Alpha Trion

"Knowledge is power."

Just like the Alpha Trions from other continuities, A3 seems to possess much knowledge and has a great understanding of the Universe and the Transformers' role within it. His constant companion is a small robot possessing many of the traits of the super computer Vector Sigma. A3 has been an advisor to many Transformers, a role he is both comfortable in and suited for and even in old age there is still more than meets the eye to this battle hardened Autobot. Not much else is known about him, but for three travelers, the information he has is of great importance and they long to find out more of what he can offer them.

STRENGTH

8

INTELLIGENCE

9

SPEED

8

ENDURANCE

9

RANK

8

COURAGE

8

FIREPOWER

7

SKILL

8

OVERALL

65

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 53 (Season 2 #37), September 12th 1985 / Episode 97 (Season 4 #2), November 10th 1987
First Toy Appearance - 2007

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

Manufacturer - Hasbro
Toyline - Botcon

Additions/Mods:

Review

I always had a thing for the Cybertron Vector Prime mould, and was annoyed that I could not fit him in anywhere with my 'classicsverse' collection. Yes I know he has been retconned to be included as some multiversal being who was around for G1, but I don't like that kind of thing. Then I saw the glorious repaint that was Botcon Alpha Trion and my wee legs turned to jelly. I resolutely decided that I could not afford the secondary market prices for this figure but in a moment of weakness I got him anyway, because I am a weak-willed idiot. I guess I really have a thing for bearded transformers. Anyway Alpha Trion featured in three seasons of the cartoon, albeit fleetingly. So was this 'guest star' worth the money?


Appearance (Robot Mode) 9/10
Gah, this figure is positively beautiful. The sculpting is so ornate and actually suits what is supposed to be such an ancient transformer perfectly. It almost looks like it would be made of ceramic instead of metal. The level of detail is staggering and luckily there are a lot of paint apps (but not enough) to do the mould justice. The colour scheme is just superb and mimicks the cartoon character's pallette perfectly. This is a voyager figure but stands a full head taller than Optimus Prime, and has considerable bulk on his side. This figure is gorgeous with the 'sails' acting like a transparent cape. Things do fall apart from the side and behind somewhat, because there happens to be an enormous nosecone sitting there. But this is balanced for me by the great headsculpt, which is intricately detailed and well-painted. I guess a criticism would be that he looks a bit stern but then this is supposed to be the 'shattered glass' version of the character.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 8/10
Alpha Trion's alt mode was never seen, but I think this magnificent craft is as good a fit as any. The colour scheme really pops as it does with the robot mode. The transparent sails complement everything else well, although the right sail does not fold out as smoothly as the left, quite a bit of effort is required to get the bottom sail into the correct position. I have the Vector Prime figure and I can confirm that this a fault with the mould in general and not restricted to Alpha Trion. I do not display the minicon but this is supposed to fill the depression behind the cockpit, which I actually kind of like anyway. The landing gear is a bit bulky (being made up of the legs) and marrs an otherwise streamlined craft.


Transformation 7/10
This is pretty simple fare with the nose section snapping back to reveal the head, which is then spun around. Unfortunately the nose does not tab into the back but just sits there. The arms are revealed by moving and sliding the armour plating out of the way, and freeing the forearms from the tabs which hold them in place. The Legs are created by unfolding the landing gear and folding the feet into position, and the wings are moved down to create a rudimentary cape.

Poseability 6/10
This is, for me, where the mould shows its age. Let's start with the head where there is a swivel but no more than that. There is also no waist articulation. The shoulders have both lateral and longitudal movement, the hips have similar but unfortunately the thighs cannot move forward much because they clash with the torso. The real issue is there is no bicep or thigh swivel, which really kills what a figure can do in my opinion. There are elbow and knee joints, both of which have swivel underneath them so at least you can tilt Alpha's sword, which redeems this mould somewhat. Because of the large back kibble, the figure also has a tendency to fall backwards. Unfortunately the ankles which could help with this issue are designed to flatten out which only makes this issue worse.


Quality 8/10
I treat this figure with kid gloves but I do have the other mould of this and the plastic is great, and the mould feels solid in all respects. Look out for the lower arm guards, which can become loose with time, and simply fall back into their closed position. The only other way I could forsee of damaging this figure would be to over-extend the soft plastic sails, which may become brittle over time. I guess someone might snap the arm expecting there to be a bicep swivel, particularly as the arms are moulded in such a way that makes them look jointed there.

