Fansproject WB-003 Assaulter

Video Review: Fansproject Warbot WB-003 Assaulter - YouTube

Video Segments/Breakdown:

Out of The Box: First Segment

Transformations: 2:42

Robot Modes: 20:13

Jet Mode: 27:25

Carrier Mode: 28:25

Final thoughts: 31:47

 

Here is the latest and finest entry in the Warbot series. G1 Broadside might have had a poor figure and so-so characterization, but this thing is phenomenal in nearly every regard except that there are a few tabs that don't really peg in that well so the cruiser mode is kind of floppy.

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Fansproject WB003 Warbot Assaulter aka "Broadside" - YouTube

Also, check out the rest of my channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/cakedup83?feature=mhee. As always, please rate, comment, and subscribe!

 

Thanks, great review =)

 

You ate most welcome.

 

Yours and TJ's were pretty damn informative and awesome at the same time.

 

I do he very best that I can so you are informed and entertained. I have sat through too many training sessions of "death by PowerPoint" so I get being bored senseless.

 

Your review finally convinced me to order one for myself. Thanks for the detailed review.

 

You are most welcome too

 

Peaugh Reviews: Fansproject ASSAULTER

Fansproject Warbot 03 - ASSAULTER - YouTube

 

first

This is the review from the reviewer I've been waiting for. Will return with comments.

 

Always great reviews Peaugh. I got mine the same day you did. Then my wife hid him so I couldn't touch him until Christmas. I'm friggin excited!LOL Enjoy your growing Wrecker crew!

 

Great review Peaugh.

Here are a few pics for the thread:

 

Glad you liked it. Love the pics! He's just so huge and awesome!

 

I been waiting for this, good job man.

 

Fansproject ASSAULTER Review by EmGo

Fansproject Warbot ASSAULTER(Broadside): EmGo's Transformers Reviews N' Stuff - YouTube

 

I wouldn't worry about not showing off the non-official cruiser modes. After trying them out in hopes of finding an earth-accurate carrier mode, I've found that the best cruiser mode *is* the official cruiser mode.

 

Bugger. It looks like they fixed pretty much every issue I had with Defender. I do not need to spend money just before Christmas!

But I'm gonna.

 

What issues did you fix with defender and how did you do it. I want to like this toy again.

 

For more pics, click on the image above

Prelude: Legal stuff first as always. Warbot Assaulter is not an official Transformer, as he wasn’t released by either Hasbro or Takara-Tomy. He’s from third party company Fansproject. So despite the fact that he’s a clear homage to G1 Broadside, he can’t be called by that name.

Robot Mode: First off, Assaulter is a really big guy. He’s about Voyager-sized, I’d say, and easily towers over most Deluxe-class figures. His proportions are such that he seems really strong and wide, basically a big brute. His relatively tiny head also fits that image. Basically he looks like the kind of guy who’d rather smash things than have a philosophical discussion. Considering that Broadside was a member of the Wreckers in the comic books, that fits him quite well.

Despite his heavyset appearance, Assaulter is articulated quite well. The joints that connect the legs to the hips are incredibly stiff, though, so moving his legs always makes me sweat in fear that I might break them off. The legs are also partially die cast metal, giving Assaulter a very solid stance. So no point deduction here, articulation is very well done and no balancing issues, either.

Detailing could be a tad more pronounced, especially in the upper body, but still Assaulter does quite well here. The legs look very nice with their multi-colored lines, and while he’s mostly grey above the waist, that still manages to look pretty good. The only thing I would have done differently is the head, which is all-white (except for the blue visor). A bit more color would have brought out the sculpted details some more. Otherwise, though, no complaint.

Finally, the weapons. Assaulter carries two multi-purpose weapons that also become integral parts of both vehicle modes (see below). When he doesn’t need them, the weapons can be stored on this back (his lower back, to be exact, as they hang off his ass, so to speak). The weapons can be used either as guns or flip out blades to become axes. In either configuration Assaulter can hold them in his hands or attach them to his forearms. Not the most spectacular weapons of all time, but very fitting and fully integrated. Nicely done.

Bottom line: an excellent robot mode. Some more color on the head is just about the only nitpick I can think of. And here’s hoping the hip joints move a bit easier (but not too easily) with continued use.

Secret Mode: Some background on Assaulter's second, "secret" robot mode. When the first pictures of the new Broadside toy appeared in toy catalogues in 1986, Broadside looked like this. All his Marvel Comics appearances are based on this prototype picture. Of course when the Broadside toy came out, it looked very much like this. To confuse matters further, the cartoon actually used two different character models for the character's sparse appearances. In the comic books since Broadside has consistently been based on the actual toy (except for the Regeneration series, which continues from the Marvel comics). But basically this means you have two different versions of Broadside. And Fansproject wanted to pay homage to both.

