Ariel

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 59 (Season 2 #43), December 25th 1985
First Toy Appearance -

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

AKA 'PE-DX01 RC'
Manufacturer - Perfect Effect
Toyline - Motobot

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

Review

When Perfect Effect announced a figure which was actually not tiny, it got my attention. These guys had already provided the fandom with Reflector and a smattering of mini-cassettes, and have thoroughly proven themselves working to that scale. So I was excited when news of their Arcee homage came to light. However, when I saw the figure, and particularly in colour, I decided that it could not be Arcee. Firstly, the alternate mode is a motorcycle, and more importantly, this does not look a lot like Arcee, aside from a vaguely similar head. So I started wondering who I could possibly base this figure on, seeing as I wanted it so badly. I first thought about Elita One, who was the right colour but had a very distinctive pronged head, and I decided that this was too far from it. So instead, I want for Elite One's initial incarnation Ariel, who was also pink and white but with a much rounder head. So please welcome Ariel to the team! She may have only been in one episode, but with Dion in hand and the arrival of Orion Pax imminent, I will now have the whole trio who met their 'end' courtesy of a young punk called Megatron.


Appearance (Robot Mode) 8/10
I really like the stylised proportions of this robot, the lower legs are huge with a waspish waist and willowy forearms. If M&G Toys want for the 'sexy' angle then Perfect Effect went for a much more combat-ready aesthetic. The hot pink isn't particularly to my taste and is one of the reasons I ruled this out as an Arcee, but you can't deny that it makes for a striking robot. The array of weaponry at this gal's disposal is - as is the case with Reflector - stunning. 'Motobot' can dispatch her foes with dual pistols, swords or a huge sniper rifle. It makes you wonder whether Megatron would be brave enough to tangle with her. I have to say though, that the headsculpt is very disappointing. The lack of light-piping is understandable, given the way the 'ears' collapse into the head, but the sculpt is very faint, and the paint is gloopy. This leads to a pretty nondescript face, and also the glasses supplied have no way of actually sitting in place - I may even glue them in, just to detract from the lacklustre sculpt. You can choose to add 'wings' to the figure and indeed all of the associated weaponry and kibble can be attached to the robot so nothing is unused - a nice touch.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 9/10
The alternate mode of this figure really is stunning. Very reminiscent of the superbikes in Akira, the Junkions would be green with envy if they gave a damn about their appearance. Again, every single piece of weaponry and armour is utilised to make the bike complete. Unfortunately the ammo clip from the sniper rifle tends to fall out of it's place, which is the underside of the handlebar area. I am seriously considering adding some racing decals to this bike, because it just looks so great. There is a kickstand too which is a nice touch.


Transformation 6/10
This is actually deceptively simple, with the head rotating and folding underneath the chest and back, which become the gas tank area and handlebars. The arms kind of sit along the top of the bike until you snap the accessories into place, which do a good job of hiding them. The legs are a little more tricky. They are splayed apart (matron) and then the knees are bent. the feet have to be rotated round and slotted into place, which for me requires a crazy amount of pressure, so much that I broke the toy. Not good. I prize myself on being gentle but a cover between the foot and shin snapped in two and flew out of sight. Moving on, the knees are locked into position by a clever twist of the 'kneepads' - however I would also exercise caution at this juncture too.

Poseability 10/10
This is just great. You get a ball-jointed head and waist swivel. You also get useable tilting in the waist. There are ball-jointed shoulders, bicep swivel, elbow joints, wrist swivel, wrist tilt, lateral and side-to side movement in the hip, 'thigh' swivel, knee joints and articulated 'heels' and toes. The balance in the huge feet lend themselves to a variety of poses. With this figure, you put its arms behind its back, you can easily balance on one leg, you can hold the sniper rifle with 2 hands. This is as well-articulates as any action figure and yet it transforms into a very convincing bike. Amazing stuff.


Quality 3/10
Nothing is perfect, I guess. I'm still shocked that I broke this toy. It's funny, I have seen quite a few photos of this figure without the bars which appear in front of the ankles. I'm assuming that they have suffered similar fates to me. Luckily, I think that this looks damn good without the bars but it still doesn't excuse how hard it is to lock the feet in place for vehicle mode. I haven't mentioned that parts of this figure are die-cast, which lends itself enormously to the balance and poseability of this figure but creates the problem here. Plastic is so much more flexible and I'm sure if the parts you were slotting into were not metal then there would be no issue. Also the knee pads have a tendency to snag unless you have the knees in exactly the right position for transformation. I implore you to be extra careful with this figure!

Overall - 36/50
This figure comes tantalisingly close to being great, but is ultimately let down by a lazy-looking face sculpt and critical flaws with its transformation and use of materials which can lead to a broken product. This is still a very good figure however, with unparalleled articulation and versatility. I just don't think it can ever be a good stand-in for Arcee. Given that I am not a fan of the headsculpt, I would love to see someone produce an Elita One head for this. Still, this is a largely successful transition for Perfect Effect from teeny tiny to deluxe-size.

Blaster

"When the music is rockin, I'm rollin."

Finds all Earth music interesting, but it's rock'n'roll -- good, hard and loud -- that really sparks his circuits. In the forefront of any situation he's involved in. As AM/FM stereo cassette player, he can perform as deck plus receive radio signals of all frequencies with power outputs as low as 1/1,000,000 watt. Acts as Autobot communications center... can transmit up to 4,000 miles. Carries electro-scrambler gun that disrupts electrical devices.

