| The Forty Years of Transformers started rolling for today’s ‘Transformers Tuesday” in the US reveals for upcoming figures that would be released for the summer season. Although the highlight for the release centered on two iconic characters getting a re-release in a comic book-inspired iteration.
This one is for the upcoming second wave of the Legacy United toyline that some longtimne fans have been clamoring since the last one came out in the thirtiesth anniversary year. |
This bit of news was revealed on IGN with the very first Leader Class version of an Autobot Triple Changer featuring Sandstorm is finally revealed. This character is not well-known to the collectors, but longtime fans have known this deep-cut character.
Of course, there’s so much to unpack about what went into the design and the inspiration that put together the modern take on Sandstorm. The last figure based on this character was released way back in 2012/203 as part of the Transformers brand’s “Thrilling Thirty” and considering the previous toy was heavily retooled from another Triple Changer, this one is not the case as an entirely new figure from the ground up.
Protoman of the Transformers Slag Podcast breaks down the looks, design, and concept behind it providing a mash-up of images between its animation model and the 1986 toy as well as what went to the final design that was unveiled today.
It is impressive enough that it took more than a decade and another celebratory anniversary to bring back the “Original” Sandstorm as the last toy named after this character was a Generation Selects figure based on one of the Cone Heads that was released under the Generations Selects just to keep the trademark name for another five years.
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Design inspiration from Floro Dery
Sandstorm only appeared in a couple of episodes in the third season of the Transformers cartoon aired in the US being revealed to be a native of Paradron, and becoming part of Rodimus Prime’s team living in Autobot City on Earth at the same time befriending Decepticon Triple Changer Octane.
The look for Sandstorm based on the animation model is entirely different but the designers have taken some cues on some of the elements in the robot and dune buggy mode. The packaging alone shows that this is a Voyager Class figure with a Leader Class budget similar to Siege Astrotrain and Kingdom Blitzwing with extra accessories to have that kind of cost to put this figure together.
For a complicated figure that turns into three modes, this is quite challenging for both Hasbro and Takara Tomy's design team. Although some fans are, of course, very keen-eyed about the overall design, not everyone is thrilled about the design of his robot mode’s feet as something lacking.
Earthly Grounded Modes and Rescue Stretcher
For those who are genuinely excited about this figure’s reveal, some won’t even bother to look through the details and elements of the accessories that came with it. Most noticeable is the Rescue Stretcher with a working winch that also doubles as the dune buggy modes’ roll cage that appeared in the animation model, but not on the G1 vintage toy from 1986.
Interestingly enough, aside from his signature Sand Blaster rifle, this figure also comes with the pistol that only appeared in the cartoons that round off the accessories that will be included. When it is about discussion regarding the vehicle modes it is the hope it would capture the original toy’s aesthetics.
But design-wise, there would be some setbacks as despite having a Leader Class budget for a Voyager Class scale figure it is what you can get out of it. The vehicle mode is entirely inspired by the cartoon appearance of the buggy mode, while the helicopter mode leans on the vintage toy’s aesthetics.
The robot mode is a Hodge podge of design cues matching both the animation and toy model that appears to be quite a challenge nailing the “Hoody Head” as well as how the look of the head has more details a la Gundam than the Floro Dery animation model minus the “battle mask” that is certainly more detailed than the vintage toy’s head design that was completely too simple as a white painted look.
There are no official announcements for this release, but the speculation is sometime in late March or early April 2024 as part of the second wave for the Legacy United assortment with a pairing for a new unrevealed Soundwave figure.
So, what do you think of this revelation for Sandstorm? This is a nostalgia kick for those who owned the vintage figure and finding out there’s a modern take to it despite the imperfections and nitpicks of the character’s design. This is surely another deep-cut character some longtime fans have waited for quite some time.
G1 Triple Changer Sandstorm has not set a release date as of this news, but the typical Leader Class price point for $ 54.99 USD ( $ 84.32 AUD | ₱ 3,078.15 Pesos **) will be announced soon. The Leader Class sold in the Philippines retail price is at ₱ 4,199.00 Pesos ($ 115.06 AUD | $ 75.01 USD **), and this will depend on the local distributor if they would import or skip this wave that includes this figure like the most recently released assortment that has been found only in specialty shops.
** - Philippine to Australian and US, and US to Australian and Philippine Currency Conversion via Google.com
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