Beachcomber

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

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

STRENGTH

3

INTELLIGENCE

9

SPEED

5

ENDURANCE

7.5

RANK

6

COURAGE

6

FIREPOWER

1

SKILL

10

OVERALL

47.5

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

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

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

AKA 'Duneraker'
Manufacturer - iGear
Toyline - Mini Warriors

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

Review

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


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

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


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

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


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

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

Bombshell

"The mind is my playpen."

Can turn foes into helpless accomplices by injecting cerebro-shells into their head (robot or human) with his stinger...gives him control of their minds...has a cruel sense of humor...arms himself by having his victims debase themselves. In insect Mode this insecticon can fly 10km. In robot Mode wears head-mounted mortar...throws 25 kg explosive shell 15 km. Cerebro-shells can be used against him if removed from victim's head.

STRENGTH

5

INTELLIGENCE

8

SPEED

5

ENDURANCE

5

RANK

6

COURAGE

5

FIREPOWER

6

SKILL

9

OVERALL

49

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 289, September 29th, 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 'Stormbomb'
Manufacturer - FansProject
Toyline - Causality

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

Review

Bombshell was probably the most sinister of any Decepticon back in my youth, due to his ability to control minds. I remember one notable story where he fired cerebro shells into a human and it reminded me of Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan, where Checkov has a nasty alien crawl inside his ear. Needless to say, it gave me the willies. In fact, it still does today. Bombshell was one of the earler FansProject releases, and in truth I was never a fan of the whole 'ninja' aesthetic. My relief was palpable then, when FansProject released an additional set of G1 weapons alongside their Deluxe Insecticons box set. Let's see how well they have fared in homaging this sinister G1 character.


Appearance (Robot Mode) 8/10
All of the Insecticons stand somewhere between deluxe and scout class, probably closer to deluxe in height. What is notable about Bombshell is his impressive bulk - he looks squat and powerful. He does a good job of hiding his kibble, with the forelegs either visible or hidden behind his shoulders depending on your preference. The rear insect legs are neatly folded on the lower leg of the robot. His headsculpt is particularly impressive, with a menacing grille for a mouth plate punctuated by the demonic eyes above it. His expression is enigmatic - perfect to reflect this character. The new gun very much fits in with his overall appearance and I prefer it infinitely over the whole 'ninja' aesthetic. Colour-wise, this guy is spot on, perfectly capturing the purple, black and yellow of the original figure. Red is used sparingly, but effectively.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 7/10
A pretty successful analogue of the original, the rear legs work really well. My gripes are that the front legs tend to pop out of their clips every now and then because they double as auxiliary weapons (complete with metal chain attachments) and I'm not sure about how well the daggers serve as the 'mouth'. It's a shame that because of the different connector, there is no way to instead use the front of the rifle as the mouthpiece, as is the case with the Barrage homage. The Skyquake-esque 'pods' either side of the robot head make more sense in this mode, serving as 2 sets of creepy eyes, either side of the mouth. Very unsettling.


Transformation 8/10
This figure has a relatively simple transformation (especially for FansProject), although the arms take some mastery. The groin and hip panels are slid up to allow the legs to telescope into each other, which they do once they are rotated and tabbed together. The feet are then folded in, and the insect mode legs are then unfolded and moved into position. The head is covered by the insect 'mouth', which is folded up from its position on the back in robot mode. The both shoulder pads are rotated around, and the arms swing behind the back, with the fists slotting in to tabs on the underside of the leg. This step can be tricky unless the elbows are aligned properly. Then the ninja weapons are added to the stumps to form the front legs. Job done!

Poseability 9/10
Fantastic, there's not a lot that this figure can't do. From top to bottom this figure is blessed with a ball-jointed head, lateral and side-to side shoulder articulation, bicep swivel courtesy of a ball-joint, and forearm swivel. There is no wrist articulation but then this is not really needed thanks to the forearm articulation. There is also a ball-jointed waist and hips; with the bonus being that the hip and groin panels can be moved for a greater range of movement. This figure also has bicep swivel, jointed knees ankle tilt and swivel. The low center of gravity of this figure coupled with large feet and tight joints mean that this figure is super poseable.


