Constructicon Long Haul [Studio Series 86/Commander Class]

Following Hook in the Transformers Studio Series Two Pack of Torso Terror is Long Haul, whom forms Devastators lower torso. Long Haul, being a dump truck is well suited for carrying the extra parts required for assembling Devastator. Not in the bed of his truck, nope, they actually combine to form a trailer! Long Haul can (wait for it) haul the extra parts! I'm a lot more impressed with this trailer than I am the battle deck/jet add on parts for Superion. Probably because I didn't expect it... and thanks to the wings, it reminds me a little of God Bomber in his trailer mode.

I've always liked the way Long Haul looked. He's this big chonky robot (it's a vibe) made from a good old dump truck. Maybe it's just growing up with Tonka trucks in the back yard... hey come to think about it, the ones we had was a crane and dump truck! This set was pre destined! *ahem* There's just something satisfyingly pleasant about him, you know? The Devastator set Hasbro put out in Combiner Wars a decade ago was pretty good, but there was some reinvention going on. Long Haul ended up being VERY LARGE in that set. Frankly, I liked it, but we're going for screen accuracy this time. Like the others, Long Haul is a nice mix of original design and cartoon appearance. A big difference in this design, however, is that Long Haul doesn't form Devastators thighs. Some of those extra parts in the trailer do that.

Long Haul has his pistol that has a removable barrel. I don't see any point in that as of this moment, but it sure does separate. He's pleasantly articulated and very expressive. It's really neat that his head can move around. Obviously most heads on toys do that, but articulation with his head on a panel is pretty neat. Transformation is pretty easy and aside from a few steps is mostly muscle memory from the original toy. Some Transformers you can just look at and your hands know what to do. The trailer doesn't connect traditionally. Instead you'll have to fit the connector pieces between the rear ends haves as they connect. Rolling him along with his trailer is pretty pleasant, there's a certain charm to it that I can't quite describe. It's kinda cute. Out of this two pack, I like Long Haul the best. Once I get the rest of the gang, I'll show off Devastator. For right now though, I'm enjoying the dump truck guy.

Constructicon Hook [Studio Series 86/Commander Class]

I've talked before about how sometimes Transformers naming systems can be too wordy or confusing, this is one of those times. Hook is a Voyager Class figure that comes from a 2 pack of Voyager Class figures sold as a Commander Class. The full name on this box is Transformers Studio Series Constructicon Hook/Constructicon Long Haul. Don't forget that Studio Series is under the Transformers Generations sub-line, so the entire name is Transformers Generations Transformers Studio Series Commander Class Constructicon Hook/Constructicon Long Haul.

It's a two-pack of Constructicons for the current Devastator set that comes with a bunch of extra combiner parts sold as a Commander Class. I spent almost a paragraph talking about how many titles the box has to get that out of the way, because it's a bit absurd. Hook is one of those two toys in the box. Hook is one of those Constructicons that's always in every group shot, but tends to blend into the crowd. He's a highly skilled craftsman and has one giant ego to match it, which fits into early Constructicon appearances where they were often working on a project. As a member of the team, he forms the upper torso of Devastator and turns into a crane.

Hence the name.

My brother is a professional crane operator, so I can appreciate this alt mode more now as an adult. One thing I really appreciate about these Studio Series 86 Constructicons is how much they're a combination of the original toys designs and the on screen models. The designers really did a good job making this set feel like an upgrade of that original Diaclone design while making them show accurate. This set is meant to match their looks from the 1986 movie, which itself was a higher quality version of how they appeared in the regular cartoon series.

As someone who always liked the cartoon better, I appreciate the concept behind Studio Series 86 a whole lot. Hook is well articulated. To allow for some of this articulation, the sort of cape his vehicle kibble forms over his shoulders features the ability to be moved out of the way. That's a nice meeting of screen accuracy and real world engineering. The original toy it wasn't a big deal, it had limited possibility naturally. Past updates would reinvent the wheel a little on the characters looks. This one of course must be faithful... so some improvisation was needed.

