Combiner Wars Superion

 Combiner Wars Superion... I have mixed feelings over this figure. On the hand, it looks great and is sturdy in combined mode... with help, and on the other... Jank!

Allow me to explain... this version of Superion in stock configuration, with its standard feet/ hands combo is a hot mess. the lack of ankle tilts, the lack of width in the small feet, causes standing issues when posing.

Superion the standard version

That being said  with the release of the new Aerialbot combiner (Age of the Primes) at the time of this writing I'll be diving into the past to review 2015 Combiner Wars Aerialbots.

Let's start with the main figure, Silverbolt. 

As Aerialbot leader and main torso for the combiner this figure has limits in its articulation (no ankle tilts, lack of fisit rotation, no waist swivel) due to the fact that it has to serve as a figure, a vehicle and as well as the main torso for the combiner.

It also suffers from the typical Silverbolt alt mode where the shell of a jet covers a folded up robot.

Yoga pose

That being said, the limitations of the figure and the alt mode are due to function and price point, it's decent enough. I get it.

Whose that guy with the Big head?

The Perfect Effect replacement heads

Yeah it's a modified Concorde, moving on.

Alright on to Skydive. 

Yup it's an pseudo iteration of an F-16 Falcon with visible robot kibble, but it doesn't look too busy, so it's alright.

Robot mode, no wrist movement, static ankle joints, surprisingly there is a waist swivel, a decent figure.

Next up we have Air Raid.

Air Raid is a fair interpretation of an F-14 Tomcat, even though he was an F-15 Eagle in G-1.

The alt mode serves as a nice enough jet at the top while hiding robo kibble underneath. 

Robot mode, no wrist movement, static ankle joints, waist swivel, a repeat of Skydive.

Now onto Fireflight/ Firefly/ Firestrike... whatever...

The orginal Fire... guy, was an F-4 Phantom but this iteration is modelled after a Harrier style.

The alt mode again is a nice enough jet at the top while hiding robo bits on the underside. 

As well Robot mode, no wrist movement, static ankle joints, waist swivel, sensing a pattern here. 

I know it sounds like I'm selling these figures short, but the truth is that all three of these limb bots are pretty much the same in execution and transformation. 

As vehicles they're fine they do the job and as robots the same. It's just that they're just okay.

Lastly we have the breakout of the group Alpha Bravo.

Supposedly Alpha B is a Slingshot/ Quickslinger replacement. This is the only variant of the team that is a chopper rather than a plane.

Essentially the transformation is the same as all the other limbs where wings are replaced with a rotor.

 Robot mode, more of the same.

Needless to say that this mod is also used for Vortex of the Combaticons, Blades of the Protectobots, as well as  the twins Skyburst and Stormclash for Victorion.

The team assembles

Add on a proper set of hands and feet

The end result.

There's also the alternate head version.

In the end it's decent enough, an affordable alternative to the Age of the Prime version.

Combiner Wars Bruticus

 

Let's talk about Combiner Wars Bruticus. Why? Cause this is my blog and I feel like it! 

Yeah I know I'm several years late to the party but think of this as a retro review.

This is my current version equipped with third party enhancements. 

These are not the official Perfect Effects kit, but a KO facsimile. To be honest the original Hasbro offering leaves much to be desired and is by no means superior to any Third party releases, but when adorned with these add-ons, it makes for a reasonable combiner for those of us who do not have deep pockets. 

Let's face it, you need these upgrades in order to make this a decent combiner, and the results, while not perfect, (see what I did there?), are at least better than the straight up offering of the Hasbro release.

Personally I'm quite satisfied with a combiner that doesn't take a good portion of the day to transform or try to separate into smaller components. It's just fun to handle and fiddle with and there's no hassle of major engineering puzzles to try to solve in order to achieve the combination.

In short it's not the best, but it is fun.

Firstly we'll start with Brawl.

This figure is a mixed bag. It has a nice alt mode but the figure itself is found to be wanting. Many lament about his hollow chest but I just use the combiner peg to fill in the gap. The real shame is his "Popeye" arms, I think the cut on his treads should have been higher to give him more forearm length.

In the end he serves his purpose as the left leg for his team.

Next up Vortex.

Vortex is the heavily reused and remolded cousin of: Alpha Bravo, Blades, Sky Burst, Stormclash, et al...

Vortex is a pretty standard figure and a good reuse of the Alpha Bravo mold (Even the head is the same). In fact I would say that they should have used him as the basis for Blastoff. Think about it his front end resembles a shuttle and the manufacturers only needed to change the tail, lose the rotors and equip him with wings and just slightly remold the nose to make a decent looking space shuttle.

Vortex in my opinion should have been the model for the jetformers in this line. There is very little kibble and the engineering is compact and much more clever than having an air plane shell with a robot hiding underneath. (But that's just my opinion). 

Thirdly we have Swindle.

Man Swindle gained some bulk. Yes I am aware that the front end is not the official transformation but I prefer this fan mode, giving him a more aggressive looking bumper.

This Decepticon con man is pretty good. Lots of details, solid construction, the only downside are the fists that appear in alt mode taking up the majority of cockpit space.

Swindle looks very bulky and his proportions make him look like the powerhouse of the team instead of Brawl.

Blastoff has changed from being a space shuttle to a combat Harrier style jet... Okay I'll buy that...

For better or worse Blastoff is your standard shell former of a jet with a robot hiding underneath. My beef with this is that it adds a lot of bulk to the underside, taking away from the sleek aerodynamic look of a combat jet. He's decent enough, but not my favourite. 

Finally we have Onslaught.

The guns have been replaced on his truck mode to more substantial cannons adding to the firepower. The onslaught mold is just Hotspot facing backwards.

This Onslaught has dual wielding guns that I purchased from eBay that are the original G1 guns to replace the ugly grey ones he came with. The awkward part of the robot mode is the hidden Bruticus head hanging off his back.

It's Onslaught, he's okay.

The team

Bruticus, this is where this figure really shines.

But not like this... this is the official Hasbro hot mess.

Let's get him some proper hands and feet...

Getting better...

Much nicer...

This is how I like to display my Bruticus

Conclusion and thoughts: I have no doubts that there are much better combiners available, but this one actually looks quite nice... once you add the extra third party accessories.