Retool

The original Bumblebee toy has been retooled in major ways twice, first to accommodate a keychain (right) and second with a more show-accurate head.

A retool is a newer version of an existing Transformers toy which has had parts either added, removed, or resculpted. This can be as simple as changing a single part to provide stability or ease of transformation, or as complex as altering a large percentage of the toy's appearance or gimmickry. In rare cases, extensive retooling even changes some aspects of a toy's transformation.

Technical process

"Retooled" toys can be achieved in several different ways.

Modified toolings

Real retooling is a permanent alteration of an existing tooling, i.e. a modification of the plastic injectionmold. Since the change is permanent, this is usually limited to cases where the change objectively improves a toy, usually in the form of running change variants where Hasbro and Takara have little desire to revert the change.

For example, Deluxe Class Concept Camaro Bumblebee from the 2007 Movie toyline was given sculpted pupils for his eyes (which was an aesthetic improvement) and additional tabs on his hip panels (which improved the stability of his vehicle mode) in later shipments. Likewise, following the initial release of Deluxe Class Autobot Jazz from the same line, the toy's forearm joint hinges were shortened (which improved the forearm's stability in robot mode) for all subsequent releases and variations of the toy.

New parts

A more common procedure involves the creation of one or more new molds based on the existing sculpt. This is usually done in the case of changes that merely change the appearance of a toy in order to make a redeco look more interesting by adding physical modifications. Hasbro will look into making as many new parts from the same mold as possible, which results in many of the new parts being cast in the same plastic color.

For example, Final Battle Jazz from the 2007 Movie toyline had new parts for his hips, shins/knees and a new head, all with sculpted battle damage, and an entirely new weapon accessory. None of the existing toolings were permanently altered (save for the improved shorter forearm joint hinge mentioned above), since Hasbro was later able to release several variants of the Jazz sculpt (such as the Premium Series redeco) without sculpted battle damage. However, all the new parts were presumably made from the same two molds, since all of the non-damaged releases of Jazz sported the original version's weapon. By creating the Final Battle version's weapon, Hasbro would have also ended up with excess stock of the battle damaged body parts.

In some instances, Hasbro will create new toolings for a lot of new parts. One of the most well-known examples is Cybertron Dark Crumplezone, which sports an extensively modified body as compared to the initial Crumplezone release. Again, Hasbro created new toolings rather than permanently altering the existing molds, since they later re-released the original non-"Dark" Crumplezone version in its original colors under the Universe banner.

Gang-molded parts selection

In some instances, Hasbro and Takara plan a retool of a toy even before they start production of the initial release. If the changes to the overall toy are minor (such as a new head sculpt and nothing else), they may cast the original part and the new part from the same tooling via gang-molding. As a consequence, both parts will be produced on the same sprue, but only one will end up being used, while the other one is discarded as an excess part.

One of the most well-known examples of this procedure is Cybertron Scrapmetal, whose head was produced on the same sprue as the Cobybot head, even though the latter was originally only used by Takara. Fans learned of the gang-molded nature of the two head sculpt when they attended the BotCon 2006 Custom Class, where the toys used for customization, Rumble and Inferno, which were based on the Scrapmetal/Cobybot sculpts, had both heads on the same sprue (Rumble was supposed to sport the Cobybot head, while Inferno was supposed to sport the regular Scrapmetal head).

Odds are, the unused Cobybot heads for the thousands of Scrapmetals released got recycled with all the other plastic that goes unused when parts sprues are cast.

Not a retool

Over the course of the varius Transformers toylines, quite a few toys that are similar in appearance have been mistakenly assumed to be "retools" by fans, even though the toys in question often only have superficial similarities, or are merely based around the same basic concept.

Those include, but are not limited to: Generation 1 Bumblebee, Cliffjumper and Bumper (Hubcap, on the other hand, is a retool of Cliffjumper); the Battlechargers Runabout and Runamuck; the Jumpstarters Topspin and Twin Twist; Generation 2 Smokescreen and Energon Starscream; Alternators Smokescreen and Meister (even though the two share the same hand sculpts); Energon Sledge/Bonecrusher and Cybertron Hardtop; and 2007 Movie Robot Replicas Bumblebee and the legless figure Bumblebee included with the Screen Battles "Final Stand" set.

Well-known retools

Generation 1

Original mold	Retool	Notes
Bluestreak	Smokescreen, Prowl	Prowl and Bluestreak were actually released around the same time.
Brawn	Outback
Gears	Swerve
Grapple	Inferno	These were actually released around the same time.
Huffer	Pipes
Ironhide	Ratchet	These were actually released around the same time.
Trailbreaker	Hoist
Sideswipe	Red Alert
Starscream	Ramjet, Thrust, Dirge	Each retooled Seeker had new wings, Ramjet and Dirge had new weapons.
Cliffjumper	Hubcap
Windcharger	Tailgate