Beachcomber

"Know the conflict within before facing the conflict without."

No interest in warfare; prefers long, lone trips into deserts and along coasts... only places he feels he can escape to and relax. Cool-headed, low-key, personable -- what Earthlings call "laid-back". Fights when called upon despite anti-war feelings. Range of 800 miles... can go over very rugged terrain. Sensors can determine chemical composition of land and find needed resources. Susceptible to mental stress.

STRENGTH

3

INTELLIGENCE

9

SPEED

5

ENDURANCE

7.5

RANK

6

COURAGE

6

FIREPOWER

1

SKILL

10

OVERALL

47.5

Click the image above to see the alt mode, or view more photos here
First Appearances

First/Last Comic Appearance (US) - Issue 17, June 1986 / Issue 50, March 1989
First/Last Comic Appearance (UK) - Issue 103, March 7th 1987 / Issue 235, 16th September 1989
First/Last Cartoon Appearance - Episode 29 (Season 2 #13), October 9th 1985 / Episode 70 (Season 3 #5), September 19th 1986
First Toy Appearance - 1985

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

AKA 'Duneraker'
Manufacturer - iGear
Toyline - Mini Warriors

Additions/Mods:
- Added an Autobot symbol to the chest
- Added Autobot symbols to the sides

Review

Poor Beachcomber has been under-represented so far, ignored by Hasbro in favour of other, less pacifistic Autobots. He did receive a legends-class update which was pretty nice, but suffers the usual lack of articulation which plagues that size class. Then there was the awful Movie-verse figure, who had a terrible head and was later repainted as Sandstorm - thankfully Hasbro amended that particular error. But this doesn't help poor old Beachcomber, who still awaits a decent Hasbro representation. So there were muted cries of cautious optimism when it was announced that iGear would be homaging this popular counter-culture icon. The first renders surfaced and the figure looked decent! So there was no way iGear could stuff this up, right?


Appearance (Robot Mode) 6/10
The Oxford dictionary definition of 'meh' should come with a picture of this figure. Sure, he has a headsculpt and overall design which really evokes the character, but this figure is very simplistic and was definitely upscaled from a more palatable Seaspray size. It is crying out for reprolabels. There are three paint apps on the entire figure - the wheels, the visor, and a pathetic bit of yellow on the midriff. Also the blue is way wrong, and conspires with the cheap and dull grey plastic to look distinctly amateurish. The provided gun is a lot better than the other Mini Warriors have been 'rewarded' with, with the droopy flower (which is thankfully removable) being a nice nod to the sensibilities of the character. I might give the gun to Perceptor.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 6/10
Criminally, the hands can easily be seen from the side of the vehicle mode because they do not stow properly which is just shoddy design. It's a shame because otherwise the proportions and detailing on the mould are pretty nice, but then the dull plastic and lack of paint apps really conspire to make this vehicle look so plain. This is a beach buggy - it should be exciting and interesting to look at. It just isn't.


Transformation 7/10
This is a pretty simplistic affair but I quite like it. Sometimes it's nice to have a 3rd-party figure which does not require a 3-volume manual and an engineering degree to transform. The lower arms fold into the shoulders and loosely tab in place, the head rotates at the neck and neatly slots into the engine block, and the legs fold back in on themselves, once the useful heel supports are folded away. You can literally transform this guy in a few seconds.

Poseability 8/10
It's hard to fault this figure in this area, but I will do my best. Some of the ball-joints are a wee bit tight, with others being slightly loose. This is not as bad as the issues on the Brawn/Cosmos moulds however. Articulation wise, he has a ball-jointed neck and waist swivel. He also has ball joints in the hips, shoulders and elbows, with an additional joint half way up his bicep, which is only really useful for transformation purposes. He also has jointed knees but no ankle or wrist articulation. I was really worried that this figure would be forever falling over, as he doesn't really have any heel to speak of. Thankfully though there are additional supports which swivel out from the front of the feet, and this figure balances very well.


Quality 7/10
I don't really have any complaints in this area. The plastic may be pretty dull to look at but it is resilient too. One slight worry is the front bumper which needs to be moved up before unfolding the legs for transformation. If you're not careful you could put undue stress on the part.

Overall - 34/50
If iGear were willing to go the extra mile, then this could have been a really nice figure. As it is, it suffers from being not only the wrong colour but also from a very spartan paintjob. It feels like the design phase happened at a decent pace and then they rushed the production phase, cutting corners to get this figure to market. You never get the sense with other 3rd parties such as FansProject that they rush - they may release figures late, but they are quality when they arrive. iGear seem to release their figures late, and unfinished to boot.

Chromedome

"A battle plan is only as good as its programmer."

Spent several thousand years cruching numbers at Cybertron's Insitute for Higher Programming before a Decepticon attack reduced it to a pile of smoking microchips. Binary-bonded to Stylor, an egotistical Nebulan more concerned with personal appearance than warfare. In car mode, maximum speed: 478 mph. Range: 630 miles. Hood-mounted infra-red range finder automatically targets roof-mounted dual lasers.