Quality 8/10
Something about the plastic that FansProject use always makes me worry somehow, for me there seems to be less 'give' in the plastic, in that it feels very good quality but is slightly brittle. Maybe this is unfounded but I am always more careful with the FansProject stuff (perhaps the price might have something to do with that!) I have no specific worries with this figure, because there are no transformation steps which make me wince.

Overall - 40/50
FansProject have taken on 3 classic figures that have been sadly neglected by Hasbro and have re-imagined them to good effect. As I have already said, I am not a massive fan of the ninja weapons but thankfully this has been addressed by not another 3rd party, but FansProject themselves! Bombshell is certainly my favourite figure of the 3 original Insecticons, and should certainly be considered for any collection, as he was pretty decent value, to boot.

Hardhead

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

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

STRENGTH

9

INTELLIGENCE

6

SPEED

5

ENDURANCE

9

RANK

5

COURAGE

10

FIREPOWER

8

SKILL

7

OVERALL

59

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

First/Last Comic Appearance (US) - The Transformers: Headmasters Issue 1, July 1987 / Issue 75, February 1991
First/Last Comic Appearance (UK) - Issue 130, September 12th 1987 / Issue 201, January 21st 1989
First/Last Cartoon Appearance - Episode 96 (Season 4 #1), November 9th 1987 / Episode 98 (Season 4 #3), November 11th 1987
First Toy Appearance - 1987

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

AKA 'Hardbone'
Manufacturer - Toyworld
Toyline -

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

Review

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


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

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


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

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


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

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

Hound

"Observe everything, remember even more."

Hound loves the natural wonders of Earth, prefers it to Cybertron. Brave, fearless, loyal. Secretly desires to be human. Uses turret gun as radar scope, infrared radiation collector. Tracks machines as well as humans. Hologram gun projects 3-dimensional grid laser-light topographical maps. Vulnerable to thermal and electromagnetic interference.

STRENGTH

5

INTELLIGENCE

8

SPEED

5

ENDURANCE

7

RANK

6

COURAGE

10

FIREPOWER

3

SKILL

9

OVERALL

53

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 29, September October 5th 1985 / Issue 103, March 7th 1987
First/Last Cartoon Appearance - Episode 1 (Season 1 #1), September 17th 1984 / The Transformers: The Movie, August 8th 1986
First Toy Appearance - 1984

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

Manufacturer - Hasbro
Toyline - Universe

AKA 'Autobot Hound'

Additions/Mods:
- Added an Autobot symbol to the bonnet (covering the smaller tampographed one)
- Added Reprolabels sticker set
- Added the FansProject G3 trailer weapon

Review

Poor Hound. He started off as the main 'kiddie appeal' character in the cartoon until he was unceremoniously ditched by Spike as soon as Bumblebee shaked his chromed tailpipe in the young human's direction. Hound sought solace in the arms of Mirage instead as their special abilities made them natural allies - Mirage able to cloak himself and Hound able to project images of giant robots at will. Quite why Hound didn't reattempt this subterfuge to flummox Devastator in the movie is beyond me, but presumably he hid in the shuttle like a big jessie instead. This aside, Hound is a cool character with an alt mode which is a bit more rough 'n' ready than his other Autobot car counterparts.


Appearance (Robot Mode) 7/10
As much as I like this incarnation of Hound, something about him seems very at odds with the rest of the 'classsicsverse' figures, and I struggle to pinpoint what it is. It's almost as if the headsculpt and some of the chunky features are aimed at a younger age group than, say, Prowl. In it's own right, I like the look of him, but for me, he displays somewhat incongruously with the others. He is also fairly bland, so I decided to augment him with some of the specifically-designed Reprolabels stickers. The gun is courtesy of FansProject from their Optimus Prime G3 Trailer which also replaces the cartoonish launcher supplied with the figure. I further think that the plastic is too pea green, and should have been a lot darker, as with the Henkei release.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 7/10
Stylistically the alt mode clashes with the rest of the 'classicsverse' far less than the robot, and the result is a nice-looking Jeep, which again would be pretty plain had I not put extra stickers on it. However it looks very nice with the chrome gun in place. Ravage can also be stowed on the back of the jeep, as these 2 figures were originally packaged together. The front wheels also turn nicely, allowing you to 'pose' the jeep more dynamically.


