Tuesday 17 January 2012

G1 BRAWL







This figure is from 1986 even though he first appeared in 1985 along with the other Combaticons in the G1 cartoon "Starscreams brigade" he was built by Starscream from the wreck of a WW2 tank. He was built to be a rival to Blitzwing. Brawl also has the mind of one of the Decepticon renegades. he appeared in the Marvel comics along with the other Combaticons.


Brawl in the cartoon

FUNCTION; Ground Assault

MOTTO;  " I was built to be wild"

TECH SPEC;  " Noisy, irritates all nearby. Hair trigger temper, Blusteringly belligerent.. a terrifying effective warrior. Enormously strong, resistant to most conventional artillery. As tank, goes 45mph, range 600 miles. Turret mounted gun shoots 200lbs TNT-equivalent shells, twin sonic cannon shoots powerful ear splitting 300 decibel bursts of concentrated sound energy in stereo. In robot mode has 10 mega watt electron gun. Combines with fellow Combaticons to form Bruticus."

SPEC; Strength 8, Intelligence 2, Speed 4, Endurance 9, Rank 5, Courage 9, Firepower 8, Skill 7


Robot mode


Robot mode with tank cannons


Tank mode side view


Tank mode front view


Tank mode with gun

He has a great tank mode with a rotating turret. The insignia shown is not the one he came with as it was badly damaged. This Decepticon  insignia is from master piece Rodimus Prime.

His robot mode is pretty good. He is more of a lighter green than the cartoon which was dark green.

He rolls quite well in tank mode.

He is easy to tranform.

His tank gun does stick up from his back but you can use this to mount his tank mode cannons in robot mode.

He is a good figure and my favourite Combaticon.










Friday 13 January 2012

CYBERTYRON PRIMUS

This figure is from 2006. No tech Spec exists for this figure. The spec itself has everything at 10.

I feel prickly... Primus in cartoon

Primus is the creator-god of the Transformers. An ancient and ethereal being whose origins date back to the beginnings of the universe itself, Primus is a multiversal force for good, his life force existing across multiple realities and infinite alternate universes. In each one, he is the final defence against his fallen sibling, Unicron the Chaos-Bringer.
Primus eventually transformed himself into the planet Cybertron; from its surface, his creations have risen to defend and patrol the galaxy. Within the depths of Cybertron, the mega-computer Vector Sigma serves as his internal mainframe, and a gateway for select Transformers to access his power. A portion of his life force resides within the Matrix, which often determines the leader of the Autobots. Prophecies of a war to come were written down in his holy covenant as well. The spark of each Transformer is a small piece of Primus's essence, and together they form his life force, the All spark.
Though wise and powerful beyond measure, Primus is neither infallible nor without weakness. At times he has been deceived by mere mortals, and has made miscalculations which jeopardised all of existence, and has been betrayed by one of his earliest creations. Indeed, even the intended agents of his grand plan, the Transformers, have all too frequently become mired in endless civil war. Still, in most realities he has managed to hold the line against Unicron and other threats, either directly or through his innumerable children, the Transformers.

The G1 version of the legend

Before the dawn of time, Order and Chaos existed within an extra dimensional entity known as The One. To explore the fledgling universe, he created the astral being known as Unicron, and then subdivided him, creating his twin, Primus. Both brothers were multiversal singularities, unique in all realities, but whereas Unicron could only exist in one dimension at a time, moving between them at will, Primus existed simultaneously in all realities at once. It is suggested, in fact, that the two brothers embody the basic concepts of reality—good and evil, order and chaos—and that their continued existence is necessary for the stability of the multiverse.
Primus in cartoon
 
