Repaint
The term repaint is often used as a synonym for a redeco by fans, but that usage is technically incorrect. A repaint is a toy where only the paint operations have been changed while still using the same base plastic colors from a previous incarnation of the sculpt.
Repaints are in fact a rarity among Transformers toys since almost all instances of extensive color changes involve a change in the base plastic colors, but they do actually exist. Interestingly enough, the most noteworthy examples of repaints in the Transformers toy line are all store or event exclusives. The live-action film series increased the number of genuine repaints considerably, because Hasbro wanted to keep redecos as the same characters, and keep deco changes to a minimum to keep the characters easily recognizable for kids.
Examples
- Roulette and Shadow Striker from the OTFCC 2003 set were repaints of each other.
- The e-HOBBY exclusive Clamp Down was a repaint of Generation 1 Red Alert, with the addition of different stickers.
- The Walmart-exclusive Universe versions of Side Burn and Prowl were repaints of previous Robots in Disguise releases of these sculpts, Prowl of the original RID release and Side Burn of the "Super"/"New Style" redeco.
- The Walmart exclusive Universe Spy Changer Prowl, himself a redeco of Robots in Disguise Spy Changer Prowl 2, had his car shell (originally based on Generation 1 Red Alert's deco) repainted into Generation 1 Prowl for a KB Toys exclusive wave of Generation 1-themed Spy Changers in packaging simply branded "Transformers" with no additional title. A year later, those six Spy Changers, including Prowl, were re-released in rebranded Universe packaging.
- The original Movie toyline had Target exclusive "AllSpark enhanced" versions of Deluxe Class Bumblebee, Autobot Jazz, Decepticon Brawl and Barricade which simply add extra "AllSpark Power" paint operations to the existing decos (although the Decepticon Frenzy figure included with Barricade was a redeco with different plastic colors).
- The Legends Class toy of Animated Bumblebee and Prowl were originally released as part of the 2008 Universe toyline, but minor repaints were later released as part of the Animated toyline, included with the Target exclusive Stealth Lockdown and Rescue Ratchet, respectively. The other figures included in those packs, Optimus Prime and Starscream also used somewhat different plastic colors along with deco variations, making them redecos.
- Revenge of the Fallen Legends Class Bumblebee saw several repaints that were limited to minor changes to his deco while keeping the basic plastic colors the same, namely Recon Bumblebee, the version available as part of the Target exclusive two-pack with Shadow Striker, as well as 2010 Transformers Cyberfire Bumblebee.
- Dark of the Moon Cyberverse Legion Class Leadfoot was slightly repainted for a Target exclusive two-pack with a redeco of Cyberverse Commander Class Ironhide.
- Masterpiece Laserbeak and Buzzsaw are both completely made from black plastic, then painted their appropriate colors.
