Post by Rodimus Prime on Apr 6, 2009 21:48:43 GMT
Transformers Classics Jetfire
There hasn't been a true Jetfire character toy since the Generation One original and when fans found out about the Classics version, everyone got a little excited.
Seemingly based on his Stormbringer design, this is one very cool figure, though he's not without his issues.
Jetfire - Vehicle Mode
Jetfire's basic alternate mode is a large jet akin to that of Starscream but with several notable differences. The wing shape is more razor like; he has two large thruster engines under these wings and the cockpit/nosecone area is futuristic looking where Starscreams is far more Earth based.
This mode is also far larger than that of the Classic jets, adding to it a heightened sense of quality and far more weight. Seriously, this guy is heavy enough, even without the additional booster pack.
As an homage to the original toy, the colour scheme could not be more suitable. The base coat is bright white with red stripes running along the wings, cockpit, nose cone and tail fins. Black accents are applied to the tip of the nose, weapons, the rear of the cockpit and engines.
Light blue clear plastic is used for the cockpit window and the two missles mounted to either side of the engines on the underside of the main vehicle body.
This mode is beautiful. I adore this vehicle configuration. Simple, big, and fittingly classic. I could go so far as to say "iconic".
Jetfire - Battle Vehicle Mode
In battle vehicle mode, Jetfire now sports an additional engine/weapon pack that is attached to the fuselage on his standard vehicle mode.
This pack harks back to the original toy in a big way.
The pack is predominantly red with minimal black stripes and white parts. The booster engines on the back are on a ball joint that instantly conjures images of controllable bursts of energy for more manouverability. I love stuff like this. Attention to details is important to a successful figure.
Along the main extensions of the engine/weapon pack are two sliding exhasts that move back and forth, locking in place and letting loose two massive cannons that flip forward and sit on either side of the cockpit.
They add a great addition to the toy, but my only issue is that the pack itself overshadows the beauty of the basic vehicle mode.
In a paradox of immense proportions, it now seems that for a scientist, Jetfire is tooled up to all hell with weapons. Maybe the toy wasn't just taking inspiration from the Stormbringer design by itself. Perhaps they wanted that no nonsense characterisation to come through also.
Jetfire - Robot Mode
With a transformation so quick and simple it feels like you're playing with a G1 toy, your into the large robot mode of Jetfire.
Here, we find that we have a large, bulky and well balanced toy. The same colour scheme follows over from the alt. mode, with only the silver of the face being the major addition.
Being a Voyager class toy, Jetfire is suitably tall and imposing looking, carrying over something of his cartoon version, though his head, on a ball joint mounted head, seems young. Too young. This is an ongoing thing that Hasbro seem to get wrong with each line. Some older characters appear too young in appearance, while others are the opposite - see Rodimus from the Energon line.
This is a minor issue for the toy though, as in all fairness, "awesome" doesn't begin to sum it up.
But appearance alone isn't always enough.
Poseability from the waist up is limited. The arms can be moved and bent in almost every direction which is what we've all become used to anyway. However, the lack of a rotating waist is a disappointment and limits his ability to be dramatically posed.
Below the waist gets worse. The upper legs cannot rotate, only move forward and back. This is not what you expect from any new TF toy, especially a Voyager class toy.
The knees, however, move back and forth and can rotate thankfully.
Jetfire - Battle Robot Mode
Here, Jetfire gets a full weapon overload.
The engine/weapon pack from his jet mode is now mounted to his back and the two missles launchers from the same mode are mounted to his forearms.
The pack on his back sticks right up but the two tower parts can be bent forward, weapons extended, and rest on his shoulders pointed out from either side of his head. The ball mounted thrusters on this pack are pointed towards the rear of his feet and again, give the impression that when he is in the air, he can make some serious dogfighting manouvres.
However, the pack makes him very top and back heavy and can make him a bit of a nuisance to stand on his own. The missle launchers on his forearms are, obviously, pointing in one direction become a hinderance to arm moveability.
Additionally, Jetfire now dons a helmet remiscient of the original G1 toy, but this feels oversized for the proportion of the entire figure. As nice as the helmet is, something smaller, or even hinged, would look a touch better.
Weapons:
A large black double barrelled shotgun type weapon can be placed in either hand, two black and red missile launchers with clear blue missles are mounted to his forearms and two red and black shoulder/back mounted cannons can be perched one either side of his head.
Scientist?
Not anymore apparantly.
Overall:
Jetfire is a nice, big, luxurious toy let down by limited poseability and a backpack that makes him awkward to keep upright. The quality of other toys in the Classics line, like Optimus Prime or Astrotrain, is maintained here also. He even feels nicer than some of the Universe line.