STRENGTH

6

INTELLIGENCE

9

SPEED

6

ENDURANCE

6

RANK

7

COURAGE

6

FIREPOWER

7

SKILL

9

OVERALL

56

Click the image above to see the alt mode, or view more photos here
First Appearances

First/Last Comic Appearance (US) - The Transformers: Headmasters Issue 1, July 1987 / Issue 75, February 1991
First/Last Comic Appearance (UK) - Issue 130, September 12th 1987 / Issue 131, September 19th 1987
First/Last Cartoon Appearance - Episode 96 (Season 4 #1), November 9th 1987 / Episode 98 (Season 4 #3), November 11th 1987
First Toy Appearance - 1987

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

AKA 'Code'
Manufacturer - FansProject
Toyline - Function X

Additions/Mods:
- Added an Autobot symbol to the chest

Review

What I remember about Chromedome from G1 is that I don't really remember him, and I think that's down to a few things. Firstly, the Decepticon Headmasters were very cool, with crazy colour palettes and interesting beast modes. The first few Autobots weren't bad either, with Hardhead in particular standing out. Then there was Chromedome, who was spectacularly underwhelming. He had a very uninspiring colour scheme, along with forgettable alternate and robot modes. It is interesting to me, then, that FansProject decided to homage him first, as part of their ongoing 'Function X' line. But then he was way more popular in Japan, having an almost starring role in the Headmasters series. I decided not to bother with any Headmasters figures as I assembled my modern-day Transformers collection, partly because they were featured pretty sparingly outside of Japan, and partly because I always thought that Headmasters concept was stupid. So, why then, has this guy found his way into my collection? Blame FansProject for that.


Appearance (Robot Mode) 8/10
For some reason this figure polarises opinion, but for me this is a very accomplished figure. This figure is very clean and coherent, with none of the frankly bonkers detailing or wildly conflicting angles abundant on their Springer homage. There is almost zero kibble on display, no indication that this robot could conceivably transform into a car. I also think the proportions are spot on, as is the brown and beige colour scheme. The impressive headsculpt has been picked out in red, notably absent from the G1 figure, but I think it works because it breaks up the muted tones nicely. The dual blasters this figure comes with are also very nice, and as usual for a FansProject release, the paint apps are plentiful and spot on. I have 2 complaints about this figure which stop it from scoring higher; the first is that the gaps around the chest and shins which are a little jarring, and secondly while the feet are nice enough, they remind me of an old man's slippers!

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 8/10
This is one of the nicest alt modes I have seen from FansProject, and we even have judicious use of clear plastic, which is very welcome indeed! This means that if you peer closely enough, you can see the wee driver sitting in the cockpit. The vehicle looks equally good with the guns attached (which have a swivel to allow them to point straight) or without. It really evokes a futuristic or vaguely Cybertronian vehicle nicely, and FansProject have pulled off the impossible by making a vehicle with a dull colour scheme still look attractive. The red paint apps really help in this regard, by breaking up the mediocrity somewhat. This is the sort of concept car I would have expected to see in car shows of the 1970's - it has a really nostalgic feel to it.


Transformation 9/10
I never thought I'd see the day where I could comfortably transform a FansProject figure without continually referring to the manual. But I have to say that this day has come. Transformation is simple here without being simplistic, and still contains the unexpected moments of flair synonymous with FansProject. Firstly, the head is removed which seems a tad barbaric, but then as a Headmaster this is no big deal. The head is unfolded in a pretty simplistic manner to reveal the small robot/Nebulan companion (delete as appropriate) and in a nice touch, straightening the back of the figure hides the eyes of the head, so you are not greeted by an upside-down face on the back, as is the case with some of the Headmasters. Back to the main figure, and the whole chest slides right down to the crotch, once a vaguely-functional looking appendage is unfurled from the 'junk' area. Then the waist is spun, and the cockpit lifted form the back to reveal the rear wheels. The arms are folded up with the wrists tucked in, and are lifted towards each other to form the rear. Then back to the legs where the shins are pulled out and the feet rotated, and then unfolded to form the sides of the vehicle. Everything then tabs together very effectively and the little dude slots into the cockpit via a helpful tab. It all sounds very complicated but in fact is exceptionally well implemented.

Poseability 8/10
As usual with FansProject this is pretty damn good. The head is on a swivel, and can also tilt down which is a nice and unexpected bonus. The waist also has a swivel. The shoulders and hips are both ball-jointed but are restricted slightly by neighbouring panels. Bicep and Hip swivel are both present. The elbows are practically double-jointed and the knees give you and angle of at least 90 degrees. Finally the wrists swivel and the ankles have limited tilt in one direction, but you cannot splay the legs and adjust the feet to be planted as you can with some other FansProject offerings. This is a minor criticism though and the large feet do contribute to a great center of balance.


Quality 7/10
I'm tempted to score this figure more highly in this area, because on the face of it, the transformation has no scary moments which are synonymous with older FansProject figures. Also, the plastic feels very good quality and all the joints feel tight and resilient. However, my figure came without a small piece of plastic on his arm which, in vehicle mode, is used to tab the 2 arms together. Luckily the whole thing holds together fine without it, but I was really disappointed that there was a part missing.

Overall - 40/50
I was pleasantly surprised by this figure, because I have seen mixed reviews on it. I really appreciate the simplicity and aesthetic elegance of this character, as well as the transformation sequence which is so much more user-friendly and intuitive than some earlier efforts by this company. I am really looking forward to getting other figures in this range now, and I hope that subsequent releases are as nice (and fun) as this one.

