Toy Review - Convoy - Missing Link

[Paulbot]

Strongly recommend picking up a Missing Link anime version. Haven't put the bumper bar sticker on yet.



With the Transformers Retro Soundwave



And with my original Optimus Prime, which I think was a 1986 birthday present.

[Dan]

Watching a review of this toy (albeit just the cab-robot) does odd things to my mind. I watch and yes it looks just like the toy I'm incredibly familiar with until they start transforming or posing it and suddenly it feels like I've shifting into some alternate universe. From reading this thread, seems like a huge step forward for the cab and a small step backwards for the trailer. Overall it is astounding. One way of describing this Missing Link line could be 'box art accurate' (which is possibly all a kld ever really wanted).

I have a question for the more technically-minded of you. When a reviewer says that this is an upgrade of the original toy with 'modern engineering' does that mean this would not have been possible in 1984, or just that it would have been prohibitive for a reasonably priced mass produced item?

[reillyd]

Having just had a good play, I’m super impressed and feel, despite the cost, he is worth every penny. Integrating hands into the transformation works so well - no partsforming with the fists, which easily get lost as well. I miss the spring-loaded launch of Roller, and the blue colour of the original. But the actual Convoy? He’s a masterpiece and being able to ‘officially’ integrate the matrix is awesome. I was even able to take a photo of him holding it, which just couldn’t be accomplished with the original

Attachment 6764
Holding the matrix

The only flaw I can see is that my roller comes without a light. I’ve seen lights in other people’s reviews, but couldn’t see a light in the instruction sheet either so maybe it doesn’t come with it after all, and its a 3rd party upgrade?

[Tha_Phantom]

The only flaw I can see is that my roller comes without a light. I�ve seen lights in other people�s reviews, but couldn�t see a light in the instruction sheet either so maybe it doesn�t come with it after all, and its a 3rd party upgrade?

I got confused by this at first too. The hole that the gun pegs into is actually a separate piece that swivels around revealing the light.

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

The only flaw I can see is that my roller comes without a light. I�ve seen lights in other people�s reviews, but couldn�t see a light in the instruction sheet either so maybe it doesn�t come with it after all, and its a 3rd party upgrade?

I got confused by this at first too. The hole that the gun pegs into is actually a separate piece that swivels around revealing the light.

Yeah this, The area where you would plug the gas thingamajig has the light underneath it, you just need to rotate that piece and the light will be underneath. It might be a bit stiff. My Convoy is a tight fella.

He apparently has thigh swivels too, but mine are super tight. I hear if you losen the screws a tad, then you can access them swivels.

[GoktimusPrime]

PROS: It's an articulated G1 Optimus Prime toy
CONS: It's an articulated G1 Optimus Prime toy
At the end of the day, that's what this toy is. It's the basically the original G1 Optimus Prime toy with articulation. If that sort of thing appeals to you, then go ahead and get this toy. But if that sounds rather dull to you, then give it a pass.

Other thoughts:
* This toy works out to be roughly double the price of the original Optimus Prime, adjusting for inflation. This isn't a criticism of the price, it is very clear to see where the extra money has gone to; bigger budget means that this toy can do loads more than the original never could, but it also does mean bigger price tag. And this is why the original toy, which was aimed at children, could never be this expensive. This toy is aimed at adult collectors (box says "Ages 15+") with disposable incomes, so it's priced accordingly.
* This is, at least for now, an orphaned toy. Aside from the cartoon coloured version, there are no other Missing Link toys for this figure to interact or display with. Having said that, Masterpiece MP01 was also an orphaned toy when it came out 20 years ago. Takara did market it as being compatible with Binaltech, and it was scaled accordingly, but it was the only MP that existed at the time. I hope that this will be the first of many more ML toys in the near future.
* Missing Link might be the way forwards instead of reissues. HasTak seems to have hit the limit with reissues in terms of available moulds. All we get now are repaints of G1 toys that have been reissued before. If it's not viable/possible to build new G1 moulds from scratch, then how about Missing Link? Imagine getting a Missing Link Ligier which not only has an articulated robot mode, but a robust waist joint that won't snap! Going by ML Convoy's price difference w/ G1, a ML Ligier might cost just under $100... I think a lot of collectors would pay that. Imagine a Missing Link Wheeljack with built-in wings and spoilers. No need to worry about those teeny tiny back pegs breaking.

