Markatron's Nitpicky Review

Fox Kids recolors/reissues

   OPENING RANT:
It's great to see Hasbro going back to the basics.
With FOX re-airing (edited) Beast Wars shows.  A supporting toy
line is a great marketing move.  That, and I need some of these molds.
I passed up all these molds except for the original cheetor.

While the re-aired shows remind us of days past.  The re-issues remind
me why I passed up the toys in the first place.  :)

Ah, well, it's good to have Rhinox and Waspy now (since they never got
new forms in the series).


   BRIEF:
Found remants of Cheetor last week at TRU in Boise, Idaho.
This weekend, they had them all.  Scooped up Rhinox, Waspy, and Dinobot.
I have the original Cheetor (+TM, and more coming with Beast Machines).

$9.99 each


   OVERVIEW:
Rhinox:   Excellent beast mode coloration.  I really enjoy the design.
Robot mode is horrible!  Aaugh, that maroon is "blechk".  Leave this
guy in Beast mode.  This almost drives me to buy a $30 dealers price
for an original -- almost.

Waspinator:  Tolerable.  If they would just go with one color scheme
or the other.  They should have mainained either the blue and made him
look like a fruit fly or they should have stuck with the wasp colors.
Don't know about the original, but I'm glad they put the translucent blue
plastic for his eyes to have the "glowing eyes effect".

Dinobot:  Great coloration, the red "stripping" really stands out.  Robot
mode too benefits from the coloration.  The robot head is well colored.
I almost favor the black on the head instead of the "glowing eyes effect".
The paint on the eyes is sufficient.

Cheetor:  Didn't get him.  Purple spots on golden fur looks decent.
Worth picking up if you don't have several Cheetors already.


   NITPICKS:
This section is what I would do to improve each or suggestions how this
could have been done better...

Card: I don't have the originals.  Are the robots' colors unchanged?
I suspect the SPECs are unchanged as well.
Robots are the original art on a Transmetal packaging.

Rhinox:  I would like another hue of green just to tie with the
show and card art better.  I ripped his "mutant head" panels off.
The Rhinox mold really brings out how much Beast Wars has improved over
the few years.  Lots of panels hanging off and there are less ball joints.
Weapon screams to be kitbashed which some on the net have done.
Rear panels are in the way of a lot of poseability.
Still, the weapon gimmick is good and places to put all the gear is convenient.

Just leave this guy in beast mode.

Hasbrocollectors.com describes him as "Energon build up Rhinox" or something
like that.  I guess he changes colors when he's flatulant.

Waspinator:  He actually has a decent robot head!  Yet, in keeping with
the show, we'll use the mutant head.  Where do you put the robot legs in
beast mode?  I'll probably take some yellow paint and touch up the head a bit.
I recently got D-25 DirgeGun of the Cyberbeasts in BW2.  DirgeGun is easily
a "Transmetal" version of this Waspy.

Dinobot:  Other than ripping off the mutant head halves, he's still good 'ol Dinobot.
He stands with my Thrustol (thanks Astrotoys.com).


   FINAL WORD:
I don't generally care for remolds.  IMO, none of these replace having the
original except possibly Dinobot.  While I don't encourage paying secondary
market prices, those who have the originals can remain proud.
Or better yet, go out and grab some of the CyberBeasts from Beast Wars 2.
Sure, they cost twice as much as the originals did and it takes a pretty
nickel to import them from Japan but hats off to Takara for reworking
those molds.  (And they're probably cheaper than paying a scalper for the
originals.)

Markatron