Name: Sideswipe
Series: "European" Generation 1
Allegiance: Autobot
Function: Warrior
Alt Mode: None (was a Lamborghini Countache)
ROBOT MODE
Height: 10cm Width: 4.5cm
Red robot, with black head, groin, fists. Not surprisingly it looks like Sideswipe - more like the cartoon than the original toy. His elbows are blue for some reason, his face is white, blue eyes, his thighs white, Feet are silver. It's a typical Actionmaster - head turns, arms rotate and legs have G.I.Joe poseability (fully poseable hips, knees bend 90 degrees). He has rear wheels moulded into his legs, but no front wheels. On his back he has a moulded windscreen (it's red) and two blue ridges - his rocketpack, I suppose - even if the original didn't have it. Swiper can fly so the blue bits on the back make sense. And they match the elbows (c8 The backs of the calves are the engine cover and spoiler of a Lamborghini, which is a nice touch.
THE PARTNER - VANGUARD
The partner is a small blue & black tank. As with most non-animal Actionmaster partners, it doesn't impress me. The top springs up and over his head when you use it as a backpack. It looks like Swiper's spacewalking or something. I don't have his gun, but I can't see where it can attach to the backpack anyway.
It's a mid blue block with black treads and turret - the turret goes over Swiper's head for the backpack mode, and the treads can swing down so they're under his arms (like handles) - think of a one man flight pack and you get some idea of what it does.
VARIATIONS
None that I know of. But they'd be worth an absolute fortune (c8
OVERALL
Well, it's a nice Actionmaster, and if you want a poseable Sideswipe, here it is. The partner's completely forgettable in my opinion, but then most of the second year Actionmasters had lame partners. Whether or not it's worth the prices the second year Actionmasters go for on eBay is another matter entirely. I paid a dollar, and for that it's great. If you're a Swiper fan (and I am), you'll like it. If you're not, not really worth eBay prices (heck even if you're a fan of Sideswipe, eBay prices are a bit much). 8/10 for Sideswipe, 2/10 for the partner, mainly because it adds very little to Sideswipe
|