Generations Legends Rodimus



In a strange turn of events, Legends Wave 3 has been released in Australia before most of the rest of the world! At the new RRP of $19 (unbelievable...), Rodimus has hit the shelves!



Rodimus is a redeco of the previous Combiner Wars Blackjack with a new head. Officially part of Optimus Maximus, Rodimus has been released quite a bit before his team-mates. The figure, honestly, does not work very well for Rodimus. Not sporting his iconic spoiler on his back or his arm cannons (which are shown in the box-art) or his chest flames, the only thing that really makes this guy "Rodimus" are the head and the deco and even then the head is a bit disappointing; I'm sure I'm not alone in wishing it was a MTMTE or TF Ongoing inspired head (like the other Legends) rather then a generic G1esque version. My biggest issue is the lack of the spoiler-back. It is so frustrating, because just a tiny retool to put on accommodating slots to put the axe/spoiler on his back would have made the figure thousands of times better. Its such a missed opportunity!



The best thing about this Rodimus is that he works with the other Metroplex-scaled Legends. With the emphasis on Minibots and Insecticons in the recent Combiner Wars waves, its great that we have another character to team up with Optimus, who was sorely needing more allies against the army of Seekers!



He scales decently with Minimus Ambus too (assuming this is the second Ambus body, rather then the third), but what is probably the best defence for the figure is the possibility that he is a homage to Micromasters Hot Rodimus. Just like this guy, Micromaster Hot Rodimus was a small Rodimus that lacked a back-spoiler in robot mode, but retained a spoiler in vehicle mode. If you use him as that version of the character, he works a lot, lot better. Considering that Blackjack was also a Micromaster, this is a pretty good justification for his size and design.



Vehicle Mode definitely works as a more traditional Rodimus. The figure is decoed with his classic flames (although the lack of an Autobot logo is a bit sad) and the axe becomes his spoiler, making him unmistakably Hot Rod! Its just a shame that they didn't allow the spoiler to be used properly (in regards to normal Hot Rods) in Robot Mode.



As part of the Combiner Wars line and as a redeco of Blackjack, Rodimus has a "third" mode as a chest piece for the Optimus/Motormaster mold! While Rodimus is officially supposed to combine with "Battle Core" Optimus, Prowl, Sunstreaker, Mirage and Ironhide to form Optimus Maximus, the other five have not yet been released so he'll have to settle as being a part of Ultra Prime!



Rodimus is so much more secure then Blackjack. My Blackjack will fall off if you look at him wrong and the axe refuses to stick in properly, but I can pick up Ultra Prime using Rodimus and give it a good shake and nothing budges a millimeter! I'm not sure if this is just for Rodimus or if the Blackjacks released in this waves have been fixed too, but I'm tempted to rebuy Blackjack to test it out. The mold is an awesome idea to make up for the lack of Menasor's Roller, so its satisfying to have one that actually works.

Comparison Photos:







Poor Rodimus! The Legends is a kind of unfitting redeco, the Classics is probably the most outdated Classics ever in terms of aesthetics and articulation, the Masterpiece is beautiful but poorly made and the best two versions, while both fantastic, one is Animated and doesn't work with Classics and the other is an expensive exclusive redeco! He really needs a new mold figure.

 

This Rodimus REALLY could have used an extra set of slots on the car roof, so the wing weapon thing could mount on his back facing up.

 

I view it as a Micromaster homage hence the main reason I want it. I agree that Rodimus definitely deserves a new figure though.

 

A clear elastic band round the sides of the backpack and the spoiler does a decent job holding it in place.

Not perfect by any means as a Rodimus but it's got SOMETHING there which may very well be the reminder of MM Hot Rodimus.

I've seen worse repurposes.

Mine held onto Optimus's chest better but still fell off when I tipped him forward!

 

This. All of it.

 

You know how this is a homage to Micromaster Rodimus? and how the new Voyager RID Optimus is a homage to Star Convoy? I'm thinking these two toys need each other.

Also I'd really like to know if you can swap heads with Blackjack because i want a Blackjack that has a face.

 

Rodimus is out in the UK and I picked up one today from Toys'R'Us

It is...a bit bleh. I love the mold, on Blackjack at least, but Rodimus just feels too subtle and run of the mill to really do a good job of being the character.

Good fun toy, but not a great Rodimus - if that makes sense?

Anyone, chucked up a deeper review on my blog along with lots of pictures







Staff Edit:

8. No Website Advertising or Personal Ads
Any posts or threads solely to promote a website or store, Transformers related or not, will be removed. This includes making posts with the intended purpose of promoting your own web endeavors such as review sites. You may place a link in your signature. The more you contribute to threads, the more exposure your site will get. If you wish to share your reviews, please post the entire content in the review here (text, video, pics, etc) for the community to interact with. Links to the source can then be placed at the end of the content. Personal ads looking for roommates, dates or “vote for me in this contest” will also be removed.

 

His car mode really needs an Autobot logo on the bonnet in the middle of the flame

 

Did you need to ship blackjack?

Hasbro must hatr hot rod for replacing Optimus

 

It is crying out for one.

 

I think I'd use this as a Micromaster homage too, Roadhandler.

 

I think the previous Universe Legends Rodimus works better as a Micromasters homage. Anyone can compare them?

I think I'll be waiting for Takara Runabout to try out the mould.

And yes, Rodimus definitely needs a new toy.

 

Tbh, I'm not entirely convinced its purpose was a Micromaster homage. The only thing they really have in common is that they don't have the back spoiler in robot mode (although it IS on the Micromaster's knees) and that they both connect to an Optimus Prime's chest, plus that Rodimus is a redeco of an updated Micromaster. Perhaps if Optimus Maximus was actually decoed as Star Conoy, but whatever.

 

Looks more like Ironhide in robot mode.

 

This is why I think Battle Core Optimus will be repainted as Star Convoy in the Unite Warriors line. I mean the head is based on Star Convoy so why not?

I would've preferred if Rodimus at least had a new weapon like a gun. Or even his forearm pipe blasters.

 

Man, as bad as that POS weapon is on Blackjack, it's even worse on Rodimus. It's too big in car mode (with the giant handle), too fin-like as a weapon, and inexplicably doesn't have 5mm pegs anywhere.

Seriously, a 5mm post on the underside, and one on the roof and it'd be able to be held as a gun, worn on the back, and wouldn't cost Hasbro a cent more. Instead they have a completely random new post that doesn't interact with anything.

I'm pretty sure it was, considering every other toy in the past two waves were representations of Minibots. There's no way Legends Rodimus wasn't a reference to that.

 

Maybe, although Groove isn't a Minibot and Blackjack was designed to be Runabout.

 

hmmm, i am tempted just to pick this guy up solely on the fact that the combiner ports seem to work unlike blackjack

 

I picked mine up at TRU today!

 

Got one of these the other day. Trying to figure out a decent way to pull of the back spoiler with the axe. I think some people have used "sticky tak" stuff. I wrapped a string around it, but it was way too distracting in the back. I think he's decent as a Legion/Legends scale Rodimus, but he needs the back spoiler.

On the "Micromaster homage or not" question. I think a Hasbro rep confirmed that it was one at the BotCon panel this year. At least, that's what I recall. They said Battle Core Optimus' head sculpt was an homage to Star Convoy, so they might've been going for an homage with the two figures together.