Tag Archives: Kingdom

My Transformer Collection Showcase, Transformatorium

Transformers Collection – Toyline Cards

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To take a little break from cataloging action figures, I decided to catalog my Transformers Trading Cards.

However its been a much bigger task than I thought  Where I thought I had a few hundred, it turns out I have over a thousand!

So I’ve broken my card collection into catagories such as Movieverse cards and TCG cards, and here we are with the 3rd category – Toyline Cards.

 

Transformer Toyline Trading Cards

 

G1 Reissues

*Item #GRTC001:  Decepticon Nautilator

*Item #GRTC002: Overbite

*Item #GRTC003: Decepticon Seawing

*Item #GRTC004: Skalor

*Item #GRTC005: Decepticon Tentakil

*Item #GRTC006: Decepticon Snap Trap

*Item #GRTC007: Decepticon Piranacon

 

Encore/JP Reissues

*Item #ETC001: 16 Special

*Item #ETC002: D-62-S

*Item #ETC003: E-Hobby 68

*Item #ETC004: D-73

*Item #ETC005: D-74

*Item #ETC006: D-75

*Item #ETC007: D-76

*Item #ETC008: D-77

*Item #ETC009: D-78

 

*Item #ETC010: Encore 05

*Item #ETC011: Encore 06

*Item #ETC012: Encore 13

*Item #ETC013: 46

 

Robots in Disguise (2001)

*Item #RIDTC001: Dreadwing

*Item #RIDTC002: Smokejumper

 

Armada

*Item #ATC001: Optimus Prime

*Item #ATC002: Jetfire

*Item #ATC003: Sideswipe

*Item #ATC004: Blurr

*Item #ATC005: Smokescreen

*Item #ATC006: Scavenger

*Item #ATC007: Overload

*Item #ATC008: Red Alert

*Item #ATC009: Hot Shot

*Item #ATC010: Megatron

*Item #ATC011: Tidal Wave

*Item #ATC012: Demolishor

*Item #ATC013: Starscream

*Item #ATC014: Skywarp

*Item #ATC015: Thundercracker

*Item #ATC016: Cyclonus

*Item #ATC017: Predacon

*Item #ATC018: Thrust

*Item #ATC019: Sideways

*Item #ATC020: Unicron

*Item #ATC021: Laserbeak

*Item #ATC022: Laserbeak (2nd unit)

 

Energon

*Item #ETC001: Optimus Prime

*Item #ETC002: Rodimus

*Item #ETC003: Jetfire

*Item #ETC004: Omega Supreme

*Item #ETC005: Prowl

*Item #ETC006: Inferno

*Item #ETC007: Hot Shot

*Item #ETC008: Roadblock

*Item #ETC009: Downshit

*Item #ETC010: Ironhide

*Item #ETC011: Tow-Line

*Item #ETC012: Landmine

*Item #ETC013: Bulkhead

*Item #ETC014: Storm Jet

*Item #ETC015: Grimlock & Swoop

 

*Item #ETC016: Megatron

*Item #ETC017: Scorponok

*Item #ETC018: Starscream

*Item #ETC019: Shockblast

*Item #ETC020: Slugslinger

*Item #ETC021: Barricade

*Item #ETC022: Snow Cat

*Item #ETC023: Demolishor

*Item #ETC024: Steamhammer

*Item #ETC025: Sharkticon

*Item #ETC026: Alpha Quintesson

*Item #ETC027: Mirage

 

Transformers Go!

*Item #GOTC001: Ganoh (robot)

*Item #GOTC002: Ganoh (vehicle)

*Item #GOTC003: Ganoh (combined)

*Item #GOTC004: Kenzan (robot)

*Item #GOTC005: Kenzan (vehicle)

*Item #GOTC006: Kenzan (combined)

 

Henkei! Henkei!