STRENGTH

8

INTELLIGENCE

8

SPEED

2

ENDURANCE

8

RANK

7

COURAGE

9

FIREPOWER

7

SKILL

9

OVERALL

58

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 80, July 1991
First/Last Comic Appearance (UK) - Issue 91, March 7th 1987 / Issue 254, January 27th, 1990
First/Last Cartoon Appearance - Episode 30 (Season 2 #14), September 25th 1985 / Episode 95 (Season 3 #30), February 25th 1987
First Toy Appearance - 1985

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

AKA 'Broad Blast'
Manufacturer - Takara
Toyline - Device Label

Additions/Mods:
- Added an Autobot symbol to the chest (covering the smaller tampographed one)

Review

Blaster was the trendy hipster who made his debut in Season 2, and quickly established himself as a fan-favourite. His persona in the comics was immediately at odds with this, as he was a serious character who much mourned (and blamed himself for) the death of his partner, Scrounge. I actually like both aspects of the character, and always wanted the toy, because he was a garish boombox who also had mini-cassettes - not as many as Soundwave, but still, another great figure with lots of play value. Obviously the days of cassettes are long-gone, and there are 3 versions of Blaster to consider in this modern era: The first is a retool of Universe Soundwave, which is an odd spindly looking robot which becomes a plane; The second is a retool of 'Fall Of Cybertron' Soundwave (notice a pattern here?) but I decided to pick up 'Device Label' Blaster. Was it a good choice?


Appearance (Robot Mode) 7/10
The first thing to say about this figure is that the headsculpt is brilliant. It seems to homage both the cartoon and comic appearances in a nice blend which also incorporates some fabulous light-piping. The chest is perfect, and can even fit a G1 sized mini-cassette in situ. The arms are pretty nice, but you can't help but notice some very bulky-looking 'wings' hanging off the backs of them. Ditto the back, which is similarly encumbered with kibble, the reason for which becomes clear when the alt mode is revealed. The lower legs are quite strange looking, a bit cumbersome if you will, and there are some very obvious USB ports on both. He came sans weapon so I gave him a spare from my BTS Nemesis Prime trailer. I think it resembles the original rather well, despite the lack of a stock. This is a voyager figure, so displays very well with 'Music Label' Soundwave, being a fair bit taller (as with the original toys)

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 7/10
It's funny that what appeared modern just a few years ago is already feeling dated now. This is a very good approximation of a laptop however, resplendent with its 'Toshiba' logo. Actually this figure has a great bonus, in that it is a working USB hub - I have never tested it but have no reason to doubt it works. The 'lid' can open and close, with a satisfying ratchety click as it moves between the 2 states. Somwhat unusually for a modern figure, several large stickers are applied to make up the computer screen. If I ever feel particularly resourceful, I might remove these and paint my own custom 'Teletraan II' mural onto the screen - but then any website redesigns would be out of the question.


Transformation 7/10
The transformation is fairly simple but not without its issues. The chest cavity is opened and the head rotates and hides in there, this means that no cassettes can be stowed in alt mode. The forearms become thinner and elongate and loosely clip into the upper arms - I find this works better if the fists are rotates 180º first. The shoulders then move down the torso. I find it tricky to rejoin the panels that become the laptop screen, but maybe I'm just dim. In one final humiliation Blaster than has to do the horizontal splits before his legs clip into place, forming the rest of the faux keyboard.

Poseability 8/10
The head is on a swivel, but he has no waist rotation, shame. He has ball-jointed shoulders which can also pitch up and down thanks to his transformation. He also has double jounts in his elbows, and his wrists are on balljoints too. He has 2 joints in his hips, as well as 2 in his knees. No articulation to speak of in the ankle region though but those bulky lower legs pay dividends when it comes to posing, giving Blaster very good balance. The kibble on the arms and back can also be adjusted depending on your preferences. This guy would be worth a 9 if he had a ball-jointed neck and any movement in his waist.


Quality 7/10
Everything about this figure feels reasonably solid, the plastic is good quality, anthough unusually for a figure of this size there are no ratchet joints which does worry me slightly that he will suffer from 'Infernoitis' in later life. I don't particularly like the way that the screen joins together, the 'pins' used are very thin and could break if you let a careless oik near them.

Overall - 36/50
I'm pretty happy with Blaster. He displays well with Soundwave and his mini-cassettes which is really one of my main criteria. I'm happy that also my Blaster and Soundwave are both distinct and different moulds, and not just retools of the other. I would recommend this figure, and he looks great in an office with your various devices plugged into him.

Breakdown

"Keep your optical sensors to yourself."

Thinks everyone is staring at him, even Earth cars and stoplights. His self-consciousness hurts his performance. Finds heavy traffic nerve-wracking. Would prefer to be human so he could fit in better. In car Mode, engine emits vibrations that cause mechanical failures in other vehicles; prone to leaky fuel pump. In robot Mode, carries a concussion rifle which also causes mechanical failures. Combines with fellow Stunticons to form "Menasor".

