First up... Strongarm!
Strongarm:
Vehicle mode: Jeep
The vehicle mode is quite nice, but really doesn't make Strongarm look too inpressive when he is inside the packaging. I think people get turned off by his look in the packaging and assume he's another crap-bot. The jeep mode looks very nice with the "cannon" placed on the top and the 2 other energon pieces can be used as a spare tire that fits on the back. One of the main reasons I love his jeep mode is that it looks alot better than some of the deluxe figures! There is very little kibble and it looks much better out of the packaging. The attention to detail of this basic figure is pretty amazing, and one of the things you first notice is the nicely colored windsheild which is a very nice touch and contrasts well with his color scheme and energon items. One thing I didn't like is how the back wheels are larger than the front, giving the jeep a slanted look. I'd much rather have it leveled out with same sized wheels. So overall, robot mode for Strongarm gets a 4.5/5
Robot mode:
Strongarm's robot mode is where you really start to see the grace of the Energon basics. His transformation is very smooth and the detailing in robot mode is superb. Look closely at his face and you can see he has perfectly painted green eyes, the autobot insignia is placed very well (Left shoulder pad in red) and really looks good with the red energon spark. The color scheme is great for Strongarm in jeep mode, but loosk even better in robot mode. Tan arms, and primary colors of his body are mustard yellow and a very dark blue. Some very nice detailings are that the windsheilds now become his toes and the doors of the car create a Gundamesque type of hip armor. Although he looks great, that doesn't mean squat if you can't pose him. Unfortunately, Strongarm's downfall is his articulation in robot form. You can't get him into much other than a few similiar poses. Also, I wish that there was wrist articulation. However, I've been able to get him into a stable pose which I love! Right knee on the ground, left leg bent (Like you're being knighted), right arm holding his energon weapon to help himself up. Because of the pose and Strongarm's facial expression, it looks like he's struggling to get up, or has just been atacked vicously, but won't give up fighting. I really gotta take a picture for you guys... Articulation is a big thing to me, so it really hurts Strongarm's score overall in robot mode which would other wise be much higher. 4/5
Paint: Very well done paint job here, and I honestly haven't seen ANY splatters or mistakes as of yet. Everything is perfectly painted from the face down to the headlights.
Accessories: Probably the best or near best of the basics Energon weapons. There are 3 parts to his accessories, the cannon, which doubles as a hook/hoist type of thing, and two half circles which can form into a sheild, spare tire, or can be placed on to Strongarm's shoulder pad, which looks very nice. The true beatuy is when you attack the halves to the cannon to form a very nice Energon axe. It looks very nicely detailed and is quite large. Very nice look for this bulky robot. My only gripe is I wish the hook on the cannon was a bit larger so it actaully had some functionality. 4/5
Overall (not an average): Strongarm is a very solid transformer and looks great in robot mode (Once you can pose him the way you want). Considered by some to be the least attractive of the three basic figures, I actually rank him second of the three, although I find all 3 amazing. At a price point of $5.99-$6.99 there really isn't a way to go wrong with this figure. Incredible mold and attention to detail for such a basic figure is very nice. Once you start fooling around with his posing and accessories you like him more and more. Very good figure and the price range is what almost anyone can afford. Overall 4.2/5
Attached Files
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Strongarm_Jeep.jpg 22.93K
15 downloads
Edited by TigerPrawnMaster, 03 February 2004 - 08:51 PM.