Transformation 8/10
This is a fun and rewarding transformation. The seats fold down and eventually become the 'thighs' of the robot, the lower legs and feet being formed by the rear of the jeep. The middle of the fuselage is lifted into place to create the 'spine', after the arms have been freed from the chassis. The front wheels are jointed allowing them to be moved out the way for transformation and then posed how you like them in robot mode. Just be sure that the spine is fully locked into place as otherwise there is a gap between the 'chest' and the waist area.

Poseability 6/10
'Loose hips sink ships' so the bastardised saying goes. This figure is almost ruined by incredibly loose balljoints in the hips and slightly average articulation. He has a ball-jointed head and shoulders but no waist swivel. He also has elbow and knee joints, although the knees are very high on this figure giving him tiny thighs. His ankles also have a joint although his wrists can only fold away and offer no meaningful poseability. His feet are huge but don't have much of a heel, and when this is coupled with loose hips you have a figure who is reluctant to stay upright.


Quality 7/10
This figure feels solid and the Jeep holds together very well and the articulated front wheels show no signs of breakage. However the robot mode floppiness is a big worry. I'm not sure if the loose hip issue is a general complaint with this figure or not - I can't vouch for other peoples experiences. But I would definitely be wary of moving the hips of this figure too much.

Overall - 35/50
I kind of like Hound as a figure in his own right, but aesthetically, he is a bit of an oddity. His new figure definitely feels more basic and cartoonish than the original, and for that reason I don't really like how he displays with the majority of my other figures. Perhaps he was the re-use of a mould intended for another line that was aborted? Who knows. Otherwise he is pretty decent but marred by major issues in his hips. I may try to varnish the balljoints to stiffen him up a bit. But, I would recommend you pick this figure up as there are no other options and also Ravage is included!

Huffer

"Molecular structure is the key to success."

Huffer is cynical, hard-boiled, and pessimistic. "He looks at the world through sludge-colored wind-shields." Will complain it can't be built, then builds it anyway. Not too sociable, but absolutely reliable. Arm sensors can test materials for strength, heat, resistance, elasticity, etc. Extremely strong. Superior mathematical and geometrical abilities. Often unhappy and homesick for Cybertron.

STRENGTH

7

INTELLIGENCE

8

SPEED

5

ENDURANCE

7

RANK

6

COURAGE

8

FIREPOWER

1

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 1, September 1984 / Issue 41, June 1988
First/Last Comic Appearance (UK) - Issue 18, May 18th 1985 / Issue 50, March 1st 1986
First/Last Cartoon Appearance - Episode 1 (Series 1 Episode 1), September 17th 1984 / The Transformers: The Movie, August 8th 1986
First Toy Appearance - 1984

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

Manufacturer - Hasbro
Toyline - Botcon

Additions/Mods:
- Added Autobot symbols to the shoulders
- Added Autobot symbols to the cab
- Covered the 'upside down' tampographed Autobot symbol

Review

Huffer is a tough little guy who I fondly remember from the G1 cartoon, and I was suitably underwhelmed by the drab Power Core Combiners figure bearing the same name. I finally relented and picked up the Botcon version of Him, after getting the figure I use as 'Pipes' in hand. I am a massive fan of the mould, so let's see how it stands up to getting the Botcon treatment.