Overall 38/50
This mould really is one of my favourites, even if it is let down by relatively poor articulation when compared to more recent Hasbro and 3rd-party moulds. If you can't stretch to Alpha Trion, you should pick up Vector Prime at least, just to enjoy the sumptuous detail and impressive stature of this figure. But the colour scheme of Alpha works so well with the mould, giving him a slightly ethereal aspect when compared to the 'younger' guys such as Optimus Prime, who are much more simplistic and lack much of the ornate detail this guy has. I compare it to old craftsmanship, where every surface was detailed in comparison with the relatively bland stylings of today. Fitting then that Alpha Trion should the look (and pricetag) of an antique Transformer.

Crankcase

"Things are never as good as they seem."

A wheezing, whining ingrate. As welcome as a rash of rust-rot. The worse things get, the happier he is. Enjoys complaining about everything. Equipped with vast memory storage capacity and shell-resistant armor. Also equipped with infrared probes that penetrate and analyze enemy circuitry. Armed with two high-impact laser blasters and a distortion modulator that scrambles enemy cerebral impulses.

STRENGTH

8

INTELLIGENCE

6

SPEED

3

ENDURANCE

9

RANK

7

COURAGE

7

FIREPOWER

8

SKILL

8

OVERALL

56

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

First/Last Comic Appearance (US) - Issue 48, January 1989 / Issue 80, July 1991
First/Last Comic Appearance (UK) - Issue 213, April 15th 1989 / Issue 242, November 4th 1989
First/Last Cartoon Appearance -
First Toy Appearance - 1988

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

Manufacturer - Hasbro
Toyline - Transformers (2007)

Additions/Mods:
- Added a Decepticon symbol to the chest (Covering the tampographed one)
- Added a Decepticon symbol to the bonnet

Review

The Triggerbots and cons were pretty lame, in my younger self's opinion. I only ever had Ruckus, and that was more than enough. While I liked the concept of robots who could deploy extra weapons at the flick of a switch, I was very disappointed with the implementation. The trigger gimmick was painfully slow to deploy, so you get the feeling that any advantage these unfortunates would have in combat would be quickly countered. Anyway, I saw this guy on eBay and decided to 'pull the trigger' (groan)...

Appearance (Robot Mode) 8/10
This is an early live-action movie figure, and the mould was actually repurposed from the Cybertron line, which is why Crankcase is a cute little chunker, as opposed to a monkey-armed gargoyle. I'm pretty glad about that, as the overall look of this guy perfectly sums up Crankcase's petulant and moody personality. He looks like a sulky teenage counterpart to Bumblebee's good-natured deluxe figure. He has a stump for a left hand (perhaps this is why he is sooo moody) which a couple of different attachments can be added - a claw or a hammer. I went with hammer. The other reason why this guy does a great job of homaging the original is that he even has his own 'trigger' mechanism, courtesy of the still-intact cybertron gimmick, which reveals twin guns atop either shoulder. And unlike the original toy, these badboys deploy immediately. His colour scheme also approximates the original pretty well.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 6/10
Crankcase turns into a predictably-chunky vehicle, which has been somewhat annoyingly augmented with 'Hazmat' decals - I guess an attempt to make him look more 'movieverse' but no matter. They don't detract from the overall look. What does detract slightly though is the very obvious head which protudes from the roof. I was convinced that the head would slot in further, but no such luck. Still, it's not terrible, I suppose. The paint is a little flat in this mode, if truth be told, where the yellow highlights that lift it in robot mode are sadly lacking.

Transformation 9/10
Crankcase's legs transform in a way which I have never seen on another Transformer, in that they are formed from both the front and rear of the vehicle. It's actually a very cool and ingenius transformation sequence, and one of the best I have seen in a while.

Poseability 7/10
A bit of a mixed bag here. Firstly, Crankcase has enormous lower legs and very long feet which makes balance issues non-existent. He has a decentish range of motion in the shoulders and hips, and bending elbows and knees (although the upper arms are really stubby). There is no bicep swivel or thigh swivel though. The latter of these is more forgiveable because of the nature of the transformation. There is no waist swivel, and swivel only on the head. Still, he looks pretty nice in the poses he can manage.

