Review: #186
Name: Thrustinator
Brand: Transformers
Allegiance: Predacon
Line: Transformers Figure Subscription Service 2.0
Year of Release: 2014
Size Class: Deluxe
Variations: a retool of Dirgegun, which was a retool of the original Waspinator
INSECT MODE:
Thrustinator transforms into a half mechanical, half organic, wasp. The mechanical parts are painted in pink (to represent Thrust) and the organic parts are painted in green (to represent Waspinator).
This figure is supposed to represent the concept of Thrust and Waspinator sharing and fighting for the same body. It's probably also inspired by the final scenes of Beast Machines in which Thrust's head is attached to Waspinator's wasp body.
I think this is one of the best repurpose of a mold ever, and kudos to Funpub for that. It feels natural and the idea is really cool (although is an acquired taste).
To be honest, it is not the most realistic of wasps but then again, it isn't striving to be.
This mold was approximately 18 years old when Thrustinator is released and it shows here. The aesthetics is bulky and not as slim as contemporary offerings. There's also slight mold degradation in that the balljoints used for the wings are loose.
As a Deluxe of yore, Thrustinator feels huge, bulky and heavy. A common flaw of Beast Wars figures is the fact that as time goes on, the beast legs cannot support the body and will sag, I'm glad to say that Thrustinator do not have this issue out of the box, probably in a few years time but he stands solidly on his legs for now.
As part of the original Dirgegun retool, Thurstinator has a cannon on his back that can flip forward. A 45 degree angle is the best that it can do due to the insect head getting into the way.
A rather ingenious way of storing missiles is that they're in the wings. Two missiles, one under each wing.
The cannon on his back is a spring loaded launcher, which is quite powerful.
An imaginative repaint that makes it seem that this was the original intention all along.
TRANSFORMATION:
Transformation is simple and doesn't present any sort of challenge. The best part is probably in how the legs form, it was interesting and now what you expected.
ROBOT MODE:
Thrustinator's robot mode looks familiar yet also very different. The Waspinator elements looks just like the original but it's the Thrust elements that makes him stand out. It's actually a great clash of sculpted elements and colours that somehow works (although others may attest to that).
A significant portion of the wasp lies on his back, the most noticeable being the wings and the metasoma (I believe that's the term?).
Thrustinator is actually a retool, because the head was remolded. We get a mismash of Waspinator's and Thrust's elements and it fits with the rest of the figure. It's glorious, well painted and well sculpted.
There is a Predacon symbol on his chest. I think it was an error but the insect eyes are painted yellow while the robot is blue, I believe both were originally intended to be blue but there was a factory error, which is a shame.
The mechanical elements are well painted, being highlighted with yellow and silver.
Thrustinator retains the look of bulkiness in robot mode but once again, the age shows through the aesthetics. He is not as athletic looking as recent figures.
Whether it was a design flaw of just the balljoints not being as tight as they can be, Thrustinator is prone to falling over backwards due to the knees giving way. You can rectify this by forcing the balljoint opening to be facing the other way but this means that he will not be able to bend his knees. As it is, you'll just have to pose him leaning forward slightly.
Thrustinator's weapon is a gun which is formed from his wasp stinger.
He can hold it in either hand as a hand gun, the top side featuring green, yellow and black.
It is also a spring loaded missile launcher, yup, so you can now detach a missile from one of his wings to use.
As a byproduct of the original mold having a mutant head, you can flip his head down and the gun over such that he can have a head-gun or cannon-head or face-gun or whatever you want to call it.
It looks pretty cool and even better with a missile plugged in.
The other option if you don't want him to look like a demented headless freak is aim the gun into the sky. He can only shoot flying enemies as his head blocks it from coming down any further.
The insect legs attached to his forearms will get in the way at times and annoy you.
The gun-head makes Thrustinator look like a drone, losing character and personality.
Articulation is good, he features a lot of balljoints, it's just the balancing issues to worry about that hinders the enjoyment of posing.
The fixed waist and chunk of kibble behind his legs hinders a lot of leg movement, which is annoying. It would have been easily solved if the kibble could be pushed further out.
There are no further gimmicks to speak of. His insect antenna is made of a slightly more bendy plastic reducing the chance of breakage.
The gun missile launcher is very powerful, easily firing the missile halfway across the room.
Just like insect mode, this is a great representation of the concept and is arguably better thanks to the retooled head.
OVERALL:
A fantastic figure that manages to bring a somewhat questionable concept to great effect. The mold choice was perfect and the retooled head adds in a lot of personality. There are plenty of paint applications highlighting the molded details and while it is an acquired taste, the toy is definitely recommended. However, as is the usual case with Club Exclusives, the biggest thing against the figure is the price premium you must pay.
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