He's got his laser pistol. It's a good approximation of the one he originally came with and later used to mow down the Autobots while Instruments of Destruction played. In vehicle mode, it can connect the the crane arm for storage. Transformation to that vehicle mode is pretty easy. Once again he's essentially an updated version of the original, so some of those steps it took back in the day are the same today. Vehicle mode is nice, looks right, rolls along well. The little crane arm disconnects, so it can be removed for transformation to either hand off his back or in place properly.

Before anyone points it out, the robot hands are meant to remain folded out in vehicle mode to properly connect the front and back sections. I realized I did that part wrong now that I see my pictures. Years of modern toys make me fold them away on autopilot. Later this week we'll look at Hooks partner in the set Long Haul. Considering the two form Devastators torso when combined, I wish they would have named the box set something witty and torso related. Then again... I suppose that's harder than it sounds.

Silverbolt [Age of the Primes/Commander Class]

I'm putting a solid effort to complete all the current combiner teams. Not finishing Menasaur a few years ago left a bad taste in my mouth, so it feels like an accomplishment to be so close with Superion. We'll be looking at Silverbolt today, he's the leader of the Aerialbots and the core component of Superion. While the toy is sold as a Commander Class, Silverbolt is closer to a Voyager Class toy. The price difference comes from the extra parts that are used to for Superion in conjunction with the other Aerialbots.

Fortunately these parts do serve a purpose when standing alone. They can form something of a battle station or combine with Silverbolt's jet mode to form a larger aircraft. Initially I was a little snarky over them, but grew more fond of them once I started folding them into these forms. You can combine them with Silverbolt to form a skeletal Superion, but I won't be showing that today. Instead that'll be for a completed set post after I get the other two later this year.

Silverbolt is pleasantly articulated and really feels like an evolution of his original toy. He's got a cool little blaster that matches the rest of his team. Speaking of the team, while they tend to be a bunch of buttheads, he's a lot more cool and collective. He tends to try and teach them lessons and be a positive role model. Unfortunately... he's afraid a heights. Considering he transforms into a Concord jet and leads a team of jet buttheads, that's not so great. He does get over it, but it was that initial fear that prompted Optimus to put him in charge of the team.

What the hell Optimus?

Transformation to jet mode isn't hard, but it does take a lot of extra folding. Silverbolt's arms halfway go inside of his upper torso, while his legs do a bit of a pretzel fold around them. It works well, but might take a minute to get in place. It's worth noting that Superion's head folds into that same upper torso in robot mode, and it's got to be just right or won't work. Lots of precise folding going on here. When completed, you've got a pretty decent looking Concord jet... with a giant block of robot kibble underneath.

The extra parts for Superion can connect and form a super jet that does look pretty neat. I appreciate the effort even if mine kept coming apart. It's a good use of the parts and Superion's big gun. Like I said, those same parts can form something of a battle station as well. It's not much, but an effort was made. I definitely like the super jet use better. Overall Silverbolt is a fun toy that manages to use some extra parts creatively. I'm really looking forward to completing the team. Superion is a great looking robot and so are the individual Aerialbots. Not bad.

Rodimus Prime (Kingdom)

 

Rodimus Prime is one of my favorite Transformers characters. Like Galvatron, after his introduction everything changed for the better. His latest figure is a large Commander Class figure that the Mrs gave me for Christmas. She knows how much I like him and this is one impressive gift. Like the Kingdom version of Galvatron, this Rodimus Prime works as both a Generations and Studio Series version of the toy. It's also a very pleasantly chunky robot toy that I had a lot of fun with. As you'd expect, Rodimus turns into his trademark Winnebago of Doom. What you probably didn't expect was the front 'cab' portion separates into the car Rodimus changed into as Hot Rod. As a kid, this is what I wanted the original to do. In a way, it makes him more like an Optimus Prime toy when the cab separates from the trailer.

