Dave's Transformers Rant: Armada Maxcon Set 2

     Scavenger with Rollbar
     Thundercracker with Zapmaster (techspec only)

     There's a certain, possibly intentional, irony here.  The last Mega
scale TF named Scavenger was also a singleton release (Transmetal
Scavenger, aka Inferno).  Later note: the recolor Thundercracker started
shipping with Scavenger later on.  It's a recolor of Starscream, so I will
not review it since I didn't buy it, but I've tacked the bio note at the end
of this review.

CAPSULE

     Scavenger/Rollbar: Decent vehicle mode, good transformation.  Robot mode
is hampered by its gimmicks, but not as badly as Megatron.  Rollbar is very
good, however.  Recommended.  $19.76 at Wal-Mart


RANT

     This is the first toy to reliably come with the second comic/catalog.
[Late note: But not ALWAYS.  I've gotten a report of an old comic with Scav.]
The comic stars Scavenger and Rollbar trying to defend a "Satellite" (a
satellite dish, really) from the Destruction Team.  Starscream gets involved
a little too.  Guido Guidi's portrayal of Scavenger's head is closer to the
toy than Raiz's (which looks disturbingly like a mask of silver flesh
stretched over a metal skull).  The catalog side now has a fold-out flap to
hold more of the line.  It has Prime first, then the fold-out part gives
three pages of Mini-Cons (Speed, Adventure, Space, Destruction, Race and Air
Defense...no Land Military or Street Action teams, although they're still in
the pictures of Prime's base).  The Supercons get three pages as well
(Sideways, Smokescreen, Dx Prime, Demolishor, Blurr and Cyclonus).
Scavenger, Starscream and Red Alert cover a page and a half, with Megatron
sharing a page with Red Alert.  Finally, Jetfire has the last catalog page,
which does NOT mention the Space Pants.
     The sticker of Scavenger looks to be Raiz art, or based on Raiz art,
judging from the freaky face.


AUTOBOT: SCAVENGER
Altmode: Bulldozer/Roller
Mini-Con: Rollbar

Quote: "Always rise to the call of duty!"

One of the few AUTOBOTS who has been around as long as OPTIMUS PRIME,
SCAVENGER has come to Earth in a secret mission to observe the DECEPTICONS in
order to gain more insight into their destructive ways.  He was formerly an
instructor at CYBERTRON'S top military academy, and it is said that any
student placed under his guidance is destined to succeed.  Powerful, wise,
and incredibly strong, SCAVENGER always puts his mission first -- but can he
fulfill his deadliest mission yet under the watchful eyes of MEGATRON?

STR 10  INT 8  SPD 5  END 8  RNK 9  COUR 9  FRB 6  SKL 10  Avg 8.125

     Vehicle Mode: 9" (23cm) long, it's a big Constructicon as far as colors
go.  Lime green body with purple and maroon bits, black treads and silver
accents.  And a little yellow/black safety stripe on the driver's canopy.
It's essentially a bulldozer with a roller attachment on back for tamping
down dirt and stuff.  I know there's an official term for this piece, but I
can't recall it, so I'll just call it a roller.  The paint job is
indifferent, but there's a good amount of molded detail.
     The top of the canopy can fold back to make it easier to sit Rollbar in
the driver's seat.  There's a button inside it (triggered by putting Rollbar
in, or just by pushing it) that causes the internal speakers to emit an
engine starting noise.  This button does not work in robot mode (detaching
the left tread changes the sound commands).  The treads roll pretty well,
with a cam at the front of one that makes the dozer blade raise and lower
slightly as it rolls.  Turning the roller makes the speaker give out a
running engine sound.  There are dead hardpoints on either track, and that's
pretty much it.  You can raise the blade, but not really pose it unless you
squeeze the struts together a little (there's locks in place to keep the
blade from flopping around).
     An interesting balance note: you can stand the vehicle mode up on the
roller, and it's stable within a couple degrees of tipping.

     Transformation: A lot of panel folding and pegging and stuff.  None if
it is terribly counter-intuitive, and I was easily able to transform it
without looking at the instructions.  The dozer blade flipping has a minor
frustrable to it, as the blades need to be pushed away from the center before
flipping around, or they snap off.  The way the shoulders and head slide up
and forward to lock in position is pretty neat.  Oh, and the toy will make
sounds during transformation.

