Name: Wingthing
Series: Generation 1
Allegiance: Decepticon
Alternate Mode: Microcassette
CASSETTE MODE
Height: 3.5cm Depth: 0.5cm Width: 5cm
A bright orange cassette with a silver and lighter orange painted details on one side that features a tape window, Wingthing is essentially an orange version of Ratbat. While it's not a straight colour swap, it's close & aside from a new "schematic" sticker is a straight colour swap in cassette mode. He has "METAL POSITION" and "MC60" details, firmly establishing him as a cassette. The orange isn't especially realistic as a cassette - but then who's to say a cassette can't be orange?
As is common with the microcassette Transformers, the "B" side is all robot mode, although in Wingthing's case there's a black die cast metal patch in the middle but no really obvious robot stuff - aside from all that surrounding orange of course. It doesn't look much like a cassette, but I'm quite happy with side A.
A tape mode that's really dominated by the orange, but given how generic the alt mode is I wouldn't say this is a bad thing. And let's be honest, this collector aimed toy will live in bat mode in the vast majority of cases anyway.
TRANSFORMATION TO BAT MODE
Extend the sides to form his wings, unfold the ends to extend the wings. Fold down the feet, flip up the head, attach the guns in the holes on his back, Lastly flip out the claws on his wings and (if you're lucky enough to have them) lift up his ears.
BAT MODE
Height: 4.5cm Width: 14cm
Again mainly orange with a black body, Wingthing's chrome guns rise from behind the body. Uniquely, his guns are chromed in a gunmetal colour - it's distinctly darker than the silver found on Ratbat & other cassette Transformers & provides something special here. His eyes are painted black & seem bigger than those of Ratbat, although this is because of a different contrast rather than different paint mask. There's a rubsign indent in the centre of his body with a rubsign, which is Wingthing's only allegiance symbol. The colour scheme works well enough and ties in well with the original version of this character. Okay, so he's not fluorescent red like that toy, but that's a good thing in my opinion - it's a good tribute in more appealing colours.
Wingthing stands upright with wings spread out to the sides, almost like a preening bird, but the wings are basically bat-wings - well a robotic interpretation. His face is quite bat-like and the body too wide for a bird's body. The feet are rather generic, and are there to anchor the toy without any distinctive features of their own. The wings are very detailed, with piston moulding at three points along their length. The guns look vaguely like radar dishes, although the collectors aren't round.
There's not a lot of poseability here - the wings can lift up and down but they're quite heavy for a toy this size. The feet can rock back and forth, but they're only stable in part of their range of motion, making this articulation incidental rather than meaningful.
As great as Wingthing looks, the robot mode isn't without its flaws. The ears pop off quite easily, and they're much looser than those of (original) Ratbat - I have trouble keeping them from flopping on mine. They're also small enough that losing them is not hard.
Wingthing's an attractive little robot bat with colours that tribute the AM partner with improved taste. His ears are a definite negative, which is a shame since Wingthing displays well once you've got them posed. The poseability isn't great, but he has more to do in transforming than most microcassette Transformers.
VARIATIONS
Wingthing was sold exclusively in the Encore line with Enemy and Soundblaster. He's a repaint of Ratbat as mentioned, and also shares the mould with Shattered Glass Ratbat.
OVERALL
A good little cassette and a great bat mode should mean this is a really good toy, but Wingthing's ears hold him back. The clever tie into the Actionmaster era give this repaint of a distinctive cassette Transformer a distinct personality & the unusual chrome colour on his weapons only enhances this. It's a shame he's only sold with another reissue of Soundblaster, as many collectors will have that toy already (although Enemy's also included). Whether or not the set is worthwhile if you have Soundblaster is up to you - I largely got it for Enemy but also wanted Wingthing; who I do enjoy. My only real gripe aside from accessibility is the loose ears - 7/10
|
