Post by Philip Ayres on Sept 13, 2008 11:00:09 GMT
Pics: www.tfu.info/2008/Autobot/Grimlock/grimlock.htm
I've tended to avoid Animated toys till now - I don't like the kidified design aesthetic, I don't like the trend towards robot's weapons that aren't stashed in alt mode. But the Dinobot leader Grimlock - and his troops - were something I had to buy.
Grimlock's been redone before - see
Classics Grimlock uk.geocities.com/philip_ayres@btopenworld.com/cl_grimlock.html
Alternators Grimlock uk.geocities.com/philip_ayres@btopenworld.com/AltTracksGrimlock.html
Energon Grimlock uk.geocities.com/philip_ayres@btopenworld.com/EnergonUniverse.html
Beast Wars and Armada Grimlock's uk.geocities.com/philip_ayres@btopenworld.com/bwDinobot.html
This one is a T-Rex - good starting point ! He's got ball jointed hips, bends at 2 points mid leg, has a swivel above the foot, and moveable claws on each foot. The front limbs are a little more fixed - they move from side to side with no articulation bellow the shoulder. If they've have made the shoulder a ball joint too, with the socket open on a U shaped slit from one side of the shoulder panel round to this inside there's have been more movement and they'd have accomplished what they want in the TF. The underside of the neck is open - it's as if a huge square panel is missing - through which you can see the robot head. The end of the tail moves back and forth, and the jaw opens with a button behind the head. The head doesn't move that much which is a shame, but does have a nice blue lightpipe. The toy is mainly grey with some gold and burgundy detailing. There's an Autobot symbol on his left hip, and 2 large raised circles on each hip that would have been perfect for a Spark used in BW Transmetal II, BW Neo and Beast Machines toys.
TF: As per G1 nearly ! Open the tail along the middle and fold back. Pull the neck armour away just behind the jaw lever. Fold down at the tail base to form the robot legs. Clip the tail onto the side of the leg. Fold the neck armour up behind the legs to create heel spurs - they lock in place. Fold the neck back, and fold the sides of the neck forward. Fold in the forearms. Fold the neck up onto the back. Fold the sides of the neck in round the beast head. Pull the front of the body up. Recess some of the black pieces on the robot arm upwards into the upper arm armour. .Rotate the hands.
Resulting robot looks great - a version of G1 Grimlock that's rounded with the edges taken off. Both the red and the gold of G1 Grimlock are toned down here as burgundy and a more bronzey gold but the effect is good. There's a clear plastic panel over the robot chest, with an Autobot symbol on it. The hands have no peg holes - just the fingers formed from the claws - but there is a slit in either hand for his sword to rest in. His right hand has a tab in this slit that's meant to pop open some flame detailing on the sword but it doesn't work too well on mine. Head looks like G1 Grimlock with the addition of a huge lower jaw - similar to Energon Cruellock. His head turns, the shoulders are ball joints, the elbows bend, the wrists turn, the claws close, his waist turns, his hips are universal joints and his knees bend - unfortunately they also bend sideways as part of the TF.
Overall: I love him, but I know some have some issue with the lack of articulation in Beast Mode. Best Grimlock since G1 for me !
I've tended to avoid Animated toys till now - I don't like the kidified design aesthetic, I don't like the trend towards robot's weapons that aren't stashed in alt mode. But the Dinobot leader Grimlock - and his troops - were something I had to buy.
Grimlock's been redone before - see
Classics Grimlock uk.geocities.com/philip_ayres@btopenworld.com/cl_grimlock.html
Alternators Grimlock uk.geocities.com/philip_ayres@btopenworld.com/AltTracksGrimlock.html
Energon Grimlock uk.geocities.com/philip_ayres@btopenworld.com/EnergonUniverse.html
Beast Wars and Armada Grimlock's uk.geocities.com/philip_ayres@btopenworld.com/bwDinobot.html
This one is a T-Rex - good starting point ! He's got ball jointed hips, bends at 2 points mid leg, has a swivel above the foot, and moveable claws on each foot. The front limbs are a little more fixed - they move from side to side with no articulation bellow the shoulder. If they've have made the shoulder a ball joint too, with the socket open on a U shaped slit from one side of the shoulder panel round to this inside there's have been more movement and they'd have accomplished what they want in the TF. The underside of the neck is open - it's as if a huge square panel is missing - through which you can see the robot head. The end of the tail moves back and forth, and the jaw opens with a button behind the head. The head doesn't move that much which is a shame, but does have a nice blue lightpipe. The toy is mainly grey with some gold and burgundy detailing. There's an Autobot symbol on his left hip, and 2 large raised circles on each hip that would have been perfect for a Spark used in BW Transmetal II, BW Neo and Beast Machines toys.
TF: As per G1 nearly ! Open the tail along the middle and fold back. Pull the neck armour away just behind the jaw lever. Fold down at the tail base to form the robot legs. Clip the tail onto the side of the leg. Fold the neck armour up behind the legs to create heel spurs - they lock in place. Fold the neck back, and fold the sides of the neck forward. Fold in the forearms. Fold the neck up onto the back. Fold the sides of the neck in round the beast head. Pull the front of the body up. Recess some of the black pieces on the robot arm upwards into the upper arm armour. .Rotate the hands.
Resulting robot looks great - a version of G1 Grimlock that's rounded with the edges taken off. Both the red and the gold of G1 Grimlock are toned down here as burgundy and a more bronzey gold but the effect is good. There's a clear plastic panel over the robot chest, with an Autobot symbol on it. The hands have no peg holes - just the fingers formed from the claws - but there is a slit in either hand for his sword to rest in. His right hand has a tab in this slit that's meant to pop open some flame detailing on the sword but it doesn't work too well on mine. Head looks like G1 Grimlock with the addition of a huge lower jaw - similar to Energon Cruellock. His head turns, the shoulders are ball joints, the elbows bend, the wrists turn, the claws close, his waist turns, his hips are universal joints and his knees bend - unfortunately they also bend sideways as part of the TF.
Overall: I love him, but I know some have some issue with the lack of articulation in Beast Mode. Best Grimlock since G1 for me !