Headstrong

"The best advice is not to listen to advice."

Doesn't listen to anyone, particularly his friends. Smug, arrogant. Puts up a stubborn front to hide deep-rooted insecurities. More vulnerable to psychological rather than physical attacks. In rhinoceros Mode, his horn can puncture 3-foot thick steel, release corrosive acid. Uses plasma-sphere shooter that emits explosive energy balls; has light distorting diffraction sword. Combines with fellow Predacons to form Predaking.

STRENGTH

7

INTELLIGENCE

5

SPEED

4

ENDURANCE

7

RANK

5

COURAGE

6

FIREPOWER

8

SKILL

6

OVERALL

48

Click the image above to see the alt mode, or view more photos here
First Appearances

First/Last Comic Appearance (US) - Issue 25, February 1987 / Issue 50, March 1989
First/Last Comic Appearance (UK) - Issue 96, January 17th 1987 / Issue 279, July 21st, 1990
First/Last Cartoon Appearance - Episode 70 (Season 3 #5), September 19th 1986 / Episode 79 (Season 3 #14), October 31st 1986
First Toy Appearance - 1986

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

AKA 'Fortis'
Manufacturer - Mastermind Creations
Toyline - Reformatted

Additions/Mods:
- Added a Decepticon symbol to the chest

Review

Headstrong, like Ramhorn, turns into a rhino, however unlike Ramhorn this particular rhino is rather large, and part of the most feared unit of combiners ever known, the Predacons. He is quite the formidable opponent so thank Primus for stupidity, otherwise this character would be far more effective. He, along with his other cohorts, very nearly dispatched Optimus Prime, in a typically decent Simon Furman-penned story called 'Prey'. Perhaps 'Pray' would be more appropriate. This was the single appearance which really impressed upon me how feared the Predacons were. Headstrong is the second member re-imagined by MMC, and he shares the same mould as Predaking's other leg, Tantrum. I thought Tantrum was decent enough so let's hope for the same.


Appearance (Robot Mode) 8/10
When I first saw this figure I was somewhat disappointed, although it has grown on me since I started messing around with it. My initial bad impression was due to the size of this figure - he is a tall and bulky voyager. Too big? I guess only time will tell - this is only a limb-bot, after all, but absolutely dwarfs the components of any other combiner in my collection. The headscuplt is way less offensive then Tantrum's, being a rather neutral expression in this case. My other complaints about the head still stand, though. The red visor is practically indistinguishable from the red of the helmet. In actual fact, the visor is painted in a nice metallic hue but it is head to discern. The face is painted but it is yellow over a very vibrant red, so the coverage is not ideal. Also, the definition of the face is lost because of the thick paint. I would have preferred an extra piece of plastic, cast in yellow for the face. With those gripes out of the way what remains is a really great-looking figure, with nice proportions, and a colour scheme which perfectly recalls the original. I prefer the more contrasting colours over Tantrum. headstrong comes with 2 arm-mounted guns which cannot be wielded otherwise, but in a nice touch they have extendable barrels. His 2 knives are also easier to attach to his fists, but I don't really like them anyway. The lower legs are rather on the wide side, but this helps to emphasise the sheer power of the character. This is definitely a better robot mode than Tantrum.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 8/10
This mode is a really nice, with a head which is more in proportion with the figure, and some impressive detailing. Again things feel slightly sparse overall, with the expanses of yellow and virulent red punctuated by blacks and greys. Unfortunately the usually ever-reliable Reprolabels produced 2 sets for Tantrum, both of which are crap so I don't think I can rely on them to enhance these predacons at all. I would have liked to see some more paint apps, although what is in place is very high quality. There is a decent range of movement in both legs, you can also splay them as well. The eyes in the headsulpt are much more easy to discern than Tantrum, not being as deep-set. But when the beast mouth is open (even a crack) it is all-too-easy to notice the robot face, lurking within. It should have been handled better.


Transformation 8/10
This area is where I think MMC excel because they have struck the right balance between an overly-simplistic transformation and one you lose sleep over. The wrists fold into the forearm and then the forearm is connected to the upper arm. The front feet are unfolded from behind the upper arm and click securely into the resultant 'stump' to form the front beast leg. The large pods on either robot leg are pulled free of their tabs, and again the lower beast leg is unfolded and slotted into place, in the manner of the front legs. The robot head is rotated and slotted into place to form part of the lower jaw. The large robot feet are rotated and tabbed onto the lower leg, and the waist is rotated. Then the robot legs fold back on each other and form the rear of the beast mode torso. You are then left with a very squat and imposing rhino.

Poseability 8/10
This figure comes with a lot of articulation, but in one or two places the actual positioning of the panels gets in the way of a decent range of movement. He has lateral and side-to side movement in the shoulder and hip area, as well as a swivel waist and ball-jointed head. He is equipped with both bicep and thigh swivel. He has double-jointed elbows and wrist swivel, and also the fold inwards necessary for transformation. The knee joints offer good poseability, and the ankle is ball-jointed with an additional joint towards the 'toes'. It is unfortunate that the shoulder movement is largely impeded. He is a heavy figure but stands up well thanks to the large feet. Most of the joints are very tight and some offer ratchet-like performance which is great on a figure of this size.


