Jetfire

Status: Released

Release Date: November 2006 (November 2006)

Wave: Classic Voyager Wave 2

MSRP: $19.99

Size Class: Voyager

Suggested Age: 5+

Assortment Number: 81274

Product Number: 81299

Recolors/Reuses: Botcon 2007 Dreadwind , Universe 2.0 Treadbolt

Classics Jetfire is an Autobot jet with optional armor. This piece is a voyager sized piece from the 2nd wave of the Classics line

Packaging

Jetfire's packaging is the same as the voyager in the 1st wave in this line: the box features a large front window, a large side window, and a smaller top window. The box features the now popular "flip-card" to showcase Jetfire's robot mode, this can be found at the bottom right hand corner of the front of the package. Once again, there is no embossed faction symbol like found on the carded figures of this series. Where one side of the box features a window, the other side of the box showcases all other figures from the two waves of Classics at this point: Starscream, Megatron, Mirage, Grimlock, and Optimus Prime.

The back of the box, showcases both robot and alt modes, Jetfire's bio, and his technical data. The box mentions all of Jetfire's bells and whistles: removable helmet, projectile firing arm blasters, rotating laser cannons, and booster unit backpack.

The bio reads as such:

Technical Data:
Strength: 6
Intelligence: 10
Speed: 10
Endurance: 6
Rank: 10
Courage: 9
Fireblast: 7
Skill: 9

Jetfire is packed in jet mode with armor attached. There are pelty of twist-ties to remove and he only comes packed with instructions. I have made mention of some things that would have been great additions in my Astrotrain review so I won't repeat them here.

Jet Mode

After freeing Jetfire from his twist-tie prison, he is ready to soar through the skies, or your living room. The landing gear needs to be deployed still to sit him on a table, and to get him out of attack mode the guns on the armor need to be hidden by folding them backwards and sliding the red piece towards the back by the thrusters forward. Then insert the projectiles into the appropriate slots on the bottom, and you can also attach the gun to the bottom of Jetfire in this mode for storage/strategic offensive purposes.

The armored jet mode is really, REALLY, cool. It screams G1 Jetfire while still looking new and fresh. It really is an amazing homage. The pieces feel pretty solid except for the cockpit area which will tend to want to fold if you happen to handle the jet by that area. Also the arms fit into small pegs on the sides, which will sometimes pop out and look a tad bit misaligned, but that did not seem to be a constant.

As mentioned before you can somewhat "toggle" Jetfire into battle mode by sliding the little red nubs towards the back near the exhaust. This will reveal the guns and allow them to "spring" forward.

Another very cool thing about this Jetfire is that, much like the original, all of the extra red pieces that form "armor" can come off. Leaving just the jet by itself without all of that extra baggage. The bad thing about this is actually seperating it from Jetfire, it can take some work. The red armor parts are all one piece, that entire piece is "clamped on" to the back/top of the jet, but those clamps fit together almost TOO good. You encounter the same issue with the two projectile launchers that are clamped into Jetfire's arms. When trying to seperate the two, you may feel like something could break, I was a bit nervous but I was finally able to free Jetfire from all of that extra baggage.

Robot Mode

Now to robot mode. The transformation is much more complicated than most deluxe figures but not as bad as some of the others. Reiterating the instructions here will only confuse people (if my other reviews haven't) so I will spare you. I will just say that it is a little bit more complicated, but the transformation makes sense and will not be difficult if you just follow the instructions.

Jetfire's robot mode looks amazing. He stands very well, the joints are nice and stiff, and the homage is spectacular. One drawback is that his arms are almost TOO stiff, and it becomes another wrestling match to position things the way you want them sometimes. Like many of the other Classics figures, the eyes have a nice glowing feature when light hits the head just right.

And as in jet mode, you can also give Jetfire two looks in robot mode by adding the armor back on, as well as a "battle helmet". This is a pretty straightforward process, but again there is a shortcoming. The problem lies once again with pieces that clamp on or into appropriate spots on Jetfire. You have to once again attach the large red piece to Jetfire's back, and the two projectile launchers onto his forearms. It isn't as bad as removing them, but it still makes me cringe to force plastic together, knowing that it could break. But the end result looks awesome.

One of the great things about this figure is the possibility of all the different looks the figure can take. Helmet on, helmet off, armor on, armor off, wings up, wings down...and then all the combinations thereof. I personally like him the way I photoed him, and if I had more room I would have taken pics of every combination, but to keep it short and sweet (and to give you more fun things to try and discover on your own) I will leave it all out. Just know that Jetfire come packed with a box full of awesome.

Overall

Overall I think this toy is amazing. Jetfire is a GREAT throwback to G1 (toy and cartoon), and even has a nod to some of the comic continuity thrown in. It has many possibilities for display, so much that I could see myself fiddling with this figure often.

The short-comings of the figure were the difficulty in removing the armor pieces, which is not too big of a deal. It would be more of a negative if the pieces were falling off too easily, than the pieces being difficult to remove. I just hope that I don't ever end up breaking a piece when trying to remove it.

Overall I have to give the figure a 10 out of 10, the downfalls of the figure do not take away from his play value. The many different modes and styles that come with Jetfire take the figure a long way, and will keep you wanting to play with the toy.

Being someone who was never able to own an original G1 Jetfire, THIS has become the definitive Jetfire toy for me. Anyone who can get their hands on this figure should make sure to add it to their collection. For any fan of G1, or the Classics line, this is a must have.