Armada: Overload + Optimus Prime

[zephon]

This is the last of the 3 super Primes I have. Amongst the 3, this is the largest!


Just like the other 2 super Primes from Energon and Cybertron, the Armada Optimus Prime can also "combine" with a second Transformer. In this feature, Armada Optimus Prime will be combined with Overload.



Overload:
Overload is a combination of a minicon and his trailer. Some would even say that he's a homage to the G1 micromaster Overload.


Let's start with lil' Overload:
He's basically a small truck hauling a huge trailer. I guess his name Overload speaks for itself.


Here's the robot mode. Being a weapons platform, his hands are depicted as gun stumps.


Here's the size comparisson of the lil Overload beside his trailer.


Overload's trailer has an additional peg that can be brought down if you want to connect him to Armada Optimus in truck mode:


Connecting the 2 trailer trucks create a really long trailer that's almost 2 feet in length!






Reminiscent of Powermaster Optimus Prime, Overload's trailer becomes the body of the bigger robot mode.


The minicon essentially becomes the body and head. Here's lil Overload fooling around with the larger head:


When inserting the minicon into the big robot's frame, a button in the middle of housing is pushed and a G1 transforming sound is produced:


Presenting Overload:


His articulation is G1-level to say the least. His only weapons at this mode are the rockets kept under his autobot insignia at his shoulders:


More than just being another red brick in the TF line, Overload shows his tripple-changing nature by becoming a massive weapons upgrade for Armada Optimus:



Armada Optimus Prime:

I believe this "color variant" version is called "Final Battle Optimus Prime" or at times "Powerlinx Optimus Prime". When the seller sent the pics of this set, I was determined to get it! This is basically Armada Optimus Prime in darker colors but not enough to evoke a Nemesis Prime feel to it.

Truck mode:


The trailer has a universal peg that would allow bendy Primes to carry it:


Here is the Armada Optimus compared in size to the bendy Prime mold:




As with all super Primes, the truck section becomes a robot:


The pic above shows Optimus in very un-Prime colors...and I love it!

Here's another size comparisson between the Armada Prime and bendy Prime:


Naturally, Optimus' trailer becomes some battle-station/base of some sort. The unique feature of the Armada Optimus is that the cab has an infra-red connection to the trailer so that when certain switches are pressed/depressed during the cab transformation, the trailer automatically transforms too!

Yes, it can be fickle at times but it really does transform 'automatically'!


Here's Optimus mounted on the platform:


Overload in his heavy gun mode can be mounted on the battle station for more firepower:


The minicon Overload can be carried as a gun:


The trailer becomes the legs of the super version of Armada Optimus Prime. This gave way to the nickname "Superpants Prime". Transformation from battlestation to superpants is also automatically triggered by a switch found in the cab.


Presenting Armada Super Optimus Prime:


The right shoulder of Optimus has a switch that lights up a red LED in the right fist. The light can (faintly) shine through the gun:


and can also faintly illuminate the lower portion of the Armada Starsaber:


Let's now combine Overload and Armada Optimus Prime:

Overload connnects to the back of Optimus via grooves and locks:


Just swing the 2 guns down and you're ready to scare the heck out of any target out there!


Detail view:


Here's Optimus with all guns blazing -- the Overload upgrade over his shoulders, the minicon on this left hand and his mini-guns over his left leg:


Closer view of the upper torso:


Detail of the mini guns:


Just how tall is he all decked out? Well, here he is beside Cybertron Metroplex in battle mode:



Armada Optimus Prime is probably the last "brick" Prime that came out. In supermode, he's got no leg movements. This Prime possibly has the most unique set of bells and whistles with his auto-transforming feature plus the usual light and sound buttons. As plain ol' Armada Optimus, he looks kindda hollow but add on Overload and he becomes one intimidating weapons platform!

Overload is your usual G1 brick reminiscent of Powermaster Optimus. Buy him only if you have an Armada Optimus.

....here me scratching my head on where am I gonna find shelf space for him..

[papabear]

Koolness!

Awesome review Alexi!

Really looks good! Very comprehensive review!

