So today I unexpectedly got a package in the mail containing a few new POTP figures including this new guy, Rodimus Prime! After messing with him for a few hours today, he's an absolute beefcake and the best (if not only) Rodimus Prime I own. However, I do have a few gripes about him that I'll go over in this review.

To start off, his combined space Winnebago mode is a treat once you get all the panels tabbed together. The stickers on the trailer, while they look nice, are extremely thin and not placed perfectly. My biggest gripe with this mode is the fact that while he's combined with his trailer, Rodimus Prime has 0 articulation. Due to all the points where he tabs in to the trailer, he's left with no room to move, which does make the connection extremely solid, however. He does have some exposed robot parts like the fists and feet that hang out, although it doesn't look too bad to me at least. His guns have pegs up top to store and they don't look too bad hanging out there. All in all, his space Winnebago mode is pretty solid and is one of my favorite modes for the figure.





I've also included some comparisons with the various Rodimuses (Rodimi?) I own to give a sense of how big this mode is.



Here's also a quick picture I took so you can see most of the places that he tabs together for this mode.



Separately, the Hot Rod car is a nice little space wedge that looks very G1, both for good and bad reasons. The car itself is harmless with pin on wheels and a very blocky aesthetic. By itself, there's not too much to be said; the colors are pretty nice, nothing too off about any of that. Although I would have preferred a bit more magenta in it, but that wouldn't work too well with the combined Rodimus Prime mode, that I'll discuss in a bit.

My biggest problem with this mode, as you'll see here is that the robot doesn't really do that much transforming to get to the car mode; leaving most of his robot mode hanging there, which will be the basis of my complaints in robot mode.



Here are a few Hot Rod car comparisons with the figures I used in the first part.



The next part, Hot Rod's robot mode is my least favorite mode of the whole thing. There's nothing overtly horrible about it and it looks nice head on, but all the joints and the fact that he wears basically the entire top of the car on his back hinders his general look and articulation, although not too badly. He's a nice size and stands as tall as a tall Deluxe in this mode.



Here are comparisons with the same figures as before.



The combination to get from Hot Rod to Rodimus Prime is a fun and very solid little bit of engineering. To get him from one mode to the other, you basically turn Hot Rod back to vehicle mode, fold him in half, and make his trailer explode. The combination itself is extremely solid and makes a real nice Rodimus Prime mode. I'll show off the full combination after one last bit that Hasbro threw in to this fun set.



The main gimmick of the Power of the Primes line are the Prime Masters (I think that's what they're called?), and while I don't have any of those to show off with the Matrix of Leadership Hasbro put in with this set, it does have some nice synergy with the previous line, Titans Return.



And now for the part you've all been waiting for, the combined mammajamma, Rodimus Prime! He's a huge chunk of solid parts and solid engineering. While the oddness of having Hot Rod's thighs form his shoulders can restrict a bit of motion, Rodimus Prime is left mostly unhindered in this mode, boasting a wide array of articulation with his head on a swivel, his shoulders are able to move up and down with a full 360 degrees of rotation, elbows to just over 90 degrees, wrist swivels, and standard leg articulation with ankle tilts. His knees even have a bit of forward room for transformation which can help with some extreme poses.



His backpack is a rather large chunk on his back and I would have preferred a larger spoiler to show off in this mode, but all in all, he's a really good looking Rodimus Prime with no big gaps anywhere to be seen on him besides looking down from above. I don't know how to do ratings but I'll give Hasbro's Power of the Primes Leader Class Rodimus Prime a solid B+/10 with rice.



EDIT: I don't know why the pictures of him in Rodimus Prime rotated like that and I don't know how to change that.

 

Thanks for the honest review. He looks great  

I've flipped two of your pictures to get a better look at them.

 

Thanks for the thorough review! Basically it's how I feel from seeing him in pictures. I mostly want him for the combined vehicle mode, followed the combined Prime mode. Normal Hot Rod is eh, I prefer the Titans Return figure.

Do you think it's worth it for basically just the two modes?

 

I think he's worth it for the price.

 

Thanks for the pics and review. So, I have watched several video reviews and basically they all say how they hate the shoulders on the Rodimus mold, but NONE of them really went into how well the articulation is with it. Doe the legs have enough strength to hold the arms up and out?

 

Oh yeah, the joints at least on my copy are extremely solid. He'll be able to hold any pose you put him in.

 

Thanks for the comparison shots to CHUG and TR Rodimus. The video review I saw of this somehow didn’t think to do those comparisons. It seemed like a glaring mistake.

I can’t get past how little I seem to like the individual Rodimus. Combined is fine in Prime and Winnebago mode. The car mode is ok. But that individual robot mode... though that shouldn’t be a deal breaker. I have a ton of individual Rodimus toys I can display, but few Rodimus Primes. If Rodimus Prime is ok then that is enough.

 

Rodimus is actually my most wanted figure out of the entire line. (Leader Optimus is second)

 

His shoulders are actually quite restricted. He can move them straight out via Hot Rod's thighs but he can only move them forwards and back. He cant actually point his gun diagonally when restricts his articulation somewhat. For what it is, its a nice Rodimus Prime and passable Hot Rod.

 

It would look weird but can it pivot the shoulders sideways by moving Hot Rod's thighs? Is the arm movement similar to TR Six Shot?

 

Now that you mention it. Yes. its like that. He can move it outwards but only if its at his side and not when he's arms are in a shooting pose.

 

So looking forward to this guy.

And rodimus unicronus too  

 

Ah I'll be able to make due then, I think I can accept that

 

Man, I wish I loved this guy and Optimus. I love how both look in power up mode, but the shitty shoulder articulation on Roddy, the terrible truck mode on Optimus, and alignment and tabbing issues with both are just killing them for me. And it sucks because these toys both feel like they're a few more engineering dollars away from greatness. Especially Rodimus. Literally all he needs to be a wonderful toy is additional joints in his shoulders and some better QC.

 

Here you go. His shoulders unfortunately run into his spoiler so its still a bit limited.

 

Thanks man, I appreciate you posting that. I think I'll be okay with it.

 

I’m very happy with mine! It’s the G1 that I never had (and never grabbed when I should have).

The shoulder takes some getting used to and the tabbing for vehicle mode isn’t as bad as it sounds. I’m only disappointed the driver seat top cannot open but that’s minor.
For a G1 update I think it’s perfectly serviceable.

 

Careful. One wrong pic and you`ll have harmony Gold after us all!  . (Referring to the artillery gun pic if not obvious)

 

Yeah I just got a Cease and Desist in my email after I looked at it.

 

Sshhh not if you don’t mention them