Toy Review - Hot Rod (Studio Series 1986)

[GoktimusPrime]

HOT ROD
Series - Studio Series
Sub-line - 86
Size/class - Voyager
New/remould/redeco - New
Wave - 1
Released here - December 2020
Approximate Retail Price - $45
Approximate Size - 16cm (up to spoiler tips), 14cm head height
Allegiance - Autobot
Alt-mode - Aviation on wheels
Main Features/Gimmicks - retractable visor & welding torch hand
Main Colours - red, orange, yellow
Main Accessories - x2 photon guns, buzz-saw hand, Matrix, blast/glow effects

[Gehirn]

Really liking this figure. The first Hot Rod I've had that I think has nailed the look and everything.
Only issue is the shoulders being tight. Feel as though I'm going to break them when swinging them back for transformation.

[Tha_Phantom]

They've nailed the overall look in both modes and the back kibble is pretty much non-existent (I'd forgive it anyway, but it deserves praise when they can avoid it). Articulation is amazing aside from the tight shoulders mentioned above and there is plenty of accessories which makes the MP redundant IMO.
Only issue I really have is getting the vehicle mode to fit together 100%, as mine ends up with a gap in the windowline. Anyone else?

Edit: figured out what I was doing wrong. The window gap is still there, but it's very very slight. Gotta say this guy rolls quite well too, another advantage over the MP.

[GoktimusPrime]

Thoughts:

• Robot mode is luxurious. The built in visor and welding hand are really neat, as is the ability to attach the spinning laser disc. Double-jointed knees are also a nice touch.

• Transformation may require tedious panel massaging, and even then not all panels may sit flush

• What's up with that yellow hinge? It ruins the look of the roof, and quite frankly at a Voyager price point I would expect them to just mould that hinge in red plastic to colour match it.

• Shoulders; the lateral movement on mine is a bit tight but otherwise okay, but The_Scream_Man also said that his ones are really tight like Gehirn's. Upward medial articulation is super easy, however, there seems to be a lack of horizontal medial articulation.

• I like the inclusion of the toy-accurate photon blasters - the first CHUG※ Hot Rod toy to do so.

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※Yeah, I know that this is technically Studio Series, but how many people here are putting these toys on their CHUG shelves vs their Studio Series/Bayformer shelves?

[Sutton]

I like the inclusion of the toy-accurate photon blasters - the first CHUG? Hot Rod toy to do so.
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?Yeah, I know that this is technically Studio Series, but how many people here are putting these toys on their CHUG shelves vs their Studio Series/Bayformer shelves?

Oh, I am thankyou very much - right next to my DOTM Megatron, they go together really well! *SARCASM*

I can understand the logistics behind why they've done it, but they could have tried a little harder to hide the CHUG lineage in these figures - it comes with the same Matrix as Earthrise Optimus, and there's blast effects for crying out loud.

But if moving CHUG to Studio Series is what it takes to get a Hot Rod this good then I'm okay with it.

It's also interesting to note so many of the important Autobot characters being sold at the 'wrong' size class to give them the budget to do them spectacularly well. Voyager Optimus sold as a Leader, Deluxe Hot Rod sold as a Voyager, and Scout VW Bumblebee sold as a Deluxe - which frees up the budget for articulation, paint, parts-count, accessories. I personally think it's a great move but also took some bravery on someone's part at Hasbro/Takara to go in this direction.

[GoktimusPrime]

But if moving CHUG to Studio Series is what it takes to get a Hot Rod this good then I'm okay with it.

CHUGURSS

It's also interesting to note so many of the important Autobot characters being sold at the 'wrong' size class to give them the budget to do them spectacularly well. Voyager Optimus sold as a Leader, Deluxe Hot Rod sold as a Voyager, and Scout VW Bumblebee sold as a Deluxe - which frees up the budget for articulation, paint, parts-count, accessories. I personally think it's a great move but also took some bravery on someone's part at Hasbro/Takara to go in this direction.

Or just for people to remember that these aren't really size classes, they're price points.