Here's Skyquake in his jet mode. It's not the same kind of unlicensed F-35 Lightning II he took the form of before he died in the same episode, at least the entirety of it. The front is definitely similar to that vehicle, with the side fins, fuselage, and cockpit. By contrast, the back of the jet mode is based on the G1 version, with more Cybertronic details, the mini-cockpit behind the TFP one, and wings that are somewhat smaller than in the TFP iteration. It kind of results in an unusual mashup of aesthetics that are not the same as one another, and I feel that this was done in order to make a pretool hint for a proper G1 Skyquake even though we already got a TFP iteration. It's not a terrible mashup, and I do value that it still works well for Skyquake given he was represented in these different continuities, but I know some people would not value them well. At the very least, we have silver and faded red paint apps to break up the olive green that is accurate to the figure. Underneath the jet mode is a set of landing gear (with non-functional wheels) and weapon storage for the cannon, giving it a decent spot to hide.
Interestingly, this guy does have some compatibility with the previous-wave's Deluxe figure, which is in reference to the G1 toy's ability to allow smaller Predator jets to dock on top of it. Who Needlenose will be retooled into right away, we don't know.
The cockpit can open up, which gave me flashbacks to when TFP Airachnid's terrible Deluxe figure had a questionable inclusion of a cockpit that contributed to its list of functional compromises. Luckily, the cockpit doesn't have its seat as part of the robot head, as this is a piece of its own this time around. That being said, it doesn't have any space for figures to man the jet.
For a jet mode comparison, here he is with his original TFP iteration, which I admit has the more accurate jet mode, though I will admit that the Evolution version has a more cohesive jet mode when it comes to the undercarriage of the jet, as the waist doesn't clash with the flow while the hands are actually hidden away. The shade of green is much closer to the CG model than the original version, though I'll admit I like the shade of green on the TFP toy more. And yes, the toy gets a Leader Class upscale as it should. Makes sense since Skyquake is a larger character.
And why not, here he is with other Jetformers in the Evolution line. I think you probably know by now that Skyquake is my favorite figure in the line, what with how much of a TFP fan I am. It also looks more like a proper jet, as Metalhawk looks pretty half-assed in jet mode while Needlenose pulls a Silverbolt
Transformation is very complex, with the figure requiring that the steps go in a certain order if you want them to go from one part of the sequence to another. Between having to both straighten the legs and continue twisting and turning to the right positions of the hips and thighs, while the fuselage has to collapse itself and the wings need to be swept to the back, but you'll have to turn the waist swivel halfway through. And you may struggle to get the back kibble to stay in place at first, but be sure to have the cockpit go through the hole of the back. The robot mode we end up with continues to mash up the G1 elements with the TFP design, such as the head crest, chest, and feet of the original iteration while the rest of the design is more or less the same, albeit less stylized and with wings that are in the standard Starscream position. The differences make him look less accurate to the TFP design, but I still feel that it works well enough for him to not look like he's either an entirely different design (Bulkhead) or a duller bastardization (Arcee & Knockout). I heard fans had come up with an alternate transformation scheme that gives the wings the proper orientation as well as granting him the normal cockpit, but this requires swapping the forearms out while accepting the chest looks incomplete and nowhere near as filled in. Speaking of, there are no severely hollowed out parts on this guy for the most part.
Head sculpt is, as mentioned before, a mix of the overall TFP design with the G1 head crest that makes him closer to the original iteration of the character. It is unknown if G1 Skyquake will receive a new head or not since he has his own unique attributes on the face. His articulation is standard for the line, with a ball-jointed neck, shoulders that move front and back on swivels and ratchet in and out, swivel at the biceps, bend at double-joints for the elbows, the wrists swivel, there are butterfly joints thanks to the transformation the waist swivels, the hips move front and back, in and out, the thighs swivel, the knees bend at two points, and the ankles pivot. Sadly, the feet don't really help with balancing the toy that well.
His weapons include his sword, cast in clear plastic and is weirdly able to face the right way if hend in the left hand, but he also has his gatling gun, which should be meant moreso for Dreadwing since he had rapid fire while Skyquake didn't. The articulation of the arms allow him to hold the weapon much better than any normal toy would because of the added articulation, and the same also goes for the handle.
The figure saw another repaint as his twin brother, Dreadwing. Apart from having the green as blue and the orange as red, this guy also has some nice gold highlights and a retooled cannon that isn't rapid-fire based. I don't mind that the changes are cosmetic since Skyquake and Dreadwing are essentially twin brothers.
For a robot mode size comparison, he is not only taller than the TFP Voyager, but he is also a much better figure overall. Once again, I still like the design of the TFP figure more, but the engineering of the 2012 toy felt like a mix between complex yet limited, resulting in a robot that doesn't feel complete with the mediocre quality it possesses. Plus, the height of a Leader Class figure works better for Skyquake since he, once again, was a taller character in TFP.
I genuinely feel this guy is worth getting, even in spite of those issues that I have with the figure. While I wish there was a little more work to make the toy even better than it already is. Maybe have the feet more stable or add some paint to the sword so it won't crack, but regardless, this is a figure fans should get because it not only manages to outdo the TFP characters in terms of not Geewunning itself, but it also has more going for it than the other characters do in terms of design. I can't wait to get a Dreadwing repaint out of this guy.
Final ranking: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ and a half out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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