Appearance (Robot Mode) 8/10
The vibrant colour scheme seen here really does the mould the justice it deserves. Huffer looks like a mean little 'bot, with his squat proportions. I can imagine him knocking a much bigger Decepticon flat. I covered the tampographed Autobot symbol on his leg, because it is upside down. I'm also really pleased with the paint apps, which are in keeping with the usual high standards of the Botcon exclusives. In terms of his overall look, it's only really the colour scheme that would make you see this as Huffer, as the headsculpt is quite different. But then the original toy had smokestacks for arms so change isn't always bad.

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. A really nice touch is the 'Cybertron Wrecker Service' tampograph, which is either side of the cab. As with the robot mode, the mould really 'pops' in Huffer's colour scheme.


Transformation 7/10
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. The crane arm is detachable and forms the weapon in robot mode, which kind of works, but not brilliantly.

Poseability 6/10
Not bad for his size. His diddy head is in a ball-joint, and his shoulders and hips are also ball-jointed. He has waist swivel. He has knee joints and his feet can move about slightly. He has ball-jointed elbows but no wrist articulation, which is understandable given that his wheels would impede that anyway. He is relatively poseable and his barrel-chested shape makes him look slightly unwieldy - not necessarily a bad thing. I have marked this figure down though because one knee is very loose, I don't know if this is just limited to my figure though.


Quality 8/10
This is a very squat and compact mould and everything feels solid, it's the kind of construction I yearn for on the more recent hollow Hasbro efforts.

Overall - 37/50
I am glad that I added the Botcon version of this figure to my collection. Something about the iGear Huffer just doesn't sit right with me. So, for my money, this is the best incarnation of G1 Huffer to date. He also looks great alongside Pipes!

Motormaster

"These wheels are made for crushing."

No one on the road is colder and crueler. Shows no mercy to Autobots who happen to be on the highway with him. Seeks to destroy Optimus Prime so he can claim to be "King of the Road". Can survive a collision with anyone, except Optimus Prime. Reaches a top speed of 140mph and can shatter a 20-foot concrete block. Uses a 400mph wind producing cyclone gun. Forms robot "Menasor" with fellow Stunticons.

STRENGTH

9

INTELLIGENCE

6

SPEED

5

ENDURANCE

10

RANK

7

COURAGE

9

FIREPOWER

7

SKILL

4

OVERALL

57

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 41, June 1988
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 'Diesel'
Manufacturer - FansProject
Toyline - Causality

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

Review

Way before my Nemesis Prime obsession begun, there were 2 Decepticons who for me were the first 'black repaints'. One of which was Skywarp, and the other was Motormaster. Now strictly speaking Motormaster wasn't a repaint at all but his resemblance to Optimus prime may have paved the way for RID Scourge and all of those other cool black primes. The Stunticons in general were an anomaly, as they were all wheeled vehicles - something rare in the Decepticon ranks back then, when all of the sporty cars and trucks were the provisio of the Autobots. I remember thinking how cool Motormaster looked - rendered immediately more badass than Optimus Prime by virtue of his 'evil' colour scheme. My interest was always in whether Motormaster could defeat Optimus Prime, and this question came to be answered in the cartoon, where the slightly unhinged Decepticon engaged Optimus Prime in a game of 'chicken'. Of course, Motormaster was utterly defeated, humiliated even, as his whole alt mode collapsed like a concertina. Optimus sailed through him like he wasn't even there. This was an iconic moment for me in the cartoon. The anarchist in me wanted Motormaster to win, and there was something primally satisfying to me about that whole scene. For years, I waited to be able to recreate this classic moment with my camera, but a Motormaster was not forthcoming. Then Hasbro provided us with the awful legends-class Motorbreath, and reminded us all why third parties have a necessary place in so many of our collections. It was ultimately left to FansProject to deliver something that Hasbro either couldn't or didn't want to - a Motormaster worthy of taking on Henkei Prime.


