Alpha Trion

"Knowledge is power."

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

STRENGTH

8

INTELLIGENCE

9

SPEED

8

ENDURANCE

9

RANK

8

COURAGE

8

FIREPOWER

7

SKILL

8

OVERALL

65

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

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

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

Manufacturer - Hasbro
Toyline - Botcon

Additions/Mods:

Review

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


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

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


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

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


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

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

Arcee

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 183, September 17th 1988 / Issue 251, January 6th, 1990
First/Last Cartoon Appearance - The Transformers: The Movie, August 8th 1986 / Episode 98 (Season 4 #3), November 11th 1987
First Toy Appearance - 2001

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

AKA 'MGT-01 Delicate Warrior'
Manufacturer - M&G Toys
Toyline -

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

Review

Appearance (Robot Mode) 8/10
Poor old Arcee has been 'blessed' with some truly ugly incarnations over the years - for me, this is the first mould of her which approximates her movie look successfully and looks decent. This figure looks great, and the light-piping on the eyes usually tends to get overlooked for 3rd-party figures. My gripes are the use of die-cast metal on the chest area - the paint isn't great and the white inevitably looks different. Also, the back kibble is a bit distracting.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 7/10
This looks OK, I guess. Not a bad stab and the movie alt mode. The wheels are too thin though and so much of them are exposed that what should be a sleek race car looks a bit like a pram. I am impressed by the detailing though and the paintwork is vivid enough.

Transformation 6/10
Quite the unorthadox 3rd party transformation, this one. I feel like I have to be very delicate with it, particularly with the way the head and rear of the vehicle are attached by a thin piece of plastic. Both modes just kind of sit together, without any tabs locking.

Poseability 8/10
Arcee scores highly here, with loads of cool articulation. Unfortunately the tiny feet make balance an issue, and the hips have a habit of splaying apart. With perseverence, however, this figure is capable of some very nice poses.

Quality 4/10
I am very careful with this figure, which I guess could be due to the price tag... But more than this, everything about this figure does not feel like your typical transformer. This would certainly struggle to pass any tests regarding robustness in my opinion. Give this to a kid and my prediction is that the head would be snapped off in no time, along with the legs.

Overall - 33/50
Don't get me wrong - I am very pleased that I have this figure in my collection. Without a doubt, this is the best Car-based incarnation of Arcee you are likely to see for some time. The faithfulness to the original character is probably what gives Arcee all of the weaknesses, regarding the odd alt mode and lack of durability. But treat her nice, and she will do just fine. An impressive effort from M&G toys.

* These Tech Specs were taken from the 'Diamond Select' Mini Bust released in 2009. The only earlier Generation One Tech Specs for this character were those of the Arcee Botcon Exclusive from 2001, but in that incarnation Arcee was a redeco of Blackarachnia. Given that Arcee was a monstrous spider, I decided to use the 2009 Tech Spec scores, which were more in keeping with her humanoid form and vehicle alt mode.

Buzzsaw

"My bite is worse than my bark."

Civil and sophisticated yet very cruel and destructive. Approaches his lethal tasks like a fine artist. Each deadly mission is like working on a new masterpiece. Can pinpoint and photograph a thumbtack from 20 miles away. Flies at 250mph. Carries twin mortar cannons. Diamond-hard, micro-serrated beak can carve up almost any opponent. Due to large ego, will often sulk rather than proceed if his plans go astray.

STRENGTH

5

INTELLIGENCE

8

SPEED

8

ENDURANCE

4

RANK

6

COURAGE

7

FIREPOWER

4

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 50, March 1989
First/Last Comic Appearance (UK) - Issue 13, March 9th 1985 / Issue 18, May 18th 1985
First/Last Cartoon Appearance - Episode 19 (Season 2 #3), October 17th 1985 / Episode 33 (Season 2 #17), October 16th 1985
First Toy Appearance - 1984

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

AKA 'Buzzer'
Manufacturer - Perfect Effect
Toyline -

Additions/Mods:
- Added a small Decepticon symbol to the 'back'

Review

I feel sorry for Buzzsaw, for he was always 'the other one' to Laserbeak. He was so forgettable, they even forgot to put him into the cartoon until season 2. I guess it's a fate shared by the less-illustrious 'mould mates' in the franchise. I know that he was the one with the sharp beak and I think he had a run-in with Omega Supreme at some point, but other than that who knows or even cares? I will try to put my apathy aside while I have a look at this Perfect Effect offering - if I can only keep awake...


