Tag Archives: Timelines

Classic Toy Reviews – Generations and Timelines Wasp/Thrustinator

These are reviews from threads I originated on the Ozformers site back when these toys were released.  Enjoy!

Note: For Multiverse galleries of these characters see HERE!

Name: WASPINATOR
Series – Generations
Sub-line – Thrilling 30
Wave: Wave 1 – 2014
Size/class – Deluxe
New/remould/redeco – New
Released here – Not yet
Approximate Retail Price – $28Aus
Approximate Size – 14cm
Allegiance – Predacon
Alt-mode – Wasp
Main Features/Gimmicks – Design based on IDW design
Main Colours – Green, Yellow, Brown
Main Accessories – IDW exclusive comic, Stinger Gun
Robot Mode
*Quite good looking, faithful to both Beast Wars and the IDW incarnations. He has good articulation and the light piping works really well with his huge optics.

Wasp mode

*To my mind the wasp mode here is better than both the Beast Wars and the Animated versions of the character. Very compact, very well coloured and very well balanced. The flapping wings are a nice touch that add a lot of play value.

Transformation

This transformation would be far easier if the instructions were REMOTELY USEFUL! I was able to figure him out because, well, if I can’t after 30 years of collecting I should hand in my Autobrand right now. But I wouldn’t give this to a little kid or a novice who would try to go soely by the instructions because Waspy would be flung out the window after 10 minutes. Once you’ve done it though, it takes about 15 seconds to transform him back

Worth getting?
*For me, as more of a G1 than BW fan (technically the same universe I know), the only BW characters (besides the odd Robot Hero) I’ve bothered to collect over the years have been Depthcharge’s and Waspinator‘s so I was happy to grab this guy to add to the collection. I’ll be bypassing the new Rhinox & Rattrap figures altogether. But if you are a big Beast Wars fan I’d say this is the figure to get for the new year. Oh, and the free comic is a nice bonus too

Name: Thrustinator
Series – Timelines
Sub-line – TFSS
Size/class – Deluxe
New/remould/redeco – Extensive remold of Dirgegun
Wave – 2
Released here – n/a
Approximate Retail Price – $46.50
Approximate Size – 14cm
Allegiance – Predacon
Alt-mode – Techno-mutated Wasp thingie
Main Features/Gimmicks – Head can become purple stinger shooter
Main Colours – purple, green, yellow, grey
Main Accessories – One missile launcher, 2 missilesRobot Mode

They had to completely use their imaginations here since it’s never been properly on screen, but in the end I suppose it was heavily influenced by what went where from his alt-mode and Dirgegun where apparently the mold came from. Hideous but kinda interesting. I always have a soft spot for any robot that isn’t perfectly symmetrical. A cool concept is that you can retract his head and put a big missile launching stinger in it’s place, which also gives him a totally purple head which is a shout out to the cartoon.

Wasp…. thingie


Bloody hideous! But whereas in the cartoon he was just a Wasp with BM Thrusts head (which I’ve included an image of here), they’ve taken the meld to the nth degree here so well done them for putting a bit of imagination into it. Having different parts of Waspinators alt-modes body and head mutated and deformed in Thrusts colours is – while garish – a kinda cool concept. That said, it’s still the ugliest thing I’ve seen since the Fuzors.

Transformation
Takes about 13 seconds to turn him from Wasp to Bot. No challenge to be found here



Overall

Well, probably my least favorite in the latest subscription service figures for me as it’s a character I care little about and I very vaguely remember showing up briefly in the final episode of BM. Nevertheless, a very interesting looking figure and creatively designed toy. If you are a massive Beast Machines fan (are there any ) and not a member of the TFSS then wait till it turns up cheap on the secondary market.

I hope you enjoyed these classic reviews from years gone by.  Got anything to add?  Say it in the comments section below!

 

Multiverse Waspinator Toys Gallery

The third of my Multiverse galleries.  Thizzz time something for the Beast Wars fans – multiverzzze Wazzzpinatorrr!

 

Individual Figure Pics

Name: Waspinator
Toyline: Beast Wars (10th Anniversary)
Mode: Robot
Mode: Wasp

 

 

Name: Waspinator
Toyline: Generations
Mode: Robot
Mode: Wasp

 

 

Name: Waspinator
Toyline: Generations (Thrilling 30)
Mode: Robot
Mode: Wasp
Mode: Targetmaster gun

 

 

Name: Waspinator
Toyline: Animated
Mode: Robot
Mode: Techno-Organic Wasp

 

 

Name: Waspinator
Toyline: Robot Heroes
Mode: Robot

 

 

Name: Waspinator
Toyline: Kre-O
Mode: Robot
(alt-mode not pictured)

 

 

Name: Thrustinator
Toyline: Timelines
Mode: Robot
Mode: Mutated Wasp

 

 

Comparison Pic’s

Multiverse Waspinator robots
Multiverse Waspinator wasps

For classic reviews of Generations Waspinator and Timelines Thrustinator see HERE!

 

Toy Review – Timelines Ramjet

Well, here we are.  The final of the ‘free’ subscription service figures’ you get for paying a small fortune to belong to the official Transformers Collectors Club.  In past years nearly all the figures sent out have been based on G1 or BW figures, but the final one is based on a Universe figure which was originally based on an Armada figure – and the figure in question is Ramjet.  Lets see if he was worth being a subscribing member:

 

RAMJET
Series – Timelines
Wave – The last!
Size/class – Deluxe
New/remould/redeco – Redeco of Timelines Aramada Skywarp
Released here – Only as part of the TFCC
Approximate Retail Price – $50
Approximate Size: 14cm
Allegiance – Decepticon
Alt-mode – ‘Cybertronian Jet Fighter’
Main Features/Gimmicks –Pushfire missiles
Main Colours – White, Blue, Red
Accessories: 2 x Swords

Robot Mode
Very nice paint apps. The face has been done well, especially the fiery mouth and eyes, to portray a servant of Unicron. Well proportioned, feels new yet an obvious homage to the Universe: Ramjet that was based on the Armada: Skywarp figure. I just had some trouble detaching his swords for the robot mode – they seemed pretty jammed.

IMG_4260

Vehicle Mode
I don’t know why, but this looks and feels nicer than Generations Armada Starscream. Really portrays a Cybertronian Fighter Jet. There is the missile firing capability which adds more play value for the younger fans.

Transformation
Very simple transforming from robot to jet and back again. Instructions not needed.

Overall
This is a nice final figure from the TFCC and the quality feels better than a lot of their previous figures that felt like they were put together in sweat shops by some poor buggers earning 13c an hour in 3rd world countries.  I didn’t think I would like this homage to Universe Ramjet as much as I do. But well done to Funpub for taking a very obscure character/toy and giving it a new lease of life. It may not be G1, it may not be BW, but it’s a good enough curtain call for Funpub to feel good about sending it out to it’s members (even if it is sans the Mini-Con figure the original toy came with) in its final year of having the TF licence.