Quality 8/10
He looks very compact and solid, and feels just that in-hand. This mould feels very well-made, and the chunky legs add some nice substance to him. I guess his flip-out guns could wear out over time, especially if I keep playing with them!

Overall - 38/50
This iteration of Crankcase makes clever use of an older mould to endow this triggercon with a very triggercon-esqe gimmick. I personally love his chunky aesthetic, but I'm sure that some of you will not share that sentiment. I would advise you to pick him up if you see him cheap, as his transformation alone is unusual enough to make him a worthwhile addition to the Decepticon ranks.

Gears

"Nobody wins a war - somebody loses."

Gears is anti-social, a self-proclaimed misfit. Finds fault in everything and everyone. Acts this way to help cheer others up as they try to cheer him up. Tremendous strength and endurances. Totes heavy loads long distances. Launches to height of 20 miles, floats down on compressed air. Becomes an easy target due to limited maneuverability. Can detect infrared.

STRENGTH

8

INTELLIGENCE

7

SPEED

6

ENDURANCE

8

RANK

6

COURAGE

9

FIREPOWER

1

SKILL

7

OVERALL

52

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

First/Last Comic Appearance (US) - Issue 1, September 1984 / Issue 50, March 1989
First/Last Comic Appearance (UK) - Issue 50, March 1st 1986
First/Last Cartoon Appearance - Episode 1 (Season 1 #1), September 17th 1984 / Episode 65 (Season 2 #49), January 9th, 1986
First Toy Appearance - 1984

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

AKA 'Cogwheel'
Manufacturer - Maketoys
Toyline -

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

Review

I have a fond attachment to Gears, because he was the first minibot I had, and despite losing the figure later, I still remember transforming him and enjoying his diminutive proportions. One of the more striking aspects of the character was his superman-esque colour scheme, I believe he was the only red and blue Autobot of the 1984 cast, with the exception of Optimus Prime (Although Optimus was more dark indigo than blue). He was used pretty sparingly in the cartoon and also the comics, although did star in one of the stranger US comic episodes, where he teamed up with Spiderman in the only Marvel crossover other than GI Joe in the run. Despite ending up splatted after a big fall, Gears was apparently repairable, not that we ever really saw him again. Perhaps Optimus Prime was trying to spare Spidey's feelings. Due to his relative obscurity, Gears has so far been overlooked by Hasbro, and fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your perspective) iGear stepped up to the plate to produce their homage. Typically, they monumentally cocked it up with an uninsipring, overly large sculpt and a dreadful pastel colour scheme. Then there was another company called SXS, who came up with a nicer product but one which did not evoke Gears particularly. Be thankful, then, that the visionaries at Maketoys saw it appropriate to step in with their own homage.


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. Gears comes with a pretty groovy gun, and curiously Maketoys have gone with a non-standard 4mm handle 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 Gears well. The base plastic is actually the right colour, as opposed to iGear's washed out mess. Also the headsupt is nice, but it doesn't really blow me away. It's very neutral although in an added bonus you do get another head which is more toy-accurate. 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 bonnet opens to reveal so additional lights, not sure why, but it shows good attention to detail.


Transformation 8/10
The rear of the truck 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
Gears 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 Gears 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.

Hoist

"You have to be rolling before you can be fighting."

"No exceptions!" -- All Autobots must submit to his maintenance schedule... knows they must operate at peak efficiency in battle. Jovial, enjoys job and is good at it -- will find any problem, from engine overhaul to smallest leaky gasket. As tow truck, hauls 40,000 lbs. As robot, very strong -- launches heat-seeking missiles from wrist sockets. Full spectrum multi-sensor behind his head determines an objects' composistion, density, tensile strength, energy properties.

STRENGTH

8

INTELLIGENCE

6

SPEED

3

ENDURANCE

7

RANK

4

COURAGE

8

FIREPOWER

6

SKILL

9

OVERALL

51

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

First/Last Comic Appearance (US) - Issue 14, March 1986 / Issue 50, March 1989
First/Last Comic Appearance (UK) - Issue 78, September 13th 1986 / Issue 83, October 18th 1986
First/Last Cartoon Appearance - Episode 30 (Season 2 #14), September 25th 1985 / Episode 58 (Season 2 #42), December 10th 1985
First Toy Appearance - 1985

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

Manufacturer - Hasbro
Toyline - Generations

Additions/Mods:
- Added an Autobot symbol to the bonnet, covering the tampographed one
- Added an Autobot symbol to the radiator grille
- Added various Reprolabels

