For all my (little) knowledge on Transformers (TF), the very very first combiners I came to know of is none other than the Devastator! Loyal to the Decepticons. For that moment, the bad guys has the upper hand with that big bad robot that are merged from 6 different Decepticons team that called themselves the Constructicons created by Shockwave, it consist of : Leader Scrapper, Right Leg | Hook, Upper Body | Bonecrusher, Left Arm | Long Haul, Lower Body | Mixmaster, Left Leg | Scavenger, Right Arm .
For all that hype, Devastator's combat ability is really not so devastating. Bad guys do not win - could be the mantra behind it.
For all that hype, Devastator's combat ability is really not so devastating. Bad guys do not win - could be the mantra behind it.
Not a big TF toys collector and has just 1 shelf, out of 18, dedicated to my very small TF toys collection. But every TF collector however small time should have at least 1 combiners on the shelf. I made up that mind long ago and wanted 1 ultimate combiner which come in a form of Mastermind Creation's Ferel Rex aka Predacons which combines into Predaking! A full set costs a hefty $610. Fully combined returns a hefty weighted big bot and stood at least a good 35cm flat of the feet to the tip of the head. That means money spent well? That is 2014, many years ago.
Blokees broke into the scene couple years ago with licensed TF toys and with the smallest scale series called the "Defender", we have tiny bots measuring approx 5.5cm. Each bot is hidden behind a blind box and you don't know what you gonna get until the box is open. To make this Devastator, Constructicons in their vehicle mode were spread across 3x Defender series. Going the blind box way means a truckload of it need to be bought and hope for the best of luck to get all 6 of them. Then there is a Devastator combining set to buy separately to be the medium where the 6 Constructicons will be assembled onto to become Devastator.
I went by the easy, and much more expensive way to get the full set at Aliexpress. Save the hassle but paid at least 3x the original price. Oh well, money to buy convenience. No complain. This model is a perfect way for me to finally add a 2nd combiner into the collection given the smaller size of about 15cm height. However, it is the very nice design of this Devastator that won over me. Friendly size is a big bonus too. There is very little hesitation to pick this up.
DESIGN - 4/5
Simple, Straight forward and Effective. These 3 words pretty much summed it all up for this kit.
I have no expectation of a highly engineered product with mind blowing transformation in this small scale. So basically, the vehicle are taken apart and reconnected in another manner. Then latch it onto the individual location from parts in the combining kit set. Only Hook and Longhaul gets the most mutation. The other 4 brothers are basically piece meal slap on. The amazing thing is that everything comes together harmonously with very good aesthetics.
Small complain on 2 points : 1. Front skirt is 1 piece which means Left & Right moves together ie when one side of the leg is raised, the skirt panels flap up both sides. Better to be 2 separate piece for each side. 2. Chasis of Long Haul has nowhere to go on Devastator and it become a "spare" that need to be kept carefully not to lost it over the sands of time. Forgivable in my opinion.
SCULPTING - 4.5/5
Details are amazing in this kit. The lines, curves, nooks and crevices all comes together to give a rugged look of a construction site machines.
The head piece is included in the Combination kit set which includes 2 interchangeable face pieces - Open mouth snarling face and a standard straight face. sculpting on these faces are crisp and well define.
PAINTING / COLOUR - 4.5/5
95% of the kit are in its original plastic colour except for some effort of silver paint here and there. But when the silver paint were applied, they were done superbly. No bleed, no bad brush strokes. Professionally done and I'd dare say - flawless.
Original plastic Green used is a nice deeper green which I prefer over the lighter lime green. Plastic purple also is a much deeper purple shade. Both colour contrast well and made a fine presentation pleasant to the eyes.
Not exactly painting but the prints that are all over the figure really help to pop the details. Fact that they are not decals - that can peel over time - prints are a level up. Well done Blokees.
ARTICULATION - 4.5/5
Figure like this that are formed by joining different parts - standalone figure in their own rights - will become a nightmare when you try to pose it. Parts falling off, go out of place, all messed up. NOTHING of that sorts with this Devastor. Sturdy, hold the pose well.
This kit has all the articulations a standard humaoid figure except that it does not have a torso or app crunches but that is understandable. No thigh swivel also but the groin joint can double it. No arm swivel cos you can't swing Scavenger and Bonecrusher isn't it lol.
