A little bit of love for Henkei Hot Rod.

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

I got my hands on the Hasbro Universe version today. As I suspected, there are no guns at all for Universe version. This wasn't really a big deal BUT in robot mode it makes a difference...

See the Henkei version has allowed some gaps on the rear of the vehicle, just below the license plate, for the two chrome guns to act as exhausts/mufflers. The Universe version is a slightly different mould and has been covered up since there are no guns at all. No biggie in vehicle mode but in bot mode the shoulder kibble doesn't sit properly as the corners keep touching each other and supposed to overlap due to the way the robot mdoe arms convert and sit in place. Of course they do not overlap instead one has to be on top of the other.

Now the Henkei version has the gaps and I would assume no such problem as they can both sit comfortably in that resting angle without encumbering each other.

Otherwise fantastic conversion and excellent homage to the original and of course a gazillion times better. On the downside, I prefer the original Jolt. This new one is flimsy, quality wise.

About how much d'you think you'd have to shave/cut/file off before you'd fix his shoulder problem?

[Stompy]

Have a look for yourself:





As you can see they pretty much don't sit properly and defaults to having one on top of the other. Compare it with the Henkei pics above, I think it's safe to say that TakaraTomy noticed this problem and corrected accordingly. While the guns are missing for the Universe version the arm pegholes for them remains. Makes you question the decisions of whether Hasbro wanted the guns or not.