Hasbro Transformers designer Mark Maher is back at it tonight on his Instagram giving us a behind the scenes look at the development of a new Transformers figure – this time he’s putting the spotlight on Legacy Evolution Leader TFP Skyquake!
“Leader Legacy Evolution Skyquake is ready to take over the seeker skies and put the smackdown on some autobrats!
.
The second image features an outline done by the great @marcelomatere when the prime redesigns were decided upon before we started Legacy. Since there was mixed feedback on Arcee and Bulkhead I decided to take a swing. My linework is featured underneath Marcelo’s , then my colored concept is featured on the next slide. Then the amazing Hisashi Yuki san from Takara Tomy had a great sketch with some renditions and suggestions. I reformatted my design and along the design development journey we both went.
You can see all the iterations of his head sculpt throughout the process.
.
The transformation sequence is complex but strong, Yuki sans transformations are always amazing and I often stare in wonderment when he figures them out. The articulation packed into this beast is just wild. You just get a great experience of all kinds of abilities and poses.
.
IMPORTANT: this sample does not have the final colors, I will try and update yall with the final deets. But I can assure you this guy has some sweet candy metallic paint applications that do wonderous things in good lighting.
.
He does have head light piping and the engines on his feet along with his gatling blaster are blast effect compatible. The cockpit and sculpt details all over this dude command a decepticons 🫡 respect.
.
Please do yourself a favor and rewatch how amazing his brief appearance in the Prime series is, you will not regret it! 😃”
Vector Oracle
I want a G1 Skyquake full-stop. I appreciate Prime characters getting their time to shine, but I have no attachment to that universe’s versions of Skyquake and Dreadwing. We need more European G1 TFs (Selects Rotorstorm was a nice start, but I want more).
IgnikaMarcus
It actually loosens up and becomes easier the more you do it. As of now, Dreadwing requires more force than Skyquake.
johnny48
Then you probably transform him correctly. The design flaw makes it weirdly hard to do but it isn’t impossible. It stems from the cockpit needing to be pushed down really far but the shitty instructions don’t mention this.
IgnikaMarcus
Is there? I own both and don't have any problem with Skyquake.
johnny48
No, and it’s unlikely any will.
There’s a design flaw that makes it hard to fully compress Skyquake’s wings. Dreadwing fixes it by improving tolerances and widening some important cavities.
IgnikaMarcus
What's there to correct?
jamarmiller
that’s exactly what I want to do with him too if they do him
Obnimaz
Do any versions of skyquake have the corrected landing gear yet?
TF Hot Rod
That but everything about this figure hints it. It screams we are going to do a G1 Skyquake repaint. Because if they weren’t the chest would likely be the jet cockpit like the show, not like the G1 toy.
No way we don’t get it.
WereDragon EX
I guess the first hint towards a retool into G1 Skyquake is the docking feature with Needlenose. It doesn't make sense for a G1 character figure to have that interactivity with a Prime character figure, barring whatever cross-dimensional shenanigans Legacy's "story" wants to do.
Drat. I hope it's not an exclusive, but you might have a point, given the relative obscurity of the character. I want a G1 Skyquake to repurpose as Scrash, lol.
maloney4playz
it's definitely likely to happen though probably as an exclusive, maybe an SDCC one?
TF Hot Rod
95% we get it. No way we don’t.
WereDragon EX
What are the odds of us getting G1 Skyquake out of this figure? If the odds are slim, then might as well get this figure and repurpose it as G1 Skyquake/Scrash before it goes out of production and commands higher prices on the aftermarket.
TFXProtector
I'll just copy and paste my thoughts, here.
So, mine came in from CMDStore and finally, a Leader that feels like one. Megatron wasn't bad, but he wasn't Skyquake or Galvatron. (Close, though.)
My biggest flaws with the figure are as follows:
1.) The instructions suck. (You miss entire connection points because of this.)
2.) His shoulders do not lock in place. (They're meant to be butterfly joints, but man…)
3.)The torso doesn't want to stay together. (You have to mistransform him, slightly, to make sure everything *is* secured. Trust me, it's usually not.)
Pros:
-Tall mofo. Towers over ER Prime. TOWERS.
-Thick, dense plastic. Feels GREAT!
-Paint apps are nice and even and crisp.
-Articulation is *chef's kiss*.
-Weapon storage and usage, A+.
Final thoughts:
This is a lovely update to Skyquake, but you can absolutely tell this is a pretool to get him sold and that the G1 use of this mold (inevitable) is the main thing. It's like he's Prime from the neck up and G1 from the neck down but somehow they made it work. I can't wait to see what he'll look like on my Prime/PRID shelf. Oh, yeah. (And the Dreadwing repaint will be purchased, too. As much as I have a fondness for the original mold, it's horribly flawed due to the rubber issues and broken backpacks, etc.)
He's honestly a pretty nice figure. The integration with Needlenose is just icing on the cake. Buttercream, even. Homemade!
I definitely recommend him. (Sorry Ben Yee)
He gets a from me.
Slender102
View attachment 29839162
Looks like Leader Skyquake is out in Hong Kong.
Thundershot
I’m more greedy than that. I want all 12 MW characters in modern toys. We have the molds for half of them.
Rodimus Prime
Waiting for the Dreadwing Repaint from Wave 4.
MAJINSTARSCREAM
God, if you do exist, please grant me a MW Starscream deco repaint
Ditko
I prefer the first version because I love Bulkhead and like the idea of more G1. It would be neat with The Seekers. That said I'm impressed as is with him and pre-ordered.