Quality 8/10
I have heard reports of the right elbow ratchet stripping, and although this is a purely cosmetic issue (apparently) it is still a real shame. Because in every other respect, quality is probably the most impressive aspect that MMC have to offer. Anyway, I removed one pin from the assembly which allows you to face the joint the correct way. Basically there is a tab which strips the gear from the right elbow because it is the wrong way around, youtube reviewer Peaugh details the fix which took me about 2 minutes. The plastic used is extremely durable and feels fantastic in hand. Just the weight of this figure is incredibly impressive, and I have no doubt that this figure will be able to stand up to the rigours of being the limb of an absolutely massive (and heavy) combiner.

Overall - 40/50
This figure builds on the Tantrum mould and actually improves it with a better headsculpt (in both modes)and a more inspiring colour scheme. Regarding the elbow issue, I have heard that MMC are going to issue replacement parts for free once they have tooled them. Headstrong also comes with a replacement arse for Tantrum, I'm not really sure why to be honest but it is a good sign that they are making these amendments. This is a largely successful figure, and a really positive sign of things to come. I can't wait for the rest of the Predacons to arrive!

Hook

"Strive for perfection even if others must suffer."

With the precision of a fine jeweler, Hook performs his job with skill unequalled among the Transformers, whether reconnecting a damaged microchip or setting a two ton girder into place. He's a snobbish, supercilious, unpopular perfectionist who is able to lift 20 tons. As shoulders and head module, combines with fellow Constructicons to form giant robot "Devastator".

STRENGTH

8

INTELLIGENCE

9

SPEED

3

ENDURANCE

6

RANK

4

COURAGE

6

FIREPOWER

5

SKILL

10

OVERALL

51

Click the image above to see the alt mode, or view more photos here
First Appearances

First/Last Comic Appearance (US) - Issue 10, November 1985 / Issue 41, June 1988
First/Last Comic Appearance (UK) - Issue 61, May 17th 1986 / Issue 279, July 21st 1990
First/Last Cartoon Appearance - Episode 16 (Season 1 #16), December 15th 1984 / Episode 96 (Season 4 #1), November 9th 1987 First Toy Appearance - 1985

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

AKA 'Mobile Crane'
Manufacturer - Maketoys
Toyline - Type 61

Additions/Mods:
- Added a Decepticon symbol to the chest
- Added a Decepticon symbol to the cabin

Review

Hook is a lean, mean, green machine. As well as being Grapple's bete noir, he transforms into the crane which allows the Constructicons to build their dastardly weapons of mass-destruction. He also fills the important role of being Devastator's upper torso. Maketoys made the brave decision to incorporate the head into the robot itself instead of an additional part, so have they managed to hide the massive noggin when in robot and vehicle mode?


Appearance (Robot Mode) 7/10
This figure somehow manages to look decent despite having a head which I would charitably call 'derpy'. Hook's head also sits on a narrow balljoint, which only exacerbates the narrow jaw. Conversely, the rest of the figure is solid and well-proportioned. The crane arm can be detached altogether, or attached to the back on a small clip. This is the configuration I prefer as it gives the figure a more interesting and asymmetrical appearance. I think the crane can also be wielded as a club, but I haven't really investigated that. The combiner head plainly makes up the right foot of the robot, but it is disguised somewhat by a strip of green which works surprisingly well. The paint apps are all excellent as is standard with this Maketoys set.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 8/10
The crane truck is very decent to look at. If it wasn't for the combiner head kibble idly sitting next to the cabin I would score this higher than I have. On a more positive note, there is a fair amount of articulation on the crane. The entire crane arm can rotate, and can be pitched up and down. It is also telescopic, and the hook is on a pivot as well. There is definitely a lot more play value (not that you play with these toys, right?) with this alt mode than the others. Unfortunately, using the crane arm only highlights the head kibble, which is significantly better hidden when the crane arm is down. Shame! There are lots of solid paint apps on this alt mode, and all are understated and very high quality.


Transformation 7/10
Hook's transformation is one of the simpler Maketoys offerings, in fact it looks like it comes right out of the Hasbro playbook. The lower legs fold out from the upper legs. The forearms unfold from the upper arms, and then the arms as a whole splay out and rotate 180 degrees to form the robot. And that is pretty much it. The simplicity is actually somewhat welcome after some of the trickier Constructicons. The crane can be easily removed which helps when transforming this figure, and can be stowed in a variety of ways in robot mode.

Poseability 6/10
I am going to judge this figure based on how poseable the other Maketoys Constructicons are and to that end this doesn't score very well. I'll start by stating what articulation this figure does have, but will point out what is lacking in each case. The head is ball-jointed (no complaints there) The waist however has no articulation whatsoever! The shoulders are ball-jointed. There is thigh swivel but no bicep swivel! The elbow joints are double-jointed, and the knees are jointed too. But the joints are too low! There is zero articulation in the wrist and there are no feet to speak of at all, apart from a huge toe which is actually a head(!). All this limits what Hook can actualy do. I think that some of these issues are more excusable (the waist is on a hinge, necessary for the combiner mode, and the bicep has to accomodate 2 wheels per side) but surely wrist articulation could have been included, especially when bicep swivel is already missing.


