Toy Review- The Ark

[swoop]

http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv230/swoop01/100_0962.jpg

I don't own any play sets not even the G1 micromaster bases they are just not high on my priority list so I mostly brought this because its the ark and being such a major part of transformer history I had to have the toy of it.

The space ship mode looks cool but besides that it doesn't really have anything else going for it. Only one of the missile launchers is spring loaded, why the other isn't I don't know. Imo its a waste. It has 14 peg holes over it, 8 can be used for the guns currently attached to the back of the shuttle. The other 6 are smaller sized and could be for weapons from other figures possibly the cyberverse commander assortment but I don't own any yet so its just speculation. The cockpit opens up and can fit one of the legion assortment figures. the front guns below the cockpit light up and make firing noises when you press a button.

http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv230/swoop01/100_0965.jpg

Its 3 steps to transform it to the play set. Pull the wings open and the cockpit lifts, unfold the wings and pull the bottom of the cockpit down and thats it its transformed. Its really simple but being a play set you wouldn't want anything more complex than that. When you open it up there is the transforming sound and the weapons light up
Its main features are the repair table with removable arm that can be positioned at one of four points on the table. the ramp at the front of the play set has a switch that when pressed launches a car down the ramp.
Behind the ramp there is a gun platform that swivels 180 degrees and lights up when you press a button just in front of the platform. Behind the gun is a cage that fits one legion figure and above it is a platform that 2-3 legion figures could fit on. on the end of of the play set there are 5 small pillars that lift up and are referred to as lift pillars in the instructions but I have no idea what they are for. Thats about if for the features of the play set.

http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv230/swoop01/IMG_0323.jpg

The legion figure is called roller and transforms into the lunar rover. Its a nice little figure with a slightly more complex transformation than most of the legends class figures I own but nothing to difficult.

Just a quick change, the ark does have connectors for the action sets they are at the back of the play set and on the side I've taken photos and they are below.

Overall its a good set and It'll make a good centre piece for the action sets to be placed around and filled with legion figures. Roller is also quickly becoming one of my favourite figures in its size class and I hope it gets a release by itself so that those people that don't want the ark can get this awesome little legion figure.
http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv230/swoop01/IMG_0328.jpg
http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv230/swoop01/IMG_0325.jpg
http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv230/swoop01/100_0963.jpg
http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv230/swoop01/100_0967.jpg
http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv230/swoop01/100_0968.jpg
http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv230/swoop01/100_0979.jpg
http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv230/swoop01/100_0977.jpg
http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv230/swoop01/100_0985.jpg
http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv230/swoop01/100_0984.jpg
http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv230/swoop01/100_0987.jpg
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http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv230/swoop01/100_0988.jpg
http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv230/swoop01/100_1001.jpg
Just wanted to apologise for my mistake I wrote this up in a hurry and didn't go over the toy properly and missed the connectors at the back and side. The action sets can connect to the ark and the toy is all the better for it.

[The_Damned]

where did you get it?

[swoop]

toy world in epping plaza (victoria)

[Vector Prime]

Thanks for the review mate (and size comparison pic with Sentinel Prime). :)

I want one purely because I like the look of it and the display value (not so much the 'play' in the 'playset' part).

Will definitely look at getting one when it becomes a bit more readily available.

[KillinSpoon]

You have single handedly sold this too me. I had no intention of picking this up until now!
Thanks mate :D

[Quickstrike]

Oh man, I can't wait to get this.

[LordCyrusOmega]

I wanted this before but now I needs it. It's The Ark! If you only buy one toy this year..
I don't think an Ark has been released before, Has it? (not including the 3 inch titanium, I mean as a toy)

[GoktimusPrime]

Other than the Titanium Series there was also an Optimus Prime snow globe (http://tfwiki.net/w2/images2/c/c8/Ark_Globe.jpg) which had Mount Saint Hilary with the Ark buried in it as its base. :p Not really a toy though. ;)

[FFN]

Can you check to see if there are any of the clips as seen here?

http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=75803&st=2240&p=1833759&#entry1833759

These allow the small Action Set bases to connect to each other.

[SkyWarp91]

Dude your review made front page of TFW2005, congrats!!

[swoop]

Thats pretty cool.

I have to change my review the action sets can connect to the playset. The connectors are at the back so I didn't notice it at first, I was expecting them to be at the front. I'll post pictures later tonight

[snaketales]

Hey hey looks like my wish came true!

http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=6517&highlight=falcon

Shoulda wished for a million dollars too.... :(

[griffin]

Autobot Ark w/ Autobot Roller
Series - Dark of the Moon
Sub-line - Cyberverse
Size/class - ?? (Cyberverse figure + large playset)
New/remould/redeco - New
Wave - (1)
Released here - May 2011
Approximate Retail Price - $60
Approximate Size - 7cm (Autobot Roller), 30cm (Autobot Ark)
Allegiance - Autobot
Alt-modes - Lunar Rover (Autobot Roller), Spaceship/spacestation (Autobot Ark)
Main Features/Gimmicks - playset for Cyberverse classes
Main Colours - Grey/white/blue (Starscream), light grey/mid grey/blue (playset)
Main Accessories - 2 missiles

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/tftoys/cv25.jpg

[optimus1]

One iconic piece of TF Lore finally in toy mode! I'm going to get this set eventually :)

COngrats on getting on the TFW and Seibertron boards as well :cool:

[Doubledealer]

Damn that packaging is sweet *drool* Wonder if there will be one of those big alien Decepticon ships too... Here's hoping!

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

I want the Roller, ideally with a red redeco for a Countdown homage.