Piccies:

Front of box


Side of box


Back and other side of box


Foam tray and contents


Truck mode






With Diaclone pilot in driver's seat


Diaclone pilot


Comparison with G1 in truck mode






Robot mode comparison


Including Combat Deck and Roller


Robot mode pics














Energy axe


Matrix in Matrix chamber (both are removable)


Passing on the Matrix


Repair Bay mode


Comparative measurements
Robot
Height: Both 16cm / Width: Both 10cm / Depth: Both 5cm from front of bumper to back of arms in perpendicular position
Truck cab
Height: Both 7cm / Length: Both 12.5cm / Width: Both 6cm
The front bumpers are both the same width (5cm), however, ML Convoy's bumper is 2mm shorter than G1's (9mm vs 1.1cm).
Trailer
L: Both 24cm / Height: G1 is 1mm taller (10.6cm vs 10.5cm) / Width: Both 7.6cm
Truck mode (cab and trailer combined)
G1 is 1mm longer than ML (31.6cm vs 31.5cm)
Combat Deck
Height: Both 20cm (to top of radar dish) / Length: Both 31cm (ramp down) / Width: G1 is 1mm wider (21cm vs 20.9cm)
Roller
L: Both 9cm / W: Both 5.4cm / H: Both 3cm without any attachments

no partsforming with the fists, which easily get lost as well.

Funnily enough, it's the reverse situation for me. My childhood Optimus Prime toy was stolen in 2005, but at the time I had the fists stored separately and so the fists weren't stolen. So the only piece of my childhood Optimus Prime toy that I have left today are the fists! But you are right, lots and lots of kids did lose the fists.

and the blue colour of the original.

My understanding is that the silver Roller came first, and the blue version was a running change. But having gotten Optimus Prime in August 1985, mine was the blue version, so that's more meaningful to me too.

The only flaw I can see is that my roller comes without a light.

The back part of Roller, the part with the 5mm post that holds a rifle or the fuel nozzle attachment, flips over 180 degrees to reveal the strobe light.

[Paulbot]

Watching a review of this toy (albeit just the cab-robot) does odd things to my mind. I watch and yes it looks just like the toy I'm incredibly familiar with until they start transforming or posing it and suddenly it feels like I've shifting into some alternate universe.

That's very much how it felt to me in hand. I've had an Optimus Prime toy for nearly 40 years, and this one is similar to look at in cab mode but does these new things that feel a bit unnatural; as they conflict with my muscle memory of how to transform Optimus Prime.

I have a question for the more technically-minded of you. When a reviewer says that this is an upgrade of the original toy with 'modern engineering' does that mean this would not have been possible in 1984, or just that it would have been prohibitive for a reasonably priced mass produced item?

Nothing in this toy couldn't have been done in the 80s, but would have made the toy more expensive (as it has today) due to part counts and there were things that just weren't done back then - like the ankle pivots and extra posability.

[Deano85]

I'm wondering if any 3rd party company will make a piece to hold Roller in place while in the trailer.

[Dan]

Nothing in this toy couldn't have been done in the 80s, but would have made the toy more expensive (as it has today) due to part counts and there were things that just weren't done back then - like the ankle pivots and extra posability.

Thanks. It is as I suspected, but sometimes the talk surrounding contemporary toys suggests it's all down to new tech. I'm reminded, however, of a special effects supervisor from 70s-80s movies who declared that they could do anything you wanted as long as they were given the right budget.