Grand Slam

"The sounds of war are history speaking."

War-weary veteran of ten thousand battles on a hundred worlds. Dedicated his life to recording the sounds of the Autobot-Decepticon conflict: the nervous laughter, the cries of pain, the blistering explosions, the chilling quiets. Hopes his work will one day serve as a grim reminder of the awful price of war. Can audio-record up to 20 years of sound. Armament is purely defensive: smoke discharger combines with dual repulsors. With his partner Raindance, combines to form Slamdance.

STRENGTH

6

INTELLIGENCE

8

SPEED

3

ENDURANCE

8

RANK

4

COURAGE

9

FIREPOWER

3

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) - Issue 47, December 1988 / Issue 48, January 1989
First/Last Comic Appearance (UK) -
First/Last Cartoon Appearance -
First Toy Appearance - 1988

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

AKA 'Slam Tank' by Keith's Fantasy Club

Additions/Mods:
- Added an Autobot symbol to the side of the tank

Review

I had no idea that Grand Slam existed until recently, as he was quite late to the party in terms of Blaster's other mini-cassettes. But, reading his rather OTT bio, I feel I have done this war-weary veteran an injustice. Anyway, he was rather unique in that he could combine with his pal Raindance, to form a combiner called Slamdance, which sounds more like an American sport than an Autobot. Anyhow, in one of the less-expected 3rd party homages this year, a company called Keith's Fantasy Club (or KFC, see what they did there?) elected to visit these characters. Nothing that KFC has done thus far has really interested me, but I thought these characters might be worth it at the price. Was I wrong?


Appearance (Robot Mode) 7/10
This figure is similar to Laserbeak et al in that he does not have a humanoid mode, with the main mode in this case being a tiny but unfeasibly well-armed tank. It's nice enough I suppose, but could do with being more rigid. It has a digger-style barricade at the front, and a multitude of chromed guns forming the turret. This figure is very successful in homaging the original, as all of the weapons are slight variations on the originals. The colour scheme is suitably garish in the way that only late G1 figures are. There is very little in the way of paint , which I think is a tad lazy and lets the overall figure down somewhat.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 6/10
This is a cassette which is compatible with the original G1 cassettes as well as the BTS offerings. It is quite nice and does evoke the original pretty damn well, but is just inescapably bland. Save for some black paint and some gold detailing (which is relevant to the combiner) this is one boring piece.


Transformation 7/10
There's not a major amount to do here, most of the more complex transformation is not relevant unless you are combining the figure. Basically the tank tracks are split at the front scoop and are rotated so that they tab in and from the main body of the cassette. The turret is stripped of most of the weapons, and is rotated horizontally and then vertically into place. That's pretty much it.

Poseability 6/10
This figure has a turret which can rotate on its axis, as well as pitch up and down. That's about as much as you can hope for with a tank, I guess.


Quality 6/10
I'm really not overly impressed by the plastics used on this figure, nor the lack of detail as I perceive it regarding paint apps. My main comparison for a figure this small is Perfect Effect or BTS, and unfortunately Keith's Fantasy Club have a way to go before they can compete with either of these 2 companies. Both offer better plastic, tighter joints and more frequent paint apps than this effort.

Overall - 32/50
I have scored this figure low but it is important to remember that most people will just be using this to form the combiner, the review of which can be found elsewhere on this site. As an individual component this figure is lacklustre, with a tank mode which lacks coherence and a cassette mode which lacks, well, anything of note. The chromed weapons are probably the nicest thing about this figure, and while it adheres rigorously to the G1 character of old, it falls some way short in terms of its quality.

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!

Long Haul

"A battle front is only as good as its supply line."

Unhappy with unglamorous role, but understands its importance... helps build Decepticons' massive energy-recovery installations. As vehicle, can carry 90 tons for 1200 miles, use a dual heat-seeking missile mount. As torso module, combines with fellow Constructicons to form giant robot "Devastator". Can be goaded into a fight in which he's overmatched.