[KillinSpoon]

Found this bad boy today, wow! What a toy!
Firstly, this is a big impressive ship!
Secondly, SHIP TRANSFORMATION NOISE! Hell yeah.
Roller is pretty sweet also, I might add some photos later! :D

I had to check your photos swoop to see where the little golden arm went :P

EDIT: Also, the firing missile certainly fires alright! One of the best that I have seen on any toy :/

[SMHFConvoy]

I wonder if Hasbro would release a repaint of this? But in orange.

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

Aaaaaaaaaa, bollocks. Now I have the very slight need to get some of those action bases to plug into my ark (when I get one ;) )

[autobreadticon]

awesome, i wonder if this can fit into an IKEA Detolf shelf...

[KillinSpoon]

Do you want dimensions? Haha.

[autobreadticon]

Do you want dimensions? Haha.

much appreciated :D?

[KillinSpoon]

It's about 24cm wide, 27cm long (with missiles in, take about 3cm off without) and about 13-14cm tall.
;) Here is a shocking photo as a reference :P
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/9682/25052011504.jpg

[SMHFConvoy]

picked the ark up today. nice that you can plug in mechtech weapons, cyberverse weapons and the basic HA figures in weapons mode :)

[reillyd]

I've just been opening mine, and are amazed by the ease of transformation.

Thanks to your review, I now know what the extra gold 'arm' is for, that it goes with the repair bay. Couldn't find any information in the instructions about it, and the "lift pillars" are pretty mysterious. I wonder if its a story plot point, or if it integrates with another (unreleased) Cyberverse toy?

I have'nt been able to find any youtube reviews that explain it either.

[Quickstrike]

I exchanged mine because it didn't come with the missiles and the little repair bay arm thing. The replacement doesn't have them either. :confused:

[Mr Ed]

Nice review. I too purchased the Ark and have enjoyed playing with it immensely.


Only disappointing thing that everyone has missed was that of the set of missles, you can only shoot from the right hand side!

[Sky Shadow]

Only disappointing thing that everyone has missed was that of the set of missles, you can only shoot from the right hand side!

Just one side is still one side too many - I spent ten minutes ransacking my room last night for the bloody translucent thing after it fired without my permission. :rolleyes:

The Ark is already awesome and I haven't even put batteries in it yet.


I exchanged mine because it didn't come with the missiles and the little repair bay arm thing. The replacement doesn't have them either. :confused:

Do you think that maybe you're not looking in the right place?

[swoop]

Nice review. I too purchased the Ark and have enjoyed playing with it immensely.


Only disappointing thing that everyone has missed was that of the set of missles, you can only shoot from the right hand side!

Actually I did notice its in my review

[reillyd]

Latest scans from Figure King show the Ark combined with the first wave playsets from Bumblebee and Starscream.

Can anyone see how these connect, or are they just meant to sit "next" to each other?

http://www.seibertron.com/images/toys/uploads/1308933175_fk_087.jpg

Also, there's text for the two 'features' (one is a repair bay, but the other I'm confused about, because Hasbro instructions don't describe it). I wish I knew what the caption said

http://www.seibertron.com/images/toys/uploads/1308933175_fk_088.jpg

[Sky Shadow]

Latest scans from Figure King show the Ark combined with the first wave playsets from Bumblebee and Starscream.

Can anyone see how these connect, or are they just meant to sit "next" to each other?

I have the Ark and Starscream and there are various places where the two can connect using the 3mm clips/rails on the respective toys. I don't know what the 'official' combinations are, but the clips are obviously there at the front of Bumblebee's vehicle too.

[Quickstrike]

Also, there's text for the two 'features' (one is a repair bay, but the other I'm confused about, because Hasbro instructions don't describe it). I wish I knew what the caption said


Something about a Spacebridge I think.

[SkyWarp91]

On the front box-art the side-cannons in vehicle mode is shown to light up as light blue - does that actually happen with the toy? I've seen Protoman's video review of it and he hasn't shown it to do that.

[reillyd]

On the front box-art the side-cannons in vehicle mode is shown to light up as light blue - does that actually happen with the toy? I've seen Protoman's video review of it and he hasn't shown it to do that.

No it's more of an orangey colour not a blue. Blue would look better though I think. As it is the led isn't very bright and could stand to be stronger.
But still an awesome toy

[Autocon]

where does megatrons play set attach to the ark? i cant find any connectors on megatron:confused:

[Quickstrike]

They're on the sides of the little gun turrets.

[GoktimusPrime]

Picked this toy up for $34-something at Big W's sale... umm... where are the missiles?? Should they be pre-loaded into the launchers? I think mine might have come without missiles (if so, I'd better go exchange it) :(

[Demonac]

The missiles are taped to the plastic tray that Roller is in.

[GoktimusPrime]

Yeah, I just found them a minute ago after reading your post about it in the newbies questions thread. Cheers. :)

[Hursticon]

I like it, it's a cool looking chunky space ship that turns into a base/battle-platform with lights and sounds and comes with a little figure that turns into a kick-arse little exploratory drone. :D:cool:

At circa $35, it's a great buy and well worth the money. ;):)
At circa $60, it's quite simplistic and isn't great value for money. :(

[Decepticon]

I was pleasantlly surprised how good this was after I bought it. Love the sounds it makes!! Has anyone noticed Rollers right arm is made to look like its been ripped off and he has replaced it with solar panel arm thingy?:)

[Autocon]

I dont like it. Not enough play value. The other sets dont really link up well just kinda clip on and thats it.

[kaiden]

I dont like it. Not enough play value. The other sets dont really link up well just kinda clip on and thats it.

i just found that out too. bought the action sets to go with this and the clip on connection sucks. it was so much more epic in my head - like starscreams carrier would attach on as a throne and bumblebee's apc ramp would extend from the ark's ramp and finally megatron + optimus battlestations would connect on each side.

i love the sound chip on the ark though - it sounds a lot better then some leader toys.