Cliffbee.com Smallest Jazz Toy Review

Individual Review




Name: Jazz
Series: World's Smallest Transformers
Allegiance: Autobot
Alternate Mode: Porsche 926




SPORTS CAR MODE
Height: 2cm Length: 6cm Width: 3cm

   A small white sports car with blue and red stripes on the rear fenders and down the middle of the roof and hood, Jazz sports the number 4 on his hood and doors. His tyres are black with silver painted hubcaps, black windows and blue headlights. There's a small Autobot symbol on the front of his hood, largely hidden amongst the blue and red stripes over which it's stamped. As on the original, his side windows are open. It's a pretty good paint job for the size, especially when you consider that this entire car mode is done over white plastic (including the tyres). The doors even have the word "Meister" (his Japanese name) in place of the old "Martini" badges. The only flaw is the rather badly placed Autobot symbol.

   There's not really much to this car mode, which is understandable at this scale. The wheels do not turn, although the doors open as part of the transformation. It's quite remarkable for the size, though - both because it's unmistakably Jazz and because of the precision of the paint mask.

TRANSFORMATION TO ROBOT MODE

   Pretty faithful to the original, although somewhat simplified. The torso is simplified and the legs do not separate. The arms are solid pieces, with permanently bent elbows, so that they can interlock underneath the hood - it's pretty amazing they were able to pull this part off, in my opinion. The roof and head actually stay in place, with the chest folding down around.

ROBOT MODE
Height: 5cm Width: 5cm

   A tiny facsimile of the original, this robot mode reminds me of the Jazz stamp available during G1 - not least because of the attached legs. Despite the size it _really_ looks like the Jazz we all know.

   The colours match the original - the white hood is his chest, the head is black with a silver face, and the facial sculpt is again the face of Jazz we know. His arms are black with white forearms, his waist is silver, groin black, thighs white and the rear of the car becomes his boots, although as mentioned this section no longer separates. The silver feet are now a single piece that folds up, but the join is at the bottom only, rather than this piece being a single plate.

   Aside from the legs not separating, the only dimensions that are different are a slightly wider chest and shorter shinplates. Otherwise it's a great Jazz for the size - and better than many larger Jazz toys - the Pretender springs to mind.

   The poseability is limited to his shoulders swivelling, which allows him to point his fists to the sides, which is part of the transformation.

   Despite the slight loss of poseability, this is a wonderful reproduction of G1 Jazz considering the size and price. It's one of the most faithful Smallest Transformers, and unlike many Jazz versions down the years this robot mode has the wings. He lacks the shoulder missile launcher, but this wasn't really featured in the media versions anyway.

VARIATIONS

   None that I'm aware of, although this toy was originally shortpacked in the second wave of Smallest Transformers, but far more common in the third wave.

OVERALL

   This is a very good reproduction for such a small scale, which really works as Jazz in both modes. He does lose some functionality and robot mode poseability, but considering what they had to do to make the transformation work, I can live with the simplified joints. The only flaw that I can really complain about this the awkward placement of his Autobot symbol - he's the best so far of a very good line of toys - 9/10

"Transformers" and other indica trademarks of Hasbro and/or Takara.