A mainline Hasbro Voyager class figure ...
Of a classic G1 character ...
With combiner capability ...
Upgraded with an ingenious 3rd party kit ...
Into a Leader class-sized IDW version of that same classic character.

Everything I love about Transformers in one majestic toy.

 

Cloudraker.

 

CW Bruticus with WST Shockwave today

 

Grotusque today

 

Spinister today:

 

I love Wheeljack, but I can't quite remember why. Like, it had to have something to do with the comics, right? I mean it pretty much always does. Let me go check.



Ok. Wasn't the comics. The most memorable thing he did there was get shouted at by Optimus for making Buster his battle suit. That and be a dialogue prompt for Ratchet in 'Wrath of Grimlock'. Ok, so it can't be that. And I never saw the toy until I was in my thirties, so scratch that too.

So, uh...Cartoon? I'm afraid so. From that opening scene with Bumblebee and the Seekers, and the awesome little hop he does when he transformers. And, of course, his voice. Christ, that makes me feel shallow. As a child. I'm really deep now. Honest.

In defense of six year old me, that voice acting really did lend the 'bot a hell of a lot of character. Wheeljack just seemed likable. He didn't seem like the sort of guy that relished warfare. He seemed good humoured, and perhaps a little out of his comfort zone amongst a bunch of soldiers. Of all the Autobots he actually felt like the most approachable, even avuncular, of the Ark Crew. For little kids hoping that 'cool adults' actually existed, Wheeljack was yer man.

Yer G1 Wheeljack remains an utterly barmy, but still quite enchanting example of Diaclone era TF's. I'd long since assumed he was one of the very early guys, up there with Sunstreaker and Ironhide/Ratchet, due to his 'primitive' look and distinctly un-anthropomorphic 'bot mode. Imagine my surprise when I realised that the molds that wound up as Skids, the Datsun bros, Hound, Mirage, and Sideswipe all came first!

And, like Magnus, Ironhide, and Ratchet, Wheeljack makes a lot more sense as a Diaclone toy, rather than a sentient, andromorphic alien robot. From his disproportionate limbs, to his totally inhuman face (softened up so much by the Sunbow crew, to great effect), Wheeljack is an ungodly freak. Like with Magnus, weird stumpy legs don't matter when you can just trundle along on your wheels.

As a piece of design, he still feels oddly primitive. None of the transformation solutions seem that inspired to me. In fact, if someone told me that he was actually the first TF ever designed I'd probably believe it. It may seem like an odd thing but the visible metal pole that his arms are attached to feel like the most obvious clue.

And man, he comes with even more easily lost detachable bits than Hound. Thanks Takara! Every time I detach or re-attach those shoulder-mounted missile launchers I wince, waiting for something to break.

And, as has been noted countless times, those Diaclone guys are sexy cars first and awkward robots second. And boy-o-boy, is Wheeljack one sexy car. Not only is the Lanica Stratos a hot car in its own right, but Wheeljack is an awesome recreation of it. Both the deco and detail are stunning. If you can find one, just take a good, long, moment to appreciate the amount of detail on the front of the car. I've recently been looking at a lot of the TF toys from 1988 and, as far as alt modes go, this really puts them to shame.

I was excited to see the first reveals for Eeathrise Wheeljack. I'd been anticipating this guy since that first WfC fanvote (because there was no way in hell we weren't getting him). So when those first renders were shown in October of 2019 I was a bit deflated. He seemed blocky, gappy, and generally kind of uninspiring. And those 'wings' were even close to being right. Big sigh. The fact that the vehicle mode looked not bad took some of the sting out, but still...

As more pictures came in, from physical display copies at the big conventions, to in hand pictures from the fandom he started to look a bit more appealing. Slowly, he crept back up to being the ER wave 1 Deluxe I was most psyched for.

And the day has come. In the second week of the UK Covid-19 lockdown, no less. Well done Royal Mail.

