LEGO Transformers 10358 Soundwave announced!

I can't seem to get the images to load. Anybody else having this problem?

You have yet to meet my alter ego— he plays music…

He looks amazing!!! But, he can't rotate his thighs forward, it's a travesty.

Absolutely love it and am a massive Transformers fan but will wait for 25% off in 3 months. Much better model than Bumblebee at first glance.

Yes!!!!!!

That would sway me to consider Day1 purchase, just..

Soundwave was always my favourite Transformer, but I will wait until it's at least 30€ off before I buy it.

I wonder how hard it would be to put him into his Cybertronian alt mode: a telephone pole.

I've had zero interest in previous Transformers sets, but I always loved Soundwave, even if I only had Ravage and Rumble when I was a kid. Very very tempting!

DAY 1

When I can buy an actual proper Soundwave Transformer, with Ravage and Laserbeak, for all of a third of the price of the LEGO version, I've seriously got to ask whats the point in this?

180 is too much

It’s getting harder and harder to resist buying these.

Consider me interested for once. I don't usually gel with the 18+ sets, but this one's solid. And it's a Transformer that lends itself a lot better to Lego than the last few efforts.

I wish they would do one based on the live action films. I couldn't care less about the old cartoon

I don't even like or know much about transformers, but this looks pretty interesting. Expensive, but considering the electronics and the complexity, seems probably worthwhile. I won't be getting it but I hope it makes a lot of people happy.

@955561976 said:
"I can't seem to get the images to load. Anybody else having this problem?"

Am also having this problem. IOS chrome. Also tried Safari and Edge. Same issue.

@kkoster79 said:
"Interesting to see the fan support for this and top % of the poll goes yes as soon as its released! You don't get that on many of the high priced sets these days from Star Wars or Icons for that matter."

Look at the poll results again. They have changed.

I'd like to get this, eventually. I'll have to see it in real life first just to see if it's as good as the original toy I wanted but never got.

Wonder if the sound brick will have the transforming noise as one of the sounds.

@vizzitor said:
"I'd like to get this, eventually. I'll have to see it in real life first just to see if it's as good as the original toy I wanted but never got.

Wonder if the sound brick will have the transforming noise as one of the sounds."

Lego has a social media video up that apparently displays all the sound effects. I recollect a krr-krr-krr-kitch noise was in there.

@threepwood1138 said:
" @955561976 said:
"I can't seem to get the images to load. Anybody else having this problem?"

Am also having this problem. IOS chrome. Also tried Safari and Edge. Same issue. "

Yes, I've been having intermittent issues on windows chrome since yesterday.

What a superior toy.

The L and R stickers are misplaced, look for any Transformers G1 reference pictures and you'll see

I don't need this office decor building kit.

Transformers completely passed me by, but I do rather like the Lego creations. I bought the first two and will probably get this one at some point.

Megatron must be in the works!

Maybe I've missed something over the decades... Is there a reason why the box art and press release say the model "converts" rather than "transforms"?

Thanks, the image that I found was a mirrored one, haha

for sure!!!!

I just want the spool-print tiles to upgrade my Awesome Mix vol. 1.

@ResIpsaLoquitur said:
"Seriously, Soundwave was my first Transformer action figure when my dad randomly got him for me back in the early 80s. I instantly fell in love.

I showed this leak to my wife the other day, and she replied: "Sorry, was Soundwave a good guy or a bad guy?" Much grumbling followed. I had to explain how Soundwave, despite being evil, is the penultimate loyal sidekick, and also about how he met his wife Denise in a Christian chatroom."

Employee of the month!!

Okay. This is frickin awesome. First set that’s given me shivers in ages.

All Lego ist lame. Cobi is best.

Obligatiory German opinion.

@CapnRex101 said:
" @OscarWRG said:
"The L and R stickers are misplaced, look for any Transformers G1 reference pictures and you'll see"

They look correct to me: https://tfwiki.net/wiki/File:G1Soundwave_toy.jpg"

Would make more sense though to have L on the left and R on the right, doesn't it?

Soundwave looks incredible in LEGO form, but those stickers really should've been prints. Might be a reason for me not to get this set, even though I love the way he turned out.

The Ravage figure looks better than pretty much any actual Transformer iteration!

I mean, it looks solid. They did a good job with it. But that also means I don't need it since I'm not a Transformers collector/fanboy. I did buy Optimus, but I can't justify a full range of them. I had many as a kid, but I don't think I need $200 options in LEGO form.

@TheOtherMike said:
"Press release: "epic sci-fi film series." Actual set: Based off the original toy and 1980s animated design. Anyway, stop doing this to me, Lego! I'm running out of space! 21311, you may end up disassembled and stored so I have the space. Also, I'd thought for a long time that it would be funny to swap the sound bricks in 10334 and 76429, and now there's a new sound brick in town...

