Silverbolt (G1)/toys

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As the Aerialbot leader, Silverbolt typically receives larger toys than his compatriots.

Toys

The Transformers

"Oh God, I'm in the middle of a white cloud!" *faints*
  • Silverbolt (Aerialbot, 1986, 1991)
    • Team ID number: A1
    • Japanese ID number: C-50
    • Accessories: "Electrostatic Discharger Rifle", "Blast Shield" chest plate, Superion's head, 2 fists (left & right), 2 foot stands (left & right), ramp and "Blast Deflector" waist plate
The Transformers Silverbolt transforms into a Concorde SST jet liner, and also has a third launcher/base mode for use with the other Aerialbots. A particular weakness of Silverbolt's design is the way both his legs are connected to his hips by a long pin going through several very small (and weak) plastic hinges that are put under stress as the immediate joint underneath this assembly is a swivel used during transformation. His Takara release has a spring powered launcher mechanism for the "base" mode that was removed from his Hasbro releases, leaving only a piece that flopped around uselessly on his chest. He was available both alone and in a gift set with his teammates.
In Japan, the entire "Airbot" team were later offered (as individual purchases) as mail-order items in US packaging during Return of Convoy in 1991. Silverbolt cost 2000 yen and three robot points and likewise did not include the base mode launcher.
Silverbolt's hands use rare 4 mm pegholes rather than the 3 mm holes standard on smaller robots or the 5mm holes of larger Transformers (including his fellow "Scramble City" torso robots), which limits him to wielding his own rifle or the weapons from the few other characters who share this size, these being Hot Rod, Blurr, Kup, Scourge, and Springer.

  • Superion (1986)
    • Japanese ID number: C-55
Silverbolt was also available with the other Aerialbots as part of a Superion giftset. All of the toys in the set are identical to their individual releases for the same markets (i.e., the Takara version of Silverbolt included the you-know-what).

  • Silverbolt (1990)
    • Accessories: "Electrostatic Discharger Rifle", "Blast Shield" chest plate, Superion's head, 2 fists (left & right), 2 foot stands (left & right), ramp and "Blast Deflector" waist plate
Silverbolt was reissued as part of the European Classics toyline in 1990, with his base-mode launcher feature still removed.

Generation 2

  • Silverbolt (1994)
    • Team ID number: A5
    • Accessories: 2 Missile launchers, 2 missiles, chest plate, Superion's head, 2 fists (left & right), 2 feet (left & right), ramp and waist plate
For the Generation 2 toyline, Silverbolt's toy was redecoed in blue and orange, and his wings were retooled to hold a new pair of spring-loaded missile launchers (reused from the Generation 2 versions of Starscream and Ramjet). No base mode launcher here, either...



Let's see what you can see...

This article is in need of images.

Specifics: Generation 2 toy pics that aren't ganked from TFU.info.

Beast Wars

House the people living on the street. Shoe the children with no shoes on their feet.
  • Magnaboss (Ultra Class multi-pack, 1997)
Beast Wars Silverbolt transforms from an eagle into a robot, with portions of his wings turning into a pair of swords. Each wing also contains a spring-loaded missile launcher. He is able to combine with Ironhide and Prowl, his package buddies, forming part of the torso and helmet to the giant robot Magnaboss.
This mold was used to make Beast Wars II Skywarp.
The Magnaboss toy included no information about its 3 components beyond their names. The toy was finally established by IDW to represent the Generation 1 character Silverbolt a decade after its release in 2007. By contrast in 2016, Beast Wars: Uprising characterized this toy as an independent character, Silver Bolt.
Silverbolt is rumoured to be a sufferer of the dreaded Gold Plastic Syndrome. Thankfully he is not one of the more common cases and most Silverbolts have survived many years of playwear. Unlike, say, Slingshot.


Universe (2008)

Will the new size class solve his long-running scale problems? Only time will tell...
  • Silverbolt (Ultra Class, 2008)
    • Series: Classic Series
    • Accessories: "Electron Bolt Rifle", "Electron Bolt"
Part of the second wave of 2008 Universe Ultra-class toys, Silverbolt transforms into a (fictional) FB-129[1] supersonic fighter-bomber. As an Ultra Class toy, he comes with various light and sound gimmicks (exactly the same ones as Universe Powerglide), including a machine gun type sound when one presses the big red button on the fuselage, and different classic transformation sound effects depending on whether he is being transformed from vehicle mode or vice versa. His spring-loaded missile-launching blaster features a B-2 Stealth bomber as a decorative shape. His BOLT-25 markings reference both his name and the twenty-fifth (silver) anniversary of the Transformers brand.
The Japanese Transformers USA version of this toy for the Henkei! Henkei! line features much brighter white plastic, replacing most of his grey plastic with the same white for a better match with his cartoon model. Also, the red on his chest is now a matching shade of red rather than the two tones seen on the Universe version.
This mold was also used to make Darkwind and Skyfall and was the basis of the non-toy Shattered Glass version of Thunderwing.


Let's see what you can see...

