General Information
Release Date: April 2024
Price Point: $34.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: General Release (Amazon, BigBadToyStore, Entertainment Earth, Target, Walmart etc.)
Accessories: Swords/Feathers x 2
Official images and text in italics are from Amazon.com:
- BEAST WARS UNIVERSE SILVERBOLT ACTION FIGURE: This 7-inch (17.5 cm) Beast Wars Universe Silverbolt toy features deco and detail inspiration from the animated series, Beast Wars: Transformers
- 2-IN-1 CONVERTING TRANSFORMERS TOY: Transformers action figure converts from robot toy to wolf-eagle toy in 27 steps
- AWESOME ACCESSORIES: This Beast Wars Universe Silverbolt Transformers figure comes with 2 wing blade accessories. Accessories attach in both modes
- ARTICULATED FOR PLAY AND DISPLAY: Transformers figures feature articulated heads, arms, and legs for action poses. Features flip-out wings and molded fur and feather textures
- CELEBRATE THE LEGACY: Transformers Legacy United honors 40 years of Transformers animated history! Collect other Legacy: United figures to unite your collection (each sold separately, subject to availability)
- GIFT TRANSFORMERS COLLECTIBLES: This Beast Wars Universe Silverbolt action figure toy makes a great collectible figure gift for any Transformers fan
Unite your favorite characters from across the world of Transformers robots into your collection with the Transformers Legacy United Voyager Class Beast Wars Universe Silverbolt action figure! This 7-inch Beast Wars Universe Silverbolt action figure converts between robot and wolf-eagle modes in 27 steps. Gear up for battle with the included wing blade accessories that attach in both modes. The Beast Wars Universe Silverbolt figure is inspired by the character from the animated series, Beast Wars: Transformers, and features articulated head, arms, and legs for awesome action poses. Celebrate the last 40 years of Transformers history with Transformers Legacy action figures. Transformers Legacy opens the portal to a whole new universe of -- More Than Meets the Eye -- bringing together every Transformers generation like you’ve never seen before. Collect and combine different characters to create your ideal Legacy lineup. TRANSFORMERS and HASBRO and all related trademarks and logos are trademarks of Hasbro, Inc. © 2024 Hasbro.
Background:
In 1997 Kenner/Hasbro knew it had a hit on its revival of the Transformers toy line with Beast Wars. They did not want the line to stagnate, so after two years of (somewhat) straightforward "existing beast to robot" forms, they decided to get more experimental. One of these ideas were Fuzors. Fuzors reprented characters who had beast modes that were a fusion of two different creatures. Silverbolt was one of these characters and featured prominently in the animated series even appearing in the sequel series Beast Machines (let's not go into that more than we need to). You can check out Silverbolt's first appearance in the episode embedded below:
Packaging:
Silverbolt is packaged in the standard Legacy box design. The box is roughly rectangular with an angle on the top and side. The front features an open window and there is a cardboard hook on top. The graphics are very similar to previous years of Legacy boxes with blue and purple tones. The tray Chase sits in features yellow and orange colors, offering nice contrast to the darker outer box. On the left side is a box referencing the "Beast Wars Universe" with Silverbolt's name under it. The Legacy United logo is under artwork of Silverbolt in beast mode. The left side of the box (if you are facing it) features Silverbolt's robot mode art.
The back of the box shows Silverbolt in both modes calling out a 27 step transformation. Under all that is the new 40th Anniversary Transformers logo. One thing of note with this box: the cardboard is of significantly better quality than the previous two years of Legacy figures. This cardboard feels solid and firm which hopefully means damaged boxes on store shelves and right out of the case will be less likely. I was very pleasantly surprised by this.
Accessories:
The original Silverbolt toy featured two missiles that launched from the wings. They were sculpted to resemble feathers and on the show he could also use them as melee weapons. The TV show animators also made the sword/feather weapons more sharp looking in the show so the ones included with this figure were styled to match the appearance of the ones seen in the cartoon. Each one has a short handle and a feather at the end that comes to a point with some angled edges on one side and curved edges on the other. Oddly, the weapons have an asymmetrical design. The right side has one large opening that tabs into the side of the right wing. Meanwhile the left one has two small slots that attach to two tabs on the left wing. This does not appear to serve any specific purpose but they attach and hold well so I'm not complaining!
Each weapon has a 5mm peg at the end. They are made up of silver plastic with a beautiful combination of gold and black plastic at the ends. The way the gold and black are blended is gorgeous and matches the wings.
Robot Mode:
Silverbolt's design was a unique one, featuring a mixture of organic and mechanical looking parts. Among the distinct design elements is a distinct, angled shape on his chest, an oval on his mid-body surrounded by pointed details (that I always thought would be really cool as mini-rockets but that's just me) and an armor panel that goes down over the waist area and ends near the knees. Complete with the wings on his back, he definitely creates a very heroic looking silhouette!
