Cliffbee.com SpyChanger Optimus Prime Toy Review

Individual Review




Name: Optimus Prime
Series: Transformers Universe
Allegiance: Autobot
Function: Commander
Alternate Mode: Longnose Truck Cab



TRUCK MODE
Height: 3cm Length: 6.5cm Width: 3cm

   A small red truck cab with a blue rear section, Optimus Prime has silver windows and headlights, silver smokestacks, grill & front bumper and an Autobot symbol on his nose. The parallels to the original are obvious. It's worth noting that this is a repaint of SpyChanger Scourge, which is based on a repaint of a Prime toy - so this toy has come full circle. There are jade pinstripes on his fenders, which are a remnant of Scourge's paint mask, and while the colour doesn't really suit, they're thin enough to not really matter.

   He has six wheels, the middle set are actually solid moulded, the front and rear ones are black plastic and able to roll. I'm really disappointed that the middle set have been left as the base blue plastic - it really hurts the look of this truck mode, although the hubcaps are silver like the real wheels. The rear wheels are on an axle, and there's half axles on the front wheels, so he rolls very well.

   For the size, this is a great truck mould, but by changing it from black to blue without painting the false tyres, they've really hurt Prime. It's still a decent truck, but the azy paint job means Scourge is better.

TRANSFORMATION TO ROBOT MODE

   Extend the rear to form the legs, spilt the sides of the nose to form the shoulderpads, the arms will follow and come out from the sides. Flip the head up from within the cabin.

ROBOT MODE
Height: 7.5cm Width: 4.5cm

   A red white and blue robot with some yellow and jade paint applications, Optimus Prime's colour scheme is a mix of Combat Hero Prime and SpyChanger Scourge. I really wish they'd gotten rid of the jade for this mode. The chest details are now silver and the paint on the groin is now yellow, but the jade is rather obvious on his shoulders and knees and doesn't suit. His shoulders, thighs and groin are white, his chest and forearms are red, while he has blue lower legs and a blue head with silver mouthplate and yellow eyes. This toy has only two blasters on his shoulders, whereas Laser Rod Optimus Prime (the original inspiration) has three. He has simulated cabin windows on his chest, just like Laser Prime.

   Poseability is average for a SpyChanger. His shoulders move a bit, allowing his arms to point outward, and his elbows bend. The larger is far more poseable, but I can't really expect too much more from a toy at this size.

   The jade paint applications are my main grip in this mode. It's a good mould, but it annoys me that they only changed part of the jade paint mask that Scourge had. On mine the head doesn't quite fold up all the way, but I'm not sure if this is the case for all SpyChanger Primes.

VARIATIONS

   None that I'm aware of.

OVERALL

   The overall colour scheme is good, but the jade paint doesn't work and the unpainted wheels hurt. On the upside, the robot mode's Combat Hero Prime colours are a nice touch. The mould itself is a good one, and if you missed Scourge I strongly recommend Prime. If you have Scourge, I can only mildly recommend Prime due to an inferior paint job - 7/10

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