Review: #108
Name: Grimstone w/ Dinobots
Brand: Transformers
Allegiance: Autobot
Line: PowerCore Combiners
Year of Release: 2010
Size Class: Commander with Drones (Wave 4)
Variations: repainted as Grim Master in the Japanese United EX line
DINOSAUR MODE:
First off, I know there were inaccuracies with the labeling of the species of some of the dinosaurs on the packaging, but I can't be bothered repeating it here (and frankly, it isn't that important). Grimstone here apparently transforms into a Triceratops, in classic Dinobot colours of gunmetal and gold.
If it wasn't for those unsightly blue combiner ports again, this mode would have been pretty good. The baby blue clashes horribly with everything else, and to be honest, I think the red just makes the colour scheme too busy and more like a mess.
There's little to no poseability here, sure, the legs can bend but it's pretty useless and doesn't look too natural.
A bit more mass than some previous PowerCore Combiner 5 pack Commanders, and a lot more fun. An okay dinosaur mode.
DRONE DINOSAURS:
The first drone is the Ankylosaurus drone. Just a mention that even though these are animals that, in real life, have a lot of joints, the ones in this set are pretty static. One thing that I must praise this set, it's that they didn't skimp on paint, each drone have splashes of silver and gold paint.
Next is the Pachycephalosaurus drone. The one thing I love is that all the drones have a weapon attached to them, they're like an assault team. Needless to say, these are organic dinosaurs, all of them having noticeable robotic elements. The sculpting on all these drones are great.
The third is the Parasaurolophus drone, this one actually has it's arms attached via balljoints, being free to move around.
Lastly, it's the Spinosaurus drone, and my least favourite one. Since it's limbs are sculpted into the body and feels even more static than usual. Ironically, this one can open it's mouth and lift it's tail (part of the transformation).
What makes this look like a proper group is not only that they are all dinosaurs, but the fact that they all have the same colours, this will make a huge deal of difference later on.
TRANSFORMATION:
A extraordinary simple transformation, but at least it's not the typical arm turns into arm and legs turn into legs. Well, the beast legs do turn into robot legs, but the arms fold out from the body (which was surprising). There's not tricky parts here, it's just that kibble will get in the way of moving parts around. Transformation into torso mode frees up some pieces and is easier, and I really like how the folded up the lower part of the legs and showed the red pieces as thigh guards, it was different. Putting the drones in were annoying, at least two of them needs a lot of manual help (partially transforming it and then connecting it), but at least they stay attached.
ROBOT MODE:
Grimstone's robot mode is short, and stubby. He's nearly as wide as he is tall. There are a few good elements here, from the head of the dinosaur as his chest to the look of his shoulder armour.
There's a lot of kibble here, the forelegs are unceremoniously just tucked onto his back, along with the tail and sides of the head. This wouldn't be a problem if not for the fact that it hinders arm movement. At least all the blue pegs aren't visible from the front.
The head sculpt feels generic and lacking any sort of character. The red is much more prominent in robot mode, and I still don't believe that's a good thing.
He's a reasonable size, I can't really complain about his height. He's missing a weapon though, would have been awesome if he managed to have some sort of weapon to strike with.
His shoulder pads can be tilted up slightly, make him more menacing I suppose.
Poseability is okay, as mentioned, the arm movement is hindered by the backpack kibble, while the legs are passable.
Not really a bad robot, just a missed opportunity. It could have been the highlight of the set, but as it is, pretty mediocre and boring.
COMBINED MODE:
So, Dinobots that combine (at least it's not this one), this sure is something different. Not sure if this was what people were wanting, but there we go. One of his arm ends with a beast head for a hand, and the other hand is two claws.
One of the dinosaur legs have their tail sticking way back, so at least Grimstone's stable in this mode, and unlikely to keel over backwards. It's actually quite a compact mode, and creative. The angles and ways the legs rest flat on the table isn't intuitive...
The head has a huge crest (nicknamed Dino Pope...), the face needs more paint to bring out the details. Black is just too dark and obscures all the sculpted detailing. The head is on a weird joint that prevents it from swiveling side to side too much, and it also makes it sit too low, which, coupled with the high shoulders, makes him look hunchbacked.
Supposedly around Voyager height, he falls just a bit short (a bit taller than Deluxe though), but he has similar mass (albeit, arguably simpler engineering). He has the mass to back him up though.
Posing is difficult, made even harder if you want a good one. He has knees and elbows, but how good are they when you have fairly undefined hands is another matter. Still, he looks great in a neutral standing pose.
OVERALL:
A solid Transformer, considering Grimstone is effectively a triple-changer, he does it well. Still not the degree of awesomeness as Steamhammer was. Grimstone's colour scheme could do without the red, and it's really the consistent colour scheme of Grimstone and his drones that make his combine mode the highlight and most like a set than all the other 5 packs together. Worth getting.
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