Here we have Silverbolt in his vehicle mode, which already has some unusual deviations from what we're normally used to with the Aerialbot core. By that, I refer to the extra mass on the back of his alt mode, which makes the front section feel even thinner than it normally would. It's already bad enough that G1 Silverbolt's made fun of for having an entire robot underneath the vehicle mode, but this ends up taking that to a whole other level. Sure, it's an optional mode, and I appreciate that there are little wings on the back, but this attempt at looking like a larger cruiser ends up looking like an afterthought. I understand that it's intended to provide Silverbolt with a comparable trailer, as seen with Rodimus, Motormaster, and both G1 & Armada Optimus (does Magnus count, considering he's meant to stay connected to the trailer?). Yet, the end result is a less-than-optimal approach to how Tidal Wave's components would combine. On the bright side, there was an attempt to make the integration look decent.
Separating the two gives us a close equivalent of a Concorde. As one would expect, it has some deviations to avoid any licensing issues. It continues the trend of being much smaller than it should be. Imagine if this were the same size as Siege Jetfire while Silverbolt made up a portion of the alt mode. As it stands, we probably know what to expect at this point for Silverbolt figures: Looks decent from the top, yet lazy from the bottom. It's a case where you either deviate greatly to make the jet mode look good or adhere to the cartoon accuracy because Geewunners don't register change positively. One thing I really don't like is how Superion's head is exposed from underneath, which is something the Combiner Wars version never had since it was stored in Silverbolt's stomach (G1 had it as a helmet and Universe 2008 wasn't made to combine), but on the flip side, it does have some landing gear while the antennae could double as guns. Once again, no rolling landing gear for a figure this expensive (and would have been pricier with the whole tariffs thing that toy collectors complained about more than kids, even though they'd still buy toys no matter how pricey things get). That being said, is it me, or does Silverbolt look more grey than it is? It doesn't make or break the figure, but I know he fluctuates between colors in different toys.
One neat thing about the figure is that the nose cone can hinge downward like on the actual Concorde, but the cavity meant to store it can house a Titan Master (or a Prime Master with Quintus Prime as our example) as a pilot! You can't close it due to the lack of space, however.
Here we have Silverbolt sandwiched in-between Air Raid and Slingshot. Is anyone surprised that the Aerialbot leader is smaller than he should be? It's a trend that continues a decade after the Combiner Wars version, which was nearly 30 years since the G1 versions were wonky in scale. To be fair, the Energon Air Team does scale a bit better, though we are talking about a Deluxe torso and Basic limbs.
Silverbolt is one of the few G1 characters I own that has more than one version of himself beyond the Siege-now Generations lines, with the Universe 2008 and Combiner Wars versions being the prior modern offerings for the character. Universe was meant to be an Ultra Class figure, which is basically an in-between size class that was above the Voyagers yet below Leaders (at least at the time), so he ends up being a bit bigger and contained lights and sounds. It turned into a different jet and has a more real-world color scheme, though Takara repainted him to be more G1 accurate for their USA Edition release (which was something they did whenever they brought over a toy that isn't sold in their versions of Hasbro lines, as it was not a Henkei release and was instead kept in the Universe packaging). Combiner Wars better resembles the G1 design, though with more modern changes to make it look less like a Concorde while honoring the old look better. Both have the robot mode hanging underneath, but Universe 2008 at least had it flow better with the wings, and it also had rolling wheels!
Transformation is fairly involved for this design, even if there is still this trend of leaving the wings and nosecone on the back. I do appreciate that the torso can at least house the arms so they don't simply stay under the wings. The engineering is decent, yet it does make me wish we could have some creative license and make for a cleaner undercarriage while still making a recognizable robot mode. Speaking of, it's got the same design traits one would hope he would have, from the red on the chest to the orangy accents on the elbows and thighs (which look weirdly like exposed skin in the deco). Leaving the wings out does make the back kibble less clunky, though the entire front section of the plane literally looks like a rocket strapped on his back. Because of the unpaintable plastic on the midriff, he lacks the same caramel-like deco on the sides. Another aesthetic choice I don't like is the feet; prior versions tried to give them some kind of shape, however different the transformation would be at times, but the way it's done here makes him look like he's wearing thin Amazon boxes painted black. We joke about how blocky G1 Transformers can be, but this is ridiculous!
Head sculpt is the best part of the figure, with a stern expression that fits the Aerialbot leader when he isn't wetting himself over any heights, and the silver paint is always a nice touch instead of using the cartoony flat white or gray. His articulation consists of a ball-jointed neck, shoulder rotation, outward arm movement, bicep rotation, hinged elbows, universal-style hip joints, thigh rotation, hinged knees, and ankle pivots that most fans feared would be absent. His gun does look puny in his hands, though it could be from me being used to the larger ones on the Universe and Combiner Wars versions. I guess the lack of a waist swivel is due to the transformation, and he joins SS86 Hook and Long Haul as characters who don't have one!
