Bonecrusher

"Hit it till it stands no taller than dust."

Rubble-strewn wasteland is his idea of beautiful landscape. His wild ways create fear and terror. As vehicle, at 30mph. Exerts 800,000psi... has short-range concussion bomb launcher. As robot, carries laser pistol. As left arm module, combines with fellow Constructicons to form giant robot "Devastator".

STRENGTH

9

INTELLIGENCE

3

SPEED

2

ENDURANCE

8

RANK

4

COURAGE

8

FIREPOWER

6

SKILL

6

OVERALL

46

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 81, October 4th 1986
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 'Bulldozer'
Manufacturer - Maketoys
Toyline - Type 61

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

Review

Bonecrusher is the posessor of one of the more outlandish Decepticon names there have been. He sounds more like one of the evil giants in the 'Big Friendly Giant' than he does a malevolent automaton but no matter. This pea-green pugilist is one sixth of Devastator, and this mere fact alone already makes him great. This character has recently been homaged by both TFC and Maketoys - I went for the Maketoys version. Did I make the right choice?


Appearance (Robot Mode) 6/10
This is very much a figure of 2 halves, as I think the lower legs have been designed very well and look impressive enough. However, the upper half has some big problems. Firstly, the lower arms are just hollow, and you could be forgiven for thinking that this is a modern Hasbro toy, were it not for the fact that it is too large and well-designed. There is hideous gapping in and around the neck area as well, and the head seems to float just above the shoulders. Also, the back is extremely hollow, with the combiner joint just kind of sitting there, protuding out of the back. I can't help but think that this kibble could have been integrated alot smarter to make the rear of this figure more cohesive. The colour scheme is perfect though and the paint apps that are present are all of an excellent standard. The headsculpt itself is good, although there is no light-piping unfortunately.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 8/10
The Bulldozer mode is great, with minimal robot/combiner kibble on display. The little yellow/black and white/red chevrons reall complement the dramatic green finish as well. The scoop cam move up and down, which is nice. Despite the fact that I would never use the feature, I am disappointed that there are not little wheels embedded into the tracks, because this vehicle cannot roll at all. All in all though, Maketoys have done a great job on the alt mode.


Transformation 7/10
The transformation sequence is fairly involved. The legs are formed by snapping the treads and rotating the bottom part to reveal the feet and heels. The head can be a little hard to seperate from the cabin part, as both swing out in the same direction to form the robot, with the head stuck awkwardly inside. The shoulder balljoints are pretty tight, and can make swinging the shoulders out the correct way tricky. Also, I have found that in order to move the scoop halves to the desired position, you have to swivel the waist just so to allow for clearance. 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 6/10
Bonecrusher's head is on a balljoint, which allows for a good range of movement (although I would have actually preferred a more substantial neck in this case), and there is waist 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 wrists and 'toes' are ball-jointed as well, allowing for a variety of poses. The reason I don't really rate the poseability of this figure is because of the big gaps in it. Articulation is actually above average but really there are only a few angles where Bonecrusher looks good. You will probably never see a shot of this robot from above, because then the gaps in the neck area and back are there for all to see, which is a real shame.


Quality 8/10
Any flaws with the quality of this toy are all in the design, rather than the materials used. All of the plastic feels excellent and very strong, which means I will now trust Maketoys with any further releases as they are right up there with FansProject in terms of quality. I wouldn't recommend unleashing a kid onto this toy though because they are likely to cut themselves on the sharp edges or just snap bits off. This (and all the other 3rd party toys for that matter) has not been rigorously tested to ensure clumsy little oafs can't break bits off and eat them.

Overall - 35/50
I appreciate that Bonecrusher is merely a small piece in the overall puzzle which is the glorious Devastator, but I do feel some unnecessary concessions were made to make the best combiner possible. There is so much which is really great about this figure, and compared to Hasbro's recent combiners it is laughably superior. But the gaping voids around the neck and back are really not good enough, which is why Bonecrusher is probably my least favourite of the Constructicons.

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.