@ResIpsaLoquitur said:
"I would totally follow an uncharistmatic bore like him."

Hey, nobody calls Soundwave uncrasimatic!"

Potential for Rumble and Frenzy down the line surely!

Boy he was my favorite! I always hoped he would be on the show (he rarely was) as the little transforming cassette Pterodactyl was sooo kewl.

@malloon said:
"Maybe I've missed something over the decades... Is there a reason why the box art and press release say the model "converts" rather than "transforms"?"

I guess they have to be careful as they don't completely transform like Transformers toys. They did a good job designing them so they can transform but Bumblebee, for example, you have to pull the windscreen off and replace it later.

@johleth said:
" @Retroblox77 said:
"Surprised we got soundwave before Megatron "

G1 Megatron is a gun, and G2 Megatron is a tank, I think the most people can hope for is Galvatron, who is a kind of space canon."

Maybe he could have a "submarine mode"... (for those not in the know, Shockwave famously transformed into a submarine--which looked a lot like an upside down gun...)

I haven't been collecting the Transformers stuff even though I love Transformers
HOWEVER. I'll have to make an exception here because I have two characters that I adore. Soundwave and Shockwave!
But I can't help but feel it's a little bit wild, we get our first Decepticon and it's Soundwave, not Megatron. I guess its because Megatron turns into a gun? But they could also get away with this with a tank form.

Soundwave: superior. Autobots: inferior. I mean, he has knees for a start.

Squeeeeeee!!!!!!!

I don't need Tortuga. I don't need Tortuga.

@TurtleFinland said:
"1.) You have a CLEAN lego brick
2.) You put STICKER on it
3.) TLG says thanks
4.) You lose
5.) You lose every time this happens
"

I don't understand 4 & 5, what do I lose?

Am I the only one to think that the version from Joe Perez looks better!
https://flic.kr/p/G7cyMm

@Brickerika said:
"I haven't been collecting the Transformers stuff even though I love Transformers
HOWEVER. I'll have to make an exception here because I have two characters that I adore. Soundwave and Shockwave!
But I can't help but feel it's a little bit wild, we get our first Decepticon and it's Soundwave, not Megatron. I guess its because Megatron turns into a gun? But they could also get away with this with a tank form."

both a gun and a tank are too much like military weapons for TLG, no?

@BlackFalconBirdman said:
" @Brickerika said:
"I haven't been collecting the Transformers stuff even though I love Transformers
HOWEVER. I'll have to make an exception here because I have two characters that I adore. Soundwave and Shockwave!
But I can't help but feel it's a little bit wild, we get our first Decepticon and it's Soundwave, not Megatron. I guess its because Megatron turns into a gun? But they could also get away with this with a tank form."

both a gun and a tank are too much like military weapons for TLG, no?"

Because the thing on Soundwave's hand is a hipodermic needle and the thing on his shoulder and the things one the back of one of the "tapes" are pens.

@agadoijo said:
"Am I the only one to think that the version from Joe Perez looks better!
https://flic.kr/p/G7cyMm"

For Soundwave, I can see that as a possibility, although I'm not sure Lego will ever release an official set with t-bars as an elbow joint. (Unless they have and I missed it?) Nearly ten years of additional parts make the new Ravage build far better, to my eyes.

Do we know who designed this one?

(Or did I skim past that info somewhere?)

@jnscoelho said:
" @BlackFalconBirdman said:
" @Brickerika said:
"I haven't been collecting the Transformers stuff even though I love Transformers
HOWEVER. I'll have to make an exception here because I have two characters that I adore. Soundwave and Shockwave!
But I can't help but feel it's a little bit wild, we get our first Decepticon and it's Soundwave, not Megatron. I guess its because Megatron turns into a gun? But they could also get away with this with a tank form."

both a gun and a tank are too much like military weapons for TLG, no?"

Because the thing on Soundwave's hand is a hipodermic needle and the thing on his shoulder and the things one the back of one of the "tapes" are pens."

both things my tape deck came with (needles and pens). the needle was made in England, too, which as you know is perfect for interrogation droids.

Looks like you can change the eyes from red (tv show accurate) to yellow (G1 figure accurate)

Can't say I'm interested in this set, not as much Transformers nostalgia here as maybe should, considering I'm very muc an '80s kid who has always loved robots.

But in Jang's video I saw that eject button opening the cassette player....and that was just too perfect! Please Lego, make a nice Creator cassette player with that same eject mechanism! Just take my money!

While I love Prime, I wasn’t moved a lot to buy him(mostly because there’s so much other stuff), and Bumblebee is cool…but damn, Soundwave is just dope. Might be hard to resist, especially with Ravage & Laserbeak in the mix.

Yeah this looks leagues better than Bumblebee, glad to see Soundwave done so well with two cassettes. Definitely going to pick this up at some point, but I'll probably wait a bit seeing as how Optimus has been on semi-consistent sale for a while now.