STRENGTH

9

INTELLIGENCE

5

SPEED

2

ENDURANCE

9

RANK

4

COURAGE

8

FIREPOWER

7

SKILL

4

OVERALL

48

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 93 (Season 3 #28), November 19th 1986 First Toy Appearance - 1985

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

AKA 'Dump Truck'
Manufacturer - Maketoys
Toyline - Type 61

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

Review

I often wonder what my beloved Transformer characters were doing between the early 1990's and, say 2005 and in Long Haul's case it is clear he has been hitting the steriods big time. As the crotch of Devastator, this unfortunate robot always had the hardest burden to bear, so it's perhaps not surprising that he turned to drugs. Long Haul was also the most prosaic of the Constructicons; the other vehicles had exciting functions, whereas a pretty standard dump truck failed to excite. But, as a toy, is this Maketoys incarnation similarly bland?


Appearance (Robot Mode) 9/10
Long Haul is incredibly squat, and powerful looking. I think that this annoys some collectors, but for me he perfectly epitomises what the Constructicons are about. This guy is the engine room for the whole combiner so has to be pretty damn solid. From his wide-legged stance to massive fists, Long Haul looks like a brawler - the blunt instrument you use when more precise methods fail. He is Devastator in a nutshell. I really admire the head scuplt which is appropriately industrial. As in all cases with these Maketoys bots, the paint apps are well-judged and immaculate. I guess they learned some lessons on yellow Giant, after all.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 9/10
The dumptruck mode is equally formidable. The tyres are superbly sculpted and chunky, and have the added bonus of having 'steering'; not rack and pinion exactly but it works well enough to make interesting poses. The cabin area is absolutely dwarfed by the huge tyres beneath it and you really get a sense of the size of this vehicle. The combiner chest kibble can be smartly stowed in the rear of the huge bed. I'm very pleased overall with this dump truck, which once again conveys brute force and horsepower. The lime green matches so well with the G1 original and the paint apps are, once again, understated and very neat.


Transformation 7/10
One thing you can feel when transforming this figure is how substantial it is, both in size and weight. The truck bed splits in half to become the arms, but not after first folding the arms back on themselves. It is a pretty imaginative way of forming them and better than the usual 'hide the arms under the chassis/fuselage' fare. There is some manipulation required around the crotch piece (that's what she said) but nothing too taxing. The headlight assemblies fold in to form a more svelte waist and the somewhat diddy feet fold out from the shins. It is very difficult to reattach the front portion of the truck bed though as the instructions explain it, as you have to push them over very wide tabs. This requires herculean effort and can cause serious damage to the figure unless you come up with your own method. After I join the arms back to form the truck bed, I pitch them down slightly, to make placement of the 2 flaps easier.

Poseability 8/10
Long Haul's head and shoulders are both ball-jointed. His elbows are double-jointed and his almighty fists also rotate at the wrist. He has ratcheted joints in his waist, and 2 ratchets in each hip allowing for comprehensive yet supportive movement. Bicep and thigh swivel are both present, and Long Haul's 'toes' are also on a ball-joint. Disappointingly, his knees are very low, but his function as the combiner lower torso probably made this necessary. Apart from this issue, Long Haul is surprisingly poseable, and thanks to his low-wide-legged stance, he has an excellent center of gravity.


Quality 8/10
I would love to mark this figure higher because he is heavier and more substantial than any of his fellow Constructicons. He has superlative hip joints, with no expense spared on keeping them as rigid as possible, bearing in mind the sheer weight this guy carries around when forming Devastator. He is extremely well made out of very high quality plastic, surpassing all but the most recent FansProject efforts in my humble opinion. I only mark him slightly lower because of the difficulty with getting the front of the truck bed to rest back accross the cabin in alt mode and the extreme force required (unless you alleviate it somewhat by re-jigging the transformation sequence) to do so.

