Review #8: "Classics" Wreck-Gar & Junkheap - Mold Mates
(Reveal the Shield Wreck-Gar and Generations Junkheap)
Bah Weep Granah Weep Nini Bong!
After a plethora review of pre-movie based Classic figures (and that's the classic 1986 Transformers film, not the recent Michael Bay stuff) I thout it was time to look at a few figures that are based on characters introduced in or after the film. For the first such review, we will look at two figures that share basically the same mold: everyone's favorite TV junkie, Wreck-Gar and one of his fellow Junkions, Junkheap. (Junkheap is, technically, not based on any one spicific character. However, there were a plethora of generic backround Junkion characters and Junkheap could represent any of those. Indeed, the Transformers Wiki seems to identify Junkheap as a character from the film called Junkyard.) |
Wreck-gar, being the more iconic of these two, was released first. However, many collectors were eagerly anticipating the release of a second toy using this mold, or were even buying two or more Wreck-gars, for the very unique reason that the figure had a feature designed to work with another toy using the same mold. Because of this, we will take the unique step in this review of looking at them in opposing modes (one vehicle, one robot) at the same time. I'll base most of my comments on which ever mode Wreck-gar (he's the brown one, if you didn't know) is currently in. Thus, without further ado, here we go!
So to the right, we see Wreck-gar riding on Junkheap. Junkions (the subfaction these characters belonged to) frequently used each other for transportation, and these toys were designed to be able to replicate that. And we're not just talking a matter of scale and leg posability, here. The seat on the vehicle mode of this mold contains two slots, and these are designed to correspond with two tabs on the crotch of another copy of the same mold. It is a good fit, enough that you can even pick up the combined product by holding the rider, and the cycle will lift as well.
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Taking a look at Wreck-gar, himself, now. The first thing you might notice is is very asymetrical look, with both his wheels on his left side and with his legs being made up of two very different parts of the vehicle. Normally, this is something I rather dislike in a Transformer. With Wreck-gar and other Junkions, however, it works very nicely with the design asthetic of the characters as seen in fiction. Junkions are a disorderly people, it only seems natural for their toy design to reflect that.
Posability in robot mode is very nice. The head is on a ball joint. The shoulders are as well, although the left shoulder is hampered slightly by the wheel. There's a swivel right below the shoulder. The elbows are hinged and can bend very well. Wrists have a swivel. Waste has a swivel, always a nice thing! Hips have ball joints, knees are hinged, and the ankles are on ball joints. One extra piece of articulation, the wheel over the shoulder can be positioned slightly to look better with whatever pose you put him in. This was an extra that the designers did not have to include, it was a nice touch of them to do so. As is often the case, Reprolabels! Details more promanant in robot mode include replacement and additional flame detail (the original figure had black or yellow painted flames rather then the gold ones you now see), better detail for both the actual headlight and the faux headlight on his forhead, chrome stickers for the rear view mirrors and the blades of his weapon, a brown sticker over his crotch piece, and a break light and licence plate visible over his left knee. |
In vehicle mode, the licence plate reads, "PLAN45." When this gets turned upside down on the robot mode, this magically changes to read, "STUPID." This is a very nice nod to the 1986 film, where over the introduction of the Junkions was playing the Weird Al song, "Dare to be Stupid."
As there are many generic Junkions, many of whom look a bit similar, Reprolabels did also produce an additional sticker set to turn two extra Wreck-gars into other Junkions. I had no need for these, so can't include them in my review, but if you are curious you can look at pictures on their website. |
Wreck-gar was part of the Reveal the Shield line which you should know, if you've been reading my other reviews, feature rub signs rather then standard faction symbols. It was originally placed on top of the windshield. (If that is the proper term when talking about motercycles?) I relocated it to the back of one of his legs. Meanwhile, Reprolabels did provide a standard faction symbol that you can see on the back of one of his feet, and which will be more promanant in vehicle mode.
Wreck-gar's weapon, if he is not wielding it, can be stowed on his back. Take care when putting it into his hands, however, While I have not yet experienced a break, I have noticed stress marks forming in the plastic of his hands.
I will take this opertunity to express a genral complaint about open hands on Transformers. Yeah, they look nicer then a closed fist with a hole drilled through it. But, as much as I do care about asthetics as an adult collector, let us not forget that these are also designed as childrens toys. Open hands can either be designed in a way where they can't hold anything (such is the case with the previously reviewed Grapple) which takes away a bit from play value, or can be designed with just enough grip that they can still hold a weapon. Being able to hold a weapon is preferable, but often such hands are a bit scary. They can form stress marks and while I've yet to break one I worry about it constantly. (Well, not constantly. I don't lie awake at night fretting over it. But I do get concerned any time I put something into or take something out of such a hand.)
Well, rant over. Back to the review.
Wreck-gar's weapon, if he is not wielding it, can be stowed on his back. Take care when putting it into his hands, however, While I have not yet experienced a break, I have noticed stress marks forming in the plastic of his hands.