Review

So after Trailbreaker got himself a (mostly) decent sized 'classicsverse' figure it stood to reason that Hoist would get the same, right? Well, yes, and it wasn't a long wait before Hoist was announced. I was excited by this because it meant that I could finally ditch the legends version I have been using as a rather inadequate stand in. In the cartoon, Hoist spent a lot of time with Grapple, given that they both debuted at the same time. They soon struck up a 'bromance' as they meandered from one doomed construction project to another. In the comics, I can't really remember Hoist doing much of note. Nonetheless, it is high time that one of the original moulds (he may not have debuted until 1985, but he shares the same Diaclone ancestry as many of the other Autobot cars) was given a fresh update.


Appearance (Robot Mode) 8/10
The first thing to say about Hoist (and indeed all of the 'thrilling 30' figures) is that the figure is designed to represent the IDW version of the character. The signature block above his head is there, as well as the overall colour scheme and paint apps. The headsculpt is very reminiscent of the original, although the light piping is pretty limited so his orange eyes can't be seen to their maximum potential. He is leaner than his G1 counterpart, with a defined chest and upper body tapering to a waspish waist. Unfortunately his legs seem slightly too short proportionally. Speaking of short, there was some worry that he would follow the trend of the 'Fall of Cybertron' deluxes and be laughably small, but thankfully he is the same height as Universe Ironhide which is good enough for me. His lower legs are glaringly hollow, as is his back. I felt that the figure overall was a little flat and lacking in paint apps, so I remedied this with Reprolabels which really added some nice detail. Weapon wise, the hoist from vehicle mode folds cleverly into a pretty decent gun.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 7/10
There are two key things wrong with this figure in vehicle mode - the first is the diminutive size, and the second is the lack of paint apps. I will address the size issue first. This incarnation of Hoist is a fairly rugged looking SUV, with very large tyres, armour plating, and a tiny windscreen, which all serve to reinforce the idea that this would be a biiig ride. But then you sit it next to Bumblebee, who is supposed to be a compact hatchback, and Hoist is dwarfed. The vehicle is so stumpy looking. It's odd because as a robot, Hoist is just about large enough, but he condenses into a really tiny car. I'm not one for generally posing alt modes together in groups, so it's not disastrous. As for the lack of paint, it's really bad. The signature stripes are present, albeit rather sloppily applied. The radiator grille is unpainted and the light clusters are inexplicably silver. The stripes on the weapon/hoist are rather sloppily applied. That's it. Luckily Reprolabels have come up with a fantastic set which makes this vehicle look much improved, there are now details all over the place, although the vehicle is still criminally undersized for what it is. You can appreciate how undersized it is when compared with Windcharger, who is a member of the now-defunct Scout size class yet scales perfectly with Hoist.


Transformation 7/10
This invokes the nightmare of Perceptor, but thankfully there is enough room for manoeuvre and you do not feel like you are destroying the figure. The head forms the 'sunroof' and is pulled upright and rotated. The hoist is removed to become the gun. The arms are pulled out from underneath the chassis and are rotated so that the front wheels end up inside the car. The middle of the bonnet (with the tampograph on it) is pushed down and tabbed into the waist section of the figure. The rest of the bonnet and front of the roof both fold down to from the chest and neck respectively. The arms then have to be moved up into place, with the correct shoulder position allowing them to tab into the wing mirrors, although this does not hold together particularly well. Finally the legs are pulled out and swung into position. Once you have transformed this figure a couple of times, it becomes very intuitive.

Poseability 8/10
Hoist has pretty decent articulation, consisting of: Neck and waist swivel, ball-jointed shoulders and hips, bicep and thigh swivel, elbow and knee joints, as well as limited wrist movement (although it is really a transformation joint and isn't really useful for posing). He seems to balance pretty well, although is a little flat-footed and stumpy as I have mentioned before.


Quality 8/10
Despite the fact that he is pretty hollow in places, all of the plastic used is tough and flexible. There are no sections that feel brittle and the figure certainly feels robust enough to be pulled about a bit during his transformation. He seems like a step in the right direction when compared to the extremely diminutive and anaemic-looking 'Fall of Cybertron' figures.