*Item #HHTC001: C-19 Cosmos

*Item #HHTC002: C-19 Warpath

*Item #HHTC003: C-19 Wheelie

 

Transformers Music Label

*Item #MLTC001: Soundwave

 

Thrilling 30 Collectibles

*Item #T30TC001: 1/30 Optimus Prime

*Item #T30TC002: 2/30 Megatron

*Item #T30TC003: 3/30 Ratchet

*Item #T30TC004: 4/30 Starscream

*Item #T30TC005: 5/30 Soundwave

*Item #T30TC006: 18/30 Ultra Magnus

*Item #T30TC007: 19/30 Grimlock

*Item #T30TC008: 20/30 Rodimus

*Item #T30TC009: 22/30 Prime Shockwave

*Item #T30TC010: 23/30 Prime Wheeljack

*Item #T30TC011: 25/30 Prime Insecticon

 

Combiner Wars

*Item #CWTC001: Optimus Prime

*Item #CWTC002: Rodimus

*Item #CWTC003: Wreck-Gar

*Item #CWTC004: Silverbolt

*Item #CWTC005: Alpha Bravo

*Item #CWTC006: Skydive

*Item #CWTC007: Firefly

*Item #CWTC008: Powerglide

*Item #CWTC009: Victorion

*Item #CWTC010: Computron

*Item #CWTC011: Scattershot

*Item #CWTC012: Sky Lynx

*Item #CWTC013: Hot Spot

*Item #CWTC014: Groove

*Item #CWTC015: Windcharger

*Item #CWTC016: Huffer

*Item #CWTC017: Pipes

*Item #CWTC018: Warpath

 

*Item #CWTC019: Megatron

*Item #CWTC020: Armada Megatron

*Item #CWTC021: Shockwave

*Item #CWTC022: Starscream

*Item #CWTC023: Thundercracker

*Item #CWTC024: Thundercracker 2

*Item #CWTC025: Cyclonus

*Item #CWTC026: Skywarp

*Item #CWTC027: Skywarp 2

*Item #CWTC028: Devestator

*Item #CWTC029: Liokaiser

*Item #CWTC030: Onslaught

*Item #CWTC031: Motormaster

*Item #CWTC032: Drag Strip

*Item #CWTC033: Blackjack

*Item #CWTC034: Blackjack (2nd unit)

*Item #CWTC035: Bombshell

*Item #CWTC036: Chop Shop

*Item #CWTC037: Buzzsaw

*Item #CWTC038: Viper

 

Titans Return

*Item #TRTC001: Powermaster Optimus Prime

*Item #TRTC002: Sentinel Prime

*Item #TRTC003: Alpha Trion

*Item #TRTC004: Blaster

*Item #TRTC005: Rewind

*Item #TRTC006: Stripes

*Item #TRTC007: Bumblebee

*Item #TRTC008: Cosmos

*Item #TRTC009: Seaspray

*Item #TRTC010: Perceptor

*Item #TRTC011: Road Burn

*Item #TRTC012: Wheelie

*Item #TRTC013: Chromedome

*Item #TRTC014: Hardhead

*Item #TRTC015: Highbrow

*Item #TRTC016: Hot Rod

*Item #TRTC017: Seargeant Kup

*Item #TRTC018: Blurr

*Item #TRTC019: Broadside

*Item #TRTC020: Topspin

*Item #TRTC021: Twin Twist

*Item #TRTC022: Breakaway

*Item #TRTC023: Windblade

*Item #TRTC024: Twinferno

*Item #TRTC025: Fortress Maximus

 

*Item #TRTC026: Brawn

 

