He wasn't my fave figure. It was Inferno who gets the top spot! Fire engines are just more exciting over some orange colored truck with and extendable hook connected to a long extended rod. Though that episode where we was hoodwinked by his fellow engineers (psychotic ones specifically) kind of made me feel sorry for his naivete.
But again, Takara hit the ballpark with this mold again since, well Grimlock (except the Tracks/Rodimus mold) and his fave meter just grew on me these passed few days after fiddling with him
We get like what back then during our childhood, are near accurate representations of our G1 characters. Just comparing the actual product from archived model sheets of Grapple, it's so uncanny.
Whyizit that in TFA, and its toys are near carbon copies and I don't recall hearing any complaints (except for the design style the show took among oppositors). Yet in MP it is mixed if not there are some loud oppositors.
Let's take, WJ for instance. The original inspiration of the Lancia was full of product endorsements. It's Diaclone incarnation was in fact kinda neutered with the decals. When he made the transition to MP, some criticism was that he didn't look like his anime counterpart (the product endorsement apps are in fact very neutered too) but he still retained those car details to a certain point. So from what I understand, he doesn't look at all kike his anime.
Then Takara pulls off a stunt of releasing anime Alert. Some complain it's a cash grab But his anime incarnation is indeed a dressed down version of the toy aka lack of details from the original.
Weird thing again or is it just a marketing strat by Takara to add details to the mold by increments? Grapple has more paneling and molding details but also switches some of the chrome apps off from the original Inferno mold (his lower front bumpers).
To belie the impression of a lazy retool as evidenced by his hip wheel locking slots that are quite different from Inferno's. For the latter, your swing them up to lock them on a peg. In Grapple's case, they both lock after you swing them downwards as the pegs are located in a different area.
But the fly in the ointment in that design change is that it limits the figure's hip swivel a bit further
. Inferno's hip swivel has a wider margin as the wheels are located higher. Grapple's wheels get in the way when you swing the hips either side.Also, the crane folding gimmick also stands on its own. Following similar principles but also different from the ladder of Inferno. Just take a look at what happens back there (check his back and compare to Inferno).
He even has a back flap of sort but it swings/rotates horizontally and not vertically. Also, be veeeeeery careful transforming his extensions. What with the very thick paint apps of orange all over, bending those components was a bit stressful that it made me break out in sweat 'cause it scare me that I might break it.
Inferno didn't scare me that much. Owe that to I can't all read the manual.
Accessories?
Though I wish his "pink prints" were made of a different type of paper.Grapple is indeed another "beauty" and worth the purchase!
Now all we need to do is wait post April after Megs and the rest of the cons and Convoy are released for the final version of the mold Artfire is released!
I give Grapple a
1/2 (owing to the material used on his "pink prints") If it were made of a tear resistant type he would have been perfect !