He's really not without his charms and is faithful to the animation model in appealing ways. The headsculpt is, particularly on point. Those big baby blue eyes are stunning. Initially, I thought the arms looked a little generic, but when I actually look back they're pretty on model. I do wish the legs filled out a little more. Sideswipe has shown us that you can get a flap in there to hide such sins. BUT, and this is true of pretty much all this dude's attributes, it looks a hell of a lot better than those renders. I swear, I feel like they're choosing the most deliberately unflattering angles sometimes. Have you seen the one for Sunstreaker? Yeesh!

And speaking of peculiar choices, it's somewhat striking that they've chosen to give us an accessory that recalls the G1 toy rather than the animation model, namely that shoulder cannon. I actually don't mind it too much. Sometimes those longer shoulder launchers can be a bit of a nuisance.

It's only now that I put my finger on exactly what really makes Wheeljack feel...not quite right. I always knew that chest was so blocky, but when I look at in hand it all becomes very clear. That bloody window does not follow the distinctive curve of the roof. Honestly, if they'd just have fixed that tiny, trifling detail I'd have been so much happier with the toy. I'd even have overlooked all the back flappage and the tiny wings. Seriously, they should have done something with those unsightly pieces of plastic behind his arms. At least the fact that Sideswipe's fold in makes it feel more deliberate.

The transformation is pretty pleasing. I particularly enjoyed the hark to the old G1 transformation shceme, with his arms folding round to make the back of the car. Points off, however, for the fact the front of the windscreen that fold into his legs keep popping off.

The car mode looks magnificent from nearly every angle. I think only the back of Siege Prowl's car mode looks so nice. And that profile! Talk about sleek. So, what's the one angle it looks really bad from? Above. It just looks like such an inelegant block. Just a little more contouring between the wheels and the door would have made it so much nicer (and wouldn't have ruined the bot mode legs). There's a lovely amount of detail on the alt mode deco, from references to Wheeljacks's role as nutty inventor to the Modulators (are they saying he invented them?) to a few Cybertronian cities(shout out to the Praxus massive). What's a little jarring is the sudden switch from English to Katakanna script as the fist section meets the foot section.

He's a frustrating little dude, is yer ER Wheeljack. On one hand he has all the charm that you'd associate with, arguably, one of the most endearing G1 characters. on the other, we have a toy that comes really close to greatness but seems to drop the ball on some minor, yet significant, features.

 

Him today

 

I know the Plus version is the new hotness, but as a fan of classic race liveries, the original is still my favorite.

 

I know its not the popular opinion, but I like TR Galvatron. I mean...with some mods...LOL

 

Wheeljack is the bot who'll always talk you into going along with his hare-brained schemes and you should know better but you go along with it anyway because he's SURE it'll work this time.

 

Well, it's Prime again. But this time.. in black. HOW VERY SURPRISING.

 

He is a fantastic figure  

 

DEFINITELY one of the reasons he's so endearing. Well said!

 

Transformers X GIJoe by triKlops, on Flickr

 

Who's the guy in the middle?

 

Kid-Y X-Transbots TFCon Exclusive Adder; Chase variant.

https://www.agesthreeandup.com/kid-y-adder-tfcon-convention-exclusive/

 

Nice review as always. It's funny how everyone wishes Earthrise Grapple was bigger but I wish ER Wheeljack was smaller. He looks oversized compared to everything else in the photos I've seen.

I loved the toy as a kid, and still do but the know all scientist aspect of his personality puts me off him, Jetfire and Perceptor.

However, I did like his rebelling against Grimlock's tyrannical rule in the G1 comic especially helping the Spacehikers and his friendship with Sky Lynx.

In common with yourself, I find G1 Wheeljack's accessories nerve wracking. I've had those missile launcher clips break but they're relatively easy to replace. It's the posts on his back for the wings that are the real worry. You break one of them and it ruins the whole look of the robot.

Anywho, nice review, Good Sir!

 

More Monsterbots for today, this time it’s Doublecross: