Toy Review - TFPrime DLX Wheeljack

[griffin]

(Please post photos, comments or even a fully comprehensive review - these are just brief details)

Toy Review - Wheeljack
Series - TFPrime
Sub-line - Robots in Disguise
Size/class - Deluxe/Revealer
Wave - 1 (Regular series)
New/remould/redeco - New
Released here - Should be here March (Released globally Jan 2012)
Approximate Retail Price - ($24-30?) US$12
Approximate Size - (14cm?)
Allegiance - Autobot
Alt-mode - Sports car
Main Features/Gimmicks - none?
Main Colours - White, black, red
Main Accessories - 2 swords

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/tftoys/tfpr04.jpg

[SMHFConvoy]

I picked Wheeljack today at TRU for $30. Despite the price gouge I really wanted this figure. So yes my opinion of this figure will be biased. Wheeljack was the first TF I got as a kid. It broke my heart when it was stolen at school all those years ago...

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7200/6890503807_f0c1d56fc1.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/50415524@N03/6890503807/)
What The Math? SWORDS? (http://www.flickr.com/photos/50415524@N03/6890503807/) by ENsoehardi (http://www.flickr.com/people/50415524@N03/), on Flickr

I'll post a few photos here but you can see more on my flickr account or just by searching the web.

I'll start with the figure's cons:


OMG he has swords like Drift
He doesn't invent things that go BOOM (unconfirmed)
The knee spurs keep folding back on his leg
No bicep swivel
His vehicle attack mode is nonsense
Window/ windscreen hang off forearms
No Autobot insignia (What's up with that Hasbro?)
Bit of a hunchback
"Transformers Prime Robots in Disguise Deluxe Revealer"


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7193/6890503959_dd255e4799.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/50415524@N03/6890503959/)
TEEF (http://www.flickr.com/photos/50415524@N03/6890503959/) by ENsoehardi (http://www.flickr.com/people/50415524@N03/), on Flickr

And now the figure's pros:


It's Wheeljack
His vehicle mode is cute, petite and angular (if he was sprayed black he'd be a stealth car! Or Slicer. Hmm...)
Vehicle mode weapons storage
He is really easy and fun to transform
Robot mode is nicely proportioned
Weapons store on back
Paint apps are a stylised version of the G1 figure
Figure has good stability
Decent articulation (I count 13 points)


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7177/6890502857_61ef135cca.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/50415524@N03/6890502857/)
This would be easier with bicep swivel (http://www.flickr.com/photos/50415524@N03/6890502857/) by ENsoehardi (http://www.flickr.com/people/50415524@N03/), on Flickr

Now for something completely different! What other characters could you mod him into?


Makeshift (no mods necessary! Maybe red eyes.)
Slicer (or Stealth Mode Wheeljack. Black, blue, whatevs.)
Chromedome
Arcee (to fit in with the whole, "Arcee was gonna be a Chromedome repaint.")
Sideswipe (Swords!)
Sunstreaker
Hotrod
I guess Drift


Yes my review is a bit light on commentary but there has been a stack of reviews of this Wheeljack (Not mine, they all bought their own.) on Youtube (http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=transformers+prime+wheeljack+ toy+review&oq=transformers+prime+wheeljack&aq=3&aqi=g7&aql=&gs_sm=3&gs_upl=2190l10935l0l15296l28l23l0l5l5l0l1064l2881l 2-1.0.2.1.0.1l5l0). I just wanted to give you guys my opinion on this figure and that is, "Yes he's worth the purchase."
If you can get it cheaper he is definitely worth it!

SMHF Convoy :)

[GoktimusPrime]

I picked Wheeljack today at TRU for $30. Despite the price gouge I really wanted this figure.
$30 is the standard RRP for a Deluxe in Australia and has been for quite some time. Quite a few retailers do discount to $25, but $30 is pretty average. $35 is excessive (which is how much Myers charges for their DLXes :rolleyes:).


I'll start with the figure's cons:

He doesn't invent things that go BOOM (unconfirmed)
I don't see how that's a con for the toy. It may be a con for the character on the show -- one of several (he's really only Wheeljack in name and appearance; in actuality he's more like Drift -- hence the fan nickname "Driftjack" :rolleyes:).


No Autobot insignia (What's up with that Hasbro?)
YEAH! Deluxe Optimus Prime and Soundwave also have no insignias too! :mad:


And now the figure's pros:

Paint apps are a stylised version of the G1 figure
And thus bristling with Italian patriotism! Salva la nostra economia! :p


Now for something completely different! What other characters could you mod him into?

Makeshift (no mods necessary! Maybe red eyes.)
Nah, give him a new head - one that has the mouth exposed instead of the G1-esque "faceguard" ;) That'll give people who already have Wheeljack a greater incentive to get this toy. Also give him a Decepticon rub sign. ;)


Slicer (or Stealth Mode Wheeljack. Black, blue, whatevs.)
I'd get this :)



Arcee (to fit in with the whole, "Arcee was gonna be a Chromedome repaint.")
Call her Elita-1 or Chromia or something to avoid confusion with the existing TFP Arcee character/toy.

[SkyWarp91]

Oh man those swords make him look like a murderous badass. Can't wait to get mine!

[SMHFConvoy]

$30 is the standard RRP for a Deluxe in Australia and has been for quite some time. Quite a few retailers do discount to $25, but $30 is pretty average. $35 is excessive (which is how much Myers charges for their DLXes :rolleyes:).

Whatevs. I could've waited for it to come out at Kmart, Big W or work where I'd get a staff discount. I really wanted him!



I don't see how that's a con for the toy. It may be a con for the character on the show -- one of several (he's really only Wheeljack in name and appearance; in actuality he's more like Drift -- hence the fan nickname "Driftjack" :rolleyes:).

I did say that was uncomfirmed. WJ's supposed to back season 2 so they might play up the inventor side. Also the way the character was portrayed for 22 mins may actually put them off from buying this figure. Anyway in my head WJ invents things and can use swords!



YEAH! Deluxe Optimus Prime and Soundwave also have no insignias too! :mad:

The factions and the symbols are blatant and obvious in the show you'd think they'd be stamped with the respective factions... But upon further consideration the mainline is skewed towards 5+ so their figures can be good guys bad guys dependant on mood, weather or whatever. KIDS!



Nah, give him a new head - one that has the mouth exposed instead of the G1-esque "faceguard" ;) That'll give people who already have Wheeljack a greater incentive to get this toy. Also give him a Decepticon rub sign. ;)

I'll leave that to you. Too much effort. I'd rather make him into Chromedome



Call her Elita-1 or Chromia or something to avoid confusion with the existing TFP Arcee character/toy.

CHUG Arcee. Happy now? :p

[AJ_Prime]

OOOoooh yeah, mine's just been shipped from BBTS. Can't wait, this figure looks great!

[GoktimusPrime]

But upon further consideration the mainline is skewed towards 5+ so their figures can be good guys bad guys dependant on mood, weather or whatever. KIDS!
Kids know the difference between factions and would appreciate logos. That was one (of many) things that made Transformers cooler than say Gobots when I was a kid. ;) I often have kids walking past my car and pointing at the Autobot logos going, "Transformers! Mummy look, an Autobot!" etc. :) Kids would also notice the inconsistency too; i.e. all the other toys have logos but not DLX Prime and Wheeljack - not to mention it's plastered all over the packaging (and packaging art).


I'll leave that to you. Too much effort. I'd rather make him into Chromedome
Oh right, you were talking about customising - sorry, I thought you were referring to a future redeco/retool by Hasbro. Oops. :p

[SMHFConvoy]

Kids know the difference between factions and would appreciate logos. That was one (of many) things that made Transformers cooler than say Gobots when I was a kid. ;) I often have kids walking past my car and pointing at the Autobot logos going, "Transformers! Mummy look, an Autobot!" etc. :) Kids would also notice the inconsistency too; i.e. all the other toys have logos but not DLX Prime and Wheeljack - not to mention it's plastered all over the packaging (and packaging art).

Do you take everything so literally? Or do you just troll the boards to nit pick on every little thing?

If a kid decides that they like Megatron so much that to him or her, Megs can be a good guy. It's a toy you play with it and you use some imagination.

I'm not an idiot and I certainly don't think that kids are idiots but they show a lot more plasticity in imagination.

[dirge]

Do you take everything so literally? Or do you just troll the boards to nit pick on every little thing?

Noone's trolling (and noone's calling you an idiot, either). Please, both of you settle down and return to discussing WoollyMammothJack :)

/staff

[Sky Shadow]

I picked Wheeljack today at TRU for $30...