Extremely well-sculpted since Soundwave naturally translates well to Lego. I may not get it since I already have MP Soundwave and his Microcassettes... but it looks great!

Also, erm... he's not a boombox, he's a microcassette recorder! Blaster was the boombox (who ironically also used Microcassettes for compatibility).

Do we get a Rumble gwp?

Awesome! If we're going by approximate popularity of G1 characters judging by how often they get reissued / made into Masterpieces etc, I'd guess Starscream will be next

Edit: also I never got around to making a trailer for Oppy, but a brick-built Rumble * that transforms into a cassette and slots in nicely? Absolutely!!

* Not to start a controversy, but he will be in red, unlike that blue Frenzy dude

@threepwood1138 said:
" @955561976 said:
"I can't seem to get the images to load. Anybody else having this problem?"

Am also having this problem. IOS chrome. Also tried Safari and Edge. Same issue. "

It seems to be an issue with the SSL certificate for the images site having expired, which is then being flagged by some internet providers (including mine) as an unsafe site and blocking it. I can see the images if I turn wifi off on my phone and connect over the data network. Or if I log in to my internet settings and turn secure mode off.

Love it a lot! The sound brick makes it complete! I will buy it for sure.

I sure do love me a home and office decor building kit

@yellowcastle said:
"I don't need Tortuga. I don't need Tortuga."

I do need a turtle, I do need a turtle, I DO NEED A TURTLE. I didn’t know you were still doing this, I figured you caved, :) All jokes aside, it looks like a great set. Don’t trust Matthew at BrickFanatics though.

I know nothing and care nothing for and about Transformers, but this looks like a pretty cool set.

Already thinking about all the custom tapes I can make!

Love it

@Paperballpark said:
" @threepwood1138 said:
" @955561976 said:
"I can't seem to get the images to load. Anybody else having this problem?"

Am also having this problem. IOS chrome. Also tried Safari and Edge. Same issue. "

It seems to be an issue with the SSL certificate for the images site having expired, which is then being flagged by some internet providers (including mine) as an unsafe site and blocking it. I can see the images if I turn wifi off on my phone and connect over the data network. Or if I log in to my internet settings and turn secure mode off."

Can confirm,
Works fine for me in my work office,
But not at home on different WiFi.
Been happening for just over a week.

@Retroblox77 said:
"Surprised we got soundwave before Megatron "

Because G1 Megatron transforms into a gun and Lego would never do that.
G2 Megatron transforms into a hideous green and purple tank and they won't do that either.
Latest modern incarnations usually favour a tank as a vehicle mode so again, they won't do that.
Even Hasbro made a mass of SS86 Megatron by giving him a tank vehicle mode.

I'd bet on Reflector being the next Decepticon release.

@Wallace_Brick_Designs said:
" @yellowcastle said:
"I don't need Tortuga. I don't need Tortuga."

I do need a turtle, I do need a turtle, I DO NEED A TURTLE. I didn’t know you were still doing this, I figured you caved, :) All jokes aside, it looks like a great set. Don’t trust Matthew at BrickFanatics though. "

I caved with 30 seconds to spare. And now I have 5 1/2 months to ponder if I really need Tortuga.

It was just easier to type (muscle memory) than I don't need Soundwave I don't need Soundwave...

:o)

@AcademyofDrX said:
" @TurtleFinland said:
"1.) You have a CLEAN lego brick
2.) You put STICKER on it
3.) TLG says thanks
4.) You lose
5.) You lose every time this happens
"

I don't understand 4 & 5, what do I lose?"

Stickers spoil PURE lego parts. Prints are valuable.

I hope we'll get a BrickHeadz version soon, like with the other two.

Day 1 buy. Even went to preorder it but can’t.

@yellowcastle said:
" @Wallace_Brick_Designs said:
" @yellowcastle said:
"I don't need Tortuga. I don't need Tortuga."

I do need a turtle, I do need a turtle, I DO NEED A TURTLE. I didn’t know you were still doing this, I figured you caved, :) All jokes aside, it looks like a great set. Don’t trust Matthew at BrickFanatics though. "

I caved with 30 seconds to spare. And now I have 5 1/2 months to ponder if I really need Tortuga.

It was just easier to type (muscle memory) than I don't need Soundwave I don't need Soundwave...

:o)"

5 1/2 months to ponder such an opportunity… :o

I think it’s a good set (I didn’t get it, I settled on the antique shop because I figured it was something Lego will probably never make, plus it was executed very nicely), and would definitely go well with Barracuda! But, it is expensive (albeit a good value) so it’s up to you.

These two tapes are adorable.

As a member of the Transformers community, I can confidently say we love this set

Well, this beats the cruddy version I made with my small Lego collection back in 1984. My Prime was also pathetic back then.

