Misc Review: Collector Set Voltron (Toynami)

Intro:

 

As it has generally been known, I am a massive Transformers fan. It is a childhood-dream-come-true to be able to realize my childhood dream of collecting Transformers. However, back in those days when yours truly was still 3-feet tall, Transformers weren’t the only ones that I had a crush for. 
Saber Rider was great: sure the characters were great and well developed, but it was the massive Ramrod that really captured the imagination. I’ve never seen a Ramrod figure before, and if I do, you’ll definitely know about it here. Sure, it’s a through-and-through bulky and blocky robot, but hell, I think the bot is gonna look just fine. I like M.A.S.K. too – and they were the only non-robots figures that I wanted.

However, there was only 1 action figure, apart from Transformers that I had really wanted so bad. Forget about Power Rangers! They are all just a rip-off! Before Mighty Morphin Power Rangers came out with the ideas of combining 5 color-themed vehicles/ machines in one huge mother-of-a robot (yes, Super Sentai did predate Voltron), there was Voltron: Defender of the Universe! Voltron was, and still is cool: the story was great, the characters are well-developed and most importantly, the robot looks awesome. 
In fact, it was the only robot out there, for me at least, that would actually rival the Transformers! They've tried to recreate the magic of Voltron by creating a Vehicle version, but I dare say—it didn't do quite well! For many, there was only 1 true Voltron, and that’s the lions' version.

I remembered seeing the original figures—packed in a huge square box in The Store, Malacca. If memory serves, only the yellow lion was visible from outside the box. I remembered thinking, wouldn't it be wonderful if I could have that. I know my dad couldn’t have afforded me that, but it didn’t hurt to wish for it. I never saw that figure for the second time.

Then back in 2004 or 2005, I've heard rumors of a Voltron collector set being released, and it was all die-cast! Although I was excited, I knew I wouldn’t be getting it. My nightmare was realized when my friends told me that they were selling them for RM700!!! Hell, back then, I won’t even think of spending that much cash on a single Transformer! So I buried the dream back into the depths of my memories. Then, my interest was renewed on that fateful September of 2010, when I was hunting for Encore Metroplex at Teencom. They told me that they were going to have a shipment of Voltron coming in, some time in October or November. I was ecstatic! So I wasted no time in attempting to make a booking. However, I was told that the quantity was limited, and there were already 7 other fans ahead of me in the Voltron booking list, and I would only have a chance if there were any extra quantity or if somebody would actually snub the figure. 
I was rock-bottom.

            Then, on 1 fateful October Wednesday evening, while on my way back from work, I had the sudden urge to pay a visit to Teencom. Normally this would be highly unlikely cuz I would normally go back home at least by 8pm daily, which by then the store would be closed, and plus the fact that I just went there the past weekend. But somehow that day, I gave in to that urge, hoping to find a new Transformer. While I was skimming through the racks, something unexpectedly showed up—squeezed between 2 huge boxes was a collector’s set Voltron by Toynami. It was the first time in 15 years or so since I’ve seen a real-life Voltron figure. I asked the store owner if it was for sale. I braced for the worst, but was surprised when he told me it was! His helper relented, saying the thing might already been booked. But the owner said, since I was a frequent customer there, he may as well sell it to me instead! 

            I can’t believe it!!!

            Now I’m a proud owner of Voltron!

Lion Mode:

 

            As we all know, Voltron consists of 5 lions (shame on you if you don’t know it), i.e. head honcho black lion, blue lion, red lion, yellow lion and green lion. Unlike most incarnation of Power Rangers/ Super Sentai, RED doesn’t mean that you’re the boss, although Keith does wear a red-colored uniform. 

            At the time, since I’ve never before seen an actual Voltron lion figures lined-up before my eyes, I was surprised that there were differences in size between the lions that form the arms and the legs.

            Normally in case of Transformers, the robots that form the limbs would generally be of the same size, while the robot that forms the body would be the biggest (excluding the G1 Constructicons). 

            Here Black lion is the biggest, followed by both the Yellow and Blue lions, which are nearly the size of the Black lion, but slightly smaller; and the tiny Red and Green lions. The size differences were quite new to me.

            Anyways, maybe it’s just me, but the lions really do look awkward at first. They seemed stiff. I can’t help it but to compare them with Transformers in general. 

            But over time, the lions began to grow on me. They even delighted me when they can do a pose that none of my animal-based Transformers can ever do: they can actually sit down (!), ala Cat-lair-ish (of Thundercat)! 

