Dave's Transformers Universe Rant: Basic Spychanger Packs

     Ultra Magnus with Ironhide
     Optimus Prime with Prowl

     Wal-Mart has a LOT of Universe toys as exclusives right now, but there's
no indication of exclusivity on the packaging, so it's hard to tell which are
exclusives and which are just showing up first at Wal-Mart.  I'm pretty sure
these Spychanger recolors are exclusives, though.

CAPSULES

     Ultra Magnus with Ironhide: Ultra Magnus is very...black, not quite the
Sam's Club exclusive color scheme.  Ironhide has a very good Trailbreaker
color scheme applied, although it's not remolded into a camper.
Recommended.  $5.84 at Wal-Mart.
     Optimus Prime with Prowl: Lemony fresh Sam's Club Prime, yet another Red
Alert color scheme that's not named Red Alert.  Recommended.  $5.84 at
Wal-Mart. 


RANTS

     Original review of Magnus and Prime Spychangers:
     http://www.eyrie.org/~dvandom/BW/RiD/spych3

     Not exactly original, but old review of Ironhide/Ox:
     http://www.eyrie.org/~dvandom/BW/Japan/SpyChangers

     Original Review of Prowl:
     http://www.eyrie.org/~dvandom/BW/RiD/spych2

     Packaging: These are on small Universe cards 8.25" (21cm) tall and 5.5"
(14cm) wide.  The sides are cut out in a sort of ragged edge to give more of
an impression of the square radiating pillar design of the card having
depth.  The blister bubble is 5" (13cm) tall, 4" (10cm) wide and a bit over
2" (5.5cm) deep.  A folded cardstock insert along the bottom has the names
and other info, with the truck character being emphasized (art just for their
robot mode, name much bigger).  On the back is the Universe storyline blurb
in three languages, plus pictures of both figures in each mode.  They brag
about the smaller Spychanger's weapon as an accessory.
     The instructions are inside the bubble, between the inner tray and the
cardstock label.

     Ultra Magnus: Well, the art for him is unimpressive to say the least.
He's held into the tray by one twist-tie.   The blue parts become a slightly
brighter blue, while most of the gray parts on the original are now black.
The same hubcap pattern is used as on the original, the 8 short spokes in
silver variety.  The Autobot symbols printed on the sides are simply red, no
white outline this time.  The words "WIDE LOAD" are printed on the rear
bumper.  
     The black is a bit overwhelming, but it's a pretty good toy at its base,
and if you don't already have the Ultra Magnus Spychanger, you should
probably pick this one up (with Ironhide added for less than a buck more).

     Ironhide: Black body with silver bed and matte blue-gray windows.  There
are stripes along the sides with the classic G1 Trailbreaker look, plus a
very small "4WD" on the front fenders.  The hood has a red outline-less
Autobot symbol flanked by red rectangles that I suppose are foglights or
something.  The wheels are silver three-spoke designs.  [Later note: Ben Yee
pointed out to me that the G1 Trailbreaker has two rectangular bits of red
plastic joint showing in robot mode, this seems to be more attempt to copy
TB's look.]
     In robot mode, the body block is yellow, and the collarbone hinge is
milky white.  The rifle is also milky white.  The eyes are painted red, the
rest of the head left yellow.  The trademark stamp is Takara 2000.  It looks
nice, probably the spiffiest paintjob on this mold so far.
     As a side note, a few years ago I kitbashed an Ironhide into
Trailbreaker: http://www.protoformproject.com/dvd/kitbash/trailspy.html

     Set overall: Good value, at least for recolors.  I like that they chose
the one original mold (Ironhide) that can store its weapon in vehicle mode.  


     Optimus Prime: His package art is a little better.  It takes two
twist-ties to hold Prime in.  The gray parts of the original are still gray,
btu all the red plastic has been replaced by yellow, for what I call Lemony
Fresh Optimus Prime.  The forearms are painted black, and the face is left
unpainted except for blue eyes, but the paint apps are otherwise about the
same as on the original in robot mode.  In vehicle mode, there's borderless
red Autobot symbols on the sides, silver windows, red alarm flashers.  The
wheels are the same design as the original's, silver 8-spokes.
     Generally a good mini-representation of Sam's Club exclusive RiD Prime.

     Prowl: Pretty much the G1 Red Alert color scheme (white plastic with red
paint applications), with silver windows and 8-spoke silver hubcaps.  While
the original version of this mold looked pretty lame thanks to a huge Autobot
symbol on the hood, this one looks very good.  Too bad they didn't rename it
Red Alert.  The mold is one of the second wave Spychangers that have weapon
storage built into the vehicle mode.
     In robot mode, the boots are black, the torso block is a very tasteful
cool gray, and most of the face is painted silver with the eyes left gray.  I
rather like the gray used here, it stands out as unique among Spychanger
plastic colors IIRC.

     Set overall: Again, a solid set of Spychangers.  Lemony Fresh Prime
isn't really what I'd call a GOOD color scheme, but it's nice to have a
version that doesn't require a Sam's Club $30 membership to acquire.  And Red
Prowlert looks very nice.

     Dave Van Domelem, now to open up Megatron....