STRENGTH

6

INTELLIGENCE

7

SPEED

7

ENDURANCE

5

RANK

6

COURAGE

8

FIREPOWER

6.5

SKILL

6

OVERALL

51.5

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

First/Last Comic Appearance (US) - Issue 22, November 1986 / Issue 49, February 1989
First/Last Comic Appearance (UK) - Issue 63, May 31st 1986 / Issue 289, September 29th 1990
First/Last Cartoon Appearance - Episode 56 (Season 2 #40), November 25th 1985 / Episode 70 (Season 3 #5), September 19th 1986
First Toy Appearance - 1986

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

AKA 'Car Crash'
Manufacturer - FansProject
Toyline - Causality

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

Review

There are two reasons why Breakdown and Red Alert should really be buddies. First off, they both sported the same alt mode (Lamborghini Countach) and secondly, they are both incredibly paranoid. I guess this is inevitable if you spend your college years smoking robo-weed. I was always an admirer of the Countach Transformers and was eager to get my hands on a new version of Breakdown. TFCC have announced a figure for him, which is another re-use of the Sideswipe mould but I have 2 issues with the figure, firstly that it ain't out yet and you have to use their bats**t crazy subscription service, and secondly that Breakdown was a component of Menasor, and I have little interest in combiner figures which do not combine. Thankfully, FansProject have decided to bring us a modern-day Menasor, and this marks the first time that they have undertaken an entire combiner, rather than just augment an existing one. Breakdown is the first of these Stunticons to arrive, so the question is, have FansProject got off on the 'right foot'?


Appearance (Robot Mode) 9/10
I have to say that this figure is byoootiful. He is either a very tall scout class or small deluxe class figure, and is a head taller than Swindle and Blast Off. In fact, he seems to plug the gap nicely between scout and deluxe class, so he can quite happily be posed with either group. I feel that this is a shrewd move for FansProject to make, and should result in a combiner which scales well with Colossus, and is smaller than Maketoys Giant. Moving on from his size, he is just so aesthetically pleasing. The mould is nice and detailed and the few paint apps there are are very neat and enhance the look of the figure. I have to give praise to the lower legs, which are the nicest I have seen on any car robot ever. Breakdown has the overall aspect of a tough little punk. The headsculpt is one of the best I have seen FansProject produce, with defined features and excellent paintwork, but as usual it would be nice to see some light-piping.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 7/10
Unfortunately the vehicle mode has lost some of its panache from yesteryear. I was always expecting a new vehicle mode, but what has arrived is slightly underwhelming. It looks a bit sparse in all honestly, and is definitely not as strong as the robot mode. It looks like a more modern Lambo and they are just not as dramatic as the old Countach. I think I would have preferred slightly more dramatic lines than the quite safe shape we have ended up with. The few paint apps there are are nice enough, and the red on the bonnet nicely references the original robot. There is a strange gray hinge which protudes out of the back windscreen which is really jarring, I'm assuming it had to be grey? Also the flat black windscreen is slightly dull, although it does contrast nicely with the off-white paint and again is perfectly reminiscent of the original.


Transformation 6/10
Hoo boy, This figure is surely a tale of 2 halves. The torso upwards is a joy to transform - you first elongate the waist by about a centimeter which allows you to disengage the panels and the lower arms are telescopic. The head is secreted in the chest cavity in what has become a rather classic reveal. The handgun is fromed by two seperate pieces of exhaust, which are normally attached to the rear of the car (natch). For me, the problems start when you attempt to transform those beautifully-constructed legs. You have to lift out a panel to expose the wheel, and then you fold the panel back in on itself. At the same time, there are inner panels which have to open to allow the upper legs to be freed. This can cause some annoying clearance issues, as you try to flex the plastic enough without damaging anything. Then there are the feet, which can absolutely cleave the adjoining panels unless they are transformed just so. Also, it can be damn hard to realign the 'shoulder' panels when changing back to car, unless you are absolutely certain you have collapsed the forearms as much as they can be.

Poseability 9/10
This figure has a fantastic articulation, and impeccable balance. His neck is ball-jointed and his waist also allows a similar range of movement. His shoulders and hips are both ball-jointed. He has bicep and thigh swivel which are absolutely required for the more dynamic poses. His knee and elbow joints allow the limbs to be folded up to about 45 degrees. But it is his feet which are sublime - he basically has ball-joints in both, they are also quite long and flat, meaning that this guy can stand on one leg, no problem at all. It helps also that this is such a good looking robot. I would certainly award this figure a 10 if he had any wrist articulation. Still, this is one impressive poser.


Quality 5/10
If FansProject have an Achilles heel, then it is their propensity to have very scary transformation sequences and thin plastics, where you can wreck your figure. It is a shame because Breakdown is very solid and superbly engineered in most respects, but the plastic used for the body shell is very thin in places, and almost what I would describe as pliable. The bonnet and front wheel arches have a habit of gouging each other to pieces if you are not very careful indeed about doing things in the exact right order. This is a tale told too often about FansProject's figures and something they need to remedy.

Overall - 36/50
This could so easily be a great figure. I still like it very much, but feel that FansProject always sail close to the wind with their designs, there are too many instances of neighbouring panels causing harm to each other without taking the utmost of care. But overall as a first Stunticon I am very impressed, particularly with the robot mode which is just wonderful. This is a superb display piece which I will almost be sad to showcase as just a limb of a larger robot. Just make sure you treat it with kid gloves and you will be very pleased with your purchase.

Dirge

"Fear is the element that unites all losers."

The sound of his engines causes petrifying fear in those who hear them. He's a master at handling fear... other Decepticons are put off by his mournful, silent ways. "He gives me the creeps," says Ramjet. He carries two concussion missiles. Needs to control a situation; otherwise, he too falls victim to fear, making him useless as a warrior.