            There is nothing to shout about concerning the articulations of each of the lions, but they aren’t that bad either. Their mouths do open, and their feet can be folded satisfactorily. Both the Green and Red lions can turn their heads and waist, and those are just about it. 

            On their own, they aren’t exactly up to the modern Transformer standards, but if you’re like me, this doesn’t matter much, because I didn’t buy them for the lions – I bought them for Big Daddy V, Voltron.

Robot Mode:

 

            I have heard this version is also known as Masterpiece Voltron (not to be confused with the Transformers Masterpiece line). Coincidentally though, Voltron is the size of a normal Masterpiece Transformer—exactly the size of Optimus Prime.

            I can’t help it to recite the “sacred mantra” whenever I transform the lions into Voltron.

           

            Team, ready to form Voltron. Activate interlocks, dyna-therms connected. Infra-cells up, mega-thrusters are go. GO VOLTRON FORCE. Form feet and legs. Form arms and body (torso). And I’ll form, the head!

            I just love it, and the transformation is quite simple, but fun. It is this mode, which would put most, even some of the most modern Transformers to shame. It looks well-proportioned, tall and lanky, but with the right bulks and the right places. 

           The articulations are stupendous, and I dare say, Voltron even rivals Masterpiece Optimus Prime in this aspect. Voltron can even hold his swords with two hands – something even Masterpiece Optimus can’t do, due to his massive chest.

            I don’t know why, but the face actually reminds me of the Goddess of Mercy, Kuanyin, due to that dot on top of his forehead. I know it sounds crazy, but I can’t help it!

            Anyway, Voltron can stand very well. The ankles move, so do the knees and hip. The head articulation is fantastic, as it can look at any direction that you may want him to. 

            I can’t compare it to the original Voltron figure, but from the info I have, this Voltron is definitely much taller, but lesser in bulk.

Accessories:

            Voltron comes with the Blazing Sword, and a shield. The sword has got a really long hilt so that Voltron can hold it with both hands and has a peg which slots nicely into a hole in the Red Lion’s mouth for a better grip. Even the shield has the peg too. The sword too, as far as my memory serves, looks exactly like how they depicted it in the show, which is cool. 

            In all, nice accessories, but I wished they would have included the daggers that the lions hold in their mouths while fighting solo. That would’ve been a great addition to an already great set.

Summary:

            Standing amongst The Family, Voltron sure doesn’t seem to be out of place. In fact, he seems to blend in with his other seniors. He is definitely one of the big guys in my collections, though not even close to Cybertron Metroplex or Primus, he stands head to head with the likes of Masterpiece Optimus and Megatron. He’s big, well-articulated, and fun to play with, that is if you intended it to be a plaything, which I would suggest you don’t.

            The best thing about Voltron is he looks exactly how he supposed to look like, just like in the cartoon shows. Everything is exactly the same.

            Voltron is really a dream come true for me – the feeling that I had when I first got him, was exactly as when I first gotten myself the original G1 Megatron. Just as in the case of G1 Megatron, I thought it was close to impossible to get myself a version of Voltron, but thankfully, I was proven wrong. Coming from a hardcore Transfan such as myself, in most cases, I would never pick another robot over any Transformers, but Voltron is definitely one of the few exceptions (the other, for me, is Ramrod). Voltron looks just as good as any Transformer, and I dare say, even better than some Transformers out there.

            Having managed to grab Voltron (and G1 Megatron a long time ago), it has taught me a valuable lesson – nothing is impossible. Now that Voltron is in the bag, I hope I could somehow find a Ramrod figure out there, and maybe, a Vehicle Voltron?

Rating – 10.0 (Absolutely love it)

Transformers Review - Grimlock (Masterpiece)

Intro:

            Hello everybody, welcome to another edition of TF review, and today we will be reviewing one of the most popular characters from the G1 era – Masterpiece Grimlock. Thus far, I have managed to collect all molds used in the entire Masterpiece line. The first was of course my 20^th Anniversary Optimus Prime DVD edition, whose mold is identical to that of Masterpiece Convoy (MP-1 & 4) & Masterpiece Ultra Magnus. The second was that of Hasbro’s Masterpiece Starscream, whose mold is identical to Takara-Tomy’s Masterpiece Starscream, Thundercracker & Skywarp. So when they announced that they were going to produce a Masterpiece version of Grimlock, there was never a doubt in my mind that I was gonna get him.

