Review: #24
Name: Undertow w/ Waterlog
Brand: Transformers
Allegiance: Decepticon
Line: PowerCore Combiners (Wave 5)
Year of Release: 2011
Size Class: Scout with Minicon
Variations: none
BOAT MODE:
Undertow transforms into a mainly black speedboat with two gold Gatling guns on either side. Waterlog attaches as a gun emplacement, although it's not all that obvious, he doesn't make a good gun. With the colour clashes, you can barely make out the transparent green cockpit.
While looking plausible from the front, the back is a major mess, you can clearly see the fists and body parts. Disappointing really, as it is a very unique alternate mode.
Despite all this, Undertow looks good from most angles, and I really really like the boat mode. The guns can tilt up and down and Waterlog and rotate.
As mentioned earlier, there are major colour clashes, especially with the two PowerCore ports, they stick out like sore thumbs, and to add insult, his head is fully visible underneath the cockpit.
You can remove Waterlog (recommended) for a smoother and cleaner speed boat. Surprisingly, he doesn't have wheels underneath, you cannot roll him, he stays at rest... forever. Undertow has a vehicle that is brought down by the choices of colour and placement of parts, I still like it, mind you, it's a lot of fun.
TRANSFORMATION:
A fairly nice transformation, and simple as you would expect. Undertow is blocky, which is good, one of the things that is annoying with current movie toys are their thin moving parts. I like how the legs are solidly formed. It is a transformation which would take you less than a minute.
WATERLOG:
I'll dedicate a section to Undertow's partner, Waterlog. He is not my favourite Minicon, in fact, I don't really want him, I only got this set because of Undertow. Waterlog looks really weird, and to make matters worse, he has a small footprint making him really hard to balance while standing upright.
The head is very weird and ugly, definitely not one that I like. His head can turn from side to side so you can hide it in whichever mode he is in, which is a nice touch.
The only saving grace is that his vehicle weapon form (which is exactly the same as the chest armour form) can be passed for a jet. A fairly mediocre Minicon that holds no appeal for me.
ROBOT MODE:
The poor vehicle mode is offset by an awesome robot mode, with a great stance. The two underslung guns look awesome, and he is one of the few PowerCore Combiners to feature weaponry that is not their Minicons.
The shins and feet are huge, formed completely by the hulls of the boat. The back looks flat due to it also being the bottom of the boat. I guess the biggest detraction would be the two combiner ports on either side of his head, not exactly the best placement, and it makes his head harder to turn.
The feet are sloped at an angle such that it has to lean forward to lay flat on the table. It's nothing major, as Undertow has the joints to pull this look off. The stature of the robot is just so good and heroic (which is weird as he is a Decepticon). The cockpit as his chest looks very natural.
At first glance you might notice he doesn't have eyes underneath the green visor thingie covering half his face. It took me a while but I realised that the back of his head has two slots cut into it to allow light through, so from the front he has lightpiped ovals that represent his eyes. A very nice touch that they needn't have done.
Undertow is very VERY poseable, his legs (particularly in the area of his knees) have an unbelievable amount of joints with three-axes' worth of motion. Like a lot of figures, the only thing he is missing is a waist joint, and once again, I'd say it isn't missed.
You can plug Waterlog in his armour form (which in reality is the same as his vehicle weapon form) onto Undertow's chest. One of the better looking armours, and one that looks good from the front. You can also swivel the guns under his arms backwards to 'store' them.
Undertow can also hold Waterlog as a gun, not exactly the best gun as it's very obvious that it's a robot on his back... (at least the face can be turned the other way). It looks way too big for Undertow, so what I usually do it just plug it onto DOTM Starscream's arm as a forearm gun, it looks waaaaay better there. A great robot on it's own that doesn't need the Minicon.
COMBINED MODE:
Undertow's combiner mode is one of the better ones out there, it's solid, but too much mass goes into the legs, making him quite spindly, and overall a bit weird.
The transformation to torso mode is one of the mode interesting ones, it takes the "open chest panel, rotate combiner head up" concept a little bit further. The two shoulder cannons look great here as well, at least Undertow is quite stable in this mode.
The head is based upon one of those old deep sea diver's helmet, while looking cool and nothing we have seen before, it doesn't really suit as a robot head. The 'glass' is transparent green plastic, and the head allows light through the plastic in three different sides but it still doesn't lightpipe too well.
Some good joint setups allowing relatively stable poses, you might need to re-position the thighs every time you move him though as they are not locked in. Granted it's not perfect, but it is still one of the better combined modes out there (specially one that originated from a 2-pack).
OVERALL:
Part of the last wave of PowerCore Combiners and the last new mold, this is a good toy. Quite a lot of flaws but he has grown on me, the robot mode is very awesome, and the combiner mode is not bad. Boat mode is unique but needs a lot of improvement and the Minicon is forgettable. I'd recommend him if you can find one at a good price, but I wouldn't specifically track one down.
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Credits: linked a few TFwiki.net and Wikipedia pages in this review if you wanted more info on the respective links
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