Post by Imperator on Jun 3, 2005 16:53:51 GMT
Review
I have to say, finally completing my five-piece combiner, that I am thoroughly impressed with the general quality of the toys that make them up. Considering each individual figure is effectively a triple-changer, maintaining a level of quality per-mode that surpasses many of the straight Energon basic figures is an impressive feat.
It is a minor disappointment therefore, that Blackout is the weakest of the combiner limbs I have so far got. While the above point still stands, and the figure is greater in quality per-mode, Blackout falls a little bit below the high standard that Takasbro set themselves with the first wave of Combiner limbs.
So to start, as is tradition, with the vehicle mode, we actually reach Blackout's highest ebb. This is one of the best helicopter modes I've ever seen in a Transformer. Because Blackout is a basic-sized figure, there simply wasn't room to go nuts on gimmicks and details, leaving the toy as a pleasant approximation of a modern Apache gunship. That's not to say that it's in any way an accurate model, for aesthetics and to avoid legal wranglings the final design is unique, and entirely better for it. The way the robot mode's legs fold up give a very subtle futuristic look to the whole thing.
The only minor quibbles to be had are from the rotors and the underside. The former fold up in robot and limb modes, which means that they're never level on a straight line, and the latter has the robot mode arms tucked away rather ungainly. In almost all the combiner limb toys the robot mode hands appear to be the biggest sacrifice, and with Blackout they are clearly visible in helicopter mode. Furthermore, attaching Blackout's energon weapons gives the vehicle rather too much height to remain looking good, so I found the best compromise was to set them aside while in this mode. However, these are all just niggles, and in this mode Blackout is at his strongest.
Transforming to robot mode is extremely simple, and I could do it first time without the instructions, which is something of a rarity for me. Anyhow, the final robot doesn't quite match up in quality to vehicle mode. The main problem is the massive bulk of the chest. Now, as with all basics the available space is limited, so this was alway bound to be an issue. However, I can't help but feel that it could have been at least partially averted by slimming down how "tall" the cockpit appears. As it happens, the piece stretches out so far from Blackout's head that it really does look incredibly impractical. The Arielbot Treadshot has a similar issue, but it is not nearly so pronounced there as it is on Blackout.
And the situation is not improved by Blackout's skinny, flimsy limbs. Again, this would not be so much of an issue except for the fact that the torso is carrying so much bulk, which doesn't help with proportions. I also found the ball joints to be looser than on other toys this size, and in one arm I couldn't get Blackout to even hold his own gun up.
Nevertheless, the proportion problem isn't altogether a huge one, and you can quickly aclimatise to it. While the ball joints are a bit loose, they are not critically loose, and having these types of joint on every part that matters really pays off. Blackout, like most of the other combiner limbs, has superb posability, able to do things that many transformers could only dream of. Of interest is that the lower legs are actually hollow and open at the back, which pays off in terms of posing surprisingly well, since you can compact the legs into a tighter position, for a more 'coiled' look.
It is in limb mode that Blackout displays actual faults, rather than just minor niggles. The real kick is that there are no places to join one bit to another, so there is a worrying lack of stability in this mode. The only thing that stops the whole thing fold up and collapse when you touch it is, surprisingly, the energon hand piece. But even with this there are far too many bits flapping about unregulated. Blackout's arms in particular just have nowhere to go, and invariably end up point out at odd angles.
In addition to this, that damnable cockpit sticks out far too much. If Blackout's serving as a leg, this isn't much of a problem, since it's around the back and out of the way. But when on arm duty, it is just that little bit too noticeable to get away with.
It's not a total loss though. Other than the jutting-out cockpit, Blackout's proportions work out very well as a limb, which is more than I can say for, say, Treadshot. So that's all okay.
In fairness, there's a lot good to be said about Blackout; he's still a very good standalone toy, and being able to serve as a limb for a larger toy is a great bonus, and a gimmick that, twenty years on, still hasn't gotten old. The problem is that most of the good things about him are done better in other combiner limbs, such as Sky Shadow or the awesome Sledge. So, while not the best of his kin, Blackout is by no means a bad toy, and a good addition to any modern-Transformer collection.
