Universe Powerglide
Powerglide is one of my favorite mini-bots from
G1. I still have my original, purchased umpteen years ago at Wilson's 5 and 10c store. So I was delighted to see not only a new version, but an Ultra-sized figure as well. And it's a good figure, but not without problems. In short, I think they made it a bit more complicated than was really necessary, but maybe a few more transformations will familiarize me enough with the figure so that's not an issue.
Vehicle: Just like the original, it's a modified A-10. I'd have preferred that it was solid red like the original, but it's a very light warm grey with red trim. There are all sorts of numbers and letters 'stencilled' on it, most of which don't mean anything to me. There are plenty of panel and rivet details all over the plane. As on the original figure, the arms are on squared off pods under the wings. The three different electronic sounds are fun enough, and I appreciate the way that the machine gun sound keeps going if the button is held down.
One of my major gripes with Transformer aircraft is undercarriage junk. Cars can get away with it since they sit on the ground, but nothing ruins the illusion of a plane more than turning it over to see a pair of legs strapped underneath, or possibly even a pair of arms. Powerglide has junk underneath, but it's not nearly as obvious or detrimental as the robots bits are on movie Starscream, to pick one example. While the top of the plane looks fairly sleek, the bottom isn't. But it is, as I said, far better than most attempts.
Transformation: there are a few bits that resemble the original, mainly the arms unfolding from under the wings, and the wings folding up on either side of the torso. But the transformation is where this design starts to get more complicated than it perhaps needed to be, and less elegant. Perhaps the electronics restrict it a bit as well. There is a lot of twisting and rotating at the center of the plane for the robot waist and to get the wings where they need to be. Portions of the plane just fold back and form a backpack. The legs are similar to the Energon limbs of Superion Maximus, though with some alterations due to the size.
Oh, and the
G1 transformation sound plays at a certain point, where something folds together. Nice.
I think I did a better job the second time. I may have to revise my opinion that the transformation is too complicated. It seems to help if certain steps are done first. Maybe if I read the instructions once in a while, it might help.
Robot: Needs more red, but otherwise, not bad. I assume the whole thing had to fold up around the electronics, and with that limitation, they did a nice job with some of the "Powerglide" details. Wings folded on either side with arms on them, along with a head sculpt that is based on the original, if not as close to it as I'd have liked. Pressing down on the 'collar' behind PG's head now only gives the machine gun sound, which is admittedly all that's needed for bot mode. Proportions are a bit off, but the original had skinny legs and a large upper body, so giving the new version a similar look is appropriate. The wings don't stay pegged to the engines on mine as well as they should, but the ratchets that hold the wings are stiff enough that it's not a problem.
Articulation and motion are decent. The figure is slightly top heavy, but a few dynamic poses can be achieved. The heart under the chest panel is a fanboy type detail that I'd only expect from Takara rather than Hasbro, and perhaps that's indeed where it came from. Who can say?
Overall, I had a poor first impression out of the box, but the figure is growing on me. The sound effects are put to good and appropriate use, and the homages to the original figure are nice. If you don't mind paying $25 for a figure, I'd say Powerglide is worth the purchase, whether you're a fan of the original or not.
. also have you left his legs unextended in bot mode makes him like a squaty wolverine type look try it is weird but cool and makes his lower body look beefier.