Groin ball joint and socket is better to be slightly tighter to the extent it can stand on 1 leg without it folding back on its own weight. Right now new condition, it can hold a pose only just. Quite sure after a few posing, it will losen to a point a pose cannot be held. When that happen.
Overall this figure met all of my expectations, in this category, and perhaps slightly more.
ACCESSORY - 3/5
There isn't a whole lot of accessories I wanted in this kit. But one glaring item that SHOULD, MUST HAVE is not given. What is that? Open palm hands like those that came with the Galaxy series figures. Why why why!??
This item to me is very important. It adds dimension to posing and it is not here. Honestly disappointed.
It is what it is.
Simple, Straight forward and Effective. These 3 words pretty much summed it all up for this kit.
I have no expectation of a highly engineered product with mind blowing transformation in this small scale. So basically, the vehicle are taken apart and reconnected in another manner. Then latch it onto the individual location from parts in the combining kit set. Only Hook and Longhaul gets the most mutation. The other 4 brothers are basically piece meal slap on. The amazing thing is that everything comes together harmonously with very good aesthetics.
Small complain on 2 points : 1. Front skirt is 1 piece which means Left & Right moves together ie when one side of the leg is raised, the skirt panels flap up both sides. Better to be 2 separate piece for each side. 2. Chasis of Long Haul has nowhere to go on Devastator and it become a "spare" that need to be kept carefully not to lost it over the sands of time. Forgivable in my opinion.
SCULPTING - 4.5/5
Details are amazing in this kit. The lines, curves, nooks and crevices all comes together to give a rugged look of a construction site machines.
The head piece is included in the Combination kit set which includes 2 interchangeable face pieces - Open mouth snarling face and a standard straight face. sculpting on these faces are crisp and well define.
PAINTING / COLOUR - 4.5/5
95% of the kit are in its original plastic colour except for some effort of silver paint here and there. But when the silver paint were applied, they were done superbly. No bleed, no bad brush strokes. Professionally done and I'd dare say - flawless.
Original plastic Green used is a nice deeper green which I prefer over the lighter lime green. Plastic purple also is a much deeper purple shade. Both colour contrast well and made a fine presentation pleasant to the eyes.
Not exactly painting but the prints that are all over the figure really help to pop the details. Fact that they are not decals - that can peel over time - prints are a level up. Well done Blokees.
ARTICULATION - 4.5/5
Figure like this that are formed by joining different parts - standalone figure in their own rights - will become a nightmare when you try to pose it. Parts falling off, go out of place, all messed up. NOTHING of that sorts with this Devastor. Sturdy, hold the pose well.
This kit has all the articulations a standard humaoid figure except that it does not have a torso or app crunches but that is understandable. No thigh swivel also but the groin joint can double it. No arm swivel cos you can't swing Scavenger and Bonecrusher isn't it lol.
Groin ball joint and socket is better to be slightly tighter to the extent it can stand on 1 leg without it folding back on its own weight. Right now new condition, it can hold a pose only just. Quite sure after a few posing, it will losen to a point a pose cannot be held. When that happen.
Overall this figure met all of my expectations, in this category, and perhaps slightly more.
ACCESSORY - 3/5
There isn't a whole lot of accessories I wanted in this kit. But one glaring item that SHOULD, MUST HAVE is not given. What is that? Open palm hands like those that came with the Galaxy series figures. Why why why!??
This item to me is very important. It adds dimension to posing and it is not here. Honestly disappointed.
It is what it is.
OVERALL - 4.5/5
Truly an exceptional product just missing the icing on the cake without open palm spare hands. Yes, get it. It is worth 3x the price and I paid for it. Good size for a combiner except that expectation for little robots to transform is not too realistic now. Collectors with space constraint will love this.
Truly an exceptional product just missing the icing on the cake without open palm spare hands. Yes, get it. It is worth 3x the price and I paid for it. Good size for a combiner except that expectation for little robots to transform is not too realistic now. Collectors with space constraint will love this.
Blokees collectors are already holding their breaths for the next combiner announcement. My money will go to bet for Combaticons's Bruticus... Brawl tank form is already out with peg holes location keenly suggesting where the joint piece will go. And yes, another bad guy. Good guys Autobots got no love.
But for now, "Constructicons, combine Phase I!!". "Constructicons, combine Phase 2!!".
But for now, "Constructicons, combine Phase I!!". "Constructicons, combine Phase 2!!".
No comments:
Post a Comment