Many fans consider the original Beast Wars Silverbolt toy a really good representation of the character from the TV show. To this day I still consider it one of the best Beast Wars toys of that era. However, back then the toy was designed then the animation model was created. This time out Hasbro was able to look at many episodes of the show as reference for this design. That means this figure's design is much more true to the animation model. perhaps the biggest display of this is the design of the wings. On the original Silverbolt the wings stuck out to the sides over the arms. Here, they sit vertically on his back as they did in the cartoon. Another really fun detail is one that would be easy to miss. On the original Beast Wars Silverbolt figure there were two hinged pieces on the chest area that factor into that figure's transformation. These hinges then made their way into the animation model. Now, this figure does not actually have hinges there but the hinge details were still added to this figure's design since that is how he looked in the cartoon. I love this attention to detail!
Speaking of detail, there is a ton of beautifully sculpted detail on this figure including "fur" patterns on the arms, chest and thighs. His legs also have bands around them with clawed feet, inspired by the eagle component of his "Fuzor" combination. His head sculpt is fantastic too. No shade to the Beast Wars figure, but this one is shaped to emulate that CG model beautifully. I absolutely love the sculpt of this figure.
Silverbolt is seemingly made up entirely of silver plastic, which works well since that's how the character appeared in the TV show. Paint details include gold, black, yellow and red. The gold and black colors make up most of the painted details including bits on the chest and legs. Like the TV show, his eyes are painted yellow. The oval on his mid-body is painted red, which really pops visually. My absolute favorite paint applications are the ones on the wings where the black and gold colors fade into each other in a way you do not see a lot in action figures nowadays.
There are thirty two points of articulation on this figure. This includes six in each arm and leg and the wings on the back. Much to my surprise there is also waist articulation! You would think the armor in that section would block it but it's there. He also has wrist articulation, which is not as common in Transformers toys as they used to be. Each fist has a 5mm port and surprisingly he also has 5mm ports on the bottom of his feet! All the joints on my copy of this figure are nice and tight but the half of each wing where you connect the weapons can pop off if you pull too hard so be careful.
Transformation to Beast Mode:
- Attach each sword/feather to his wings.
- Swing each forearm up over the biceps.
- Swing the beast mode legs on the arms back.
- Swing the robot head forward.
- Swing the wings/back piece back and swing the beast mode head out from the chest compartment.
- Swing the robot head back.
- Swing that arms up (including the panels that connect them to the chest).
- Swing the arms out, using the hinges on the shoulder panels.
- Swing these sections in and snap them together.
- Rotate the back panel with the wings and beast mode head around.
- Push the tail feather section down.
- Swing the waist armor piece from the robot mode back, forming the "belly" of the beast mode.
- Swing the beast mode head forward, then push it down.
- Rotate the robot legs around at the thighs, then bend them back and bend the feet.
- Connect each of the robot legs to the small tabs on the beast mode chest.
- Swing the wings down, flattening them out.
Beast Mode:
According to Beast Wars toy packaging, Silverbolt's beast mode is a combination between a wolf and an eagle. Much of the middle of this mode represents the wolf while the front legs and wings represent the eagle. I always loved the sculpt on the original Beast Wars Silverbolt. For the time it was extremely detailed and had an aesthetic that was not typical of Transformers toys up to that point in time. While we have had decades worth of beast modes (both organic and not) since then, this sculpt still stands out as incredibly detailed and well executed. I love the intricate detailing on the feathers and the small fur patterns on the beast mode head. I was surprised to see the claws look so sharp but are not made of rubbery plastic (another plus in my book).
The colors from the robot mode all carry over here except this time we get to see a lot of black paint used on the beast mode head all the way to the back. They are sprayed on giving them a really gorgeous appearance. His tail feathers are painted white. While he does have a sculpted tongue inside his mouth it is unpainted. I think this deco is fantastic and my only wish is that the wings closer to the main body were painted.
This beast mode has twenty five points of articulation. This includes six in each front leg and three on each rear leg. The mouth can open and close and of course the wings can move up and down.
Final Thoughts:
Silverbolt is an excellent figure. The sculpt and deco are awesome and like so many Kingdom figures he represents the TV show version of the character brilliantly. It could use a couple more deco points but other than that I am super happy with this figure. Highly recommended!
Pros:
- A detailed and intricate sculpt.
- TV Show accurate design.
- Beautiful deco.
- Tons of articulation.
Cons:
- I would have liked a bit more paint including the top of the wings and the tongue.
