Review #73: Battlechargers Runabout & Runamuck - Mold Mates
(Transformers Collectors' Club Timelines Over-Run & Runamuck)
Howdy, folks! Sorry that the reviews have been sparse for the last month or so. I have been rather busy with things on one of my other websites, though. But I've got some toys lined up I'd like to get around to, so look forward to that! And to start... a few toys I just got in the mail yesterday.
These two particular toys are something I usually avoid. I've think I've made it no secret that I usually dislike club or convention exclusives as a concept. They're usually overpriced for what they are, and hard to get even if you are willing to pay what they're asking. Really not worth the hassle. And usually they are extremely obscure characters I could live without, anyway, so not getting them isn't the end of the world. Occasionally they are more prominent characters, but if I learned one thing from Thundercracker, Thrust and Dirge it was that after I spend a few years being very, very annoyed, Hasbro will eventually get around to making regular retail versions so I can calm down.
But today, well, I've gotten my first two such toys. What can I say? It is a pair that is kind of semi-prominent characters, so I wanted them but was less confident that Hasbro would eventually give them to us at retail. Still, what you could usually expect to pay for them (especially on the secondary market) would be more then I would be willing to spend.
Then I came across this pair of toys on eBay for a surprisingly decent price. Only $60.00 (plus shipping) for the pair. Still more then if they were retail, but $30.00 each was at least a tolerable price. So I decided to go for it.
Now often, such exclusives are existing molds with new paint schemes and maybe a new head. And that is exactly what these toys are. And it is a mold I already have and have already reviewed. So for my thoughts on the mold itself, and things like details on the articulation, I direct you to my review of Tracks & Wheeljack. Here, we will be looking specifically at how this mold looks as the characters of Runabout and Runamuck.
But first... something I've never done before... let us take a look at the packaging!
I don't have packaging for Runamuck, but I do believe if memory serves that he just came in non-descript plain packaging. Runabout, on the other hand...
These two particular toys are something I usually avoid. I've think I've made it no secret that I usually dislike club or convention exclusives as a concept. They're usually overpriced for what they are, and hard to get even if you are willing to pay what they're asking. Really not worth the hassle. And usually they are extremely obscure characters I could live without, anyway, so not getting them isn't the end of the world. Occasionally they are more prominent characters, but if I learned one thing from Thundercracker, Thrust and Dirge it was that after I spend a few years being very, very annoyed, Hasbro will eventually get around to making regular retail versions so I can calm down.
But today, well, I've gotten my first two such toys. What can I say? It is a pair that is kind of semi-prominent characters, so I wanted them but was less confident that Hasbro would eventually give them to us at retail. Still, what you could usually expect to pay for them (especially on the secondary market) would be more then I would be willing to spend.
Then I came across this pair of toys on eBay for a surprisingly decent price. Only $60.00 (plus shipping) for the pair. Still more then if they were retail, but $30.00 each was at least a tolerable price. So I decided to go for it.
Now often, such exclusives are existing molds with new paint schemes and maybe a new head. And that is exactly what these toys are. And it is a mold I already have and have already reviewed. So for my thoughts on the mold itself, and things like details on the articulation, I direct you to my review of Tracks & Wheeljack. Here, we will be looking specifically at how this mold looks as the characters of Runabout and Runamuck.
But first... something I've never done before... let us take a look at the packaging!
I don't have packaging for Runamuck, but I do believe if memory serves that he just came in non-descript plain packaging. Runabout, on the other hand...
He came in this sexy looking box, which the eBay seller included.
You may notice that the box says "Over-Run" on it. Apparently Hasbro doesn't have the rights to the name "Runabout" anymore, and this was the alternative that they came up with. But to me, his name is still Runabout. The box is a quality piece of packaging. I guess if a club is going to charge way too much for a toy, the least they could do is put it in a really, really nice box. And that the Transformers Collectors' Club did here. The box is a very thick cardboard with a great piece of artwork on the front. |
The top and bottom of the box are the same, with various bits of legalese, and a pitch to join the Transformers Collectors' Club which actually amuses me a bit since I am pretty sure the only (official) way to get the toy involved already being a member.