Oh man, this is great!
Optimus was cool, Bumble Bee kinda meh, oh, but this one is, to me, perfect.

The Transformers...
More than meets the eye...
Autobots wage their battle to destroy the evil forces of...
The Decepticons!
The Transformers...
Robots in disguise.

The Transformers...
More than meets the eye

The Transformers!!!

YEAH!

@CCC said:
" @malloon said:
"Maybe I've missed something over the decades... Is there a reason why the box art and press release say the model "converts" rather than "transforms"?"

I guess they have to be careful as they don't completely transform like Transformers toys. They did a good job designing them so they can transform but Bumblebee, for example, you have to pull the windscreen off and replace it later."

As I said, it's a trademark issue. Multiple Transformers toys made by Hasbro have required you to separate parts to fully transform them: https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Partformer In fact, there's a Bumblebee sitting a few inches from my computer that requires that: https://tfwiki.net/wiki/File:TF-Generations-WFC-Trilogy-Deluxe-Bumblebee.jpg

@Peeeeeeet said:"also I never got around to making a trailer for Oppy, but a brick-built Rumble * that transforms into a cassette and slots in nicely? Absolutely!!

* Not to start a controversy, but he will be in red, unlike that blue Frenzy dude"

You'll get no controversy from me. RIRFIB forever! (If you know, you know.)

@peterlmorris said:
"It’s getting harder and harder to resist buying these. "
For me it's the opposite. I just had to get Optimus Prime of course.
Bumblebee was already kind of Meh, so I skipped him, and this thing I can't even remember. I never cared for the Decepticons anyway, with only Megatron sticking in my memory. All the others were kind of forgettable to me.

@Retroblox77 said:
"Surprised we got soundwave before Megatron "

Much easier transformation sequence to implement in Lego. And do you really think Lego would do a gun? Lol

Reflector before Starscream? I doubt it. Reflector had very minor roles in the animated show.

Lego should release soundbricks for Optimus and Bumblebee that we can add to our sets

Wait, Soundwave not only gets two cassettes, but the first sound brick, and a miniature version of his cassette player mode with swappable displays for both included cassettes?

@johleth said:
"I wonder if there will be a GWP that is one of the other cassettes like Rumble."

Funny thing is, Soundwave _should_ come with Buzzsaw, since the G1 model did. But since the cassette packs were much easier to obtain than their master, and I think got more screen time in the animated series, Laserbeak ended up being the version that’s more popular by far, and frequently comes pack with new versions of Soundwave.

@Retroblox77:
If they’re basing these mostly on the G1 forms, I think Megatron is off the table. You know, same way they can’t sell a straight reissue in the US anymore.

@GrizBe:
But now you can put this next to the real one. And by your comment I can only assume you are _NOT_ referring to the fantastically awesome Masterpiece Soundwave, which will probably set you back about more these days.

@emartinez:
Soundwave is the kind of smartphone you get when you want to be contacted by no one, no way, no how, as you enjoy your favorite music.

@lowlead:
Ooh, smart, so you can keep one sealed, build one in cassette deck mode, build a third in robot mode with Laserbeak and Ravage leaping out of his chest, and build the other nine in a series progression of the transforming process!

@OptimShi:
Have you tried the Masrerpiece versions? Even the chrome accessories are built right into the cassette form for these two. Rumble and Frenzy, on the other hand, still have removable bits so they can hold them in their hands or wear them like a jetpack. And they also have the giant ground-pounders from the cartoon that can be fitted onto their arms.

@BlackFalconBirdman:
They can do tanks and they can do fighter jets. They just can’t acknowledge, and especially they can’t license, the specific real-world vehicles they’re based on (Agents or Ultra Agents had an F-22). But they absolutely can’t put a lifelike gun in the hands of a child. It’s even more problematic for them, because with official instructions, you can always rebuild it in realistic colors.

@ResIpsaLoquitur:
The Osprey is primarily used for SAR. But the kicker is, it’s exclusively used by military groups. Also, one less common task involves mounting a large gauge automatic weapon in the rear hatch area to provide cover as retreating troops are recovered. That kills any “but it’s only for SAR” argument.

And Hasbro doesn’t have much choice. During the G1 days, US legislation forced the addition of a brightly colored plug in the barrel to indicate it wasn’t a functional weapon. Because those can be removed, and because they’re difficult to see even when present, they amended that to requiring the entire gun be molded in non-standard colors. I don’t think you can even legally buy a G1-style Megatron from an overseas buyer and have it shipped into the US, and I’m not sure about buying it in person and bringing it back in your luggage.

@theguru1974 said:
""this thing I can't even remember" lol OK. Can't be much of a fan if you don't remember the coolest character from the G1 cartoon. "

Soundwave superior, after all.

@theguru1974 said:"Reflector before Starscream? I doubt it. Reflector had very minor roles in the animated show. "

Yeah, the most use they got out of him was using his character models as background generic Decepticons.

