Toy Review - Siege Spinister

[Gehirn]

Series - War For Cybertron
Sub-Line - Siege
Size/class - Deluxe
New/remould/redeco - New
Wave - 5
Released here - 2019
Approximate Retail Price - $35

Picked this up today as it hit Big W and was really impressed with it. The Siege line has been pretty great and I think this is the culmination of all the positives in the line. Interesting transformation, and both robot and vehicle modes are good with the exception being the second cockpit being a minor complaint in vehicle form. In robot mode there is also little hollowness like some others in this line, and everything is tight and works well including the v-blade position. Definitely recommend this figure if you are not already picking it up.

https://i.ibb.co/Dpt7hV3/00100tr-PORTRAIT-00100-BURST20191207172504657-COVER.jpg https://i.ibb.co/mJx322h/00000-IMG-00000-BURST20191207173037235-COVER.jpg

[GoktimusPrime]

My thoughts...

PROS
+ No ifs or buts, this toy is undeniable Spinister.
+ 20 points of articulation, bay-beh!
+ I love the way that the tail section of the helicopter collapses rather than just folding back. It significantly reduces the amount of alt-mode kibble.
+ Great sculpt and well coloured. The head and underbelly cockpit appear to be inspired by Spinister's IDW model.
+ Nice use of tampographs for added details. So glad that they've moved away from stickers.
+ Rotor blades can spin freely (unlike G1 Spinister's).
+ The guns resemble Targetmaster guns and can be wielded individually or combined, just like the G1 guns.
+ The yellow eyes are a big improvement over the G1 toys' blue eyes, and I think that it stands out better than the red eyes on IDW Spinister (as it better offsets his pink upper body).

CONS
- Not a Targetmaster. Boo.
- The legs and the faux cockpit. It's not the concept but the execution that bugs me with this. The faux cockpit just sits there on the underbelly and it doesn't sit completely flush against the fuselage either. IMO if you can't do it properly then just don't do it. I would have no qualms if the legs were just one cockpit that split apart into two separate legs. Okay, you'd have to sacrifice the clear windows, but I'd be okay with that.
- The hands aren't concealed in helicopter mode. They're completely exposed.
- The rotor blades don't lock into position in robot mode. I can make them loosely sit in a balanced position if I squeeze the centre of the rotor blades into the back, but it doesn't lock in. While this may be fine for static display purposes, the moment I try to play with this toy and the blades swing. I guess that adding a lock feature may have exceeded budget, but they could've made one blade higher/lower than the other and allow them to intersect and 'scissor' around the tail shaft (thus effectively locking into place).
- The wings are quite chunky as they're formed by the feet. I can personally forgive this as the feet need to go somewhere, and it's more creative than just having fold down wings on the G1 toy. But yeah, it's not the best look.
- I wish that the blue gun and fists were black. Again, G1 bias kicking in here, but I don't see why they could've have moulded that gun and fists together with the black head.
- Not a fan of the "battle damage" on the forearms and thighs. Gah.

Mine also has a QC issue. The right elbow joint has been assembled backwards, making it really hard to make the arm bend all the way in, which is essential for transformation. :( Probably an isolated case so I'm not counting this as a negative feature of the toy, per se.

OVERALL
On the whole it is a very nice toy, although not without its flaws. I'd give it a 7/10.
https://i.ibb.co/hsFbknz/jaam-jaam.jpg

PHOTOS

Alt mode next to Crosshairs
https://i.ibb.co/MgF3JCS/SIEGE-crosshairsspinister01.jpg

Helicopter mode
https://i.ibb.co/Z2wTH0P/SIEGE-spinister01.jpg

Robot mode...
https://i.ibb.co/c62HPKm/SIEGE-spinister02.jpg

Comparison with G1
https://i.ibb.co/sw2zrN7/SIEGE-spinister03.jpg

The obvious solution to the lack of Targetmasters -- just use the G1 Targetmasters (joys of 5mm post weapons!) :D
https://i.ibb.co/3FHZLdm/SIEGE-spinister03a.jpg

Rotor blades balanced in the "V" position. Unfortunately it's not terribly secure.
https://i.ibb.co/zHGNQ6Z/SIEGE-spinister05.jpg

[dirge]

CONS
- The rotor blades don't lock into position in robot mode. I can make them loosely sit in a balanced position if I squeeze the centre of the rotor blades into the back, but it doesn't lock in. While this may be fine for static display purposes, the moment I try to play with this toy and the blades swing. I guess that adding a lock feature may have exceeded budget, but they could've made one blade higher/lower than the other and allow them to intersect and 'scissor' around the tail shaft (thus effectively locking into place).


