Twin Mill [Hot Wheels X Transformers]

Getting back to our look at the Hot Wheels X Transformers line, today we’ve got Twin Mill — a classic Hot Wheels car that originally debuted way back in 1969. This Transformers incarnation is the blue Spectraflame version, and it looks fantastic.

It resembles a souped-up classic Corvette with twin engine blocks and gnarly exhaust pipes, complete with attachable flame effects. It’s the kind of car that just looks fast, and in the blue deco I can’t help but compare it to Sideburn from Robots in Disguise (2001).

These Hot Wheels Transformers are roughly comparable to a smaller Deluxe Class figure, similar in size to modern Mini-Bot updates. I know that probably sounds ridiculous… but I actually like the size. I often feel Transformers are just a touch too big. Not because I like small Transformers (see the site’s name), but because the details tend to come out sharper when they’re a little smaller. It’s like when you upscale an image and it loses some clarity. This feels like a real sweet spot, size-wise, for me.

Transformation isn’t hard at all and isn’t too dissimilar from other car bots. The front end becomes the upper torso, with the arms and head folded up inside, while the rear end forms the lower body and legs. I’ll say there are some strong Machine Robo / Gobots vibes here, mostly due to the smaller robot form and the look of his legs. I also can’t help but compare him to Armada Blurr, thanks to how the front fenders form his shoulders and the overall proportions. These are all things I really like, so those similarities are a plus in my book.

Ironically, back in 2001–2002 when Sideburn from Robots in Disguise was on shelves, Hot Wheels had a line called Robo Wheels. These were originally designed by PLEX to be a new Machine Robo series. PLEX has designed Machine Robo, Power Rangers, and Super Sentai toys for Bandai, and Robo Wheels were intended to follow Machine Robo CG Robo. That deal fell through, and the designs were eventually released as Hot Wheels instead. I distinctly remember staring at them on store shelves, very tempted to grab a few. At the time, though, I was pretty broke — finances were stretched paycheck to paycheck — so between rent and life expenses, I had to make some tough toy decisions. Transformers fit the budget, but other lines required being picky. Of course, it wasn’t until years later that I learned Robo Wheels were Machine Robo designs… and by then they were long gone. Here’s hoping I can track some down someday for a decent price — and not broken to hell.

Back to Twin Mill: man, this is a cool-looking robot. His head is a little reminiscent of bots like Smokescreen, but with some extra flair to the helmet and, of course, that fabulous visor. There’s a very post-1986 G1 vibe to the head sculpt. The way his robot parts mix with the car kibble and color scheme gives him an almost knightly look. It’s really sharp, and that blue is spectacular.

The twin engine blocks — which need to be removed first during transformation — become a pair of forearm-mounted guns. They slip over his arms and give him some serious firepower. The flame effects attach to the exhaust pipes, creating a blazing firing effect. It’s pretty great… damn, I really like these toys.

Articulation is solid, too. Twin Mill can pull off a variety of dynamic stances with his twin fire guns, though considering the length of the barrels, he’s going to need some room to swing them around. If it hasn’t already been painfully obvious, I’m really high on these Hot Wheels Transformers. According to rumors, there’s more coming, and I’m genuinely excited about that. These feel special to me, and I’m proud to own them. They’re definitely on a pedestal in my mind.

Here’s hoping those rumors are true and more are on the way. Even if they’re just repaints, I’m in. I’d absolutely love to see more Transformers follow this same approach.