TF Views

Onslaught Six wrote:I've had Whirl for something like a month now and I was like, "Wait, what stickers?" Sure enough, I dug out the instructions and there they were. Haven't attempted to put them on yet; gonna save that for tomorrow.

Good luck. You're gonna need it.

Shockwave wrote: I do like that he has the Shockwavesque one eye head, the claw hands I'm still not sure about. It's like they look too long or something.

Yeah, that is the problem for me as well, the claws are too long so they don't really look practical as claws.

The figure has good poseability and good stability in robot mode. The legs are a bit weird. When properly transformed, they're more like chicken legs with a reverse knee joint. Again, good and stable, but it looks weird to me. I actually reversed them and think the legs look better that way.

The legs and neck are designed so that you can get a more stiff G1 look, or you can get a look that conforms better to MTMTE, so straight legs and no neck for G1 mode, or chicken legs and long neck for MTMTE mode. And Heloped mode uses reversed regular legs, but I think the instructions foul all of this up a little.

Ok, now here's the warning and it's a big one: Stickers. Yep. Stickers. And lots of 'em. Not like "Metroplex" amount of stickers, but ridiculous enough for a figure of this size that I immediately thought "What... the fuck?" when I saw the sticker sheet. I guess Hasbro thought they got away with it on Metro so they could with other figures too. so far I've put his logos on and that's it. I might not even bother with the rest.

IMO, the stickers are a G1 throwback, none of the other figures have 'em. I didn't bother putting them on and I still like the figure. I've got mine in MTMTE mode though, and he's not covered in little details there so it's easier to like.

Well when you put it like that it makes more sense and I like the whole concept a lot more now. It's almost like two figures in one that way. Uber G1 update for those that liked the original toy or modern update for those that like the comic and you get to choose which you like better. Y'know, I could really get behind this. More toys should be made this way.

Shockwave wrote:Well when you put it like that it makes more sense and I like the whole concept a lot more now. It's almost like two figures in one that way. Uber G1 update for those that liked the original toy or modern update for those that like the comic and you get to choose which you like better. Y'know, I could really get behind this. More toys should be made this way.

Totally agree! Hopefully with a new IDW-based Megatron rumored to be coming, they'll be able to do something along those lines, at least a rotating faction logo.

Skywarp/Skrapnel/Tailgate.

Skywarp: It's the repaint of the WFC Starscream. Colors look nice, I like the shade of purple. I like the Starscream mold, but I was waffling on this because I want the Classics one more but this could make a nice placeholder until I get one. The only other way to keep him would be to file him under "video game figures" as I generally am not wanting to wind up with multiple versions of the same characters. So far, I've been successful. I have two Megatrons: Henkei and the recent legends one with Chop Shop. Optimus I have Classics and the GDO Legends. I don't mind having the same character in differen size scales, but having multiples in the same scale is going to be a no-no for me. Anyway, I'd been waffling on Skywarp here for a while, but I would say if you have and like the WFC Starscream and like Skywarp, then this would be for you.

Skrapnel: Comes with Relector. But I'll get to him in a moment. Skrapnel is pretty nifty. He is about the same size as the orginal with much more articulation, detail and a more complex and interesting transformation. It really feels like he actually "transforms" rather than the original which was more like "bug stands up". I mean, I really feel like I got a lot for my ten bucks. And, that doesn't even account for Reflector. This is the only version of Reflector I've ever had. I to like that he transforms (and I use that term loosely) into a camera, although I wish the peg for Skrapnel to hold it was on the other side so that Reflector's robot mode would be underneath and Skrapnel would actually look like he's holding a camera. Reflector does kind of transform, but what he folds out into is anybody's guess. Of the minicons included with these guys, he's the worst one transformation wise, but if you don't fold him out and just flip him over from bot to camera mode, visually he''s fine. I'd still highly recommend this set, I really think Skrapnel is one of the better TFs Hasbro has put out in a long time.

