Dave's Transformers Classics Rant Constructicon Devastator Gift Set Permalink: http://www.eyrie.org/~dvandom/BW/Classic/Devastator Update: Got Scrapper and Bonecrusher swapped. Have I ever mentioned how I dislike these arbitrary name reassignments to identical molds? Fixed now. Given that this was a $30 set with toys I initially spent about $40 on and already came with recolors, I passed on it. Had it ever gone on clearance in my area, I would have picked it up had I found it for $20 or less, but that didn't happen. Finally, a friend asked me to grab him one when I reported that stores in my area had finally gotten them in, and he let me open it to review before sending it on. Here's links to my reviews of the original Energon versions of these toys. Sledge and Duststorm will be used as the templates for color comparisons on the limbs: http://www.eyrie.org/~dvandom/BW/Energon/BasicC - Limbs http://www.eyrie.org/~dvandom/BW/Energon/DeluxeC - Core For an alternate take on this team of recolors, see the following: http://www.insecticons.com/insecticomics/v3/270.html through 275.html (and various other appearances after that). CAPSULE Constructicon Devastator: A good mold, but none of the problems with the original have been fixed. Definitely a better color scheme, and if you don't have the original you should try to get this one. Not enough better to be worth full price to rebuy, though. $29.76 at Wal-Mart (and thanks to the recent "put old stuff back on the shelves" push, you might even be able to find one!) RANT Packaging: Square 12"x12"x2.75" (30cm x 30cm x 7cm) window box with Classics trade dress. A photo of Constructicon Devastator wraps from the right front around to the right side. On the left front is a list of individual character names. Inside the box, Scavenger (Steamhammer) is at the center in robot mode, and the four limbs are in vehicle mode arrayed in a diamond pattern around him. The left side panel has co-sells for Mirage, Jetfire, Grimlock, Megatron and Starscream. The right panel claims that the big Devastator picture is actual size. On the back is a single bio note for all of them, plus techspecs for each component and the combined form. There's photos of each figure in both modes surrounding a photo of Devastator, with the call-out "Combine all 5 robots to form Constructicon Devastator!" There's also a picture of the energon accessories, "Includes Energon weapons and Energon Stars!" The actual Energon items aren't visible in the box (well, you can kind of look in the edges and see them, but not well enough to tell if they're clear or opaque). Inside, one twist tie from each component goes through to the back of the cardboard tray, holding the blister in place. The Energon accessories (which are all a clear purple that looks grape-flavored) are in the blister along the right side, hidden by the photo of Devastator. The crane accessories are held down by two twist ties each, and the power shovel accessories by one each. The four Energon Stars are just held in by the blister. A single large instruction sheet in a bag is taped to the back of the cardboard tray. On one side are instructions for vehicle to robot mode of each component. On the other are the combination instructions, although half that side is dominated by a "duuuh" sort of giant poster showing where to attach the limbs once you've done the hard part. There are no official Functions or Mottos, so I'm making up my own (except for Devastator himself, who gets a motto). Also, under "previous mold use" I'm not really counting the Universe repackagings, as those were the same toy on a new card. DECEPTICON: SCAVENGER Altmode: Power Shovel (steam shovel style) Function: Resource Scout Previous Mold Use: Energon Previous Name Use: G1, G2, BW, BMac, Universe, Armada Motto: "Hey, guys, look what I found!" STR 7 INT 2 SPD 3 END 6 RNK 4 COUR 8.5 FRB 6 SKL 7 Avg 5.44 Odd how they picked the Scavenger identity for the core but didn't really change the personality (see below). And I suppose Devastator is no smarter than the dumbest component. :) And yeah, these are his G1 stats, one of the few characters then to get fractional stats. Six twist-ties hold him in the tray. Colors Swaps: At first glance, Scavenger doesn't look much different from Steamhammer. The green plastic is close