STRENGTH

7

INTELLIGENCE

8

SPEED

8

ENDURANCE

6

RANK

5

COURAGE

4

FIREPOWER

8

SKILL

9

OVERALL

55

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 21, October 1986
First/Last Comic Appearance (UK) - Issue 88, November 22nd 1986 / Issue 279, July 21st 1990
First/Last Cartoon Appearance - Episode 31 (Season 2 #15), September 26th 1985 / Episode 80 (Season 3 #15), October 21st 1986
First Toy Appearance - 1985

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

Manufacturer - Hasbro
Toyline - Generations

Additions/Mods:
- Added a Small Decepticon symbol to the nosecone

Review

Dirge was another of those 1985 characters awkwardly shoe-horned into the cartoon continuity, showing up in Season 2 and immediately getting his butt kicked by Grimlock. He was a fairly non-descript character in all honesty - all of the coneheads seemed to be dumber versions of the original three seekers. But I had a soft spot for Dirge. I had the figure as a child and I always admired the almost electric blue paintjob, twinned with the caramel wings. What can I say, the eighties were an interesting time, style-wise and any colour combination was considered. Hasbro showed us Ramjet very early on in the classics line, and while the figure had its faults, it was really nice to see a conehead again. It would be some time before Hasbro would deliver Dirge, and by then, the seeker mould was already looking a bit old-fashioned compared to more recent figures. So the question is, has Hasbro left it too late with this guy?


Appearance (Robot Mode) 6/10
The seeker mould is long in the tooth and is not without its faults - it is smaller when compared with more recent deluxes, and the forearms are hollow. The forearms are a bit too stumpy as well, and there is no light-piping for the eyes. The 'conehead' headsculpt is a really nice touch though, and actually differentiates the figures properly whereas the G1 originals were probably the first case of a 'fan mode' where the head was deliberately mis-transformed to provide the classic shape. The face is quite grumpy, and reminds me of an 'Easter Island' statue. Also, Hasbro have evoked memories of the original seekers figures very well by ensuring that the cockpit is in place, alongside the shoulder-mounted weaponry and the classic silhouette. Dirge's colour scheme is vibrant, with the bright blue working well against the muted brown. I dislike Dirge's lower legs though, because they are rendered very bulky by wing kibble. I know that this was the original look, but things would have been helped by having the option to move them back a bit, as was the case with Ramjet.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 9/10
I absolutely love the seeker mould as an alt mode. Elegant and sleek, there is not too much robot kibble on display either. Dirge is no exception - I always loved the original figure and here the distinctive profile of the wings has been re-created perfectly, along with very clean paint apps and expertly-applied Decepticon tampographs, which I have augmented with a nice Decepticon symbol on the nosecone. Again, the colour scheme really 'pops' in this mode.


Transformation 8/10
The transformation successfully homages the original, and is a lot of fun. The legs are created by pulling the rear section of the plane out and apart, and the fuselage opens up to allow the arms to be moved to the side, and the fists unfolded. The cockpit and nosecone are 'snapped' downwards and rotated, before the whole assembly hinges and slots back into place with a reassuring click. The tailplanes are rotated into position and the wings are folded up. The difference being on this version of the mould that only tiny parts of the wing fold up to the torso, with the remainder being attached tot he leg. All that remains is to fold in the front landing gear to form the 'robo boobs' and the 'conehead' seeker look is complete.

Poseability 6/10
Quite poor, I have to say. The first issue that this mould encounters is very poor articulation. The head does swivel and the range of movement is better than the 'traditional' seekers because it is kibble-free. The shoulders offer lateral and side-to side movement, and the elbows are jointed but shockingly there is no bicep swivel. There is no useful wrist articulation. There is also no waist swivel. The hips offer a similar range of movement as the shoulders and the knees are jointed, unfortunately there is no thigh swivel but a rather less useful lower-leg swivel is provided. However, because this 'conehead' mould has no significant upper wing kibble, the arms are unimpeded and can be posed in a greater variety of ways. Balance is not fantastic though. Dirge in particular looks pretty daft because the leg kibble has no joint to move it back, unlike Ramjet. You are left with mould which is extremely lacking in versatility and is pretty bad for a deluxe figure.


Quality 7/10
I haven't had issues with any of the Seekers, but all the joints seem like they could snap relatively easily - there are few ball joints here (there are only any in the hip) which means that if breaking points are reached then you will end up with a broken figure, as opposed to the more recent toys which are designed to pop apart and then can be re-attached. The mould seems a little dated, and is consequently more fragile than later ones.

Overall - 36/50
This Dirge homage is pretty decent, despite being quite weak in robot mode the perennially excellent alternate mode helps things somewhat. There is some added poseability as Dirge is unimpeded by having to have the wings off of his back, but this causes its own problems by making the robot mode ungainly. I would recommend this more highly if you were planning to display it in fighter jet mode!

Grimlock

"Among the winners, there is no room for the weak."

Most fearsome and powerful Dinobot. Although dedicated to the Autobot cause, resents authority. Cold merciless, but a valiant warrior. Has contempt for the weak, including all humans. Great strength, uses jaws to break almost anything in two. Carries energo sword and galaxial rocket launcher in Dinobot mode. Other than arrogance and lack of speed, has no real weakness.

