Review: WARBOT: Defender (AKA Classics: Springer)
Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2010 11:12 pmThe review is regarding this fellah right here:
http://www.tfsource.com/products/view/product_id/984/
I got mine from the link above and he is on my desk as
I type this. Fan Productions kind of blew me away with
their "City Commander/Classics: Ultra Magnus" trailer
a while back but this is the first standalone figure and so
far in my opinion their best product to date.
Packaging: It is rare that I am surprised at how well an item
is packaged. This is one of those rare occasions. The
box is in a clear plastic carton and then the toy is entombed
is a clamshell sitting in a cardboard tray. The post would have
to get very deliberate to damage this product on it's way to you.
It doesn't hurt that also the box is very nicely designed and
printed.
Design:
>Robot Mode: In robot mode he evokes a good ballance
/of G1 "Toon" style and modernized Classics (Universe,Etc)
/look. He is broad shouldered and tough looking with out
/being a total brute. Sort of a well thought out blend of bulk,
/strength, and efficiency that a good soldier robot would need.
/The figure is very, very poseable and as some have noted is
/flexible enough to holster and draw his pistols. Which is one
/heckofa' feat. Speaking of pistols...
>>Weapons/Accessories: "The Defender" comes with the
/following armament: 2 pistols and his Sword/Rotor.
/The Sword is well executed with a chinese broadsword
/style blade(s). It is made of the same plastic as the tires and
/pistols which is a bit transluscent. A lot of folks are worried
/about how thin these pieces are and I can see where they
/are coming from. I have already concluded that mine will
/not be left displayed with his sword in hand just to be on the
/safe side. That said, it looks good in his hand and capable
/meteing out some punishment. His pistols are an example
/what I hope to see in the Impossible Toys TRNS-1(Arcee).
/They are well detailed and appropriately deadly looking.
/All of his weapons stow and/or deploy in all three modes
/fairly effortlessly. The folks at FanPro thought it all out.
>A/M: Armored Car: His armored car mode is a good
/mix of brutish and functional. It looks like it could take
/on most terrain fairly easily. In someways it reminds me
/of some of the future combat vehicle concepts from last
/decade. The pistols can be mounted forward in this mode
/and add some menace to an already tough looking ride.
>A/M: Helicopter: In helicopter mode which has a pleasantly
/thorough transition from his armored car configuration. The
/Defender looks like a bulky "Combat in the year 2000!"
/version of an Apache combat helicopter. The rotor spins
/freely and the pistols are pegged into the front sponsons
/to give this mode the same "business" look that his terrestrial
/combat form has.
Quality: The die-cast metal is nice, and the plastic is of higher
quality than some of FanPro's earlier efforts. The paint job is
as close to perfect as you will see in the third party market.
All he needs is an Autobot insignia and he's pretty near
perfect.
Value: This where it gets a bit less positive. You need to
ask yourself, "Self. Do I really love Springer $90 worth?"
Because after shipping that's pretty much what this fellah
costs. If you say "Yes" then jump on it before he is on the
path to oblivion...
http://www.tfsource.com/products/view/product_id/984/
I got mine from the link above and he is on my desk as
I type this. Fan Productions kind of blew me away with
their "City Commander/Classics: Ultra Magnus" trailer
a while back but this is the first standalone figure and so
far in my opinion their best product to date.
Packaging: It is rare that I am surprised at how well an item
is packaged. This is one of those rare occasions. The
box is in a clear plastic carton and then the toy is entombed
is a clamshell sitting in a cardboard tray. The post would have
to get very deliberate to damage this product on it's way to you.
It doesn't hurt that also the box is very nicely designed and
printed.
Design:
>Robot Mode: In robot mode he evokes a good ballance
/of G1 "Toon" style and modernized Classics (Universe,Etc)
/look. He is broad shouldered and tough looking with out
/being a total brute. Sort of a well thought out blend of bulk,
/strength, and efficiency that a good soldier robot would need.
/The figure is very, very poseable and as some have noted is
/flexible enough to holster and draw his pistols. Which is one
/heckofa' feat. Speaking of pistols...
>>Weapons/Accessories: "The Defender" comes with the
/following armament: 2 pistols and his Sword/Rotor.
/The Sword is well executed with a chinese broadsword
/style blade(s). It is made of the same plastic as the tires and
/pistols which is a bit transluscent. A lot of folks are worried
/about how thin these pieces are and I can see where they
/are coming from. I have already concluded that mine will
/not be left displayed with his sword in hand just to be on the
/safe side. That said, it looks good in his hand and capable
/meteing out some punishment. His pistols are an example
/what I hope to see in the Impossible Toys TRNS-1(Arcee).
/They are well detailed and appropriately deadly looking.
/All of his weapons stow and/or deploy in all three modes
/fairly effortlessly. The folks at FanPro thought it all out.
>A/M: Armored Car: His armored car mode is a good
/mix of brutish and functional. It looks like it could take
/on most terrain fairly easily. In someways it reminds me
/of some of the future combat vehicle concepts from last
/decade. The pistols can be mounted forward in this mode
/and add some menace to an already tough looking ride.
>A/M: Helicopter: In helicopter mode which has a pleasantly
/thorough transition from his armored car configuration. The
/Defender looks like a bulky "Combat in the year 2000!"
/version of an Apache combat helicopter. The rotor spins
/freely and the pistols are pegged into the front sponsons
/to give this mode the same "business" look that his terrestrial
/combat form has.
Quality: The die-cast metal is nice, and the plastic is of higher
quality than some of FanPro's earlier efforts. The paint job is
as close to perfect as you will see in the third party market.
All he needs is an Autobot insignia and he's pretty near
perfect.
Value: This where it gets a bit less positive. You need to
ask yourself, "Self. Do I really love Springer $90 worth?"
Because after shipping that's pretty much what this fellah
costs. If you say "Yes" then jump on it before he is on the
path to oblivion...
) and a few other awesome figures, like ML Grapp Super Mode. I can't wait for the Combaticons and DL Blaster, and then it's "Ship" time.