Dave's Smallest Transformers Rant

     Sideswipe
     Optimus Prime (Cab only)
     Bumblebee
     Starscream
     Soundwave

     Well, I ordered a case from BBTS, and I lost the "master case lottery"
as it were.  No trailers, no red Bumblebee, no Skywarp.  Of course, I have
paint, and will at some point probably make a Glyph or Rook out of one of my
spare Bumblebees.  
     There are translations of the techspecs out there, I'm not going to
bother including them in this review (in part because I'm writing it during
the Slammer Worm Attack and can't get online). 
     It's likely these will come to the U.S. at some point, so you might want
to wait.  If you don't want to wait, keep in mind that these are sold in
"blind" boxes, and as my experience shows, even buying a case won't guarantee
you a particular figure (well, it'll guarantee you a Bumblebee, Soundwave or
Sideswipe).  You need to buy a "master case" of four cases for around $200 to
be sure of getting everything, and I really wouldn't recommend that.  These
are nice toys, but not THAT nice.


CAPSULES

     Sideswipe: Good car mode, fairly dull Spychanger-style transformation,
pertty basic robot mode.  Weakest of the lot, so of COURSE it's one of the
commons.
     Optimus Prime (cab): Vehicle mode, transformation and robot mode are
very faithful to the original.  Clip-on gun is a nice touch.  Second best of
the ones I got.
     Bumblebee: Pretty faithful to the original in all respects, except for
the right arm (space limitations force an odd connection).  Probably smack
dab in the middle of the five, another common.
     Starscream: Good jet mode, fairly faithful transformation and robot
mode, but wings connect badly and he suffers all the flaws of the original,
plus a few more.  I'd put it at #4, but it is ambitious.  
     Soundwave: Belle of the ball.  Has almost all aspects of the original,
including the battery-storage weapons and a micro-Ravage.  Worth seeking out
in resale from someone who bought a case and has spares to sell.


RANTS

     These are packaged randomly "blind" in sealed boxes 4" (10cm) square and
2.25" (5.5cm) thick.  The front of the box shows the classic Optimus Prime G1
box art and a photo of Prime with his cab in repair base mode.  The sides
show the main six figures (including Prime's cab) in both modes, and
silhouettes of Bumblebee and Skywarp for the Mystery Chase Figures.  The back
shows the Prime toy next to a ruler, his combined vehicle mode, and an
animated pic of Prime.  The Prime art from the front is repeated on the top
of the box.  Each plastic tray inside is stiffened with a corrugated
cardboard piece onto which is taped a baggie with the techspecs.  The plastic
tray has two parts that snap together around the toy.
     The case contains 12 boxes and repeats the art from the boxes, plus
package art for the other four characters.  I've read that the "master case"
has 2 trailers and 1 each of the red Bumblebee (NOT Cliffjumper) and Skywarp,
but it looks like this is not consistent (i.e. a rarity in each of the four
boxes), and some people have reported getting cases missing one of the
commons.


SIDESWIPE

     Accessories: none.

     Vehicle Mode: 2" (5cm) long, about the size of a Micromaster, but with
non-rolling wheels.  It's red and black with silver headlights, metallic red
signal lights and a white tampo'ed Autobot symbol on the hood.  It's a
Lamborghini, in case you're a recent fan and don't know what Sideswipe is.

     Transformation: Fold down the hood (which has a head attached), pull
down the legs, pull out the arms, fold down the toes.  The top of the car is
on a hinge to allow things to move around it, and may pop off if you're not
careful.  [Late note: This is indeed just a simplification of the original's
transformation, but I find it too much of a simplification.  It's boring.]

     Robot Mode: 2" (5cm) tall, adding white legs to the color mix.  The arms
move at the shoulders, and that's it for poseability.  Um, and I just found
out the head can be easily removed, it's just on a post, not glued on.
Replacing it requires a tool of some sort, or very thin fingers.

     Overall: A weak Micromaster.  It looks nice in vehicle mode, kinda weird
in robot mode, and it tends to fall apart.


OPTIMUS PRIME

     Accessory: gun

     Vehicle Mode: 2" (5cm) long, all six wheels roll, done in the classic
red, dark blue and silver, although with windows that are black rather than
clear.  Small white Autobot symbol outlines are tampo'ed on the sides (which
become the shoulders).  The shape of the fists is visible from the side in
this mode, but that's preferable to detachable fist accessories at this
size...they'd be a millimeter long!  There's a trailer hitch peg, can't
really say how well the trailer stays on.

     Transformation: Classic G1 Prime almost exactly, it's only missing the
"put the fists on if you haven't lost them already" step.

