Phil's Universe Ravage & Hound reviews

[Philip Ayres]

Ravage

Ravage comes with Universe Hound. Why ? I'm not sure. My G1 Cartoon-Fu is weak but I'm told there's an episode where Ravage hides in the back of Hound. Ravage has had a bit more love than Hound over the years appearing in Beast Wars (effectively three times) Alternators (twice) and Robot Heroes. Here' he's back to his original tape form which to my eye looks a similar size to the original but I'm told is a little too big for Soundwave to hold in his chest. He's got the pair of 5mm peg holes that each tape has and these can be used to mount him on the back of Hound via two pegs that can be raised up.

TF: have the tape with Decepticon symbol looking towards you. Fold the sides of the bottom of the tape out to the sides and back. Then fold each half up and in bringing them together. Unfold the legs from the back of this piece and also fold out the tail. Fold the robot head out from under the tape, then fold the top of the sides down to become the legs which will then need unfolding.

The resulting Panther is similar to the original but more 3-D with a thicker body. The neck and tail bend up and down, the back hips turn - front are fixed - and all four knees move. He's not supplied with any extra weapons but there are little rockets mounted on his rear hips. If you've got any spare weapons with a 5mm peg then they'll fit into the holes on the side of the toy - expect a run on original Ravage guns on eBay.

Very good update, possibly - due to the increased body width - even better than the original.

[Philip Ayres]

Hound

Compared with many G1 Autobots Hound has had little repaint & remoulding love over the years - an Alternator and a very recent Legend in the main TF lines. I personally was surprised the Energon toy Strongarm never had a Hound repaint (and then shocked when he was repainted in bright blue, but that's another story)

He is as you'd expect a green open backed jeep with white seats, a clear blue fixed window, a red Autobot symbol on the bonnet, a gun metal grey front bull bar - chromed on the Henkei version - and a moulded missile launcher that clips onto the back of the seat - no stand alone cannon to peg into the flatbed this time. Two pegs fold up from the flat bed to each side allowing Ravage - who's supplied with him - to be securely attached. If Ravage is in place then the handle on the side of the missile can be pegged into one of ravage's 5mm holes for a more traditional Hound cannon configuration.

TF: Fold the back of the seats onto the bottom - you've just formed the upper legs. Pull back on the car to extend the legs and fold the back seat backs in to form the back of the lower legs. Fold Ravage's pegs flat and fold the rear of the jeep back to form the feet. From under the front of the jeep fold the arms out and fold out the fists. Fold the waist plate down and into place. Fold the wheels back & out. Bend the front of the jeep down to form the chest and flick the head up. Fold the wheels behind his back and position the arms at the side.

Weapons: the missile cannon should clip onto the shoulder but I can't get it to attach securely which is a shame as it's moulded to resemble his G1 shoulder mounted launcher. You also have the option of holding it as a hand weapon and it's this I've had to resort to.

Robot is definitely hound - from the box like head, the jeep front chest and down to the huge feet. Head is lightpiped in a nice blue with a painted silver face plate. Arms are secure at the shoulders - the only new toy in waves 4 & 5 for which this is so ! Each arm has a ball joint at the shoulders, then a bicep rotational joint and finally a bending elbow. The ball jointed hips on mine are too loose for my liking - might have to get the clear nail varnish on them. His legs rotate above the knee as part of those very clever upper legs. They also bend at the knee and the very base of the foot folds sideways at the ankle to give a secure stance.

Very decent toy, well worth having.

[The Doctor]

Sounds interesting. Hound looks really good but I was quite happy with the Legends one. Is it worth 'trading up' for the deluxe if you have the little one?

-Ralph

[grahamthomson]

I think Hound is the best of the Classics/Universe 2.0/Henkei of the lot! And the Henkei version has a lot more details as well (gold stripe on the chest, for example).

Plus he's nicely articulated in robot mode, and has quite a fun transformation.

Ravage I could take or leave; he's a good cat but looks nothing like a cassette (no details). However! The weapons of the original 1984 Ravage do fit nicely on this version!

[Bogatan]

Hound is really good, he takes Bumblebees seat folding to become the upper legs a step further with what I think are great results. I agree that its the best of the Classic/Universe toys that I own probably because it stays really close to the original while giving it all the things expected from modern TF and also has a modern take on the cartoon model but not so simply block shaped, I think it benefits from Animated's design ethos. I could imagine it (with a new head) being used in Animated.

Ravage apparently will fit in the Soundblaster/Classic Soundwave tape deck.

Andy

[Hero]

I tried out Ravage's 'black slab' mode on Soundblaster, and it fits.

Henkei Hound is indeed amazing! A fantastic fusion homage to the toon and old toy, bricolaging bits and peices from both representations.

In answer to Ralph, Oh yes!

===KEN

[Shockprowl]

Nice reveiw, gunna get 'em!

[Hero]

He's worth it, Hound and Cyclonus are the best two toys to be released this year. I hope that the forthcoming Hotshot is also just as good.