Great review, SMTFC! :)

[GoktimusPrime]

Picked this toy up yesterday - a nice solid Deluxe figure. The lack of an insignia bugged me before I got the toy, but since getting the toy it bugs me even more! The reason for this is that the toy, by design allows for an insignia to be placed on the mid-chest panel (where the insignia appears on the package art) but this panel folds away and is completely concealed in robot mode and replaced by the two back "wings". In other words, the mid chest panel is "faux kibble," meaning that if Hasbro had placed an Autobot logo tampograph on that panel for robot mode, it's not visible in vehicle mode and therefore doesn't detract from the "robot in disguise" aesthetic of the vehicle mode.

In this sense it's a lot like Transformers Car Robot (e.g. Fire Convoy, Car Robo Bros etc.) where the faction logos were only on robot mode parts but not on any of the alt mode panels, which I think is such a simple but clever idea. Quite a few movie-verse toys do the same thing too (e.g. TF1 DLX Jazz, ROTF DLX Skids, DOTM DLX Quejack etc.). TFPrime Wheeljack's allows for the Autobot logo to be placed on the mid-chest panel which would, by virtue of design, be completely concealed and replaced with different alt mode panels. So I see no valid reason why Hasbro has omitted placing a logo on this toy!

In fact - and I mentioned this to some guys at the meet on Sunday - what I would have done is place a rub sign on the mid-chest panel (yes it's a small panel, but you can get small rub signs - look at the little rubs signs used on some Beast Wars figures). And make say 1 in every 10 or so Wheeljacks carry a Decepticon rub sign, i.e. making him Makeshift! :D There would be _nothing_ on the packaging to tell you which was which, the only way to find out would be to buy the toy! You'd be effectively blind-packing the character's allegiance (and thus who the character really is)! You could put a small blurb on the back of the card advertising this feature - saying something like "Hey kids, have you really purchased Wheeljack or is it the secret Decepticon spy Makeshift! Rub the seal of authenticity on his chest to find out!" <evil.grin> :D

Anyway, I stuck an Autobot logo sticker on the mid-chest panel of my Wheeljack. It's oversized but it was the smallest one I had. Better than having no logo at all. My only other gripe would be the sword handles, oh sorry, Battle Sword (as opposed to the kind of sword you don't use in battle?!? (o_O) I await to see Hasbro release a toy with Battle Bazookas :p) handles -- they're rather long which means that they kinda get in the way when you wanna quickly spin his hands around during play. On the plus side it allows for a double-handed grip, which I suspect is the intention. The ability to stow the swords away at the bottom is okay, but not as neat as say on Generations Drift. On the plus side they can be turned outward for his vehicle attack mode. But overall this is quite a nice and fun toy. :)

Photos!

Double-handed grip:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/acquisitions/acquisition2012_02_21.jpg

Single-handed grip, "Nito-ryu" (dual swords):
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/prime_vehicons_bulkhead-wheeljack.jpg
Fighting with two swords is really hard and a very highly advanced skill (very few fighters ever successfully master it). That's how hardcore Driftjack is!! :D

[Tallestblue]

....I guess you can never have enough Vehicons....

[GoktimusPrime]

....I guess you can never have enough Vehicons....
I only have one Vehicon. I just took 8 different shots of the same Vehicon in different positions then composited the photos in MSPaint. ;) (if you look again you can see the very obvious seam lines :D)

[5FDP]

I only have one Vehicon. I just took 8 different shots of the same Vehicon in different positions then composited the photos in MSPaint. ;) (if you look again you can see the very obvious seam lines :D)

Wow... had me fooled. Nice work :cool:

[GoktimusPrime]

Thank you. :) You can look here (http://otca.com.au/boards/showpost.php?p=287637&postcount=1628) if you wanna see what the eight different shots looked like before I composited them. (^_^)

[SMHFConvoy]

Other uses for the TFP Wheeljack: Decepticon Battle Chargers! (http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/radicons-customs/551780-tf-prime-battlechargers.html)

[Sky Shadow]

Other uses for the TFP Wheeljack: Decepticon Battle Chargers! (http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/radicons-customs/551780-tf-prime-battlechargers.html)

Very nice - those are better than the original colours!

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

Picked this guy up on the spur of the monent.

It has been almost a year since I bought a TF toy off the shelf. Sad innit?

