Post by Shockprowl on Jul 25, 2010 18:33:24 GMT
My first attempt at a review! You're in trouble, Phil! (not)
CITY COMMANDER ULTRA MAGNUS!
Fansproject add on armour for the voyager Classics Ultra Magnus.
Like many of my Hub Cyber Chumbs, the concept of 'White Optimus' does annoy me slightly. So when Fansproject brought out some add on armour for the white Classics Optimus Prime, it was tempting to say the least. Coupla years later, I now have one off a very nice man on eBay.
The packaging is simple, but professional looking. City Commander comes well packed in a plastic inner, and has a comic/instruction booklet.
The instructions are fairly clear, although I struggled to get the fore arms fitted correctly from the instructions alone. The fun bit is that the instructions on assembly are presented as part of a comic book action story, which appealed to me.
The plastic of the figure is nothing short off top notch. Hasbro could have made this. The design and workmanship are simply fantastic- considering this isn't an official item manufactured by a multi-million squid corporation, it is truly impressive. The paint on the figure is also top notch.
Unfortunately, the Trailer mode isn't all that exciting, I have to say. It's a lump, a brick, a very nice looking brick, that looks wonderful attached to Magnus in Truck mode, but a brick nonetheless. The paint scheme is very G1ickly pleasing, and generally the trailer mode does the job. Just don't expect Magnus to be able to carry any injured or tired comrades in his trailer, 'cos there is no room for that sort of 'carry-on' at all, which is actually a shame. Carrying other Autobots was a favorite past time of my old G1 Ultra Magnus.
Assembling City Commander isn't too bad at all. As I say, the comic instructions are fairly clear. Attaching the leg modules was the most difficult part, just a tad tricky to get them to lock into place. Also, it isn't clear in the instructions just how to position white Prime's fore-arm kibble prior to fitting the fore-arm units. The right fore-arm of my set seems a bit loose when in place. But generally, no drama at all in putting him together.
Which gives us his robot mode, and what a robot mode it is. This is what this set is all about! Spank my fan-bean and call me Debbie, he looks the business alright! The design is simply wonderful, in my opinion. It's G1ick, yet modern looking, just like the rest of the Classics/Universe line. Ultra Magnus now appears how he should. The face sculpt is possibly my favorite part, the head's ball joint isn't quite as maneuverable as I'd like, but one can still put Magnus into all kinds of interesting positions (and as we all know, head position is crucial to good positioning). The legs work very well, the upper legs seem in good proportion the the augmented lower legs (shame they can't be red though!). The cod-piece and chest modules also work very well indeed, the correct blend of blue, red and white, and fit snugly into place. The only slight let down are the arms. They are perhaps just a tad too bulky. Articulation is still plenty, but restricted. Slimmer arm and shoulder units may well have been more advised in order to provide a more balanced robot mode. But this is only a slight problem, the arms still look good and not too out of proportion.
Now the important bit: SIZE!!!! City Commander Ultra Magnus is a spot-on bulky voyager/ultra size, and looks perfect alongside other figs in the Classics/Universe line. Hey, size matters after all. We all pretend it doesn't, but it does.
Weaponry can be by Classic White Prime's weapons, but the version I was able to get comes with a very accurate reproduction of G1 Magnus's rifle, and two shoulder mounted cannons. But where G1 Magnus had single rocket launchers, these are double launchers, one missile launcher on-top of another. These look very sexy. It's an example of the clever modernisation of the G1 Ultra Magnus, in the 'Classics' style.
So, overall, I freakin' love him. Freakin' love him! He's has shot right in near to the very top of my list of my most loved figures. What a fantastic effort by Fansproject to come up with this. He's expensive, but if you find you've got the spare meat balls one month, get him. As part of a 'Classic/Universe' collection he is wonderful and pleasantly tickles ones G1 fan-bean. If I had a complaint, it would be the trailer mode. You may have noticed I haven't mentioned the weapon unit that forms part of the trailer and converts into a kind of giant rocket launcher gun. This doesn't do much for me. It's looks far too big and out of proportion. I don't mind a big gun, believe me, but this one is too big and in my opinion doesn't look right. My complaint is maybe they could have designed the trailer to carry other vehicles, and loose the crazy-big-gun. That would truly have put the icing on the cake. But this is my only complaint. In robot mode, City Commander Ultra Magnus is simply magnificent, and shall be displayed with pride by me for ever more! Well done Fansproject!