            Throughout the G1 years, Grimlock has been one of the most well-received characters and has been a constant present in the entire G1 continuity. When he first appeared, he was depicted as one of the strongest Transformers, whose strengths far exceed even those of Optimus Prime & Megatron. His fellow Dinobots were loyal only to him, and would go even to oblivion for their captain. His character, from a gigantic mighty warrior, was regretfully relegated to comic relief right on the aftermath of the 1986 Transformer’s movie. It was sad to see such a great character, only to function as a waiter with an apron and a bowtie. However, despite his demotion and humiliation, Grimlock would still remain as a huge fan favorite.

            When Takara-Tomy announced that Grimlock was to be release, I had put quite high hopes on him. I had anticipated it to be very big, at least to the size of Optimus or Megatron, if not bigger, as depicted in the animated series. But after I saw what they did to Starscream, I was beginning to doubt the worst.

Robot Mode:

            Just as Starscream, Grimlock comes packed in robot mode. The box is as huge as Optimus and Megatron’s. But Transformers are after all – More Than Meets the Eyes – and the box was nothing more than a deception. Grimlock was more in scale with the Classic line rather than the Masterpiece. He looked rather diminutive when compared to Prime & Megatron.

            However, size comparisons aside, the overall articulations are amazing. The head swivels on ball joints; articulated shoulders which are also on ball joints; the elbow has two points of articulation, and are able to turn around; wrist articulation; the waist turns; 2 points of hips articulation; 1 point knee articulation; and then the ankle articulation. Grimlock is also unique for the fact that his hands’ articulations are unique for both left and right. His right hand doesn’t have any articulations at all while the left only has a thumb articulation and the fingers move in and out simultaneously.

            Grimlock is again predominantly grey with more gold & black appearing. The head, hands and upper legs are black, his chest and predominantly gold and the hips are red.

            In this mode, he is perfect, and though as I’ve mentioned before he is small, he is definitely show accurate, and probably has one of the most best looking robot mode in recent history.

Alternate Mode:

 

            For a figure that cost 500 big ones, which currently reigns as the most expensive piece in my entire collection, his transformation is disappointingly simple. I would’ve thought that if it wouldn’t be as complicated and intricate as Megatron’s, at least he would’ve been at least as complicated as Starscream’s. However, that was never the case. Still, I guess it was unnecessary for them to come out with a complicated Transformation since, even the original G1 figure was already very show-accurate, and the main objective of the entire Masterpiece line was to produce show-accurate robot and alternate-modes, without considering the transformation sequence. In that respect, Grimlock achieves just that – he is very show-accurate.

            In his T-Rex mode, Grimlock only stands at a meager 9-inch tall – quite diminutive for a supposedly huge guy. In this mode, he is predominantly grey, with silver on arm, teeth and tail; and gold on his toes and lower belly.

            Articulations are amazing, with points on the jaws, shoulders (which are on ball joints), elbow, individual finger movements, hips, lower waist, tip of tail, 2 points knee articulation, twisting feet joint just above the knees, and individual movements for all of his 3 toes on each of his feet.

           

Gimmicks:

            There are a few interesting gimmicks available in both modes, and we shall begin with the T-Rex mode.

            It this mode, its lower jaw has 2-level opening. 1^st level opening doesn’t reveal anything, but 2^nd reveals a small nozzle which in his numerous TV appearances, shoots fire. Also, in whichever opening of the mouth, there is a button on the left side of the face, which when you push it, will immediately snaps the jaws shut.

           The tails can wag, and when you do so, in will cause Grimlock’s head to shake his left to right and vice versa. Grimlock also has 2 sets of eyes – blue or red, depending which you prefer, whether you want them to be show-accurate or original figure-accurate. 

            In this mode as well, you have a few accessories attachment at your disposal. First are the apron, bowtie & tray set. Obviously for it’s quite silly for me, as it is a testament of how low the character have fallen, and a later stage of his character development, although some other fans may argue this. Second is the intelligence transfer helmet, which Grimlock used to transfer his intelligence to his newly created Computron.

            In robot mode, similar to his T-Rex mode, Grimlock too has 2 sets of eyes – blue & red. The right hand has a concealed LED gimmick. When you insert in his double-barrel blaster or his flame sword into the hand slot, at a press of a button at the back of his right shoulder would activate the LED in his hand, and thus light up the weapons internally up to the their tips. Very unique, and to me, this is the first time I’ve seen a gimmick was designed as such. 

