RIP Kevin Conroy - The DEFINITIVE Batman!

Credit and thanks to Eric Carter for making this tribute. 

Eric Carter Youtube page

Transformers Toys Studio Series 86-17 Voyager Class The Transformers: The Movie 1986 Ironhide review

 

Aloha folks, I am back with another TF review and this time it is Studio Series 86 Ironhide. Without further delay, let's get started.

Box

Comes with the infamous back drop where Ironhide meets his destiny. 

Out of the box

Ironhide in the flesh! This is my third Ironhide figure in the past few years. Looks wise I'm going to say he is looking better and better each time resembling his G1 anime counterpart. The colors look nice though I will elaborate more on this later in his alt mode. His frontal appearance looks spot on for the most part. However, if I am to be technical about his accurate look to the anime, the side/back portion of his legs and his upper back doesn't resemble his cartoon look. As a matter of fact, his legs and back were plain rectangular/square shaped. You can clearly see flaps on the back of his legs and windows on the sides. His front bumper in alt mode forms his back. 

Is this a complaint? Well, sorta. The bumper back looks like something that should had been out of the Earthrise or Kingdom line. Now I understand some folks may say that his 86 look with the flat legs and back would be too bland but wasn't this supposed to be based on 86? If it was inspired by it then by all means forget my rambling. The front portion I will reiterate looks amazing, but the back features just doesn't feel 86ish. Well to be fair, Wheelie had a toilet bowl and it was kinda of a stretch too. I guess it didn't help that 86 Hot Rod had a fake chest on top the other though you had to transform him to discover that plot hole. Oh well, this line is gonna fall apart if I continue to nitpick on it.

I like to also point out that his stomach doesn't really lock in. If you shake him by grabbing the torso/chest region, it will pop off easily. I do like this chest piece in a visual sense better than the ER version though.

Ironhide got the swivels on both waist and head. He has a crotch piece that can be flipped. He sports some ankle tilts as well. He comes with dual blasters instead of the sole one he had in the film. He doesn't really come with 5mm pegs besides his fists so there isn't much in the "place the weapon all over him" category. There are some indents which allow you to store it on his bumper back. He doesn't feel too light which is a bonus. Overall, he plays fine for a deluxe figure that is trying to blend in as a voyager. Yep, many fans have complained about this and as I was playing with the figure, I noticed this as well. 10 years ago, this guy would had been only 9-14 bucks. Today we pay twice that or even more. Yeesh!

Alt mode

Return of the different colored parts! Yeah, no joke. Before I get into that, this mode is fairly easy to transform into. No instructions was needed so yay! However, for me, the roof part was a little difficult to snap on. At one point, I was wondering if the roof would snap on without me breaking him into pieces. IH's van mode looks better than the ER version I give him that. Now getting back to the colored parts, Ironhide's reds are 3 different shades of the coloring. This isn't the first time Hastak has done this and I'm wondering why does Hastak do this from time to time. But it can be jarring to look at just as we finally got a van mode that resembles his cartoon look a lot closer than the "feet" versions we got in the Siege and ER line. You can place his weapons as his exhaust ports or cannons on the top of his roof. 

Another negative aspect about the coloring is his missing yellow/orange stripes he had on the side of this mode. I'm guessing they didn't have the budget to add this layer. Geez. Finally, to add on some more salt to injury, this mode still has that "jigsaw" look and feel that has been plaguing IH and Ratchet since the classic/Henkei era. It's not too bad looking here but part of it is still here.

Conclusion

IH was one of my anticipated figures this year. Despite the 3 different shades of red, the color looks impressive on him overall. He looks great from the front though the bumper back and back leg panels bother me a little simply because he didn't have that look in the movie which he is based off of. It really looks like something from the ER line as I have stated. The alt mode is his closest interpretation of the G1 model classics wise as to date but with the few issues I have mentioned. I think the biggest bummer coming from this guy is the price range. With tax and all, he came out to nearly 35 big ones. He is fairly small for that price range. That is inflation for ya. Anyhow, Ironhide is a good figure overall despite the blemishes I'd dished out. He is a favorite so despite how expensive he is or how he is lacking in some categories, I expect this guy to be sold out within the next couple months. I doubt somewhat inaccurate- looking back and legs will deter people from getting him. After all, you need him to complete Ratchet who will pretty much appear in the near future. I just hope they give Ratchet his cross decals on his shoulders. Anyhow, see you later folks and take care. 

  

Transformers Toys Generations Legacy Deluxe Decepticon Wild Rider review

 

Aloha folks, I am back finally with another review. It took me some time to due a hectic work schedule and rest period. Finally mustered the strength to pull this guy out whom I had in weeks and did a shoot with him. How does he fare? Well, let's find out and let's get started!