They do lock in place. You just have to make sure the tail is full collapsed into the torso. There's a tab that catches a notch on the rotors. It is, IMO, the cleverest feature of his transformation.

For what its worth, I'm super impressed with Spinister. Much nicer in hand than in photos. Even if locking the faux-cockpit underneath the fuselage is tricky.

[GoktimusPrime]

Got around to removing the "battle damage" on my Spinister's forearms and thighs.
https://i.ibb.co/ZMftNQZ/temp.jpghttps://i.ibb.co/JQZzbs7/SIEGE-spinister06.jpg


They do lock in place. You just have to make sure the tail is full collapsed into the torso. There's a tab that catches a notch on the rotors.
Yeah, I've been doing that. But the tab on mine doesn't quite tab in firmly. The blades on mine still wobble, and with sufficient force during play, they're prone to becoming dislodged.

[dirge]

Yeah, I've been doing that. But the tab on mine doesn't quite tab in firmly. The blades on mine still wobble, and with sufficient force during play, they're prone to becoming dislodged.

Damn. Works well for me.

Also, I found he's one of the easier Siege toys to remove that silver paint crap from.

[Tha_Phantom]

the tab on mine doesn't quite tab in firmly. The blades on mine still wobble, and with sufficient force during play, they're prone to becoming dislodged.

It seems yours has a few QC issues Gok. The blades on mine do stay in place like Dirge says. Okay, there is a bit of wobble, but nothing major, they still stay upright. Also, the feet on mine tend to lock in place far easier for the alt mode than yours did, or maybe I was just being super careful with yours. :confused: Lastly, mine came with both correct elbows unlike yours did. The only issue still remaining is that faux cockpit not tabbing into place 100% properly as a lot of them tend not to, but at least it's hidden unless you go looking for it.

Overall I'm liking this figure a lot more now than I did when I messed with Gok's the other week. :p I give it an 8.5/10.

[Dimi194]

Yeah, I've been doing that. But the tab on mine doesn't quite tab in firmly. The blades on mine still wobble, and with sufficient force during play, they're prone to becoming dislodged.

Also don't have that issue on mine-even with a lot of shaking they're staying in place.

[Dimi194]

Adding some more thoughts now I've played with this guy a bit more-I think one of the BEST siege toys hands down (the best Deluxe, but it's hard to beat OP Voyager as the best overall).
The robot mode is solid, tall and really cool looking (love the moody head and the way the tail/rotor transform to create a neat outline). Weapons are good and work as handheld and forearms blasters really well. Articulation is great, couldn't ask for more at all.

Transformation is interesting and not too hard.

Helicopter is solid also, looks really cool (the colours actually work out???). Some have issue with the undercockpit thing, I think it's fine (imagining a gunner would lie there and shoot from an underslung blaster or something) however I think it looks weird straight on because there's a weird hole/void at the back of the undercockpit which faces forward and looks a bit unfinished. Otherwise the hands hanging out and the feet winglets don't bug me at all!

Worth full retail price imho, and I have no attachment to the character before seeing/playing with this version here.

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

Haven't really messed around with mine much yet, but so far/out-of-box the helicopter blades are pretty loose in robot mode as well, and the backpack looks to be solidly tabbed in.

More thoughts to come when I get around to transforming him and writing them up. :)

[Paulbot]

Overall he’s pretty good. Don’t particularly like the “second” cockpit but was happy I got the right one up front on the first try. The blades don’t feel ultra secure but better in one V formation than the other so try spinning the blades the other way.

I think the two combining guns to emulate his targetmaster partners are a nice touch and don’t mind they don’t transform.

Questions though: mine seems to have come with Autobot instructions (Autobot symbol next to his name on the cover, red arrows and highlights throughout)? I’m away from home so can’t check but pretty sure the other Siege Decepticons had purple books? Also both this (from Target) and my Mirage (from Amazon.com) both had a packed in multilingual chocking hazard flyer. That’s new right?