Bruticus

Bruticus transforms into the five Combaticons. Can destroy his enemies with ultrasonic waves and smash metal bridges with a single chop of his hand. Cold blooded, likes nothing more than destroying Autobots. Once he starts running wild he is unstoppable. Has small brain circuits, making him simple-minded. Carries a sonic stun gun and a missile cannon

STRENGTH

10

INTELLIGENCE

3

SPEED

1

ENDURANCE

9

RANK

5

COURAGE

10

FIREPOWER

8

SKILL

6

OVERALL

52

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 65, June 14th 1986
First/Last Cartoon Appearance - Episode 58 (Season 2 #42), December 10th 1985 / Episode 94 (Season 3 #29), February 24th 1987
First Toy Appearance - 1986

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details and review

Manufacturer - Hasbro
Toyline - ROTF

Additions/Mods:
- FansProject Munitioner/Explorer v2 upgrade set
- Added various Decepticon symbols

Review

Bruticus was briefly the most imposing of all combiners, after Devastator was mysteriously sidelined for the scramble city-type combiners and before the animalistic fury of Predaking became a reality. He was definitely the most well armed of the four combiner teams who debuted at roughly the same time; the others being the Aerialbots, Protectobots and Stunticons. Even their team name, the 'Combaticons' sounded like they meant business and they certainly did, comprising 5 kick-ass military vehicles. Such was the enduring popularity of the mould, that some 15 years after they disappeared from toy shelves across the globe they were back, this time making up the majority of the Decepticon cast in the 'Robots in Disguise' continuity. The fact that the toys were still cool in 2001 was testament to their iconic design. It's safe to say that I have always had a soft spot for Bruticus and was excited to hear that we would be getting a modern makeover of this set, and then crushed to learn that the 'Bruticus Maximus' Energon set was being re-purposed to homage the G1 figures of old. The Energon combiner was pretty poor, with hardly any articulation and, most damning of all, only three distinct moulds. Thankfully though, a still-fledgeling company called FansProject, buoyed by the success of their Superion upgrade kit, announced their plans to supplement the Combaticons with 2 brand new moulds, and enough accessories to improve the rest of the figures too. Most crucially of all, they would replace the existing head and add some much-needed bulk to the combined robot. The rest is history.


Appearance (Robot Mode) 9/10
The cleverest thing FansProject did was to re-deploy the existing Hasbro figures in a way that would enhance the whole set, and seamlessly blend this in with their new vehicles. Thus, we now have two legs which are coherent with each other, with Brawl barely touched, save for his new foot, which now looks like a foot and not a mess of transparent sticks. He is matched by the great new Swindle figure complete with an updated more G1 colour scheme, and the result is a solid base for the behemoth towering above. Moving up to the torso, Onslaught has been augmented with a new waist panel which really beefs up the figure. The torso now also sports huge cannons - this was something sadly missing from the Hasbro combiner, and is perhaps the most identifiable feature of the original character. Bruticus without gigantic back cannons just isn't Bruticus. I mustn't forget the new headsculpt, which is great and easily one of FansProject's best. Moving onto the arms and Vortex is now an articulated arm as opposed to a stump with no hand. The robot legs have been cleverly re-purposed as elbows, and the forearm bulk is yet another piece of kit supplied by FansProject. The hands are all new, and look great. Each finger terminates in a gun barrel - another example of how tooled up this giant S.O.B. is. Also, the way that Vortex attaches to the torso has altered, with FansProject thinking outside the box again to come up with an attachment point. Moving onto the right arm we have the other new figure, Blast Off, who is deployed very similarly to the left arm, without the need for additional bulk on the forearm. The overall impression is superb. Bruticus is a vast, coherent death machine in muted colours. I did add Reprolablels to the figures as I think that they do provide some much-needed additional detail. All of the Fansproject accessories perfectly complement the good aspects of the original Hasbro combiner, and most people would never notice that these were 2 different manufacturers at play here - a testament to the seamless integration FansProject have achieved. Bruticus is remarkably tooled-up as well - he has a combat knife, sniper rifle and two shotguns. Mess with him at your peril.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 8/10
These vehicles work together very well as a coherent unit. There are also various FansProject enhancements to each vehicle which work to varying degrees of success. We'll start with Brawl again, who has gained an additional 2 guns to sit atop his existing turret. These guns look pretty good and also serve to obscure the fist holes, usually visible to the rear of the turret. Swindle just has the roof-mounted gun, and looks relatively underpowered when compared with the others. But then, Swindle's most effective weapons have always been his brain, and mouth! Vortex has perhaps gained the most - there are now large missile pods underneath each wing, along with 'skis' which nominally act as landing gear in this configuration. It is actually a challenge to align the pods up so they look symmetrical, and the overall added bulk of the 'copter seems like you would need a meatier rotor to achieve lift-off! Blast-Off has zero additional accessories, but then he sits on perhaps the most impressive alteration of all... The Onslaught figure alternate mode was a very stunted truck, with missile pods protuding from the rear, and projecting over the cabin. It was a very unconvincing mode, and FansProject have used come clever engineering to add a lot of length to the truck, enough so that Blast Off can be housed on the back of it. This is another example of great engineering by FansProject. The 'piece de resistance' is those twin cannons, crucially lacking from the original figure. The convoy of these vehicles is one of the most imposing you are likely to see and would likely fill the Autobots with dread!