Quality 7/10
Great materials have been used to cast this mould and the quality is of a very high standard. I do have 2 concerns abou this figure though and they both concern the heads. The smaller head has a pretty small balljoint and looks kind of vulnerable. The combiner head is on a sliding rod, so it can be centralised to make Devastator. I really don't like messing with this piece as it also looks a bit flimsy.

Overall - 35/50
This figure flatters to deceive in robot mode as it looks great, but ultimately has limited poseability. Conversely, the alt mode looks quite dodgy from some angles but actually has more interactivity than the other vehicles can offer, courtesy of the crane arm, which has been well-designed and thought out. I'm not hugely impressed with this figure, but y'know Devastator needs his head and shoulders, right? If you like the others and you like Devastator, you will just need to suck it up and get this figure, which is still OK.

Kickback

"Friend is another word for fool."

Charming, but cruelly clever... makes friends so he can influence them to do his bidding by digging up facts he can hold against them. Humans particularly susceptible to this Insecticon. In insect Mode can jump 40 ft. for a distance of .1 miles... kick a hole in 1/4 inch steel. In robot Mode can fly 30mph up to 100 miles. Sub-machine gun fires 300 rounds per minute. Very vulnerable as insect and flying in high winds.

STRENGTH

3

INTELLIGENCE

9

SPEED

4

ENDURANCE

4

RANK

7

COURAGE

6

FIREPOWER

5

SKILL

8

OVERALL

46

Click the image above to see the alt mode, or view more photos here
First Appearances

First/Last Comic Appearance (US) - Issue 17, June 1986 / Issue 41, June 1988
First/Last Comic Appearance (UK) - Issue 88, November 22nd 1986 / Issue 279, July 21st 1990
First/Last Cartoon Appearance - Episode 15 (Season 1 #15), December 19th 1984 / Episode 70 (Season 3 #5), September 19th 1986
First Toy Appearance - 1985

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

AKA 'Backfiery'
Manufacturer - FansProject
Toyline - Causality

Additions/Mods:
- Added a Decepticon symbol to the chest

Review

I always felt sorry for Kickback as he seemed to be somewhat weaker than his fellow Insecticons. You had Shrapnel, who could command electricity, Bombshell, who could command the mind, and Kickback, who could, er, kick things hard. It didn't really compare. Plus, while the other two had alt modes which were menacing (weevil and beetle), the grasshopper never really resonated as a threatening insect to me. Peaceful and zen-like, perhaps, but not particularly evil. It is fitting then, that 3rd-party fandom's leading Origami experts FansProject should accept the challenge of bringing this character 'kicking' and screaming up to date, with a modern twist. Have they managed to endow this guy with some much-needed bite?


Appearance (Robot Mode) 7/10
You look at this figure and instantly know that it is kickback, and FansProject have worked hard to keep him authentic. His colour scheme is perfect, but his proportions are rather skinny, necessarily so because he transforms into a fairly lithe insect. This puts him at odds with his fellow Insecticons - while they convey a lot of bulk, he seems the odd one out. Also, there are some issues I have with him which cannot be attributed to his markedly different build. Firstly, his head is tiny and looks like the jaw is missing, and tapers down to an equally diminutive neck. I really think that FansProject could have done better. I'm not sold on the stock weapons either (which by the way are very sharp!) Luckily the replacement rifle is much better and serves to evoke the G1 figure much more effectively. The insect kibble is dealt with nicely on this figure, and overall the silhouette is impressive (especially when you pose the wings pointing up) There are silly motifs on each shoulder pad which I really disliked, so I swapped the shoulders around, pointing the symbols to the back of the robot.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 7/10
This grasshopper mode is carried off rather nicely but can look rather awkward outside of one particular pose. The wings are a little flat, being cast in grey/silver plastic which is a bit dull if you ask me. I would rather that they had some additional movement, too because as it is, a lot of potential poses are obstructed by the point of articulation and the large back legs. Also, his robot head can still be seen behind the insect one which I am not keen on. It's a shame, because I really like the legs and insectoid head.


Transformation 8/10
This is another transformation which will baffle on initial attempts but you will soon forget how tricky it seemed after a few turns. Firstly, the insect head is moved from the back and slotted alongside the robot head, which has to be turned around to hide the face. Then, it is time to move the limbs around! The arms are pushed down and moved to where the legs are, the legs themselves are split at the crotch (ouch) and then panels are swapped from the lower leg to the upper leg. This locks the angle of the leg necessary for insect mode. The feet slot into the shins and then small insect leg-tips are unfolded. The arms are a bit of a pain to transform at first; they require the fists and all joints to be in the correct position, and they then form the abdomen. Finally the insect legs are bought forward and the wings repositioned. It is easier in practice than in theory!

Poseability 9/10
Kickback really excels in this regard, being blessed with a great sense of balance, and the ability to form some really nice poses. The neck is ball-jointed, although there is no waist swivel (but this is not really missed). There is lateral and side-to-side movement in the shoulder, as well as ball-jointed hips. The shoulders can also be posed in other ways, due to their use in transformation. There is effectively bicep and forearm swivel due to the ball-joints, and there is also wrist swivel. Moving onto the legs and there is thigh swivel, knee joints and ball-jointed ankles, which give this little guy impeccable balance. One-legged poses are very easy with this figure.


