Dave's Basic Transmetal II Rant:

     Nightglider
     Spittor
     Stinkbomb

     Found all three today at Target...which was almost out of them when I
got there.

CAPSULES

     Nightglider: Beast mode has undercarriage junk problems and isn't very
poseable without looking...wrong.  Transformation is pretty good.  Robot mode
looks okay, but has massive backpack problem.  Mildly recommended.  $4.99 at
Target.
     Spittor: With the exception of the perma-tongue, beast mode is very
nice.  Transformation has some interesting bits, and robot mode is pretty
good if you ignore the last bit in the instructions (see below).
Recommended.  $4.99
     Stinkbomb: Pretty good beast mode, albeit with over-long forelimbs.
Transformation almost on a Deluxe level, and a good robot mode.
Recommended.  $4.99


RANTS

MAXIMAL: Nightglider
Function: Intelligence Operative
Quote: "Do not go gently into that good night."

Nightglider is the most skillful Maximal spy.  A creature of the night, he
operates best alone.  Can virtually escape detection - emits an
electromagnet[ic] cloaking field, is soundless in flight, disappears in
subdued light or shadow.  Electro-disruptor can cast illusions, altering his
physical placement and appearance for up to 10 minutes.  Devoted to the
Maximal cause; despises Predacons.  Wields serrated Energon sword.

STR 3.8  INT 8.2  SPD 7.1  END 7.7  RNK 5  COUR 8.5  FRP 3.6  SKL 6.3
     Avg 6.275

     Given his chrome colors and neon orange (his coloration is eerily
similar to OpOp's), I kinda doubt he can vanish into shadows.  Looks like
this is a reincarnation of Mirage, lifting the electro-disruptor bit.

     Beast Mode: Just a touch over 6" (15cm) long, with a 4" (10cm) wingspan,
he comes mistransformed in the package.  To be a proper flying squirrel, his
forelimbs must be held along the leading edge of his "wings," and you should
hook the heels of his robot legs onto the rear corners of the flight surfaces
(they have spurs for just this purpose).  Oddly, the forelimbs have two ball
joints each, so they can separate from the winglike membrane and move around.
For those into such things, his "gerwalk" mode is trivial...just swing down
the robot legs.  No poseability on the head.  The wings have hoverfan
patterns molded into them, and look like they should hinge open (like
Sonar's), but don't.  From above or the side, the beast mode looks fine, but
from below it looks like a headless robot is hang-gliding underneath the
squirrel.  Exhibits very little asymmetry, that being limited to a few
molding details.

     Transformation: Not immediately intuitively obvious, there's some panels
that need to be flipped in his shoulder area.  But once you do, it's just a
matter of getting the head and arms out, and rotating the hips so the legs
point the right way.  Note: it's kinda hard to get it back in beast mode
without popping the robot head off.  Also, you may want to leave the tail
down as a third leg, to stabilize against the weight of the wings.

     Robot Mode: 4" (10cm) tall, mainly orange and grey with blue head and
chest patterns.  Paint job obscures the head's squirrelly appearance.  His
spark crystal is exposed on his chest and looks pretty good.  He carries a
sword that stores in his tail.  Fully poseable, but the wings don't move and
tend to get in the way.  Still, looks good and can assume a killer flying
pose thanks to the ball joint ankles.  Definitely one to hang from the
ceiling in robot mode.  Also mostly symmetric.  Perhaps they've decided the
asymmetry thing wasn't working out.

     Overall: Color's a little garish and both modes have kibble problems.
But not necessarily a bad toy.  A good sparring partner for the original bat
Optimus Primal.


PREDACON: Spittor
Function: Special Forces: Amphibous Warrior
Quote: "I'm mean to the core...I got meanness oozing out of every pore."

Driven by anger and galvanized by confidence in his craft, Spittor will do
whatever necessary to achieve [well, complete] his deadly assignments.
Highly skilled under [the] sea and on land, he is the soundless warrior who
Megatron reserves for the jobs that require seamless execution - a true
professional.  Covered in poison from head to tail, it was rumored that
rubbing his back would bring luck[,] but [this] only resulted in several
Predacons slipping into severe and extended dementia.  Dangerously patient;
has an electro-venom tongue which actually detaches to be wielded as a weapon
in robot mode.  Can leap one quarter-mile in a single bound.  Has camoflaged
spinal claw that eliminates frontal attacks [or attackers, whatever].
Unrefined and consumed by repressed anger; dislikes all things but is
extremely devoted to Megatron.

STR 5.8  INT 4.9  SPD 6.9  END 8.1  RNK 5  COUR 7.1  FRP 5.7  SKL 8.9
     Avg 6.55

     There are old superstitions that rubbing a frog or toad brings luck...
however, this doesn't apply to poison arrow frogs.  Curare is generally not
lucky.  