Very solid robot mode, I like it, the swords are very adaptable witht heir different pegs. He can hold them like Strider Hiryu if need be, which gets a plus in my book. He also reminds me of the Lancia Stratos in Sega rally as well. One thing I would have liked is a way to hold his swords on his back in robot mode.

One thing that really bugs me is this:
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k313/Wootnchoo/22022012001.jpg

Hard to believe they are both deluxes...


I can sort of see this turning into a Hot rod as well. He reeks of Animated hot rod.

Oh , I voted only if... you can get him cheap. Definitely not worth $30 Aus!!!

[Doubledealer]

I may be in the minority here but I'm actually glad they're making Transformers smaller, it's like they know I have bugger all shelving space left! :p What's upsetting for me is when the price doesn't reflect this change, and that's the reason why I'll be buying my bots overseas.

Tets, now that you mention it I too can see the resemblance to Animated Rodimus. Wow! Really hoping for this toy now. :)

[GoktimusPrime]

One thing I would have liked is a way to hold his swords on his back in robot mode.
SMHFConvoy posted this pic in his initial post on this thread showing how it can be done:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7177/6890502857_61ef135cca.jpg

I've tried it myself - it does work, albeit sitting loosely. Otherwise you can clip them onto the holes on the sides of his upper arms.

One thing that kinda bugs me about the vehicle mode are the unsightly open gaps on the front and rear. I could probably forgive the gaps on the back, but having them on the front too is kinda disappointing.

Here's a pic of the toy in vehicle mode - note the gap up front (no grill, no front fender!)
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/prime_wheeljack1.jpg

Attack vehicle mode
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/prime_wheeljack2.jpg

I am impressed that the vehicle mode still rolls quite well even with the swords attached - however upon closer inspection it seems that the blades do touch the surface, which has be worried that the paint might get scratched when vroom-vrooming this toy over rough surfaces. So I recommend not leaving them attached there during play. See these pics:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/prime_wheeljack3.jpg
Top: no swords attached, Bottom: swords attached.
As you can see the blades contact the surface, so there's potential for scraping.

I've also placed an Autobot logo on the mid-chest robot mode panel. As you can see in the photos above you can't see the logo in vehicle mode - but after I transform it to robot mode...
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/prime_wheeljack5.jpg
...so the toy's design easily allows for a faction logo to be unseen in vehicle mode, but visible in robot mode (it wouldn't surprise me if this was an intentional design element). I cannot fathom why Hasbro has chosen not to exploit this feature of the toy's design and just whacked a small logo on the mid-chest part. :(

[SkyWarp91]

I cannot fathom why Hasbro has chosen not to exploit this feature of the toy's design and just whacked a small logo on the mid-chest part. :(

Maybe Hasbro got lazy?

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

Maybe Hasbro got lazy?

?? Wha? NEVER!:p
I'd say they blew their paint budget on his lack of paint apps:rolleyes:

[Doubledealer]

So the Takara version should have stickers for at least:

-Front headlights
-Autobot insignia
-The door to tie in the two random slaps of red paint

The Hasbro version looks good in robot mode but is pretty half baked in car mode.

[SMHFConvoy]

One thing that kinda bugs me about the vehicle mode are the unsightly open gaps on the front and rear. I could probably forgive the gaps on the back, but having them on the front too is kinda disappointing.

The missing grill is more for function than appearance though :/

At least you can store the weapons on WJ. Can't be done on BB without affecting the car's ability to roll :confused:

[Prowl]

My first thoughts on Wheeljack is he is proably my favourite TF Prime figure so far. I really like the transformation & overall look of him. His poseability is fantastic & the little tribute wings add that extra something.

I will put down more thoughts later but I am a big fan of this toy & the engineering behind him.

[sideswipes brother]

Picked this guy up on the spur of the monent.

It has been almost a year since I bought a TF toy off the shelf. Sad innit?

Very solid robot mode, I like it, the swords are very adaptable witht heir different pegs. He can hold them like Strider Hiryu if need be, which gets a plus in my book. He also reminds me of the Lancia Stratos in Sega rally as well. One thing I would have liked is a way to hold his swords on his back in robot mode.

One thing that really bugs me is this:
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k313/Wootnchoo/22022012001.jpg

Hard to believe they are both deluxes...


I can sort of see this turning into a Hot rod as well. He reeks of Animated hot rod.

Oh , I voted only if... you can get him cheap. Definitely not worth $30 Aus!!!