*Item #TRTC027: Galvatron

*Item #TRTC028: Scourge

*Item #TRTC029: Soundwave

*Item #TRTC030: Rumble

*Item #TRTC031: Laserbeak

*Item #TRTC032: Ravage

*Item #TRTC033: Wolfwire

*Item #TRTC034: Skullsmasher

*Item #TRTC035: Mindwipe

*Item #TRTC036: Six Shot

*Item #TRTC037: Blitzwing

*Item #TRTC038: Octone

*Item #TRTC039: Sky Shadow

*Item #TRTC040: Triggerhappy

*Item #TRTC041: Misfire

*Item #TRTC042: Quake

*Item #TRTC043: Krok

*Item #TRTC044: Kickback

*Item #TRTC045: Trypticon

*Item #TRTC046: Gnaw

*Item #TRTC047: Gnaw (2nd unit)

 

Power of the Primes

*Item #POTPTC001: Optimus Prime

*Item #POTPTC002: Rodimus Prime

*Item #POTPTC003: Wreck-Gar

*Item #POTPTC004: Optimal Optimus

*Item #POTPTC005: Elita-1

*Item #POTPTC006: Novastar

*Item #POTPTC007: Moonracer

*Item #POTPTC008: Beachcomber

*Item #POTPTC009: Tailgate

*Item #POTPTC010: Outback

*Item #POTPTC011: Grimlock

*Item #POTPTC012: Slug

*Item #POTPTC013: Sludge

*Item #POTPTC014: Swoop

*Item #POTPTC015: Snarl

*Item #POTPTC016: Slash

*Item #POTPTC017: Windcharger

*Item #POTPTC018: Jazz

*Item #POTPTC019: Inferno

 

*Item #POTPTC020: Starscream

*Item #POTPTC021: Blackwing

*Item #POTPTC022: Dreadwind

*Item #POTPTC023: Rodimus Unicronus

*Item #POTPTC024: Hun-Grrr

*Item #POTPTC025: Blot

*Item #POTPTC026: Rippersnapper

*Item #POTPTC027: Cutthroat

*Item #POTPTC028: Sinnertwin

*Item #POTPTC029: Roadtrap

*Item #POTPTC030: Battleslash

*Item #POTPTC031: Cindersaur

 

Kingdom Cards

*Item #KTC001: Optimus Prime

*Item #KTC002: Nemesis Prime

*Item #KTC003: Blackarachnia

*Item #KTC004: Blackarachnia (2nd unit)

*Item #KTC005: Blackarachnia (scanning)

*Item #KTC006: Blackarachnia (Predacon)

*Item #KTC007: Blackarachnia (Maximal)

*Item #KTC008: Blackarachnia (Maximal) (2nd unit)

*Item #KTC009: Ark

*Item #KTC010: Ark (Decepticon)

*Item #KTC011: Ark (Robot)

*Item #KTC012: Ark 1984

*Item #KTC013: Dinobot

*Item #KTC014: Dinobot (2nd unit)

*Item #KTC015: Dinobot (altmode)

*Item #KTC016: Dinobot (Maximal)

*Item #KTC017: Dinobot (Predacon)

 

Tiny Titans

*Item #TTTC001: 1/12 Ultra Magnus

*Item #TTTC002: 3/12 Terrashock

*Item #TTTC003: 12/12 Autobot Jazz

*Item #TTTC004: 10/12 Grimlock

*Item #TTTC005: 11/12 Crazybolt

*Item #TTTC006: 12/12 Barrage

*Item #TTTC007: 10/12 Perceptor

*Item #TTTC008: 2/12 Repugnus

*Item #TTTC009: 3/12 Wreck-Gar

*Item #TTTC010: 5/12 Filch

*Item #TTTC011: 6/12 Decepticon Fracture

*Item #TTTC012: 7/12 Shockwave

*Item #TTTC013: 9/12 Wheeljack

*Item #TTTC014: 12/12 Autobot Twinferno

*Item #TTTC015: 1/12 Bumblebee

*Item #TTTC016: 2/12 Sky-Byte

*Item #TTTC017: 4/12 Cheetor

*Item #TTTC018: 5/12 Minimus Ambus

*Item #TTTC019: 7/12 Nightstrike

*Item #TTTC020: 8/12 Optimus Prime

*Item #TTTC021: 8/12 Optimus Prime (2nd unit)

