Review: #129
Name: Ironhide
Brand: Transformers
Allegiance: Autobot
Line: Prime
Year of Release: 2012
Size Class: Commander (Wave 2)
Variations: none as of date
VEHICLE MODE:
Ironhide transforms into a 4x4 pickup truck. The style of truck is probably inspired by the Movie incarnation while the red color from his G1 self.
As you'd expect, all four wheels roll. The truck bed has some gaps (they're the bottom of his robot feet) and you can just see his thighs sticking out from behind the cab, but otherwise, this is a very neat little truck.
While he has a translucent windshield, his side windows are painted. I just wished that they could have been more consistent and either have all of it transparent (would have been quite hard due to how not much space is left inside the cab) or just have painted all windows.
Not too surprisingly, Ironhide is barely larger than a Legions figure. He just feels very tiny and light.
One of the best things about Ironhide is that they didn't skimp on paint operations, from how his grill is completely doused in silver to the red paint on the back, it's very surprising.
Ironhide's twin cannons can peg into holes on his truck bed.
Or you can peg them on either side. Overall, it's a detailed truck that's well formed.
TRANSFORMATION:
Interesting the first time around, I found that it was neat and was pleasantly surprised. It was quite ingenious how they managed to part of the truck's hood to form shoulder pads and how they managed to keep the real windshield onto his robot chest (something the Deluxe toy couldn't do). The legs, while simple, are effective, and it is a fun transformation. Only complaint would be that the arms have so many joints that it can be easy to dislodge or have the wheels fall out (they're only attached via friction joints).
ROBOT MODE:
Once again the robot mode is inspired by both the Movie (shoulder pads, cannons on each arm) and G1 (head, color, windshield for chest) self. He's wide and chunky.
The only major kibble is the windshields under his forearms, which just kinda hangs there.
I find that his torso is thin (depth-wise), especially compared to how chunky his limbs are. The windshield is transparent due to a gimmick where you shine a light from behind, and it shines through.
Sadly, the head is fixed due to transformation, but it's a good sculpt.
Ironhide comes to two transparent blue cannons.
You can peg them onto his forearms as weapons.
Or you can combine it into a giant one (which looks awkward).
He's on par with other Commander sized characters, larger than Legions, but much smaller than Deluxes. He just doesn't have the mass, also, he gains even more paint in robot mode, with the chest, face and some red highlights.
Articulation is great, he's got the lot (except a head swivel and a thigh swivel but that's not a big problem). You can put him in a lot of poses, and his feet can be adjusted too. He can also hold his guns in his hands.
A great robot mode that blends elements from two incarnations into one really well.
OVERALL:
A surprisingly good toy, he has two great modes that is linked by a simple, yet elegant transformation. A few little nitpicks such as the forearm kibble and the small size, but generally, this is a stellar toy. I highly recommend him.
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