Phil's
Operation Combination & Micromaster Collection Glide
and
Universe Groove
Review

Operation Combination Glide

Glide has a unique vehicle mode for a Micromaster - he's a Motorbike. In fact you can count the number of Transformer Motorbikes that turn into Robots released up till this point on one hand - Groove, Afterburner, Override, Pretender Iguanus & Vroom. (Two more are ridden by Action Masters: Prowl & Axer) Glide's a vaguely Harley Davidson type motorcycle, probably inspired by Groove whose Protectorbot team seem to have heavily influence the Sixturbo team. Unlike the mainly white Groove, Glide is blue with a gold stickered windshield & rear bumper.

To start Glide's transformation fold his windscreen forward 180 degrees and stand the toy up on it with the underside facing forward. The back of the bike folds down over the rear wheel to form his chest with the saddle boxes becoming the robot's arms.

Glide's robot mode is still mainly blue but exposes some dark grey on the chest. Articulation is Micromaster standard - turning shoulders plus bending but joined hips & knees. He can stand up straight without help but will balance better with the knees bent slightly forward and the hips bent slightly back. His arms are far too short, not being able to reach in front of his chest.

Glide's role in Sixturbo is to become the piece that forms the combined robot's bottom & lower back: Fold Glide's windshield forward, then bend the front of the vehicle up slightly. Glide pegs onto the back of the waist piece

Glide's unique (for a Micromaster) vehicle mode is offset by a limited robot mode and a non-existent contribution to the combined form.

Glide was available in 1992 in Japan in the Operation Combination TF-03: Sixturbo giftset.

Micromaster Collection Glide

Glide was re-released in 2002 as toy number 2 in the Sixturbo Micromaster collection where he was packed with Sixturbo's upper legs & waist.

Glide becomes much lighter blue for this release as do the head & hands for Sixturbo plus the body parts for Road Police suggesting these parts are gang moulded together. The grey on his body becomes lighter too, his gold stickers become paint and he gains a red Autobot symbol on his right saddle box.

Micromaster Collection Reverse Evolution Glide

Reverse Evolution Glide is a classic "paint black & make it evil" repaint with all the colours of this toy rendered in black including the upper legs & waist of Reverse Evolution Sixturbo. A silver Decepticon symbol replaces the Autobot symbol on the saddle box. For every box of 12 Sixturbo team members - two complete sets of Sixturbo - two toys in one set would be painted black. So on average there would be one Reverse Evolution Glide in every three boxes.

My friend John Cullen *still* needs a Reverse Evolution Glide to complete his Reverse Evolution Sixturbo set. So if you've got one please get in touch with me !

Universe Autobot Groove

Universe Groove is a direct re-release of the Micromaster Collection Glide with the same pieces of the combined robot. The right name is attached to the right vehicle here - see most of the other Universe Protectorbots for examples of getting it wrong - even if the toy's all blue colour doesn't bring G1 Groove to mind.

Groove was sold as a KB Toys exclusive in the USA and was available in Toys R Us in the UK.

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