*Item #TTTC022: 9/12 Unicron

*Item #TTTC023: 9/12 Unicron (2nd unit)

 

Masterpiece

*Item #MPTC001: MP-3 Starscream

*Item #MPTC002:  MP-5 Megatron

*Item #MPTC003: MP-8 Grimlock

*Item #MPTC004: MP-10B Black Convoy

*Item #MPTC005: MP-11 Starscream

*Item #MPTC006: MP-11 Starscream (2nd unit)

*Item #MPTC007: MP-11T Thundercracker

*Item #MPTC008: MP-11ND Dirge

*Item #MPTC009: MP-11NR Ramjet

 

*Item #MPTC010: MP-11NT Thrust

*Item #MPTC011: MP-12 Lambor

*Item #MPTC012: MP-12G Lambor G-2 Ver.

*Item #MPTC013: MP-14 Alert

*Item #MPTC014: MP-15/16-E Cassettbot vs Cassettron

*Item #MPTC015: MP-17 Prowl

*Item #MPTC016: MP-18 Streak

*Item #MPTC017: MP-19 Smokescreen

*Item #MPTC018: MP-20 Wheeljack

 

*Item #MPTC019: MP-21 Bumble

*Item #MPTC020: MP-22 Ultra Magnus

*Item #MPTC021: MP-23 Exhaust

*Item #MPTC022: MP-24 Starsaber

*Item #MPTC023: MP-25 Tracks

*Item #MPTC024: MP-26 Road Rage

*Item #MPTC025: MP-27 Ironhide

*Item #MPTC026: MP-28 Hot Rodimus

*Item #MPTC027: MP-29 Destron Laserwave

 

*Item #MPTC028: MP-30 Ratchet

*Item #MPTC029: MP-33 Inferno

*Item #MPTC030: MP-35 Grapple

*Item #MPTC031: MP-36 Megatron

*Item #MPTC032: MP-39 Sunstreaker

*Item #MPTC033: MP-45 Bumble Ver 2.0

*Item #MPTC034: MP-46 Blackwidow (Beast Wars)

*Item #MPTC035: MP-47 Hound

*Item #MPTC036: MP-51 Arcee

 

*Item #MPTC037: MP-53 Skids

*Item #MPTC038: MP-53+ Senator Crosscut

*Item #MPTC039: MP-55 Nightbirdshadow

*Item #MPTC040: MP-56 Trailbreaker

*Item #MPTC041: MP-57 Skyfire

*Item #MPTC042: MP-58 Hoist

 

*Item #MPTC043: MPG-01 Trainbot Shouki

*Item #MPTC044: MPG-02 Trainbot Getsuei

*Item #MPTC045: MPG-02 Trainbot Yukikaze

*Item #MPTC046: MPG-04 Trainbot Suiken

*Item #MPTC047: MPG-05 Trainbot Seizan

Card Count: 295

 

OTHER

Cards that don’t fit under any other catagory

 

Top Trump Mini

*Item #TTMTC001: Optimus Prime

*Item #TTMTC002: Cliffjumper

*Item #TTMTC003: Bumblebee

*Item #TTMTC004: Hound

*Item #TTMTC005: Jazz

*Item #TTMTC006: Bluestreak

*Item #TTMTC007: Ironhide

*Item #TTMTC008: Ratchet

*Item #TTMTC009: Grapple

*Item #TTMTC010: Megatron

*Item #TTMTC011: Shockwave

*Item #TTMTC012: Soundwave

*Item #TTMTC013: Frenzy

*Item #TTMTC014: Laserbeak

*Item #TTMTC015: Ravage

*Item #TTMTC016: Grimlock

*Item #TTMTC017: Starscream

*Item #TTMTC018: Cover Card

 

