Name: Skywarp
Series: Machine Wars
Allegiance: Decepticon
Function: Warrior
Alternate Mode: Saab Grippen Jet
JET MODE
Height: 5.5cm Length: 12cm Width: 8cm
The most noticeable thing about Machine Wars Skywarp is that he looks _absolutely_ nothing like the original Skywarp - and it is the same character. Whilst the original is a black and lilac F-15, this is a predominantly white Saab. He's got a grey canopy, some red detail on his engines and flaps, otherwise he's white. The undercarriage is black, and all three wheels can retract (though none roll). He has a G2 Decepticon ensignia on his left wing.
There's really not all that much detail on this jet, partly because it's small and fairly simple, but mainly because he's almost entirely white. It's not boring, it's elegantly simple. There's a fair bit of kibble underneath, it doesn't really hurt from above, though you can clearly see his limbs from the side.
There's really no play value in this mode - it's all in the transform and the robot mode. But there's not really anything wrong with it. The colours work, the kibble isn't perfect but could be a lot worse.
TRANSFORMATION TO ROBOT MODE
Theoretically, push down on the nose and that's it. In reality, you have to fold up the landing gear first. Once you've done that he does essentially transform. The tail section actually slides up when it transforms, which is kind of cool. Position the arms and legs, and remove the two halves of his gun from inside his legs.
ROBOT MODE
Height: 10cm Width: 8cm
The white of the plane mode is still dominant here, with the addition of black thighs and shoulders, and a yellow head. Why they went for the randomness of a yellow head I'm not sure. Maybe they were worried he'd look too much like a Stormtrooper or something. It looks rather strange, although it doesn't look _bad_ as such. White would have worked better. The eyes are silvery-grey, as is the back of the head (this is a relic of an abandoned lightpipe). He has a mouthplate, which serves to make him look less like Skywarp.
It's not Skywarp as we know him. But it's not an insult to the character (like Actionmaster Thundercracker). The wings form a cape. It is however quite poseable. The hips, knees, elbows and shoulders are ball joints. The head is, too, but it's almost immobile since the metal rod that his chest swivels down on is pushing up behind it. Good play value and a lot of poses are possible.
The gun is a long shotgun rifle. It looks nice, and you can remove the silencer from the front to give him a pistol, if you like. It's actually possible for him to hold both the front and rear handles on the gun. It'll point to the side, and you can't turn his head to face that way, but it works for sending Skywarp on Patrol (c8
Despite the random yellow head, it's the robot mode where this toy shines. Poseable and the gun is cool.
VARIATIONS
Released concurrently with Machine Wars Thundercracker, who is the same mould.
OVERALL
A good colour scheme in jet mode, and a fairly good one in robot mode (random yellow head aside). The robot mode has good play value, with good poseability and a well designed gun. Thundercracker's got a better colour scheme, but Skywarp's is more realistic. 7/10
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