Transformation 8/10
Onslaught's central component is slightly altered to allow the inclusion of the waist piece - his hips are reversed and his bum ends up as his crotch, in a procedure that sounds more painful than it is. The sides of the vehicle cockpit are opened, to obscure the arms which are spread more widely. It is this change that gives Bruticus his broader physique. The huge guns are then slotted into re-purposed tabs on Onslaught's back, and of course the head is flipped up from the cabin section. The legs are left in vehicle mode, with the fronts being attached to the feet (transformed from Onslaught's trailer) and the rear plugging into the existing Energon connector 'stumps'. The arms are mainly left as vehicles, with the rear sections elongated to give the required length and articulation. The hands are then added, along with the Vortex forearm 'armour', and the arms are then attached to the torso via the transformed missile pods, which now become the shoulder joints. All in all, it is a pretty painless transformation that is a lot of fun.

Poseability 8/10
This is another area in which Bruticus does well in. He has a ball-jointed neck and waist swivel. His hip joints are ratcheted, ans allow for lateral and side-to side movement. His knees bend courtesy of the Energon connectors and it is not uncommon for lower legs to detach at this point, which can be annoying. His feet always point straight ahead but he does have ankle tilt, which is useful given that the figure always has splayed legs. The original Hasbro configuration also suffers form splayed legs, but slightly less because the original Swindle (being a helicopter) is nowhere near as wide as brawl. There is no thigh swivel, but the fact the lower legs can move freely in the Energon ports negates this issue somewhat. His shoulder articulation has some problems, you do get some lateral and side-to-side movement but it could be better. Instead of bicep swivel, the waist swivel of the individual figures is used. also, the fact there are 2 legs acting as a knee joint mean that you can do quite a lot of acute elbow poses. The hands have great articulation, the fingers have 3 joints, there is also a tab on each palm to assist with carrying the provided weapons. There is also wrist swivel. Couple this with large feet which help enormously with balance, and you have a surprisingly poseable figure.


Quality 7/10
Apparently there is a flaw in the missile pod which holds the combined form of Vortex to the torso - the holes which are used to slot to existing circular tabs on the figure are reportedly a bit small, and in some cases the thin plastic has split, rendering the connector unable to support the weight of Vortex. This is not a problem I have observed, but I know that it's out there. This just wouldn't be a FansProject figure if there wasn't at least one design flaw though! Elsewhere the plastics used in both the FansProject and Hasbro components feel nice and solid.

Overall - 40/50
This is probably the greatest example of why third parties have a place in any serious collection. Hasbro produced a set of figures that were flawed to say the least, and then implemented a combiner which was a shadow of even its G1 self. Thanks to FansProject, Hasbro sold out of these much-maligned figures quickly which shows how a symbiotic relationship can be beneficial to both parties. I still feel that someone (preferably FansProject) could re-visit this set and replace all Hasbro components, but until then, this is a remarkable improvement on the original. It makes you whet your appetite for FansProject's forthcoming Menasor really...

Drag Strip

"The first one to cross the finish line LIVES."

Nasty, underhanded, loves to gloat over his victories. Would rather be scrapped than lose. Prone to overheating. Megatron would sooner melt him than talk to him, but knows he's even worse company for the Autobots. In car Mode, has a plasma-energy blaster. Carries a gravity-enhancing gravito-gun. Combines with fellow Stunticons to form "Menasor".

STRENGTH

6

INTELLIGENCE

7

SPEED

7

ENDURANCE

4

RANK

5

COURAGE

8

FIREPOWER

7

SKILL

6

OVERALL

50

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 48, January 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 94 (Season 3 #29), February 24th 1987
First Toy Appearance - 1986

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

AKA 'Down Force'
Manufacturer - FansProject
Toyline - Causality

Additions/Mods:
- Added Decepticon symbols to the front fenders
- Added Decepticon symbols to the rear wings

Review

Some Transformers names are downright daft, with Hosehead being just one example, sounding more like an insult than a moniker befitting an Autobot warrior. Others are plain rude, lowlights include Erector, Spastic, and (in the UK at least) Slag. Some of them are clever. Drag Strip is one such example. This particular characters gender seems to have fluctuated over the years and continuities, with the given name perfectly reflecting this androgynous nature. Putting this character's proclivities for cross-dressing aside, what I really liked about this figure was the alternate mode, being a F1 car with 6 wheels (beat that, Mirage!). It was some time later that I realised that this was a real car; a Tyrell, I believe, which was also moderately successful. He also ran with his fellow Stunticons, who were the coolest of the cool, anyway. Drag Strip was a stand out with his/her garish yellow and purple colour scheme. Hasbro Asia were the first to homage this character by repainting the Mirage mould, and a good job they did too. However, there was no getting around the fact that this figure could not combine. There was much joy, then, when FansProject threw their 3rd-party hat into the ring and produced the figure I shall now discuss below...