Tailgate: It amazes me that we managed to get a Tailgate that wasn't a repaint of Windcharger. Honestly, I didn't see that coming. Much like Skrapnel, Tailgate has a lot going on, in spite of such a simplistic look. Transformation has a lot of surprises to it which again, make it feel like I got my money's worth. I also like the colors and the paint job. The flame detailing seems kind of arbitrary, but it really does help to break up the endless sea of white for the alt mode. Bot mode is obviously based on his IDW appearance and has decent articulation, my only gripe (and this might just be my copy) is that the waist doesn't lock onto the torso like it should. The peg is there, it just doesn't stick. The minicon with Tailgate is about on par with the rest of them: stand vehicle to get robot, fold it out into a weapony thing. This one's weapony thing is a claw that actually looks like it was intended to have that as an alt mode rather than it just being an afterthought like on Reflector. Again, I would highly recommend this set, fun toy, good transformation, and even a decent price for what you get. Also, better than buying moviebee for the bajillionth time.

EDIT: Fiddled with Reflector a bit more and I now realize that he transforms into an updated rendition of the original gun Shrapnel came with. Kinda clever

Tailgate with Groundbuster - my Target had 2 of these and none of Skrapnel, beacause at $11.57 I guess some things matter.

Groundbuster in alt mode is a remote control bomb-disposal robot, which is damned clever since Tailgate in the books claimed to be a bomb disposal bot (turned out he was a waste disposal bot and taking credit for someone else's work). The alt mode is fairly well detailed for something this size, but there are no rolling wheels. Deco is white with blue/teal body, gray-silver details, and black treads with blue/teal paint inside. Unlike most of the partner-bots in the Legends line, this alt mode is roughly in scale with his larger partner's alt mode.

Groundbuster in bot mode is embarrassing, SUYAR - stand up you're a robot - and not much of one at all. Apparently he's an homage to a G1 bot which is why his elbow has a faux wheel in it, and his hands extend partway into the tread, but it's really underwhelming overall, not much sculpt detail and long monkey-arm-looking treads, it's depressing. At least they gave him silver paint and red torso details, which is actually more paint than Tailgate gets!

Groundbuster in weapon mode is a long pooper-scooper/claw weapon. Actually, this weapon makes some sense for Tailgate, I've seen bomb techs use extenders like this, and it can also be used to pick up trash. Pull the spoiler/antenna forward to make it actually dip down and close the claw.

Tailgate in alt mode is a 2nd generation 1981 Pontiac Firebird (you can tell the year by the headlights) that's slightly more angular and with extra headlights and a really dopey exhaust pipe system out the back; the choice of alt mode is clever because G1 Tailgate was a 3rd generation 1982 Firebird, and I don't know that they've ever done a prev-gen car (the 3rd-gen Firebird made famous in Knight Rider, the 2nd-gen made famous in Rockford Files and Smokey and the Bandit). The deco even picks up on the Firebirdness by putting that car's screamin' chicken flames on the hood in blue/teal, only around the Autobot logo instead of that firebird. The rest of the car is unfortunately bald white plastic - which sucks light into the sculpted details, never to return or show anything off - while the windows are painted silver. The wheels are black with a very unusual hubcap design in painted silver, a tri-indent dish pattern that would not actually work in real life (it would smother the brakes causing them to overheat) that seems to be based on MTMTE art. Alt mode looks nice beyond the color issues and holds together well, provided you clip the feet into the doors properly, but any other color would have been a better friend than this. A single 5mm hole in the hood behind the logo is how Groundbuster integrates, it looks exceptionally dumb. I can't get over how bad the tailpipes look in this mode, they're integrated into the middle of the rear end like drag-racing parachutes but it's just a 4-pack of oddly-aimed tailpipes in a place they'd never be; but this doesn't damn the car mode at least.

Tailgate transforms in a rather simple manner, his waist does fold up to add one new dimension to things. There's a lot of little clearance issues where tabs and parts have to bend around each other a little, it's no big deal individually but as a group it ends up a little frustrating. Rotating the hip panels around as per the instructions gives aesthetic gains, but almost seems pointless considering how slight those gains are. Going back to alt mode is simple, but remember to tab the feet into the doors to avoid ground clearance problems.