The 'trailer' portion of the alt mode converts into a battle platform similar to the original toy. Now, however, the cannon is detachable and has treads for movement. It can be used as a portable weapon as well. There's plenty of connection ports in the battle deck for various Weaponizers and other add on fun. Rodimus comes with plenty of those energy action effect thingies, they make good blast effects for the cannon. Rodimus himself is contained within the car. This leads to my only dislike about the toy. I hated transforming it. He's a pretty tall robot that unfolds out of that car in not the most graceful manner. The end results are great, but the trip from A to B was a nightmare.

Transformation aside, in robot mode Rodimus is very sharp looking and well articulated. He has some great accessories including his Photon Eliminator rifle, Sword of Primus, and a Matrix of Autobot Leadership that stores nicely in his chest. There's even one of those energy effects thingies just for it! There already has been a Masterpiece Rodimus toy, but I am WAY more impressed with this figure than that one. There's even removable smoke for the smoke stacks! This is one of those toys that feel proud to own, like it could be a showcase piece. I've been really happy with Transformers toys in general over the past few years and this definitely is a solid example as to why.

Sky Lynx Is Majectic Nonsense

Sky Lynx from Earthrise was another Christmas gift from the Mrs. He's always been one of the more neat members of the Autobots. You've got a space shuttle that transforms into some kind of dinosaur bird thing, while the booster pack/transporter thing turns into a lynx. The two robots then combine to form Sky Lynx, whom best can be described as something. But a specifically majestic something. He's makes no sense whatsoever and that specifically makes him perfect. Majestically.

This new figure is an extremely solid update. Bringing the original toy to the modern era with all sorts of fancy articulation and improving on the original toys flaws. It's pretty great and he'd tell you the same.

This is a pretty big toy with a bunch of different modes. Despite all of that he transforms really easily. It's a snap to convert everything into everything and combine those everythings into an new everything. He's a lot of things, but not a complex thing. That's a nice thing.

I'm particularly happy that the designers kept him as faithful to the original design as possible while updating him at the same time. Sky Lynx is such an individual, he needs to be stuck in his era. I can't imagine a sleeker version would look any better. Something this weird needs that big chunky 80's super robot aesthetic.

They gave Sky Link a big articulated neck and tail. He's always had a big neck and tail, but the articulation allows for a nice range of movement. My mental go to imagery for Sky Lynx is the episode 'Call of the Primitives'. He's portrayed more like a brontosaurus in that episode and this neck and tail make that more possible than his original toy. By that, I mean, he can actually be bent that way. 

Before anyone tells me a brontosaurs doesn't actually exist, neither does giant alien robots that turn into fifty thousand different things. But they should have feathers. Not dinosaurs, Transformers. 

In case all his different modes weren't enough, Sky Lynx has a base mode as well. Obviously it's meant for Micromasters to function as a base for. However I find it just makes a good launching pad for the space shuttle. Though I guess that would mean the Lynx portion would be left behind. That never stopped Omega Supreme though. It's uh... not a very realistic cartoon.

I do like the base mode a lot, even though mine didn't hold together very well. Admittedly I may not have stuck it all together right. There's a nice ramp that runs up to the shuttles canopy. Said canopy can open, even though it cannot actually hold anything. It's the thought that counts.

It's super hard not to like this toy. Big, chunky, and downright insane. He even comes with some of those plug in action effect thingies. They're all fire blasts. One big segmented one and three smaller ones. You can use them for the space shuttles thrust or Sky Lynx's fire breath. Their may be some other uses for them that I didn't notice.

Like I said directly above, it's hard not to like this toy. It's literally all toy and you can just sit and play around with him forever. There's a real visceral joy to a large dinosaur/space ship thing. Just want to fly him around the house for hours. Watch out for the cat.