Appearance (Robot Mode) 7/10
Ok so we're not strictly dealing with a 'robot mode' here, but it certainly feels more like a 'main mode' than the others. As you might expect, Buzzsaw shares an identical mould with his more famous 'sibling'. I like Perfect Effect's interpretation of the 'bird of prey' cassettes, although they seem to have become vultures as opposed to condors, perhaps snacking on too many Energon cubes along the way. The head sculpt is really very nice, and the wings give them an added menace. Unfortunately, there are no feet or talons to speak of, but the paint apps are decent enough for such a small figure, with nice amounts of moulded detail.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 6/10
Not much to write home about, really. The mode I have pictured is supposed to be a shuttle-type thing. I suppose it's ok. I guess that I am being a bit unfair, because there is another alt mode which resembles a pod which you attach a massive blade onto. It's only really any use if you have Shadow Commander. I suppose Perfect Effect had little to work on if they were not going to go down the cassette route, and at least the alt modes seem an appropriate match for the characters.


Transformation 7/10
This is a cleverly-constructed figure and the transformation is pretty nice, really. It's not massively complex. The head folds in to the 'neck' which becomes the cockpit of the craft. The wings fold away particularly cleverly, as does the extended neck. The small weapon pod thingies are a real pain to remove and stow, though.

Poseability 6/10
I dunno. I mean, it's a bird. The neck arcs and cranes nicely, and the pitch and angle of the wings can be tinkered with, so that is pretty nice. But the thing has no damn feet to speak of, which really limits what you can actually do with the figure. Although, you can supposedly attach him to Megatron's arm, but I haven't figured out how to yet, because I am a moron. Besides, Megatron wouldn't have any time for Buzzsaw. No-one does.


Quality 8/10
All the Perfect Effect efforts feel impressively sturdy for their size (with the exception of the dreadful Kingbat), and this figure is no exception. I never feel like I am going to snap anything, despite the tiny parts. Which is more than I can say for some other 3rd parties. Nicely done.

Overall - 34/50
I appreciate that Perfect Effect had to squeeze 3 different modes into this pretty small figure, and I am only reviewing 2 of them. Despite the fact that Buzzsaw has no feet to speak of, this is still a nice little figure. It is miles better than anything Hasbro will bother to produce, so if you want a Buzzsaw in your collection (and that's a big if) then I suppose this is a good choice.

Dirge

"Fear is the element that unites all losers."

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

STRENGTH

7

INTELLIGENCE

8

SPEED

8

ENDURANCE

6

RANK

5

COURAGE

4

FIREPOWER

8

SKILL

9

OVERALL

55

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

First/Last Comic Appearance (US) - Issue 17, June 1986 / Issue 21, October 1986
First/Last Comic Appearance (UK) - Issue 88, November 22nd 1986 / Issue 279, July 21st 1990
First/Last Cartoon Appearance - Episode 31 (Season 2 #15), September 26th 1985 / Episode 80 (Season 3 #15), October 21st 1986
First Toy Appearance - 1985

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

Manufacturer - Hasbro
Toyline - Generations

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

Review

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


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

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


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

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


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

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

Fireflight

"When I'm flying, no enemy is safe - nor friend."

If Aerialbots needed pilots' licenses, he'd never have gotten his... a hazard in the skies. Doesn't pay attention to where he's going since he's too busy marvelling at scenery. Flies at Mach 2.0, range 1000 miles. Carries flammable "fire-fog" missiles, uses photon displacer gun that effects sight by distorting light waves. With fellow Aerialbots forms "Superion".

