BEAST WARS: TOY
REVIEW
Name: TIGERHAWK (Known in Japan as Tigerfalcon)
Allegiance: Maximal
Function: Vok Emissary
Beast Mode: Mechanical Tiger-bird fusion
Average Price: 20 USD
BEAST MODE
Height: 14 cm
Length: 22 cm
Maximum Wingspan: 39 cm
This is a very unconventional toy! Although classed as
a Transmetal 2, it exhibits features that would make one question its classification.
The most unusual feature of this mode is that it's a combination of two
animals - a tiger and a bird. The head, forelegs and front paws are
that of a tiger's, but it also has wings and the hind legs resemble bird
legs with talons! The tail is also that of a bird's. This truly gives Tigerhawk
a mythological appeal. It certainly looks like something that belongs to
neither Cybertron or Earth... which plays well with the Vok theme of the
character. The toy is primarily white. There are black stripes on the face
which also has an orange nose, metallic-gold eyes and metalic-cobalt blue
teeth and a blue tongue!! That's right, they even went to the extent
of putting in an articulate tongue that moves up and down! The jaw also
opens and shuts. There are chrome-marine blue parts behind the head (which
is the mask) as well as on the upper parts of the legs and wings. There
the wing tips are accented grass-green and there are two transparent green
casings on the wing hinges. A few metallic blue feathers can be seen on
the inner part of the wing and the tail. The claws and talons are black.
One the chest is a transparent green ball. Inside this ball is actually
a cockpit with a white seat inside it. Initially, Hasbro was thinking about
putting in a humanoid "Spark" figure to "pilot" the toy, but this idea
was scrapped is Hasbro figured that it would confuse a lot of fans. The
neck's a bit ugly because it shows a lot of hinges. I also don't like how
the beast head is permanently staring down (unless you put the mask on).
The mechanical and organic components mesh with each other rather well
and the moulding is exceptional.
Gimmicks: Push the green switch on the back to
make the wings flip down. This makes the wing cannons shoot out, which
launches two missiles. Two white switches on the wing hinges make the wing
tips flick forward and fire two more feather missiles. The bird feet have
triggers on them, which causes the talons to grasp. I think this is a neat
feature!
TRANSPORT MODE
Unlike other Transmetal 2s, the Ultra Transmetal 2s have
an intermediate transportation mode. All this mode involves is putting
on the mask and pulling out the underbelly cannon. Whoopee.
TRANSFORMATION TO ROBOT MODE
Pull out robot arms (one's in the underbelly, the other's
behind the head). Dettaching the tiger head may require some excessive
force. Yank that sucker out! Tuck the rear legs in. I think this is neat,
because it won't leave the bird legs dangling out unnecessarily. Swing
the hip section down 90 degrees. Rotate tiger legs back and lock hip sections
together (much like in Silverbolt). Rotate the transparent green central
column so that the arms are positioned to the sides. Flip out robot head.
Push up robot chest. Lock down shoulders. Flip tiger paws in backwards
to reveal robot feet. Fold down chrome-blue panels to form calves of robot
legs. Lock tail onto hip joint. Dettach missile launcher cannons and attach
them onto holes in left fist.
ROBOT MODE
Height: 19 cm
Quite a good looking toy, despite being a Fuzor-Transmetal
2! This mode is deceptively symmetrical, but upon closer inspection, it's
clear that the asymmetrical theme of the Transmetal 2s has been applied
here. Still, the asymmetry has been done reasonably well and it doesn't
look too bad. The head looks quite nice (except for the face). It's metallic
cobalt blue. The face is white and the mouth is moulded into this stupid
looking grit. I've always preferred neutral looking mouths on toys. The
eyes are orange and there's a transparent green visor which looks really
cool (the first Transformer with shades since G1 Scorponok!). The cockpit
is now the right shoulder and the beast head is the left shoulder. Both
arms are distinctively different from each other and are covered with a
variety of mechanical features, including conduits. The fingers on the
left hand are clawed, which is interesting. The torso looks a lot
better than I thought it would! It's white with a cobalt blue mid-section.
The moulding on the mid section is phenomenal. Especially with the way
it has a Maximal symbol sculpted on and painted metallic gold! Very nice!!
The thighs are symmetrical, however, differences lie in the knees and calves
(the right calf looks more organic, the left one looking more mechanical).
The shins have a pair of hydraulic pistons each, which looks really cool.
SPARK CRYSTAL LOCATION
On the transparent green column. A pretty silly place to
put it, but the sculpted gold Maximal insignia compensates.
OVERALL
This is a truly remarkable toy. The asymmetry is done well.
The right side of the toy attempts to look more organic, whereas the left
side attempts to look more robotic (and this is reversed on the robot head).
This is a lot better than the seemingly haphazard asymmetry of other Transmetal
2 figures. An exceptional toy and one of the best non-Japanese exclusive
Beast Wars figures I've seen since Optimal
Optimus. Huzzah.
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