The sides feature a product shot of "Over-Run" in vehicle mode. There is also some more amusing text on the sides: "Adult collectable, not intended for use by children." Both toys' instruction sheets also prominently say "Adult Collectable" where, say, Wheeljack's instructions say "5 and up." Since, other then a new head sculpt and different coloring, these are the exact same toy as Wheeljack, I really can't take this toy saying, "Adult collectable, not intended for use by children" at face value. On some third party figures, sure! They are definitely not for kids, being either too complex, dangerously fragile, or often both. But this is literally (a word I dislike using incorrectly) a toy designed for children to play with. So the Transformer Collectors' Club slapping a "not intended for use by children" warning on their release of this toy -- sorry, this adult collectable -- just screams of elitism to me.
I'm not saying that they can't, as they obviously do, market to adults. Heck, I'm allegedly one of those, and obviously I buy Transformers. And at Collectors' Club or secondary market prices, even the good deal I got, these toys are unlikely to end up in a child's collection. But still, they are toys. Maybe if they had just said "adult collectable" I'd not have minded. But to specifically slap "not intended for use by children" on the box just seems wrong.
The sides feature a product shot of "Over-Run" in vehicle mode. There is also some more amusing text on the sides: "Adult collectable, not intended for use by children." Both toys' instruction sheets also prominently say "Adult Collectable" where, say, Wheeljack's instructions say "5 and up." Since, other then a new head sculpt and different coloring, these are the exact same toy as Wheeljack, I really can't take this toy saying, "Adult collectable, not intended for use by children" at face value. On some third party figures, sure! They are definitely not for kids, being either too complex, dangerously fragile, or often both. But this is literally (a word I dislike using incorrectly) a toy designed for children to play with. So the Transformer Collectors' Club slapping a "not intended for use by children" warning on their release of this toy -- sorry, this adult collectable -- just screams of elitism to me.
I'm not saying that they can't, as they obviously do, market to adults. Heck, I'm allegedly one of those, and obviously I buy Transformers. And at Collectors' Club or secondary market prices, even the good deal I got, these toys are unlikely to end up in a child's collection. But still, they are toys. Maybe if they had just said "adult collectable" I'd not have minded. But to specifically slap "not intended for use by children" on the box just seems wrong.
But enough about that tangent. It really is a tiny thing on an otherwise gorgeous box. So let's get back to talking about the good stuff!
There's not much to say about the back of the box which is an unadorned plain black, other then that it is nicely textured. Moving now to open the box, we find that it does not open via unfolding a flap on the side and pulling out a plastic insert with the figure tied down to it. Rather, the whole top slides off, and inside...
There's not much to say about the back of the box which is an unadorned plain black, other then that it is nicely textured. Moving now to open the box, we find that it does not open via unfolding a flap on the side and pulling out a plastic insert with the figure tied down to it. Rather, the whole top slides off, and inside...
Inside we find a luxurious black foam insert, with spaces in it perfectly formed to snugly hold both Runabout and Runamuck. (Or, hypothetically, I suppose you could replace one of them with Wheeljack if you wanted.)
Also included in the box were instructions for both figures, plus these bio cards which are printed on a thick-ish card stock and still sealed in plastic baggies:
Also included in the box were instructions for both figures, plus these bio cards which are printed on a thick-ish card stock and still sealed in plastic baggies:
I guess Runamuck was the Collectors' Club's 100th figure? Belated congratulations, I suppose.
Anyway, overall a really nice box which, as I said, for the price these figures demand was the least they could do, I suppose. But enough about the box, and let us take a look at the figures contained within. But first! Some history. (With historical photos lovingly "borrowed" from the TFWiki.)
Anyway, overall a really nice box which, as I said, for the price these figures demand was the least they could do, I suppose. But enough about the box, and let us take a look at the figures contained within. But first! Some history. (With historical photos lovingly "borrowed" from the TFWiki.)
So, who were Runabout and Runamuck? In the Generation One days, they were a pair of toys released in 1986. They featured pull-back motors which could be used in either mode, but using them in vehicle mode would actually (after a short trip forward) automatically trigger a transformation into robot mode. It was as if they were charging into battle! Hence, I suppose, their collective name of the Battlechargers.