STRENGTH

7

INTELLIGENCE

5

SPEED

8

ENDURANCE

8

RANK

6

COURAGE

9

FIREPOWER

7

SKILL

3

OVERALL

53

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

First/Last Comic Appearance (US) - Issue 21, October 1986 / Issue 50, March 1989
First/Last Comic Appearance (UK) - Issue 63, May 31st 1986 / Issue 278, July 14th 1990
First/Last Cartoon Appearance - Episode 57 (Season 2 #41), November 26th 1985 / Episode 98 (Season 4 #3), November 11th 1987
First Toy Appearance - 1986

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

Manufacturer - Hasbro
Toyline - Revenge of the Fallen

Additions/Mods:
- Used parts from both ROTF Fireflight and Skydive, Repainted the chest, cockpit, wings and engines a more vibrant red
- Added Autobot symbols to the wings
- Added stickers to the cockpit

Review

Fireflight was always the clumsy oaf of the Aerialbots. Perhaps Hasbro had this in mind when they repurposed the Superion Energon combiner to be a homage to G1 Superion, for the resultant mess is one of the worst figures I have aver had the displeasure to set eyes upon. For why, read on...


Appearance (Robot Mode) 5/10
For everything that Hasbro got right with Air Raid/Slingshot, they got wrong with this mould, for it is damn ugly. It's difficult to know where to begin, so let's take each part in isolation. The head is rather wide and insectiod, and is crowned by some guns which make the head look even more insectoid. The torso sports the 'middle aged spread' look, and is made to look even podgier by the snake-like hips lurking beneath it. The lower arms end in lumps as opposed to fists. The legs are as skinny as the hips, and there is a silly amount of kibble attached to the upper body. At least the gun/shield is pretty nice, but that's only because FansProject designed them, and not the Hasbro work experience guy who came up with this risible robot mode. Knowing I could do little about the look of the mould, I instead tried to make the colours better by combining two figures to make a nearly all-grey robot, and then painted over the horrible maroon with red. The result is a figure which doesn't necessarily match the colour scheme of the G1 robot, but at least it isn't quite so obnoxious now.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 6/10
Thankfully the alternate mode is a vast improvement, but still not nice enough to warrant the detestable robot mode. At least here we have a well-proportioned aeroplane, the same model as Powerglide by the looks of it. I still don't think that an Aerialbot should have this kind of layout though, and would have preferred a more F15-like layout. I prefer the colour scheme of the plane now that I have painted it, as at least it is not quite so jarring with the other Aerialbots.


Transformation 7/10
Part of the reason for the odd proportions in robot mode are due to this transformation sequence, which is actually pretty imaginative. The wings and surrounding area fold back to reveal the legs, which are then pivoted to align with the waist. It is this act of stowing the legs that make them necessarily thin. The legs also are seperated and then fitted back together differently to put the figure into 'combiner' mode. The fists become the jet engines which is also why they are pretty awful to look at.

Poseability 5/10
The articulation on this figure is actually good, especially considering the size class. His head swivels, as does the waist. The Hips, Knees, Shoulders and Elbows are all on ball joints. Even the antannae-like guns on his head can pivot back and forth. Unfortunately, the excessive kibble in the rear of the upper body gives this mould severe balance issues. Add to this a fairly gawpy-looking robot mode, means that you spend most of your time tying to find a non-stupid pose where he doesn't fall over.


Quality 7/10
This figure seems obstinately tough. It knows how ugly it is, and you sure as hell ain't breaking it any time soon. However, the gun emplacement which attaches to the head is very loose, and will certainly be lost should you decide to drop-kick this monstrosity down the stairs.

Overall - 30/50
The mould used to make these poor figures should never have seen the light of day. I guarantee that these figures would have been smelted down in their millions were it not for the fact that they are required to make Superion. This figure is really ugly and does not fit in with the Aerialbot aesthetic, either as a robot or a plane. The only hope is that FansProject one day replace the 2 figures that share this mould with new moulds, as they did with Bruticus. I am happy now that his colour scheme is not quite as awful as it was, though!

Ironfist

"A brilliantly designed piece of firepower is a work of art to me."