@TheOtherMike said:
" @theguru1974 said:
""this thing I can't even remember" lol OK. Can't be much of a fan if you don't remember the coolest character from the G1 cartoon. "

Soundwave superior, after all.

@theguru1974 said:"Reflector before Starscream? I doubt it. Reflector had very minor roles in the animated show. "

Yeah, the most use they got out of him was using his character models as background generic Decepticons."

Nah, that wasn't Reflector - that was 'Warrior' lol

I'm a peripheral Transformers fan at best. I mean, I had some of the toys, and have a few still kicking around in a box somewhere. I was really into Japanese toy mechs though. Dougram, Orguss, Dorvack, Votoms, Vifam, Gundam, Zeta Gundam, and I owned all the Macross VF-1 Valkyries.
I did pick up the Walmart-exclusive Soundwave G1 re-issue a while back.
I don't have any of the LEGO Transformers, but Soundwave is my boy.
Odds are good I'm gonna pick this up on Day One, thanks to PayPal Pay-In-4. :D

By the way, Soundwave uses micro-cassettes, not standard cassettes. Micro-cassettes were used mostly in dictaphones and sound quality is not all that good.

@theguru1974 said:
""this thing I can't even remember" lol OK. Can't be much of a fan if you don't remember the coolest character from the G1 cartoon. "
I never said I was a fan, did I?
I simply watched the show as a kid. One among many with similar story lines and intentions (selling the associated toys), like M.A.S.K. or Masters of the Universe. And if one is honest those shows were neither very imaginative, nor sophisticated or memorable. The stories were basically the same every week. Good guys defeat evil guys' evil plans.
Of course I enjoyed watching them as a kid, but I bought the DVD set of the entire original Transformers series recently, and when rewatching it was highly disappointed how badly the show had aged. I can't fathom what I liked about it as a kid.
The stories were lame, the animation cheap and comparatively low quality (and I don't mean the picture quality of the DVD), even the music (which I seemed to have remembered the most) was far worse than what was in my memories. Perhaps some things are better left in the past and kept in the memories forever than revisited.
Other animated shows from my childhood I have rewatched in recent years had much more varied and interesting stories and have aged far better imho. Shows like the Flintstones, the original Duck Tales, Disney's Gummybears, the New Adventures of Gilligan, Dr. Snuggles, etc.
All kids cartoon shows with good guys and antagonists, but much more entertaining to rewatch even as an adult.

@Zrath:
I’ve got reissues of both G1 and G2 (notable for having an extended cassette door that fits a second cassette, but looks kinda stupid), Masterpiece versions of both Soundwave and Soundblaster (black subbed for blue), and tiny versions (~4” tall?) of both, plus a second copy of that Soundwave so I can have him in both modes. For cassettes, I got reissues of Laserbeak, Ravage, Rumble, Frenzy, Buzzsaw, and Ratbat, and Masterpiece versions of just the first four. If you at all care about the character, the Masterpiece edition is just incredible. It has the look of the G1 version, but the transformation is much more complex, both modes look so much better, and the articulation on the robot form is everything the G1 version lacks. You can actually pose him with one finger pressing down the Eject button, and Laserbeak or Buzzsaw clipped onto his other wrist like a falconer.

@PurpleDave said:
"I don’t think you can even legally buy a G1-style Megatron from an overseas buyer and have it shipped into the US, and I’m not sure about buying it in person and bringing it back in your luggage."
So in essence it's easier in the US to buy a real gun than a toy representation.
Fascinating country. ;-)

@shaase said:
" @johleth said:
" @Retroblox77 said:
"Surprised we got soundwave before Megatron "

G1 Megatron is a gun, and G2 Megatron is a tank, I think the most people can hope for is Galvatron, who is a kind of space canon."

It is unfortunate that Lego will not likely produce Megatron due to their guidelines. If Lego did produce Megatron then he'd likely only be a Mech and not transform (a travesty) due to Leog guidelines."

A G2 might be possible. Lego has made tanks already under starwars so it seems the rules can be bent when they want to.

@955561976 said:
"I can't seem to get the images to load. Anybody else having this problem?"

Yes, ive been having this for a week or so now, thought it was just me and my internet.

@jnscoelho said:
"Because the thing on Soundwave's hand is a hipodermic needle and the thing on his shoulder and the things one the back of one of the "tapes" are pens."
I see any guns in this set, clearly Soundwave just has two transforming AA batteries that fit into the slot behind the belt clip on his back like the G1 toy. Obviously TLG don’t have an issue with Duracells… ;)

@johleth said:
"I wonder if there will be a GWP that is one of the other cassettes like Rumble."