Overall - 38/50
This is really not a bad figure. I had hoped for a return to the larger and more substantial deluxes of a few years ago, but I think those days are gone for good. Instead we have a figure which manages to look good (and crucially large) enough to warrant a place in my lineup as a robot, but really disappoints in vehicle mode. I don't think most collectors will care too much about that. Plus you get his excellent 'spotlight' comic thrown in for free. Reprolabels have made a real difference to this figure, because it is now sumptuously detailed, and also crucially more 'in keeping' with earlier 'classicsverse' releases. I definitely recommend you pick this set up to bring the mould to life. Without it, I'm not sure I would vouch for this figure.

Impactor

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) - Issue 78, September 13th 1986 / Issue 169, June 11th 1988
First/Last Cartoon Appearance -
First Toy Appearance -

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

AKA 'Tankor'
Manufacturer - Hasbro
Toyline - Universe (2003)

Additions/Mods:
- Custom repaint of Universe (2003) Tankor, with shortened cannon barrel and repainted Ironhide head
- Added Autobot symbol to the chest
- Added Autobot symbol to the front of the tank

Review

The Wreckers. Few could realise back in 1986 that Simon Furman's bunch of slightly unhinged Autobots would still be going strong over 25 years later, or that they would play a starring role in one of the best IDW stories written, critically acclaimed as one of the few Transformers stories able to transcend the subject matter and find a broader audience. But way before 'Last Stand of the Wreckers', there was the story which introduced Ultra Magnus, Galvatron and a host of others to the UK comic. As well as being a seminal work, the epic 'Target:2006' also served up the morally-dubious rag-tag collective known as the Wreckers. Central to the Wreckers was Impactor - the leader who had the ability to galvanise the most disaffected bunch of Autobots into a much-feared fighting unit. He died before his time, stepping into the path of a weapon bound for Emirate Xaaron's head. He was so tough though, that he had the stones to come back in a later story as a zombie and save the day again, even though he was dead at the time.

It was some time later that I realised that Impactor was never going to get a figure. I gave up hope - this was, after all, an obscure character who was doomed from the start to be a sacrificial lamb - an unfeasably tough lamb, but a lamb nonetheless. But something about the character really resonated with me. Then came 'Last Stand of the Wreckers' and Impactor was even more fleshed out. My desire to add a figure to my collection was intensified. Hasbro announced a forthcoming 'Fall Of Cyberton' figure, but then I saw the tiny, hollow piece of junk they were proposing to represent this powerful, crazy, driven, psychotic, conflicted, flawed and heroic character and decided that it would just not do. I scoured old figures, looking for anything that could represent him - and found nothing. Until I saw Universe (2003) Tankor, which was a repurposed Beast Machines mould. I knew I had a lot to do, the work would be hard. But I decided to make one last effort to bring Impactor to life...


Appearance (Robot Mode) 8/10
I would like to start off by saying that is very hard to review your own work, but I will endeavour to do so objectively. The colour scheme used here is very much an amalgamation of the IDW and Marvel characters, and I tried my best to match the yellowish orange of the base figure for the head and cannon. Speaking of the head, this is from the Ironhide mould which does a nice job because the shape is correct, and there is already a crest of sorts running down the middle. I wasn't brave enough to augment the head with Plasticard, but I believe it works well. Perhaps the biggest deviation from the character is the claw-like hands, but it is already known that Impactor has at least one interchangeable hand, so I imagine this is his 'brawling' set. I think it really suits the power of the character, anyway. The Cannon also resembles the characters well, even if it is on the wrong side.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 9/10
The tank mode is really excellent. I honestly think it does a magnificent job of representing the character, or at least IDW's impression of what his alt mode is. I painted the green and red areas purple, and it was good to go. The tank had a couple of gimmicks too. It rolls well on rubber front wheels that spin around saw blades. Also, the turret could be rotated by the spinning the head, but I removed that gimmick as it would no longer work with the head I chose. This meant I also had to glue the turret into a fixed position, which was the only solution to kep the robot mode cohesive. A shame, but the benefit was worth the cost. I still think the alt mode is fantastic, so there.


Transformation 7/10
This is pretty simple. the Front of the tank splits apart to reveal the arms, and the panels are either squared away or moved to make the robot mode. The waist folds in on itself after unfolding the legs. Part of the reason that this was a good candidate for an extensive paint job was the simplicity of the transformation.