A most distinguished weaponry mastermind. Strong, silent, and likes his action fast and furious. Easily eats up every type of ground, no matter how rough. As a vehicle, attacks with recoil-action, visible tracer missile launcher. In robot form this provides cover as a free-standing launcher weapon.

STRENGTH

8

INTELLIGENCE

10

SPEED

8

ENDURANCE

8

RANK

10

COURAGE

9

FIREPOWER

9

SKILL

10

OVERALL

72

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

First/Last Comic Appearance (US) -
First/Last Comic Appearance (UK) -
First/Last Cartoon Appearance -
First Toy Appearance - 1993

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

AKA 'Strongarm'
Manufacturer - Hasbro
Toyline - Energon

Additions/Mods:
- Added an Autobot symbol to the shoulder, covering the sculpted one

Review

Ironfist was a massively obscure figure which must have been one of the very last G1 figures before he was repackaged as part of the emerging Generation 2 toyline. No-one cared about him until he was the übergeek in Last Stand of the Wreckers who helped to defeat Overlord. Unfortunately he died soon after but never mind. There is no modern incarnation of Ironfist so I use Energon Strongarm instead, who shares many simlarities with the original.

Appearance (Robot Mode) 8/10
Unlike the overpowered G1 original (whose tech specs make him better all round than Megatron(!), the Ironfist we have come to know is a diminutive robot who fights with his bullet-addled brain rather than his fists. The Energon Strongarm mould is suitably diminutive, being a scout-class figure. The original Ironfist shares a very similar colour scheme to this figure, but the bonnet of the alt mode forms his chest, wheras with this Energon mould, the bonnet ends up as the feet. This aside, there are enough similarities for my money. As a figure in its own right, this is a cool scout-class toy. Nicely proportioned with a lot of character, with a huge energy weapon to boot. Ironfist was a Lightformer with lots of transparent red, so again this is represented well here.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 8/10
Ironfist was an yellow ochre-coloured Humvee with a huuuuge gun on its roof, wheras the Strongarm mould is a yellow ochre-coloured open-top jeep with a large gun mounted to the rear. Again this is a case where there are differences between the two modes, but they are close enough for my liking to homage the character. The transparent red windows look really good. I'm not so sure about the 'energon' spare tyre though!

Transformation 7/10
This is a fairly simplistic transformation befitting a scout-class figure. The lower legs don't really fit together in the Jeep mode, leaving some gapping between the two halves. At some point, I will have to shave the tab down to make the fit more loose. There is nowhere for the head to really go either - it just turns around and the transparent 'spare tyre' is stuck to the top of it.

Poseability 7/10
The shoulders offer a full swivel vertically, but you can only slightly adjust the angle of them, as the joint is really meant for transformation. There is head swivel, Ball-jointed hips and knee/elbow joints. The waist has a swivel too which is slightly impeded by where the rollcage ends up in robot mode. Unfortunately there is no bicep or thigh swivel and, worst of all, there are severe balance issues, as there are no 'heels'.

Quality 7/10
I bought this figure dead cheap on eBay and there are stress marks and some cracks in the red energon gun. I don't know if this is due to rough treatment by the previous owner, or an inherent defect in the clear plastic. Overall, this is a reasonably solid figure.

Overall - 37/50
I feel that this Energon figure is a good homage for Ironfist, and he will fit in with my other Wreckers well. You may have a different opinion as concessions have been made with the alt mode and overally configuration of the robot, but I can overlook these inconsistencies and still enjoy the figure. These guys are available cheap, and for lack of a better choice work really well as Ironfist.

Junkyard

Assembled and raised in the scrap pile, Junkyard is a supremely resourceful bot. It was he who helped orchestrate the repair and reboot of the disabled Ultra Magnus. the mighty Autobot was so impressed with the talent of Junkyard that he encouraged Autobot Ratchet to spend an extended leave on planet Junkion to hone his repair skills.