As Unicron and Primus went about their appointed task, venturing through the cosmos, it became apparent to Primus that Unicron was a corrupt being, and he took it upon himself to stop the threat posed to all of existence by his sibling. In combat, Primus was no match for Unicron. In cunning, however, he proved himself to his brother's superior when he shifted their battle to the astral plane, and then back to the physical world once more, only to have both their essences manifest within metallic planetoids, leaving them both trapped. It was with this act of sacrifice that Primus hoped to contain Unicron's evil forever. Unfortunately for him, over time, Unicron learned to psionically shape his prison into a giant metallic planet, and Primus followed suit, becoming the mechanical world of Cybertron. When Unicron then learned to transform his planetary form even further, into a gigantic robot form, Primus adapted the idea to suit his own ends—rather than transforming his own body, he would create small beings that would be able to change their shape, like Unicron. After performing a "test run" on the moon of Protos, where he successfully created twelve transforming robotic beings, Covenant he birthed from his own body a group of thirteen robots that possessed the ability to change shape, like Unicron. These were the thirteen original Transformers, each one infused with a fragment of Primus's life essence known as a spark.
The Thirteen were Primus's soldiers in his war with Unicron, which came to its seeming end during a climactic battle in which one of the Thirteen, Megatronus Prime, who would forever afterwards be known as the Fallen, betrayed Primus and became an acolyte of Unicron. The battle ended when the Fallen and Unicron were sucked into a black hole and disappeared from reality. With Unicron gone for now, Primus entered an eons-long slumber, his self-imposed sleep preventing Unicron from detecting him through the mental link the brothers shared. The Transformer race grew, and Primus fell into the realm of legend, with a portion of his power, the Matrix of Leadership, handed down through the generations, serving as the Transformers' ever-present link to their creator


Primus in robot mode


Robot Primus in battle mode


planet mode (Cybertron)


Planet weapons mode



Planet battle mode


Planet Omega lock with Cyber keys inserted

His robot mode is not quite as big as Unicron. He is not really like Unicron considering they are twins but they have similarities like the shape of their legs.
To Transform him you need the Omega lock but if not it can be done by hand . It also comes with two Cyber keys which are slotted into the planet to activate arm cannons and you can slot them into the Omega lock for storage.

He has lights and sounds. When you put him into Battle planet mode he makes a noise.
In robot mode then you push the Omega lock into his chest and push it up to reveal head his eyes light up and he makes laser firing noise.

He is more planet like and round like a planet rather then the shape of his brother Unicron. He has legs to stand on and he has cities, meteor craters and other nice details.

Gimmick wise Unicron is better but get this as well as he is a really nice figure. I like them both equally.
In robot mode Primus does not have any real feet but flaps. Just like Unicron he has lots of articulation in his hands.

On his planet mode he also has some minicon ports.

I like this Cybertron colour scheme rather than the latest version of this mould.

Unicron is complicated to transform but Primus is much easier but The omega lock can be stiff.

He fires two missiles from planet and robot mode. You can flip the oval like pieces on his legs round to reveal guns on his legs. You can also flip some guns onto his shoulders.

He is a very posable figure.
A great figure along with Unicron for display.








ARMADA CYCLONUS

This figure is from 2002. he is a Decepticon. He appeared first in the Armada cartoon episode 2 but not sure what it is called. He also appeared in the comic transformers Armada issue 1. Later he appeared in the 2004 Armada Video game. As well as being re painted in 2003 for power linked Cyclonus. He was also re painted in 2004 for Energon Cyclonus. It was used again in 2005? for Cybertron Buzz saw. I think colour scheme wise this is the best version to have.


From my comic - IDW Transformers Armada vol 1

FUNCTION; warrior

MOTTO; " Out of my way!, Attack!"

TECH SPEC; Cyclonus is so reckless that even his own Decepticon allies are afraid of him. While performing aerial attacks, he may suddenly fly off to attack a lone Autobot, leaving his companions unprotected. Megaton likes to let him loose because he's so dangerous in battle, but he has trouble stopping him once he gets started. Will Cyclonus ever learn to control his savage recklessness?

SPEC; Strength 8, Intelligence 5, Speed 8, Indurance 7, Rank 5, Courage 8, Firepower 7, Skill 5


Helicopter Apache mode with minicon Crumplezone power linked


Apache helicopter mode without power link


Robot mode


Crumplezone robot mode


Crumplezone tank mode

I really like Cyclonus in helicopter mode. Crumplezone cleverly becomes the cockpit with an extra gun for Cyclonus.
You fire his missiles by power linking Crumplezone to his arms. You can deploy extra guns by power linking him to Cyclonus's legs but this looks clumsy and it was not done in the cartoon or any comics that I know of so just a gimmick.

