Phil's
Micromaster Countdown
and
Transformers Zone Moon Radar
Review


Countdown

Countdown is the lunar rover Micromaster packed with the Rocket Base that was sold in the west from 1989. At some point during his release he was a Woolworths Exclusive in the UK, but some people recall buying him elsewhere indicating that he may have been available in 1989 & 1990 with him being an exclusive for just the first year. In Japan he was released in 1990 as Transformers Zone toy C-330 and called Moon Radar where he was packaged with the Micromaster Rocket Base and the Rescue Patrol Team.

Countdown is mainly moulded in red plastic with a pair of high grey seats set at the back of the vehicle. The rear panel is white with the wheels moulded in black. Most of the first year Micromasters use just two colours of plastic plus some black for the wheels. On the top of the back of the seats is a radar dish which pivots backwards and forwards.

Transformation: Fold the front of the vehicle forward down to form the robot's legs. The red sides of the seats fold down to form the arms. Stand.

Countdown's robot mode uses the red from the vehicle mode as the arms & legs. The body is grey like the seats and the upper legs are white. From the front the robot has a very detailed look, but turn it around and you find the seats form the back with the tops sticking out at the level of his shoulders giving him a very hunchback appearance. He has the standard Micromaster articulation of turning shoulders and bending but linked hips & knees.

Decent vehicle mode and robot from the front. However the hunchback spoils it somewhat and the red used on vehicle mode isn't terribly authentic for a lunar rover.

Countdown has never been repainted.


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