High points for that. 

Overall:

            Grimlock is really up to your preferences. As far as I know, Masterpiece Grimlock is one of the most highly sought after action figure in Malaysia, and he is very difficult to come by. And I have been lucky enough to manage to persuade my supplier to hand in their last stock to me. But Grimlock really doesn’t come cheap – which is the major let-down of this figure. At RM500, he is the most overpriced Transformers figure to date, and the designs definitely don’t justify that price tag. He is way smaller than his cheaper cousins MP-1 Optimus & MP-5 Megatron; plus with absolutely no die-cast part; not-so-spectacular gimmicks and accessories definitely cannot justify the high price tag. Honestly speaking, at most this figure should fall at a price-bracket of RM250 or so, and even that is seemed pushing the border.

            The figure itself though is great, but not brilliant – good articulations and very show-accurate designs are major plus points here. Kids would probably enjoy the figure along with the accessories, if their parents could afford such expensive toy (geez, I hate using that term for Transformers).

            Overall, all things considered, I do recommend it to professional collectors such as myself, if you have the cash to spare. Parents may need to avoid buying it for their children as this guy is a bit too expensive to risk being destroyed. For those collectors who would look for figures to buy, and to sell after certain amounts of years, Grimlock may be able to fetch quite a hefty sum in the future… So, buying Grimlock is really up to your own professional discretion. And that is all I’m gonna say about that.

Overall, I give Grimlock 8/10. 

Transformers Review – Henkei Astrotrain

Intro:

            Before there was Sixshot (G1) and Gigantron (Car Robots) who were Transformers with multiple transformation modes, there were the Triple Changers. Before there were Triple Changers such as Apeface, Octane, Springer, Sandstorm and Broadside, there were Astrotrain and Blitzwing. The Decepticons were the first to discover the art of triple-changing, and both Astrotrain and Blitzwing were first two successful product of this research.

            The idea of triple-changing was, and still is cool. Who wouldn’t want to buy a figure? Who would turn out to have more than 1 alternate mode, apart from the robot mode itself?

            Astrotrain was heavily featured, along with his companion, Blitzwing in the episode “Triple Takeover”, where both of them would form a loose-pact with Starscream to take over the Decepticon, only to double-cross the latter. He was also later play a huge role in the Transformers 1986 Movie, in which he transported the entire Decepticon forces that attacked the Autobot City earlier back to Cybertron.

            In my opinion, Astrotrain and Blitzwing were very cool, but unfortunately were significantly under-used during the G1 era.

Train Mode:

            To be honest with you, the bullet train mode seemed quite believable, except for probably the back portion, which looked a little bit out of place, especially with those huge rocket boosters sticking out at the back like a sore thumb. At the top-back of the train, there is a slot where you could mount his blaster on. The wheels also roll quite smoothly, and also I especially like his colors. Compared to his mould brother – Classic Astrotrain, his colors is way more show accurate.

Space Shuttle Mode:

            I have to say, the space shuttle mode itself is very realistic, and it shows very little, if not none of the kibbles. Although the colors may be absolutely show accurate, the Classic Astrotrain wins the prop for more realistically-accurate. However, given the option, I would personally vote for show-accuracy, anytime.

           The mode looked very sturdy and tough. In fact, I’ve dropped a couple of times accidentally, and thankfully, HE’S STILL ALIVE!!! Again, the wheels moves very freely, which is very good. However, I have to admit, it is a bit strange to see part of the train itself at the side of the shuttle.

Robot Mode:

            The robot mode looks good, but not stellar. I am a bit disappointed on how they designed the hands. The train cockpit at the sides of the hands can be a bit of a nuisance, and I wished there were some other way they could design it so that the cockpit doesn’t block much of the poses. All of his joints are a bit too loose either, which is a bit of a shame here. 

            The articulations are as follows. The head, shoulders and elbows are all on ball joints, and in theory, should have given Astrotrain a very wide-range of motions, no thanks to the train cockpit. The hips go in and out, and front to back. Finally, the legs bend and turn at the knees.

            The colors, again here, looked very show accurate, and it’s definitely very nice and way better than the Classic version.

Overall:

            I think Astrotrain is a good action figure. It’s nice and very show accurate, and would’ve been way better had the people at HasTak designed the arms differently. Anyway, he is definitely one of the better ones in the Henkei line, receives a huge thumbs-up from me.