enough to chalk up the differences to batch variations. Some of the black plastic (treads, head, shovel arm forearm, parts of the torso where the shoulders connect, combiner connection segment inside the legs, inner hip ratchet) remain black. But all other black pieces become silvery gray except the thighs, which become bright green. The silvery gray parts on Steamhammer become black on Scavenger. The green on the arms, shovel and the flaps on the insteps of the boots of Steamhammer become silvery gray on Scavenger. The only new plastic color is the clear color, which goes from blue to purple. So, Scavenger otherwise has all the same plastic colors as Steamhammer, just rearranged. Paint Apps: The chest is a nonmetallic dark purple with silver chevron striping, and there's silver on the abdomen, face, pelvis, tread interiors and shins, plus on the piston rods on the shovel arm. There's some black accents on the right shoulderpad, most of the shovel, and on the abdomen flanks. There's decently matching bright green paint on the shovel arm to tie things together visually. The windows of the cab are painted dark purple. The Decepticon symbol molded on the abdomen is painted a more reddish purple. Other Notes: The bar connecting the treads has not been removed in this version. I cut the one on my original set out long ago. DECEPTICON: LONG HAUL Altmode: Crane Function: Power Services Previous Mold Use: Energon Previous Name Use: G1, G2, Universe Motto: "My work is more important than this conversation, so shut up." STR 9 INT 5 SPD 2 END 9 RNK 4 COUR 8 FRB 7 SKL 4 Avg 6 Stats also taken directly from the G1 version, even though they don't fit what little of the character we get described in the bio note. Three twist-ties hold the vehicle mode into the tray, plus a rubber band around the cab. Color Swaps: Light blue plastic becomes black. The dark blue plastic is split into two batches, one of which becomes a decent match for Scavenger's green, the rest becoming a more yellowish green. The yellowish green parts are the crane boom and hook, the upper arms (not shoulders), chest, neck piece, panels where the shoulders connect, thighs and the strut. Paints: The eyes are painted over red, but not enough to totally block the purple lightpiping. There's silver on the pelvis, shins, face and hubcaps. The hazard stripes at the vehicle's front are painted silver and black. The headlights and roof lights are yellow, and there's some little red accents near the tops of the boots. The Decepticon symbol on the belt is painted reddish purple. The windows are all painted the same dark purple as on Scavenger. Other Notes: The hip joints are just as floppy, if not moreso, as on the originals. One of the two crane claws has bright green plastic in the joint, the other has purple. I'd guess that the one with green is supposed to go with Long Haul. DECEPTICON: DECEPTICON SCRAPPER Altmode: Power Shovel (bulldozer-ish) Function: Installation Artist Previous Mold Use: Energon Previous Name Use: None ("Scrapper" alone used in G1, G2) Motto: "Have you ever considered becoming a patron of the arts?" STR 8 INT 8 SPD 4 END 7 RNK 5 COUR 5 FRB 3 SKL 9 Avg 6.125 Two twist-ties hold the vehicle into the tray. Color Swaps: Dark green becomes medium somewhat metallic gray, yellowish green becomes black, black stays black, clear blue becomes clear purple. Paint Apps: The forearms are incongruously painted "Constructicon green", as are the face and numerous other details on the toy. The wheel hubs and inside of the shovel are painted gold. There's black on the kneecaps and bits of dark purple on the shoulder "bolt" details. The Decepticon symbol on the chest us reddish purple on a white background. The ladders leading up to the cab in vehicle mode are painted gunmetal gray. Other Notes: Hips and knees are a little loose. DECEPTICON: BONECRUSHER Altmode: Power Shovel (bulldozer-ish) Function: Shock Trooper Previous Mold Use: Energon Previous Name Use: G1, G2, BW, Armada, Energon, Universe Motto: "Bones, struts, exoskeletons...you got it, I smash it!" STR 9 INT 3 SPD 2 END 8 RNK 4 COUR 8 FRB 6 SKL 6 Avg 5.75 Two twist-ties hold the vehicle in the tray. Color Swaps: Dark green becomes bright "Constructicon green". Yellowish green becomes silvery gray. Black stays black. Clear blue becomes