I will take this opertunity to express a genral complaint about open hands on Transformers. Yeah, they look nicer then a closed fist with a hole drilled through it. But, as much as I do care about asthetics as an adult collector, let us not forget that these are also designed as childrens toys. Open hands can either be designed in a way where they can't hold anything (such is the case with the previously reviewed Grapple) which takes away a bit from play value, or can be designed with just enough grip that they can still hold a weapon. Being able to hold a weapon is preferable, but often such hands are a bit scary. They can form stress marks and while I've yet to break one I worry about it constantly. (Well, not constantly. I don't lie awake at night fretting over it. But I do get concerned any time I put something into or take something out of such a hand.)
Well, rant over. Back to the review.
We're moving onto vehicle mode, but we're also getting our first look at Junkheap's robot mode. The head is changed from Wreck-gar, but still maintains a distinctive Junkion look. (While not completely unique to Junkions, it isn't every Transformer that can rock the facial hair.) His colour scheme is distinct enough from Wreckgar, with reds and mustards rather then Wreck-gar's browns and tans. It creates a unique character while staying faithful to the Junkion asthetic.
Since we have changed modes on our figures, I feel it it time to address another issue with this mold. The handle bars are hinged to fold flat against the leg in robot mode, but stick out (as handle bars are prone to do) in vehicle mode. The handle bars peg tightly into the vehicle mode, but the plastic around the hinge is on the thinner side. I did at one point purchase myself a second Wreck-gar. Bit of a whim but as it turns out it is good that I did get it. The second one is the one in these photos, as unlike with the above rant on hands, with my first Wreck-gar I did have a handle bar break! |
So be careful if you have any examples of this mold when transforming that area. I think I have heard of people shaving down the pegs on the handle bars a little bit to make them less tight, and I could in theory see that helping. While I may do so, I have not done this as of yet so I couldn't speak reliably of the effectiveness. I may do this, I may not. While I typically enjoy occasionally having my Transformers live up to their brand name, in the case of these characters I can be content leaving Wreck-gar alone as a robot, and leaving Junkheap as his hog. I suppose time will tell.
It should be noted that, as of now, Junkheap does not have a dedicated Reprolabels set. Much like Wreck-gar, there is a set with stickers to turn two additional Junkheaps into two other generic Junkions. I would theoretically like to have some of the chome detailing and a break light and licence plate for Junkheap, but this isn't important enough to me to pay for a larger set with many stickers I will not be using.
Getting back to Wreck-gar, additional detail from Reprolabels in this mode include chrome break detail on the wheels and a gas cap.
I like it when a weapon stows on the vehicle mode. I like it even better when it incorporates into and becomes a piece of the vehicle mode. The blades fold up and fit into his rear wheel, while the handle becomes his exaust. Very nice.
It should be noted that, as of now, Junkheap does not have a dedicated Reprolabels set. Much like Wreck-gar, there is a set with stickers to turn two additional Junkheaps into two other generic Junkions. I would theoretically like to have some of the chome detailing and a break light and licence plate for Junkheap, but this isn't important enough to me to pay for a larger set with many stickers I will not be using.
Getting back to Wreck-gar, additional detail from Reprolabels in this mode include chrome break detail on the wheels and a gas cap.
I like it when a weapon stows on the vehicle mode. I like it even better when it incorporates into and becomes a piece of the vehicle mode. The blades fold up and fit into his rear wheel, while the handle becomes his exaust. Very nice.
Wreck-gar (and Junkheap, of course) are no longer some sort of Mad Max style future motercycles as they were in the G1 days, but this more "Earth mode" style design here is still a mean enough looking bike to carry on the Junkion asthetic. Getting them into their vehicle mode can be a little fiddly, but once everything finally clicks in to where it is supposed to go, it holds together well. The bike does feature a kick stand allowing it to display standing on its own. (Or display being ridden with both of the rider's legs off of the ground.)
The handle bars are a soft plastic, so be careful not to store it in a fassion that will bend them, as keeping them bent for an extended period may make it difficult for them to regain their original shape.
The handle bars are a soft plastic, so be careful not to store it in a fassion that will bend them, as keeping them bent for an extended period may make it difficult for them to regain their original shape.
Size comparison with the Sailor Moon DVD case! (Although... does something seem a bit off about her? Nah...)
So, final thoughts time. Asthetically, these are wonderful as both robots and vehicles evocotive of the G1 Junkion asthetic. I can almost hear Eric Idle's voice spewing out TV catch phrases when I look at Wreck-Gar. (Movie Bumblebee totally riped that off from him, and Wreck-gar was more awesome for it doing it not because he was damaged, but because that was just how he wanted to talk!) Their compatability with one another makes having them both an extra atractive prospect. Both of these are highly recomended for adult collectors, and I am very happy to have them myself. Sadly, even though these are both fairly recent releases, and especially Junkheap might be fairly easy for a parrent to find in a store, I cannot recomend them for children. Given the above mentioned fragility, I could see a child breaking this toy fairly easially, which of course would just lead to an unhappy child. Unhappy children are not something I wish to be responsible for. So consider yourselves warned. |
Review added 23 January 2011. Please comment!