Encore #20: Devastator Giftset

[GoktimusPrime]

Well, I FINALLY got mine today!

Did you have yours shipped by SAL?

However, putting the leg connector up Long Haul's jacksie almost gave me a heart attack, it was soooo tough to get in there! And made an extremely solid click once in place properly, now I am concerned as to how to gte it out without ripping Hauly in half...

Heh, yeah, it's a bit scary - but I've never broken the bit that goes into Long Haul, not even on my old G1 version. But I once snap off the connection that connects Long Haul with Scrapper (fortunately I found another one shortly after) - so I'd recommend caution with that piece. But the one I broke was the one I'd purchased in 1985 - considering that yours is a minty new reissue, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Still, interesting toy, since they come from the Diaclone line and therefore designed in the late 70s (?) quite clever really.

1982-83.

The connectors were interesting since the earliest I had ever played with were the ones from the Scramble city crew (Menosaur/Superion etc) and so something different.

In terms of gestalt engineering, I prefer the Scramble gestalts because they aren't as kibble-reliant to form the gestalt robots - and as you can see, they're more solid too (whereas Devastator falls apart if you look at him funny); and of course, the Scramble gestalts have the interchangeable limb gimmick. Having said that, the individual Constructicons themselves are generally better engineered toys than some individual Scramble gestalt robots. None of them suffer from "blockhead" syndrome and they all have distinctly unique designs (unlike say the Aerialbot limbs which all share a common transformation scheme). I also like how the gestalt parts are used as the vehicle modes' weapons, whereas some of the Scramble Gestalts' vehicle weapons are just that - and don't do anything in any other mode (e.g. Protectobots, Stunticons etc.).

They were also more affordable to complete as a set too because they're all carded figures - whereas completing a Scramble gestalt as a kid was a bit harder because the core body-bot was a more expensive boxed figure. The Predacons also many of the same qualities as the Constructicons and are individually better figures and Predaking is far more solid gestalt -- but the Preds were all boxed figures making it _very_ expensive to complete Predaking! My memory's really hazy on this, but I think each individual Constructicon was maybe $9 each? I remember they were expensive for carded toys (but they're also really big - towering over say the cheaper Autobot Mini-Cars), but cheaper than boxed ones.

Nice to look at them in a group as either robot or vehicle, the uniform colours and theme really add some charm.

I personally prefer the different colours of the original Diaclone set... it's a shame they never released the reissues in the Diaclone colours as an eHobby exclusive or something. Or even G2 colours...

Just slightly annoyed that some plastic is a different green to the rest. For example, Bonecrusher and Scrappper's canopys are a lighter shade of green, almost yellow. As is Scavengers scoop, Hook's Hook and Dev's groin piece (loin cloth? ).

The original G1s were like that, but it didn't look so bad because the primary green wasn't this bright "lolly green" that they've used for the reissues. It was a more subdued green. The shoddy plastic quality also bugs me on the reissues.

Fore-arm springs are very touchy and powerful! ROOOCCCKKETTTO PUUUNNNCHIII! I might have him fight my Mazinger Z!

I see your Rocket Punch and raise you a ロケットドリル！！ Rocket Drill!