Toy review - Earthrise Deluxe Hoist
Series - Generations
Sub-line - Earthrise
Size/class - Deluxe
New/remould/redeco - new
Released here - March 2020
Approximate Retail Price - $30
In a line a lot of people claim to be "full of unnecessary redo's", a lesser known character is always a welcome in my book.
TOW TRUCK MODE:
Not much to say here except it's as a nice little truck that's pretty much spot on to the G1 toy. If my memory serves they're about the same size too.
https://i.imgur.com/BOmWZMVh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/tzQEIxHh.jpg
My only minor gripe with this figure: The robot forearms and hands just kinda chill out under there, and due to clearance issue you can't even rotate the fists around to make them less obvious.
https://i.imgur.com/c9c2tXih.jpg
If you decide to drop the wheel lift thingy there's an indentation that locks it in place along its track, and there's a wheel underneath that supports it. Very nice little touch.
https://i.imgur.com/XUEcMH7h.jpg
He's smallish Deluxe size in truck mode, but turns into a much bigger 'bot.
TRANSFORMATION:
His transformation is simple and heavily based on the original G1 design, like his best bud Grapple. But I find Hoist's engineering feels fresher; probably because he hasn't had a Masterpiece figure yet.
'BOT MODE:
Hoist just oozes G1 goodness in 'bot mode. His proportions including the mechanic's "belly" and short legs are faithfully recreated here. Head sculpt is fantastic. Zero complaint.
https://i.imgur.com/rcf5sa1h.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/UnLWWu0l.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/vhnFfMnl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/E68qSLph.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/eAhepRFh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/J7hXMvJh.jpg
Due to transformation he has double jointed knee, and a very deep elbow bend. He's a pretty poseable chubby dude.
https://i.imgur.com/qKnfwVTh.jpg
He can get all Mafia "mechanic" with 5mm ports all over.
https://i.imgur.com/liicBZ4h.jpg
He's just half a head shorter than a Voyager figure (yes, let's be real here, Astrotrain is a Voyager). He feels kinda light for a deluxe though, possibly due to quite a bit of hollowness in the parts, partly transformation, partly just Hasbro being cheap. I also think that HasTak may have applied the same flexible budgeting system on these Earthrise figures as Studio Series, to allow for more variety within the same price point.
OVERALL:
Personally I think he's a lot better than the Thrilling 30 Hoist. And the top pick for me among an already very good Deluxe wave.