Pictorial Review of G1 Region Exclusive Double Punch
Saturday, January 19th, 2019 9:40pm CST
Categories: Reviews, Site ArticlesPosted by: william-james88 Views: 22,568
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With so little in terms of images out there, especially of the alt modes, I thought it would be a good idea to show you these toys, one at a time, and go over each of their modes along with their gimmicks, and finally have a review out there for each, even if it took 28 years.
Today we will look at Double Punch. Three of the four Action Master Elites are shrunk down versions of towering robots that had already come out and this is an homage to Black Zarak (a Japanese redeco of Scorponok). He has two accessories, his scorpion legs, which detach and reattach for different configurations in robot mode and alt mode. Of course, you can keep them in the same spot for conversion if you are not a partsforming fan.
The robot mode is very nice with some vibrant neon colours that work well against the black. The gimmick is that his claw hands move when you push the yellow button and while it makes more sense in alt mode, you can do it in robot mode as well. The head is much better proportioned than that of the giant Scorponok toy.
The transformation is different than the giant Scorponok mold since instead of having one tail, the two robot mode legs become two scorpion tails. Neon pink stingers fold out of each tail. Attaching the scorpion legs finishes the transformation. The scorpion head is much nicer here than on Scorponok or Black Zarak since it actually has its own distinctive look, with two venom-like eyes. That little bit of detail really helps sell this mode as an actual alt mode rather than a robot lying down with his legs up in the air.
And the gimmick is fun. Overall, this is my favourite of the four since the colours works well and it's an interesting take on a G1 Scorponok transformation. A simple transformation seems better suited on a smaller toy that favours the robot mode, like this one.
This article was last modified on Saturday, January 19th, 2019 11:53pm CST
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Posted by Black Bumblebee on January 19th, 2019 @ 9:59pm CST
Posted by Nathaniel Prime on January 19th, 2019 @ 10:19pm CST

Posted by Nemesis Maximo on January 19th, 2019 @ 10:34pm CST



But seriously do you?
Posted by Grahf_ on January 19th, 2019 @ 11:26pm CST
I just got a Botcon Double Punch the other day from eBay for a really good price (just about ultra class retail price + tax). It popped up for auction with a buy it now option as I had already been outbid on another Double Punch. It ended up selling for over double what I paid for mine lol. So it's really nice to see some pictures of the figure it was based on.
Posted by ZeldaTheSwordsman on January 19th, 2019 @ 11:43pm CST


BlackZarak's scorpion head looks alright with the cover plate on, but the eyes on Double Punch are better executed.
Posted by .... on January 20th, 2019 @ 1:26am CST
Posted by Evil Eye on January 20th, 2019 @ 6:40am CST
Posted by Nexus Knight on January 20th, 2019 @ 9:32am CST

I kid, though. From what I have seen these are pretty cute little figures, with a neon 90's palate to boot.
Posted by Wireless_Phantom on January 20th, 2019 @ 11:16am CST
Posted by william-james88 on January 20th, 2019 @ 11:38am CST



These comments are fantastic.
Ok so to answer some questions of how i came to own them:
A friend of mine found them in his local geek store. It has both new and old action figures. In that store were those 4 action master elites. My friend got a good deal for them so when it came time to sell them to raise funds I bought them off him for a a bit more than what he paid but still better than any price I have ever seen these at. It was still the most money I ever spent at once on TFs.
Posted by william-james88 on January 20th, 2019 @ 1:48pm CST
With so little in terms of images out there, especially of the vehicle modes, I thought it would be a good idea to show you these toys, one at a time, and go over each of their modes along with their gimmicks, and finally have a review out there for each.
Today we will look at Windmill. Three of the four Action Master Elites are shrunk down versions of towering robots that had already come out but Windmill is the only fully original design.
The robot mode has a nice asymmetry going on in the limbs, with only one foot and one hand, which you don't see on Action Masters. He is also not as neon as the others, with a more traditional blue, reminds me a bit of Slugslinger's G1 toy, with the visor. While he is more original than all the others, that means I don't really have anything to compare him to. He comes with two rotor blades which combine to form one rotor for his alt mode.
While he has the most complex transformation than any of the four Action Master Elites, since it deals with changing his axis of orientation, the result isn't better. It might be worse. He becomes a very gappy helicopter. It can look good at some angles, but you will see the illusion fade below.
His gimmick is that the rotor rotates when you press the yellow button. While the kibble he had instead of a right foot in robot mode works now in vehicle mode, that big laser canon he has for a hand makes no sense here. It looks like the helicopter has a giant zit.
While he has the most interesting transformation of all four, this is my least favourite. It's like they were being too ambitious with the transforming Action master concept that they tried too much and it just didn't land.
Posted by Hellscream9999 on January 20th, 2019 @ 2:45pm CST
...it certainly is there, isn't it