Quality 7/10
A rule that generally has to be heeded with FansProject is to make sure that you transform everything in order, ad with care and attention. This is again true with this figure, with my concerns exacerbated by the amount of components on small pivot points, such as the arms/shoulders and wings. However, nothing should collide provided you are patient, and also be aware that pulling on the groin a bit (!) in order to split the legs out for insect mode will put a lot less pressure on the figure.

Overall - 38/50
While still a decent representation of the character, Kickback is not quite good-looking enough in bot mode for me to really like him. But, he does complement the other 2 Insecticons well. And you really need to get all 3 if you get one! His relative lack of beauty when compared to the other 2 is alleviated somewhat by his ability to pose, and his innovative transformation sequence. He may not have much, but he knows how to work what he has! I'm sure you will get a 'kick' (sorry) out of owning him.

Mixmaster

"How strong the steel, how quick the conquest."

Nothing is safe from him... he will use anything from unliving rock to living robot in making new materials. Uses acids and bonding agents to reduce and recombine almost anything inside mixing drum... a chemistry lab on wheels. As left leg module, combines with fellow Constructicons to form giant robot "Devastator".

STRENGTH

7

INTELLIGENCE

6

SPEED

3

ENDURANCE

8

RANK

4

COURAGE

6

FIREPOWER

7

SKILL

9

OVERALL

50

Click the image above to see the alt mode, or view more photos here
First Appearances

First/Last Comic Appearance (US) - Issue 10, November 1985 / Issue 41, June 1988
First/Last Comic Appearance (UK) - Issue 61, May 17th 1986 / Issue 279, July 21st 1990
First/Last Cartoon Appearance - Episode 16 (Season 1 #16), December 15th 1984 / Episode 96 (Season 4 #1), November 9th 1987
First Toy Appearance - 1985

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

AKA 'Mixer'
Manufacturer - Maketoys
Toyline - Type 61

Additions/Mods:
- Added a Decepticon symbol to the chest
- Added a Decepticon symbol to the mixing drum

Review

Because his name sounds like an 80's hip-hop DJ, you could be forgiven for thinking that this robot would be a sidekick for Blaster, but as it turns out this guy is yet another of the Constructicons. Forming the left leg, Mixmaster is perhaps the most useless of Devastator's components (unless Devestator is a left-footer). Despite this, he is often portrayed as the deFacto leader. Let's see if he is the crowning jewel in this cool bunch of Maketoys figures.


Appearance (Robot Mode) 7/10
There's no escaping 2 particular things about this figure - 1; he looks like he is carrying an Acme anvil around on his head, and 2; he has the face of a cat. Well, at least to my eyes, he does. The 2 horizontal lines either side of his nose always make me think he has whiskers. The 'anvil' on his head is actually the rear axle of the cement mixer, which is stuck on his back in robot mode. It is also entirely G1 accurate. In a nice touch, a panel can be flipped down to reveal painted missile tips and the panel becomes some kind of aiming visor. His chest piece is also very G1, harking back to the original design. Overall I really like this robot mode, and the paint apps are yet again superb.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 8/10
Being that this is not a tracked vehicle, we are instead treated to actual moving wheels, hurrah! However the ground clearance is not great, so I wouldn't recommend driving this around too much on shagpile, lest you damage the intricately-sculpted chest. Depressingly, the mixer drum does not move, but other than these niggles the alt mode looks very nice indeed. In particular there are some very tidy paint apps on the cabin and headlights. There are also not too many clues as to the robot origin of this truck because it has been superbly designed. It also has a hitch to carry a forearm combiner kibble trailer.


Transformation 8/10
I get a kick out of transforming this figure which is always a good sign. The lower legs are unfolded in a fairly unique way, with the cabin left at an angle which creats an interesting look. The arms are formed by moving the sides of the vehicle down, and in a nice touch the rear set of wheels folds down to create shoulders. The transformation sequence is relatively simple although you do need to push a button to release the waist, which extends it by a few millimetres. This button is also used when transforming for the combiner limb.

Poseability 7/10
The head is on a swivel joint, but is tricky to access because of the raised shoulders and the kibble directly above the head. The waist is not only on a swivel but it can also be tilted as well, which is pretty unusual, and an artefact of the combiner articulation. The shoulders/hips are both ball-jointed. Bicep and thigh swivel is also present, and the knees are jointed. There is limited articulation at the ankle although there are heels which unfold from the feet (not in the instructions for some reason) which really help with balance. There is both an elbow joint, plus a ball joint beneath that on the lower arm, which goes some way for compensating that there is no wrist articulation. This figure can be posed pretty dynamically.


Quality 9/10
This figure is one of the most solid Constructicons. He certainly seems to have more weight and substance when compared to the two arm components of Devastator but then I guess as a leg he is required to take a lot more load. I have no qualms with Mixmaster's resilience at all really, and as usual for Maketoys the materials used are of the highest standard.

Overall - 39/50
Despite the slightly odd face sculpt and the enormous kibble sitting atop his head, I still think this Mixmaster homage is very successful. There are really nice details abound on this figure which hark back to the G1 original successfully. A possessor of a strong alt mode, great poseability and an interesting transformation sequence, this Maketoys Mixmaster is a warranted addition to any collection.

