Review #48: "Classics" Springer
(Fansproject Warbot Defender)
Triple Changers! A popular subgroup in the G1 days consisting of three Autobots and three Decepticons. These Transformers had three modes -- two vehicles and the robot mode -- hence the term Triple Changer.
Triple Changers have been with Classics since the beginning of the line, with Astrotrain being one of the initial releases. It was another two years before we saw another release, with Octane (renamed Tankor for trademark reasons) in the Universe line. But these were both Decepticons... And Hasbro seemed reluctant to do any more Triple Changers. Was there to be no love for the Autobot Triple Changers? |
In 2010, fan favorite third party manufacturer Fansproject came to the rescue. They released a toy they dubbed Warbot Defender, which was an obvious homage to Springer, the most well known of the three Autobot Triple Changes. I've been meaning to get around to reviewing this figure for some time... and now seems the perfect time. Why is that? Because much to the surprise of much of the fandom, this year Hasbro suddenly decided to show the much neglected Triple Changers some love! We're getting multiple new releases, including an official Springer.
This is an especially nice surprise for Springer, as Hasbro was fond of releasing repaints of other figures as this character, even though that meant Springers with only two modes. So one might have worried Hasbro would have been of the mindset of, "Springer? We've already done him a bunch of times. No need for another one." But no, Hasbro has produced a new mold, three mode toy of Springer. Huzzah!
I am actually due to receive that toy later today. (It was actually supposed to come yesterday... And I was home all day yesterday! But the bloody UPS man never rang the doorbell, just slapped up one of those "missed delivery" notices and continued on his way... I better get my package today!) But before we get to the new, I figured I should give this toy a long-delayed look at, even though I am sure anyone else doing reviews has long since looked at this figure and since moved on.
So... Fansproject's Springer!
This is an especially nice surprise for Springer, as Hasbro was fond of releasing repaints of other figures as this character, even though that meant Springers with only two modes. So one might have worried Hasbro would have been of the mindset of, "Springer? We've already done him a bunch of times. No need for another one." But no, Hasbro has produced a new mold, three mode toy of Springer. Huzzah!
I am actually due to receive that toy later today. (It was actually supposed to come yesterday... And I was home all day yesterday! But the bloody UPS man never rang the doorbell, just slapped up one of those "missed delivery" notices and continued on his way... I better get my package today!) But before we get to the new, I figured I should give this toy a long-delayed look at, even though I am sure anyone else doing reviews has long since looked at this figure and since moved on.
So... Fansproject's Springer!
Springer was first introduced in the 1986 Transformers: The Movie. His two vehicle modes are a helicopter and a futuristic armored car. We'll be looking at the helicopter mode first.
He's a very good looking helicopter. In some ways, he reminds me a bit of the drop ships from the film Aliens. It isn't an exact thing, since the drop ships weren't helicopters... but the general lines and shapes of the vehicles seem reminiscent of each other. I really like the production design in Aliens, so this toy using similar aesthetics (whether intentional or coincidental) is not something I see as a bad thing. Aliens came out in the same year as Transformers: The Movie, making it an extra fun connection. The one bad thing about this mode is that the helicopter mode has no landing ability, neither wheels or skids. So there is no good way to display it well without a stand. It does not come with a stand, but it did come with an adapter for use with a stand Bandai manufactures for use with Gundam products. I'd guess these stands are probably a bit more ubiquitous in Japan, but they are not too difficult to find online domestically. Still, while Springer looks good on that stand, and it is a very nice stand, it would have been nicer if such a stand was more an option rather then almost a necessity. |
Other then that, however, this is a nice mold with some fine detailing (admittedly much helped out by an excellent Reprolabels sticker set). As an additional note, I should say that this toy features something one doesn't come across as often these days: significant amounts of die cast metal. The paint on the metal seems very good, as after three years I have yet to notice any chipping.
The car mode is a significant improvement over his G1 days, when it was basically just the helicopter with the rotor removed and the back end mistransformed a bit. Now it seems a distinct third mode in its own right. Even the front end, which on the surface might seem not too dissimilar, has a uniqueness to it with the grey parts on the side (that the front wheels are in) have been moved forward from how they were positioned in helicopter mode.
The back end is a little bit gappy, but I've seen worse on toys that didn't have to accommodate three different modes. It certainly doesn't take too much away from the toy. The helicopter's rotor folds up (becoming a sword for the robot mode) and clips snugly to the vehicle's underside. |
Onto robot mode! And in this mode, we do come across a few problems... But before we get to these, let us look at the positives.