Are you F'ing kidding me???? This pic is the first pic i have seen of him next to another fig and the thing is WAY too small. I just don't understand - the Aussie dollar is booming yet the Aussie prices are staying stagnant and the figures are getting smaller??? This is just the Balls!!!

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

It's 'cos businesses are never gonna skip on the chance to make extra profits. I can just see the TRU Hasbro meeting now...
Executive #1: "Hey, let's pass the savings from our high Aussie dollar onto our customers!"
Executive #2: "Nah, let's give ourselves bigger bonuses instead. All in favour?"

This is probably as good a place as any to post this latest little gem from TFW2005 (http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-feedback/549242-rid-deluxe-arcee-23.html#post7350675), btw.

[Demonac]

It's 'cos businesses are never gonna skip on the chance to make extra profits. I can just see the TRU meeting now...
Executive #1: "Hey, let's pass the savings from our high Aussie dollar onto our customers!"
Executive #2: "Nah, let's give ourselves bigger bonuses instead. All in favour?"


It's Hasbro that aren't passing on the savings.
We need to send a message with our wallets. That is how capitalism works.

[Doubledealer]

It's Hasbro that aren't passing on the savings.
We need to send a message with our wallets. That is how capitalism works.

Here's the reality: Asking a Transformers collector to refrain from buying locally is like telling a cocaine addict to source their next hit 15,000 kilometres away from the local dealer while knowing they can get that fuzzy feeling right now if they pay a bit more.

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

It's Hasbro that aren't passing on the savings.
We need to send a message with our wallets. That is how capitalism works.Fixed.:)
Here's the reality: Asking a Transformers collector to refrain from buying locally is like telling a cocaine addict to source their next hit 15,000 kilometres away from the local dealer while knowing they can get that fuzzy feeling right now if they pay a bit more.I really like this mental image, not least because it's parents who make up the bulk of Hasbro AUs sales...:D

[Sky Shadow]

It's Hasbro that aren't passing on the savings.
We need to send a message with our wallets. That is how capitalism works.

Personally I don't care since I've been buying almost all my Transformers online for the past decade anyway. However, for people who do care if there are Transformers on the shelves in Australia, the message Hasbro gets from Australians "voting with their wallets" isn't 'Transformers are too expensive' but 'Transformers don't sell well in Australia'. Which results in fewer Transformers on the shelves.

[5FDP]

The more I learn about this toy, the less I want him. Maybe that's a good thing... I can finally start saving some money.

[Prowl]

Here's the reality: Asking a Transformers collector to refrain from buying locally is like telling a cocaine addict to source their next hit 15,000 kilometres away from the local dealer while knowing they can get that fuzzy feeling right now if they pay a bit more.

The smart one will import in bulk & get a little locally to satisfy their craving until the imported stuff arrives :cool:

[SharkyMcShark]

Grabbed this yesterday from Cannington TRU and I don't know how to feel about it tbh.

To be honest even despite the size most of it is fine except the arms and the QC. The legs are cleverly done, there's a faux chest that I'm pretending isn't actually a faux chest, the dual swords store on his back. It's decent.

And then you get to the arms. Forearms have windscreen hanging off their inside, and the elbow won't even get to 90 degrees with the forearm. Add to that the wing mirrors getting in the way of the hands and nothing really locking in place and you're approaching the sum of the issue. Also, no bicep swivel, which in fairness is usually something I consider a spurious complaint among TF fans but has validity when the figure is meant to wield swords.

Also it was really really loose out of the box (I had to gum up all the balljoints with blu tac).

Get it if it's cheap.

[SkyWarp91]

I finally opened up this bad-boy and in my very low-IQ review I can say this: Toy looks cool, transformation is alright but it does feel somewhat cheap and hollow. And the underside of the car looks rather offputting. A 3/5 from Skywarp91.

[BigTransformerTrev]

I though this was one of the best toys of the whole line and a really great figure! An excellent representation of Wheeljack which not only payed homage to G1 Wheeljack but gave him his own unique spin. Ended up picking up the Dead End version (lame but was free), the AM Wildrider version (fricken awesome) and have ordered from the TFSS the Cromedome version for next year. Wheeljack was one of the best characters in the cartoon and I'm glad he got a toy that did him justice.

I've had a go at the Beast Hunters version of this toy (a co-workers child had gotten it into mid-transformation and was stuck so brought it in for me to fix) and I still prefer the RiD version :)