Cliffbee.com Windcharger Toy Review

Individual Review




Name: Windcharger
Series: Generation 1
Allegiance: Autobot
Function: Warrior
Vehicular Mode: Pontiac Firebird



CAR MODE
Height: 2cm Length: 5.5cm Width: 3.5cm

   The car mode is small and red, basically. There's apparently two distinctly different reds he comes in, but since my Windcharger is the only one I've ever actually seen (I _never_ saw him as a kid, not even in stores), I can only say that mine is a darkish red. Windcharger's got black plastic wheels (with larger rear wheels), black windows (and targa-top windows), black sunshielded windows at rear. There are some grey robot bits visible on the sides, front and back, and he has a silver grill at the front.

   He's not terribly a realistic Firebird, but you have to remember that in Microman, he was a toy car that turned into a robot - so he's not meant to be realistic anyway. No problems with Pontiac & licensing as such..

TRANSFORMATION TO ROBOT MODE

   Fold the rear of the car down to become the legs, pull the front fenders out and slide them down to become the arms. Stand him up.

ROBOT MODE
Height: 7cm to the head Width: 4cm

   Windcharger forms a simple robot, he has a simple face. He has red arms, red & black lower legs, silver thighs, grey chest & head (one piece) and black eyes. He's cute, but it's pretty much an ornament.

   His arms move up and down on swivel joints, and you can bend his knees (part of the transformation) but that's it.

   Don't get me wrong I like Windcharger, but there's not really all that much to his robot mode. It's simple but still a pretty cool little Autobot. And for a $5 toy in 1984, he's nice.

VARIATIONS

   As mentioned above, there's two red shades Windcharger liked to wear. I suppose one could count Tailgate, who was a later retool, but they're different enough to not really qualify as variations, IMO.

OVERALL

   Very simple in both design & transform, Windcharger is not for those who like to play and pose. But he's an old toy and old design, and for what he is he's a cool toy. If you don't like G1 and prefer the more poseable and intricate BW/BM, you probably won't like him. Of course he's in the G1 cartoon and personally this scores points in his favour. 6.5/10

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