Transformers Review: Wheeljack (Prime RiD Deluxe)

Intro:

            Recently, Wheeljack has been given a lot of screen time as of late, namely in the Transformers: Animated series, as well as the Dark of the Moon movie, in which he goes by the name Que. As far as toy lines go, he was even released in the Generations line, whose mould was a redeco of the Reveal the Shield Tracks. 

            As you may have read my earlier review of Generations Wheeljack, I absolutely love that figure, and since then, I’ve doubted that HasTak will be able to better it in the future.

            Then comes the Transformers: Prime (Robot in Disguise) line.

            Initial photos of him online looked pretty awesome – slick though angular. I was darn excited when I finally bumped into him in my recent hunts at TeenCom. So does he manage to exceed or at least maintain the level set by his predecessor – Generations Wheeljack?

            Read on…

Alternate Mode:

            As with all of his previous incarnations, this Wheeljack too transforms into a sports car. No longer is he the Lancia Stratos Turbo that we used to love, he now transform into a super slick sports car, reminiscence of the so called Fenomenon Stratos, which was featured at the 2005 Geneva Auto Show, and was also supposed to be a retro-modern concept of the well known Stratos. 

            The color scheme is quite nice, and utilizes the same color scheme combination normally associated with Wheeljack.

            While the car looks very cool, it has to be noted that although Wheeljack is categorized as a Deluxe, he is, in actuality smaller than all previously released Deluxe-class figures, as clearly shown in the photo below. No reasons as to why it was “shrunken” – apparent cost cutting maybe?

From Left: Cybertron Downshift (Wheeljack), Prime RiD Wheeljack & Generations Wheeljack

            Another thing that may or may not bug you is the huge gap underneath the front grill as well as the back of the car. I don’t know if it’s the actual the design of the car itself, which I highly doubt it, but to me, it kinda ruins the overall look of the car, while exposing some parts of the robot itself. 

 

            Wheeljack, just like Drift comes with 2 samurai swords of his own, which can be slotted on to the peg underneath the car for safe keeping, or if you want, you may even mount the swords onto the front grill cavity (as shown in the photo below) as some sort of an weaponized car.

Swords as Vehicle Mode Weapons or Slotted Underneath the Car

 

            Overall, Wheeljack’s an interesting little sports car.  

Robot Mode:

            One word sums up Wheeljack’s robot mode – slick. While his robot mode is largely inspired by his G1-self, this robot mode also lacks his trademarked shoulder cannons. Instead, he is armed with a pair of samurai swords. 

            The swords are kinda puny, if you ask me, and I wish it could’ve been just a bit longer. His trademarked wings are still there, albeit a little stylized.

 

 

            Articulation-wise: ball-jointed head; inner shoulders have all range of motions, while the outer shoulders swivel; elbows bend; wrists have all range of motion, but severely hindered by the design of the doors; the ball-jointed hips rotate as well; knees bend; and finally the ankles are all ball joints.

            The articulations are fantastic, and you can really put Wheeljack in various kinds of poses that you may want him too. 

 

            My one complaint of the figure would be the flimsy windshield pieces just below the arms. I just wished that HasTak could’ve made the windshield foldable inward as it kinda gets in the way sometimes during pose-off. 

 

            Unlike his alternate mode, Prime RiD Wheeljack, when compared to his Generations and Cybertron self, he seems to be on the same size, albeit way streamlined and less in bulk. 

From left: Generations Wheeljack; Prime RiD Wheeljack & Cybertron Downshift (Wheeljack)

            Altogether, Wheeljack’s robot mode is very good.

Overall:

            Overall, I think Hasbro pulled it off quite well with this release. It is as if the all time favorite Generations line has receive a facelift, and combined with the Transformers: Prime line. While that may not be the actual case, it kinda feels like it.

            Generally, all that you loved about the Generations line is present here. Also, it has to be said, one thing about Transformers: Prime figures that most fans have noticed so far is that they are somewhat significantly smaller than any previous Deluxe releases. Again, apparent cost cutting maybe.

            Anyways, overall, Wheeljack would be an excellent addition to any collections.

            Highly recommended.

            Final verdict: 9.5/10.