            Final verdict: 8/ 10. 

Transformers Review – God Ginrai/ Powermaster Optimus Prime

Intro:

            Back in the G1 era, the legendary Optimus Prime has met his maker more than once, and each time he died, he’ll eventually be reborn into one form or the other.  In the Masterforce series, which took place after the events of Headmasters, and before the Victory Series, Optimus Prime met his maker yet again, and a temporary body was made to house his spark, but eventually fell into the hands of a human named Ginrai, who in turn wielded the power of the mighty robot.

            Throughout the 3 series, we have been introduced to the various technologies, all nicknamed “Masters”. The 1^st of these was called Headmasters, in which humans (or humanoid beings) would wear robotic outfits or suits, which enables them to transform into the head of a larger robots. There were also Brainmasters, which allows humanoid robots to enter the body of the giant robots via the chest & provides their face; Breast force (breast or chest plates transforming into various animals); and finally, Powermaster (humans who transform into the engine blocks bigger robots). According to definition, the Powermaster technology is one of the ways for the Transformers race to better utilize or conserve energy efficiently. The engine block or the Powermaster provides better energy or power regulations to areas that needed them, while minimizing power consumptions over other robotic processes. In other words, these new breed of Transformers have more power at their expense when needed.

            Ever since I’ve started collecting Transformers figures, I’ve never had any Powermaster figures – the closest being the knockoff versions of Doubledealer (which was fairly accurate to its original counterpart, down to even its colors) & Ginrai (which incidentally doesn’t even have the small Hi-Q figure). My most favorite of these were obviously Powermaster Optimus Prime or Ginrai. The Japanese animation series depict Ginrai as a very powerful warrior, and constantly been able to upgrade & regenerate himself, and finally being able to combine with Godbomber (also known as Apex Bomber in the West).

            Since I never thought I’d be able to have one due to the cease of production of Powermaster figures some 20 years ago, you can imagine my surprise when the people at Robot Master called me to inform me of its availability. Last I check, this figure could fetch up to RM 1000 due to its unavailability. So, I knew instantly that I could never pass up this opportunity to own one of the most iconic G1 era figures.

            So, keep on reading for the review...

Ginrai (Powermaster Optimus Prime)

Powermaster Ginrai:

            Nothing much to mention about the little powermaster save that it transform into an engine block that serve as a catalyst to the transformation of Ginrai’s main robot mode.

 

Alternate Mode:

            Just like the G1 figure, Powermaster Optimus Prime or Ginrai transform into the traditional but heavily armed flat-surface semi truck with trailer, which looks eerily similar to the original version (befitting because it was supposed to be a replacement body for the dead Optimus Prime). As far as the concept of “robots in disguise” is concerned, Ginrai is definitely not a good disguise. The truck mode is so heavily armed that it would make the famed Tiger tanks looked like fancied trucks. There are not many features in this mode safe probably the ability to connect with Godbomber’s vehicle mode. If you are wondering, the Ginrai’s cab mode is slightly bigger than the original Optimus Prime figure.

Robot Mode:

            The robot mode is less than stellar. The original G1 Optimus Prime outshines Ginrai in every way: in terms of articulation & stature. The only bright point of this figure is the size, which is approximately a full inch taller than his G1 predecessor. One thing that irritates me to no end is the connector between both feet. I think the designers could have easily revised the designs of the legs to make it better.

Base Mode:

            The base mode is actually one of the highlights of the package. Personally, I love the designs & its appearance. It is both simple & elegant. I’ll bet that it’d make a more convincing base if you pair it up with other Minibots or Minicons, but with Ginrai, it looks more similar to a battle platform. Probably the idea is to have it serve as a battle platform for Ginrai & other headmasters. Overall, I think it more than makes up for a very weak robot mode.

Super Ginrai Mode:

            Super Ginrai is literally the cream of Powermaster Optimus Prime setup. Yes, it may be nothing more than an oversize brick with very little articulations. Still, at 10 inch tall, the figure itself looked awesome & imposing.

Godbomber (Apex Bomber)

Alternate Mode:

            I literally do not know what to make of the alternate mode of Godbomber. Although it’s supposed to be a trailer extension to Ginrai’s truck mode, Godbomber makes a more convincing alternate mode on its own, even though I have no idea what it’s supposed to be on its own. The only way I could make of it is that it could probably be a heavily modified battle-ready van. For its size, Godbomber is incredibly light, mostly due to its hollow interior.  

