Name: Blades
Series: Generation 1
Allegiance: Autobot
Function: Air Support
Alternate Mode: Rescue Helicopter
CHOPPER MODE
Height: 4cm Length: 12cm Width: 5cm
A red & white chopper with black windows, Blades looks sufficiently rescuey in this mode, as long as he doesn't have his side guns. He's got a red front, a red tail and the middle is white. The rotors are both grey, his sideguns, in present, are white and his wheels are grey.
Blades has both runners and wheels (on the runners), and he's got an Autobot symbol on his nose. He has two red pegs on either side of the tail for the side guns. The sideguns look pretty good although as I said it does make him look less like a rescue chopper, since they're quite big and menacing compared to Blades himself. Both rotors spin - they'll turn once or twice before stopping. The wheels also roll, although Helicopters don't usually roll along. It's a pretty good helicopter mode for the time, with no real drawbacks other than a hinge on the roof for transformation.
TRANSFORMATION TO ROBOT MODE
Fold the front up, bring the two sides of the main rotor together, pull back the rear section, remove the sideguns and fold in the tail. Pull out the sides to become arms and if you like, reattach the side guns to his legs so they point forward. You can actually manage this transform without removing the sideguns, but it's a lot easier if you do.
ROBOT MODE
Height: 8cm Width: 4.5cm
In robot mode, Blades has a dark red chest, white arms, white thighs, white head, blue face & red shins. It's a fairly good colour scheme - even the blue face manages to look pretty good. He has silver stickers on his chest, and a white stripe of plastic running down his sternum.
A rather narrow robot mode is probably Blades' biggest drawback. The thighs are one piece and both are narrow, the arms are very slim, although the overall effect hides this since the runners of the chopper are mounted on the outsides of the arms. The overall body shape is improved a little if you let his have his sideguns on his knees, so I say add them. The handgun is mounted on the inside of his (small) fist), so I would recommend letting Blades shoot from the knees only. The arms could be a little better define, and he's thin as I said, but it's not a terrible robot mode.
VARIATIONS
The first release of Blades (which is my review subject) had a metal chestplate. The second release had a plastic one (although they retained the dark red - adding an extra colour of plastic to the toy). The classic version (which had no rubsign) has a different year imprint.
OVERALL
Well, like his fellow small Protectobots, Blades has a few problems holding him back. He's certainly better than Groove or Streetwise, but he's not brilliant. Worthwhile getting for the size & price you'll pay, but not worth looking too hard for - unless you're trying to put together Defensor.. 6.5/10
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