[Tha_Phantom]

Questions though: mine seems to have come with Autobot instructions (Autobot symbol next to his name on the cover, red arrows and highlights throughout)? I’m away from home so can’t check but pretty sure the other Siege Decepticons had purple books? Also both this (from Target) and my Mirage (from Amazon.com) both had a packed in multilingual chocking hazard flyer. That’s new right?

Heh, totally didn't notice that but yes my Spinister instructions also has the Autobot logo and red highlights. Just checked my Astrotrain booklet from yesterday and it has a Decepticon logo and purple highlights as it should. Both came with those multilingual choking hazard flyers.

[kovert]

Never owned G1 Spinister but I bought the Siege version because it looked neat and was on sale. The late 1980s G1 colours are a nice touch and the level of poseability is welcome.

The instructions packed with my copy also had the Autobot insignia and red highlights. Production code is 92541. It also seems Hasbro slightly changed the packaging template from previous waves. The recommended age is now simply '8+' rather than 'Age/Edad/Idade 8+'. Other disclaimers and warnings have also been moved around with even more languages featured.

[GoktimusPrime]

The late 1980s G1 colours are a nice touch
Spinister is rather unique in this colour scheme, I don't think it was necessarily a widespread thing among late 80s TFs. Off the top of my head the only other late 80s pink and blue TF I can think of is Submarauder. <shrugs> :confused: He's certainly very different from the colours of the other 1988 Targetmasters...
* Quake (blue, grey and maroon)
* Needlenose (grey and blue)
* Quickmix (red and white)
* Landfill (biege and brown)
* Scoop (orange and yellow) <---another weird one with an uncommon colour scheme

[kovert]

...the only other late 80s pink and blue TF I can think of is Submarauder.

Very good point, Gok. Before you pointed it out, I thought the blue was actually green. Because of how it's used with the pink-purple colour, to me it just looks like green.

What caught my attention was the pink-purple colour, because it is eye-catching. Other 80s Decepticons such as Abominus, Misfire, Skullcruncher, Skullgrin, Snaptrap and Tentakil also feature similar shades of the colour. The Predators (EU/AU/CA) featured a lot of green and purple so my recollection of the late 80s characters has probably been influenced by what was available in the early 90s.

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

He just got released today in Japan and in a rare moment of chance, I managed to fined one on the shelves! What majiks is this? (incidentally, I've only ever seen one refractor on the shelves).

I like it a lot! Robot mode is really good and clean, with little inhibiting articulation. I like the way the blades are handled and they securely fasten to the little tab with ease. The batttle damage paint is low-key (yay) and colours look very nice indeed. My only real complaint about this guy in robot mode is his lack of Targetmaster pals. And I am not buying the individual guys, as his guns didn't look like those guys when he was a g1-un.

I also don't mind the dual cockpit nature of robotmode either. teh Symmetry of it all is rather nice.

Chopper mode though, is .... ok. The shin that goes underneath just doesn't fit well for my liking and the parts for hanging the guns off are too big. BUT the blades spin nicely and it looks all right I guess.

The instructions though, well, what an absolute disgrace they are. Something is wrong when almost every picture requires a magnified view, but even then I was left scratching my head wondering what the hell they were trying to tell me. I ended up just ignoring them, but then that under-pit didn't fit, so I was off to youtube and having to put up with videos and they were doing the same thing I was doing, and it was hard to see if the under-pit fit right or not. Eventually I found out that most don't. so... hmmm.

luckily though the robot mode is just great. Although I don winder about some mounting ports he has just under the blades. You can't use them for anything in either mode...unless you untransform his back.

overall he's a great toy, just with some... odd choices made in design I think.

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

The instructions though, well, what an absolute disgrace they are. Something is wrong when almost every picture requires a magnified view, but even then I was left scratching my head wondering what the hell they were trying to tell me. I ended up just ignoring them, but then that under-pit didn't fit, so I was off to youtube and having to put up with videos and they were doing the same thing I was doing, and it was hard to see if the under-pit fit right or not. Eventually I found out that most don't. so... hmmm.There's a trick to it - the waist/thigh-connector piece (which faces with the cover up in robot mode) has to be facing down in 'copter mode. Basically when you look at him upside-down the front-facing thigh joint should have the joint visible, and the rear-facing/under-cockpit-bit thigh joint should have the top part of the 'cover' showing. Once you put it like that then it tabs in pretty securely.

