(NOTE: Because this is a repaint, this is not a full-blown review. This mainly covers any changes made to the mold and the color scheme, and merely compares it to the original RID2015 3-step Thunderhoof toy. For a review on the mold itself, read the review of the original RID2015 3-step Thunderhoof here.)

    Seismic Strike Thunderhoof isn't a "barely-different" redeco, but he's not a complete and total overhaul, either. The main difference is that this version has a lot more black on it than the initial 3-step version, with black now used on the lower arms, much of the chest, paint apps on the lower legs and hooves, and around the wheel covers. Even much of the existing black paint on the original 3-step toy was a charcoal black, whereas this version has a more traditional "purer" black on those same parts. In tractor mode, this black paint works to the transformation's advantage, as the obvious extra tractor windows down near the ground on the back end now aren't quite as obvious because they're black and thus "blend in" a little more. Although it's not immediately obvious, if you compare the two 3-step toys this version's main shade of blue (on the horns, lower legs, etc.) is also a few noticeable shades darker. There is still some of the fairly light blue paint on the middle of the chest, the waist, and the kneecaps-- it really looks good against the black, especially, and of course complements the darker blue pretty well. The other major change is the addition of royal purple into Thunderhoof's color scheme, which really looks nice against the black in particular but also goes pretty decently with the blues, to boot. The purple is mostly used for some decorative, angular paint apps that look like treads on the shoulders, as well as more angular paint apps on the lower arms and chest. There's also more "normal" royal purple paint apps on the side tractor windows and on the lower legs, around the black paint apps-- it's a pretty nice blend of colors down there on the lower legs. There's also a bit of royal purple plastic, used mostly for joints and interior parts on the toy, and are mostly visible on the exhaust pipe-like bits behind his shoulders in robot mode. Of course, all these extra purple paint apps do come with a few paint apps removed from the original's template; the silver on the neck and abs is no more, and there's no paint on the side of the lower arms, too. Still, overall it seems like this one is more heavily painted than the original.
    No mold changes have been made to Seismic Strike Thunderhoof.
    Seismic Strike Thunderhoof is a pretty good redeco, with some nice changes made to the original to make his color scheme more visually interesting-- the addition of considerably more black helps, but the added purple REALLY helps make Thunderhoof pop more. Overall, if you don't care about show accuracy I'd definitely recommend this redeco over the original version of this mold.
 

Review by Beastbot

Back to Robots in Disguise (2015) Index