Let me tell you a story. Some while back AHQ posted a pre order for Arcee, Insecticon, Strongarm's Redeco and Cruellock. I ordered all 4. The last 2 haven't yet arrived at AHQ so I haven't had any of them yet. Jon Slater fixed me up with an Arcee a while back and I've gone HLJ to get Chromehorn the Japanese Insecticon.
The paint jobs are broadly similar except that Chromehorn's Energon is more green compared to the yellow used on the western version. Japanese packaging is as ever excellent using the same type of reusable plastic case as the Minicons had last year. I got the 3rd minicomic so lots of new Wingsabrey goodness there. It goes up to Wheeljack on the toy lists.
The basic insect is big and solid and reminiscent of a G1 Deluxe Insecticon (Barrage I think, not got my MTMTE in London with me - as an aside WOOO, MTMTE TPBs !) In fact there's a similarly coloured limited edition of this toy coming (sky type I think, see bellow)
Insect stands on it's brown legs fine - same plastic is used for the horn - the back 4 swing side to side, while the front pair have a limited ball joint. The Spark Crystal is atop the green body, and the link point for the weapon is in the top of the head. The weapons comes in 2 parts - a sword/gun barrel type bit and a Rhinoxesque gattling gun that spins. These join - gun barrel locks into the centre of the gattling - and form an alternate head and horn configuration for the toy. As a side not the gattling element might be what you want to complete your Rhinox allusion with Demolisher !
TF: Remove the gattling weapon and set aside. Bend the back two pairs of legs round to the back of the beetle to become the robot legs and feet. Pull these forward slightly then fold the halves of the beetle's back out to the sides to each to form the arms. Fold the arms down from the shoulders and twist the ends so the hand holes are the same side as the spark. Spin the Chest, spark & shoulder section round so the spark is now the same side as the yellow underbelly of the beast. Stand. Place weapons into the fist holes either separately or combined.
I'd be loosing an opportunity to use the word squat to describe the robot - he's nearly as wide as he is tall. Ball jointed hips, shoulders that go fore and aft and to the sides, rotating wrists and ball jointed hips complete the articulation - because of the TF the head is permanently facing the same way as the front of the legs, though the chest can turn to the sides. The spark crystal is now on chest. The forelegs from the beetle mode can be folded onto the shoulders to form cannons - it's obviously meant to be this way as they're molded like guns.
Me like.
This toy is sold in Japan as SD-16 Chrome Horn. In addition the Energon star, gattling weapon and sword are sold with SD-19 Nightscream Reverse in a yellowy green colour.
Chromehorn's recolour is very reminiscent of one of the old Deluxe Insecticons (Barrage ?) It's a little monochrome perhaps with the whole toy being the same pale green except for the previously yellow pieces which are a slight darker green. The Energon becomes Orange in contract to the yellow on the original.
Decent repaint - G1 homages always welcome !