The "secret" robot mode isn't that different from the first one. You turn the legs around, flip out the fins on his feet, turn around the cockpit on his chest, and flip up his helmet to expose the face underneath. Done. Seeing as the two robot modes don't really differ that much, it's a matter of taste which one you prefer. Interestingly I originally didn't like the red face at all, but it's really grown on me since, even though it's tiny and grumpy-looking. Everything else is the same in this mode, naturally. Still, I very much like it that they managed to include this aspect of Broadside's (rather brief) history in the toy. Thumbs up.

Alternate Modes: Assaulter is a triple changer, so he has two different alternate modes. Let’s start with the jet mode. This is where Assaulter really excels, because not only does a very brutish, hefty-looking robot transform into a really sleek and powerful-looking jet, there is also no giant undercarriage or anything. The only other jet Transformer I can think of who has managed to be really brutish as a robot and sleek as a jet is Leader Starscream and even he had more of an undercarriage than Broadside does. So two thumbs up for a very sleek and cool looking jet mode. The jet even features a landing gear and if you want, you can also move the wings (where the robot mode weapons form most of the length) for a forward-swept wing configuration. No further gimmicks or anything here, but the jet mode really doesn’t need it. Sleek design, excellent detailing (including sculpted guns) and no undercarriage or kibble. What more do you need?

Sadly Assaulter’s second alternate mode doesn’t manage to match the brilliance of the first one. The original Broadside had an aircraft carrier as a second mode (probably the most out-of-scale-with-himself TF toy of all time), but while Assaulter certainly does incorporate some aircraft carrier-like attributes into this mode, it’s actually supposed to be a space cruiser (again, vastly out of scale with himself). With a separated bow and the legs becoming thrusters, the cruiser is a strong homage (intentional or not, I’m not sure) to the classic Robotech vessel SDF-1 aka Macross. Sadly the whole thing looks pretty half-hearted. The robot mode head sits openly between the two struts out front, you can still clearly distinguish the legs, and there is a piecemeal quality to the cruiser. No stability issues, but it still looks kind of tacked-on as an afterthought. Only the central control tower and the little plates that flip out in front of it are specifically intended for this mode only, the rest... well, never mind. So all in all I don’t mind that Assaulter has a Macross-like space cruiser mode (being a big Robotech fan), but it’s nowhere near as good as the jet mode.

Side note: some small vehicles are included with Assaulter, depicting the vehicle modes of Warbot Defender (both of them), Steelcore, and presumably Roadbuster and Sandstorm (fellow Wreckers and possible future Fansproject figures). They are in scale with Assaulter’s cruiser mode (meaning: really tiny), but I forgot them during the picture session. I’ll include picture of them on the cruiser later.

Remarks: Most of the six triple changers released by Hasbro in 1985 and '86 went on to become rather important characters in either comics or cartoons. Astrotrain and Blitzwing were among the most prolific Decepticons and late-comer Octane is best-known for becoming pals with Trypticon and Starscream's ghost. Springer was one of the main characters of Season 3 and the leader of the Wreckers in pretty much every G1-based comic incarnation. Sandstorm was also a Wrecker in the comics and the leader of his own planet in the cartoon (plus, also a pal of Octane). And then there is Broadside. Also a Wrecker in the comics, but more the background type. Same goes for the cartoon. His most memorable scene might be where he transformed into an aircraft carrier in mid-air to crush Devastator beneath him, but otherwise... yeah, Broadside wasn't exactly a prolific character.

Assaulter is accompanied by a mini comic that continues the story from the comic included with Warbot Defender (and presumably Steelcore, too, but I don’t own that one). Steelcore has rescued Defender from his evil clone and they meet up with Assaulter, who has rescued Defender’s comrades, whom they plan to revive with Core Technology (aka the Powermaster process). Then they take off into space and we’ll wait for the next comic.

Final verdict: an excellent figure. The robot mode is lots of fun, including the “secret” mode, the weapons fulfill a function in all three modes, the jet alternate mode is brilliant, and while the cruiser mode isn’t exactly great, it doesn’t hurt the figure in any way, either. So bottom line: yet another win for Fansproject. Recommended to just about everyone.

Rating: A

 

Sorry, I meant that Assaulter had fixed the issues I had with Defender, namely the floppyness and the akward transformation. I now own Assaulter, and I was right. With Defender it still takes me a while to remember how his arms go in each mode, due to it being completely unintuitive. By comparison, Assaulter is a doddle to transform, and his legs aren't gonna collapse anytime soon. If anything, they're too tight... I've had to loosen the screws.