Review: #837
Name: K-9
Brand: Transformers
Allegiance: Maximal
Line: Vintage Beast Wars
Year of Release: 2022
Size Class: Deluxe
Mold Status: retool of Beast Wars Wolfang
PACKAGING:
Released as part of the Vintage line, K-9 comes in carded packaging with a clear bubble, in an attempt to replicate his original packaging.
As a result, the instructions are printed on the back, and the stock photo is regulated to a tiny size at the front of the packaging.
BEAST MODE:
K-9 transforms into a German shepherd dog, and he is an extreme retool of Wolfang. It's an impressive retool, particularly during a time where extensive retools aren't that common.
This is a really good beast mode too, as most of his robot parts are covered and not visible.
He is a big size for a Deluxe, thanks in part to having a beast mode, and in part to being released in a time where there wasn't much significant cost cutting.
The head sculpt is great, and he has a snarling expression. Although it's completely static.
In fact, his default stance is quite aggressive.
However, unfortunately, he is a brick and there is little meaningful articulation.
A fantastic beast mode, where you can still easily overlook the fixed nature of his pose.
TRANSFORMATION:
Not too hard and not too easy, K-9 is fun to transform. The head splits into two to form shoulder pads. The rear legs form the robot legs, while the arms are from underneath the torso. This means that the front legs are awkwardly stuck onto the robot arms. Stand him up and rotate the torso and you're done.
ROBOT MODE:
K-9's robot mode isn't bad either, he has a somewhat heroic armored look to him, thanks to the large shoulder pads and waist skirts.
He's quite kibbly though, from the wolf legs that are attached to the back of his arms, to the bits hanging off his waist. He can be a bit busy to look at.
The head sculpt is so so, feels like a generic Autobot head (even though he is a Maximal).
He does have the mutant head gimmick though and it is a flip down visor, that has a more organic beast like face, and it looks really nice, and has much more character than the other head.
In terms of size, he is quite bulky, he feels big and wide.
Articulation is okay, he has joints for his head, shoulders, elbows, waist, hips and knees.
He comes with a bunch of weapons, a shield, a gun, and two missiles.
The gun is made from his beast mode's tail, and it is springloaded, so you can insert and launch one of the two included blue missiles.
The shield is made from the back of the beast mode, so yes, K-9 cheats by slightly partsforming. He can hold it as a riot shield and it looks semi-decent.
A neat aspect is that you can store the two missiles onto the back of his torso, although they don't really click into place.
K-9 has mostly hinge joints and surprisingly, they are nice and tight, such that he feels great to pose around with.
His thighs are hollow though, in part a requirement from transformation, but no less disappointing.
Surprisingly with the amount of kibble that he has, they don't actually impede on his articulation that much.
An awesome robot mode and reminds you of how good Transformers can be by just being solid chunks with some unobtrusive gimmicks.
OVERALL:
K-9 is a figure from simpler times, where toys were bigger and simpler, and filled with gimmicks. In K-9's case, the gimmicks work in his favor as it provides him with a few weaponry options. The beast mode looks fantastic, if a bit static, and his robot mode is nice and chunky. K-9 is worth getting if you are a fan of Beast Wars and want to know how the toys were back in the days.
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