Tailgate in bot mode is a bulky facade of the MTMTE character done in the simplest, shallowest sculpting they could get away with and betrays a lot of the goodwill earned by Swerve and Cosmos in the previous wave. The sculpt and the deco combine to form an underwhelming experience - the sculpt is soft, and the white plastic soaks up any sculpted detail again, only in this mode there's not much sculpted detail to get lost. The shoulder bulk and hip bulk only add to the woes, in a way he reminds me of DOTM Guzzle with these proportions. The head is frustrating, the lack of detail, the fact that it's extruded from the hood panel sitting behind it, and its small face all make for a misfire. I'm also incredibly frustrated by the oversized arms cutting into the way the torso works, forcing it to be a facade that shows its fakeness all too easily. The deco here adds blue/teal and silver-gray plastics to the mix, the only paint though is found on the white panel on the chest - white on soft blue/teal looks thin and milky - as well as a less-teal blue paint of the eyes.

If all that weren't enough, the articulation is fine in theory but the arms runs into the backpack, the head is hard to move, and there are a few other clearance issues. Nearly every joint is a ball except swivel head and hinged ankles and backpack. Tailgate can barely stand holding his Groundbuster weapon, it's too long for Tailgate's slender little feet to keep him upright. The weapon fits fine in the 5mm fist-holes at least.

Overall, Tailgate with Groundbuster is a frustrating set, the alt modes in both are adequate if slightly underwhelming. Both transformations are disappointingly simplistic. Both bot modes come up short, with Tailgate's shortcomings damning this set with middling adequacy for a generic cheapo Transformer and doing serious damage to the figure as a beloved character. There are so many little things that could have salvaged this set, the arms being slightly smaller, the head being better, more sculpted detail, off-white plastic instead of white, better clearance - anything there probably would have made this set feel less like a cop-out. As a Transformers set, it's maybe a C-, but as a well-liked recent comics character, this is a D+ at best... it's a passing grade, but it's not going to let you graduate.

He does have some clearance issues, but I can still get some pretty dynamic poses out of him, so it didn't really bother me that much. Also, 11.57 seems like a bit much. I think here they were 9.00 + tax...

Which I guess is around 11ish. never mind.

Shockwave wrote:He does have some clearance issues, but I can still get some pretty dynamic poses out of him, so it didn't really bother me that much. Also, 11.57 seems like a bit much. I think here they were 9.00 + tax...

Which I guess is around 11ish. never mind.

No, this is $11.57 before tax, this store charges more for figures right now, other stores down the street charge $9.99 plus tax.

As for dynamic poses, do they look good? I could get hands-on-hips after some clearance struggles, but other than that, I can't find a pose that gives any real personality and looks good at the same time - hands-on-head looks horrible like someone wrapped a car front end around him, you can't make out his arms at all. His knees can't turn without moving the hip kibble way out of position but his ankles bend forward, so there's stepping-forward poses, but these don't really speak to this particular character so well IMO.

JediTricks wrote:

Shockwave wrote:He does have some clearance issues, but I can still get some pretty dynamic poses out of him, so it didn't really bother me that much. Also, 11.57 seems like a bit much. I think here they were 9.00 + tax...

Which I guess is around 11ish. never mind.

No, this is $11.57 before tax, this store charges more for figures right now, other stores down the street charge $9.99 plus tax.

As for dynamic poses, do they look good? I could get hands-on-hips after some clearance struggles, but other than that, I can't find a pose that gives any real personality and looks good at the same time - hands-on-head looks horrible like someone wrapped a car front end around him, you can't make out his arms at all. His knees can't turn without moving the hip kibble way out of position but his ankles bend forward, so there's stepping-forward poses, but these don't really speak to this particular character so well IMO.

