Dave's Transformers Rant: Autorollers

     Dirtbag
     Roadblock

Finally found them at Target for $12.99 each.  So far none sighted at TRU or
Meijers (at least the ones I checked).

CAPSULE
     Somewhat flimsy in vehicle form, they both have a tendency to droop
forward in robot mode.  Rubberized tires are insufficiently rubberized for
slicker tabletops, making it hard to autotransform them.  Free rolling as
vehicles is very good...Dirtbag's through-axles let him roll straight for
about ten meters (yes, I took him into the hallway and checked), but the fact
that Roadblock's front wheels don't share an axle made it swerve to the side
pretty sharply.  Missiles fire about 3 meters due to being very light.
Roadblock's front-end shovel moves realistically.  Autotransformations are
pretty neat, although you have to make sure the arms are in the right
positions before autotransforming back to vehicle form.  Both are about 14cm
long and 7cm x 7cm in cross-section in vehicle mode and they come on cards
with pop-up techspecs.
     Good toys, if about $2-3 too expensive.

RANTS

DECEPTICON Dirtbag
Function: Materials Transport
"Move it or lose it!"
Form: Dump Truck

     Carries massive amounts of munitions into battle to support Decepticon
troops.  If Autobots begin to achieve victory, he instantly converts into
robot warrior mode to join the fight.  Armed with a devastating double-shot
missile launcher and crusher claw, he's a formidable fighter despite lack of
agility and speed.  Titanium/steel composite armor allows resistance to laser
fire - but also hinders overall combat efficiency.

STR 8  INT 3  SPD 2  END 9  RNK 4  COUR 6  FRP 7  SKL 4  TOT 43  Avg 5.375

     As mentioned earlier, both pairs of his wheels have through-axles which
gives him great stability in free-wheeling motion.  Has "TFORM" in gold
chrome above his radiator grill.  His claw is okay, snapping shut when you
slide a knob back.  His driver's cab hangs over his shoulder in robot mode,
and here's a place it could really use a sticker.  Instead of seeing the
screw on the bottom of the piece, we should get a sticker making this into a
searchlight or something.  11cm tall in robot mode.

DECEPTICON Roadblock
Function: Front-line Defense
"Get out of my way...NOW!"
Form: Front-end loader

     Always angry.  Extremely combative.  Enjoys *pushing* other Decepticons
around, but only if they're weaker than himself.  Recon missions are his
specialty.  Clears battle perimeters of fallen Autobot wreckage in minutes
with his heavy-duty front end "super shovel."  Has no fear of engaging an
enemy.  Uses spinning sawblade to slice open armor like a machete through
birthday cake.  Fires powerful "penetrator" missiles that bore through
double-thick, armor-plated shielding to assure Autobot destruction.

STR 8  INT 3  SPD 4  END 8  RNK 4  COUR 8  FRP 6  SKL 5  TOT 46  Avg 5.75

     Well, this is a fun techspec to pick apart.  Not only does it contradict
itself in several places (front-line defense, but specializes in recon) but
it's not even grammatically correct (should be "weaker than he is.").  Clever
transform bit that has his shovel form a chestplate.  He's a little more
stable in both forms than Dirtbag is, but has a problem with his vehicle form
sagging and preventing free rolling.  Has no hands, just a saw and a missile
(Dirtbag at least has a claw).  In vehicle form his head is visible where the
front grill should be, a flap there mighta been nice.  OOH, just found the
button on his left arm which you push to make his sawblade spin.  Bit tricky
to get to work right, but neat.  12cm tall in robot mode.

     Dave Van Domelen, also got an incomplete Metroplex today and it trying
to figure out where the parts he does have go (anyone got some instructions
they could xerox for me?)....