Appearance (Robot Mode) 7/10
I will come right out and say that I'm not a fan of FansProject headsculpts - I find them to either lack definition, or be utterly uninspiring. This figure is no exception and feel rather characterless to me. His expression is very blank and if you squint he looks like he is wearing a babies bonnet. However, for me, this character was always about the alt mode, and the ability to combine into Menasor. I don't want to convey this as a rubbish standalone robot mode because it is far from that. This figure is large, and well-proportioned. The lower legs in particular really pop. His arms are slightly less successful, having a fair amount of kibble on the forearm, and looking slightly awkward at the shoulder. He can wield a choice of weapons - you can either use the trailer doors folded over and equip him with matching shotguns, or you can combine these along with other parts to form a rather impressive rifle. The paint apps he has are very well applied, his expanses of charcoal grey are punctuated by accents of purple and yellow. He is very coherent and neat, but overall slightly underwhelms me. He also has a daft mode which allows you to use every part of the trailer and basically stick it on him. Frankly, it is a mess and not worth doing, for the amount of time and frustration it imposes.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 9/10
I am an absolute sucker for trucks with trailers so it would take a monumental screw-up from FansProject for me not to like this. I am glad to report that this is not the case, and this alt mode is very successful. The detailing on the cab section is great, with well-applied paint apps. The trailer is a little 'busy' in terms of the amount of panels which separate out, but nothing compared to the unmitigated disaster of Universe Ironhide's alt mode. The back set of wheels are smaller than the front, but this does not detract form the overall aesthetic. Scale-wise he is a fair bit smaller than Optimus Prime with the G3 trailer, and cannot be displayed alongside. However, with the judicious use of angles and perspective, you can make them look more or less the same size. Which is exactly what I did so I could finally capture the photo I wanted. The paint apps on the trailer are not the consistent line of the old toy, but then FansProject had to assure symmetry. I think that my addition of Decepticon symbols really help to make the whole thing more coherent.


Transformation 7/10
The first couple of time you do this, you will be cursing to yourself, while nursing sore fingers, as you try to pry the various panels apart without incurring breakage. This figure is extremely tight and it takes a bit of manipulation to make the tabs and joints move more freely. After this, it becomes a bit easier although it must be noted that the instructions are not great. Basically, the whole back half of the trailer is removed and can be set aside, since it is not used. This is a very intelligent piece of design by FansProject, who have managed to incorporate all of the combiner kibble into this trailer section. The doors are removed to form the aforementioned guns. I usually attempt to explain most aspects of the transformation but for this figure I would have to write a small essay. So I'll leave it at this - follow the instructions, look at Youtube videos and be extremely patient. Look out particularly for the small joint which holds the torso to the waist - it is very flimsy and very stiff. Exercise extreme caution when moving it, grab the actual joint rather than attempting to swivel the piece around by holding the torso.

Poseability 7/10
Unfortunately this figure sacrifices some articulation for the greater good, which is making sure that Menasor is as phenomenally badass as possible. His neck is ball-jointed, although the joint is very small. The waist has a very stiff ratchet swivel. The shoulder and hip joints offer lateral and side-to-side movement, with the hips on very strong ratchets. The shoulders have a tendency to move forward, as they have a secondary joint intended for transformation, so you may find yourself holding these in place as you move the shoulder. There is thigh swivel but bicep swivel is almost impossible, you can move the combiner pegs out of the way to allow some movement (which looks awful) but then the kibble on the back of the upper arm conspires to get in the way. The elbows are basically double-jointed, and the knees offer a good range of movement, you may just have to hold the surrounding parts in place as they have a tendency to pop out of transformation before the stiff knee joint gives way. The wrists are on a swivel and the feet are ball-jointed, however they have tabs which collide with the windscreen area and limit posing potential slightly. This figure has decent balance, however.


Quality 6/10
I'm really in two minds about this particular aspect of the figure. On the one hand, you have an extremely complex, well-engineered, impeccably painted masterpiece with incredibly strong joints in the hip and waist region, required for the stresses manipulating the combiner introduce. On the other, there are some joints and tabs which are so scary to manipulate, you never feel you are too far away from a dreaded stress mark or a break altogether. I might be unfair in my appraisal of this, as I have noticed some joints loosening up after some use. Just be extremely careful and take your time with this figure. I allowed myself 2 hours to transform this figure between all available modes.