Robot Mode:

            Transforming Godbomber into robot mode is itself unique. In term of transformation, I would relate Godbomber to Omega Supreme, in the sense that you literally have to completely disassemble the alternate mode apart, and re-assemble the parts back together. If Super Ginrai mode was bad in terms of articulation, Godbomber is even worse, since it contain no articulation at all save the shoulders, which turns around 360 degrees. Apart from that, Godbomber is a total brick. Size-wise, it’s slightly shorter than Super Ginrai.

God Ginrai

            The combination mode looks very imposing. The combined mode doesn’t reduce or increase the number of articulation points to the figure, it merely adds to the bulk as body shields and armors. Standing at 12 inches tall he is 2 inch shorter than Cybertron Primus, but almost similar in bulk. Looking at really reminds me why I liked the Powermaster idea in the first place.

Overall:

            Overall, I am very happy with the action figure. Yes, despite its numerous shortcomings, you have to keep in mind that this was a figure designed and made in 1988, and it would be grossly unfair to compare it to the aesthetics of any modern Transformers figures. Keep in mind also that this version is actually a re-release set in the year 2000, and roughly underwent minimal changes from its original designs. The same however cannot be said for Godbomber. If you observe carefully, the parts such as the arms & wings were joined together with screws, rather than having to dismantle them during transformations. Along with the designs of Ginrai cab-robot, those are probably the only eligible gripes that should be addressed.

            It’s a beautiful figure worth adding to any collections, especially to those looking to add to their Optimus Prime collections. God Ginrai is literally one of the most difficult to find figures, and its purchase value could easily reach RM 800 to RM 1000 marks and at approximately RM400, it’s worth every single cents.

            Final verdict: 9/ 10. 

Transformers Review: FansProject Warbot Defender 001 (G1 Springer)

Intro:

            The year was 1986; it was to be a momentous year for the Transformers franchise. It was the year the Transformers franchise went to new heights that also marked wholesale changes to the Transformers rosters. It was the year when the awesome animated feature film was released to the public. The animation may not live up to modern expectations, but the story was as captivating as ever. Children cried as they see their ultimate hero, in the form of the legendary Optimus Prime succumbed to his injuries, and also bear witness to the demise of many of their favorite Transformers characters such as Ratchet, Ironhide, Wheeljack, Brawn, Prowl, Silverstreak and many more.

            However, in darkness there will always be a beacon of light, in the form of new character lineups that would take the lead in the Transformers universe. The characters introduced here would have more depth compared to those from pre-86. The new Autobot leader Rodimus Prime was far from perfect – he suffered low self-esteem. Grimlock turned from a merciless, and no-nonsense warrior, into a bumbling stupid joker (imagine The 3 Stooges). Galvatron was never a good successor to Megatron, and probably never will be. Where Megatron used to be meticulous and methodical in his plans, Galvatron was just plain insane. Ultra Magnus and Cyclonus both served as faithful and unquestionable servants to their respective leaders, and Arcee, the 1^st Transformers chick that played a much more significant role in the Transformers lore than by just appearing in a single TV episode.

            And finally, who can forget Springer, the triple-changer that reek of awesomeness, who uttered one of the most, if not the most awesome lines in the entire history of the franchise – I got better things to do tonight than die.

            I could imagine some Hollywood A-lister uttering that exact same line in some big-budget Hollywood production.

            Back in the G1 days, Springer was your bad-boy-cum-no-nonsense hero that would normally utters very cools lines. Think of Clint Eastwood in one of his western movies.

            I never had a G1 Springer figure before, but based on what I’ve seen in pictures, he was one heck of a blocky guy, not surprising for a figure from the swinging 80’s. Both of his alternate modes – the helicopter and the car – were quite believable, albeit a very futuristic one. And he was also one of the few characters, to steal a statement from a fellow reviewer, that actually carried the color green well. Think The Incredible Hulk, Yoda and Green Lantern.

            If my memory served, the G1 Springer was the only time that Springer, in figure form, appeared as a triple-changer. There were several other reincarnations of Springer from then till now, and to most of them, they share 2 other common traits – they were green and in most cases, they transform into helicopters. Apart from the Energon/ Superlink incarnation, most other figures were merely repaints and retooled from existing figures. And believe me; they really didn’t do justice to the character.