Another gimmick is a leaver on his tail that when pulled his helicopter blades spin.

His arms do stick out of his helicopter mode but it does not matter in this case.
When you power link Crumplezone the flat cockpit is still visible flicked up which is a shame that you cannot hide it better.

in robot mode his waist piece does not peg on to anything.

I really like this figure and would recommend it for your collection.







Wednesday 11 January 2012

G1 BLAST OFF

This figure is from 1986. he is a Decepticon Combaticon which is a combiner team that consists of Blast Off, Brawl, Onslaught, Swindle and Vortex. They combine to form the giant robot Bruticus.
 Blast appeared in the G1 cartoon series 2 "Starscream Brigade" Starscream re built a WW" fighter plane into a space shuttle calling it Blast Off along with the rest of the Combaticons.
Blast Off has the mind of one of the Decepticon Renegades.
He was built in to a space shuttle to rival Astro train.


FUNCTION; Space warrior

MOTTO; " I destroy Autobots by choice, not command."

TECH SPEC; " Feels literally and figuratively above the other Transformers as he soars through outer space. Aristocratic, aloof- disguises his long distance loneliness. Cruelly efficient at raining destruction on Earth. Flies at 26,000mph. Stays in orbit for eight months. Shoots powerful Xray laser to hit target 12,000 miles away. In robot mode uses ionic blaster."

SPEC; Strength 3, Intelligence 8, Speed 10, Endurance 3, Rank 5, Courage 5, Firepower 9, Skill 10.


Robot mode


Space Shuttle mode

He has a nice space shuttle mode. The weapons spot into his afterburners but that would mean that he could not take off or he would explode!
The top of the space shuttle is olive in colour rather than brown in the cartoon.

In robot mode he does not really have hands but triangular blocks that look like fish heads.

Very easy to transform.




Monday 9 January 2012

G1 POWERMASTER OPTIMUS PRIME

This figure is from 1988. He is generation 1. He is the second mould of Optimus Prime that was released? He appeared in comics but no cartoons that I know of.


FUNCTION; Commander

MOTTO; "Freedom is the right of all sentient beings"

TECH SPEC; " The beloved leader of all Autobots. Dedicated to protecting all life forms- mechanical, human and otherwise. Willing to sacrifice anything in order to end the Autobot/Decepticon conflict. Wise and compassionate...the inspiration that fuels every Autobot. Binary bonded to the super intelligent Nebulan computer programmer HiQ. In engine mode HiQ handles all of Optimus's Power needs. Trailer transforms into armed fortress, complete with laser rifle, concussion blaster and two twin particle beam cannons. Tractor and trailer combine to form Optimus's new super powered robot form."

SPEC; Strength 10, Intelligence 10, Speed 6, Endurance 10, Rank 10, Courage 10, Firepower 9, Skill 10


Super mode


Robot mode


Truck mode


Battle truck mode


Base mode


HiQ Robot mode


HiQ Engine mode

His super mode is fairly  big compared to most figures in the line. The white shoulder guns when angles upwards can be the exhaust pipes for this mode or swung down for extra weaponry for this mode.
His super mode head is a completely separate piece and you can store it in the trailer in vehicle mode.
You need a HiQ to transform him into robot mode.
His feet in ordinary robot mode are stuck together but he is still posable. His arms can move up and down.
His chest in robot mode is not the front of the truck but is cartoon accurate. The real front is on his back.

In base mode HiQ can sit on one of the white guns.
If you have a second power master partner he can also sit on the gun but he will not slot on like HiQ.
His trailer does look a lot more armoured than the original and it looks great in armoured mode.
The trailer and the part that hitches it becomes a laser gun for base mode.
He does have very tight ratchet joints and I am always nervous when I have to splay his legs out to get him into Base mode as they can make awful noises.

He is one of my favourites and is a good figures. He can be expensive to find complete but bits are always available. I bought mine incomplete and I collected the missing parts over the years.