Shrapnel

"Control electricity and you control the world."

The noise of war and the scream of his foes are music to this loathsome Insecticon's audio-modules... has piercing battle cry... can be heard 8 miles away. In insect Mode, can use antennae to control almost any electrical device. In robot Mode, can attract lightning bolts to antennae and shoot them out hands. Grenade launcher shoots 30-pound steel balls that splinter into razor-sharp spikes. Insulation can stop his electrical blasts.

STRENGTH

4

INTELLIGENCE

6

SPEED

4

ENDURANCE

7

RANK

6

COURAGE

6

FIREPOWER

8

SKILL

9

OVERALL

50

Click the image above to see the alt mode, or view more photos here
First Appearances

First/Last Comic Appearance (US) - Issue 17, June 1986 / Issue 41, June 1988
First/Last Comic Appearance (UK) - Issue 78, September 13th 1986 / Issue 276, June 30th 1990
First/Last Cartoon Appearance - Episode 15 (Season 1 #15), December 19th 1984 / Episode 70 (Season 3 #5), September 19th 1986
First Toy Appearance - 1985

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

AKA 'Thundershred'
Manufacturer - FansProject
Toyline - Causality

Additions/Mods:
- Added a Decepticon symbol to the chest

Review

And so we come to the last of the original Insecticons (alphabetically, that is) and we also come to my favourite. In the cartoon and US comic, the Insecticons were portrayed as brainless lackeys, seemingly sharing a (defective) hive mind. In the UK comic, they are portrayed as something more sinister. Shrapnel is particularly nasty, using his electrical powers to execute an informant. He also nearly shreds Prowl to bits in one of the early annual strips. So my impression of shrapnel was that he is a serious force to be reckoned with. With this in mind, I was therefore anxious that FansProject capture this side of his personality rather than the farcical character from the cartoons. What way did FansProject go?


Appearance (Robot Mode) 9/10
Shrapnel looks like a tough little bot that you would not want to mess with. He is extremely stocky, with a pin head that only emphasises his bulk. His kibble can be displayed as you see fit - I tend to have the legs on his torso hanging down but you can mess around with some more dramatic shapes if you wish. His badassness is generously augmented by what must be the most ostentatious weapons I have ever seen on a TF. This guy looks like wolverine on steroids, with blades which can be as long as his legs protuding from his forearms. I, for one, do not particularly care for this look, so I have positioned the blades either side of his head. Yes it looks a bit bonkers but is very much in keeping with the silhouette of the G1 figure. Think of them as his electrical conductors. He is also equipped with a nice gun, courtesy of the Deluxe Insecticons box set. Again his colour scheme is spot on, but let down by a daft tampograph which I have covered up. All the Insecticons have a signature logo like this, they remind me of Battle Beasts for some reason and are incongruous.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 8/10
There's no getting away from the fact this figure is essentially an oblong box with little legs on it, but it is pulled off so well. The pincers look particularly menacing, although I'm not sure why there seems to be a cockpit on this insect mode, when Bombshell and Kickback are notably more insectoid. Still, the overall impact is not diminished and this figure looks more coherent than the other two, with it also being easier to pose and play with.


Transformation 6/10
This is my least enjoyable of the Insecticons to transform, which is a shame. Firstly, I find it difficult to align the arms up just so to enable them to slide through the lower legs. And the robot feet? you have to flip and swivel them to the side for the alt mode and I have real difficulty doing this without colliding them into the adjoining surface. There is a 'sweet spot' but as can be typical with FansProject, there is more drama than there needs to be. Elswhere, there are some innovative features, such as the hips which are slid back before the waist is rotated. OK, it is vaguely similar to Hot Rod, but it is nice to see different things from time to time. Also, don't forget that the shoulder piece rotates for the robot mode, I have seen loads of pictures that has this part mis-transformed.

Poseability 9/10
My one gripe with this figure is that his hip joints are very stiff. Other than this though, he can do just about anything. He has a ball-jointed neck, swivel waist, and ball-jointed shoulders/hips. He has bicep swivel and double ball-joints at the elbow, which is handy because this negates the need for wrist swivel. He also has thigh swivel, knee joints and a very decent range of movement in his feet, which are also large enough to hold a variety of poses.


Quality 6/10
I feel that the transformation sequence puts the plastic under unnecessary strain, which always makes me annoyed. I really like this guy and would not let anyone else attempt to transform him, for the spectre of gouged plastic is all too real! It's a shame because this is otherwise a decent quality, stocky little figure.

Overall - 38/50
Aesthetically this figure is very successful, looking great in both modes. He also offers a plethora of poses, and options regarding how you set him up with his weaponry. However, I have some concerns regarding his transformation which is why Shrapnel is probably the least recommended of the 3 Insecticon moulds. That said, in his own right, he is still a very decent figure.

Swerve

"Molecular structure is the window to understanding."

If Autobots had drivers licenses, his would have be revoked. A menace on highways. Doesn't pay attention to where he's going or the orders he's being given - easily distracted by anything. Hands' sensors can determine physical and chemical properties of metals. Goes 120mph, range 500 miles in car Mode. Gets into lots of accidents.

