Masterpiece Skywarp review

[Smokescreened]

Sorry I can't add the pictures I took after buying him, but if you look for the Hasbro version online then you should find pictures of him. I got him from Argos for £20, quite a surprise to get a Masterpiece for such a low price.

Anyway here's the review:

 

In 1984, when Transformers was released in the US, there was a Decepticon team of jets who the fans would come to dub as Seekers. The seekers were the elite air team with their team leader of Starscream. In toy terms the first three seekers were repaints, Starscream, Thundercracker and Skywarp.

 

While the seeker team has become popular amongst the fans, there’s not often been full teams of them released in full. A shame really because a complete team would sell quite a bit.

Well it’s been twenty five years since then and while Transformers have progressed, the older Generation One from the eighties is still very much liked by the adults who were kids in those days, and one particular line has been part, though very slowly, of delivering almost 100% accurate models of older Transformers from that time - The Masterpiece line.

 

So without farther ado, here’s a review of Masterpiece Skywarp, the Hasbro version.

 

Alt mode: A somewhat dated looking, but 80s cartoon accurate F-15 Eagle fighter jet is his alt mode and it is a beaut. The design is quite something and it would take too long to go into detail, but it’s quite remarkable.

The thrusters can be adjusted and the braking strips taken out, also the small figure of Doctor Arkeville can be placed into the cockpit. Also the tip can be opened to reveal a small tracking dish. Also there is landing gear, though due to the way the aft landing gear is made, then it looks like he’s balancing on two thin pieces of plastic. Plus the wing flaps can be moved up and down.

There are a choice of weapons to place under the wings, the arm blasters and missile pods. The colours are great, a mostly black paint job with purple detailing on the tail fins and the wings and silver highlights underneath and on the wings and tail fins with small dots of red on the wing tips and missile pods. The canopy is a faded yellow and purple Decepticon symbols on the wings.

 

With care, it can be placed on the stand by gently slotting it onto the stand that comes with the figure, if you get it just right then it sits very well. Also the hands are visible in this mode, but if you transform him just right into alt mode, you can slot have them look not too much like folded up hands.

A beautiful mode, though it might be seen as outdated. But this is the alt mode he had in the 80s cartoon.

 

Robot mode: After a slightly fiddly transformation, and a delicate one since a few of his parts can pop off easily and be put back on just as easily, you have a very nicely done robot mode.

The colours are the same, with the small different being red, which is visible in the alt mode, but more visible in robot mode for the shoulder intakes and a little red on the middle section with small dashes of purple on the lower legs near to the dark grey feet. The arms and hands are purple and the face is silver.

 

The features for this mode are that you can switch his face from a smirking one to a general plain look. The detail is as excellent as in alt mode.

He’s quite articulate, but his back weight can mean he’s hard to pose. However you can place him on his stand by switching the plastic section round and placing him carefully on that, then you can do mid air poses.

 

A stunning looking mode, quite accurate to the cartoon, though the yellow eyes look odd, they really should have been red. He is top and back heavy, sadly, so if posing him you need to be patient.

 

The stand that comes with him is a solid black with his name on it and a small Decepticon symbol, the small catch that can hold the Megatron gun from Masterpiece Optimus Prime can be slotted onto the front of the jet mode and the gun held there, the small figure is a solid black, no extra paint details sadly.

The arm blasters and missile pods can be held on the stand, but not all together, only one set of weapons can be placed there depending on the mode you have him in.

 

So is he worth getting? Yes and no, yes because he is very detailed, this is the kind of look that many of us older Transformers fans would have loved for our toys back in the 80s, it’s as close to show accurate as you can get.

No, because he isn’t for kids. He is quite fragile and not intended for rough play, also his transformation might be awkward for kids.

 

So if you are collecting the Masterpiece line and looking for another seeker to go with Starscream and the Japanese Masterpiece of Thundercracker, then you can’t go wrong with Skywarp. If you’re lucky you’ll find him for cheap prices, but you have to look around for fair prices.

A true Masterpiece, though not perfect.