Dave's European Transformers Rant: Obliterators - Spark (aka Pyro) - Colossus (aka Clench) Recently, John Earickson and David Kolodny-Nagy started selling these toys at TransCon, BotCon and over email, so I snapped up one of each. They're European releases of toys initially released just in the UK, if I remember their histories correctly. They came out in 1993 as part of Generation 2 in Europe, and for some reason were renamed. Pyro, after whose face the G2 Autobot symbol is based, became Spark, and Clench, whose face the G2 Decepticon symbol is loosely modeled on, became Colossus. I'm sure someone will follow up and explain more fully. }-> These particular editions were for the UK, Spain and Portugal, as opposed to the French, German and Dutch edition I got my G2 Powermasters in. Like those, though, the techspecs gave just name, quote and note, with no numerical stats. However, since each is that year's faction leader, I think it's safe to assume pretty close to all 10s. CAPSULES Spark: Good vehicle mode, good transformations, robot/base modes somewhat lacking, mainly in looseness and the tendency of the missiles to fall out. Recommended. Inquire with Jonn Earickson at Animemao@csnsys.com for prices and availability. Colossus: Good vehicle mode, okay transformation, base is a bit lacking but the robot is better. Missiles also fall out, but not as easily. Recommended. See above. RANTS AUTOBOT: Spark Function: Not given, presumably Commander or something like it. Quote: "Think about the most awful nightmare you can - and then double it. That's what we're up against." Thunders defiantly over any terrain. An awesome mixture of speed and firepower. Strong, versatile and solid as a rock. As a vehicle, always comes to the rescue and defends with multiple firing missile launcher. Transforms to huge multi-function mid-stage defence launch pad. Immovable in battle as a heroic robot. No, I don't understand the mid-stage thing either. Vehicle Mode: I'm strongly reminded of one of the Micromaster Combiner toys, the fire truck that this resembles both in form and in the fact it can split apart. The front half becomes the robot, the back half becomes the attack base. Both are balanced well to roll on their own four wheels, although it looks a little silly for them to do so. The combined mode is a very solid and stable Japanese-style fire truck 9 inches by 2.5 inches by 2.5 inches (23cm x 6cm x 6cm). The two front pairs of wheels have through-axles, and the back wheels are at least pretty smoothly free-wheeling, resulting in a toy which rolls quite well despite plastic wheels. As mentioned in the text, the missile launcher can be deployed in vehicle mode, but the missiles are REALLY easy to lose...the launcher is the prototype for the one used on G2 Dreadwing. There's lots of stickers to put on this toy, and the instructions are a little vague on a few. One nice touch, though, is that the sticker for the front windshield comes in several languages (English, German, Spanish, Dutch and French, I think), making this more of a European toy. Interestingly, the badguy Colossus has Texas plates. Hmmmm. Transformation: The rear half unfolds into a reasonably stable battle station, with a little spring-loaded gimmick to swing the final bit of the sights up into position. Not nearly as impressive as Thunderclash's (MW Optimus Prime's) station, but it can work for one or two other TFs alongside Spark. The use of translucent pink plastic for the targeting sights works pretty well. In fact, its use throughout the toy works well, it's not overdone or tacky. The front half transforms fairly simply (although there's a bit of trickiness getting the head part swiveled around) into a fixed-leg robot of the Optimus Prime style. Robot Mode: Rather unposeable, like most pre-Laser Rod toys, has the nifty glowing eyes gimmick, abdomen is a tad on the hollow side. Can man his battle station or use a seperate rifle, arms are reasonably poseable, although the head doesn't turn. Robot stands about 7 inches (17cm) tall, with the battle station just a little taller. Launcher: Works the same way as the G2 Dreadwing launcher, but with smaller missiles (more fragile, as well, and hence not compliant with US safety laws) and a bit less range, getting about 6-7 feet (2+ meters) from a shot. Overall: The endpoint of evolution along this track, I think. It's about as good as you can get with the unposeable robot with realistic vehicle mode and detachable battle base trick. Laser Prime took the evolution to the next level with poseability. DECEPTICON: Colossus Function: None listed, probably Commander. Quote: "I will not rest until the last Autobot is crushed to nothing and the Decepticons rule." A vehicle of terrifying power and pure evil. Combines a keen brain with diabolical cruelty. His whole being is dedicated to vengeance. A nightmare opponent, powered by pure hate [who] throws aside anybody foolish enough to get in his way. As a vehicle attacks from all sides with vast weapon power and does terrible damage with his vicious, rear mounted grabbing claw. Menacing in intermediate mode as a multi-purpose battle station. As a gigantic robot, towers terrifyingly above all. So, I guess they're saying he's not a nice guy? Yeesh, all this needs to be complete is a mention of him eating small puppies and kittens for breakfast with vegemite on them. Vehicle Mode: A wrecker much like Machine Wars Hoist/Hubcap, in dark blue with flecks of light blue. As long as Spark, but around an inch (2cm or so) taller in vehicle mode. Despite what his note says, his only real attacks in vehicle mode are rear-mounted...the not-so-terrifying claw, and his missile launcher. He also splits apart like a Micromaster Combiner, but his front half lacks enough wheels to