Review: #878
Name: Optimus Prime
Brand: Transformers
Allegiance: Autobot
Line: Timelines
Year of Release: 2025
Size Class: Deluxe
Mold Status: new
PACKAGING:
In a surprise announcement, the designs from Hearts of Steel was going to be released in toy form for the first time. The first set came in a two-pack with Optimus and Starscream.
It comes in a really nice box with a piece of great artwork on the front. This is actually a sleeve which you can take off.
The box inside can then be opened up between its two halves and reveal the figures, so that you can keep them in their box and still display it if you wanted to.
ALTERNATE MODE:
Based from the Hearts of Steel design, Optimus transforms into the cab of a steam train.
It has a very retro feel to it, and it's a very well formed train cab from all angles.
Unfortunately, like with most modern Transformers, the alternate mode is very compact, and so he is quite tiny by Deluxe standards.
A quick comparison with Starscream, the other figure from the set.
He has tiny plastic wheels underneath to allow him to roll, given he doesn't have functioning train wheels (they're just for show).
He's a bit static in this mode too, with no other gimmicks and not even a hitch to try and connect train compartments to him.
Given the compact nature, he can appear a bit short and stubby, but is otherwise a solid alternate mode.
TRANSFORMATION:
Despite being so compact, he stretches out in robot mode and therefore during a few places, the pieces can feel overly hollow and flimsy. You will need to remove the blue roof and the smokestack for transformation. The front is the torso, the rear and the bottom of the cab form the legs. while the part right behind the engine are the arms. It's not a difficult or innovative design, but it works fine.
ROBOT MODE:
This is still clearly Optimus through and through. The front of the train forming his chest looks great, and having the cowcatcher as a waist skirt is a clever idea.
Perhaps due to the compact and minor partsforming nature of the transformation, but Optimus does not have any kibble at all, which is very impressive.
The head sculpt is nice, again, there's a little bit of retro feel in its design.
Another quick comparison between him and Starscream.
Articulation is great, he has joints for his head, shoulders, elbows, waist, hips, knees and ankles.
He comes with two weapons, a gun from the smokestack, and a shield from the roof.
He can hold the gun, and the shield can peg onto his forearm.
The shield looks fine. The gun, given it's just the smokestack with a barrel folded out, looks somewhat comical.
The robot design itself suits the steam train motif, the blockiness of the shoulder armor and overall design, really fits into the theme.
This is a fantastic robot mode that's unique amongst the sea of G1-inspired figures we usually get.
OVERALL:
Timelines Optimus Prime is a good figure. The only flaw being that the train mode is quite small. Other than that, both modes are perfectly clean in terms of kibble. While the retro look is perfectly executed here.
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