Transformers Collectors Club Australia

*Item #TCCATC01: 5 Ultra Magnus

*Item #TCCATC02: 6 Shockwave

*Item #TCCATC03: 15 Springer

*Item #TCCATC04: 16 Cyclonus

Card Count: 22

 

Transformers Collection – Movieverse Cards

Transformers Collection – TCG Cards

Transformatorium, Videos

Video: EVERY War For Cybertron Trilogy Figure

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In what can be only be described as an impressive feat of electronic labour, Australian Transformer fan and prolific youtuber DrLockdown has created a video showcasing every single figure from the War for Cybertron Trilogy.  That’s right – every single toy from Siege, Earthrise and Kingdom is discussed in one video with an impressive runtime of over 4 hours – bring some popcorn kiddies!

But not only has DrLockdown completed this impressive task, he did so while including many of your favourite Transformer youtubers!  Yes, literally dozens of Transformer reviewers contributed, discussing specific figures that they enjoyed from the War for Cybertron trilogy.  And while many of these youtubers are from abroad, there is some home-grown Aussie talent in there as well, including Toy Reel and yours truly.

Video: Interviews at Transformers Rise of the Beasts Preview Screening

So get in your favourite comfy seat, crack an energon cube, sit back and enjoy DrLockdown’s impressive video: EVERY War For Cybertron Trilogy Figure.

Oh, and if you want to be a bit naughty and find my particular contribution, keep an eye out for review #23 near the end of the vid where I discuss a certain fiery fellow and his little friend 😉

If you would like to see more of DrLockdown’s reviews, you can check out all the other great videos on his youtube channel here.

 

Video: Kingdom Galvatron Review

Video: Comparison of LG43 Trypticon and Titans Return Trypticon

 

 

Ask Trev!, Transformatorium, Transformer Toy Reviews

Ask Trev: Pipes versus Huffer

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This question comes from Katrina in Sydney:

 

Pipes and Huffer have the same alt mode but different robot modes. Which is your favourite?

Such cute little alien war machines!

It’s true that most of the 1986 Autobot Mini-Vehicles are just slight retools of their 1984 counterparts.  The likes of Swerve, Tailgate, Hubcap and Outback are simply recolours of Gears, Windcharger, Cliffjumper and Brawn respectively with new face sculpts (OK, Outback got a new gun as well which was pretty slick).

However Huffer and Pipes are the exception.  As well as a new colour scheme and face sculpt, the Transformation from Robot Mode from Vehicular mode was slightly changed.  Instead of the cab of the truck becoming a hood as it did with Huffer, it became a backpack for Pipes.

But are their alt-modes really the same?

One of these trucks is not like the other one

Well, yeah, for the most part.  But there are subtle differences.  The moulded grill and headlight motif on the front of the truck has been slightly changed from Huffer to Pipes. The tail-end of the trucks tray, which becomes the robots feet, is slightly more pointed on Huffer than Pipes.  Perhaps the most notable difference besides the colour scheme is the smokestacks, which on Huffer and slightly indented, whilst on Pipes they are well and truly, well… pipes.

Overall the differences are negligible, but far outweigh the differences between the other mini-bot recolours of that era.  I’d be hard-pressed to say which I like more as both have their charms.

Robot Modes

Huffer: “My elbows go the wrong way!” Pipes: “At least you can still pick stuff up”

Here is where the differences really stand out.  As stated, Huffer has a sort of canopy whereas Pipes has a large backpack.  From the back Pipes is easily the weaker of the two, having an entire truck cab hanging off his back.  However this is where his weaknesses end.  His arms are far superior to Huffers, and whilst Huffer could be said to have hands of a sort, it’s the orientation of his arms that lets him down, resembling some form of preying mantis idue to the backwards elbows.  The head of Pipes too is superior, having an actual sculpted head that sits in front of the backpack, rather than some form of wide mask half-hidden under a hood.

 

So to answer Katrina’s question, I have to give it to Pipes, on the whole he is an improvement on his predecessor.

