Transformers Review: Build King (Car Robots Gestalt) a.k.a. Landfill – Part 5 of 5 - Buildmaster

Intro:

            I have to admit, although the Car Robots/ Robots in Disguise series was first broadcasted in 2001, I haven’t watched it before. Still, I do recognize the characters from the series, and some of them are also on my hit list such as Gigatron, Fire Convoy and Ultra Magnus, just to name a few.

            But one particular set that I had never intended to get was the Buildmasters. The Buildmasters is a special team of engineers and architects tasked to build the Global Space Bridge. Unlike most special teams ever since G1, the Buildmasters were never meant to be warriors and fighters, thus making them quite unreliable in battles.

            The members of the Buildmasters are also capable of combining to form a super robot called Build King, or Landfill in the Robots in Disguise (RiD) series, which we will be reviewing in Part 5 of this series of reviews.

            It was pure coincidence that I managed to find this group, and with a proper nudge from my pal Big Daddy V, I finally relented to what I already wanted to do.

            The members of the Buildmaster that I will be reviewing are sold in a different packaging, and all of them are Takara releases.

From left: Build Boy (Wedge), Build Hurricane (Grimlock), Build Cyclone (Hightower) and Build Cyclone (Heavy Load)

            In the series, Build King wasn’t exactly made to excel in battles – just like the individual members of the Buildmasters. Having said that, he isn’t exactly easy picking. Build King is one of those unique gestalts. Borrowing the old concept of Scramble City for the Japanese G1 series, Build King perfected that art.

From left: Build Cyclone (Heavy Load), Build Hurricane (Grimlock), Build Boy (Wedge) and Build Cyclone (Hightower)

            Aside from Build Boy; Build Hurricane, Build Typhoon and Build Cyclone can each assume the role of any limbs. Yes folks, you’re right, that means that there are 3 different configurations available for Build King.

            So without further ado, let’s continue with the review.

Build King – Hurricane Mode:

            This is the normal configuration that Build King assumes.

            In this mode, Build Hurricane becomes the back and arms of the robot, while Build Typhoon becomes the right leg and Build Cyclone the left.

            Standing at about 8-inches to the tip of the head (disregarding the backhoe), the size is just nice.

            Just like most of his individual members, Build King is not really proportional – the legs are short and stubby and the “backpack” is just way too big.

            Articulation-wise: the head can only rotate; the shoulders – based on how they’re designed – can move in all directions; the hips are on universal joints; the knees bend and those are it.

Build King standing next to Generations Thrust

            Most basic movements are there, but you can’t really put him in more adventurous poses due to his size.

            In this mode, he wields Typhoon’s Dump Claw and Cyclone’s Crane Cannon.

            The combination may seem shoddy and just might fall apart any time, but believe me, it’s not that bad. Of course, too much brute force will make him fall apart.

            Personally, this is my favorite of all the three Build King modes and he also stands better in this mode.

Build King – Typhoon Mode:

            In this mode, Build Typhoon becomes the back and arms of the robot, while Build Cyclone becomes the right leg and Build Hurricane the left.

            According to fiction, in this mode, Build King is granted more offensive power.

            Articulation-wise, the Typhoon Mode offers the same move sets as Hurricane Mode.

            While technically he has pose-able thumbs, the hands are just too big for it to be useful. In fact, to wield the Hoe Claw and the Crane Cannon, you have to peg in to the sockets on the “fingers”. 

            Overall, not too bad at all.

Build King – Cyclone Mode:

            In this mode, Build Cyclone becomes the back and arms of the robot, while Build Hurricane becomes the right leg and Build Typhoon the left.

            According to fiction, in this mode, Build King is mainly used for close quarters combat.

            Articulation-wise, again the Cyclone Mode offers the same move sets as the Hurricane and Typhoon Modes.

            Since Typhoon and Cyclone are mold brothers, Cyclone mode too has pose-able thumbs.

            In this mode, Build King wields the Dump Claw and the Hoe Claw, while the cockpit, along with the Crane Cannon is mounted at the back as a humongous backpack. The placement of the cockpit may be a bit strange, and it may need some getting used to.

            Overall, it still looks great.

Overall:

Yes, I do like gestalts, and Build King is definitely one of those unique gestalts ever made. Character-wise, there might be many more super robots that are tougher and more powerful than him, but the concept that he carries is very, very unique.

Build King, whether sold separately or in a set, are very difficult to come by, and to be honest, this was the first time that I actually saw them on sale in open market, albeit in a secondhand market.

You are basically paying the price of 1 gestalt to get 3 wholly different looks out of him – more than worth the price you pay, and plus, I got him for a very good bargain.

Build King has also been recolored and reissued as a combined set and it’s really up to you on which versions do you prefer.

Me, I prefer this one as it is more screen accurate.

Highly recommended.

            Final verdict: 9/10.