Boxing

His bio and specs are now online. Not sure why they just can't print it on the instruction manual. Pretty soon the manual will be too be online I bet. The box came smashed from Hasbro Pulse when I bought him with Wheelie. Once again I might as well wait and get free shipping with Amazon if I am paying for nearly smashed goods.

Wildrider himself

I don't know much about the Stunticons except for being G1 fame. Wild-Rider looks great; almost identical to his G1 look. His backpack looks a little on the bigger side but I ain't complaining really. He comes with dual rifles that can be paired up to make one big gun. You can peg the dual weapons sideways if that is your cup of tea. You got tilts on his ankles and a waist swivel as usual. 

My only real gripe is that he feels very light. This is what we get now for pay $25 plus shipping once again on these upscaled (it feels like it) core class figures which will only get pricier down the road. Well, moving on...

Alt mode

Fairly easy to transform from robot mode to alt mode. It did take me some time but overall, he's not difficult to transform at all. I do love the red transparent windows which is his trademark window color. Beats seeing the same black/blue windows from other characters all the time. I sense a mushroom peg covering coming for this guy for his back wheels... or it's already probably here since I'm reviewing this guy a little late.

The third limb

Menasor is an all American! Yeah, I actually didn't realize it during the photoshoot until I edited the pics. I think Prime would be more fitting, but anyhow here is Wildrider as the left leg. Very easy to put on. It literally closes the flaps on his front shin. However, I turned the legs around because there are some people that prefer it this way with the cars in the front because some artwork depicts him like that. Your mileage may vary and that is it. You can put him on the right shin and he fits perfectly fine if that is your forte as well.

Final words

Well, we got the third Stunticon member and he is not bad at all. Just too light but that seems to be the direction we are heading now. Cheap and light plastic and higher prices! He plays fairly easy and well and isn't a difficult transformation. Also, not hard to place on the Menasor limb. Imagine if you needed some very small screwdriver to place him on like how you place Dragstrip. Can't wait to finish this guy up and hopefully soon. Anyways, have a nice day folks and see you real soon.

Transformers Deleted Storyboard - Optimus Prime Tackled UPDATE

Credit goes to Artist Stan

This is amazing work! 

Transformers Toys Studio Series Core Class The The Movie Autobot Wheelie Action Figure review

 

Aloha folks, I am back with another TF review and this time it is 86 Core class Wheelie. How does he fare? Let's get started!

Boxing

As you could see there is a crease on the left side of the box. I bought Wheelie and Wild-Rider (next review) from Hasbro Pulse. Usually, they ship it fairly well and the box comes all pristine. This time I received the box that housed both figures to be caved in on one side. As a result, I got two boxes that don't look smooth at all. And I paid for the shipping when I should, next time, just wait for the free delivery from Amazon.com. 

Wheelie comes in with a Quintessa backdrop. It's the scene where he witnesses both Hot Rod and Kup being captured by the Allicons. 

Standing tall

When I first saw this figure in the box, I thought he looked simple like how 86 Spike turned out. I didn't have much high hopes that this be an amazing figure. He still didn't wow me when I took him out of the box. The weird thing is that he has this skirt-like part for his Heine. It forms an integral part of his alt mode but it is also used in a bizarre fashion which I will explain later. As for the figure, Wheelie is very simple. Doesn't have a waist swivel though he has a swivel for his head. And he comes with his slingshot though no projectiles included. He can pose fairly decent however. 

Comparisons with Legends Wheelie and 86 Companion Wheelie. 

I didn't do much of a shoot with these guys but I realized that 86 core class Wheelie looks top notch here. I did like Legends Wheelie for a time but now I do think CC Wheelie is the definitive one based on looks. Legends version I feel got a decent size but he's just got a little too much details and the orange is too light for my tastes. 

Alt mode

CC Wheelie is fairly easy to transform into his alt mode without instructions. He looks really small and simple in comparison to the LG version. Both windows can flip open but CC Wheelies head just appears looking at ya. You can flip his head face down if this bugs you though. 

Cybertronian Toilet bowl

This was the bizarre thing I was referring to earlier. That skirt can literally form a toilet bowl. Even Red Alert is fed up with the "crap" he dealt with his whole life. Kingdom RA is starting to grow on me btw.

I do not own credit for coming up with this. I merely borrowed the idea from a FB user a while back. I don't use FB much now so credit to whoever came up with this. Thanks for the laugh. 

Conclusion

I think Wheelie is a step up from Spike. He may feel simple at times but he's got the looks and he plays just fine. Not too much bells and whistles for a 12 dollar figure but he is here to complete your 86 collection. Later folks and take care.