Legends ‘LG35 Super Ginrai’ vs Titans Return ‘Powermaster Optimus Prime’

But what about other iterations?

Huffer, being a legacy character from the 1984 cartoon, has turned up in multiple toylines such as KRE-O, Power Core Combiners, Timelines and even Transformers Prime.  Pipes however has only had another two outings, both retools of existing Huffer figures.  So lets have a look at these to see who is the superior in these new iterations of classic characters.

 

Combiner Wars

Prime-wannabe’s

If there is one set of Huffer/Pipes figures where the alt-modes are exactly the same then it is Combiner Wars.  Not only are the altmodes the same, but the robot modes are exactly the same too, the only differences being in colour scheme and sticker placements.  As such, it’s pretty much impossible to pick one over the other.  I will say I never understood why they gave Pipes a red face, he looks like Tracks squat brother (or me when I’ve been out in the sun too long).

 

Kingdom

We finally busted into the Deluxe Class!

The third outing of Pipes, being again a retool of Huffer, is in the Kingdom line.  I found both these toys to be quite clever and both are certainly the most toon-accurate versions of the characters we have ever had in their robot modes.  Highlights for me included that Pipes now has pipes attached to his outer forearms like in the cartoon instead of the toys arms functioning as the pipes themselves. Huffer now sports a canopy of sensible size, and the way the sides of his alt-modes tray join together to form a very Halo-esque weapon is a really cool idea.  I couldn’t fault either of them.

Pipes & Huffer: Both ready to smoke you!

In their vehicular forms, the fronts of the vehicles are actually (bar colour) exactly the same, having less differences than their G1 toy counterparts.  The differences only seem to be at the back, where Pipes is toting his pipes and Huffer’s gun and shield serve to form a tray.

But wait, there’s more!

Can’t decide between Pipes and Huffer?  Why choose either when you can have Puffer!

Puffer: ‘Even I haven’t heard of me before!’

Soooo…. The story behind this is that in certain parts of the world, when Pipes was released he was a straight up recolour of Huffer, rather than a retooled version.  The storyline behind Puffer is that Huffer and Pipes got sucked into a time-vortex (as one does) and they were fused together into the one being.  Like so many other extremely obscure characters (who can easily be recoloured from an existing figure), Puffer now has his own official toy.  This Puffer though, is essentially Pipes slightly recoloured and with a G1 toy accurate head.  Whilst there is little of Huffer to see in this figure, if you can’t decide which you like more out of Pipes and Huffer, then Puffer may be for you!

Toys Review – Legacy Motormaster & Drag Strip

So, overall, Pipes or Huffer? 

A reminder that Prime and Magnus aint the only Autobot trucks on the block

Well, for me it is hands down Pipes, and for me that is a purely sentimental reason.  Pipes was one of my first ever Transformers, and was the first Transformer I ever got a double of when a mate gave me another one for my 9th birthday.  Still have them both too 😊.  I liked in the cartoon how Pipes seemed to straddle between mechanic, field medic and a quasi-field commander, whereas except for lifting the odd mammoth, Huffer seemed to do nothing but whine, barely built anything and for the most part simply vied with Gears for title of biggest complainer on The Ark.

G1: Emotions aside, talking about toys then I feel that Pipes has the better robot mode, despite Huffer having hand indents.  Vehicular, despite the minor differences, I don’t favour one over the other.  Winner: Pipes

Combiner Wars: Exact same vehicle mode so no favourite; in robot mode I gotta take points off Pipes for having the red face.  Winner: Huffer

Kingdom: A draw, as though I like Huffer’s robot mode that smidge more, and he has the cool gun and shield that become the truck tray, Pipes finally has dedicated extra pipes, living up to his namesake.  Winner: A draw, with a special shout out to Puffer for being such a unique character.

Got anything to say about the figures examined, or Pipes and Huffer in general?  Pop it in the comments section below!