STRENGTH

6

INTELLIGENCE

4

SPEED

8

ENDURANCE

6

RANK

4

COURAGE

5

FIREPOWER

6

SKILL

8

OVERALL

47

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 146, January 2nd 1988 / Issue 187, October 15th 1988
First/Last Cartoon Appearance - The Transformers: The Movie, August 8th 1986 / Episode 85 (Season 3 #20), November 12th, 1986
First Toy Appearance - 2011

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

AKA 'Junkheap'
Manufacturer - Hasbro
Toyline - Generations

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

Review

Junkyard was a peripheral character, but whenever he popped up in the comics I always thought he looked really cool with his shades. Also, I had a Wreck-gar who needed to ride something (That's what she said) so buying this guy made perfect sense.

Appearance (Robot Mode) 7/10
He's a good-looking bot, sharing the same mould as the Junkion leader. His paintjob is limited but effective, and his camp face makes me laugh. But for some reason, his shades just don't align with hs face properly, and the paint that is on them is atrocious. The eyes are too important to be rendered sloppily in my opinion.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 8/10
I'm so impressed on how little robot kibble is visible. You can see the hands above the engine if you look carefully, but that's about it. What paint there is is very nice but there is definately too much grey plastic on display.

Transformation 7/10
The exceptionally clever transformation is marred somewhat for me by the automorph feature, which apparently puts great strain on the rubberised handlebars. I haven't had an issue myself yet, but I have read examples of people snapping them.

Poseability 7/10
This mould is capable of most of the articulation you would expect from a modern deluxe figure. The way that his head is set into his neck and the surrounding kibble give it a limited range of movement, and also he bends at the knee oddly because of how his legs are used in the alt mode.

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

Overall - 36/50
Junkyard is a must-have for anyone who has the Wreck-gar figure (unless you want to lay out serious dollar for Scrapheap) so buying him at a low price is a no-brainer. I guess it would be odd if he looked as good as Wreck-gar anyway. If you have Wreck-gar, you are duty bound to own him, and you won't be too disappointed with what you get.

Laserbeak

"The only point I like in Autobots: melting point."

Laserbeak takes pleasure in hunting his prey -- usually the straggling survivors of a battle. Noticeably not brave. Will run for safety if threatened. Flies at speeds up to 250mph. Uses two independently targetable laser cannons with extreme precision to get information from captives. Shortage of ruby crystals that powers the lasers can panic his systems into shutting down.

STRENGTH

5

INTELLIGENCE

6

SPEED

8

ENDURANCE

5

RANK

6

COURAGE

2

FIREPOWER

8

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 1, September 1984 / Issue 50, March 1989
First/Last Comic Appearance (UK) - Issue 18, May 18th 1985 / Issue 88, November 22nd 1986
First/Last Cartoon Appearance - Episode 1 (Season 1 #1), September 17th 1984 / Episode 81 (Season 3 #16), October 20th 1986
First Toy Appearance - 1984

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

AKA 'Laser'
Manufacturer - Perfect Effect
Toyline -

Additions/Mods:
- Added a small Decepticon symbol to the 'back'

Review

Laserbeak was the sneaky spy responsible for the death of Optimus Prime. There, I said it. Without his spying, there's now way that the Decepticons would have boarded the Autobot shuttle, and dispatched half of my favourite Autobots in the process. Plus, look how stupid his motto is. It doesn't even make sense. Despite him being a sneaky, conniving, sly, underhand dick of a robot, Laserbeak is a pretty well-known Decepticon and he wouldn't be a very good Decepticon if I didn't dislike him. So, good for him, I guess. Let's see how Perfect Effect have managed to homage Soundwave and Megatron's favoured son. Teacher's pet.


Appearance (Robot Mode) 7/10
Ok so we're not strictly dealing with a 'robot mode' here, but it certainly feels more like a 'main mode' than the others. I like Perfect Effect's interpretation of the 'bird of prey' cassettes, although they seem to have become vultures as opposed to condors, perhaps snacking on too many Energon cubes along the way. What they have successfully captured though, is the menacing aspect of the character. The head sculpt is really very nice, and the wings give them an added menace. Unfortunately, there are no feet or talons to speak of, but the paint apps are decent enough for such a small figure, with nice amounts of moulded detail.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 6/10
Not much to write home about, really. The mode I have pictured is supposed to be a shuttle-type thing. I suppose it's ok. I guess that I am being a bit unfair, because there is another alt mode which resembles a pod which you attach a massive blade onto. It's only really any use if you have Shadow Commander. I suppose Perfect Effect had little to work on if they were not going to go down the cassette route, and at least the alt modes seem an appropriate match for the characters.


