Help for someone who abandoned Cybertron long ago

Ok folks, I used to be really into Transformers (still love the property), but I havent collected a figure since the Classics line was put on hiatus for the first live action movie in 2007. I have always had a fondness for certain characters and a big part of me was saddened when I dropped the line. I'm contemplating carving out a very small section of my display for my favorite 4; Ultra Magnus, Hot Rod/Rodimus, Thundercracker, Skywarp. So the question is, as of now and with what is available, which versions would you consider the "definitive" versions of said characters? I don't really know where to start as I have been away so long and I see all of the sub-lines and knockoff and fan "inspirations", I don't know where to go. Scale isn't too big of an issue, and I'm not trying to break the bank, but I don't mind throwing down a little more for an older figure on the used market.

Thanks homies.

Studio Series ‘86 is the way to go for both Ultra Magnus and Hot Rod. Kingdom Rodimus Prime if you’re looking for the evolved Matrix holder. Thundercracker and Skywarp will be getting upgrades via Studio Series on a new mold in the next couple of years, which I’m sure will be the most definitive.

I'm deciding if I should thank you or curse you for introducing me to the 86 line. Had I'd been paying attention I definitely would have grabbed Hot Rod when he came out. Same on the Kingdom Rodimus. If I play my cards right I might jump on the Ultra Magnus. And then I saw a Springer came out awhile ago? And then I saw Cosmos and Gears? I gotta stop looking, I can't fall in the vortex again.

Vortex the Combaticon was also just recently released!

86 Ultra Magnus should be the easy one to acquire because he was just re-released. BBTS got their stock about two weeks.

I'll second all the recommendations made so far. Thundercracker and Skywarp have multiple good choices at this point and folks may be looking to offload recent ones for the upcoming 86 molds.

Chooch555 said:

I'll second all the recommendations made so far. Thundercracker and Skywarp have multiple good choices at this point and folks may be looking to offload recent ones for the upcoming 86 molds.

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Are the 86 seeker molds all new?

Spongyblue said:

Are the 86 seeker molds all new?

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So far the only Seeker released in SS86 is Starscream, very early on, using the Earthrise mold. SS is supposed to be releasing a new Seeker mold that’s smoother with far less techie greeblies.

Yep! All new mold.

And in atypical fashion they're starting with Thundercracker and not Starscream.

Thundercracker was always my favorite of the three.

Hey @Spongyblue you climbed us all up to the top of this slippery slope. Now I'm wondering if I need a 57th Thundercracker.

@Spongyblue If you fancy going old school, word round the campfire is Ultra Magnus is going to be one of the next Missing Link figures (Takara's new line of re-engineered original G1 designs with more modern articulation, integrated fists, fully printed details instead of stickers, etc). Plus they're releasing a G1 Arcee, based on the old unused prototype, so I'd imagine Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime can't be too far behind either.