     Robot Mode: 7" (18cm) tall like the rest of the MaxCons.  Unfortunately,
the center of mass is either right over the roller or slightly ahead of it,
since it cannot stand up straight.  Rather, it leans forward onto its toes
(folded out of the dozer blade halves).  The heel spurs really needed to be
angled back a little so Scavenger could stably settle back on his haunches,
as it were.  
     The shoulders are ratcheting universal joints.  The head turns, the
elbows bend about 45 degrees in the right direction and 90 degrees backwards
(this cases the treads to go really loose, though.  The bit that keeps the
treads on also restricts elbow bending.  The hands are big doofy claws that
fold out from the sides of the treads (and the fingers are the only real
robot kibble in vehicle mode), they can open and close.  Opening them flat
lets Scavenger use his tread as a melee attack.  The figure turns at the
waist freely.
     The legs, however, are tied to the gimmick.  The legs are really a
single square pillar ending in the roller, the dozer blade halves cover the
front and snap onto pegs on the sides of the roller.  This makes them move in
a stomping action as the roller rolls.  If you get them about the same
height, Scavenger can lean forward without falling over.  Or you can just put
Rollbar under a foot, although the symbolism of that is a bit more Decepticon
than Autobot.
     [Late notes: Two other ways to stand him: one, point the toes down; two,
extend one leg all the way down and lock it by putting the maroon tab back
down.] 
     Lots of sounds in this mode.  Rolling along the roller will generate
clanking sounds that are in synch with the feet stomping.  If you place a
Mini-Con on the live hardpoint revealed on the side and pull back, you get a
firing sound and fire the missile concealed within the smokestack.  When the
arms are moved the right way, there's a metal clashing sound (one click down
from straight out seems to be the sweet spot).  When the arms are in the
right position, turning the waist also causes this sound.  All of these
sounds are disabled in vehicle mode (not that you can really attach a
Mini-Con to fire the missile in vehicle mode, it's behind a tread).

     Overall: A toy built around a gimmick, but it works better than you
might think.  It's a pity that they didn't think to check the balance of the
figure and adjust the heel roller to compensate, though.


     Rollbar: Mostly white with some black and gray (and a little purple).
No Mini-Con symbol, so he joins Rook and Crosswise in that respect.
Powerlinx connector is on the underside of the vehicle mode, near the back
(on the belt buckle in robot mode).
     Vehicle mode is 2" (5cm) long, a white dune buggy with black wheels and
seats, and a rollcage that can be flipped up.  There's a bit of gunmetal
paint on the rear deck.  It could stand some paint on the headlights and
grille, of course, but most Mini-Cons are lacking in paint detail.
     Transformation is fairly simple, but not simplistic.  The chairs turn
into feet of the long heelspur variety (to compensate for the backpack formed
by the rollcage).  The front wheels almost snap into place on the sides to
lock the arms down, but not quite.  In reverse transformation, the seats peg
down onto holes inside the car.
     Robot mode stands 2.25" (6cm) tall and has a lot more gray visible.  The
upper legs are purple, oddly, and the face is painted red on a gray helmet.
The head does not turn, disappointingly.  The elbows bend and the arms can
"flap" at the shoulders.  The hips and knees are hinges, and the legs move
independently.  The ankles also hinge, helping with stability in poses.  The
waist has a nifty toothy design on it.
     Overall, Rollbar is a good, solid Mini-Con.  Poseability is a little
less than I'd like, but I have yet to have any bits pop off.


DECEPTICON: THUNDERCRACKER
Function: Air Warrior
Altmode: Fighter Jet (Joint Strike Fighter)
Mini-Con Partner: Zapmaster
Quote: "Taste the cruel bite of my ruthless weaponry."

THUNDERCRACKER is a sleek a high performance Joint Strike Fighter.  In combat
he utilizes two awesome offensive weapons: a huge laser sword for close
hand-to-hand action and shoulder mounted high energy cannons for long range
bombardments.  THUNDERCRACKER is constantly trying to prove himself; working
diligently to gain the attention of MEGATRON to get that positive
reinforcement he so desperately seeks.  But alas, his efforts are ignored
often taken for granted.  With his frustration ever mounting he's forced to
attempt increasingly risky and reckless maneuvers that puts him in harms way
and endangers the lives of other DECEPTICONS.  One day he'll take one risk
too many and a smoking pile of ash will be his reward.

STR 7  INT 6  SPD 8  END 8  RNK 5  COUR 7  FRB 8  SKL 6  Avg 6.875

     Note: in the cartoon, Thundercracker will just be a powered up version
of Starscream.