When I was a kid, Transformers have been a big part of my life. The very though of vehicles that can turn into robots was a big amusement for children at that age. It WAS the late eighties and not a lot of toys that can transform. And a toys that can both transform AND combine? Every kids would want to have them.
At that time only a few stores sells transformers, mostly small hobby shop. Even then, they don't have every kind. All the information I have for all the different TFs was from the brochure that came with each toy.
I, for one, spend most of my time oogling the brochure at the pretty robot pics and wish there's some relatives that are nice enough to bring me a new TF :P.
Funny thing is, I actually got couple of gestalt parts. Some relatives came and give me and my cousin parts from the same sets. So the only time I can succesfully combine them if we play nice with each other.
But, like most kids at that age, I didn't take good care of my toys. So I lost all of them growing up.
That's why, when I was presented with the opportunity to own a 'close to perfect' G1 Menasor gift set. I didn't hesitate even if it's against my 'no knock off' policy. Mind you, I never own a menasor parts, but the gestalts always intrigue me, especially since I saw them combined with metroplex to create a mighty cybertronian city.
Menasor come in a gift set box, and at the first glance looks exactly like the old original box. Although, at closer inspections, people with keen eye can tell it's if lower quality (a bit) than the original.
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| From Toy Review |
Back of the box is just like the original, even with the bots power sheet. They even gave you the red tinted plastic to read them!
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| From Toy Review |
When you open the box you'll have the toys presented just like the original, except for a couple of differences:
- in the original, the weapon come in plastic sprues. While here, they came in a bag of plastic
- the rub sign is missing from the bots, they actually include them in a sticker sheet so you can apply them yourselves.
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| From Toy Review |
Replica of the original stickers are included and even a really good reproduction of the original instruction.
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| From Toy Review |
I spent about 30 minutes applying the sticker. The quality of it are pretty nice, although a pair of scissors and art knife would come in handy trimming them to perfection.
Out of the box and with sticker applied, the toya feels almost as good as the originals (as far as I can remember) but well better than the original Bruticus encore (now I know why people talk crap about encore bruticus quality)
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| From Toy Review |
The surprising parts is that this knock off have die cast frame! I feel that is quite a feat for knocknoff. It sure add balance and overall niceness of each figure.
Deadend
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| From Toy Review |
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| From Toy Review |
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| From Toy Review |
Breakdown
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| From Toy Review |
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| From Toy Review |
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Hasbro/Takara actually release a modern version of breakdown for the Hunt for the Decepticon
Movie Line, with new articulation, similar alt mode, in scout size.
If only they release the rest of them in modern form even in scout size.
Wildrider
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| From Toy Review |
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| From Toy Review |
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| From Toy Review |
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| From Toy Review |
Modern day version of wildrider is a repaint of classic rodimus and released exclusively in Japan from E-Hobby
Dragstrip
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| From Toy Review |
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| From Toy Review |
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| From Toy Review |
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| From Toy Review |
Drag strip is the racer of the groups. In IDW he's blurr's racer rival.
In modern day, hasbro repaint classic mirage into drag strip and released exclusively to asian markets.
Motormaster
Motormaster is the biggest of the stunticons, but also the brickiest in bot mode. It's essentially you turn thtruck trailer upright and flip the front part as feet. Lol!
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| From Toy Review |
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| From Toy Review |
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Combine to.....
Menasor!!!
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| From Toy Review |
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| From Toy Review |
Ok, to be honest, this is not for everyone. Even before they combine, they already feels blocky.... Very blocky compared to today's standart.
Plastic quality is well above your average KO. They use a semi hard plastic and not the 'rubbery' ones, too make it as close as the originals.
They even preserve some of the small details of the originals. The only problem I had at first was fitting the sword into Menasor's (not motormaster's) hand. Nothing a bit of a force wouldn't help.
Still, it is a nice reproduction for people who likes such a thing. Especially when they combine with a certain TFs that can transform into a base.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
The look of this toys is very VERY close to the original product, with a couple of notable details. Of course, for the UNinformed (e.g. lots of parents EVERYWHERE), this toy could pass as the real deal. ESPECIALLY without the fugly package.
This Jazz is missing the light-pimping feature on his eyes, the side light on the front, transforming nunchuck exhaust, and the ball join on its neck.
It retain almost all of the original articulation (as you can see in the pictures)
I know, for some, this can be considered a blasphemy on the series., but consider this:
Transformer toys cost no twice, but almost THREE times its original value in the states. A TF movie deluxe that cost $12 in the states will easily cost Rp.300.000,- (about $31 on current exchange) here (I live in Indonesia, btw). This will make toys like this a luxury goods instead of, you know, toys for kids.
IF I have kids, most likely I'll be buying these cheap knock off for them and 'keeping' the original save for 'when they're older' :D. There is now way I'll let kids handle something so expensive if they could amuse themselves with something so cheap :D
Ever since I saw the first preview of this product, I always knew I'm going to get it, especially the ravage one. Now after a long wait, we get to see the actual product photo and its packaging.
Truthfully? I think it's a rip off for a 2Gb Thumb Drive, really.
But the cool factor negates all logic (in my brain, at least). A thumb drive that transform to Ravage! Imagine that!
Pretty big for a thumb drive, isn't it?
The Packaging.
The back of the box shows the other in the line, which is USB Drive Ravage, Optical mouse Grimlock, and USB Hub Blaster. They said you could put a cassetron inside blaster.
Now THAT's tempting
I wonder if he comes with this clear stand?
Simple transformation, but cool nonetheless
The memory encase in it's head, you just have to flip it out to reveal the usb connector
Ravage & Tigatron together
They're not going to let me catch a break, do they?
factions: Decepticon
Size: Voyager
factions: Decepticon
size: Scout factions: Decepticon
Note: Can dock with mindwipe
Size: Deluxe
factions: Decepticon
size: scout
factions: Autobot
size: Deluxe
factions: Autobot
Size: Deluxe
factions: Autobot
Luckily (for me, that is) that on this line up, what I most interested in, is Lockdown and Brawn, and quite possible Barricade to accompany my Bumblebee. Not to mention that Lockdown and Brawn is a deluxe size figure so I don't have to pay an arm and a leg to have them
Oh woe is my wallet :P
