceivable amount to be sure, but when the standard 5mm compatible port is usually around 4.75mm it can cause stress to the plastic when a post gets much thicker than 5.06mm.
So just lightly sand the swords handle and you will be fine. Maybe I should have just said that in the first, please let me know if I should forgo going into those kinds of details in the future.
Oh and he looks so much better when you paint the center of his rotor assembly gold, literally took me two minutes and a gold paint pen, a sharpie would work to because that area is recessed and impossible to smudge with your fingers.
Snake_eyes1975
Man…I really thought I remembered my Skyhammer having a spring that pushed the swashplate up…its has been awhile since I had that one though.
SPLIT LIP
Skyhammer has no spring. I can't see what a spring would do besides gum things up, anyway.
There is a specific orientation the rotor needs to be in before it can retract into the torso, though. Otherwise a small peg will stop it from sinking all the way in.