The Energon Pub

Wished I had the original, but the 2ndary market is simply out of this world. The closest would be the CM Mugen Calibur but the opportunity always escapes me.....that and the color, wished it came with the RB colors. In the original Dorvack series, he comes as a futuristic all terrain human controlled transformable biped mech. Then Hasbro bought some of the molds from Bandai and recolored him. Simon Furman did the rest in the UK series.





Art Storm recently released the non transformable version (more like a die-cast action master) so I'll be using that as a reference comparison between the two.



G1 Roadbuster

Detailing:





So "Jarhead" militaristic. If RB was a human, I view him as one of the US Marine/Seals/Deltaforce all rolled into one.




BFG! (from the original)

Roadbuster 30th anniversary verion



Package (IDW artwork using Guido Guidi's AHM designs)



The figure/vehicle/guns , decal sheet ( nostalgia from the Dorvack series) and manual)













Transform mode (reminds me of a more Terran based "Warthog")






Modern version of the BFG (more modular combination)









Warrior mode:(Some of the lighting has sort off made the Autobot sigil invisible (he comes with a blue Wrecker sigil too)





Armed full body shot (see the "back pack?)


Materials:

ABS PVC. Excellent molding. Reminds me of G1 1980s quality. Smooth and glossy. Thick layers of paint

Transformation:

Simple yet intelligent

Poseability:

Limited head rotation (good enough but not total 360)




Ratcheted shoulders, double jointed elbows


Limitation:

Rifle handle too short (similar to the G1 Optimus gun syndrome)
Static wrist joints
No hip swivel
Can't do the stand on one leg pose


Feedback:

Great modern update of a kick @ss mold. Whereas the original design was blocky, this one reminds me of a more proportional Jarhead "Gelgog" (from his head and his shins). I was previously concerned with his shins looking hollow/spindly but the fold in of his treads perfectly deals with this issue. Also, you can adjust his feet pushing it inside so it won't stick out too much (giving it a less of a Daffy duck webbing look).This does not affect his standing stability.

He is quite detailed and has a lot of peg holes where you can attach his weapons. Also surprised that he comes with a functional eye poking missile (thank you Hasbro lol!).

Another thing that gives this fig the edge......ze PRICE! Prior to his release, I was contemplating in getting the FP version (this one, the official cost 1/10th of the 3rd party version). Also, Tomy is also releasing him (sans the decals from initial descriptions). Speaking of the decals, Hasbro should have had used more white contrasting fonts because the black tends to be absorbed by the dark green and brown paint apps. but it was quite enjoyable to stick them to the fig.....shades of G1 again.

Far from a perfect figure, it does not break the ceiling when it comes to designs but fills up the void a lot of fans of the Furman stories ave long prayed for. I give him, on a scale of 1 to 5, 4.6

Great review, fenrir!

I really liked his design, but the dealbreaker for me were the static wrist joints and "duck feet."

Any knee problems with yours? The left knee on mine is almost a complete floppy mess and the right knee is only slightly better. Thus he falls over at the slightest breeze. Just wondering if it was just mine. Also seems that not all the not all the weapons fit well in all the peg holes (i.e. green peg weapons being almost too big from places where green pegs fit well and holes were green peg weapons fit fine, the black peg weapons sit loose). Any similar problems with yours?

No problems with his knee so it must be your unit's only. Black pegs, (only 2 are black pegged, the missile launcher and the view finder of sorts.The launcher's pegs are not that tight but not too loose. You may want to use clear nail polish.