I usually go for fighting game starting stance. Knees bent, maybe one leg out, fists near the chest, head turned facing opponent. Tailgate takes this pose well enough although, if the feet were wider, he'd actually be able to take some actual fight poses (like kicking). Actually, he take the pose itself, but he can't stay upright on his own in that position.

Construct-Bots Breakdown

Has anyone else bought any of these? This one was a gift, so I figured I'd try out the line. I've never been into Bionicle and never was one for Lego past the age of about 8, but you know. I put the review here because it seemed like the best place.

Unlike most TFs, this has an additional piece to it: Assembly! Thankfully, this wasn't very hard at all; I was able to build Breakdown entirely in about 10 minutes. It was pretty intuitive once you do the first few steps and get a feel for how these things go together. I can easily see a determined kid who's into Lego being able to do this on their own. I can also see where the skeletal parts could easily be shared by other models, which could lend a bit of standard "buck" for the line and make it easy for kids to get started on a new build without needing a lot of guidance.
If there's one problem, it's that some of the parts don't want to come out once they're put together! I put the Decepticon logo piece in his chest hole (as told by the instructions) but I didn't like it being a little in the way in vehicle mode, so I wanted to take it out and maybe put it on the vehicle hood, but I couldn't get it out of the hole I put it in, even with a screwdriver and some Excessive Force.

So, alright, how's the robot? Well, it's what these things are--it's kind of Bioncle-y and that's not necessarily a bad thing, if you like that aesthetic and think it works for TF. (Someone could make an argument that movie TFs have looked like Bionicle for a while.) Even despite that, there are still some very specific TF-loking parts like the head, fists and upper legs, which lend well to this feeling like a Transformers toy and not a different toyline altogether. His weapon's kind of lackluster; it's an axe but it has pegs and minor details that let you use it as a kind of gun or crossbow, but it's not that great either way. I would've liked to see him include a dedicated gun or even a missile launcher. The hand pegs appear to be 3mm, though, so it's not that big of a deal--and all the other holes over his body are also 3mm, so there's a plethora of stuff you can outfit him with if you're so inclined.

Transformation is surprisingly simple to learn and execute. The instructions are alright but a little cloudy on what's going on with the arms (I had to compare with box photos to figure out I had to move the hands upwards) but other than that, it was alright. Everything has a place to peg together and I love the touch with the chest opening and the head folding into it--another thing that makes it feel like a "real" TF. If I have one complaint, it's with the "hood"/windshield piece; it doesn't peg onto anything in either mode (besides the waggly black piece it's actually attached to) despite having two big pegs; probably there so you can customize it or use it with a different chassis. I only own one of these so I can't speak to how well that would work. Also, in robot mode, there's a clip at the bottom of the crotch that's right next to the peg that seems like they should interact, but they don't fit together and I can't move it close enough anyway. Also, the feet fold together to become the front bumper, and this works well enough except sometimes while doing it (or unpegging them to go to robot mode) they can come loose from the ball joints. This is less of a problem than in a "regular" TF as these things are designed to be taken apart and put back together, but it's still annoying. Other than that, I can say this is a good enough transformation sequence.

Now the vehicle mode. This is where Breakdown kind of falls short. The front half is good enough, but the back is literally a pair of wheels hanging behind his arms. I realize they couldn't really do too much with this format, but the end result makes Breakdown look like he turns into some kind of truck cab rather than a race car or dune buggy or something. His robot mode chest and crotch are straight up just hanging out on top of the vehicle. Also, this is a minor thing, but his robot mode chest details seem to imply that his vehicle mode grille unfolds to become his chest--implying fake parts even on a thing like this! However, the details are abstract enough that I could be reading into it. Either way, the vehicle mode isn't anything special.

Overall: I can only recommend this toyline if you're wanting to dump a bunch of money into getting a bunch of them. I can't wholly recommend Breakdown if the vehicle mode sucking bothers you, but if other toys in the line do this better, maybe I could recommend them. I might see if I can afford a few more of these on the cheap.