Poseability 8/10
This mould is now 13 years old, so actually it holds up reasonably well. The head and waist are both on swivel joints. The shoulders offer a full range of movement and there is also bicep swivel. The hips are ball-jointed and there is the equivalent of thigh swivel at the knee. The elbows and knees have joints as well. The fists are non-existent and instead there are massive claws which can open and close. The cannon can also flip up or be stowed behind the back. The major drawback with this mould is the sheer size of the forearms which are huge. They are so big, they get in the way. Also, the feet are pretty small but actually balance is surprisingly good. very impressive for a mould which pre-dates this millennium!


Quality 6/10
I will forever treat this figure with kid gloves, because I painted it. I know how easily the paint could come off - it takes one wrong move to ruin a niceish finish. the mould itself is very strong actually. It all holds together well despite being about 10 years old. Compared with modern Hasbro fare, it is leaps and bounds better, with hardly any ugly hollow voids. They really do not make them like this anymore, more's the pity.

Overall - 38/50
I am seriously pleased with how this Impactor custom came out. I actually felt in control of the whole process because I had mapped everything out in my head. I feel that this figure will blend in perfectly well with my existing figures, be they 3rd party or official. The base figure is just so intimidating on the first place, that it suits the personality of Impactor down to the ground. Maybe I should send Nick Roche and Simon Furman a link to my flickr, and see what they think of it!

Jetfire

"Among mysteries of science lies the key to victory."

Swiftest Autobot. Daring in battle... believes victory will come via technological advancement. Adds twin scramjet modules and liquid hydrogen fuel tanks to escape Earth's gravity. Flies halfway around the world in 30 minutes. Carries 4 particle-beam cannons and heat-seeking photon missiles. Prone to mechanical failures due to advanced technology.

STRENGTH

6

INTELLIGENCE

10

SPEED

10

ENDURANCE

5

RANK

10

COURAGE

9

FIREPOWER

7

SKILL

9

OVERALL

66

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

First/Last Comic Appearance (US) - Issue 11, December 1985 / Issue 50, March 1989
First/Last Comic Appearance (UK) - Issue 49, February 22nd 1986 / Issue 88, November 22nd 1986
First/Last Cartoon Appearance - Episode 7 (Season 1 #7), December 8th 1984 / Episode 25 (Season 2 #9), October 10th 1985
First Toy Appearance - 1985

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

Manufacturer - Hasbro
Toyline - Classics

Additions/Mods:
- Added Autobot symbols to the top side of the wings, covering the rubsign
- Added Autobot symbols to the bottom side of the wings, covering the tampographed ones

Review

Jetfire arrived on the scene during the first season of the cartoon, and was swiftly turned from Decepticon to Autobot, his sense of right and wrong eclipsing the relationship with his old buddy Starscream. He was the only flying Autobot for a while (other than whoever was borrowing Sideswipe's backpack) and provided some much needed air support. He was also HUGE and could comfortably house lots of Autobots, in one of the most jarring cases of mass-shifting in the cartoon. A lot of G1 figures did not match up to their cartoon character models, and Jetfire was no exception. The original toy was licensed from the Macross line and the animators were forced to create a model which homaged the toy as loosely as possible. And what's more, even his name was changed to 'Skyfire'. So to recap, he was Decepticon or Autobot, had 2 different looks and 2 different names. It's a wonder he was as well-adjusted as he was. This still didn't stop him disappearing without a trace in late 1985.


Appearance (Robot Mode) 8/10
At first, I was surprised that an updated version of Jetfire was on the cards, because of the fact that the original mould came from a competing toyline. In the original cartoon, the animation model differed massively from the toy for this reason. This new incarnation blends aspects of both successfully, and Jetfire looks awesome when all of his additional weapons and armour are strapped into place. The inclusion of the helmet allows you to go for one look which is faithful to the cartoon, and the other which closer resembles the G1 toy. I prefer the cartoon-accurate look as his head looks a little large with the helmet in place. The chest/cockpit juts out very far from his neck, but this just makes him look broad and imposing.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 9/10
The jet mode is really exquisite, only really let down by the shoulder kibble which protudes beyond the wings. Other than this, you wouldn't know this was a transformer at all. I love they way that this mode can go from looking graceful and sleek to deadly, thanks to the accessories you can adorn it with. It really harkens back to the original toy, which had so many attachable parts you couldn't help but lose them. This jet is a real rival for the comparatively-tiny Seekers, and has only been recently eclipsed by the purely badass Broadside homage. The wings can be moved out to create a wider span, but this results in parts of the arms being seen, so I keep them close to the fuselage.


