Toy Review - CW Hound

[BigTransformerTrev]

Hound
Series - Generations
Sub-line - Combiner Wars
Size/class - Deluxe
New/remould/redeco – Redeco of Swindle
Wave – Wave 2, 2016
Released here - not yet
Approximate Retail Price - $28
Approximate Size – 16cm
Allegiance – Autobot
Alt-mode – Army Jeep
Main Features/Gimmicks – Can combine with others to form Sky Reign, comes with comic book
Main Colours – Green, Silver, Black
Main Accessories – Gun, hand/foot




Robot Mode
Quite a nice looking Hound. The mould suits him really well and is indicative of his other incarnations. Good colours and poseability. Nice head sculpt too and the facial expression suits Hound quite well – no chain-beards here




Vehicle Mode
Like Swindle this is his weaker mode. It’s not a bad looking jeep overall but it doesn’t quite work on some levels. That said, it’s a more grown-up looking jeep than the Universe version and a more milatristic looking jeep than the Alternators version. Having the star on the hood and being able to put the silver gun at the back and off to one side make this toy look more Hound’esque. Once again like Swindle there are little details like saddlebags etc on the sides which are easy to overlook as they have received no paint apps.




Transformation
It’s Combiner Wars – you crazy kids all know what to do by now.

Overall
Whereas Wheeljack was way brought down by his robot mode, Hound is slightly brought down by his vehicle mode. If you collect G1-themed characters then his robot mode is easily good enough to warrant buying. If you are just after a representation of Hound then maybe go the Universe 2.0 version (that one even comes with Ravage!) or the Alternators version.


P.S: If I was to rate this Wave of CW toys in order from great to crap it would go:

1. Sky Lynx
2. Trailbreaker
3. Hound
4. Smokescreen
5. Wheeljack

Hope these reviews have been of some help informing your potential purchases

[GoktimusPrime]

I just noticed by looking at Trev's photos that this mould has faux headlights/grill on the waist! I failed to notice it before on Swindle, as the whole thing is smothered in purple, but the paint ops on Hound here really highlights it a lot better than on Swindle. While this kind of toy isn't my cup of tea, I am thoroughly impressed with what they've done.

[G1Optimal]

In case no body knows, hound's gun can be held in place on his left shoulder

9:24 mark on optibotimus review
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=F7jJcsqHKEU

[BigTransformerTrev]

In case no body knows, hound's gun can be held in place on his left shoulder

9:24 mark on optibotimus review
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=F7jJcsqHKEU

Yeah I did that in my Swindle review to replicate his arm cannon. Tried it on Hound but it looked a bit odd so didn't bother for the pics

[G1Optimal]

Ok cool

[BigTransformerTrev]

Ok cool

Actually no - I got it wrong! I thought you meant on the side of the shoulder, you were talking about the top. Sorry mate

Nice review by the way - very good

[orockwell]

Got a combiner wars Hound.

Have a major crush on the character, but when I had it in hand, I was sorely disappointed. The headsculpt is great - blocky enough to be reminiscent of the G1 toy, but detailed enough to be distinctly recognisable. The colour is spot on, forest green as the original, but light enough to be excused for the cartoon. Many reviews online were criticising the bulk of the upper body, but I actually enjoy the upper-body proportions - the original toy was small in the arms; these seem far more functional - yes, he's a scout, but a military jeep too - I see no reason not to give him some umph.

My three major disappointments are:

Colour Distribution
Yes, the green is good; but far too much. Not only overpowering from an aesthetics point of view, but even less than the cartoon model. It overpowers the excellent moulded details, and makes for a bland appearance.

Hollow Lower Body
I understand being a deluxe combiner, there are inherit limitations to what you can feasibly do, but the tiny thighs, with massive empty legs no only weights the toy poorly, bottle-necking it's poses and balance; but makes for terrible anatomy, and ugly from the inside of the legs

Alternate Mode
Most of this can be forgiven, but the Jeep mode is the final straw: kibble can be seen through the canopy, and the mode bears more resemblance to a construction vehicle than a Wrangler. Yes, it is difficult to retool one transformer to another, but this was simply not worth the effort.

Afterthoughts
The upcoming Unite Warriors model has vastly improved paint apps, adding yellows to break up the greens, with blacks to separate the arm's details, lending to what seems to be a much nicer final product. As it stands, I can't say I'd recommend Hasbro's Combiner Wars Hound. In fact, I returned the product and ordered an Asia-Exclusive Classics Hound in it's place. I'll share the details soon!

Score: 5/10

[GoktimusPrime]

I had a fiddle with a friend's CW Hound today, and here are my quick thoughts:

* I agree that there's way too much green happening on this toy.
* The issue with the visible arms in vehicle mode is a carry-over from Swindle (so not originally Hound's fault). And quite frankly, it's not something that I would hold against the toy considering that it is a gestalt, thus placing limits on budget, engineering etc. The arms have to go somewhere, and I'd rather them tuck inside than just dangle precariously on the sides. The rest of the toy still resembles a jeep, so I'm fine with it. Besides, there's still room at the front where a driver and passenger could hypothetically sit. I just imagine the arms to be massive storage containers, which makes sense for Swindle as a Munitions Expert. And I suppose a Scout could easily carry all sorts of equipment there too. If a more accurate vehicle mode is something you're looking for, then Binaltechs are your friend.

P.S.: See the Classics 2.0/Universe review thread for people's thoughts on Universe/Henkei Hound (and feel free to add your own review there for the upcoming redeco if you like ).