clear purple. Paint Apps: Silver on the face, forearms, pectoral sections (and on the ladder parts molded on the other side of the pecs), hubcaps, shovel teeth and some bits on the cab. Black on the top of the cab, the kneecaps, toes, and some bits on the sides of the shovel. Red details on the pecs, kneecaps and wrists. The Decepticon symbol is reddish purple on a white background. Other Notes: Hips and knees are a little loose. DECEPTICON: HIGHTOWER Altmode: Crane Function: Chemist Previous Mold Use: Energon Previous Name Use: RiD, Universe Motto: "I'm here to mix it up!" STR 7 INT 6 SPD 3 END 8 RNK 4 COUR 6 FRB 7 SKL 9 Avg 6.25 He has Mixmaster's G1 techspecs and job description, my guess is that this was going to be Mixmaster but they weren't able to get the trademark back (Mixmaster hasn't been used since G2). I'd further guess that the same fate met the name Hook, which would have been a lot more appropriate for one of the cranes in this set than Long Haul. Three twist ties hold the vehicle in the tray, plus a rubber band around the cab. Color Swaps: The light blue pieces become black, as do some of the dark blue pieces. The parts that became yellowish green on Long Haul become a vibrant "Decepticon purple" here. Paint Apps: Same red eyes as on Long Haul. Silver face, hubcaps and silver hazard stripes on the front of the vehicle. Neon green stripes run along the top sides of the vehicle and the forehead tablet is neon green. There's more neon green stripes on the tops of the forearms. The windows and a bit on the pelvis are gold. The belt buckle is white with a reddish purple Decepticon symbol. Yellow headlights and rooflights. And yes, both the purple plastic and the neon green paint glow under UV. Hightower is like a walking black light poster. Not all of the chemicals he brews have military applications, I'm thinking.... Other Notes: Not as floppy in the hips as Long Haul, but still could use some work. If this were available separately, I'd pay full price for it, I like the color scheme. DECEPTICON: CONSTRUCTICON DEVASTATOR Function: Super Robot Previous Mold Use: Energon Previous Name Use: Universe (twice, "Devastator" alone was used G1 and G2) Motto: "I hate anything shorter than me. And most taller things too." The incredible poewr of CONSTRUCTICON DEVASTATOR is rooted in the combination of five DECEPTICON warriors, but he is somewhat limited by their minds all competing for full control over his massive body. BONECRUSHER is a chaotic madman who lives to destroy, while LONG HAUL is a brooding genius with a talent for constructing the vast energy collection engines that supply the DECEPTICONS with power. HIGHTOWER is a chemistry lab on wheels whose passion for poisons and explosives is surpassed only by his dislike of his teammates. His polar opposite is SCAVENGER, who has an instinct for detecting valuable fuels and minerals, but is desperate for the approval and friendship of his fellow CONSTRUCTICONS. Finally there is DECEPTICON SCRAPPER, a quiet psycho whose first love is building monuments to his enemies - out of their destroyed chassis. STR 10 INT 2 SPD 1 END 9 RNK 6 COUR 10 FRB 8 SKL 4 Avg 6.25 Amusing how Devastator outranks any one of the Constructicons. I guess people just have a hard time telling him that he can't order them around. Colors: The canonical arrangement has Bonecrusher as right arm, Long Haul as left arm, Hightower as right leg and Scrapper as left leg. This gives a good color balance, with bright green dominating everything above the knees except for the purple chest, with black and gray for the boots. The common use of silver as a secondary color also ties the design together pretty well. The lightpiping is still there, in purple, but they painted over the eyes partly with red. There's also less silver paint on the face. Other Notes: I recommend opening up the front end of Long Haul a little to be the actual hand, and having the crane with claw as a sidearm weapon Overall: A pretty good combiner, and a nicely unified color scheme. They didn't fix any of the mold problems, however, which is a shame. If you don't already have the Energon version, definitely grab this one if you see it. But it's not enough better to be worth rebuying the same toy for $30. Dave Van Domelen, now to box it all up for shipping.