Transformation 9/10
Jeftire is a lot of fun to transform, because he feels so sturdy and well-designed. Everything tabs and squares away nicely for the jet mode. Even the backpack has a nice 'automorph' feature, where you can slide a plastic cover down to unfurl the hidden weapons, which spring into place. The head folds into the cockpit and, cleverly, when the helmet is attached, it forms a nice set of guns either side of the cockpit. A lot of thought went into this one.

Poseability 5/10
There is an abundance ratchet joints, which means he is unable to fall out of poses any time soon. His head is ball-jointed, no waist swivel though. He also has lateral and side-to-side movement in the shoulder and hips. He also has wrist swivel and his feet can be 'pinched' together or splayed apart. Inexplicably though, he has zero bicep or thigh swivel. This is very puzzling. Especially considering he does have swivel in his lower legs and forearms. This stupidly limits his poseability. Also, the design of his feet mean that he can have some balance issues, and he doesn't stand particularly well on slippery surfaces. This problem is magnified when the backpack is attached.


Quality 7/10
Holding this figure, you really get the sense that it has been made of quality materials. My G1 Jetfire lost his arms and pretty much all of his accessories, so I am pleased to report that nothing feels flimsy, and there is nothing in the transformation sequence which puts anything under stress. However, I am concerned that this figure will yellow over time, and I feel that it may have done so to some extent already. This is despite it being MISB when I got him, and kept away from the sun or other strong light sources.

Overall - 38/50
Despite the fact I am very disappointed with the articulation of this figure, Jetfire (Skyfire?) follows the right aesthetic to be one of my favoured TFs. He displays very nicely with Optimus Prime, as they are roughly the same size, and you get the sense of his rank because of this. I am really impressed that Hasbro re-imagined pretty much every accessory that the original came with, making him one of the most accessorised of the 'classicsverse' line. I just hope that he doesn't turn yellow over time, like my original Jetfire.

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.

Pipes

"One being's junk is another's art."

Fascinated by seemingly worthless Earthen gadgetry - carrot juicers, musical wrist-watches, electrical hair combers, etc.. Collects them in unused corner of Ark, creating a mini museeum of American consumerisim. Travels at 100mph, range 400 miles, hauls up to 60 tons. Twin exaust pipes emit corrosive gases that can dissolve 2" thick steel slab in 10 minutes.

STRENGTH

9

INTELLIGENCE

9

SPEED

4

ENDURANCE

8

RANK

5

COURAGE

8

FIREPOWER

5

SKILL

4

OVERALL

49

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) - Issue 245, November 25th 1989
First/Last Cartoon Appearance - Episode 70 (Series 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 'Armorhide'
Manufacturer - Hasbro
Toyline - Cybertron

Additions/Mods:
- Added Autobot symbols to the shoulders
- Added Autobot symbols to the cab
- Added an Autobot symbol to the crane, covering the tampographed one

Review

Poor old Pipes has been quite neglected over the years, and has not seen another toy since his original (re-issue notwithstanding) release. Because of this, I repurposed the Cybertron Armorhide figure, which would eventually be used to make a Botcon version of Pipes' erstwhile Mould mate, Huffer. Let's see if this Armourhide can do Pipes the justice he deserves.

Appearance (Robot Mode) 8/10
After getting Pipes in hand, I may have to get that version of Huffer as well. I love this mould. I would say that this toy is a scout class size, but a very small one. This is because he is so squat and chunky. he looks like a little power lifter, and the paint apps are nice. It's a shame about the grey plastic though, which looks cheap.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 8/10
This is a really cool little truck which almost looks super-deformed, as were the original Mini Autobots. I suppose you could just remove the crane to make it look more like Huffer if you wanted to - it is easily removable. A very nice little piece.

Transformation 8/10
I like the way that the legs fold out of the roof, and that the grille and cabin are actually upside-down when in Robot mode. I had to be careful when sticking on extra symbols, though! The grille lifts up to reveal missiles when you put the Cyber Key in place.

Poseability 6/10
Not bad for his size, plus bicep swivel is a bonus. The legs are fairly limited though, and his barrel-chested shape makes him look slightly unwieldy.

