Review: #576
Name: Scavenger
Brand: Transformers
Allegiance: Decepticon
Line: Generations - Studio Series
Year of Release: 2019
Size Class: Leader (Wave 4)
Mold Status: new
ALTERNATE MODE:
Scavenger, based on his appearance in the ROTF film, transforms into a mining excavator.
The back is a bit messy with exposed transformation joints. While the treads don't function as real treads do, there are small plastic wheels underneath to allow him to roll.
Unfortunately, Scavenger only really looks good from the front and sides. From the top you can see the giant wheels that the robot mode is known for and there has been no attempt to try and hide them.
Based on the proportions, you can tell that in real life this thing would be massive.
In comparison with other Leaders, Scavenger is a fairly decent size. He towers over a few other Leader classed figures.
There's a little bit of play value here, the arms and scoop are jointed, there are three ratchet points in total.
A passable excavator mode, although it is somewhat lazy with the exposed robot wheels.
TRANSFORMATION:
You can probably tell the general gist of how Scavenger transforms into robot mode. The sides fold out to form the shoulders, and the arm splits in half to form the... arms. What is more interesting is only one of the wheels are hidden within the alternate mode and that is the one that is above the head. The lower wheel is actually formed from the treads, which hide pretty well within the wheel, and it's somewhat impressive.
ROBOT MODE:
Scavenger has a unique robot mode, one that really has not been done before or since. As such, he has a great presence on your shelf.
Scavenger doesn't come with a stand or anything so he needs at least two points of contact with the surface. Three points would be preferred since he'll be able to keep a better balance that way.
The headsculpt is busy and brimming with details, so it looks pretty good. Unfortunately the head articulation is a bit lacking since the balljoint is behind the head, rather than having a proper neck.
As a Leader sized figure Scavenger is fairly big. In comparison with a more traditional robot, his height is dominated by the wheels.
As part of the Studio Series line, he comes with a cardboard stand.
The stand's backdrop depicts the pyramids, signifying Scavenger's only scene during which he combines into Devastator.
Articulation is unorthodox, as you would expect with such an unusual robot mode. Basically, most of the articulation is within his arms, with a swivel and hinge for his shoulders, and then two more hinges for his arms.
If you are careful, you're able to balance him with only one arm, leaving the other arm free to do something else.
A neat thing is how part of the shovel splits and are molded to look like individual fingers, rather than half a shovel. It would be nice if there was another split so that he can have three distinct fingers but the budget probably couldn't allow for it.
The other pretty cool part is that the bottom wheel can be rotated slightly to the sides, which allow for a more dynamic look.
While it is not to everyone's tastes, Scavenger's robot mode is pretty good and looks very screen accurate.
OVERALL:
This is pretty much the definitive version of the character. The alternate mode is a bit weak but the robot mode is a clear winner. Being able to combine into Devastator is just a bonus. As a Leader sized figure, and in these days of ever shrinking toys, Scavenger at least feels chunky in your hands. He has a nice presence among the other Constructicons thanks to his sheer size and unusual robot design.
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