     Robot Mode: 2.25" (6cm) tall, maybe one percent or so smaller than the
picture on the back of the box (i.e. if you put the toy next to the picture
you can barely tell there's a difference).  While the chest doesn't open up
to accept a teeny little Matrix, it's pretty close to the original.  The arms
swing at the elbows (which don't unbend), the legs swing independently at the
hips.  The fists are black rather than blue, probably to avoid an extra paint
application.  A little silver on the fuel tanks on the legs would have been
nice, but I can always add that myself.  :)
     The gun clips onto the forearm, kinda like a G1 Insecticon gun. 
     [Late note: I'm told the arms do unbend, you just have to use more force
than I was willing to exert on my only Prime.]

     Overall: This is what the World's Smallest TF line is about.  An
accurate and fairly complete shrunken version of the G1 toy.  The only reason
it's not my favorite of the set is that Soundwave is so good.  


BUMBLEBEE

     Accessories: none.

     Vehicle Mode: At a mere 3cm long, this is definitely a Smallest TF,
smaller than any Micromaster or Mini-Con.  A yellow chibi VW Beetle (old
style) with black windows and tires, red Autobot symbol on the roof and a
silver panel over the engine.  The wheels do not roll.

     Transformation: Identical to the original, with one exception.  The arms
can't both have the same jointing because of size limitations, so the right
arm connects at the elbow instead of the shoulder.

     Robot Mode: 1.75" (4.5cm) tall, he can look eye to eye with the Ramjet
Mini-Con.  Both arms can move, although the right arm swings at the elbow and
is kinda weird.  [Late note: Full size Bumblebee also has this lower
jointing, but it's not as blatant.]

     Overall: Solid reproduction of a simple design, and a definite
swallowing hazard.  Mmm, tasty.  Too bad it can't roll.


STARSCREAM

     Accessories: 2 fists, 2 missiles.

     Vehicle Mode: Okay, this is nowhere near a "smallest TF" at 3.5" (9cm)
long, although it's probably the smallest that you could do the classic
seeker transformation.  It also has the advantage of being closer to proper
scale with the Autobots in the set, F-15's are pretty big (I recall being
irked at the Mekton game way back when I found that Autobots could only be
tiny Roadstrikers, while Decepticons would be full-sized Mektons).  He's red,
gray and dark blue, with violet Decepticon symbols on his wings and a black
cockpit.
     The nosewheel can pull down if you have long nails, a knife or a lot of
patience.  The missiles can be mounted on the wings in this mode, but you
have to remove them if you want to store the toy in its original packaging.

     Transformation: If you're careful, you can transform it entirely without
removing any bits (although they may just fall off).  It's tough to get the
arms out without a tool, though, and of course the fists have to be attached
when you're done.  The missiles can be left on the wings or moved to the
arms.

     Robot Mode: 2" (5cm) tall at the head, a bit more for the shoulder
thingies (jet intakes), he's actually not too large in this mode.  The arms
have ball joint shoulders and peg hips (so you can point the toes various
directions).  Unposeable otherwise.  It looks fairly close to the original
Starscream toy, but the wings and tailfins are too big and not quite
positioned correctly.  

     Overall: Between being inelegantly big, relying heavily on pegs and
having a somewhat ugly robot mode, it's not one of the better ones in this
set, but at least they tried.


SOUNDWAVE

     Accessories: Guns, Micro-Ravage

     Tapedeck Mode: 3cm wide, 2cm high and a little over 1cm thick.  Dark
blue and gray with silver and gold accents and a violet Decepticon symbol on
the tapedeck cover.  The robot face is visible, since the head cannot turn
around to hide it.  You can open up the back and store the guns as batteries,
and with the aid of strong fingernails or a knife you can open the tapedeck
and store Ravage in tape mode.  [Late note: it's not so hard on later tries.
Also, with Ravage inside, just open it a little and shake Ravage out, as
opening all the way just wedges Ravage.]

     Transformation: Almost identical to the original, just lacking the
turning head and the deploying fists.  He even has the toes.

     Robot Mode: 2" (5cm) tall, with extensive articulation: shoulders,
elbows and ball joint hips.  As with the original, the knees only bend
"chicken style" as part of transformation.  There's holes in the fists and a
mount on the shoulder for the guns, which are just over 1cm long.

     Micro-Ravage: An unpainted black tape 12mm wide and 8mm high, about 1mm
thick.  Three bits swing out for transformation, but they're just pegged on
and will come off easily!  In panther mode, Micro-Ravage is REALLY hard to
make stand, since he's so narrow.  He's 18mm long in panther mode.

     Overall: Poseable, accurate, plus accessories that all store in tapedeck
mode?  You gotta be kidding...of COURSE this is the best of the lot.  A
veritable tiny god.

     Dave Van Domelen, annoyed at whoever the slaghead was who wrote and
unleashed the Slammer Worm....