Matrix Workshop M-59 Backpack sword Weapon Tail Upgrade Kit For SS86 Slag Review

Aloha folks, I am back with another TF upgrade review: Matrix Workshop M-59 Backpack sword Weapon Tail Upgrade Kit For SS86 Slag. Once again found on Ebay as my vision to upgrade all the Dinobots to make sure they all have at least a gun and a sword. Without further delay, let's get started!

Content wise: The package consists of a sword, another gun/rocket launcher type weapon, a tail filler, and a mini backpack to store your weapons. 

In Dino mode, the sword is pretty much weight and adds no real value in this mode besides placement for storage. The tail filler shines the best in this category because now you can use the mini back pack to house weapons on his back. It's nicely done. If it's your forte, you can use the tail as a weapon as well. And then the hilarious thing is you can plug his other weapons into his tail area. Including the sword though there is no peg for it so it fits very loosely.

 

Now this is where the weapons make a difference. Starting with some issues first so I can get that out of the way. I feel the sword fits loosely on his right hand and it is very tight on the left. Same goes for the Rocket gun. The Rocket gun is nice to have though its extra fodder that you can do away with because he still has his original gun. But it looks nice and it comes with the set so no real qualms there. It's also nice to have his tail filler in place so there isn't a gap in his back area if you are going to utilize his original gun. Once again, If it's your thing, you can also use his tail filler as a gun.  And then the back pack is used to store his weapons on his back. That too, however, can get loose at times. 

Conclusion:

Your main negativity is the connections can be loose from time to time. But the positives outweigh the negatives here. The sword is really great. Neatly painted and designed. It handles well majority of the time. For the Dinobots, there are two swords usually designed for them by fans, and that is these silver painted looking ones or the red/orange colored blades. I got the Orange blade for Grimlock from Nonnef but I really dug this silver one I got from Matrix Workshop. So all is well. The tail filler is what got me in awe the entire time. It was really nice it how it matched and filled the gap that was once his gun. The backpack is there to store his weapons and he has an additional rocket/missile like gun. Also nice to have. Anyhow, thank you for reading and see you next time. Go with God. Toodles. 

Transformers Toys Studio Series Leader Class SS-111 (86-19) Dinobot Snarl Review

 

Aloha folks! Once again I am back with another TF review. This time it's Snarl! The Dinobot that had less than one minute of screen time in the TF 86 flick. How does this guy fare? Let's get started!

Boxing

Ever since the Power of the Primes line, I never picked up any Japanese Transformers since their releases were pretty much the same as the western ones. This went good for my wallet in the past few years. However, I missed the pre-orders for Snarl on Amazon.com. Like lightning, this guy went out quick. As of today, it seems like a bunch of people are still struggling to get this guy during the course of this review. 

I recently went on a trip to Japan and there I saw the Japanese release of Snarl in Osaka! Of course, I didn't hesitate to pick him up. He was pricier but thanks to the strong U.S. Dollar, I was able to pick this guy up roughly for the same $55 this guy originally went for here in the west. So any one traveling to Japan will have better luck picking this guy up if they don't mind Japanese words scribbled all over the box. Not to mention, the Japanese releases are numbered differently. The instructions are in English though. If you are wondering what the words are saying, use Google lens on your phone to translate ( I have a section on this). The last picture in this category is just a tag that says I bought the figure. 

Snarl reporting for duty

It was nice of Hasbro to release this guy who barely appeared in the film. He was shown in some of the first trailers but for some odd reason, Snarl really didn't make the final cut of the film. In fact, his longest scene, which most likely was an animation error, was where Ultra Magnus rallies his Autobots prior to Galvatron attacking them (which is also the theme of this release). You can see Snarl dodging some laser shots but Swoop is apparently missing. And when UM and his crew board the shuttle, Snarl is missing once again though Swoop magically reappears. Of course Hasbro retconned the storyline into saying Snarl stayed behind to help Blaster salvage Autobot city. That works I guess.

As for the figure, Snarl comes with just a sword, which I felt could had been a little longer. The sword is pretty nice looking though. However, his release is lacking a gun which third parties are selling through Ebay and such. The figure comes with his back detached so you got to attach it which is pretty easy. His shoulder wings from behind looks like something of an Egyptian motif. Doesn't really bug me. Just pointing this out, that is all. Snarl plays really well in this mode. I'm probably only saying this because his buddy Sludge was a disappointing release for a Dinobot due to all his limbs being wobbly. I still own the wobbly version as of this date. He looked great but he is best left in Dino mode. Thank God Hasbro didn't make this guy similar to Sludge and he joins Grimlock and Slag in having some replayability. Basically, his joints are tight and not loose like Sludge. Snarl handles great and looks good overall. 

Stegosaurus! And his Dinobuddies. 

Snarl is probably the most easiest to transform of all the Dinobots imo. To a degree, I feel like he is the smallest of the bunch sans Swoop (who have yet to be released). Height wise is he taller than Sludge but Sludge looks bigger overall thanks to his length. Because his head in Dino mode comes out of each of his legs in robot mode; his head is split in the middle. In addition, you can split his bottom lip as well. Two ways you can store his weapon on this mode. If you want more of an incognito look, you can place it underneath his chest/belly area. If you don't mind his sword sticking on his back, he has one peg, well, on his back. It is also here where you can see some of his yellow colors differing from one another. His head and feet have more of a yellow tone while his plates and tail are colored gold. Perhaps, my real and only complaint is his tail. I wish you could raise it because it droops too low for my tastes. The box even shows him utilizing his tail as a weapon. Would had been nice to toggle around with it. His Dino mode is nicely done though. 

One last thing, unlike his Dinobuddies, Snarl is missing an effect holder in his mouth. Grimlock, Sludge, and Slag have one each in their mouths. It would had been nice to keep it consistent but thanks to his transformation style, it was most likely difficult to put one in him. 

 

Scale for your viewing pleasure. It was also this time where I discovered one of Slag's left shoulder plate holder was fractured. The plate will go in but will fall out pretty easy. I only pray it lasts till Swoop comes in. I need to have at least one picture of the Dinobots transformed together. 

Box translated via Google lens. 

The last picture cracked me up: "There are parts that made me laugh." I dunno know if Google lens is accurate but this is what I got. One thing that is missing or is different in this release is the scene description the western releases got. If you look at the 2nd pic of this category, it only tells you info on the release dates of the 86 and 2007 flick. On the western releases, it says "Snarl and the Autobots must find a way to destroy Unicron before Cybertron is devoured." Source: Amazon. 

Conclusion: 

 Snarl is a fine addition to your 86 roster. He is welcome collection especially if you are a Dinobot fan and breath of fresh air after Sludge's looseness. I'm glad once again Hasbro decided to make an 86 figure out of him despite being barely being in the film. Most fans questioned if he really did exist or if he was just an error. Whatever you believe, we got an 86 version of him and he definitely doesn't disappoint. Ciao and see you next time!