Vehicle Mode: Snowcat is an obvious homage to the GI Joe Snowcat years ago. When it first popped up fans nick named it Snowcat and were dead right. You know it's only a dlx toy but somehow - probably by virtue of the size of the GI Joe original - you expect it to be bigger. Mainly white with bluey grey bits, some maroon, and a pale maroony brown. Cab is 4cm across, back is 6cm and he's 15cm long. Main difference between this and the GIJoe version is the lack of a missile array on top - however there is a minicon port so Firebot can easily substitute. Said port is mounted on a panel that moves round a peg in one corner for the TF. It falls off. Lots. 2 wheels at front, and 2 tiny ones hidden in the tank treads at the back. Pale green windscreen with a wiper. Windscreen is mainly frosted apart from the path of the moveable wiper, same as the original GI Joe version.
Hyper Vehicle Mode: Fold down the wheel arches at the front so they're under the wheels then fold down the panels at the sides of the back of the vehicle so they re under the tank treads - hinged round the back of the vehicle with some panel origami - instant ski mobile. This exposes 2 missile launchers in the same green as the windscreen. Pivot them up out and round the sides so they're on the roof of the back of the vehicle - the missile launchers are each attached at the back to bits of plastic they pivot round, which are in turn attached to the vehicle. Holes in the side of the missiles - pegless minicon sockets allow extra bolt on weapons. Range of missiles is about 2m, not bad.
TF: Start from vehicle and fold down the rear skis. Bend the entire back of the vehicle down under the cab and then rotate at the waist. Yes, Snowcat is the first Energon deluxe with a waist. Separate the top half of the back and swing forwards to become the arms. Move the minicon peg panel into position over the forearm of the left arm, straighten then position the arms and extend the fists. The missile launchers will now be connected to the torso via a piece of plastic that folds in the middle - fold this up pushing forwards so the head ends up in place and the missiles are mounted on his back.
Robot mode: Knees forward and back, ball jointed hips, waist, shoulders swing back slightly (via TF), forward, back and out to the sides, biceps, elbows and neck. Head is white and looks a bit like a bug eyed Soundwave wearing a breathing mask. Chest projects forward a bit as the front of the vehicle but...
Hyper Robot Mode: Flip the skis down on the front and back of the legs - the first skiing TF ! Missile launchers then fold up onto his shoulders. Nice.
Overall: Good fun TF, lots of modes and an original vehicle for the line.
Snowcat was available in Japan as Superlink toy SD-10 Snowstorm. The name continues the evoloution shown on the toy from Sandstorm in Micron Legend (Armada) to Snowstorm for the Superlink (Energon) repaint of the toy and the new version here