Seeing as they didn't with Prime or Bee, I doubt it.
But hey, watch out for the Rumble, Frenzy and Ratbat pack coming inevitably in the future priced £100 :D

@AustinPowers said:
" @PurpleDave said:
"I don’t think you can even legally buy a G1-style Megatron from an overseas buyer and have it shipped into the US, and I’m not sure about buying it in person and bringing it back in your luggage."
So in essence it's easier in the US to buy a real gun than a toy representation.
Fascinating country. ;-) "

Makes perfect sense. Remember how the country came into existence, and the historic use of laws to ban the ability to defend oneself in Europe, which makes it easier to keep the populace under the crown’s control. Hence the 2nd Amendment, which can’t simply be pushed aside like some basic law. People like to argue _why_ the 2nd Amendment should be repealed, or simply ignored, but they can’t explain how to accomplish the former, and arguing the latter simply shows a profound and fundamental ignorance of how the US Constitution works. I mean, not-having-even-skimmed-the-syllabus-for-their-first-Intro-To-the-US-Constitution-class level of ignorance.

But put a toy in a kid’s hands, and let them run around pointing it at people, and let other people freak out about the possibility that someone’s about to get shot, and bad things have a way of happening. Or someone gets their hands on it and uses it to commit armed robbery (a crime which does not distinguish between someone who uses a fake gun vs someone who uses a real one).

Besides, toy guns aren’t hard to obtain. It’s just that toy guns that look like real guns are difficult to come by. At times, you could buy a Stormtrooper blaster…but it would have been white. Or Han Solo’s blaster was sold at the same time…in orange.

Never knew this transformer existed, guessing not the most popular toy in the series or films so strange chosen when there are still other transformers to do?

@PurpleDave said:
" @AustinPowers said:
" @PurpleDave said:
"I don’t think you can even legally buy a G1-style Megatron from an overseas buyer and have it shipped into the US, and I’m not sure about buying it in person and bringing it back in your luggage."
So in essence it's easier in the US to buy a real gun than a toy representation.
Fascinating country. ;-) "

Makes perfect sense."

(in my best Dr. Evil impression)
Riiiiiiiight.

@Darth_Dee said:
" @GusG said:
"180 is too much"

But you get 3 Transformers and a minifig size boombox"

Don't forget the sound brick too.

@ResIpsaLoquitur said:
"As somebody who grew up in the 80s with both Lego and Transformers, this is a match made in heaven. I'm literally fine with the idea of owning both a Lego and Hasbro Transformer."

Fair point if you want to own both. I'm just stating that when you can buy 'the real thing' for less, why would you get a more expensive 'imitation'?

@missedoutagain: I know Transformers are still popular. I still have my origional Gen 1 figures.

@PurpleDave: Your right, I wasn't specifically referring to the Masterpiece Soundwave, as there are dozens of different Soundwave toys you can buy... but I will point out that if you shop around, you can get the Masterpiece version for less then £100, which is still much cheaper then this Lego version.

@ambr said:
"Never knew this transformer existed, guessing not the most popular toy in the series or films so strange chosen when there are still other transformers to do?"

Probably in the top five characters of the franchise. The only problem is that his G1 alt mode became irrelevant over the years, and they’ve had a tough time trying to redefine the character without losing the essence of what made him so popular in the first place. Megatron is an easier shift because he’s going from a life size gun to typically some form of tank or fighter jet, so you still got the essence of “shoot things”. For Soundwave, they made him a spy satellite, which makes perfect sense for who _he_ is, but it’s tough to work in all his cassette minions if he never leaves orbit. Or they’ve turned him into several different types of vehicles, but again there’s the issue with the cassettes not fitting in. Except there were some battle wagon vehicles that had disc that automatically transformed as you ejected them from the vehicle, and there was one custom van design where he turned into a guitar player, and the guitar turned into Laserbeak. There have been a few aircraft, too, but the Predator/Reaper drone was the only one I can think of that incorporated Laserbeak as some sort of mini-drone. So, yeah, it gets messy once kids don’t understand what cassette tapes are anymore.

Just preordered from local seller for US$135. :-)

Should compliment well with my Transformers G1, Transformers 2000 and NEO Beast Wars collection.

@GrizBe said:
" @PurpleDave: Your right, I wasn't specifically referring to the Masterpiece Soundwave, as there are dozens of different Soundwave toys you can buy... but I will point out that if you shop around, you can get the Masterpiece version for less then £100, which is still much cheaper then this Lego version. "

Honestly, I can’t recall what I paid for either MP Soundwave or MP Soundblaster. I do know that there were at least two different releases of MP Soundwave. Mine came with a bunch of the cassettes included, but there was a release where you had to buy them separately. I believe that version retailed for less, which would make sense since you still had more to buy. And the only other MP sets I think I bought were two copies of Skywarp (both open, one in each mode, just like I’ve got Soundwave in robot form and Soundblaster as the cassette deck). If I got a fifth, all I can remember is a fancy Bumblebee that was such a massive pain to transform that I actually had to set the paper instructions down and look up videos on YouTube.