Overall - 36/50
This is a flawed, but utterly essential figure. You obviously have to get it if you have any intention of getting yourself a Menasor, and the primary consideration of this figure is how well it performs this task. I can tell you that it performs it extremely well, but that will be covered in my Menasor review. This figure is ultimately an incredible achievement, being that the Motormaster mode was always going to be secondary to the combined mode we still have a decent base figure. Compare this to the horrible messes of Hasbro's combiner torso figures - Silverbolt and Onslaught - and this only emphasises just how good FansProject are.

Ravage

"Today's Autobots are tomorrow's scrap metal."

Ravage operates best alone. A creature of the night. Craftiest of all Decepticons. Adept at devising deadly new strategies. Remains aloof from others, but his deeds command their respect. Can virually escape detection - emits an electromagnetic emmission shield, has soundless walk, disappears in subdued light or shadow. Carries 2 powerful heat-seeking missiles. Light-sensitive. Can be blinded.

STRENGTH

5

INTELLIGENCE

8

SPEED

5

ENDURANCE

6

RANK

7

COURAGE

4

FIREPOWER

7

SKILL

10

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 75, February 1991
First/Last Comic Appearance (UK) - Issue 13, March 9th 1985 / Issue 279, July 21st 1990
First/Last Cartoon Appearance - Episode 1 (Season 1 #1), September 17th 1984 / Episode 91 (Season 3 #26), November 18th 1986
First Toy Appearance - 1984

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

Manufacturer - Hasbro
Toyline - Universe

Additions/Mods:
- Added the Reprolabels sticker set

Review

Ravage was another of those characters from the original toyline that had very different comic and cartoon personas. In the cartoon, he was litle more than a stealthy attack drone, not really credited with anything you could call intelligence. In the comic, however, Ravage was a cerebral, smooth operator, who could actually speak as opposed to growl. It was he who persuaded Shockwave out of his funk during the (now sadly non-canon) Timewars saga. Ravage was included with Universe Hound as a freebie. So, has this figure and his obsolete alt mode been 'ravaged' by time or is he still as sprightly as ever?


Appearance (Robot Mode) 7/10
First off, I will say that straight out of the box, (or off the card, as it were) that Ravage is plain as hell. He is nearly all black, save for a bit of red on the eyes, and some sparse silver paint apps. I resolved this by getting the Hound Reprolabels set. There are positives and negatives to using the stickers provided, obviously it is great to have some of his detail picked out somewhat but you are stuck with very authentic tape decals being present across his legs etc. Overall, I think it's worth the loss of stealth for a bit more character. The mould is pretty decent, and resembles the original well. The head/neck sits nicely under the arched shoulders/back, giving him an appropriately feline stance.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 5/10
For those of you younger than some of my shoes, a 'cassette' was a primitive device that allowed songs to be stored on it, and even whole albums! Have a look on google to see images of these quaint forms of storage media before reading on. If you squint in a very dark room , then you could be fooled into thinking that this was a micro-cassette, but only if you had also been on the sauce. I do realise that there is a pretty daunting challenge to secrete a whole robot into such a slim and rectangular shape though. The Reprolabels really make a big difference here, and also help to make the tape look more coherent, which is very gappy in places. This cassette also clips into Hound's vehicle back shelf, to replicate an obscure event that happened one time in a cartoon.


Transformation 7/10
This is quite simple stuff but actually makes a decent fist of getting a fairly convincing jaguar out of a small box. The rear legs swing out and then fold down, with the two halves joining together to form the 'bum' area. This doesn't hold together particularly well unfortunately, and so Ravage is left with a slightly seperated bum. Poor Ravage.

Poseability 5/10
For some reason, you would expect this figure to be more poseable than it is. The real issue is the front legs, which do not have the equivalent of 'hip' swivel. The back legs fare better but are not much use without a matching pair at the front. The neck can pivot up and down and the mouth can open (a bit).