This article is in need of images.

Specifics: Japanese version


Silvercracker.
  • Special Team Leaders (Legends Class multi-pack, 2008)
    • Series: Classic Series
A redeco of the Legends Class Cybertron Thundercracker toy, Silverbolt transforms into a Sukhoi Su-37 fighter jet. He was only available in a Target-exclusive gift set along with Legends-class versions of Hot Zone, Scattorshot, Hun-Grrr, and Razorclaw.
This mold was also used to make Legends Class Classics Jetfire and 2008's Universe Starscream.


The other guys think I'm acrophobic, but I'm not scared of some guy in a wheelchair.
  • Superion (Multi-pack, 2008)
    • Series: G1 Series
Available only as a component of Universe Superion, this version of Silverbolt is a white and black redeco of Energon Storm Jet, transforming into a futuristic supersonic jet similar to an SR-71 Blackbird or Skyquake. As a toy derived from the Energon-series "Powerlinx Combiner"s, he can attach any Energon combiner limbs to the Powerlinx ports located on his arms and legs, though nominally he combines with his fellow Aerialbots to become Superion.
Like the Storm Jet version of the sculpt, Silverbolt features several instances of misassembly: The more obvious one affects his inside legs, which are swapped so that the knee joint faces the wrong way. Although a swap (involving tiny pieces and springs) fixes this, at least a few specimens reportedly had one leg assembled correctly, and the other one incorrectly, making repair impossible. Furthermore, his shoulders are also misassembled, since there is a sculpted chevron...in his armpit. A fix for this requires removing metal pins, which is at least easier than on the original Storm Jet version of the sculpt, since Silverbolt's pins have the ridged section on one end, rather than in the center.
The Superion five-pack, despite being initially intended as a Universe Target exclusive, was only released in Universe packaging in some non-American markets such as Australia and Singapore. Instead, American Target stores (and Zellers stores in Canada) received an unchanged version of the toy in Revenge of the Fallen packaging, still named Superion, with all the individual components, including Silverbolt, retaining their names as well.


Kre-O

  • Superion (Micro-Changer Combiner, 2013)
    • Set number: A2226
    • Pieces: 75
    • Accessories: Rifle
Silverbolt comes as part of the Superion Micro-Changer combiner set, and can be rebuilt from his robot mode into something that isn't a robot. He can also contribute his bricks with Air Raid, Skydive, and Firestrike to form Superion.


  • Combiner Robot Mega Pack (3-pack, 2016)
    • Set number: ???
    • Pieces: 245
3 years later, the 3 Micro-Changer combiners Superion, Bruticus, and Menasor were reissued and released as a 3-pack. The toys were unchanged from their individual releases.


Bot Shots

Do I fly? I feel like I can! I believe I OH GOD I'M FALLING
  • Autobot Air Force (Five-pack, 2013)
    • Series: 2
    • Number: T011
      • Fist strength: 735
      • Blaster strength: 377
      • Sword strength: 508
Silverbolt is a redeco of the Jetfire mold. As such, he turns into a super-deformed jet with a spring-loaded transformation back into robot mode. He was available in a five-pack with Quickslinger, Skydive, Autobot Firestrike, and Air Raid.


Construct-Bots

If you tell him he's flying he'll fall to pieces.
  • Silverbolt (Scout, 2013)
    • Pieces: 39
Part of Wave 3 of Construct-Bots Scouts, Silverbolt can transform into a jet. All of his parts are from Construct-Bots Shockwave, minus his head which is a retool of Construct-Bots Wheeljack's head (which has a friendly grin molded in between his battle mask segments). Unlike Shockwave, he does not feature any cannon parts but instead comes with an opaque blue recolor of the sword included with Ultimate Optimus Prime.


Generations

Combiner Wars

...nope, obviously not.
  • Silverbolt (Voyager Class, 2015)
    • 3 OF 5: Superion
    • Accessories: rifle/shield
Released as part of the Combiner Wars subline, Generations Silverbolt transforms from a jet resembling a modified Concorde to a robot resembling his original form. He can combine with the Deluxe Class Alpha Bravo (or Quickslinger), Skydive, Firefly, and Air Raid to form Superion. Silverbolt includes a collector card featuring art from the "Nemesis Rising" episode of Transformers Legends.
Silverbolt includes a larger-scale version of the original toy's rifle, which can be held in Silverbolt's or Superion's hands, or mounted to the sides of Silverbolt's forearm or underneath his nosecone in jet mode. The winged rear section of the rifle can be detached and used by Silverbolt as a shield, which can also be separately either held in Silverbolt's hand or mounted to the side of his forearm. Due to the way the head of Superion flips out, as well as the thinness of the plastic making up that joint, it is easy to push the wrong area when folding the head back into the body. This may cause stress lines and fractures if not properly addressed, and in the worst case scenario Superion's head can simply snap off. On the bright side, it's still possible to secure Superion's head inside Silverbolt's torso, and the combined mode's chest clamps can still hold the head in place for the combined mode.
Silverbolt can also form the torso of Combiner Wars Magnaboss. A sticker sheet was sold at BotCon 2016 to enhance Silverbolt's resemblance to the original Beast Wars figure.
Oddly, the hand-painted prototype on display at San Diego Comic-Con 2014 featured some coloring and detailing differences with the final product that are unique to that one sample. Even the hand painted prototype used for early stock photos is closer to the final figure. Notably, Silverbolt's shoulders (which become Superion's hips) were painted red, with the trapezoid sections in the center painted silver.
This mold was retooled into Combiner Wars Cyclonus and Scattershot, and BotCon 2016 General Sea Clamp.
Combiner Wars mold: Silverbolt