roll, instead having a small skid you can flip down to keep the back of his longnose cab up. Not quite as solid in vehicle form as Spark, in fact the cab shook open in shipping, despite mostly being wired to the backing cardboard. Transformation: The rear half transforms almost trivially into the battle platform, which is more of just a big emplaced weapon usable by just Colossus. Not even a hint of being a multi-user platform. The cab's transformaiton is quite tricky, however, and took me several tries to get right. Steps have to be done in just the right order or they don't work. Robot Mode: The color scheme's a little on the tacky side, with bright green (including the translucent green plastic used for the glowing eyes and various "glass" parts of the truck) and magenta. He looks like he shops at the Marvel Boutique with Hulk, Mesmero, the Leader, the Beetle and scads of other green-and-purple/magenta Marvel characters. Stands 7.5 inches (19cm) tall with his shoulder flourishes counted, and is actually fairly poseable. No ball joints or their equivalent, but his shoulders, elbows, hips and knees all bend (thank the transformation scheme for the leg poseability). The upper body reminds me some of Laser Prime, but since the back wheels of Colossus's vehicle form are on his trailer, a clever solution for forming his legs is used. Launcher: Somewhat clumsy to fire, and it can only be loaded by tipping it straight up and dropping missiles in, something a bit awkward when Colossus is holding the grips. Range is poor, only about 2-3 feet (less than a meter) and it doesn't always want to fire the next pair of missiles. When it *is* working, you can fire all three pairs pretty quickly, which was the intention. But because the missiles are loose inside, it rarely works like it should. Overall: Also a pretty cool toy, and in some ways it's better than Spark, but when you add everything up, I'd say Spark is slightly better. If you only get one Obliterator, get Spark. But, other than the hole in your wallet, you won't regret getting both. Dave Van Domelen, has some knockoffs from Earickson to review too, but will leave that for tomorrow. From yeebe@is2.nyu.edu Sat Sep 6 03:37:37 1997 Received: from is2.nyu.edu by pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu (8.6.10/1.970122) id XAA11044; Fri, 5 Sep 1997 23:37:36 -0400 Received: from localhost by is2.nyu.edu (5.65v3.2/1.1.10.5/15Aug97-0256PM) id AA07294; Fri, 5 Sep 1997 23:37:35 -0400 Date: Fri, 5 Sep 1997 23:37:35 -0400 (EDT) From: Wonko the Sane To: Dave Van Domelen Cc: TransFanAtics Subject: Re: TFA: Obliterators Rant In-Reply-To: <199709060146.VAA09065@pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu> Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Status: RO On Fri, 5 Sep 1997, Dave Van Domelen wrote: > AUTOBOT: Spark > Function: Not given, presumably Commander or something like it. > Quote: "Think about the most awful nightmare you can - and then double it. > That's what we're up against." > > Thunders defiantly over any terrain. An awesome mixture of speed and > firepower. Strong, versatile and solid as a rock. As a vehicle, always > comes to the rescue and defends with multiple firing missile launcher. > Transforms to huge multi-function mid-stage defence launch pad. Immovable in > battle as a heroic robot. Interesting. The Pyro tech spec isn't that different. Here goes: Name: Pyro Function: (Note given) "Think of the most awful, unspeakable menace you can - and then double it, that's what we're up against" A colossal hero to the Autobot ranks, his feats of astounding courage are legedary. Thunders defiantly through everything eating up any sort of terrain. An awesome mixture of speed and firepower. Strong, versatile and solid as a rock. As a vehicle, always comes to the rescue and defends with massive multiple firing missile launcher. Transforms into huge multi-function, mid-stage defence launch pad. Immovable in battle as a monstrous robot. Strength: 10 Intelligence: 9 Speed: 9 Endurance: 10 Rank: 10 Courage: 10 Firepower: 10 Skill: 8 > No, I don't understand the mid-stage thing either. Y'know, now that I give it thought, I have no clue what that means either. Maybe the writer felt that the missile emplacement mode was a "third" mode of some sort between the truck and the final robot? > DECEPTICON: Colossus > Function: None listed, probably Commander. > Quote: "I will not rest until the last Autobot is crushed to nothing and the > Decepticons rule." > > A vehicle of terrifying power and pure evil. Combines a keen brain with > diabolical cruelty. His whole being is dedicated to vengeance. A nightmare > opponent, powered by pure hate [who] throws aside anybody foolish enough to > get in his way. As a vehicle attacks from all sides with vast weapon power > and does terrible damage with his vicious, rear mounted grabbing claw. > Menacing in intermediate mode as a multi-purpose battle station. As a > gigantic robot, towers terrifyingly above all. The same exact tech specs appear on Clench's box except he gets numbers: Strength: 10 Intelligence: 8 Speed: 10 Endurance: 9 Rank: 10 Courage: 10 Firepower: 10 Skill: 9 > So, I guess they're saying he's not a nice guy? Yeesh, all this needs > to be complete is a mention of him eating small puppies and kittens for > breakfast with vegemite on them. And him belching and saying "Yumee" afterwards... ********************************************** *Name: Benson "Ironfire" Yee * *a.k.a. Wonko the Sane * *e-mail: yeebe@is2.nyu.edu * ****************************************** *Check out Wonko's World, it's neat! * *http://acweb.com/ben/ * *************************************** "...what sheer ruthlessness, what disregard for sentient life! I rather like these aliens." -Megatron "Other Voices"