Phil's Beast Machines & Universe Blastcharge Review


Beast Machines Blastcharge

At the point Blastcharge came out there hadn't been any Vehicons for some while in either deluxe or basic size. He's a six wheeled armoured vehicle the front half of which is gold chromed. Viewed from the front the gold chromed grid and green clear plastic eyes form a face on the front of the vehicle. The rear of the vehicle (including the turret mounted on the back) is a sort of sandy coloured plastic. All the vehicle is covered in red tiger stripe/camouflage patterns. The turret rotates and elevates. It's got three missiles sticking out the front of it but only the middle missile is powered by a spring and trigger - the other two are just stored there. The robot's head can be folded out in vehicle mode so he's looking over the turret.

Blastcharge has a second vehicle mode - pull out the front of the vehicle extending the chromed cab and front wheels away from the back. They're connected by a strut that bends in the middle. This gives the vehicle some extra length and movement. See the Universe Blastcharge TFU.info page for pictures.

TF to robot mode: As far as I can remember what you need to do is fold the front wheels out to the sides bringing the robot arms with it. The front of the vehicle is then folded under the back of the vehicle, the turret folded back onto the very back of the vehicle. The wheels are folded forward at the sides, the front wheel is turned side on, the back wheel is folded under the front and the foot is extended out from under the foot. Or something like that. I'm reviewing this without one to hand right now !

The resulting robot is very odd and blocky. Incredibly he manages to bend at the knees, and the hips - his legs also swing out to the sides here. The head - complete with green lightpiped eyes - turns, there's ball jointed shoulders and bending elbows. The central missile on the chest fires - might have been nice to be able to fold the turret into the chest but alas.... The two spare missiles can be held as hand weapons.

Blastcharge has a bonus wheeled robot mode - unfold the legs, straighten the wheels so the edges face forward and position the foot wheel in front. It's a nice little bonus. See the Universe Blastcharge TFU.info page for pictures.

There's a lot going on here that makes the package decent value for money. However the robot looks like it's just thrown together and that detracts from the overall look.


Universe Blastcharge

Blastcharge made a late return in TF Universe - the gold and sand colours became black. The red pattern on the rear of the vehicle becomes silver, but it disappears on the front to be replaced by a blocky skull effect over the eyes and grill. The red robot parts become purple, the silver becomes grey and the clear plastic becomes clear blue.

Very *very* good repaint, probably the Beast Machines toy that does best out of Universe ! I need to stop looking at it or I'll be tempted to buy one !


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