Quality 7/10
There are no immediate flaws that spring to mind here, other than the fact that the rear quarter does not tab together as it should, which may lead to people squishing this together and weakening the plastic, thinking that they are doing something wrong.


Overall - 31/50
I have been tought not to look a gift-horse in the mouth (or a gift-jaguar, for that matter) and I am not about to start here. This figure has its fair share of flaws, but then so did the original. At least on this occasion, you are getting something for nothing. This figure is unmistakably Ravage, and with the judicious application of some Reprolabels, will leave you yearning for the more complicated (yet somehow more simple) days of analogue media.

Roadbuster

"War is a dirty business... and I'm as dirty as they come."

Likes to pass the time 'demolishing Decepticons'. Not happy if not fighting... bores easily, quietest of Autobots when not in battle. Charismatic in combat... inspiring to fellow warriors. Natural leader. Can traverse most terrains as 4-WD, 600 mile range. Carries turret-mounted linear blaster gun... can blow a hole in 2-foot thick concrete. As a robot has laser rifle and shrapnel-missile launcher.

STRENGTH

8

INTELLIGENCE

7

SPEED

5

ENDURANCE

9

RANK

8

COURAGE

10

FIREPOWER

6

SKILL

7

OVERALL

60

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 82, October 11th 1986 / Issue 203, February 4th 1989
First/Last Cartoon Appearance -
First Toy Appearance - 1985

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

AKA 'Mugen Calibur'
Manufacturer - CM's Corporation
Toyline -

Additions/Mods:
- Added an Autobot symbol to the chest
- Added Autobot symbols to the shoulders, covering the 'Dorvack' tampographs

Review

Appearance (Robot Mode) 8/10
Roadbuster was one of the original G1 toys I always wanted, because he looked so much better than the majority of other Transformers of the time. Hasbro even prefixed him with the 'deluxe' moniker - a mark of quality. This particular figure is a modern update of Roadbuster's original 'Mugen Calibur' toy, which was the reason why Roadbuster never saw a Japanese release, and why he was omitted from the cartoon altogether. This guy is a near-perfect stand-in for Roadbuster, with the only difference being the colour scheme, which is rather louder than Roadbuster's original. But it's as close as we will ever get to a Roadbuster that looks anything like the original.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 9/10
This alt mode is almost flawless, it is absolutely beautiful. from the low, wide stance of the armoured car to the forboding weapon mounted on it, everything about it screams 'cool'. It's just a shame that the lebs don't tab in to the sides of the car in a more meaningful way, as they can have a tendency to slip out.

Transformation 6/10
Incredibly basic sums this one up. CM Corp. have basically used pretty much the same transformation as the original. I don't like the way that the legs tab into the side of the car, this is because both the feet and the front wheel arches of the car are metal, and they are only held in place by friction. Metal on metal causes paint wear, and the car will undoubtedly hold together less well over time.

Poseability 5/10
Some good, some awful. The good - the arms are extremly well articulated, with the trigger finger independently moveable of the other fingers - think Masterpiece-level articulation. The bad - waist swivel is only possible if the legs are straight, because otherwise the thighs get in the way. Head articulation is pretty limited, with Roadbuster not able to look around very far. Interestingly, the Green figure I have from the same range does hot have this problem to the same degree. The worst of all is the leg/hip articulation, which is very poor. The hips 'lock in' to the groin, so you are restricted to (very limited) up and down movement only. The knees can bend to approx. 45 degrees. Because of the metal parts, this guy is also unbalanced, and keeping him upright in anything approaching a dynamic poses is a nightmare.

Quality 5/10
This figure feels a great deal flimsier than most HasTak toys, and also the metal parts colliding make paint chipping unavoidable. Also, some of the weapons and accessories are tiny and very brittle. Do not let kids anywhere near this.

Overall - 33/50
Well, it's Roadbuster, what can you do. This toy aesthetically is right on the nose, so I would recommend this highly as a display piece, and if you are into your wreckers, you need this robot in your collection. Put it on a very high shelf because a child could break this just by looking at it funny.