Toy review - Studio Series 63 Topspin

Series - Generations
Sub-line - Studio Series
Size/class - Deluxe
New/remould/redeco - New
Wave - 10
Released here - September 2020
Approximate Retail Price - $29
Approximate Size - 12cm
Allegiance - Autobot
Alt-mode - Customised Chevrolet Impala stock car
Main Features/Gimmicks - Screen accuracy, licensed vehicle mode
Main Colours - blue
Main Accessories - machine guns, clamps

Vehicle mode

https://i.imgur.com/Pa3N4G5.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/z2iwLhu.jpg

A blue Chevrolet Impala NASCAR stock car, with the number 48 as driven by Jimmie Johnson.

Topspin comes with four M2 machine guns. Two are moulded as one piece and permanently fixed to the car's roof, while the other two are detachable. All four, as well as the large clamps that attach to his forearms, are moulded in soft plastic, meaning the barrels are prone to being bent out of shape in the packaging.

Transformation

In terms of the actual number of steps, Topspin isn't particularly involved, but Topspin can be a little challenging because there is one step that can involve a bit of force.

When transforming Topspin into vehicle mode, the instructions want you to attach the two halves of the bonnet together before attaching the windscreen to it via two tabs. I found this challenging for the first couple of transformations, as the bonnet halves don't always want to stay connected, and attaching the windscreen to the completed bonnet was tough.

When going to robot mode, one can twist the bonnet halves up and out to disengage the tabs on the bottom of the windscreen or pull the bonnet down and away in one piece.

Robot mode

https://i.imgur.com/D2v8ez3.jpg

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

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

Topspin stands just over 12cm at the top of his head, and 13cm at the tops of the pipes on his shoulders.

The large panels on Topspin's shoulders are ungainly-looking, but this arrangement is largely screen-accurate, and the doors are meant to be there. It still gives Topspin a 'panelformer' vibe, though.

Articulation is typical of a contemporary deluxe. The head is mounted on a ball joint. The shoulders are ball-jointed, and there is a rotator above the hinged elbow. The hips are ball-jointed, there is a rotator below the hips, and the knees are hinged.

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

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

The clamps plug into Topspin's forearms, and the machine guns plug into holes on the clamps. The box art depicts Topspin holding the guns in his hands, but the CGI model has them mounted under his forearms.

https://i.imgur.com/u7qpC6Q.jpg

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

The backdrop is the same LaSalle Street Bridge shot that came with Sentinel Prime and the other Wreckers.

Verdict

https://i.imgur.com/97D5Iqf.jpg

A nice little figure. Go get it if you've been eyeing it and haven't already got one.