BEAST
WARS: TOY REVIEW
Name: DEPTH CHARGE
Allegiance: Maximal
Function: Aquatic Forces Commander
Beast Mode: Robotic Manta
Ray
Average Price: 45 AUD
BEAST MODE
Length: 40cm (including tail)
Wingspan: 33cm
A very nice looking robot manta ray. The two "wing" sections
are metallic blue with purple, yellow and some gold accents. The undersides
of the wings are pale green with metallic blue towards the back and two
circles with Maximal logos moulded on. These insignias are painted gold.
The top side looks very aero-aquadynamic. It has a very mechanical feel
to it with various kinds of vents and screws moulded throughout. The underside
has a more "mecha-organic" look to it, similar to Giger designs (used in
movies such as Aliens and Species) with various conduits running along.
Very nice. Back on top, the head of the manta is primarily chromed gold
with grey accents throughout. The eyes are yellow and the name "Depth Charge"
is written along the top of the head. The mouth is positioned in the front
of the animal. This is, of course, anatomically incorrect, because mantas'
mouthes are position on the underside, since they feed off the ocean floor.
Also, the eyes should be closer... but anyway. Toward the back there is
a blue dorsal fin (mantas have dorsal fins?) and behind this is a long
tail measuring 22 centimetres in length! One great feature about this mode
is that unlike most other "flattened" beast modes (such as the bat Optimus
Primal and Nightglider), there is no excessive robot undercarriage. This
is because all robot parts either form part of the beast mode or are neatly
tucked out of sight. I count seven points of articulation in this mode
in the wings and tail.
Gimmick: Pull on the dorsal fin and yellow disks
fire from the manta mouth. P-tooiee!!
TRANSFORMATION TO VEHICLE MODE
The manta wings are just rearranged. That's it.
VEHICLE MODE
Typical of most Transmetal vehicular modes, Depth Charge's
one is merely a slight modification of its beast mode. Nothing to write
home about, really.
TRANSFORMATION TO ROBOT MODE
Fold out wings, unfold manta eyes to form robot legs. Unfold
robot feet and heels. Flip up the chrome gold panel on top of the manta
head (the one with "Depth Charge" written on it). Unlock the robot legs
and swing the whole section over and under the manta head. Bring the blue
sections of the legs together, forming hip. Lift hip up, locking in with
grey waist. Turn waist around 180 degrees. On top of the manta head, flip
the remaining gold panel over, revealing robot head. Swing down the rear
thrusters and swing them round. Lock them onto the torso, forming robot
arms. Open forearms and flip out robot fists (similar to Transmetal Optimus).
Detach tail end and place in robot fist, forming sword. Attach cybershark
gun to other fist. Yay.
ROBOT MODE
Height: 17cm (head to foot)
A very cool looking robot mode. The wings stick out to
the sides majestically. The head is blue with yellow and pale green accents.
The face is yellow with red eyes and a green stripe. The head sits on a
chrome gold plate on top of a grey torso. On the front of the chest are
two yellow mantalike eyes. Although these eyes aren't used in the beast
mode, part of the whole Transmetal scheme is to make the beast mode robotic
and the robot mode resemble the beast. This is even more evident when one
takes a closer inspection at the stomach region which has some scales moulded
onto it! The shoulders are grey with blue shoulder pads. The upper arms
are purple and the forearms are blue. The hands are chrome gold. The hips
are blue and the thighs are purple and chrome gold. The knees, which look
really weird with two structures sticking out, are grey. The legs are purple
with chrome gold "shin-guards". The feet are grey.
Because this toy is very back heavy, there is a supportive
strut on that back of the toy, which means that the toy stands as a tripod
(comprised of the two legs and support strut). The moulding is very rounded,
giving an impression that Depth Charge would move very gracefully in water.
This toy looks very meched out in all aspects except for the torso, with
various mechanical details moulded throughout the figure. The basic robot
itself has 18 points of articulation.
Gimmicks: As with the beast mode, the manta mouth,
which is now a cavity in the chest, can fire disks by pressing the dorsal
fin trigger on the back. Also, the cybershark drone gun fires two 75mm
missiles.
The cybershark drone is a very nicely made weapon. Unlike
most other Beast Wars figures, it is an independent weapon which is not
incorporated in the beast mode. Resembling a robotic shark, it is coloured
the same metallic blue found on Depth Charge with pale green fins and yellow
eyes.
RUB STICKER LOCATION
Under the panel with the words "Depth Charge" written on
it.
OVERALL
A robot that looks everybit as cool as the character himself.
Highly recommended.
BEAST TRIVIA
- Under Construction -
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