Headrobots Hothead

[kup]

Might have to do the second one.

RK basically said they could take a head out of the packaging, but asked me if I was going to order anything, as they could put the head in a new order. To me that feels like they're trying to pressure me into ordering stuff so I can get the replacement part.

Methinks RK will take their time sending a replacement if I just ask them to send me the part.

I think you are over reading it. They are asking if you are ordering anything from them already just so that they can package it together not as a condition to send you the replacement item. Like I mentioned, they sent me a replacement PerfectEffect Frenzy and they shipped it immediately after they were informed of the issue.

[jaydisc]

In a similar issue, RK asked me if I was going to place an another order or if I wanted my replacement goods now. I already had another order in the system so I just told them to send it with that.

[FFN]

Yeah, I asked them to send me the head by itself. Will see what they say.

[kup]

Here are my views on Headrobot's Hothead:

Pictorial Video featuring a complete Gallery

I personally found this upgrade kit very gratifying. The improvement that it makes on the toy is monumental.

Universe Hardhead

The upgrade is packaged as following:



Although it's nice, the accessories however cover the pretty awesome art work on the back featuring upgraded character models of Universe and G1 Hardhead.



Robot Mode

The 'out of the box' Universe Hardhead isn't a bad repaint but the G1 character tribute is lacking mainly due to the very defined Onslaught head. However as you can see in the pics bellow, once the head is changed the personality of the toy changes radically.





The character tribute to G1 Hardhead is improved even further when you add the weapons included in the kit.



The weapons can be configured in different positions but I prefer the classic G1 look.



The robot mode upgrade is very impressive as you can see in the pics above. What was before a somewhat lackluster character tribute is now cemented as G1 Hardhead. The colors also match very nicely to the base toy.

The Headmaster attachment is very easy to do once you remove the Onslaught head but can be somewhat scary at first as it feels a bit hard to push (no pun intended ) but once you do it once, it's very easy to do. I must have popped the head in and off about a dozen times already with no problems at all. As mentioned in other reviews, the eyes still light up but are subdued due to the thick clear blue plastic but still looks good. The red adds a kind of 'combat' or angry look to the head when triggered.

There is a flaw that I encountered with my Not-Duros and this may be present in some other units but this is not a flaw of the design and more of the mold injection process. Within the figure you may notice a 'bump' which is likely residue from the plastic injection process 'scar' or a bit left over from the parts tree. You need to shave off this bit as it blocks the Universe Hardhead's 'neck' from properly going in.



I suspect that this is what caused FFN's Hothead to break since forcing the head down with the 'bump' caused the head to split apart due to pressure.

Vehicle Mode:

The upgrades on the vehicle mode are not as defining as it is for the robot mode but they do add some playability mainly due to the weapons but specially due to the new 'Not-Duros' Headmaster. I have also heard some fan opinions that the vehicle mode seems to fit Hardhead better than Onslaught. I wasn't sure about this before but with the new colors, I have to agree now.

Out of the box:


After Upgrade:




The weapons simply attach to the assembly on the back and although you can place the guns in different arrangements, you don't get as much freedom in creatively positioning them as in the robot mode.

G1 Hardhead

As many of you know, the Hothead set is also compatible with G1 Hardhead. The difference here is that the kit is not intended to be an upgrade and more as an accessory kit for the thousands of headless and weaponless Hardheads out there.

So as far as this kit goes, this is all you need:



Before you proceed, you do need to make an adjustment to 'not-Duros'. The kit comes with an adapter which is otherwise stored within the backpack when used with the Universe release. It simply plugs into the Not-Duro's head socket.







Once this has been done, you can simply connect the head as you would any other Headmaster. Note that the head also activates Hardhead's techspec bars matching the same readings as his original G1 Headmaster.



The new weapons also attach as the G1 guns once did making a once uninterested and incomplete junker into a piece that one can be proud to display.



An added bonus is that the head can now turn!



Just like with the robot mode, the new Hothead accessories can be placed on the tank mode to replaced lost weapons



Not-Duros can also ride within the cockpit!





When it comes to applying the kit on the G1 figure, it is certainly an excellent and relative inexpensive way to resurrect a once dead husk of a toy into a wonderful display piece. However don't expect a radical improvement or upgrade here as it is with the Universe toy as when it comes to G1, the kit is designed to serve as replacements to lost accessories than upgrades.

The only down side to applying the kit to the G1 figure is that the backpack which is very necessary with the Universe figure is actually superfluous here. You can still attach it to the back of the tank mode and hide in the the hollow section on the back of the robot mode but it is otherwise useless.

Conclusion

Putting the 'bump' flaw aside, overall this is a fine kit. Headrobots are gradually gaining a place among the greats of the 3rd Party kit makers. The plastic quality is good, the detail on the sculpt also very well done. The massive improvement of the lacking Universe repaint into an undeniable representation of G1 Hardhead is fantastic and with added playvalue too! When it comes to the G1 figure, they are awesome replacement parts for the countless of headless Hardheads out there - This is something that I like about Headrobot's attitude. They seem committed to bringing back life to these otherwise discarded junker toys.



This is what a 3rd Party upgrade kit should be, something that improves or compliments an existing official figure allowing it to accomplish it's full potential which unfortunately Hasbro was unable to achieve.

[1AZRAEL1]

Man I wish I got one when they were cheaper. Now I am saddened that I didn't try to find him before the new head came out.

[fatbot]

Thanks for getting him for me Kup, pick up at parra fair is cool? Also could you correct that flaw you mentioned for me? I don't have the tools to be able to clean that up.

Cheers Dude!

[kup]

Thanks for getting him for me Kup, pick up at parra fair is cool? Also could you correct that flaw you mentioned for me? I don't have the tools to be able to clean that up.

Cheers Dude!

Yeah sure I can take it to Parra. The flaw may actually be something unique to my figure (and possibly FFN's), I haven't heard of anyone else having the same issue. However I will grab one of the Hotheads and inspect it for you, if it comes with the flaw I am happy to fix it. It's very easy as it's just a 2 second fix with a pocket knife, all that I did was shave off the excess plastic and that was it.

[Oilspill]

Nice review Kup, and cheers for the tip. I'm going to order mine with the next RK order I do - which will probably be not-Rosanna sometime this month.

[Bartrim]

Can I pick mine up at the fair too. I'll swap you for some shirts

[kup]

Can I pick mine up at the fair too. I'll swap you for some shirts

I'll bring yours to the fair.

I guess only 1Orion2many is left to say what he wants to do.