STRENGTH

10

INTELLIGENCE

7

SPEED

3

ENDURANCE

10

RANK

9

COURAGE

10

FIREPOWER

8

SKILL

10

OVERALL

67

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

First/Last Comic Appearance (US) - Issue 4, March 1985 / Issue 80, July 1991
First/Last Comic Appearance (UK) - Issue 29, October 5th 1985 / Issue 289, September 29th 1990
First/Last Cartoon Appearance - Episode 8 (Season 1 #8), October 27th 1984 / Episode 91 (Season 3 #26), November 18th 1986
First Toy Appearance - 1985

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

Manufacturer - Hasbro
Toyline - Fall Of Cybertron

Additions/Mods:
- Added an Autobot symbol to the chest, covering the tampographed 'dinobot' symbol
- Added an Autobot symbol to the t-rex head, covering the tampographed one
- Added the FansProject G3 Trailer weapon
- Added the Iron Factory Chest filler upgrade

Review

"Me Grimlock smash Hasbro Building!" Is what Grimlock would say if he ever saw the state of his 'classics' incarnation. This truly awful specimen is probably the low point of the entire Classics line and its successors. It was the case that the only alternative was the beautiful but slightly too big Masterpiece figure. That was until Hasbro released a voyager-class Grimlock within their 'Fall Of Cybertron' line. But would this do Grimlock justice, or would it be flimsy and insubstantial as with some of the other FOC figures?


Appearance (Robot Mode) 7/10
I finally got sick of looking at the terrible Classics Grimlock, and as soon as this version arrived I melted him in my waffle iron. I can tell you that this figure is a major improvement! Early pictures of this figure had me very worried, but I must say that in hand, this figure is quite a lot nicer than those early photos led me to believe. The headsculpt is impressive, and the broad chest and shoulders give hime a very powerful look. The silver plastic is quite nice, but I'm not a fan of the pale gold, which looks washed out in my opinion. My biggest worry with this figure was gappiness, but actually it ain't too bad. The lower legs are hollow at the back but are kind of filled in by the tail tips. The back of the torso is completely hollow but reasonably filled in by the dinosaur neck and head. Also the addition of the Iron Factory filler makes the back slightly more complete with 'wings' which can evoke the G1 appearance if you wish. Compared to other figures on the FOC line, this feels very substantial. Size wise, He is about the same height as United Megatron, albeit lighter, so scales very well with Optimus Prime, being slightly taller than him. I also augmented the figure with a FansProject sword, which looks nice and shiny.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 7/10
I'm not a major fan of this mode, which is a massive step backwards from the Masterpiece version, but it is still a lot nicer than the 'Classics' version. That thick tail will annoy you from certain angles, I won't lie. The hollowness was a major problem in Dino mode, with there being obvious voids from the neck all the way down to the baby maker. Unfortunately because this approximates an old-skool T-Rex, the 'chest' area is on full display. Thankfully, Iron Factory have produced a very decent filler which plugs in snugly and does not need to be removed. Also, they have done a great job in matching up the paint and plastic colour of the main figure - so much so that you do not notice this is a 3rd-party add-on at all. The light-up gimmick works impressively, but I feel that the surrounding plastic needed to be thicker to accentuate the effect, seeing as in dinosaur mode the entire head lights up like a Christmas tree. Also, it is a shame that the mouth cannot be posed 'open' - you have to pull the trigger or prop the mouth open with something, as I elected to do.


Transformation 8/10
The transformation is fun, with some elements which invoke the G1 figure. The dinosaur head and shoulders flip back to reveal the robot head, which is similar to the original, the main difference being that the shoulders do not split in two to form the distinctive 'wings' in robot mode. The tail splits apart to reveal the (not very well-disguised) legs. The bottom of the tail folds into each lower leg. Lastly, the fists fold out from the legs, giving the robot mode a very G1 feel in this area.

Poseability 8/10
The articulation is very good, with a ball-jointed head (although his chin prevents much downwards movement) good movement at the shoulder, wrist swivel, elbow joints, bicep swivel, decent hip articulation, thigh swivel, knee joints. No waist swivel though. Because of the transformation, the arms can also be posed inwardly or outwardly at the shoulder. Most of the joints are like little cogs, and these will obviously wear down with excessive use - a poor man's ratchet joint. Surprisingly this figure balances well, despite hollow heels and some back kibble.


Quality 6/10
Nothing feels immediately problematic on this mould, but the quality of plastic certainly feels lesser when compared with other figures in my collection. Also, those crappy ratchet-like joints are very tight and every time you move them it is akin to stripping the plastic cogs they hinge on. So I wouldn't like to say what the long-term prognosis for this figure is.

Overall - 36/50
I know a lot of people will consider using this figure in their 'classics' lineup. does it work? For me, it does, I stuck Reprolabels over the dinobot insignia and it looks pretty good. He scales very well with classics Voyager Prime in robot mode. Aesthetically, you can get away with it - it's not as jarring as trying to incorporate a Movieverse figure into your collection. So in summary better than I thought. As a stand alone figure people will definitely like this, and I feel that if you wanted to display this figure in your 'classics' collection in robot mode, he is a better fit in your collection than any other Grimlock out there. But if you prefer to display Grimmy as a dino, then it is MP all the way.

Hardhead

"It's either MY way -- or NO way!"

The only way to get him to follow advice is to persuade him to come up with the idea himself. Stubborn, doesn't talk much. Binary-bonded to Duros, a Nebulan who loves a battle as much as he does. In tank mode, maximum speed: 155 mph. Range: 450 miles. Has 120mm laser-guided gun that shoots incendiary, sonic and explosive shells. In robot mode, has 2 shatterblasters that shoot diamond-hard shards.

