Boxing and packaging:
So the Decepticon combiner comes in a box set very similar to the Superion set. You get the original Stunticon team which also includes Wildrider, who was originally omitted in the western release due to his departure from the team in the IDW comics. He was replaced by Offroad for a short period of time before the west decided to release their own version of Quickslinger (Slingshot) and Brake-Neck (Wild Rider). What is included here you see is the instruction manual and a quick cheat sheet ( I think) on how to transform the limbs in Japanese. Behind the manual is an artist rendering of the Stunticons on the race track doing their own racing. You can see Metroplex and the Aerialbots also in the background.
MotorMaster
If it is one thing you can count on is that the Japanese releases tend to match the G1 color scheme better than the Hasbro release which is more IDW comic based. Most fans, including I, are pleased to see MotorMaster released in Japan in his G1 "black" color scheme. Imo, his truck mode is good looking and his robot mode is very easy to the eyes and touch. He feels sturdy and isn't wobbly, a complaint that some western release owners said about the entire combiner war Stunticon release. Forgive me on the last few pics, I just realized his right shoulder flap kept popping off.
Dragstrip
I definitely remember Dragstrip due to me owning a G1 toy of him when I was little. He is probably the most controversial change of the Unite Warriors and Combiner Wars releases. He is plain yellow/orange colored in this release to match his G1 cartoon color scheme. His Combiner war release features some purple/maroon like stripes on certain parts of his body giving him a more creative and detailed look. I can't really compare too much because this version is the only version I have. My only comment is that I dig Dragstrip because I like his race car look the best of all Stunticons. However, I always thought his face looked funny in both releases. He kinda looks like a clown to be exact. Anyhow, very easy to transform and mix-and-match the weapons. I won't go into the weapons much.
WildRider
Here's the guy that the western release almost left out. His exclusion from his team was due to an embarrassing lost they suffered at the hands of Bumblebee. Wildrider left the team short after with Offroad becoming his replacement. In both western and Japanese releases, he uses the same mold as DeadEnd, just with a different color scheme and head-sculpt of course. I love his car mold because it's something I would drive. No complaints on his robot mode. He looks fantastic in both modes. Mix-and-Match weapons for your pleasure.
Dead End
Here's the original mold that WildRider came to be. I do like his color scheme better in alt mode. The red is really nice, imo. He is plain red looking whereas the western release, he has a yellow stripe going through his hood and roof. Your preference of course. Not much to say here but he is here to complete the team. Mix-and match.......
Breakdown
Okay, so some of you might get upset with me, but I personally found Breakdown to be the most blandest of the entire team. The funny thing was that it took me a while to figure out how to fully transform him from alt mode to robot mode. I just personally feel his design doesn't have much going for him. His car mode is decent though his robot mode just feels alright. Sorry for the lighting in some of the pics. He looks yellow but that is just the way I shot it. Got to get a better setup system. Weapons......
Final poses
Stunticons attack! So this release is ultimately avoided by most TF fans because not much change occurred between both releases besides MotorMaster. MotorMaster easily stands as the best of the bunch and probably the real reason you want to get this combiner. Not to mention, he seems to engulf the others in size. After all he is voyager based. Just wish he was given his trailer he had in the cartoons. Anyhow, see you next week for the final part as the Stunticons form to become..........
Part 2 is up:
http://iamterenceho.blogspot.com/2015/09/takara-tomy-unite-warriors-uw-02_10.html
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