            Then came FansProject, who was inspired to do the unexpected – they took up the challenge to create the ultimate Springer. FansProject, if you guys remember, were the company that brought to us the City Commander/ Shadow Commander Armor for the Classic Ultra Magnus/ Nemesis Prime figures, and also the Masterpiece Starscream’s Coronation Set. FansProject were highly successful in providing additional accessories that accentuates existing Hasbro/ Takara-Tomy figures. However, to survive as a company, you couldn’t possibly be reliant solely on accessories, you’d have to be bolder, and hence, the creation of G1 Springer, or, in order to avoid any issues on copyright infringement, marketed worldwide as Warbot Defender 001.

            So enough with the history lessons and all the yadda-yadda and let’s get down to business.

Robot Mode:

Since Warbot Defender 001 comes packed in robot form, it is only natural that we start the review from here. Having being a figure released unsanctioned by the Big Two, Springer is devoid of any faction affiliations. This can be easily overcome by sticking a suitable-sized Autobot insignia on his chest piece. Of course, if you should prefer Springer to be a Decepticon instead, go ahead and at the same time, pray that no one calls you a retard.

Anyhow, as with the original Springer, he is predominantly green, with a little bit of grey and yellow, with a few dashes of black. In this mode, he wield a pair of blasters, which can be tugged into a pair of holsters beside his knees, and also a scimitar – you know, like the one normally used by Sinbad or Aladdin. 

Storing the Gun and Scimitar

He is about the size of your standard Deluxe-class figures and due to its predominantly die-cast (especially in the chest area) and good-quality plastic in nature; he really looks and feels durable. 

From left: Springer and Generations Red Alert

 

Articulation-wise, Springer is wonderful. His upper-body articulations are as follow. His head is on a ball joint. His shoulders are mounted on a two-hinged system: the first lets the entire arm to rotate 360°, while the second allows the arms to go in and out. The upper elbow also allows 360° motion, while the lower elbow is on a ball joint, and finally the fists turn.

 

Lower body articulations aren’t that bad either. He has a waist articulation. Hips are on locking rivets. Upper knees allow 360° range of motion, while the lower knee articulation allows standard knee movements. Finally, the ankles are on 2 level of hinges: one allows the ankles to go inward and outward, while the other allows them to go up and down.

Overall, a very nice and detailed figure, but my sole complaint is the chest piece itself – the chest plate where you would stick the allegiance insignia. Mine doesn’t seem like it wants to close. 

Car Mode:

            Now, to be perfectly honest with you, the car mode ain’t that good of a disguise at all. But since it’s supposed to be a futuristic kinda car (or an armored car at that), then I guess it is okay. All the dominant colors that were predominant on the robot mode were still visible here. 

 

             One thing that is worth noting is that this car mode is much more animation accurate compared to the original 1980’s figure, which is a huge bonus! 

            With all four wheels too roll perfectly, and I really do not see any faults at all with this figure.

Helicopter Mode:

            Springer will always be synonymous with helicopters, even though he’s a triple-changer. Even in the good old days, where at the end of the cartoon show you’d have the narrator narrates the biography of some of the characters of the show, Springer was marketed as the Mighty Helicopter, hence the reason why all of his subsequent reincarnations transform into helicopters, and nothing more. 

            So, it was more important for FansProject to make this mode, great.

            And the end result doesn’t disappoint us at all. In fact, I’d say it’s even more animation-accurate compared to the original figure. In this mode, Springer scimitar transforms into the helicopter’s rotors, which turns very freely. The blasters can be added to the sides of the helicopters for added firepower, making Springer someone whom the Decepticons really hate to face.

Summary:

            Springer is a living proof how non-HasTak related entities can excel well beyond expectation. This Springer action figure is by far the best ever figure to ever bear the Springer name, while still holding true to the essence of being Springer. Sometimes it really gets you to wonder, what the heck HasTak has been doing all these while. Why couldn’t they have ever thought of this first, even before FansProject did. HasTak should have even more resources to get it done than anybody else.

            As good as it is, as with the rest of FansProject’s product, Springer didn’t come cheap. For a mere Deluxe-class figure, he’d cost you about RM 300, mostly due to its limited in quantity. The transformation sequences are complicated as hell, but not impossible to master; it isn’t as complex as Masterpiece Megatron, but came pretty darn close if you ask me.

            Warbot Defender 001, a.k.a. G1 Springer is indeed worthy of your attention and definitely worthy of carrying the name of such an awesome character.

            Final verdict: 10/10.