Review: #572
Name: Ironworks
Brand: Transformers
Allegiance: Autobot
Line: Generations - War for Cybertron: Earthrise
Year of Release: 2020
Size Class: Deluxe (Wave 1)
Mold Status: new
BASE MODE (CRANE):
The official alternate mode of Ironworks is the base mode with the crane.
To be honest, it's pretty hard to screw up a base mode where it is just a flat platform with a crane on top so Ironworks looks pretty good in this mode.
As a Deluxe, the base mode's size isn't that impressive. It's kind of scaled for Micromasters but they look a bit too big on it.
The crane arm can life up and rotate, and if you have other bases, then you can connect them. While Ironworks looks good, his play value relies on you having other compatible figures.
TRANSFORMATION (TO COMMUNICATION TOWER BASE MODE):
Ironworks is a partsformer so you have to take him apart and then reassemble him to get to the communications tower base mode. This isn't in the instructions but was shown in promotional materials. It's not hard to get to this and you can figure it out from photos alone but it is a clever reuse of each of his parts.
COMMUNICATION TOWER BASE MODE:
The communication tower base mode was something the original toy had and replicated in this Deluxe iteration. It looks great, especially with the scoop halfway up the tower.
The tower is approximately the height of a Deluxe.
The size means that it is scaled okay for Titan Masters.
A good looking base mode but once again, play value relies on having other figures.
PLATFORM MODE:
Mentioned in the instructions, if you take the robot legs and two of the panels, you can create a platform of some sort. It's actually really hard to get a flat surface since the joints are not strong enough and the platform sags.
Officially, Hoist's towing panel can peg onto the platform.
TRANSFORMATION (ROBOT MODE):
To transform into robot mode, once again you break the base mode into separate pieces and then reassemble them together to form the robot mode. The arms and legs are easy, but the torso requires a little bit of manipulate and is the more interesting part of the process.
ROBOT MODE:
Ironworks robot mode looks great and is arguably the best mode of the figure.
The black and yellow color scheme looks really good. He doesn't have any kibble that gets in the way, the greatest pieces are the two grey panels that form his back (although they cover the gap in his torso).
The headscupt is decent. He has a red visor and a red faceplate but the sculpting is deep enough so that they don't look like one undefined red blob.
Ironworks is average height for a Deluxe, he is a little bit taller than Siege Sideswipe.
Ironworks has the crane's hook on his right arm and a fist for his left.
Articulation is decent, although due to transformation, he doesn't have a typical waist swivel. Rather it is on a hinge joint so he does have some movement, however limited.
He comes with two weapons, both are small guns.
The guns can be held in his hand, and there are a few 5mm ports somewhere to peg it too.
However, the weapon looks better when combined into one. The crane's hook can rotate as well.
A strong robot mode that works well.
WEAPONIZER MODE:
While not officially named as such, Ironworks can split into parts that you can peg onto other figures to "weaponize them". Ironworks splits into five pieces in this mode.
The figure used in the instructions is Wheeljack, who gains feet extensions, a shoulder cannon, a claw arm and a shoulder shield.
So while the core figure doesn't have any enhancements, the various weaponry still gives the figure a tougher more heavily armed look.
OVERALL:
Ironworks does a lot of things, having two base modes, a robot mode and a Weaponizer mode (as well as a weird platform configuration). Considering the amount of work he has to do, Ironworks has done an admirable job of making each mode work, to the point where he isn't compromised for any of the modes.
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