[glow=red,2,300][7/10][/glow]
Pictures (courtesy of BWTF.com)
www.bwtf.com/gallery/slbruticus/aae?full=1
www.bwtf.com/gallery/slbruticus/aal
I have to say, finally completing my five-piece combiner, that I am thoroughly impressed with the general quality of the toys that make them up. Considering each individual figure is effectively a triple-changer, maintaining a level of quality per-mode that surpasses many of the straight Energon basic figures is an impressive feat.
It is a minor disappointment therefore, that Blackout is the weakest of the combiner limbs I have so far got. While the above point still stands, and the figure is greater in quality per-mode, Blackout falls a little bit below the high standard that Takasbro set themselves with the first wave of Combiner limbs.
So to start, as is tradition, with the vehicle mode, we actually reach Blackout's highest ebb. This is one of the best helicopter modes I've ever seen in a Transformer. Because Blackout is a basic-sized figure, there simply wasn't room to go nuts on gimmicks and details, leaving the toy as a pleasant approximation of a modern Apache gunship. That's not to say that it's in any way an accurate model, for aesthetics and to avoid legal wranglings the final design is unique, and entirely better for it. The way the robot mode's legs fold up give a very subtle futuristic look to the whole thing.
The only minor quibbles to be had are from the rotors and the underside. The former fold up in robot and limb modes, which means that they're never level on a straight line, and the latter has the robot mode arms tucked away rather ungainly. In almost all the combiner limb toys the robot mode hands appear to be the biggest sacrifice, and with Blackout they are clearly visible in helicopter mode. Furthermore, attaching Blackout's energon weapons gives the vehicle rather too much height to remain looking good, so I found the best compromise was to set them aside while in this mode. However, these are all just niggles, and in this mode Blackout is at his strongest.
Transforming to robot mode is extremely simple, and I could do it first time without the instructions, which is something of a rarity for me. Anyhow, the final robot doesn't quite match up in quality to vehicle mode. The main problem is the massive bulk of the chest. Now, as with all basics the available space is limited, so this was alway bound to be an issue. However, I can't help but feel that it could have been at least partially averted by slimming down how "tall" the cockpit appears. As it happens, the piece stretches out so far from Blackout's head that it really does look incredibly impractical. The Arielbot Treadshot has a similar issue, but it is not nearly so pronounced there as it is on Blackout.
And the situation is not improved by Blackout's skinny, flimsy limbs. Again, this would not be so much of an issue except for the fact that the torso is carrying so much bulk, which doesn't help with proportions. I also found the ball joints to be looser than on other toys this size, and in one arm I couldn't get Blackout to even hold his own gun up.
Nevertheless, the proportion problem isn't altogether a huge one, and you can quickly aclimatise to it. While the ball joints are a bit loose, they are not critically loose, and having these types of joint on every part that matters really pays off. Blackout, like most of the other combiner limbs, has superb posability, able to do things that many transformers could only dream of. Of interest is that the lower legs are actually hollow and open at the back, which pays off in terms of posing surprisingly well, since you can compact the legs into a tighter position, for a more 'coiled' look.
It is in limb mode that Blackout displays actual faults, rather than just minor niggles. The real kick is that there are no places to join one bit to another, so there is a worrying lack of stability in this mode. The only thing that stops the whole thing fold up and collapse when you touch it is, surprisingly, the energon hand piece. But even with this there are far too many bits flapping about unregulated. Blackout's arms in particular just have nowhere to go, and invariably end up point out at odd angles.
In addition to this, that damnable cockpit sticks out far too much. If Blackout's serving as a leg, this isn't much of a problem, since it's around the back and out of the way. But when on arm duty, it is just that little bit too noticeable to get away with.
It's not a total loss though. Other than the jutting-out cockpit, Blackout's proportions work out very well as a limb, which is more than I can say for, say, Treadshot. So that's all okay.
In fairness, there's a lot good to be said about Blackout; he's still a very good standalone toy, and being able to serve as a limb for a larger toy is a great bonus, and a gimmick that, twenty years on, still hasn't gotten old. The problem is that most of the good things about him are done better in other combiner limbs, such as Sky Shadow or the awesome Sledge. So, while not the best of his kin, Blackout is by no means a bad toy, and a good addition to any modern-Transformer collection.
[glow=red,2,300][7/10][/glow]
Pictures (courtesy of BWTF.com)
www.bwtf.com/gallery/slbruticus/aae?full=1
www.bwtf.com/gallery/slbruticus/aal