@xoddam said:
"I wish they would do one based on the live action films. I couldn't care less about the old cartoon"

That's because the G1 versions are more iconic and have a bigger fan base.
Bottom line, G1 makes money, Bayverse does not.

@Wilfred2904 said:
" @Darth_Dee said:
" @GusG said:
"180 is too much"

But you get 3 Transformers and a minifig size boombox"

Don't forget the sound brick too."

Sound brick plays: "You have spent too much on this Lego toy."

@GusG said:
"180 is too much"

Licenseing fee, price increase (last few years?) (tarriffs?)
$180 doesn't seem so bad... $250 + would seem terrible.
Maybe Hasbro has tarriffs on them? there name on the box.

Hasbro’s CEO warns that toy prices could start to rise in the fall because of tariffs

“If you took the same toy and manufactured it in the US, labor would make up 80 to 90% of the cost,” he said. For consumers, that means a doll sold for $10 now could cost up to $18 to maintain profit margins.

Got to remember maybe IP price went up to for Lego. From Hasbro so they can make money too.

@Retroblox77 said:
"Surprised we got soundwave before Megatron "

We will never get Megatron .. Lego won't produce a gun.. i say, Starscream is next

@TheOtherMike said:
" @StyleCounselor said:
" @Wilfred2904 said:
" @Darth_Dee said:
" @GusG said:
"180 is too much"

But you get 3 Transformers and a minifig size boombox"

Don't forget the sound brick too."

Sound brick plays: "You have spent too much on this Lego toy.""

"Siundwave superior, your wallet inferior.""

Followed by maniacal metallic laughing of side-build henchmen.

@WolfpackBricksStudios said:
"I have a theory... I think LEGO is making the smaller sets overpriced and the larger sets more reasonably priced on purpose, so that people will flock to the expensive 18+ sets to get better value. Not sure how much merit this has, especially since Creator and City are huge outliers, but... I don't know. It seems a bit suspicious."

Most of the 30-40$ sets nowadays have best value especialy when they are VERY often on -30 sale.

Is Soundwave my favourite Decepticon? He is not. Would I rather have Starscream and/or Megatron? I surely would. Do I like Soundwave, and particularly this Lego-rendition enough to buy him? Stop asking me these stupid questions and allow me to buy the damned thing already.

Okay, one more then, for the road:

@Murdoch17 said:
"I'm bracing for the inevitable "What's a cassette player?" comments from young adults / teens, and kids."

Say Peepaw, what is a "Gee One"? Will you tell us another story of the Before-Time, the Long-Long-Ago?

@955561976 said:
"I can't seem to get the images to load. Anybody else having this problem?"

Yes, that's been happening to me lately too. It has improved a bit in the last couple of days though.

@Murdoch17 said:
"I'm bracing for the inevitable "What's a cassette player?" comments from young adults / teens, and kids."

Lol, I still have hundreds of them from the 80s. Also my first computer the ZX Spectrum had games on cassette tapes.

@ResIpsaLoquitur said:
" @GrizBe said:
"When I can buy an actual proper Soundwave Transformer, with Ravage and Laserbeak, for all of a third of the price of the LEGO version, I've seriously got to ask whats the point in this? "

As somebody who grew up in the 80s with both Lego and Transformers, this is a match made in heaven. I'm literally fine with the idea of owning both a Lego and Hasbro Transformer."

Yes indeed, why not have both, though my Transformers toys are mostly Takara.

@Zrath said:
"I owned all the Macross VF-1 Valkyries."

You have ALL the VF-1 valks!?

We're talking about Takatoku, Bandai, Toynami, Yamato, Banpresto, Taiwan bootleg, Korea Joon bootleg and even Hasbro (if you count the old Jetfire Transformer from the 80s).

Between them we have scales of 1/100, 1/60, 1/55, 1/48, 1/20 (Max Factory) and High Complete Models, Hi-Metal, Hi-Metal R, Chogokin, Masterpiece, model kits, re-issues, re-issues of re-issues etc.

Right now, I have over 90 valkyrie toys in my Macross collection (including the armor packs). :-))

@TheOtherMike said:
" @malloon said:
"Maybe I've missed something over the decades... Is there a reason why the box art and press release say the model "converts" rather than "transforms"?"

It's to avoid "Transformers" becoming descriptive, and thus, something Hasbro can't defend as a trademark. https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Trademark"

Super. Thank you for that.

It's a shame we likely won't ever get Megatron, unless Lego is willing to bend the rules just for him.

What if they produce a G1 Megatron that doesn't transform, and is just a fixed robot mode?

@Amien said:
" @Retroblox77 said:
"Surprised we got soundwave before Megatron "

We will never get Megatron .. Lego won't produce a gun.. i say, Starscream is next"

"I got a set, and you never will! How do you feel, mighty Megatron?"