Appearance (Robot Mode) 8/10
This is a very fresh take on the figure of old. Drag Strip here is extremely well-proportioned (barring his tiny feet, but then ladies do have smaller feet on average) and has been sculpted chock-full of detail and character. He has multiple paint apps which are all well-applied and the overall effect is one of coherence, despite the dramatic design. As with the other Stunticons, Drag Strip comes with a small gun which can also be stowed away in vehicle mode. The headsculpt is one of the nicer ones I have seen FansProject produce, with the vivid purple and blue of the face really contrasting well against the bright red eyes. There is spome superfluous kibble hanging off over the shoulder pads, which I feel may have been dealt with a bit better, but it doesn't detract too much from the overall aesthetic.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 8/10
This is a very agile-looking car, which looks capable of getting up to some serious speeds. However, it is missing 2 key things in order for it to tick my boxes - namely, the extra set of wheels is conspicuous in its absence. It was one of the criticisms levelled at the Mirage repaint - that the iconic look in vehicle mode was absent - and such is the case here. I really wish that FansProject could have delivered on this, as this would elevate this alt mode to one of my favourites. But, even without the most defining feature of this character, they have delivered a very slick vehicle. There is even an abundance of clear plastic in place, something of a rarity for FansProject, so I hope this trend continues on their later figures. Again the paint apps are just superb, with the wheels in particular, and the black around the cockpit being highlights for me. A great job all round just marred somewhat by the lack of extra wheels. It looks like Roller is still the only 6-wheeled 'car' in my possession.


Transformation 8/10
This seems very fiddly at first and then you quickly realise that it is. But it is rather satisfying all the same and does become more intuitive with each repetition. The legs are formed from the rear of the car, but the wheels are cleverly transformed to put them into the heels, as opposed to hanging off the ankles. The arms are formed from the nosecone and front wings, which are also improbably manipulated to form an imposing set of shoulders - another dead giveaway that a cross-dresser is in your midst. It is a very elegant sequence which I urge you take your time over - especially regarding the rotating cockpit 'glass' which I have heard can easily get stressed or scratched if you are not careful.

Poseability 9/10
This figure can pose very well, due to his decent articulation. He has a ball-jointed neck, and a swivelled waist. the shoulders are on ball-joints and also have an additional joint which allows the shoulders to be pitched at different angles. The hips are also ball-jointed, and there is also a large amount of clearance allowing free range of movement. Bicep and thigh swivel is present, as are double-jointed elbows and knees which offer more then 90 degrees of movement. The wrists and dainty toes are also on ball-joints. You can really go to town with this guy, getting some amazing action poses in.


Quality 7/10
I personally have had no problems whatsoever with this figure - but then I treat my expensive 3rd party toys with care and always follow the instructions to transform them the first couple of times. I have heard reports of people knackering the clear plastic window so I urge caution on this particular part. Obviously if these were marketed and tested as toys then this would be completely unacceptable. But these are 'adult collectibles' which is why we get the nice sharp swords and incredibly intricate figures so perhaps we shouldn't set our expectations unrealistically high.

Overall - 40/50
This is one of the more successful Stunticons, mainly because I think that the vehicle mode really stands out, and also I feel that this is a lot less prone to transformation damage than the others, where you have so little play when it comes to things like panel alignment. It is a very elegant object in both modes, and the vibrant colour scheme and expertly-applied paint really sells this as a fast and lithe adversary. Highly recommended.

Frenzy

"Sow panic and surrender will bloom."

If FRENZY needed to breathe, war would be his oxygen. He knows no cause, only craves to spread fear and destruction. His efforts are appreciated by other Decepticons. His devotion to warfare makes him hard to deal with on a personal level. Can roll his drums to produce high-pitch, grating sound of 200db. Disorients and disrupts electrical flow in opponent's circuitry which makes them malfunction. Physically weak. His manic attack can be countered with cool logic.