Toy Review: Autobot Ark & Teletraan 1

 

 

Transformatorium, Transformer Toy Reviews

Toy Review: Kingdom Tracks

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I’ve always thought Tracks was a very underrated character.  Despite getting a couple of spotlight episodes in season 2 of the Generation One cartoon, he’s never really done a lot otherwise.  Has never been a stand-out in any of the comics and, with the exception of a cameo in Animated, has never cropped up in any other Transformer universes.  Very odd considering how interesting he is; a vain, posh speaking narcissist yet still a warrior who took has taken on the likes of Megatron and Starscream.  Add to that he had a very sexy alt-mode that could also become a flying car!  His toy was my absolute favorite out of the 84/85 cars and I still love it to this day.

Tracks being underrated has been reflected in the amount of figures he has gotten over the years – maybe because it’s hard to get more uses out of a figure that has a flying-automobile mode.  We haven’t had a Generations version since Reveal the Shield many, many years ago so he was well overdue.

Well Tracks has finally gotten another figure, in the Kingdom toyline, so let’s look at Deluxe Tracks.

 

Robot Mode

‘Indeed I am still most slim and pristine’

Probably the most show accurate Tracks figure we have had outside of the Masterpiece version.  He looks good with his signature red face & white helmet, backpack guns and slim form.  He certainly looks an improvement over the RTS version, though comparing the two you can see how much Hasbro has shrunken the Deluxe Class over the last decade.  He has decent articulation and overall is a good representation of the character.

 

Vehicle Mode

Very nice looking, though getting everything to stay tabbed together can be very irritating.  I would have liked to see some yellow in his hood flame rather than simply red like the cartoon.  He lacks that certain sexiness that the G1 and Masterpiece toys have and the flashiness of the RTS toy.  His weapons can be mounted on the back or the sides of the vehicle.

 

Flying Car Mode

Here is where the toy stands out – looks really good!  The little tailfins that pop up are a nice addition, though it would have been good to have them and the guns slightly different shades of white so they don’t blend together so much.  Cerainly better than the awful RTS version and even the MP version to my mind, coming in 2nd only to the original G1 toy itself.

 

Transformation

What a friggin pain in the arse this is!  There have been QC issues reported with his legs and it is very evident here.  Whilst you can transform him without making the necessary fixes, its very annoying to do and takes all the fun out of the conversion process.

 

Worth Getting?

This is a good rendition of Tracks, but it is not a stand out.  As yet, for me at any rate, they have not made a Tracks toy that is able to pull off all 3 modes as well as the original.  Whilst some of his modes are better than others, the whole toy is pulled down by the fiddly and annoying transformation sequence.  Recommended only if you are not happy with your current Tracks figures.

 

Related Articles:

Video: Kingdom Galvatron Review

Toy Review: Kingdom Rodimus Prime

 

Transformatorium, Transformer Toy Reviews

Toy Review: Autobot Ark & Teletraan 1

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As the years progress, we are getting more and more obscure characters from Generation 1 turn up in the Transformers Generations toyline. Characters such as Greenlight and Lifeline who were non-speaking background femmebot characters from single episodes, Zetar & Chromar who were mail-away figures from 1984 that never showed up in any media, and even characters like Scrounge who appeared in a single comic 30 years previously only to die.

Well today we are looking at character/s, who while certainly not obscure, has never really been characters.  And they’ve gotten their first transforming toy in a big way!  So let’s look at, from the Kingdom line, the Titan-Class Autobot Ark with Teletraan-1.

 

The Ark

Ship Mode

Perhaps the most recognisable ship in all of Transformers lore, The Ark has been in everything from multiple different comics to multiple different cartoon series to video games.  It’s the legendary ship that first transported the Autobots from Cybertron to Earth.  And it’s been lovingly recreated here.  It’s very big and bulky as befits a ship that is meant to be able to carry 300 Autobots across the galaxy.  The details on it are beautiful, if somewhat plain due to the overriding orange colour scheme.