Transformation 7/10
This is a cleverly-constructed figure and the transformation is pretty nice, really. It's not massively complex. The head folds in to the 'neck' which becomes the cockpit of the craft. The wings fold away particularly cleverly, as does the extended neck. The small weapon pod thingies are a real pain to remove and stow, though.

Poseability 6/10
I dunno. I mean, it's a bird. The neck arcs and cranes nicely, and the pitch and angle of the wings can be tinkered with, so that is pretty nice. But the thing has no damn feet to speak of, which really limits what you can actually do with the figure. Although, you can supposedly attach him to Megatron's arm, but I haven't figured out how to yet, because I am a moron.


Quality 8/10
All the Perfect Effect efforts feel impressively sturdy for their size (with the exception of the dreadful Kingbat), and this figure is no exception. I never feel like I am going to snap anything, despite the tiny parts. Which is more than I can say for some other 3rd parties. Nicely done.

Overall - 34/50
I appreciate that Perfect Effect had to squeeze 3 different modes into this pretty small figure, and I am only reviewing 2 of them. Despite the fact that Laserbeak has no feet to speak of, this is still a nice little figure. It is miles better than anything Hasbro will bother to produce, so I recommend you add these to your collection forthwith. Even if you just want to awkwardly balance this chap off of Megatron's arm, he's worth purchasing.

Optimus Prime

"Freedom is the right of all sentient beings."

Optimus Prime is the largest, strongest and wisest of all Autobots. Feels his role is the protection of all life, including Earth-life. Fights unceasingly to defeat the Decepticons. Splits into three autonomous modules: 1) Optimus Prime... the brain center known as the Commander; 2) Roller, the Autobot scout car... a spy who operates up to 1200 miles away; and 3) Autobot Headquarters... the combat deck equipped with a versatile mechanic/artillery robot. Injury to one module is felt by the other two.

STRENGTH

10

INTELLIGENCE

10

SPEED

8

ENDURANCE

10

RANK

10

COURAGE

10

FIREPOWER

8

SKILL

10

OVERALL

76

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 80, July 1991
First/Last Comic Appearance (UK) - Issue 11, February 9th 1985 / Issue 281, August 4th 1990
First/Last Cartoon Appearance - Episode 1 (Season 1 #1), September 17th 1984 / Episode 98 (Season 4 #3), November 11th 1987
First Toy Appearance - 1984

Click here to see Figure Details and review

Figure Details

Manufacturer - Hasbro/Fansproject
Toyline - Classics

G3 Trailer by Fansproject

Additions/Mods:
- Added Autobot symbols to the cab
- Added Autobot symbols to the shoulders , covering the tampographed ones
- Added large Autobot symbols to the front of the trailer
- Added the ArtTek Designs Hero Rifle

Review

Optimus Prime. What hasn't been said about Optimus Prime by many other people in more eloquent ways than I am capable of? Not much. Everyone knows that he had a habit of dying quite a lot, that he was awesome, swatting aside Megatron on more occasions than the erstwhile Decepticon leader would care to remember. The rich timbre of Peter Cullen's voice, the way he descended into Autobot City and took out half the Decepticon army before Megatron sneakily killed him, the legendary game of chicken with Motormaster, the list goes on. Even Bumblebee is eclipsed by the amount of Optimus Prime figures available, and elicits far less hatred. Cut this chap in 2 and he would bleed Autobot. He was my favourite toy as a child. I wasn't allowed him until Christmas but I convinced my mum to let me wheel the damn box around because I was that desperate to play with him. I'm not a religious man. Where others ask 'what would Jesus do?' I ask the same of Optimus Prime. If I was gay and had a fetish for giant transforming robots then I would marry Optimus Prime and back Obama all the way. It's fair to say that I am fond of Optimus Prime. So it's fair to say that only the best figure would be fit to represent him in my own modern G1 universe. No pressure then!