     Beast Mode: 3.5" (9cm) long, 5" (13cm) if you count the tongue.  7"
(18cm) long with limbs fully stretched out in a jumping pose.  Each limb has
three joints, mouth can open a little, and then he's got this greenish gold
chrome claw that can be pulled up from his back.  It can barely reach past
his nose, though.  Color scheme remains somewhat true to the original
Spittor, with blue and purple, but the orange is replaced by chartreuse and
greenish gold chrome.  An interesting note, he actually has two chromes, as
his eyes are a dark pink chrome.  Another mostly symmetric beast mode.

     Transformation: Rear limbs become arms, forelimbs become legs, entire
back rotates up and around to become the shoulderpads.  The head is mounted
on a couple of folding bits which end up locking things in place rather
cleverly.  A quick transform once you've figured it out, but nifty.
     [Oops, forgot to add the "see below" bit.  The instructions have you
turn the hips around so that the frog's jaw becomes a big codpiece.  Instead,
leave it as a skidplate in the rear.]

     Robot Mode: An oddly hunchbacked figure just a little over 4" (10cm) at
the shoulder when his claw is retracted.  His head actually sticks out of the
middle of his chest (and has no real frog motif).  He has that sort of
elongated and twisted feel of an Evangelion robot.  His feet are big enough
and have stiff enough ball joint ankles that he can support a lot of poses.
The shoulder claw is something of an empty threat, since it can't slash down
at any targets...make it some sort of ranged weapon, then.  }->  Oh, and his
spark is under one of the shoulderpads, on the roof of his beast mode mouth.

     Overall: This is perhaps the best melding of the TMII design philosophy
(twisted, eerie and McFarlane-esque) with poseability and general good design
principles.  Very nice.  If only he didn't have that lameoid tongue weapon.


MAXIMAL: Stinkbomb
Function: Psychological Warfare
Quote: "Nine-tenths of the battle is fought within the imagination."

A strategic specialist, Stinkbomb is fascinated with the studyof Predaconial
[gag] psychology.  Understands the power-driven Predacon mindset and delights
in manipulating it to Maximal advantage.  Once taunted for his unpleasant
odor, Stinkbomb's sharp wit, cunning tactics and dangerous intelligence
quickly earned him the respect of his colleagues.  Regarded by Optimal
Optimus as a valued advisor and fierce warrior.  Relies on serrated tail for
close range combat.  Photon emitters in optical sensors project hypnotic
light spectrum capable of lulling enemies.  Foul chemical spray causes
temporary paralysis - nasty odor remains for weeks unless victim bathes in
tomato juice.

STR 6.5  INT 8.9  SPD 7.1  END 7.1  RNK 6  COUR 8.1  FRP 4.7  SKL 5.9
     Avg 6.7875

     Geez, first patience is dangerous, now intelligence.  }->  And the Preds
may be out of luck, I don't think tomatoes were around 4 million years ago.

     Beast Mode: Body is 3" (8cm) long, curved tail is just as long but can't
be straighened out.  Looks pretty much like a skunk with mechanical bits
bursting out all over and forelimbs that are way too long.  But they didn't
mess with the colors and make him a green and purple skunk or something, he's
black and white with yellow and gold mech bits.  Head is non-poseable, but
all four limbs have good poseability.  Flipping up cuplike panels on the hips
reveals stuff underneath...on one side the spark, on the other some techie
bits.  Maybe he uses the dishlike covers to project hypnotic sounds to go
with the lightshow?  No major asymmetries.

     Transformation: Nifty bit of panel-flipping hides his beast head and
sticks his beast back behind him.  Hind legs become arms in a way reminiscent
of Silverbolt, but with the paws folded away more nicely.  And there's a
purely cosmetic bit of transformation that brings some of his chromed bits
around to become chest decor (and possibly launchers for his spray).

     Robot Mode: A little over 4" (10cm) tall at the head.  However, his tail
forms a serrated ponytail which can be raised over his head like Scorponok's
stinger, raising his total height to just over 6" (15cm).  The tail is
connected by a ball joint, so it can't be taken out and held in the robot's
fists.  Head has no skunklike characteristics, looking more like the lead
Daemonite Hellspont (from Wildstorm Comics) something.  Stylized M on
forehead...  mephistoid (skunk's classification)?  Forearms are a bit stubby
and upper arms rather huge, but not a dealbreaker.  Tail has a swiveling claw
thing that lets it take bites out of targets.  A few details are asymmetric,
but the most noticeable one has tech on both sides, just different tech.
     The lack of a hand weapon is a bit annoying.  Too bad the tail claw
thing can't be held in his hands (the little one at the tip of the tail).
The closest he comes is flipping out the two spark covers and using them as
energy projectors of some kind.

     Overall: Pretty good.  Both modes work well and the transformation is
pretty complex for a Basic.  Does have its flaws, though.

     Group Overall: I'd rate Spittor as best of the litter, just a tiny bit
ahead of Stinkbomb.  Nightglider is farther back, but may grow on me.  All
three are at least as good as the first batch of TMII Basics, and better in
most of the ways others disliked those toys.  All are worth your $5.

     Dave Van Domelen, notes Stinkbomb and Spittor's packages showed only
Deluxe and larger, but Nightglider's shows Stinkbomb and Spittor....