Review: #84
Name: Heavytread w/ Groundspike
Brand: Transformers
Allegiance: Autobot
Line: PowerCore Combiners
Year of Release: 2011
Size Class: Scout with Minicon (Wave 4)
Variations: none
TANK MODE:
Heavytread transforms into a camouflaged tank. The turret is thin, as is the cannon, so it looks somewhat unimpressive. There are small black plastic wheels on the bottom allowing him to roll.
It's a well formed tank mode... at first glance. There are some aesthetics problems, such as the really obvious bright blue combiner ports, hinges, and gaps at the back.
You can transform Groundspike (the transparent blue Minicon) into a mine plow and plug it to the front of the tank mode. It's one of the better integrated vehicle Minicon modes out of the PowerCore Combiners but is still too large to look realistic (but then again, that's not really the aim of the figure.
The turret rotate 360 degrees. This is a solid vehicle mode.
TRANSFORMATION:
A simple transformation, again, it's fun, and it works really well. I like how the arms are jointed to fold up into tank mode. The legs are interesting, although the end result isn't that good. I think going into combined mode is where the engineering shines, the way you get the combined mode head out is interesting (basically you pull it out and the normal robot head folds back into the bigger head), and the legs are worth noting too.
ROBOT MODE:
In my opinion, the robot mode isn't as strong as the vehicle. Heavytread has an extremely strong resemblance to Brawl so it's actually really weird they didn't use that name instead.
There are a few weaker elements here, from the undefined (and huge) hands, to the awkward legs. There are still a lot of elements to be liked though, the turret sitting on his back looks excellent.
The head sculpt is really good, he doesn't have any lightpiping though, and it would have been awesome if he did. The head is on a balljoint.
Carrying on the theme of weird proportions, Groundspike has extremely long legs and short stubby arms. He does have hands, but they're hard to pick out from the transparent blue plastic, the back of his arms are the mine plow blades. I find that the thighs are really awkward.
So that's two of the four modes of Groundspike covered, the next mode is that he can form a 'armor' for Heavytread, it's one of the better armor modes out there. You can plug it onto Heavytread's chest, it's a bit big for this mode.
The other mode is a claw weapon, I use this term hesitantly, coz it doesn't look that great, or much like a recognizable weapon at all. The poseability of Heavytread is good though, all in all, not a bad robot mode.
COMBINED MODE:
The combined mode is probably the best mode out of all three. He has one of the best combined mode out of the PowerCore Combiners. He also fits in with Bombshock's drones perfectly, both in terms of theme and colour.
What's interesting is that the turret is still on his back, but a piece folds over as a cannon of some sort. He has all the standard joints, knees, hips, shoulders and waist. Heavytread balances fairly easily in this mold which is a relief.
The headsculpt is pretty good, love the face plate. The head is only on a swivel though, and what's cool (and I've already mentioned this before), is that the normal robot head forms the back of this head. So if you really wanted, you can have the combined mode head for the normal robot mode.
A great combined mode, and the reason I bought this in the first place. The chest armor of Groundspike works much better here, purely because he isn't so big (relatively speaking) anymore.
OVERALL:
A stronger figure than I would have anticipated. The robot mode holds it's charms, and I have grown to like it very much. The tank is excellent, just wished they could have hide those unsightly combiner ports. The combined mode is where Heavytread shines, and you can only appreciate him if you've got a few drones to combine him with. Groundspike is pretty much a write off, with basically one good mode, and one mode that's so dedicated to the tank that he would look ridiculous anywhere else.
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