@TheOtherMike said:
" @Amien said:
" @Retroblox77 said:
"Surprised we got soundwave before Megatron "

We will never get Megatron .. Lego won't produce a gun.. i say, Starscream is next"

"I got a set, and you never will! How do you feel, mighty Megatron?""

I dunno, man. TLG is more than willing to give us dino-mechs, though. Hey Megatron! How do you feel about a dinosaur-mode?

@BeastWarsMegatron said:
"HHHHYYYYEEEESSSSS!"

@Crux said:
[[ @TheOtherMike said:
[[ @Amien said:
[[ @Retroblox77 said:
[[Surprised we got soundwave before Megatron ]]

We will never get Megatron .. Lego won't produce a gun.. i say, Starscream is next]]

"I got a set, and you never will! How do you feel, mighty Megatron?"]]

I dunno, man. TLG is more than willing to give us dino-mechs, though. Hey Megatron! How do you feel about a dinosaur-mode?

@BeastWarsMegatron said:
[[HHHHYYYYEEEESSSSS!]]]]

was just looking at that... Dinosaur mode... skimmed over most article about Megatron.
Is that the only area that does not include tanks,guns, items Lego does not do.

@missedoutagain said:
[[ @Crux said:
[[ @TheOtherMike said:
[[ @Amien said:
[[ @Retroblox77 said:
[[Surprised we got soundwave before Megatron ]]

We will never get Megatron .. Lego won't produce a gun.. i say, Starscream is next]]

"I got a set, and you never will! How do you feel, mighty Megatron?"]]

I dunno, man. TLG is more than willing to give us dino-mechs, though. Hey Megatron! How do you feel about a dinosaur-mode?

@BeastWarsMegatron said:
[[HHHHYYYYEEEESSSSS!]]]]

was just looking at that... Dinosaur mode... skimmed over most article about Megatron.
Is that the only area that does not include tanks,guns, items Lego does not do.]]

I think there’s a Bayverse toy based on a heavy diesel truck of some sort…but I want to say it does look a bit Mad Max in style.

@Metroidman97 said:
"It's a shame we likely won't ever get Megatron, unless Lego is willing to bend the rules just for him. "

Rebrickable had some nice Megatron MOCs, can check them out.

I have a special Takara Megatron toy from 2014 that transforms into the Sega Mega Drive console, maybe TLG can do that!

@PurpleDave said:
[[ @missedoutagain said:
[[ @Crux said:
[[ @TheOtherMike said:
[[ @Amien said:
[[ @Retroblox77 said:
[[Surprised we got soundwave before Megatron ]]

We will never get Megatron .. Lego won't produce a gun.. i say, Starscream is next]]

"I got a set, and you never will! How do you feel, mighty Megatron?"]]

I dunno, man. TLG is more than willing to give us dino-mechs, though. Hey Megatron! How do you feel about a dinosaur-mode?

@BeastWarsMegatron said:
[[HHHHYYYYEEEESSSSS!]]]]

was just looking at that... Dinosaur mode... skimmed over most article about Megatron.
Is that the only area that does not include tanks,guns, items Lego does not do.]]

I think there’s a Bayverse toy based on a heavy diesel truck of some sort…but I want to say it does look a bit Mad Max in style.]]

Multiple, because that's what he looked like in Dark of the Moon. https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Megatron_(Movie)/toys Go to the "Dark of the Moon" section.

@GrizBe said:
" @ResIpsaLoquitur said:
"As somebody who grew up in the 80s with both Lego and Transformers, this is a match made in heaven. I'm literally fine with the idea of owning both a Lego and Hasbro Transformer."

Fair point if you want to own both. I'm just stating that when you can buy 'the real thing' for less, why would you get a more expensive 'imitation'?

@missedoutagain: I know Transformers are still popular. I still have my origional Gen 1 figures.

@PurpleDave: Your right, I wasn't specifically referring to the Masterpiece Soundwave, as there are dozens of different Soundwave toys you can buy... but I will point out that if you shop around, you can get the Masterpiece version for less then £100, which is still much cheaper then this Lego version. "

There's a basic problem of perception here. To people who want this particular Soundwave, much of the appeal is that it *is* "real" legally, cosmetically, and functionally, and as such, buying it when the Masterpiece toy exists is no weirder than buying the Masterpiece toy when the cheaper Legacy toy exists or buying the Legacy toy when the *much* cheaper (and smaller) Kingdom toy exists.

@TheOtherMike said:
"Multiple, because that's what he looked like in Dark of the Moon. https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Megatron_(Movie)/toys Go to the "Dark of the Moon" section."

Only film I’m really familiar with is Bumblebee. The rest weren’t worth remembering. Toys, on the other hand, I see frequently due to simple proximity.

And the correct answer to the question of which version of Soundwave to buy is “Yes”.