STRENGTH

6

INTELLIGENCE

8

SPEED

5.5

ENDURANCE

8

RANK

5.5

COURAGE

6.5

FIREPOWER

1.5

SKILL

7

OVERALL

48

Click the image above to see the alt mode, or view more photos here
First Appearances

First/Last Comic Appearance (US) -
First/Last Comic Appearance (UK) -
First/Last Cartoon Appearance - Episode 70 (Season 3 #5), September 19th 1986 / Episode 74 (Season 3 #9), October 8th, 1986
First Toy Appearance - 1986

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

AKA 'Trash Talk'
Manufacturer - Maketoys
Toyline -

Additions/Mods:
- Added an Autobot symbol to the chest
- Added an Autobot symbol to the bonnet

Review

Swerve was a pretty nothing character during the G1 era if truth be told, never represented in the comics or really doing much until very recently, when IDW re-invigorated him and turned him into some much-needed comic relief for the series. Because of his resurgence in popularity, the last couple of years have seen a veritable flood of homages come through, both through official channels as well as some venerable (and less-than-venerable) third parties. Firstly, Hasbro Asia decided to retool their Sergeant Kup mould which, to be honest, didn't work very well. Then iGear produced one of their signature abominations by spewing forth an oversized monstrosity with a badly faded colour pallette. The Hasbro had another crack, this time producing a much more appropriate mould, but which was also legends class, and thus lacked some articulation. At the same time, SXS announced plans to repaint their rather tepidly-received Gears homage. And then in stepped Maketoys to trounce them all.


Appearance (Robot Mode) 8/10
Yes, this is more like it. Here we have a figure who is about the same size as Windcharger, which is my ideal for minibots in general. He is well-proportioned, with chunky feet and broad shoulders, thanks to the massive wheels on display. There are no wheels jutting out on the leg, because these cleverly tuck away for a neater silhouette. Swerve comes with a decent representation of the 'Shoomer' gun which caused him much consternation in the IDW's 'More than meets the eye' comics. You could also buy his 'first blaster' as an option but I prefer to homage classic G1 as much as possible, not the contemporary series. Also, he comes with a clear plastic serving tray and several beakers - this homages his role as Bartender, also in the IDW comics. Maketoys have gone with a non-standard 4mm slot in his fist as opposed to the pretty much universal 5mm size. This enabled them to keep the hands nice and compact, I guess. The paint apps are fairly minimal but what are in place are very well applied and really evoke Swerve well. The base plastic is actually the right colour, as opposed to iGear's washed out mess. Also the headsupt is very over the top, I'm not crazy on the mad grin but again is very IDW. As an added bonus you do get another head which represents what his face looked like after being on the wrong end of the Shoomer. This can easily be popped on in place of the 'stock' one.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 7/10
I'm really torn about this, because it is a very neat-looking vehicle but I'm not that keen about the overall aesthetic. I love the wheels and the proportions seem to hark back to the 'Choro-Q' based G1 minibots. Something I've noticed which is slightly odd is that there are visible screws on the bodywork between the front and rear wheel. These parts form the forearms in robot mode, and again the screws are visible. I find it strange that Maketoys did not put the screws onto the inside of the forearm, so they would be less seen in robot mode, and not seen at all in vehicle mode. This is going to sound strange, but it makes the whole thing more obviously a toy. I mean, I know it is a toy (technically adult collectible, LOL) but I find it odd. In a nice touch, the windscreen opens to reveal a moveable spotlight, not sure why, but it shows good attention to detail.


Transformation 8/10
The rear of the truck/buggy is lifted clear to unfold the legs, in a transformation seen many a time before. The feet are then unfolded. In a neat touch, the rear wheels are folded into the calf, stowing them nicely. The arms detach from the sides of the vehicle and they are extended by pulling on them. The hands are unfolded and snapped into position. Most of the time the hands pop off their tiny ball-joints unless you use the tab on the forearm to push into place instead. Then on the roof section the rear parts fold down and tab together, this allows for the sides of the main roof to be folded into the 'armpits' giving a better-proportioned robot silhouette. This is pretty clever stuff, and I particularly like the concealment of the rear wheels.

Poseability 8/10
Swerve has a ball-jointed head, although in order to move it, you will most likely need to remove the entire chest section - a feature that is present to allow the head swap. This is because it is set into the torso section, so is forgivable. He also has waist swivel. He has ball-jointed shoulders and hips, with an extra joint at the shoulder. There is also bicep and thigh swivel, with tight ratchet-like joints in the elbows, and more traditional joints in the knees. Both the hands and feet are on ball-joints, although expect the hands to fall of quite easily, and the balls are set very narrow. He balances reasonably well thanks to his ball-jointed feet, although he seems prone to tilting backwards.


Quality 7/10
The plastic is pretty decent, and on the whole the paint apps are very well applied. It feels like a well-designed toy but I am disappointed with the hands detaching too easily, and also the opening bonnet feels quite floppy. I also think that having to pull the chest section out to easily move the head is a problem, because I imagine that feature was designed to be used only a few times.

Overall - 38/50
This is a real improvement over the other iterations of Swerve I have seen, and I am more than happy with the size and aesthetics of the robot mode, which I feel look great with the other Hasbro and 3rd-party figures. I'm not sold on the alternate mode, but then I'm not likely to use it much. This is a really nice (and reasonably priced) addition by Maketoys. Recommended.