Appearance (Robot Mode) 9/10
This is one of what must be hundreds of Optimus Prime toys that have been 'rolled out' since the inception of the Transformers. What I like about this particular mould is that it attempts to modernise Prime, while preserving his overall look. So while not a G1 carbon copy, it still epitomises the Autobot Leader. Despite being kibble heavy (half the cab just sits on his arms) I am a big fan. However, I was never a fan of some of the seemingly random yellow paint apps which were seen on the 'classics' version of the mould. This Henkei version is much cleaner, with more G1-inspired paint which gives the figure a cleaner, more minimal look. The arms are red all the way now, and the upper legs are silver as opposed to a mixture of blue and light grey - it just works so much better. One issue with the Henkei mould however is the darker tone of red used for some of the plastics - this causes a bit of a mismatch although the impact is minimal. Also, the Henkei version is resplendent in chrome across the bumper and grille. One thing I feel lets down this mould is the weaponry - it was very clever to have integrated weapons but I felt too much of a deviation from Prime's iconic rifle. So I plumped for this new version by ArtTek designs. The rifle is very good quality and really cements this as Optimus Prime proper.

Appearance (Alternate Mode) 10/10
I only give this a 10 because of the FansProject trailer, which is magnificent. An Optimus Prime without a trailer is like a Megatron that is not a gun - plain wrong. The trailer also opens up to reveal a modernised Roller, plus the 'repair bay' can be transformed to a gun platform, which most TF's can operate (provided that they are tall enough). There is even a 'stealth mode' which attempts to explain away how the trailer just dissapears in the cartoon - basically mirrored panels fold out which just love fingerprints. This aside, the gimmick works very well. The truck itself is really nice, I like the wind vane and the way that the gun transforms into the smoke stacks. The chromed bumper and grille look suitably regal.


Transformation 7/10
Optimus is a lot of fun to transform, he is deceptively simple but satisfying nonetheless. His legs unsurprisingly are formed by the rear of the vehicle with the front forming his torso, legs and arms. A nice touch is the fake grille which rotates around, once and for all eliminating the need for a boxy or 'thick in the middle' appearance. He is a shell-former to an extent. Shell-forming leaves a lot of useless kibble hanging around but it is also quite fun, if I can be so bold. The way his weapons integrate is also clever, although I am unconvinced about how good a weapon the wind vane makes. One word of caution is that if you transform his arms in the wrong sequence then they can collide, causing deformity to the edges of the upper arm.

Poseability 7/10
So from top to bottom he has head swivel (but no tilt), Lateral and side-to side movement in the shoulder, bicep swivel and elbow joints. No wrist swivel though. He also has waist swivel, 2 points of articulation in the hips, thigh swivel and knee joints. He has big feet which help with balance, but is a shame that his ankles can't tilt. A mixed bag really which is disappointing for a voyager-class figure - this mould is starting to show its age in this respect.


Quality 8/10
Besides the potential for damaging his arms by mis-transforming him, this mould feels very solid indeed, with all the plastic being good quality. He has the reassuring click of ratchet joints in places, which are a dying breed in some of today's toys. Even the clear plastic parts feel thick enough that brittleness over time should not be a problem.

Overall - 41/50
Optimus Prime has some flaws which stop him from being a great Transformer. I would also have marked him lower on his alt mode were it not for the FansProject trailer. That said, he is still a good figure who is heads and shoulders better than the abominable deluxe class figure, which is tiny and pathetic, with the worst alt mode that I have ever seen. Voyager Prime is the mould to go for if you want someone with enough stature to lead the Autobots, just be aware that you may prefer the Henkei version because the paint apps are better. I had the classics version and was never really satisfied with it. Although if the rumours of a forthcoming IDW-based figure are proven to be true, then this figures days may be numbered in my collection. As long as the replacement can hitch to the FansProject trailer, that is.