Check the TFW2005 thread if you need pics, or I can take some later if you like. :)

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

There's a trick to it - the waist/thigh-connector piece (which faces with the cover up in robot mode) has to be facing down in 'copter mode. Basically when you look at him upside-down the front-facing thigh joint should have the joint visible, and the rear-facing/under-cockpit-bit thigh joint should have the top part of the 'cover' showing. Once you put it like that then it tabs in pretty securely.

Check the TFW2005 thread if you need pics, or I can take some later if you like. :)
Cheers Odey, managed to work it out and it does sit a LOT nicer. In my travels for information on this one, I found the Hasbr transformation video and even they didn't get it nice and tight.

[BigTransformerTrev]

The instructions though, well, what an absolute disgrace they are. Something is wrong when almost every picture requires a magnified view, but even then I was left scratching my head wondering what the hell they were trying to tell me. I ended up just ignoring them, but then that under-pit didn't fit, so I was off to youtube and having to put up with videos and they were doing the same thing I was doing, and it was hard to see if the under-pit fit right or not. Eventually I found out that most don't. so... hmmm.

Yeah totally agree. I had an absolute bugger of a time transforming him first time round. In the end the picture on the back of the box was of more assistance than the actual instructions.

Sigh... I sometimes mist G1 instructions, that not only showed you what to do but gave a brief written description as well.

[doublespy]

HasTak seems to have a knack for making awesome toys for lesser known/obscure characters in recent years. Titans Return Triggerhappy was a favorite for me, and it seems like Spinister is that figure in Siege. Picked him up on a whim cause he looked incredible on the shelf, and I was afraid I was gonna run out of toys to play being stuck at home. And he turned out to be a great great little figure.

HELICOPTER MODE:
Love the overall design. LOVE the color scheme! So 80s, so awesome.

The wings are just robot feet so they look a bit weird without the guns, but nobody would display the chopper mode without them right?

I don't mind the undercarriage cockpit, but I get why some people may not like it. There's very little effort here to hide it. I personally think it's a worthy trade off for that certain awesome 'bot mode look.

https://i.imgur.com/wjkTVBih.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/9B8RcIRh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/hDcFWzAh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/0zm6Rvbh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/A077wkZh.jpg


Theoretically he has six 5mm ports in chopper mode, but only two are really useful here. The ones next to the blades are in such awkward position, they're pretty much useless in either mode.
https://i.imgur.com/T1whj3Wh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/YGtgKRCh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/npQGDcPh.jpg

TRANSFORMATION:
Maybe Sci-Fi airborne vehicles offer certain aesthetic flexibility that no other alt modes can, but seems like it's almost always the Cybertonian jets that get the best transformation designs in recent memory. Hasbro did good with the character selection and overall design, but Sensei TakaraTomy came through yet again with amazing engineering within a retail Deluxe class budget.

The asymmetrical leg transformation is a great homage to Animated Prowl, but the magical moment for me is how the chest unfolds and a strut fits through the rotor blades panel to act as a stopping point for the now V shaped blades. To think we've seen so many of these generic shaped chopper bots, plus what was already done with the leg transformation, HasTak could've easily Combiner Wars Blades'ed this sh!t and probably nobody would've complained about it.. this is inspiring stuff.

https://i.imgur.com/k7CDs5Kl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/qyqrODGl.jpg

'BOT MODE:
The color palette may not be for everyone, but looking at sculpt alone, this is still a sharp lookin' Decepticon.

Love the head sculpt too. I didn't own the OG TM back in the day, and don't read much comics, but this dude's head is so 80s, and so Decepticon, it's pretty awesome.
https://i.imgur.com/8ZWrjJFh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/vjr7ou3h.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/9XKgBN3h.jpg

Spinister has all the standard WfC poseability, plus front-to-back ankle joint due to transformation which is great for dynamic poses.

I like how they kept the different looks of the two guns although they're not Target Masters any more.

https://i.imgur.com/VT0hMvah.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/v2DYYurh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/7Qil8meh.jpg

He's a tallish Deluxe. Although he has a almost generic body design, those colors just give him such presence on the shelf.
https://i.imgur.com/UiZt4sjh.jpg

OVERALL:
A pleasant surprise and a highlight in the already amazing Siege line for me.