Quality 8/10
A tough little guy who feels as solid as he looks; he could certainly take some punishment.

Overall - 38/50
I wish Hasbro would release all of the minibots as scout-class figures, as they are all over the place both in terms of size and aesthetic. Pipes is one of my favourites that I have had to draft in from another line.

Scavenger

"Everything is worth something, even me."

Desperately tries to prove his worth to comrades by trying to find things of value - whether by digging up a hillside or a backyard. Only tolerated because of ability to use shovel's magnetic, ionic, electrical, gas sensors to detect presence of fuels, metals, etc. As right arm module, combines with fellow Constructicons to form giant robot "Devastator".

STRENGTH

7

INTELLIGENCE

2

SPEED

3

ENDURANCE

6

RANK

4

COURAGE

8.5

FIREPOWER

6

SKILL

7

OVERALL

43.5

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 'Excavator'
Manufacturer - Maketoys
Toyline - Type 61

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

Review

Scavenger holds the dubious honour of being the dumbest Transformer in my ranks (according to his tech specs, at least) But he is also the 'right hand man' of Devastator, and in fact the 'right arm man'. Other than this, he also transforms into an excavator, and is a crucial component of my favourite combiner character of all time. Does this Maketoys version of him ensure that Devastator can pack a punch, or is he just too lightweight?


Appearance (Robot Mode) 8/10
This figure shares roughly half of his design with that of Bonecrusher, and as such the legs are identical. However, the torso of Scavenger is far better than that of poor old Bonecrusher, because there are less hollow components. The back is still just as empty and loosely formed by combiner kibble, but the small amount of gapping around the head is much less jarring than the void in Bonecrusher's neck area. The arms are slightly more substantial and the excavator arm sits proudly on the left arm, cutting a menacing silhouette indeed. You certainly wouldn't want to be on the end of that haymaker! The head sculpt is OK but as usual I am disappointed by the lack of light-piping. The colour scheme is great, with Maketoys sensibly avoiding giving this guy the purple trousers look which the original had. In all this a more cohesive and successful figure than Bonecrusher.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 7/10
As with the other tracked vehicle, this cannot roll at all which is a real shame. Articulation between the cabin and running gear would have been great as well, considering most excavators are constantly swiveling around. The arm has 2 points of articulation but the bucket sadly cannot be repositioned. It's a shame that there is not more utility on this figure but it does very much look the part, with various wires and cables picked out with their own paint apps. You can see a very obvious fist hole on one side of the roof, though. Also, the combiner kibble is visible at the front of this vehicle whereas on Bonecrusher it was not, because the shovel covered it up.


Transformation 8/10
The arms of this figure are formed by splitting the cabin either side of the excavator arm, and moving them down to create shoulders. The head then swings around from the back of one arm to its rightful place atop the torso, in what is a very unusual and quite ingenious transformation step. It works quite well but feels a little flimsy. The legs are formed by snapping the treads and rotating the bottom part to reveal the feet and heels. The shoulder balljoints are pretty tight, and can make swinging the shoulders out the correct way tricky. Finally the combiner kibble is pushed flush to the gaping hole where the back should be, but there is nothing to hold it in any kind of position, which is pretty bad.

Poseability 8/10
Articulation is as follows: The head is on a balljoint ant the waist has a swivel. The shoulders and hips are ball-jointed. There is bicep and thigh swivel (although this is impeded by the way the treads affix to the thighs). There are double-jointed elbows and ball-jointed knees. Additionally the 'toes' are ball-jointed as well, allowing for a variety of poses. The wrists are on a swivel which is enough for most needs. Unlike Bonecrusher, the torso displays well from more angles, making the articulation more useful. The heels provide balance, and the massive excavator arm allows for some more dynamic poses. Good stuff!


Quality 7/10
The plastic feels very high quality so Maketoys should be thanked for that. My only real concern with this figure is the head transformation, which while being a breath of fresh air means that there is a lot riding on a fairly thin piece of plastic, and I feel that some over-vigorous play could end in poor Scavenger being decaptiated.

Overall - 38/50
Scavenger is definitely my favourite of the 2 arm components for Devastator, because he has much stronger robot mode than Bonecrusher. The alt mode is not quite as strong but the added poseability this figure provides makes him all the more valuable. He has a lot of character and displays brilliantly with his fellow Constructicons, and the large excavator arm provides him with extra menace. I heartily recommend this figure.