If Aerialbots needed pilots' licenses, he'd never have gotten his... a hazard in the skies. Doesn't pay attention to where he's going since he's too busy marvelling at scenery. Flies at Mach 2.0, range 1000 miles. Carries flammable "fire-fog" missiles, uses photon displacer gun that effects sight by distorting light waves. With fellow Aerialbots forms "Superion".
First/Last Comic Appearance (US) - Issue 21, October 1986 / Issue 50, March 1989
First/Last Comic Appearance (UK) - Issue 63, May 31st 1986 / Issue 278, July 14th 1990
First/Last Cartoon Appearance - Episode 57 (Season 2 #41), November 26th 1985 / Episode 98 (Season 4 #3), November 11th 1987
Figure Details
Manufacturer - Hasbro
Toyline - Revenge of the Fallen
Additions/Mods:
- Used parts from both ROTF Fireflight and Skydive, Repainted the chest, cockpit, wings and engines a more vibrant red
- Added Autobot symbols to the wings
- Added stickers to the cockpit
Review
Fireflight was always the clumsy oaf of the
Aerialbots. Perhaps Hasbro had this in mind when they repurposed the
Superion Energon combiner to be a homage to G1 Superion, for the resultant mess is one of the worst figures I have aver had the displeasure to set eyes upon. For why, read on...
Appearance (Robot Mode) 5/10
For everything that Hasbro got right with
Air Raid/
Slingshot, they got wrong with this mould, for it is damn ugly. It's difficult to know where to begin, so let's take each part in isolation. The head is rather wide and insectiod, and is crowned by some guns which make the head look even more insectoid. The torso sports the 'middle aged spread' look, and is made to look even podgier by the snake-like hips lurking beneath it. The lower arms end in lumps as opposed to fists. The legs are as skinny as the hips, and there is a silly amount of kibble attached to the upper body. At least the gun/shield is pretty nice, but that's only because
FansProject designed them, and not the Hasbro work experience guy who came up with this risible robot mode. Knowing I could do little about the look of the mould, I instead tried to make the colours better by combining two figures to make a nearly all-grey robot, and then painted over the horrible maroon with red. The result is a figure which doesn't necessarily match the colour scheme of the G1 robot, but at least it isn't quite so obnoxious now.
Appearance (Alternate Mode) 6/10
Thankfully the alternate mode is a vast improvement, but still not nice enough to warrant the detestable robot mode. At least here we have a well-proportioned aeroplane, the same model as
Powerglide by the looks of it. I still don't think that an Aerialbot should have this kind of layout though, and would have preferred a more F15-like layout. I prefer the colour scheme of the plane now that I have painted it, as at least it is not quite so jarring with the other Aerialbots.
Transformation 7/10
Part of the reason for the odd proportions in robot mode are due to this transformation sequence, which is actually pretty imaginative. The wings and surrounding area fold back to reveal the legs, which are then pivoted to align with the waist. It is this act of stowing the legs that make them necessarily thin. The legs also are seperated and then fitted back together differently to put the figure into 'combiner' mode. The fists become the jet engines which is also why they are pretty awful to look at.
Poseability 5/10
The articulation on this figure is actually good, especially considering the size class. His head swivels, as does the waist. The Hips, Knees, Shoulders and Elbows are all on ball joints. Even the antannae-like guns on his head can pivot back and forth. Unfortunately, the excessive kibble in the rear of the upper body gives this mould severe balance issues. Add to this a fairly gawpy-looking robot mode, means that you spend most of your time tying to find a non-stupid pose where he doesn't fall over.
Quality 7/10
This figure seems obstinately tough. It knows how ugly it is, and you sure as hell ain't breaking it any time soon. However, the gun emplacement which attaches to the head is very loose, and will certainly be lost should you decide to drop-kick this monstrosity down the stairs.
Overall - 30/50
The mould used to make these poor figures should never have seen the light of day. I guarantee that these figures would have been smelted down in their millions were it not for the fact that they are required to make Superion. This figure is really ugly and does not fit in with the Aerialbot aesthetic, either as a robot or a plane. The only hope is that FansProject one day replace the 2 figures that share this mould with new moulds, as they did with
Bruticus. I am happy now that his colour scheme is not quite as awful as it was, though!