Makes me wanna open my own Primes as well! but like you the problem is shelf space, where indeed to put a big badass like this guy!!! ;D

[zephon]

papabear said:

Koolness!

Awesome review Alexi!

Really looks good! Very comprehensive review!

Makes me wanna open my own Primes as well! but like you the problem is shelf space, where indeed to put a big badass like this guy!!! ;D

Go! Open it and set it loose! You don't know what you're missing out on! ;D Go buy 4 AA batteries too! You're gonna love the auto-transform gimik of the trailer

Optimus + Overload would need something like a 16inch vertical clearance on the shelf. I'm not sure whether you'll need to add to that if combined with Armada Jetfire.

[Snacks]

Good lord that thing's huge. o__o Maybe I should start collecting TFs now... if only I had the space..

[zephon]

Here's something I'd like to share:

In this variant-crazy world of ours, I was determined to stick to the Powerlinx format for my Armada Prime. It would mean not just settling for the ordinary Armada Jefire but rather going for a Powerlinx Jetfire.

While looking around Blue Lane one afternoon, I came across something which I've been looking for ever since I got my Powerlinx Optimus-- it was a Powerlinx Jetfire!

The figure was loose and it was missing whatever parts were not screwed to the main body -- the booster/gun, the landing gear/shield/chest plate, 2 missiles and the minicon. That was reason alone for me to simply create an appendage to the Armada Prime feature instead of a full Jetfire review.

This was Jetfire right off the shelf. Like what I said, he's missing practically all his accessories. In robot mode, the loss isn't that apparent. Jetfire has a pretty good robot mode. His limbs are distinct and not weighted down by kibble. He's got knees and elbows and his arms have shoulder swivel and bicep rotation. His fists have holes which are of the standard weapon diameter for Armada TF (so he can hold on to other weapons including Starsaber, Skyboom shield, etc) and he has wrist rotation as well.



With a few twist and turns and basically collapsing his legs and arms into themselves, Jetfire transforms into a space shuttle. It is here that his missing accessories are sorely missed. The booster/gun that forms the top-most booster and tail of the shuttle hold the lower 3/4 of the body together. Without it, the lower 3/4 of the shuttle tend to split into 2. The shield and minicon form the landing gear though they're not missed as much as the booster/gun:



The missing booster/gun has a minicon hardpoint which triggers 2 extra tails/wings to flip off the back part of the shuttle. Even without the missing part, the buttons which release the lock can be triggered to deploy the wings. With the extra back wings deployed, the missing tail doesn't stick out that much:

Btw-- it's in shuttle mode that his distinguishing blue stripe is more visible.


Now why did I settle for a figure with so many missing parts? Well, it's because to connect Powerlinx Jetfire with Powerlinx Optimus Prime, all I need is this:



Here's preparing to combine the 2 parts:



Yeah, the shuttle's rear landing gear that would become Prime's chest plate is missing but somehow Prime doesn't look that bad without it.



Now this is what I've been after all these months -- Powerlinx Optimus plus Powerlinx Jetfire! Combining these 2 will give you 12.5inches of hollow robot.



Since the fist holes of Prime are of the "universal diameter" also, here's how he looks like with the minicon melee weapons:



I have to admit that despite being glad I found a Powerlinx Jetfire at an affordable price, the euphoria is still dampened by the missing parts. I have learned to count my blessings though: I now have the toy which I've been on the lookout for since January this year and I got it at an affordable price


Oh, as a parting shot, I tinkered with the way the wings are positions on Prime's legs. I didn't want to create a silhouette of Prime wearing a skirt so I really wanted to tuck the wings somewhere:



It turns out that if folded properly and with the legs slightly apart, I can create a very sleek lower half for the Prime + Jetfire combo! I guess I'll just keep him in this mode










Now that I'm on the "all-blue" powerlinx theme, I wonder if I'll be lucky enough to chance upon a TF Energon Ultra Magnus.....

[archaznable]

really nice review there bro ... I fill pity for the mini con carrying such a big load on its back hehehe.

Darn those two are huge ..... ;D

Wish I could buy one of those in the future but there are not enough real state on my cabinet anymore its already crowded.