The booster assembly could work as a bit of a drone that accompanies him, though it vaguely reminds me of the SWAT Flyer that the SPD Green Ranger flew with its cockpit all the way in the back and a front section that doesn't try to hide that it resembles a pair of legs. However, it can turn into a bit of a battle platform for Silverbolt to man. It's not the most exciting aspect of the toy, and it pales in comparison to the one Motormaster got from his trailer, but it's better than making some lame ass base mode like with the old toy, I guess.
For a size comparison, here we have Silverbolt alongside his Aerialbot allies, or at least two of them, since we're missing Skydive and Fireflight. I'm sure Silverbolt should be taller than he currently is, but with how wonky the scale felt between the characters in the cartoon, who even knows what their height differences should be at this rate?
Here we have our newest Silverbolt in-between the Universe and Combiner Wars versions of himself. And yes, your eyes don't deceive you. He is somehow a shorter figure than either iteration, which comes across as hilarious when you consider how one was an Ultra and the other was a Voyager that was the torso itself. In its defense, it does fill in its limbs perfectly fine compared to the hollow lower legs of the Universe version, and somewhat for the forearms. Meanwhile, the plastic on the Combiner Wars version pales in comparison to the AOTP version, due to the reports of the neck used for Superion snapping off on some fans' copies, while mine has a broken right arm. So while the Commander Class version does win on those fronts, the height difference is still funny.
And now, it's time we get to assembling Silverbolt! As with Motormaster, Silverbolt forms part of the torso to go with the chest plate (which is connected to the waist and upper thighs). The arms and legs follow the same skeleton frame system also used on Motormaster's trailer, which means the limbs will be made up of portions of an altmode while the smaller bots are instead attached onto them to give the illusion of them becoming the actual arms and legs of Superion. And much like with Menasor, only the arms can swap with each other, same for the legs; they cannot switch roles due to the different assembly used on them. As shown in my first AOTP Aerialbot review, Slingshot was made to split in half for the arms, while Air Raid was meant to crumple up and slide into the back of the lower legs.
Here we have the frame of Superion put together, and while Menasor does feel naked without the rest of the Stunticons, this figure does feel more complete in some weird way despite missing the rest of the Aerialbots. It's easy to sum that up as just the team in general sharing the same colors but used in varying results (Fireflight is all red, Air Raid is all black, etc), whereas the Stunticons had member-specific paint jobs in contrast. While it does leave his arms flat without folded-up jet parts on them (not to mention the hollow shins), we do get a general idea of how the combiner will end up once it's completed. And for anyone complaining that the skeleton frame is going to be used from now on, the engineering used on the SS86 Constructicons should relieve some of those fears. Though that being said, we had Studio Series ROTF Devastator 5 years before, and I'd argue he beats every combiner before and after him. Cry about it.
His head sculpt does look a little rounder than I remember it being, with the top part looking more like a bowl cut you'd see Moe Howard or young Gohan wear. I think the Combiner Wars version, fragile plastic notwithstanding, looks better in that front. Also, is it me, or do the antennae coming off make anyone think of SS86 Magnus? The articulation in this mode is mostly the same as Menasor's, with a ball jointed neck, ratchets for the shoulders front and back as well as in and out, rotation at the elbows, ratcheted elbows, wrist rotation, a waist rotation, very quiet ratchets on the hips moving front and back, louder yet squeaky ratchets moving in and out, thigh rotation, ratchets in the knees, and ankle pivots. He can hold his gun normally, though he has an alternate method where the peg can go onto the shoulder for some weird fusion cannon look.
For a size comparison, here he is with his land-based enemy, Menasor. We'll be closer to completing the rest of the Aerialbots in a few months, and I have to admit that I'm happy with the skeletal frame used for both characters this time around, especially with how clunky and unwieldy their Combiner Wars versions got over time. Admittedly, Menasor is the better of the two, especially with the Motormaster portion being a better engineered figure, while the trailer completed the altmode while also making a more convincing attack platform. Either way, I'm happy to have a Superion who's much closer to completion than my two CW Aerialbots were when they started to get janky, and Menasor's at least not a mess like the one CW gestalt I did complete.
One surprise that was brought over from Menasor was that the leg assemblies can be swapped with Combiner Wars figures (even though CW torsos can't use said leg assemblies due to their leg ports not being as compatible). With Superion, not only does the leg swap work, but the arms themselves can be swapped with each other as both share the same clip system. The limbs themselves still need to remain on their respective arms, which is why Drag Strip is on the Menasor arm, Air Raid on the Superion leg, etc. However, the legs on Menasor are slightly longer than Superion's, meaning that swapping one will make them each lop-sided unless the knees are bent. Overall, Silverbolt is not as good of a Commander class figure as Motormaster; the altmode suffers from the same poor kibble management like with prior versions, the robot mode's backpack looks ridiculous, the booster meant for the jet mode is goofy, and the battle platform made from the aforementioned booster is pathetic. However, I do like the way Superion is shaping up, and the ability to swap limbs with Menasor is a treat. I also appreciate that Silverbolt's jet mode (the top part) looks closer to the Concorde proper in addition to having a small bit of Titan Master compatibility. It's the weakest of the two Commander Class sets we have this year (even if the Constructicons aren't that much better), but if you're interested in completing the Aerialbots, who am I to stop you?
Final ranking: ⭐⭐⭐ out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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