Score - 3.7/5
There hasn't been a true Jetfire character toy since the Generation One original and when fans found out about the Classics version, everyone got a little excited.
Seemingly based on his Stormbringer design, this is one very cool figure, though he's not without his issues.
Jetfire - Vehicle Mode
Jetfire's basic alternate mode is a large jet akin to that of Starscream but with several notable differences. The wing shape is more razor like; he has two large thruster engines under these wings and the cockpit/nosecone area is futuristic looking where Starscreams is far more Earth based.
This mode is also far larger than that of the Classic jets, adding to it a heightened sense of quality and far more weight. Seriously, this guy is heavy enough, even without the additional booster pack.
As an homage to the original toy, the colour scheme could not be more suitable. The base coat is bright white with red stripes running along the wings, cockpit, nose cone and tail fins. Black accents are applied to the tip of the nose, weapons, the rear of the cockpit and engines.
Light blue clear plastic is used for the cockpit window and the two missles mounted to either side of the engines on the underside of the main vehicle body.
This mode is beautiful. I adore this vehicle configuration. Simple, big, and fittingly classic. I could go so far as to say "iconic".
Jetfire - Battle Vehicle Mode
In battle vehicle mode, Jetfire now sports an additional engine/weapon pack that is attached to the fuselage on his standard vehicle mode.
This pack harks back to the original toy in a big way.
The pack is predominantly red with minimal black stripes and white parts. The booster engines on the back are on a ball joint that instantly conjures images of controllable bursts of energy for more manouverability. I love stuff like this. Attention to details is important to a successful figure.
Along the main extensions of the engine/weapon pack are two sliding exhasts that move back and forth, locking in place and letting loose two massive cannons that flip forward and sit on either side of the cockpit.
They add a great addition to the toy, but my only issue is that the pack itself overshadows the beauty of the basic vehicle mode.
In a paradox of immense proportions, it now seems that for a scientist, Jetfire is tooled up to all hell with weapons. Maybe the toy wasn't just taking inspiration from the Stormbringer design by itself. Perhaps they wanted that no nonsense characterisation to come through also.
Jetfire - Robot Mode
With a transformation so quick and simple it feels like you're playing with a G1 toy, your into the large robot mode of Jetfire.
Here, we find that we have a large, bulky and well balanced toy. The same colour scheme follows over from the alt. mode, with only the silver of the face being the major addition.
Being a Voyager class toy, Jetfire is suitably tall and imposing looking, carrying over something of his cartoon version, though his head, on a ball joint mounted head, seems young. Too young. This is an ongoing thing that Hasbro seem to get wrong with each line. Some older characters appear too young in appearance, while others are the opposite - see Rodimus from the Energon line.
This is a minor issue for the toy though, as in all fairness, "awesome" doesn't begin to sum it up.
But appearance alone isn't always enough.
Poseability from the waist up is limited. The arms can be moved and bent in almost every direction which is what we've all become used to anyway. However, the lack of a rotating waist is a disappointment and limits his ability to be dramatically posed.
Below the waist gets worse. The upper legs cannot rotate, only move forward and back. This is not what you expect from any new TF toy, especially a Voyager class toy.
The knees, however, move back and forth and can rotate thankfully.
Jetfire - Battle Robot Mode
Here, Jetfire gets a full weapon overload.
The engine/weapon pack from his jet mode is now mounted to his back and the two missles launchers from the same mode are mounted to his forearms.
The pack on his back sticks right up but the two tower parts can be bent forward, weapons extended, and rest on his shoulders pointed out from either side of his head. The ball mounted thrusters on this pack are pointed towards the rear of his feet and again, give the impression that when he is in the air, he can make some serious dogfighting manouvres.
However, the pack makes him very top and back heavy and can make him a bit of a nuisance to stand on his own. The missle launchers on his forearms are, obviously, pointing in one direction become a hinderance to arm moveability.
Additionally, Jetfire now dons a helmet remiscient of the original G1 toy, but this feels oversized for the proportion of the entire figure. As nice as the helmet is, something smaller, or even hinged, would look a touch better.
Weapons:
A large black double barrelled shotgun type weapon can be placed in either hand, two black and red missile launchers with clear blue missles are mounted to his forearms and two red and black shoulder/back mounted cannons can be perched one either side of his head.
Scientist?
Not anymore apparantly.
Overall:
Jetfire is a nice, big, luxurious toy let down by limited poseability and a backpack that makes him awkward to keep upright. The quality of other toys in the Classics line, like Optimus Prime or Astrotrain, is maintained here also. He even feels nicer than some of the Universe line.
Score - 3.7/5