Posted by Hellscream9999 on January 20th, 2019 @ 2:47pm CST

Posted by Emerje on January 20th, 2019 @ 3:05pm CST

Emerje
Posted by Sabrblade on January 20th, 2019 @ 4:32pm CST
As for Windmill, I get what they were trying to do for his helicopter mode, but design seems like it was too ambitious for what the toy's budget would allow, resulting in, well, that (and which GoBots Coptur did better with less ambition).

Posted by Bumblevivisector on January 20th, 2019 @ 7:02pm CST
Crossblades https://www.seibertron.com/transformers ... es/2360/1/
And 3 years prior, there was a G.I.Joe named Windmill. Could Hasbro have actually been concerned about maintaining the trademark? Pretty sure his second and third figures were from Funskool and the Collector's Club, well over a decade later.
And while I normally hate asymmetry (many basic and deluxe Transmetal 2s I never have and never will bother with), this guy really makes it work in bot mode! And the rotor weapon is reminiscent of Autobot Pretender Sky High. https://www.seibertron.com/transformers ... gh/2294/1/
Posted by firefox91 on January 21st, 2019 @ 7:34am CST
Posted by Kyleor on January 21st, 2019 @ 8:09am CST
Hellscream9999 wrote:Wow, that helicopter, it's certainly, well, I mean, it's really just...
...it certainly is there, isn't it
But it's soooo ridiculous that it's like-able in a way. Kinda like an ugly dog.
Posted by Marcdachamp on January 21st, 2019 @ 9:22am CST
Posted by william-james88 on January 21st, 2019 @ 10:14am CST
With so little in terms of images out there, especially of the vehicle modes, I thought it would be a good idea to show you these toys, one at a time, and go over each of their modes along with their gimmicks, and finally have a review out there for each.
Today we will look at Turbo Master. Yes, that is his actual name. And while a Turbomaster also reffers to a different Transformers subline, he is not part of that line. Instead he is an Action Master which transforms. Three of the four Action Master Elites are shrunk down versions of towering robots that had already come out and this is an homage to Bruticus. It is a pretty faithful one when it comes to the main body and face, with the limbs streamlined and symmetrical to one another to make it more like an action figure.
His colours are more flamboyant than even G2 Bruticus with lilac and pink all across the toy. He has the most accessories out there and thus is the hardest to get complete. Not only does he have double blade weapon (which become wings in alt mode), he also has two rotors which clip to his shoulders in robot mode. He also has two rotating tail fins at his feet which are removable pieces.
Each of his fists have 3 small holes, one above, one below and one front and centre (to be used in alt mode). This allows you to either give him a sword in each hand or make a double blade weapon. There are two gimmicks associated to his wrists and they work in both modes. Simply by moving one arm up or down, both wrists will turn. Also, by pressing the yellow button in his back, cleverly disguised as one of Bruticus' two back cannons, both wrists will rotate furiously. Any enemy near him would be cut to bits in seconds, like the henchman Indy fights by the plane in Raiders of the Lost Ark. Of course, the four accessories are interchangeable so you could give him rotor fists if you wanted to.
For any IDW fans out there, he had a tiny appearance in MTMTE 12 where he fights against Ultra Magnus (he is in the background on the right):

Turbo Master transforms into a vertical take-off, Osrpey type, vehicle with wings. The transformation for all Action master Elites is nothing to write home about. In this case you just need to rotate the tail fins, turn his head, bend his knees and point his arms up. Then you attach the wings and rotors where they should be. Below you will see images of him with and without the wings attached, since the Osprey alt mode works better without the wings. Personally though, I much preffer with wings since it just makes it look so much more bonkers. The part of the transformation I find particularly clever is the head turning around since the window details in back of the head line up perfectly with the alt mode details already present in the vehicle mode chest so that the front looks uninterrupted. Pushing the yellow button in alt mode will make the rotors spin.
The robot mode is clearly the star this time, especially with all the display and equipment options, while we have had some non combining Bruticus components in the past, it is really unique to see what looks like a combiner design (Bruticus in this case) Transforming from a full combined robot mode into one alt mode.