Review #72b: Takara Unite Warriors Superion
Part Two: Fireflight & Slingshot
If you somehow missed part one of this review, click here to read it before continuing on with this part! On the other hand, if you are ready for part two, let's get right to it, shall we?
First up today, we have Fireflight. He's a red jet with white wings. Like most jet Transformers, his undercarriage is pretty much just a folded up and tucked together robot, but it is tucked together quite well! From most angles, the robot isn't that apparent at all. The most obvious robot aspect peaking through is his arms, and even those aren't too bad.
Fireflight, as well as each of the rest of the "limb-bots" in this set, comes with two weapons. A smaller gun and a larger double barreled weapon. Fireflight also has a peg hole under each wing, so he can carry both of his weapons in his vehicle mode. It does, however, come off looking a little awkward and asymmetrical. (I am not absolutely against asymmetrical designs in some Transformers... but it never seems right in a jet!) Finally, he features a flip down landing gear under his nosecone. |
Once again, there are differences between how Takara painted this figure and how it was painted by Hasbro.
And once again, while Hasbro's deco is not bad, the Takara version has striven for greater fidelity to the animation model. The wing stripes are thinner, the tail stripes exist in the first place, and the tail is red with a large white patch painted on it rather than the plain white tail of the Hasbro version. There is black striping down the top of the jet's body, a detail present on the animation model that was actually inspired by transformation hinges present on the original G1 toy. And most notably, on the Hasbro version, the white of the wings stops at the edge of the large chunk of wing that will fold up during transformation. On the Takara version, the rest of the wing is painted white to match, giving his wings a complete and unified look.
Fireflight unfolds into a good looking robot! He is quite well articulated. He has a ball joint in his head that allows for 360 degree rotation, a little bit of wiggle, and a decent upwards gaze. His shoulders are also ball joints that allow for 360 degree rotation forwards or backwards, and decent outwards movement. He has upper arm rotation right above the elbow, and then a ratcheting 90 degree bend in the elbow itself. He has a waist swivel, ball jointed hips, and very nice bending knees.
He can hold his weapons in his hands.
He can hold his weapons in his hands.
Comparing both versions with the animation model, we see that Hasbro's isn't that far off, but once again Takara's is a lot closer. Although your mileage may vary with this one, as Hasbro's definitely has more paint, covering his entire pectoral region in silver paint rather than just the front edge, and highlighting the area under that with blue where as Takara's just continues the silver. The Takara version has two blue boxes just above the hips, where as Hasbro's has just one longer blue box in that same region. Takara's has silver painted hands, while Hasbro's are left white. And finally, for the crotch, Takara uses red plastic where as Hasbro's is white. They do both look nice! But Takara's definitely continues the trend of looking like it jumped out of the cartoon.
The head (on both versions) isn't the closest match to the animation model... but it is a pretty spot on match for the G1 toy's head.
However, one area where Hasbro does win in being closer to the animation model is in casting the smaller gun in black plastic. But all things considered, in my opinion the Takara version still wins overall.
Well, that's Fireflight. How about Slingshot?
Well, as stated in the previous part of this review, Hasbro's Combiner Wars Superion originally didn't even include Slingshot. And thus, he alas did not get his own mold. Rather, he shares a mold with Fireflight. So in a lot of ways, I fear I am just reviewing one toy for you today, but in two different color schemes. So, what do we have instead of a red jet with white highlights?
Would you believe a white jet with red highlights?
The head (on both versions) isn't the closest match to the animation model... but it is a pretty spot on match for the G1 toy's head.
However, one area where Hasbro does win in being closer to the animation model is in casting the smaller gun in black plastic. But all things considered, in my opinion the Takara version still wins overall.
Well, that's Fireflight. How about Slingshot?
Well, as stated in the previous part of this review, Hasbro's Combiner Wars Superion originally didn't even include Slingshot. And thus, he alas did not get his own mold. Rather, he shares a mold with Fireflight. So in a lot of ways, I fear I am just reviewing one toy for you today, but in two different color schemes. So, what do we have instead of a red jet with white highlights?
Would you believe a white jet with red highlights?