Time for take off!

The Ark comes with different play features such as an opening loading ramp and fold down landing gear.  You are able to open up the front to put the tiny Optimus Prime that comes with the figure onto the bridge, which you can then see by looking through the front window.

It is covered in gun ports but sadly none of these are able to rotate.  Also disappointing is the lack of paint apps on the ship.  It certainly would have helped to break up the orange to have the windows in the observation tower at the back painted blue and for there to be more colour on the internal bridge.  However these minor detractions aside, this is truly the ship we all know and love.

Robot Mode

I must admit I would have much preferred the Ark to be able to open up and become an interactive play set, much like the DOTM Ark, than turn into a robot.  Don’t get me wrong, the robot/transformation gimmick is cool, and it has been explained in the Kingdom Cartoon, but it still seems odd.  However this is a very nice looking Titan-class toy with good articulation, though no individually articulated fingers and the ratchet joints in the shoulders and arms really grind.

Some detractors from the robot mode are the once-again plain orange and grey colour scheme and the fact the gun ports can’t rotate.  Since there are some located on each forearm it would have been great to be able to rotate them so as to blast his enemies instead of his own elbow joint.  He scales very nicely with Titan-Class Omega Supreme, and one could imagine in fiction that in size they would be on par with each other.

‘Us giant Spaceship bots got ta stick together!’

 

Teletraan-1

Computer Mode

Teletraan-1 – the famous computer of The Ark, who was consulted episode after episode in the first two seasons of the G1 cartoon.  Like The Ark, Teletraan has shown up in various media over the years but as a computer rather than a character.

The figure starts off life as the bridge of The Ark (with a BIG cube of kibble underneath) but can be removed in both modes.

Transformation to the Teletraan-1 computer is basically folding out of panels to make a hollow display, but it looks the business and is infinitely cool.  Makes for a lot of play value with your Deluxe-class Autobot figures.

Perceptor goes to look up Femmebot pics, totally unaware that Teletraan is now Mainframe in disguise

It also comes with some very well-known accessories, such as Sky Spy which was the probe used by The Ark and controlled by Teletraan back in the G1 cartoon, and the Golden Disks that make up a hefty portion of the plot in the Beast Wars and Kingdom cartoons.

Yeeesssss

 Mainframe

This…. is an interesting choice.  The original Mainframe was a non-transforming G1 Action Master character whose bio described him as ‘a walking talking computer terminal’ rather than a regular Transformer.  So making him the robot mode of Teletraan-1 is a kinda cool concept.  However the two have always been distinct entities to each other so making them one and the same doesn’t really seem to sit right canonically.  Still, it’s a nice enough robot mode, though like The Ark itself suffers from being one big blob of orange when it comes to the colour scheme, and he comes with no weapon.

I bulked up

 

Worth Getting?

For the spaceship mode of The Ark and the computer mode of Teletraan-1 one I’d have to say yes.  These are by far the best representations of these iconic mainstays of the franchise we have ever had.  The robot modes add some play value too and of course make the Transformer toys actually transform.  However the uninspiring colour scheme and the lack of rotating turrets prevent this figure from being a must have.  Personally, I’d recommend grabbing as long as you can find it as a reasonable price and have room on your shelf.

Got something to say about this Titan-Class toy?  Pop it in the comments section below!

 

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Transformatorium, Transformer Toy Reviews, Videos

Video: Kingdom Galvatron Review

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Well kiddies, I know I usually do written reviews of Transformers, replete with fascinating details and lots of pics, but today is something different.  Today I, along with my good buddy Brendan, have created a video review.  And it’s of none other than that Unicron lackey, the big bad himself – Galvatron!

So sit back and enjoy this special video review of Transformers Kingdom Leader Class Galvatron – you wont be disappointed 😉

 

 

Got anything to say about this figure?  Pop it in the comments section below!

 

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