Transformers Studio Series 86 04 Transformers the Movie Hot Rod Voyager Class review!

Did people already forgot they have rights? 

 

Christmas is around the corner and what could possibly be a better gift than the anticipated 86 04 Studio Series Transformers the Movie: Hot Rod! Yes, he is here. Without delay, let's get started! My take on 86 HR. 

That is the packaging for you. It comes with a backdrop and it is supposedly different for everyone that will make an appearance for this toy line. Hot Rod's backdrop is based on the birth of Rodimus Prime in Unicron's stomach. It comes with the Matrix, the Matrix spark, his famous saw, two afterburn effects, and two blasters that he commonly used in the tv show. Instructions were not used here but presented for visual purposes. I bought the two pack from CMDstore.com which came with Scourge. I will review him next time. 

Standing tall

I like to point out that this is my first time dealing with a figure that is supposedly masterpiece level. Also, some of the pictures turned out a little blurry. Still working on this. I think it's time that I really invest in a light tent though I've been saying that for years.

Anyhow, Hot Rod looks amazing. He feels light and very simple at the same time. Because of this if you add weight to him (weapons), he has a tendency to fall a bit. No biggie though. His colors look amazing at first glance which resembles the movie as it should ( a little more on this later). His fingers actually opens in/out as opposed to the classics 5mm pegs/plugging I am used to. This pretty much was done to enable HR to hold the Matrix more easy. I mean how were you gonna do it with pegs anyway? You can only fold his left hand in to put his saw on. The right hand actually has a drill I believe he used to help repair Kup after he defeated the robotic squid in the movie. The visor is located in the top of his head. You flip it and voila, blue visor! Now go and shoot a shuttle. J/K. He has a waist and head swivel for those who are wondering. Pose away. Joints are tight as well. 

If I have to say anything negative, I usually like to swivel my classic figures arms a bit to do an array of gun handling and poses. 86 HR is kinda stiff in this category. I was told that Scourge was even worse when it came to posing. But this is very minor though. I had fun overall in this mode and it kinda made me wish I didn't go into alt mode. I will tell you why. Next.

Alt mode

As I forgot to mention earlier that Hot Rod has the ER Sunstreaker Syndrome; different shades of colors. In robot mode, it doesn't look too apparent (though you can see it if you look hard enough) but in alt mode, you can see degrees of red, maroon, pink, or even light red if that's what you want to call it. He also has ER Runabout's fake chest compartment syndrome as well. What is this if you are wondering? The chest in robot mode does not form the actual front hood, but a hidden chest piece right behind his... chest. I mean wow. 

I don't know if the masterpiece Rodimus/Hot Rod figures are like this but I'm not really complaining but just.... wow. A TF buddy of mines pointed out on how his legs sorta stick out in the back. I admit, it does look weird. However, the car rolls fine on the surface and the exhaust effects really come to play here. Overall, alt mode looks good.

As for transformation, I would rate it slightly between easy and intermediate. It took me sometime without the manual. However...

I ended up chipping his middle connector on his right arm as I tried to transform him into alt mode. I was a little setback by this and contemplated giving up the photoshoot at this point. The other two connectors were not enough to plug his exhaust together. But the show must go on. Just be careful folks. I guess I was having too much fun. Like I said, It makes me wish I never tried to transform him. But thank God I'm not big on alt mode. 

As I was about to finalize this post: 

*My Tf buddy said that he knew someone whose locking tabs came off as well. Grrr. Maybe it wasn't me.* Oh man. 

Some scale with some previous lines

HR and some of his past cousins from previous lines. I think he scales ok with LG Blurr and Arcee, dont you think? Anyhow, he couldn't really grasp RTS HR's gun, I just made it work enough for the photoshoot. RTS HR could not grasp 86 HR's weapon at all. So this maybe a good resource for those who are wondering if LG/TR Blurr scales with 86 HR. I couldn't find my LG Kup at this time of the shoot. But Kup scales roughly the same as LG Blurr.  The reason I point this out is for those who are content with their LG/TR Kup and Blurr and if they should dip into the SS for scale purposes. I'm probably gonna stick with the LG version of Kup and Blurr. Easier on my wallet that's gonna be. 

Arise Rodimus Prime!

Possibly the best feature imo of this figure. I really loved how this turned out. Darn, this is beautiful!

Conclusion:

86 HR is a must buy. He looks the best and plays the best of all the HR's I got. I have yet to open up POTP Rodimus and I don't think I will. This guy is beautifully done. The chip in his exhaust I will forever live with, but once again, just be careful overall. It's really robot mode that works wonders for me. I got him early but he is worth it no matter where or when you get him. The Matrix re-enactments just sing "The touch" in your head.  Buy him now! 

Thanks to Darkonnen/Transfan84 (From TFW2005) and J.S. from FB for giving me info on getting this guy early.