STRENGTH

9

INTELLIGENCE

6

SPEED

5

ENDURANCE

9

RANK

5

COURAGE

10

FIREPOWER

8

SKILL

7

OVERALL

59

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 201, January 21st 1989
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 'Hardbone'
Manufacturer - Toyworld
Toyline -

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

Review

The Headmasters - I was pretty ambivalent towards them, but then Hardhead always had my attention. This tough, no nonsense jarhead epitomised what the rank 'n file Autobots should be - seemingly uncomplicated and clear in their objectives: to kick Decepticon butt. The fact he wielded 2 guns and also had an enormous gun on his shoulder and also turned into a tank with a big gun made me like the character all the more. I liked guns as a child, what can I say. I wanted this figure as a child but eventually ended up with Apeface, which was no bad thing in hindsight. But still I always admired this figure from afar and my interest was piqued when he featured in his own IDW spotlight not too long ago, as well as some other stories. The Headmasters in general were underused in the fiction outside of the Japanese cartoon, so I was pleased to see him get some attention. The fact that he survived a point blank shot to the head (finally proving the veracity of his name) and also clinically dispatched Nightbeat (long story) fleshed his character out a bit. When I heard that both Toyworld and FansProject were going to produce fully-fledged Headmasters (as opposed to upgrade kits) I was mildly impressed, and I finally decided to get Chromedome. Then, I kept looking at Toyworld's 'Hardbone' figure and finally took the plunge. So how does this figure compare to FansProject's efforts?


Appearance (Robot Mode) 8/10
I think that Toyworld have done a pretty good job here in updating this character with modern aesthetics without deviating too far from the source material. To my delight, the character still has his dual rifles, plus the enormous cannon on his shoulder. This goes a long way to cementing him as Hardhead. For some reason, Toyworld felt that this overwhelming arsenal was insufficient and added a stick grenade and large knife, both of which stow in holsters on the outside of his calves. I'm not interested in them particularly, but it is nice the Toyworld went to the effort to both provide the weapons and build in storage. The grenade launcher can be attached to one of the rifles which is a classy touch. His colour palette is pretty nice, very reminiscent of the old figure and with a smattering of clear plastic parts, which is always welcome. The clear plastic is an orange-ish yellow and while looking good, I do question the placement of some of it. Onto the headsculpt which is decent enough but feels a bit pedestrian and is probably the weakest aspect of the figure, although it is nice to see a 3rd party who utilised clear plastic on the face, even if light-piping is impossible doe to the special nature of the head.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 7/10
I'm a big fan of H-Tanks and while this looks the part, it looks quite bland. A vehicle this tooled up should be a spectacle but something about it just feels a bit boring. It is detailed nicely enough, but just doesn't scream 'I am a death machine' at me. I think it is something to do with the rather flat colour palette. Additionally, the tank treads don't really align very nicely, because the rather loose tabs which hold the rear treads into position are too long, and do not allow them to sit parallel to the tank body. I was pretty disappointed as I at least expected the alt mode to hold together securely.


Transformation 7/10
This figure is generally fun to transform. Firstly, the head pops off and unfolds to reveal Duros, the unfortunate little guy who has to get shot at so much. Then forearm panels open and the fists are rotated into them, then the panels are shut again. The arms telescope in on themselves once the elbows have been straightened. The treads behind the upper arms are lifted and rotated back into position, not that this makes much of a difference. The feet are straightened and slot back into the lower leg and then the treads fold out rather elegantly to allow the lower legs to fold over the upper legs. You have to do some fiddling with the crotch(!) to tab the legs in which become the front treads. The rear treads then rather tenuously cling to tabs which are cast in clear plastic, for reasons unknown. You also have to detach the large cannon to transform Hardhead, and re-attaching said cannon takes patience and perseverance.

Poseability 8/10
Thanks to some loose joints, I have had to score this figure down somewhat, but generally we have a very articulated figure. Firstly the head swivels but does not look down as with Chromedome. Also Duros's limbs are very loose so you kind of squich the head to turn it and then have to spend time moving Duros's limbs again to look straight. The waist is also on a swivel. The shoulders and hips offer a good range of movement with ratchety goodness thrown in for good measure. The knees and elbows are also ratcheted. There is the by now standard bicep and thigh swivel, as well as rotatable (but loose) wrists and The rear 'heels' are extremely useful in providing balance, being ball-jointed.


Quality 6/10
This is a rather mixed bag as the quality of the plastic itself feels high, however there is rather more moulding flash on this figure than I would expect, and I had to remove a big clump of plastic from the head plate. Also the use of clear plastics on or near joints ar for structural stability is a long-term bad idea. And, some joints are criminally loose. Particularly the arms which, when posing will routinely try to telescope back up again, and the wrists which are already floppy. Also, that huge and impressive cannon rests on a tiny joint which is incredibly loose out of the box, so you have to use a combination of balance and luck to point it skyward and expect it to stay. It's a shame but the QC issues on this figure do worsen the experience of interacting with it.

Overall - 36/50
This is my first Toyworld experience and I have mixed feelings about them as a company as I do around this figure. Parts of it work very well, I like the large size as opposed to Chromedome, I really like aspects of the robot mode and, to look at, you would think this was a very solid figure. And I would still recommend it because the only other option is Universe Hardhead which is just a recoloured Onslaught, unless you go the Headrobots route. I got this for a decent price off eBay and they are pretty easy to find. I guess my opinion on whether you should go for this may change if FansProject reveal their own homage, but so far they have been quiet. Aesthetically I think that Chromedome and Hardhead go together just fine, which for me was my major consideration. You can also slot Chromedome's head onto this chap, but, alas, not the other way round. Overall, I would (just) recommend you pick this figure up, if only because it fills a gap in my collection better than any other option out there.

