The Energon Pub

by **mpchi** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 2:14 pm

Finally got a Deluxe Barricade! A bit late in the game, but got lucky and saw the only one left in local Walmart still in the box case. Has some scratches on car panel, but guess I'll have to live with that as I haven't seen this guy since June.

Got similar issues as people mentioned: Loose ankles, punch gimmick too easily triggered without pressing the button, a bit hard to stand due to the odd angles of the leg joints & not very leveled feet.

But I turned out liking it more than I've expected. And surprisingly, the ratchets on this little guy is spring loaded that has a nicer 'click' compare to lets say Ironhide's, which are just grooved plastic rubbing plastic (wears off quick). And I like how the double jointed hips let you pose him in a less 'squashed' stance and stands taller, while the shoulders let you swing the arms forward and backward a bit on posing. Love the additional ball joint on the shoulder/wheel panel, letting you move that panel around for different look. Not to mention a very nice car mode(though plastic, paint & finish sucks...but good enough for a $10 toy), and a nice Frenzy accessory. Even got hidden spikes on the feet.

With some fixes on a couple loose joints, this guy can be a pretty nice figure with some nice features. Too bad the articulation is not ideal.

by **Bumblebee-otch** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 2:25 pm

i never even noticed the foot-spikes!!

by **microclone** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 2:26 pm

quite a cool toy, i like the way his robo mode is for the most part very organic and alienesque, ie its very different from his alternate mode, as you say the standing/posing issue is there, a rather flawed toy that can be frustrating but still quite interesting.

by **publicvisage** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 2:27 pm

Yeah, Barricade definitely had some potential. I still think its a shame that he doesn't have that spinning blade thing he had in the movie.

Hopefully, he'll show up the sequal, and receive a better figure.

News Credits: 6 · by **bran10** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 2:35 pm

I like to display him in car mode, though the paint finish sucks cus I barely touch him and his paint is chipping!

by **mpchi** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 2:40 pm

I even read it from elsewhere that you can change the legs a bit for more knee articulation. Simply rotate the knee swivel 180 degree, then the ankle ball joint 180 degree. This will yield a pair of less organic looking legs(flat panels now in front instead of back), locks the loose ankle ball joint (need the feet spikes flip up to help), and let the knees bend a bit more natural. I tried it and its a good alternative. Though I do like the original organic look a bit more.

Just waiting for some glue to dry, so that the thickened ball joints will be stiffer. That way, I may not need to rely as much on the ankle lock, letting Barricade to bend and pose better on the movable ankles.

by **Sportimus Prime** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 2:43 pm

I simply love this figure, warts and all, I don't care. He has more pro's than con's.

by **mpchi** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 2:49 pm

Yeah. Last night when I was at Walmart, it took me a long time to decide if I should get him. Partly was the flaws & scratches on this particular one, and partly from my impression on the toy wasn't too good from before. Too monster like.

But now that I have him and fiddled with it a bit, I start to like it quite a bit. There are actually ways (in the articulation) to make him look nicer than normally pictured. Even let me bend down the high shoulders in various ways if I don't like it sitting that high. Love those spring ratchet joints of course. Surpised that it was used in a deluxe(quite a few of them too), but not on Voyager Ironhide nor Ratchet. Too bad this is as good as Barricade can get. It can use a better finish, and a bit more detailed, even if I need to pay more. But as is, its a good playable $10 Deluxe that has some nice surprises.

by **mpchi** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 6:41 pm

Woohoo! The fix is a success. Some thin layers of super glue now thickened the ankle ball joint, allowing the now tighter ankle to support the weight while letting the ankle bend inwards a bit, giving Barricade a flatter feet to stand on. No need to rely on the heel lock anymore.

by **Bumblebee-otch** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 6:44 pm

mpchi wrote:Woohoo! The fix is a success. Some thin layers of super glue now thickened the ankle ball joint, allowing the now tighter ankle to support the weight while letting the ankle bend inwards a bit, giving Barricade a flatter feet to stand on. No need to rely on the heel lock anymore.

im going to give it a shot with nail polish