Convoy
Review by JoshB
What more can be said about this toy? It is truly worthy of the Masterpiece title. The Masterpiece Convoy is the product of 3 years of development. It is the Optimus Prime you always wanted. This is the Japanese release by Takara, so we have to call him Convoy in this review.
Convoy is full of die cast. The lower legs and chest are solid. Every joint is satisfyingly tight and clicky and most joints have hydraulics. The wheels have suspension, and the tires are actual rubber. He comes with a gun, an axe and a miniature Megatron pistol. as well as the matrix of leadership, which fits snugly in his chest. You can move a lever on the back of his head to make his mouthpiece move up and down to simulate talking.
Transformation is fairly complex, but once you get used to it it becomes easy. While the robot mode looks great, the truck mode is unconvincing. Things don't line up right in my opinion.
The Takara version of Convoy is slightly different than the Hasbro version of Optimus Prime. The Hasbro version has shorter smokestacks and has a weathered look. The die-cast content is the same.
Regardless, this toy is insane. Get either version, and get it now!
Comments
2 comments postedI really love this toy. The robot mode is near to animation look, the truck also looks neat and nice. I already have one. Masterpiece Convoy is worthy for Transformers G1 hardcore fans.
I am not sure about this Takara version but the Hasbro version (20th Anniversary DVD Edition) has some quality issues:
Firstly, the ball joints of the feet are a little loose (at least on mine). So the feet especially the left one on mine tend to fall off or disconnect on many occasions during transformation.
Secondly, the most annoying and I can't seem to get over it, Prime's chest (or the truck's windshield) do not neatly tuck-in and line up correctly. The right panel is protruding in robot mode!! Damn it!! I've read from other collector's blogs that they have the same problem. Is there anybody out there have a solution?
Thirdly, the ratchet clickity mechanism (whatever you wanna call it) on the waist tend to get worn off very easily (at least on mine). After only 2 or 3 months of tinkering (and tinkering carefully) the mechanism had lost thread. Now it's not clickity anymore. sob! :-(
Sorry for the ranting! Are there other ones out there that have the same problems? Or is mine an isolated case?
Cyclone Blue
"No Gnu is Good Gnu like Gary Gnu"