Okay, so white and red aren't the only colors on either of these guys... but you get the point! Still, despite my joking that this wasn't the most drastically different repaint in the world, it does look nicely unique from Fireflight, and does work quite well as Slingshot! Of course, it helps for Slingshot that the style of plane that this is, while it works well as Fireflight, is actually a lot closer to the type of aircraft Slingshot was in G1.
One minor complaint about this mold: the tail of the jet happens to be ever so slightly crooked. It is true of both Fireflight and Slingshot, but it is slightly more obvious on Slingshot. (Especially in the above photo that looks at him from behind.) If this is a widespread issue or I just got unlucky, I could not say. Still, it does not completely destroy the look of the toy, and is more an annoyance than anything else.
One minor complaint about this mold: the tail of the jet happens to be ever so slightly crooked. It is true of both Fireflight and Slingshot, but it is slightly more obvious on Slingshot. (Especially in the above photo that looks at him from behind.) If this is a widespread issue or I just got unlucky, I could not say. Still, it does not completely destroy the look of the toy, and is more an annoyance than anything else.
Above, comparing both Takara's and Hasbro's toys with the animation model. (Note that Hasbro's was sold under the name Quickslinger, as apparently the name "Slingshot" was not available for their use.) And again, both are good takes on the character, but Takara's is just closer to the animation model. And also above, just for the sake of completeness, the figure that originally replaced Slingshot in Hasbro's version of the Aerialbots, Alpha Bravo. And, well, he's not Slingshot.
In robot mode, I think this mold looks even better as Slingshot then it did as Fireflight! And we also now see that even if he didn't get a whole new mold, Slingshot did at least get a new head. Since we talked about the articulation and stuff when discussing Fireflight, let's jump right into comparisons between versions, shall we?
One big difference is the character's eyes. The Hasbro version has blue eyes, where as Takara's has orange. And Takara's, of course, is closer to the animation model. But I will admit that I was a little concerned about the orange eyes... since they are on an orange face! Would his eyes be lost in a sea of orange? I am happy to say that they are not. There are two different shades of orange at work here that are nicely distinct from one another, so that his eyes still stand out both in person and (as you can see) in photos.
Another notable difference is the location of his faction symbol. Hasbro has it on the left side of his chest, where as Takara moved it to his left shoulder to match his animation model. Takara's has a black crotch and white upper legs, where as Hasbro's has these two colors reversed. The black on Hasbro's hands continues slightly up onto the arms, where as Takara's stays on the hands. And there are a few other minor differences, such as some chunks of silver on Hasbro's chest, where as Takara has some smaller blue highlights in the same area or gold on Hasbro's knees and silver on Takara's.
And Alpha Bravo... he's sure still not Slingshot! I'm sure he's a fine toy, and many people may be quite happy with him as a part of their Superion. But he just doesn't work for me. My collection is mostly based upon recreating my memories of the G1 cartoon and toyline, and back then Superion was made of five jets, not four jets and a helicopter. But I do look forward to owning this toy someday, as Protectobot Blades.
And that should conclude things for this part of the review. I'll see you again soon with the final two members of the team!
On to part three: Skydive and Air Raid
Review added 28 July 2015 by Yotsuya. Comments are welcomed!
Another notable difference is the location of his faction symbol. Hasbro has it on the left side of his chest, where as Takara moved it to his left shoulder to match his animation model. Takara's has a black crotch and white upper legs, where as Hasbro's has these two colors reversed. The black on Hasbro's hands continues slightly up onto the arms, where as Takara's stays on the hands. And there are a few other minor differences, such as some chunks of silver on Hasbro's chest, where as Takara has some smaller blue highlights in the same area or gold on Hasbro's knees and silver on Takara's.
And Alpha Bravo... he's sure still not Slingshot! I'm sure he's a fine toy, and many people may be quite happy with him as a part of their Superion. But he just doesn't work for me. My collection is mostly based upon recreating my memories of the G1 cartoon and toyline, and back then Superion was made of five jets, not four jets and a helicopter. But I do look forward to owning this toy someday, as Protectobot Blades.
And that should conclude things for this part of the review. I'll see you again soon with the final two members of the team!
On to part three: Skydive and Air Raid
Review added 28 July 2015 by Yotsuya. Comments are welcomed!