STRENGTH

2

INTELLIGENCE

5

SPEED

2

ENDURANCE

6

RANK

5

COURAGE

10

FIREPOWER

9

SKILL

6

OVERALL

45

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

First/Last Comic Appearance (US) - Issue 2, November 1984 / Issue 41, June 1988
First/Last Comic Appearance (UK) - Issue 59, May 3rd 1986 / Issue 100, February 14th 1987
First/Last Cartoon Appearance - Episode 14 (Season 1 #14), December 1st 1984 / The Transformers: The Movie, August 8th 1986
First Toy Appearance - 1984

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

AKA 'Shadow Warrior PE01-F'
Manufacturer - Perfect Effect
Toyline -

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

Review

Frenzy has long been classed as 'the other one' when people eulogised about Rumble, but I always thought that his sonic weapon was better than Rumble's piledrivers. Perfect Effect have accepted the task of bringing this conniving little Decepticon to life. Read on to see if they have done him justice. Before you do so, please bear in mind that I believe Frenzy is blue, not red. The cartoon was wrong, you see.


Appearance (Robot Mode) 9/10
I finally opted for the toy-accurate colour schemes of Perfect Effect's 'Shadow Warrior' mould, and I'm very glad that I did. The mould itself has always been great, and now that the colour scheme is accurate to Frenzy (or Rumble, if you like being wrong) this little guy is pretty much perfect. His little punky face is full of attitude and it is remarkable that one of my favourite faces is on such a small scale. I stick the piledrivers onto his back, to differentiate him from Rumble.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 6/10
Well, it's a gun. I'm personally not a fan of alt modes which cannot 'support' themselves, with the exception of Megatron, I suppose. It is nice enough to look at, though, but it just kind of sits there. It would make more sense if it was being wielded by Shadow Commander. I'm convinced that I should be able to come up with an unofficial alt mode but I really am too lazy.


Transformation 7/10
Surprisingly complex for what is a small figure, Perfect Effect really know how to add value to a small robot. The legs fold in on themselves and the arms tuck into the legs, and the large gun barrels clip over the shoulders, once the head has been folded away, that is. The gun handle can be tricky to connect to the gun, though and has a tendency to pop off.

Poseability 9/10
I would be happy if there was this amount of poseability on a deluxe, but for a legends-class toy, it really is outstanding. The head swivels and tilts (albeit downwards only) and the waist swivels too. The shoulders and elbows are ball-jointed, as are the hips and knees. The feet are also on ball-joints. My only criticism is that there are certain positions where the joints like to 'rest' so getting poses in between these spots can take perseverance. But this is more to do with size limitations rather than anything else.


Quality 8/10
He feels very solid for his diminutive size - there are no anxious moments when transforming or posing him. A miniature marvel. That said, his left hip has a tendency to pop out of its socket. Maybe I am unlucky, because Rumble (and the 2 Shadow Warrior variants) do not have this issue.

Overall - 39/50
Perfect Effect have carved a niche with their tiny figures, which are an absolute joy to own. I'm very pleased with the accurate colour scheme, as I have long been a fan of the mould. The one letdown is a slightly prosaic alternate mode, but then I guess cassettes were never very exciting.

Headstrong

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

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

STRENGTH

7

INTELLIGENCE

5

SPEED

4

ENDURANCE

7

RANK

5

COURAGE

6

FIREPOWER

8

SKILL

6

OVERALL

48

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

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

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

AKA 'Fortis'
Manufacturer - Mastermind Creations
Toyline - Reformatted

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

Review

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


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

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


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

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


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

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

Hot Rod

"My actions speak louder than words."

Hot Rod is an all-American-boy Autobot. He's a typical adolescent who dreams of being heroic and important. He tends to not follow rules too closely. Although he means well, Hot Rod's impulsive actions often get him into trouble. He carries two photon lasers that temporarily electromagnetize an enemy robot's microcircuts. Speed: 120mph. Range: 4 miles. He can be hotheaded, but he's always a well meaning, admirable lad and a brave and honorable fighter.

STRENGTH

6

INTELLIGENCE

5

SPEED

6

ENDURANCE

8

RANK

5

COURAGE

10

FIREPOWER

7

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) - The Transformers: Headmasters Issue 4, January 1988 / Issue 80, July 1991
First/Last Comic Appearance (UK) - Issue 78, September 13th 1986 / Issue 186, October 8th 1988
First/Last Cartoon Appearance - The Transformers: The Movie, August 8th 1986 / Episode 98 (Season 4 #3), November 11th 1987
First Toy Appearance - 1986

Click here to see Figure Details

Figure Details

AKA 'Rodimus'
Manufacturer - Takara
Toyline - Henkei

This is the Henkei version

* These Tech Spec scores are from the 'Targetmaster' version of the figure as the original scores for Hot Rod are absurdly high, with no less than 6 scores of 10! This was obviously a mistake on Hasbro's part as Hot Rod is a bit of a bumbling wimp in the movie.

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.