Transformers - Studio Series - 08 - Blackout

Decepticon Blackout (Leader Class, 2018)

Movie: Transformers

Hasbro ID number: 08

TakaraTomy ID number: SS-08
TakaraTomy release date: April 28, 2018

Accessories: Tail rotor, Scorponok figure, "Desert Base Assault” backdrop
Known designers: Takashi Kunihiro (TakaraTomy)

Studio Series "Decepticon Blackout” is the first Leader Class version of the character, with slight fudging of the normal limits in size to produce a robot mode roughly in-scale with other Studio Series toys. He features a fairly complex transformation involving lots of panels folding away without feeling too much like a shellformer. His name is tampographed onto the tail section on the livery bands. A Decepticon emblem is also tampoed just below the windscreen on the nose. Non-spinning landing gear is attached to the back half of the compartment section and the nose, but they can’t be folded away in vehicle mode due to lack of space. While stock photos appear to be a more military accurate gunmetal color, the final release version is a slightly bluer shade, but not as much as earlier toys.
In vehicle mode, Blackout appears as an MH-53 Pave Low helicopter with a mostly screen-accurate deco, including the 4500X designation marking, USAF emblems, and danger warnings near the propellers. His robot mode is bulky and mostly accurate to his onscreen appearances, including details like the helicopter engine behind his head that previous versions omitted. His tail rotor can be attached to either forearm to simulate his weapon from the movie, though on-screen this used the larger propeller from his back. The refueling probe, often mistaken for a gun, can also flip up as his non-firing chest cannon in robot mode.
A tiny, surprisingly well-decoed Scorponok is included which can hide in the tail section of the helicopter mode. Scorponok can also be stored on a small peg on his back. Scorponok’s feet are aligned in such a way that, when pegged onto Blackout’s back, he will hold the two innermost blades in place securely to prevent the propeller assembly from swinging freely. However, Scorponok has to be pegged with his head pointing down, instead of up as the instructions suggest, to do this without deforming the soft plastic rotors.
Blackout comes with a cardboard backdrop depicting the SOCCENT Forward Operations Base under siege, as shown in the opening of Transformers.
It’s quite common for Blackout to have at least one Air Force logo on his helicopter mode tail printed upside down. There’s no way to check for this error while the figure is still in its packaging, since the logos end up on Blackout’s obscured soles. Also, as the panels containing the USAF emblems end up as the bottoms of his feet in robot mode, they can end up scratched rather easily.
Exercise caution if your copy has misplaced pegs that connect the shoulders and the torso. Do NOT use force if the pegs do not properly line up with the slots, as the force will eventually cause the thin plastic to break.
Blackout is slightly mistransformed in packaging with his refueling probe being folded flat against his body and his digitigrade legs and leg details also flattened. His lower back/helicopter tail area panel is also left hanging down to keep him as flat as possible in package.
Blackout was slightly retooled to make Grindor, with a new Ravage mini-partner.

Studio Series

Hasbro

630509627837

2018

United States

2018-04-28

Studio Series

Grey Helicopter

2018-06-08 15:36:00

~$94.99

2026-03-17

2018-06-08 15:36:00