10/22/2008

Transformers Universe Ironhide, Sideswipe, and Silverstreak

We'll just get this out of the way. Universe Ironhide's vehicle mode is a great big steaming pile of fail. I hate it. The only reason why I'm keeping this figure in my collection is because it is the only G1 incarnation of Ironhide I have and it doesn't feel like my Classics Autobots would be complete without him.

Universe Ironhide-alt

On the complete opposite side of the spectrum are Sideswipe and Silverstreak. The Sideswipe/Sunstreaker mold's alt-mode is arguably the best in the Classics/Classics 2.0/Classiverse line. At least of the deluxes. While I really do like Prowl and on paper his alt-mode might sound more exciting, Silverstreak "pops" just a bit more when I compare them together. You can't go wrong with either, though. (But I am considering getting a set Reprolabels stickers for Prowl to up his curb appeal.) Sideswipe is perfect in every way.

Universe Silverstreak-Sideswipe-alt copy

Going to robot mode, Ironhide moves from a GBSPOF to just a disappointment. The head's range of motion is limited to side-to-side and because of the toy's design, will always be looking down. As in "at his belly-button." His face was also painted the same light blue color as the windows. (I fixed this with some Testor's aluminum paint.) His transformation is much more akin to the movie toy designs than other Universe figures. I appreciate the effort, but the execution is just lacking. The only complaint I have about Silverstreak is that his face was painted white, but that didn't bother me enough to fix it (yet.) Sideswipe, again, is perfect.

Universe Ironhide-Sideswipe-Silverstreak

I've got all the Universe "Classics Series" deluxes except Tankor, and Sideswipe is far and away the best. You can't miss with Prowl, either. If you're a complete G1 phagg like me you'll want to pick up Ironhide, but if you're on the fence I don't mind telling you that you'll be okay skipping him.

P.S. Ironhide DOES have one neat little feature. His rear window actually becomes his chest. During transformation, you fold his rear bumper up and doing this slides a panel in to place behind the rear window. This is the little silver piece with his faction symbol you can see in the picture. That is a nice touch.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

So I guess the Classics (R.I.D.) Ratchet I have been looking forward to will be a big pile of suck?

Matt Booker said...

Dude, Ironhide is fixable. You mod him from a big pile of fail into an awesome assemblage of articulated whoop-ass.

Check out my guide on http://MattBooker.info.

~Matt Booker

mr kang said...

i picked all three of these guys as well as tankor yesterday~!!!

gotta love wal mart~!!!

Heavyarms said...

What's Tankor like? He's been floating around at various stores, but he doesn't really do anything for me.

Dennis aka Katsuden said...

The Ironhide is nice. So much better than the G1.

Anonymous said...

It's bizarre to rip on Ironhide because his head doesn't swivel "correctly" especially since some of us can remember that the original G1 sculpt had no head and didn't even look vaguely cartoon accurate.

Heavyarms said...

Sayer - I'm not really comparing Universe Ironhide to G1 Ironhide so much as I'm comparing him to the other Classics and Universe G1 Series figures. Sure, he's better than his G1 version, but when you look at the standard set by the modern line, he doesn't compare well.