Re: Universe Review Thread
Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 5:41 pm
Universe Silverstreak
Silverstreak is of course the current name of G1 Bluestreak. The old name better suited the character's garrulous nature, while the new one describes his appearance. I prefer Bluestreak.
Auto mode: the original Bluestreak was a Datsun 280zx, and the modern update is a Nissan 350z, which is the present day equivalent of the old model as far as I know. I appreciate the attempt at continuity when it comes to the vehicle mode. There are enough changes to the auto body that licensing is not required, but it's clear what the car is intended to be.
The original Bluestreak was solid silver with clear windows and some chrome at the rear. Universe Silverstreak is about half metallic silver and half black. The front bumper, engine cover and roof are black, while the lower panels and most of the rear are silver. This mimics the animation model which gave Bluestreak a similar decor. The car has a silver spoiler, and five-spoked red rims, and red disc brakes.
Transformation: similar to the original, with some variations. The rear of the car becomes the legs and feet, with the usual modern trick of having the rear bumper fold up to form the knees, with the rear of the car forming legs. This prevents gaps at the back of the car. The doors do not open, but they pull away from the side of the car along with the front wheel wells. The arms sit straight back to the sides, rather than being folded up under the hood. The head folds up from the very front of the car hood, and can actually be pushed out in auto mode like some odd hood ornament.
This bit is a little more touchy than I'd prefer, and it's very likely that the door/fender will pop off the ball joint while attempting to move it into place while also moving the robot shoulders into place. The shoulders pull out and rotate into position along with the elbows and wrists. This is the part of the design that will require some massaging to get lined up again for auto mode.
In a nice touch, Silverstreak's twin shoulder missile launchers are attached, and can fold up from underneath the roof of the car which has become the robot's back. The gun unfolds and fits very snugly in the fists.
Robot mode: roughly G1 Bluestreak, with the doors as wings, the hood as the robot chest, the windshield and roof as a cape, and the rear of the car as the legs and feet, though with changes due to the altered transformation scheme. The chest is narrower thanks to the trick of having the side fenders fold behind the door. The solid black hood gives Silverstreak a different look that I'm not sure I like as well as the all-silver original, but on the other hand it's hard to go wrong with red, black and silver as a color scheme. There's some blue highlights on the waist and eyes to break up the other colors.
Stability is good if the knees are configured correctly. There's a joint that needs to bend forward, otherwise Silverstreak ends up being back heavy. The door wings need to fold back just about as far as they'll go to be clear of the tires on the back of the shoulders. The head sits up on a short "neck" which looks a little odd. All the usual articulation is present.
Overall: a pretty good update of Bluestreak. It's a little too fiddly around the shoulders and doors, and as I mentioned, the door/bumper section is likely to pop off, but it's nothing major. I'd have preferred all silver to the silver and black deco, but it still looks good. All in all, Silverstreak is wll worth the $7.77 that Wal-Mart is currently charging for deluxe figures.
Silverstreak is of course the current name of G1 Bluestreak. The old name better suited the character's garrulous nature, while the new one describes his appearance. I prefer Bluestreak.
Auto mode: the original Bluestreak was a Datsun 280zx, and the modern update is a Nissan 350z, which is the present day equivalent of the old model as far as I know. I appreciate the attempt at continuity when it comes to the vehicle mode. There are enough changes to the auto body that licensing is not required, but it's clear what the car is intended to be.
The original Bluestreak was solid silver with clear windows and some chrome at the rear. Universe Silverstreak is about half metallic silver and half black. The front bumper, engine cover and roof are black, while the lower panels and most of the rear are silver. This mimics the animation model which gave Bluestreak a similar decor. The car has a silver spoiler, and five-spoked red rims, and red disc brakes.
Transformation: similar to the original, with some variations. The rear of the car becomes the legs and feet, with the usual modern trick of having the rear bumper fold up to form the knees, with the rear of the car forming legs. This prevents gaps at the back of the car. The doors do not open, but they pull away from the side of the car along with the front wheel wells. The arms sit straight back to the sides, rather than being folded up under the hood. The head folds up from the very front of the car hood, and can actually be pushed out in auto mode like some odd hood ornament.
This bit is a little more touchy than I'd prefer, and it's very likely that the door/fender will pop off the ball joint while attempting to move it into place while also moving the robot shoulders into place. The shoulders pull out and rotate into position along with the elbows and wrists. This is the part of the design that will require some massaging to get lined up again for auto mode.
In a nice touch, Silverstreak's twin shoulder missile launchers are attached, and can fold up from underneath the roof of the car which has become the robot's back. The gun unfolds and fits very snugly in the fists.
Robot mode: roughly G1 Bluestreak, with the doors as wings, the hood as the robot chest, the windshield and roof as a cape, and the rear of the car as the legs and feet, though with changes due to the altered transformation scheme. The chest is narrower thanks to the trick of having the side fenders fold behind the door. The solid black hood gives Silverstreak a different look that I'm not sure I like as well as the all-silver original, but on the other hand it's hard to go wrong with red, black and silver as a color scheme. There's some blue highlights on the waist and eyes to break up the other colors.
Stability is good if the knees are configured correctly. There's a joint that needs to bend forward, otherwise Silverstreak ends up being back heavy. The door wings need to fold back just about as far as they'll go to be clear of the tires on the back of the shoulders. The head sits up on a short "neck" which looks a little odd. All the usual articulation is present.
Overall: a pretty good update of Bluestreak. It's a little too fiddly around the shoulders and doors, and as I mentioned, the door/bumper section is likely to pop off, but it's nothing major. I'd have preferred all silver to the silver and black deco, but it still looks good. All in all, Silverstreak is wll worth the $7.77 that Wal-Mart is currently charging for deluxe figures.
