Possible DOTM plot. NOTE: just an idea, no official evidence

[Wing Saber]

then take a look at that right there. Not ironhide's later face

[Sabrblade]

then take a look at that right there. Not ironhide's later face

Actually, I'm seeing simialrities between these faces. The mouth is similarily-shaped, and so is the helmet.

Though, thinking back a bit, you are correct on this. I was incorrect to say that the Movie Protoforms are merely their Cybertronian forms. What I should have said was that "Old Yellow" couldn't be Shockwave's Protoform because "Old Yellow" is not in his Protoform.

Movie Protoforms are actually the most basic structured form of a Movie TF. Their kinda what one would call a "naked" TF, lacking all of its exo-structural features and armor. "Old Yellow", however, has a complete exo-structural physique on his body, not to mention some additional armor (i.e. - the big shoulder pads).