Happy 4th of July!

 

You know that formation makes me think of "boosters" in the middle where the leg pieces would be, and the Takara stock image of it with Ironworks of the space shuttle micromasters landing on it, it makes me think its maybe a mobile platform thats literally "flying" either in the sky, or in space for the shuttle to land on/refuel.

 

At first i begrudged the price for Prime given the size, but I got him and Grapple for my birthday and even though they're both the same size, the transformation and intricacies of prime are crazy in comparison to the more simplistic design of grapple. It's obvious a lot more resources and material went into him. I imagine the same would be the same with Double dealer, i wont find out to be honest as he is not one I'm really wanting. Although I do think it sucks you have to buy his PM partners separately as casettes.

 

Here is another, guess it's both an earthrise/siege picture. My take on the dotm flight mode for optimus.

Also, the rest of sixgun/cog/optimus' accessories fit and close in his trailer

 

Siege and Earthrise Optimus Prime wish you a Happy Independence Day!

 

Ahhhhhh these three are such eye candy for me~

 

Sexy Prime.

 

Awesome!

 

I just can't believe how amazing this squad looks! I definitely agree that the need for the Masterpiece line is quickly diminishing.

 

As a kid, the 1990 Micros were basically my first transformers toys. I was 12 at the time, but due to the Iron Curtain such "decadent capitalist" toys did not really appear until late 1989 in the country, and I got the Construction Patrol on the very first visit we could take to the West, in Austria (I was awestruck by the Shopping City Süd shopping mall - that's when I realized what I have been missing all these years).
Anyway later TFs appeared in Hungary proper too, and for a long time the Military Patrol were my only Decepticons. Tracer used to be the big bad when I played battles with my toys, and Growl his second in command, since he had a badass gun he could hold in robot mode too!  
Despite being remolds of the Battle Patrol, these guys are extremely accurate to the old ones - and I love the articulation. Bombshock can even rotate his waist AND head, so far the most articulation on a Micro I have seen. I am also happy they finally painted that back window on Growl, as a kid I always imagined there should be one there. My only gripe is the grey replacing the black on his body, but I assume this is due to gang-molding. I also love how they even detailed the chest on Bombshock that is never visible since the chestplate covers it! And his turret and gun can move, same as the old one.



From the Hot Rod Patrol, I always liked the "old-timer" cars Greaser and Hubs more, but I did like the appropriately named Trip-Up (as he always fell on his back) for being very similar to Hot Rod in both modes. Not having any Hot Rod toys, he always stood in for him in my playtime. Big Daddy, whose name I knew to be ridiculous even with my limited english knowledge, I loved for his alt mode and him being black meant he was the "cool dude" of the team, the rebel loner.
The new toys have no flip-down car hoods, same as the Sports Car or Race Car Patrols, but to be frank it is an improvement, as those kinda obscured the heads. I love how the hinges were hidden inside the engines. Both of them have rotating waists and can do poses I only dreamed of with my old Micros.

 

And now for the long awaited review. Let me preface this. Pics were taken in an undisclosed location but probably easily figured out (had the best lighting).

So as some might remember, i bought wheeljack and his accessory disintegrated like my brain watching baby shark for the 2005th time. I picked up both the nonnef set and the go better (i like the old name better) upgrade kits.

theres only two negatives. The shoulder cannons look too different and the calf fillers could use some glue but luckily its my figure and i dont care. Lmao.

anyway

the pieces themselves are actually really great. I love how the spoiler looks and it functions really nice. It feels natural which i think is great. The thigh fillers do their job just fine. The calf filler. Ok. These are amazing. They lock the upper leg to the lower leg so there is no awkward articulation. They fill in the gaps in both modes wonderfully. They are not too much in the way during conversion. Lastly the nonnef wings make great arm blades.

All in all its a pretty great set.

 

Great to see that the upgrade kit for the gap parts as they didn't have images in the car mode and how they look from under.

I had to sand the two "ports" on mine as otherwise, they'd touch the ground and lifted the car up and the wheels wouldn't be of any use.

So great concept but this bad design for the ports makes it a no-go for me as I almost got this kit jsut for these.

They should have make the parts connect from inside the leg or such.

If there's one thing about almost every car lately is the ground clearance and kibble is horrible and most cars won't even roll well due to parts dragging, unless you're on a perfectly flat surface.

 

You know i never thought of checking the ground clearance. Ill have to check that out in a bit.

edit: yup. Practically no ground clearance to speak of.

 

Finally got around to picking up Wheeljack today. I thought I was going to have to exchange him, both hips were stuck solid. The left one came free with a firm twist, but I had to pop off his right leg, wrap his hip with a cloth and twist it with vice grips. I’m guessing there’s some sloppy glueing to blame.

Pretty nice figure though, I can’t wait for my Exhaust to arrive to complete the pair.

I can’t believe how much tiny text he has on his sides.

 

Let's have a big hand for Scorponok!