Hot Spot

"Rust never sleeps, and neither do I."

Likes to be where the action is. Charismatic, inspiring... other Protectobots have trouble keeping up with his non-stop pace. Believes in being maximally operational every moment of one's life. His fire truck hose shoots high-pressure water 1200 feet. As robot, can press 60,000 pounds, uses fireball cannons that shoot bursts of 2000 degrees Fahrenheit blue flame 1.5 miles. With fellow Protectobots, forms "Defensor".

STRENGTH

9

INTELLIGENCE

7

SPEED

4

ENDURANCE

9

RANK

7

COURAGE

9

FIREPOWER

7

SKILL

6

OVERALL

58

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

First/Last Comic Appearance (US) - Issue 24, January 1987 / Issue 35, December 1987
First/Last Comic Appearance (UK) - Issue 63, May 31st 1986 / Issue 151, February 6th 1988
First/Last Cartoon Appearance - Episode 30 (Season 2 #14), September 25th 1985 / Episode 94 (Season 3 #29), February 24th 1987
First Toy Appearance - 1985

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

AKA 'Hot Zone'
Manufacturer - Hasbro
Toyline - Titanium

Additions/Mods:
- Painted the silver mouthplate black
- Painted the circle on the chest black
- Added an Autobot symbol to the chest, covering the tampographed one
- Added an Autobot symbol to the cabin grille

Review

With the imminent release of the Asian exclusive Hot Spot, I thought it was high time to have a look at the only other viable option if you want to represent this figure in your 'classics' collection. For whatever reason, the Protectobots stand alone as the only one of the four 'scramble city' groups without a modern-day homage, which is a real shame. Their leader, Hot Spot, was one of my favourite combiner leaders, because he turned into a fire engine (which was cool) and he was bright blue (which was really cool!) Hasbro finally homaged him as part of their 'Titanium' line. So the question is, can a figure from this line be re-purposed and work in a Classicsverse collection? Is this figure solid as Diecast, or flimsier than iGear's release dates?


Appearance (Robot Mode) 7/10
Titanium Hot Zone is a repaint of RID Optimus Prime. I have a lot of affection for the 'Robots in Disguise' cartoon and toyline, so I was unsure how a repaint based on Optimus would work. I'm glad to say that it has worked pretty well. Things like the asymmetrical chest strap and the moulded wheel detail on the shins are hallmarks of RID Prime, but they are balanced out by the vibrant blue used. You would almost think that this was designed to be Hot Spot, rather than just a fortuitous repaint. I think the headsculpt is really great and works well enough for the character who always had a 'Prime-esque' head. But from a distance, Hot Spot looked like he was grimacing through gritted 'teeth', but that is not the case! I got annoyed by this so I actually painted the offending silver 'teeth' black. As well as this, I painted the chest logo over, so I could stick a more suitable Autobot symboll in it's place. My major issue with this guy is the fact that his lower legs are very hollow indeed. This aside, Hasbro have done a good job.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 6/10
The Titanium line was known for having issues with some of the alt modes, which didn't hold particularly well together, but I'm happy to report that Hot Spot doesn't suffer too badly from this. This is a pretty nice fire engine with an articulated ladder (which is more than Hasbro could be bothered to do for voyager Inferno) and small water jets can be folded out from the top of it. The colour matching between the plastic and metal is very good, but some of the paint on the die-cast sections is quite lumpy. The detail on the front of the cabin is very sparse, which is disappointing. Also, ground clearance at the front is practically non-existent, so Hot Spot looks like he has been 'pimped' by Wheeljack (that sounds more risque than intended)


Transformation 8/10
The transformation sequence is pretty unusual, and unlike some Titanium figures, both modes feel 'secure' and connect together solidly enough. The entire cabin area is made by folding the legs back on themselves which is very unusual and works well. As I have said, this does make the lower legs notably hollow, but, still, I really like how this guy transforms - he is a lot of fun.

Poseability 7/10
Diecast can really inhibit a figure's balance when used in inappropriate places, but in this case, the use of metal has been implemented successfully. Hot Spot has chunky feet which also happen to be made of metal. This affords him good balance which allows for a decent array of poses. He has waist and thigh swivel, bendable knees, elbows, rotating fists, and a full range of movement in his shoulders and hips. The only thing missing here which inhibits posing is the lack of bicep swivel. But overall, well done Hasbro. Unfortunately the hollow legs mean that there are only a few angles where you would want to display this figure from so ultimately this affects the score.


Quality 8/10
I thought that I might break this figure at one point while looking for evidence of a bicep swivel, but everything remained in place! The use of metal throughout gives the figure a qualitative weight that is lacking in all mainline figures these days. Theoretically, the lower legs are the weakest point, bearing the load of metal above them and being hollow. But, they are very well designed, and are very rigid when clicked into their final positions.

Overall - 36/50
I had previous bad experiences with the Titanium line, and so was prejudiced towards getting any more. However, Hot Zone is a rock solid figure who looks decent as a robot and not desperately bad as a fire engine. I like the fact that the mould is entirely different from Inferno, which is why I'm considering whether to bother with the forthcoming Asian Inferno repaint. I'm sure that one of the third parties will come up with a Defensor soon, and until then, I am more than happy to use Hot Zone in my collection as an able stand-in.

Inferno

"Where there's smoke, there's me."

The hotter things get, the better he likes it, and this goes for fires AND fights! Inferno can do anything Earth fire trucks can in vehicular mode, but is often distracted from his job to engage in combat. His great strength is thanks to his ceramic-plated armored skin that can withstand 8000 degrees Celcius. He also has an extinguisher rifle that shoots flame-suppressing foam, an energy dampening beam to counter other beams and forearms that shoot missiles. Unfortunately, he doesn't follow orders well and isn't very mobile as a robot.

STRENGTH

9

INTELLIGENCE

6

SPEED

4

ENDURANCE

8

RANK

5

COURAGE

9

FIREPOWER

6

SKILL

6

OVERALL

53

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

First/Last Comic Appearance (US) - Issue 78, May 1991 / Issue 80, July 1991
First/Last Comic Appearance (UK) - Issue 30, October 12th 1985 / Issue 282, August 11th 1990
First/Last Cartoon Appearance - Episode 29 (Season 2 #13), October 9th 1985 / Episode 64 (Season 2 #48), December 16th 1985
First Toy Appearance - 1985

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

Manufacturer - Hasbro
Toyline - Universe

Additions/Mods:
- Added the ladder and weapon from the TFC 'Gear of War' set
- Added an Autobot symbol to the cab (covering the smaller tampographed one)
- Added an Autobot symbol to what becomes the back of his shoulder
- Added various Reprolabels

Review

Inferno was one of the first figures I had as a child and since I have always had a deal of affection for the character. Fire engines are awesome, robots are awesome, so here we had a match made in heaven. His fictional appearances were slightly disappointing though, particularly in the cartoon. In the comic, the most memorable story he had any direct involvement in was 'shut up', a classic Simon Furman black-and-white short, where Bludgeon and his fellow pretenders conspired to give Inferno the creeps, before Bludgeon's telekinesis-powered katana did the rest. Inferno was also blown up during The Legacy of Unicron. Despite his dearth of appearances, I was really excited when the new Inferno figure was announced, and thanks to TFC Toys, I wasn't too disappointed.


Appearance (Robot Mode) 9/10
First, I need to point out that the figure I am reviewing has some Reprolabels in place, as well as the ladder and rocket launcher which came with TFC's 'Gear of War' set. In truth, I mainly bought the set for Inferno as it improves the character so much. The original figure came without a ladder, and a stupid water gun in its place. I place the ladder on his back, it fits loosely and the proper placement is supposed to be clipped to the forearm in one of 2 ways. The chromed launcher fits loosely over either fist but I think it looks very effective. The standalone figure was lacking any of the G1 touches so this upgrade helps immensely. Inferno is a chunky and substantial voyager class figure, and the paint apps in place are decent. My only gripe (now that I have addressed the lack of a ladder) is that the red colour is a bit dull, I would have preferred a more vibrant hue. The head scupt is probably my favourite of any figure in this size class, it is well-sculpted, with clean lines and tremendous light-piping.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 8/10
The truck mode is very decent, and is only marred by the fact that looking down at the back of it reveals the arms, there is no 'shell' to cover the robot kibble which is a shame. This is partially obscured by the ladder, which is articulated and telescopic. This adds somewhat to the playability of the figure, and from the front there is little to suggest this is a Transformer. There is also a wealth of sculpted detail, and some nice paint apps whcih I have augmented with a few choice Reprolabels. The TFC ladder massively improves the otherwise disappointing water cannon. I'm not entirely convinced about the 'fire rescue' lettering though!


Transformation 7/10
There are lots of 'shell' parts to this figure but they collapse nicely so are not very evident in robot mode. The panels either side of the cabin windows fold onto themselves and then the 2 parts of the cabin separate and form the upper arms. The lower arms are separated from the bottom of the rear, and the legs are then formed. The front wheels tuck in to allow the hips to move up into position, and the head reveal is spring-loaded. The lags are then rotated by swiveling the thighs and the feet are unfolded. Then you are done! There is an additional step which Grapple does not have, which is that the forearm panels can be rotated, giving better access to the fists.

Poseability 6/10
For me, this is where both Grapple and Inferno fall down, and quite literally in this case. You may think that the mark is harsh but it is an absolute nightmare trying to pose these guys. Both of these were bought brand new and both are incredibly loose around the hip and shoulder joints, which are the most important for poseability imo. They literally flop all over the place, so buyer beware. Articulation wise, they aren't too bad though, with head swivel, lateral and side-to-side movement in the shoulder, bicep swivel and elbow joints. There is also no hip swivel but there is (too much) movement in the hips, and elbow joints. The 'toes' can be tilted up and down slightly. The ladder can also be posed facing forwards or behind. Unlike Grapple, Inferno does have articulation in his wrist, so hence he scores a bit higher!


Quality 6/10
On this mould, arms tend to pop out at the bicep during transformation. The bigger problem is the aforementioned loose joints which are already terrible, so Primus only knows how bad these will get!

Overall - 36/50
This figure would be a great addition were it not for the overly-weak joints in key areas. If ever there was a case for ratchet joints being used then this is it. I would definitely recommend that you purchase the TFC 'Gear of War' set as the additional Inferno accessories really make this figure. Couple this with an amazing head sculpt and you have a fantastic display piece. Just don't move him around too much!