Dont move this please ;) the relevant mods/admin know this should be here ;)

 

OK on with the review.

 

`Ironhide` as I am tentatively calling him is remarkably impressive, trust me on this.  First off lets begin with the Alt mode, a `Scion XB` a funky lifestyle vehicle or at least that’s what Toyota/scion would have us believe, basically its just a big box on wheels but it isn’t terminally ugly at least ;)  The interior is very impressive on this one as it is a full 5 seat interior with none of the robot parts intruding into the `illusion` of it being a model car, very impressive IMO.  Doors and the rear open up nicely though it’s a bit weird that the sills are attached to the front doors meaning you lose a very small amount of the rigidity/structural integrity with the front doors open, just a minor niggle really.

 

Transformation – OK this one is going to be competing with Grimlock for most convoluted transformation method/insanity and yet it all comes together a little bit more polished, even though at one stage it looks like a mangled wreck you can continue through it logically to the fortunate conclusion of forming a recognisable robot without tearing any hair out.  There are some real novel and inventive points on this one, the arms pull out through where the back of the engine bay is as opposed to the tried and tested from under the wheel arches.  The legs pull out in a similar way to GF Exillion which is the first time I have seen this on an alt and it works well and is how they have managed to fit a full interior into this, it’s a much simpler and cleaner way than Smokescreens for example and yet has far more articulation in it as a result.

 

Robot mode – Pretty damn brilliant IMO, ok he looks a little barrel chested but that’s doesn’t detract from the figure when you have him. 

He has the most articulation I have ever seen on his legs and arms putting all other alts and Masterpiece Prime to shame, they rotate any which way you want to point them and they do it well without any grumbling ;)  My only gripe on this is the arms which are a little bit on the thin side for me but you soon start to forget about this. 

The rear `hanging` doesn’t intrude as much as you would think considering it is basically half a car he has hanging off his back.

Feet are the same as Prowls, on ball sockets will a pull out heel for stability, these seem to be working quite nicely though I am sure we will get some complaints of them being to loose once production versions start to arrive.

 

All in all I would give this Alt full marks, really.  He is innovative, fun to transform without being Grimlock insane, and can take any pose you care to throw at him.  I will look forward to getting the production example of this one very much.  Oh but his `gun` is quite pathetic ;)

 

Jag

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stage 2, comments to be added

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Legs pull out on this one

Rear View which can be changed to a bewilding variety, still not sure which way is right

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Front seats pop out easily, mahes transformation easier

Nice review!

 

That figure looks a lot better than I thought.

Hey Jag are you a product testor for Hasbro or do you just buy every Alt prototype you can get your hands on? In any case I`m glad to see these pics of Ironhide as he is even more impressive than I had originally thought.

Hey Jag looking at him first hand do you see any way to epty out the rear of his alt mode for him to be Ratchet as I plan to repaint one into Ratchet once he comes out. If you do see a way for this to be done could you please post pics?

nice very nice i wanna see ya make that transform sequence into an animation tho!!! :tfsad

hmmmm...wi it is grat to see him transformed properly. Bit it almost makes me wonder...if not ironhide...could it be skids?