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Now, the two G1 toys were not identical. But they were certainly close enough in appearance to one another that the same modern toy could, hypothetically, work for both. Shall we see if it did, indeed, work?
Starting in vehicle mode I would have to say, "Yup. That works. That works quite nicely."
Both toys use the Wheeljack version of the mold. Since the G1 toys were slightly different vehicles, part of me feels it is a shame that one of these didn't use the Tracks version of the mold to replicate that difference. But when we eventually get to robot mode, the differences in the Tracks version of the mold would probably not have looked as good for these characters. So, I suppose, better then to have them both using the Wheeljack version, after all.
Runabout is very nice in a matte black with red windows. The G1 toy had a thin red stripe down his sides, where as his modern version changes things up a bit with striping on his hood (and a bit on his spoiler). Runamuck, meanwhile, has a great looking gold stripe down either side, and a golden spoiler as well. And both feature a great big Decepticon logo on their hoods. And then, just for some extra G1-y goodness, both also have a rub sign on their roofs.
Both toys use the Wheeljack version of the mold. Since the G1 toys were slightly different vehicles, part of me feels it is a shame that one of these didn't use the Tracks version of the mold to replicate that difference. But when we eventually get to robot mode, the differences in the Tracks version of the mold would probably not have looked as good for these characters. So, I suppose, better then to have them both using the Wheeljack version, after all.
Runabout is very nice in a matte black with red windows. The G1 toy had a thin red stripe down his sides, where as his modern version changes things up a bit with striping on his hood (and a bit on his spoiler). Runamuck, meanwhile, has a great looking gold stripe down either side, and a golden spoiler as well. And both feature a great big Decepticon logo on their hoods. And then, just for some extra G1-y goodness, both also have a rub sign on their roofs.
And for a bit of extra fun, here they are with Tracks and Wheeljack for comparison.
Moving onto robot mode, the official transformation would have you transform the toys identically to Wheeljack, but put on the weapons/accessories as you would for Tracks. Thus, they have the one handheld gun and the two shoulder mounted missiles. Also, they end up having wings like Wheeljack's.
Still, even though this toy is pretty much just Wheeljack, with the new coloring and the new heads, they actually make for really good modern interpretations of the G1 characters of Runabout and Runamuck.
This isn't a knock against the toys, especially since I got mine second hand, but Runamuck does have a wee bit of paint wear on his chest where two spots of white paint have worn off to reveal the bare plastic underneath. Other then that one thing, both toys were pretty much in perfect condition, though, so I shan't loose too much sleep over it. If I had bought these new, and after paying Collector's Club prices, received it in this condition, I'd have been pissed. But buying them used as I did, I can live with it. |
I did fiddle with the transformation slightly, and find a look I actually think I like a lot better for them to help them look less like Wheeljack with a new head, and perhaps even slightly more like their G1 selves. First of all, I do away with any sort of shoulder mounted missiles, instead just storing those pieces on their clip-on attachment points on the back sides of the figures' legs. And then I bend the wings downward so that they are now behind the arms. Having them there actually ends up, to me at least, feeling like a nice homage to the G1 figures' "arms" that were just featureless slabs formed from the side panels of the cars. Now those slabs are back! They are just behind the actual arms now, rather then pretending to be the arms themselves.
This slight alteration to their transformation takes these two figures and, in my opinion, makes them total home runs!
And here they are in robot mode along with Tracks and Wheeljack, showing off all four toys I own made from this mold. Amazing how what is pretty much the same toy can, with a few alterations, so well represent such different characters!
And then finally, my standard size comparison photo showing the figure(s) I am reviewing posed standing with a regular sized DVD case.
So, am I going to start going crazy for con or club exclusive figures? Nah. Most of the time they are still too expensive or too hard to get. But I got a pretty good deal on these two, and for what I ended up paying I feel they were worth it. I'm happy to now have modern representations of the Battlechargers in my collection. And if you are wanting the same, if you can find them for a price you are comfortable paying, these two toys should do the job for you nicely. Review added 25 September 2015 by Yotsuya. Comments are welcomed! |