Review: Botcon 2011 Transformers Shattered Glass Thundercracker
[This is a Botcon 2011 review]
Anyone remember the Action Masters? As a child, I was a hardcore Transformers fan… that is until Micromasters came out. I was getting a little older, and I kept up with it but didn’t think they were as cool as the original stuff. I understood that brands change, but it had changed drastically. It wasn’t until the Action Master line hit the shelves that I threw my hands up and said… TMNT looks pretty cool. It was a toy line full of Transformers that didn’t transform. Sure they were loaded with weapons that Transformed… but no matter how much I wrapped my head around it; I couldn’t accept Bumblebee being the same size as Devastator. Shattered Glass Thundercracker uses the same color scheme as his Action Master counterpart, and Funpub repainted Classics Starscream to fit the bill for the Botcon 2011 packaged with Shattered Glass Galvatron. Here is a review of Shattered Glass Thundercracker.
Shattered Glass Thundercracker
Alt Mode: Thundercracker is polluted with offensive colors, but that’s exactly the point. This is one of those situations where the robot mode was the focus of the paint deco, and the alt mode suffers for it. Sure it maintains the integrity of being downright weird… I don’t think the clashing colors are cohesive. It’s weird logic, but it makes sense to me. The only traces of paint on this mode is the green splotches next to the cockpit; and these are definitely messy on my toy. Otherwise it’s the same toy.
Robot Mode: The color scheme matches the original figure pretty perfectly… except I could have sworn that the purple should have been more bluish. I’m sure people will agree with me, that this color scheme really makes the figure look and feel like a poor “Chinatown Knock Off” [Seth Buzzard]. It doesn’t help that the paint apps are done pretty poorly in this mode either. I will give props to Shattered Glass Thundercracker for having tight sockets for his guns; unlike Henkei Thundercracker. The right fist on mine is incredibly loose, and I’m wondering if it’s just suffering from mold degradation.
Overall: I’m not going to lie… as great as the Classics Starscream mold is… it’s just not as good as it used to be. It was great for its time, but it’s just getting old. Maybe it’s because the mold is short, or that it was repainted a billion times… I don’t know what it is; but I’m tired of it. That being said, I don’t know what the draw of it is. Perhaps I like the fact that it’s kitschy… or perhaps I like the fact that it’s an homage. Either way, not everyone will like it. While I’m glad it wasn’t the Botcon 2010 Attendee freebie… I’m definitely not glad that I had to pay some major bucks to get it along with another toy that I don’t want. This toy definitely has its followers… and if you’re not one of them, consider yourself in the clear.
Buy It: 
BigBadToyStore
Hey buddy, loving the pics as always – though I reckon you’re right about the purple being different on the original. To be honest, he kinda looks worse in general than the original, but that’s not the point – they made it and, for that, I am thankful : )
On the flipside, if your not keen on him and want to sell, I’d more than happily pick him up off you. Much better to buy him from an actual fan than a dirty scalper.
On that subject, have you been on ebay lately? There’s a guy/girl who’s selling ridiculous amounts of each set – and the weirdly synched manner in which the bids on each occur says to me that they’re bidding on their own items. Wanker.
Haha, I do have one on sale on ebay, but not the fleets of them that you’re talking about. I actually think it’s a guy from the UK that’s doing that… People have been using my pictures for their auctions. If you look on the shop button on top and roll your mouse over it, a link to my ebay sales would show up. If you’re interested, maybe we can work something out.
Ah balls, I’m out with my other half this evening when that auction ends! Well, if the winner of that auction fails to come through – let me know!!
Nice pics of Brakedown BTW – I’m still undecided on whether to get just him and MM or a whole loose set. How are the other three in person?
Yah the winner of the auction couldn’t pay for it, if you’re still interested. I think the Stunticons as a set are really great… especially if you’re a TFA fan.
I had the original Action Master Thundercracker so I kinda like Shattered Glass Thundercracker for that reason alone (but no way am I going to get this one), however, I was confused as to why the original toy was colored so weirdly. This was before Generation 2. I do wonder if this Botcon exclusive makes the actual Action Master Thundercracker a Shattered Glass toy too.
I hear that Botcon had intended for Thundercracker in these colors to appear in a previous year as the regular evil Thundercracker but it didn’t happen so when they could fit him in, they made him a Shattered Glass toy.