Transformers Platinum Edition Year of the Goat Optimus Prime

What a mouthful title...

This was probably my last haul back in 2015, a release that coincided with the Year of the Goat. Goat was the animal zodiac that Chinese New Year. This was basically a redeco of G2 Laser Prime and Scourge (i.e. same mold, different colors) Only setback, it wasn't red in color, something that is synonymous with Chinese New Year...

Front of the box

Back of the box

Box flap

... but rather, this piece came in translucent plastic, with chrome and brown parts...

  

... and OMG, pink missiles!

Truck mode

Alternate mode

Robot mode

Trailer

Zooming in...

Can you see the "Year of the Goat" Autobot symbol on trailer?

More symbol...

Side-by-side with Scourge for both robot and trailer...

We are brothers... from different mothers

Turning the trailer into base mode / battle station mode...

... with Prime manning the station

Guess what happened when I turned the trailer into base mode? The problem when you keep a piece MISB for such a long time...sigh... so, playability was kept to bare minimum.

Crap...brittle parts!

This Prime is also a retool as previously, you can find the G2 Autobot symbol on the disc-shaped missiles which is now conspicuously missing.

Yes, I am aware that this review is 5 years late but hey, better late than never right? Besides, I still have the original G2 Laser Primes of Justice, yet to be reviewed and happily sealed. On second thought, I think it's best I leave them in their current state, not sure what other parts are going to drop off...

The many redecoes...

Transformers Collector's Club (TFCC) Scourge

A redeco of the Reveal the Shield (RTS) Optimus Prime, Scourge aka Black Convoy was part of the Transformers Collector's Club (TFCC) membership subscription back in 2012.

I'm not going to review much as this is a direct redeco with a mold sculpt similar to RTS Optimus Prime (reviewed twice of the same mold earlier...).

Firstly, the box the figure came in with : plain brown with 3 stickers indicating 'scourge' on each flap...

Behold...scourge in its 'crypt'

Tech specs

Instruction manual

Vehicle mode :

Front  

Side

Back

You'll find that this figure is mostly in black and translucent red with the black covering the front, wheels and side tanks. Translucent red on the headlights and windows, pretty consistent with the color scheme of the original Scourge.

Front grill, outlines of the windscreen, smokestacks and hubcap are in silver. There is also a silver, upside down G2 Autobot symbol (used to represent the Decepticons in the 'Robots in Disguise' series) painted on both doors.

There are also thin bluish-greenish / teal lines on top of the hood, over the side windows, front and rear wheel covers as well, a key detail on many previously released Scourge.

Scourges - can you see the similarities?

Overall, you'll be able to recognize this figure as yet another Scourge-styled character instantly.

Side-by-side comparison with both RTS Optimus Prime and Combat Hero Optimus Prime (another classic example of Hasbro milking the same mold...) :

Robot mode :

Again, you'll find teal colors on the head, shoulders, chest, waist, arms and legs. Silver on shoulders, chest, waist and thighs, balanced up with black on the rest of the body with translucent red on the chest, back of the head and eyes.

Sword is translucent red, pretty similar with Combat Hero Prime's. Handle fits nicely into Scourge's hand, again with all previous mold, you need a bit of a push.

Don't want to hold the sword? No worries, just tuck it away...

Fighting side-by-side with RTS Optimus Prime :

In short, an excellent piece, worth every penny paid to be shipped over from the other side of the continent...lol...If you're a completist of this mold or of anything black (and classy), you gotta have it. The quest is yet to be completed, 2 more left to go (Botcons some more...). Till all are one...

We ARE Scourge!

A 'Purple Storm' is brewing in the horizon...and nope, it's not Barney... 

Prime of all times

This post basically summarizes most of the Optimus Prime in my humble collection. Just to simplify matters, I'm gonna 'catalog' them based on the year of release...(Credit to Tfwiki : Optimus Prime G1 toy for the timelines)

(Point to note, Optimus Prime under the Unicron trilogy series (eg. Armada, Energon, Cybertron etc.) would not be featured here...another post perhaps?)

It started off with Generation One (G1) (1984-1986)...the many molds and variations of Optimus Prime...

"Can anyone identify us? We look almost alike..."

...followed by the Powermaster era (1988)...

the vintage...

...and again, in 2003

the reissue...

the old and the young...rolling out together...

Action Master (1990)

"err...who's driving the truck?"

Optimus Prime : "oh wait, I can't transform!"

There is apparently a Takara release, not part of the Transformers toyline but rather Microman. Same mold, green in color though...

Generation 2 (G2) :
Optimus Prime (1993-1994)

G2 OP : "may I join you guys?"

Hero Optimus Prime (1994)

Machine Wars Optimus Prime (1997)

...and its European counterpart Turbomaster leader, Thunderclash

15th anniversary reissues (G1) :
Convoy and Jafcon Black Convoy (2000)

New Year Special Convoy (2002)

Commemorative series (G1) (2002-2003)

Series I

Series II - Powermaster Optimus Prime and Apex Bomber

Transformers Collection (TFC0) Convoy (2003)

Masterpiece Optimus Prime (MP-1, 2004)

Convoy vs Megatron (VSX, 2004)

"why are we so small?"

Mini Toy Shop Collection Convoy (2004)

Robotmasters G1 Convoy (2004)

Battle Convoy (G2) (2006) -  a reissue of the Laser Optimus Prime

Titanium series - War Within Optimus Prime (2006)

Classics - Optimus Prime (2006)

Hybrid Style :
T.H.S. 02 Convoy (2006)

I'm the 1st edition Takara...not the reissue Takara Tomy one...

T.H.S. 02B Black Convoy (2006)

Black is beautiful...

Pepsi Optimus Prime (2007)

"I don't drink Coke..."

Encore - Optimus Prime (2007)

Henkei :
Convoy (2008) 
Crystal Convoy (2008)

"I'm the crystal one..."

 Titanium series - Optimus Prime (2009) (Target-exclusive redeco)

Masterpiece Convoy (MP-4, 2009)

United :
Optimus Prime Cybertron mode (2010) (similar mold to Hasbro's War for Cybertron Optimus Prime)

The band of brothers...

Laser Optimus Prime (2011)

Hasbro version

Takara version

Bathing Ape exclusives (G1) (2011, 2012, 2013)

"I'm going green..."

  

"...and now grey..."

"...finally, red..."

Masterpiece Optimus Prime (2012) - Hasbro release of MP-10 Convoy

"Can't wait to get out..."

Together, let's roll...

To conclude...a glimpse of the Galaxy Convoys...as a prelude to what's in store next...

 

Kindergarten to secondary...