Overall - 41/50
I really have a lot of time for Long Haul. He shines in both modes and embodies what I have always admired in the Constructicons. He is a pretty perfect robot, and poses so well, adding some much-needed weight to the Constructicon ranks. If not for that one very scary aspect of his transformation, then this guy would be getting a couple of extra marks under his belt. But even with these issues, Long Haul is the most successful of Maketoy's reimaginings, and my favourite to boot. Just don't tell the others.

Scrapheap

"What? Do you think it's just a scrap-heap? Can't you see the wonderful gifts sleeping in that?"

A member of the Junkions who is a tribe of scrapper in the universe. He is a young lad and has little experience, but he can identify qualities and find rare and valuable parts from junks. His comrades acknowledge his talent. But he has not the slightest intention of ending his life as a scrapper, and always thinks that he wants to achieve something like great inventors or creators. He hates to quote the words from TV-CF or to use distinctive accents. Therefore he makes an effort to speak in a manner of common language, especially in an expression willingly used by a young person.

STRENGTH

6

INTELLIGENCE

9

SPEED

7

ENDURANCE

8

RANK

2

COURAGE

4

FIREPOWER

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 - The Transformers: The Movie, August 8th 1986 / Episode 85 (Season 3 #20), November 12th, 1986
First Toy Appearance - 2011

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

AKA 'Wreck-Gar'
Manufacturer - Hasbro
Toyline - TF2010

Additions/Mods:
- Custom Scrapheap headswap
- Added a Autobot symbol to the windshield, in place of the rubsign

Review

Scrapheap was another barely-seen Junkion character, but I still wanted him to complement Wreck-Gar and Junkyard. However, preventing me from doing so was the fact that you could only buy Scrapheap in an E-Hobby set with alternate versions of Kup and Hot Rod, for a rather silly price. Also, the deco was a bit too dark when compared with the other Junkions, especially when Scrapheap was supposedly a mixture of yellows, reds and light browns. Salvation came from a replica of the Scrapheap head, which I bought along with a 'Reveal the Shield' Wreckgar. And, lo, Scrapheap was born.


Appearance (Robot Mode) 8/10
I think that this custom works rather well as the character. Because I already have the United Wreckgar, this donor body is different enough to be carried off as another character, and the nice headsculpt really differentiates it nicely. The light piping is effective and the head has been painted to a good standard. I am a fan of this mould in general, and I think the muted paint apps actually work here to cement Scrapheap as a 'background' character, which is what made me plump for the United Wreck-gar in the first place.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 8/10
I like everything about this alt mode. I'm so impressed on how little robot kibble is visible. You can see the hands above the engine if you look carefully, but that's about it. The wheels move very freely and I also love the little touches like the licence plate, and the rubberised handlebars which are flexible enough to allow any spare Junkions to hold them.


Transformation 7/10
The exceptionally clever transformation is marred somewhat for me by the automorph feature, which apparently puts great strain on the rubberised handlebars. I haven't had an issue myself yet, but I have read examples of people snapping them. The entire top of the bike literally lifts off from the running gear, and is unfurled to make the robot legs. The engine becomes the chest and the arms are unfolded back on themselves to form the shoulders. Finally, the head is revealed by lifting it forward. Half of the rear strut detaches and is then transformed to become a melee weapon, which reminds me of one of those flimsy wheels which spin in the wind.

Poseability 8/10
This mould is capable of most of the articulation you would expect from a modern deluxe figure. The way that his head is set into his neck and the surrounding kibble give it a limited range of movement, and also he bends at the knee oddly because of how his legs are used in the alt mode. His head is balljointed, as are his shoulders and hips, he has bicep and thigh swivel, jointed elbows and knees, wrist swivel and ball-jointed feet.


Quality 7/10
I have worries regarding this figure, and they are centered around the automorph feature, and also the fact that the rubbery handlebars deform quickly when packed away, which is why when I store this mould I do so with the handlebars bent to the side, rather than facing out.

Overall - 38/50
Because the E-Hobby set is sooo expensive, I recommend that you try this configuration out to represent your Scrapheap, as I think it works very well, and the colour scheme is even more suited to the original character than the official one. With this guy in place, I feel my Junkion collection is complete!

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.