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.

An alternate term that's common among fans is "remold", but "retool" is the term actually used by the people who design and produce the toys.

The general fandom's conception of "retools" differs from the definition used by Hasbro and TakaraTomy's designers. To them, only actual physical alterations of an existing tooling qualify as a "retool". There are, however, other methods used to achieve the same results (i.e. a new toy based on an existing sculpt with physical differences to the original release), which are also commonly referred to as "retools" by fans, lacking knowledge of the specific process employed in each individual case.

Technical process

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

Modified toolings

Genuine retooling is a permanent alteration of an existing tooling, i.e. a modification of the plastic injection mold. 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 at some point in the future.

For example, Deluxe Class Concept Camaro Bumblebee from the 2007 Movie toyline was given sculpted pupils inside 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. Those changes were kept for all subsequent releases and redecos of the sculpt (until the Revenge of the Fallen line gave him an entirely new head sculpt). 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 forearms' stability in robot mode) for all subsequent releases and variations of the sculpt.

New parts

A more common procedure involves the creation of one or more new plastic injection molds for new parts based on the existing sculpt. This is usually done in the case of changes that merely alter the appearance of a toy in order to make a redeco look more interesting by adding physical modifications. One of the most common examples would be a new head sculpt that replaces the original release's head. Hasbro will look into making as many of the new parts from the same mold as possible, which is why all the new parts are usually cast in the same one or two plastic colors.

For example, Final Battle Jazz from the 2007 Movie toyline was given new parts for his hips, shins/knees and the head, all with sculpted battle damage, as well as an entirely new weapon accessory. None of the existing toolings were permanently altered (save for the aforementioned improved shorter forearm joint hinge), 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 (gray and clear turquoise plastic), since all of the non-damaged releases of Jazz included the original version's weapon. By manufacturing the Final Battle version's Crescent Cannon, Hasbro would have also ended up with excess stock of the battle damaged body parts.

However, in very very rare instances has a new release of a sculpt mix-matched parts from the original release with parts of a retool: BotCon 2006 Darksyde Dinobot combined the retooled Cyber Key-activated arm gimmick of Cybertron Longrack with the original head sculpt of Armada Hoist, and Binaltech Argent Meister sported the head sculpt and left hand of the original Binaltech Meister release but had the retooled "Mazdaspeed Version II" RX-8 car shell of the Binaltech Laserwave version of the sculpt.

Sometimes the creation of new parts may require painting over one or more of the new parts, such as the modified roof panel on Premium Series Leader Class Optimus Prime from the Movie line, which was cast in red plastic on the original Leader Class Optimus Prime toy, but was cast in blue plastic together with the new head sculpt and the sword accessory for the Premium version, and therefore had to be painted over in red.

In some instances, Hasbro and Takara will create new toolings for a lot of new parts. One of the most well-known examples is Cybertron Dark Crumplezone, who 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. Another extreme example is Revenge of the Fallen Cannon Bumblebee, who uses the same legs as Movie Deluxe Class Concept Camaro Bumblebee and his (comparably minor) Revenge of the Fallen retool, "Preview" Bumblebee... but is an entirely new sculpt from the crotch up.

Gang-molded alternate parts

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 sculpts 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.

Despite the simplicity of this method, it was only fairly recently that it started to see widespread use. While some Revenge of the Fallen toys made use of the tactic, it is particularly prevalent in the Generations and 2010 Transformers series, with most of those lines's new molds having an alternate head plotted out from the beginning.

Depending on the number of parts to be replaced, it's also possible to plan the mold layout so that all the parts that will have alternate versions are made from the same one or two toolings, and the alternate versions are made from separate toolings, thus avoiding the necessity of having to recycle excess parts altogether.

Not actually a retool

Nope, this is an entirely new sculpt.

Over the course of the various 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 (who, technically, share very, very few minor parts such as the wheels and engines)
• 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
• 2007 Movie Robot Replicas Bumblebee and the legless Bumblebee figure included with the Screen Battles "Final Stand" set
• The legs of Movie Deluxe Class Concept Camaro Bumblebee (recycled for Revenge of the Fallen Deluxe Class Cannon Bumblebee, who is otherwise an all-new sculpt from the waist up) and those of 2010 Transformers Deluxe Class Battle Blades Bumblebee