Fin.
CITY COMMANDER ULTRA MAGNUS!
Fansproject add on armour for the voyager Classics Ultra Magnus.
Like many of my Hub Cyber Chumbs, the concept of 'White Optimus' does annoy me slightly. So when Fansproject brought out some add on armour for the white Classics Optimus Prime, it was tempting to say the least. Coupla years later, I now have one off a very nice man on eBay.
The packaging is simple, but professional looking. City Commander comes well packed in a plastic inner, and has a comic/instruction booklet.
The instructions are fairly clear, although I struggled to get the fore arms fitted correctly from the instructions alone. The fun bit is that the instructions on assembly are presented as part of a comic book action story, which appealed to me.
The plastic of the figure is nothing short off top notch. Hasbro could have made this. The design and workmanship are simply fantastic- considering this isn't an official item manufactured by a multi-million squid corporation, it is truly impressive. The paint on the figure is also top notch.
Unfortunately, the Trailer mode isn't all that exciting, I have to say. It's a lump, a brick, a very nice looking brick, that looks wonderful attached to Magnus in Truck mode, but a brick nonetheless. The paint scheme is very G1ickly pleasing, and generally the trailer mode does the job. Just don't expect Magnus to be able to carry any injured or tired comrades in his trailer, 'cos there is no room for that sort of 'carry-on' at all, which is actually a shame. Carrying other Autobots was a favorite past time of my old G1 Ultra Magnus.
Assembling City Commander isn't too bad at all. As I say, the comic instructions are fairly clear. Attaching the leg modules was the most difficult part, just a tad tricky to get them to lock into place. Also, it isn't clear in the instructions just how to position white Prime's fore-arm kibble prior to fitting the fore-arm units. The right fore-arm of my set seems a bit loose when in place. But generally, no drama at all in putting him together.
Which gives us his robot mode, and what a robot mode it is. This is what this set is all about! Spank my fan-bean and call me Debbie, he looks the business alright! The design is simply wonderful, in my opinion. It's G1ick, yet modern looking, just like the rest of the Classics/Universe line. Ultra Magnus now appears how he should. The face sculpt is possibly my favorite part, the head's ball joint isn't quite as maneuverable as I'd like, but one can still put Magnus into all kinds of interesting positions (and as we all know, head position is crucial to good positioning). The legs work very well, the upper legs seem in good proportion the the augmented lower legs (shame they can't be red though!). The cod-piece and chest modules also work very well indeed, the correct blend of blue, red and white, and fit snugly into place. The only slight let down are the arms. They are perhaps just a tad too bulky. Articulation is still plenty, but restricted. Slimmer arm and shoulder units may well have been more advised in order to provide a more balanced robot mode. But this is only a slight problem, the arms still look good and not too out of proportion.
Now the important bit: SIZE!!!! City Commander Ultra Magnus is a spot-on bulky voyager/ultra size, and looks perfect alongside other figs in the Classics/Universe line. Hey, size matters after all. We all pretend it doesn't, but it does.
Weaponry can be by Classic White Prime's weapons, but the version I was able to get comes with a very accurate reproduction of G1 Magnus's rifle, and two shoulder mounted cannons. But where G1 Magnus had single rocket launchers, these are double launchers, one missile launcher on-top of another. These look very sexy. It's an example of the clever modernisation of the G1 Ultra Magnus, in the 'Classics' style.
So, overall, I freakin' love him. Freakin' love him! He's has shot right in near to the very top of my list of my most loved figures. What a fantastic effort by Fansproject to come up with this. He's expensive, but if you find you've got the spare meat balls one month, get him. As part of a 'Classic/Universe' collection he is wonderful and pleasantly tickles ones G1 fan-bean. If I had a complaint, it would be the trailer mode. You may have noticed I haven't mentioned the weapon unit that forms part of the trailer and converts into a kind of giant rocket launcher gun. This doesn't do much for me. It's looks far too big and out of proportion. I don't mind a big gun, believe me, but this one is too big and in my opinion doesn't look right. My complaint is maybe they could have designed the trailer to carry other vehicles, and loose the crazy-big-gun. That would truly have put the icing on the cake. But this is my only complaint. In robot mode, City Commander Ultra Magnus is simply magnificent, and shall be displayed with pride by me for ever more! Well done Fansproject!
Fin.