Version 1:

Version 2:

Version 3:


My head is fine in the clouds. It's just the combiner head you need to worry about!
  • Superion (Collection Pack, 2016)
    • Accessories: Rifle, individual Aerialbots guns/fists/feet
A G2-themed redeco of Combiner Wars Silverbolt was packed along with the other Aerialbots (including Powerglide), and sold as a giftset.
Most copies of this Silverbolt did not use the retooled and improved combiner head's joint, so care must be taken while transforming him into torso mode. At least one copy with the retooled and improved combiner head's joint does exist.
The Superion "Collection Pack" was (at least in theory) a "shared exclusive" between various online retailers (such as Hasbro Toy Shop,Amazon, BigBadToyStore, and Entertainment Earth) and the online storefronts of major "big box" retailers (such as Toys"R"Us, Walmart, Target, and Kmart). It was still available at general retail in Hasbro's Asian markets, though.
Combiner Wars mold: Silverbolt

Version 1:

Version 2:

Version 3:


Titans Return

  • Blunderbuss & Broadside (Voyager Class, 2017)
Titans Return Broadside comes with tiny Aerialbot jets (specifically in the alternate modes of their Combiner Wars figures) molded on a sprue; once cut off this sprue, the jets can be attached to his carrier and robot mode ports.


Unite Warriors

  • Superion (Giftset, June 27, 2015)
    • ID number: UW-01
    • Accessories: Rifle, shield
Takara's Unite Warriors iteration of Superion features a redeco of Silverbolt with a more cartoon-accurate deco, which includes replacing the orange colors of the Hasbro release with a more golden yellow color. Strangely, this does not include replacing the cream-white color of the Combiner Wars release with the cartoon's grayish-white color. Due to the abundance of paint used in the deco, the Takara release features much tighter joints, which in some cases can prove inhibitive for articulation.
As with the Hasbro releases, this Silverbolt does not use the retooled and improved joint for the Combiner head. Unfortunately, the 2019 re-release did not fix this issue.
Combiner Wars mold: Silverbolt

Version 1:

Version 2:

Version 3:


Legends

The Legends release of Broadside also includes a plastic sprue with five Airbot miniatures, redecoed in a different shade of gray to match Broadside's cartoon-accurate appearance.

Merchandise

Transformers Gum

Essentially a downsized version of the original Silverbolt toy, the Transformers Gum kit is sculpted from black, red and grey plastic, features stickers rather than paint applications for details, and came with a stick of gum.


Transformers Trading Card Game

  • Silverbolt, Aerialbot Leader (2019)
    • Wave 2: Rise of the Combiners
    • Rarity: 2019
    • Card Number: T38/T46
    • Stars: 5
Silverbolt, Aerialbot Leader was released as part of the Transformers Trading Card Game Wave 2: Rise of the Combiners. Like all other members of combiner teams released in the set, Silverbolt, Aerialbot Leader is a folding card, with the Bot and Alt modes being depicted when the card is folded in half, and a holofoil portion of the the combined mode depicted when unfolded. The reverse of Silverbolt, Aerialbot Leader depicts Superion's head and torso, which (as usual) is formed by Silverbolt in the artwork.
The artwork for Bot Mode is reused from the Combiner Wars Silverbolt toy's packaging art, and is based on said figure.
Silverbolt, Aerialbot Leader can be used to form Superion, Sky Protector with the use of the Action card Aerialbot Enigma while he and the other Wave 2 Aerialbots are in Bot mode on the battlefield or KO area.


Notes

  • Because the Superion chest plate was used with Silverbolt's robot mode so prevalently, his Universe and Generations toys incorporate details from it.
  • Due to the size of his original toy's alternate mode, in that form he should be one of the biggest Transformers around (approximately 164 feet, 5 inches tall!). This means he's one of the most out-of-scale Generation 1 characters, both as a toy and in all of his depictions in fiction.
  • A proposed Fun Publications BotCon exclusive idea was a redeco of Universe Silverbolt into Skyquake/Scrash and King Atlas.[2]

References

  1. ↑ The designation is derived from the markings on Silverbolt's redeco Skyfall, which are located in the same position the Generation 2 Skyjack toy (which represents the same character as Universe Skyfall), whose alternate mode is based on an F-117A Nighthawk, sported "FB-117" markings.
  2. ↑ BotCon 2014 attendee report
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