The main positive: this is a good looking robot, and definitely takes cues from G1 Springer. He is quite well articulated. His head is on a ball joint. His arms rotate 360 degrees at the shoulders, and have an additional pivot in the shoulders for outward motion. There is a rotation in the upper arm and ball joints in the elbows. There is rotation in the wrists. The waist has a bit of rotation. Not 360 degrees by far, but enough for some natural posing. (Can you rotate 360 degrees at the waist? Yeah... Thought so.) He has a pair of joints in each hip for a full range of motion, a swivel in the upper leg, and a bend in the knee. A transformation joint in the ankle provides the ability to angle the foot forwards or backwards, but there is nothing in the ankles to provide for a flat footed wide legged stance. However, this is accounted for with a joint mid-way through the lower leg which can be used to give a slight angle to the entire leg below the joint. |
A cool feature is that his guns can be stowed in his legs as if they were in holsters. His articulation even allows for him to hold his guns while they are holstered. Another weapon related note: one might get nervous when they take note of how thin the plastic in the sword (formerly the helicopter rotors) is, but that plastic has shown no wear over the course of the past three years. Thus, as long as one doesn't try to intentionally abuse that plastic, it should remain quite durable.
Now, onto the not so good... The sword doesn't have an obvious place to store on robot mode when not in use. Also, his balance might leave a lot to be desired. His feet don't have much of a heal to them, and if one is not careful this makes it easy for him to topple backwards. A more minor note, his head seems to sit a bit far back on his shoulders. This isn't a problem most of the time, but it can make him look odd in some poses.
Finally... and this is the biggie... it might be a good thing I didn't get around to reviewing this toy for three years. If I'd have reviewed it right away, this problem wouldn't have existed. But when I transformed him into a robot for this review, which I hadn't done in a little while, I noticed that some of his joints had become rather loose. One of them, the outwards pivot on one of his shoulders, is annoying but not the end of the world. The real problem is that his knees have become very loose. The fact that his chest has some die cast in it, meaning his upper body has some weight, does not combine well with the loos knees and I had some not small difficulty in getting him to stand up for his photos. Pity the offending joints are not ball joints, as those are easy to fix when loose. Just grab the clear nail polish! But I am not daring enough to disassemble a pivoting joint held together with a metal pin.
Now, onto the not so good... The sword doesn't have an obvious place to store on robot mode when not in use. Also, his balance might leave a lot to be desired. His feet don't have much of a heal to them, and if one is not careful this makes it easy for him to topple backwards. A more minor note, his head seems to sit a bit far back on his shoulders. This isn't a problem most of the time, but it can make him look odd in some poses.
Finally... and this is the biggie... it might be a good thing I didn't get around to reviewing this toy for three years. If I'd have reviewed it right away, this problem wouldn't have existed. But when I transformed him into a robot for this review, which I hadn't done in a little while, I noticed that some of his joints had become rather loose. One of them, the outwards pivot on one of his shoulders, is annoying but not the end of the world. The real problem is that his knees have become very loose. The fact that his chest has some die cast in it, meaning his upper body has some weight, does not combine well with the loos knees and I had some not small difficulty in getting him to stand up for his photos. Pity the offending joints are not ball joints, as those are easy to fix when loose. Just grab the clear nail polish! But I am not daring enough to disassemble a pivoting joint held together with a metal pin.
So, Fansproject's Warbot Defender. For three years he was my Classics Springer, and I do not regret his purchase one bit. The problems he seems to have developed over time, with joints becoming extremely loose even without excessive use, is rather disappointing. But it is still a toy I am glad to have.
Still, the reason he was produced has possibly become obsolete. Hasbro finally did their own modern triple changing Springer! So to people who don't already have this toy, it is probably difficult to recommend getting one. At this point, I'd likely say you should only seek out this toy if you are a major Fansproject fanboy, have a burning desire to have everything they produce, and for some reason don't already have this one. |
But who knows? I've yet to check out the new Hasbro toy myself. While other people's reviews have been generally quite positive, perhaps I'll find some major flaw with it? Yeah, I don't think so, either... But stranger things have happened! I guess you'll just have to wait for my next review to find out for sure!
Review added 31 May 2013 by Yotsuya. Please comment!
Review added 31 May 2013 by Yotsuya. Please comment!