Post by cybernaut on Aug 9, 2007 14:50:37 GMT 8
Haven't done a review in a long time... Hope I you like it...
Foreword
Having bought FAB Movie Prime before the movie toys hit mainstream release, I found him to be VERY impressive, with excellent sculpting and good articulation and transformation, considering it was aimed for younger kids! I simply loved the thing, which is the closest we'll ever get to a deluxe clase Movie Prime.
Check out my review here for more info on him:
greattoysonline.proboards43.com/index.cgi?board=tftoyreview&action=display&thread=1178723017
Fast forward to today, with FAB's hitting mallwide release at deluxe prices. I've heard of an FAB Megatron for sometime now and wanted to get a hold of one to complete my pair of Leader characters. I managed to snag one above SRP (but still lower than what TRU priced their FAB's...) in one of the specialty shops in Makati.
Packaging
Megs comes carded in a wraparound plastic bubble, with the packaging design in the vein of the TFTM toys geared for the younger kids. There's also a simple instruction sheet.
FAB Megatron in packaging. Front (left), Back (right)
It's interesting to note that, like with almost all of Movie Megatron packaging, the model featured on the back and the artwork is based on the earlier design of Megatron before fan clamor made the designers change some elements, notably his head.
Robot Mode
Megatron comes packged in robot mode so I'll start here...
He stands over 16cm tall, has 7 points of articulation (head, shoulders, hips, and knees...), comes with two red projectiles, and has spring-loaded parts.
FAB Megatron, Front (left) and Back (right)
Megatron looks close enough to his bigscreen counterpart for his size, with tons of intricate sculpting details all over. Trust me, he's got so much detail to rival the Leader-class version! Even his coloring is consistent with Leader-class Megs, 'cept for gold paint apps and the really visible red plastic used for his claws and missiles...
Leader-class Megatron (left), FAB Megatron (right)
FAB Megatron one ups the Leader-class version with regard to two things: Neck articulation and the fact that the FAB Megatron has a Decepticon symbol... I think the FAB head design looks more menacing. Check out all the sculpted detail on the FAB in comparison to the Leader-class!
Leader-class Megatron (left), FAB Megatron (right)
Proportions of FAB's are usually somewhat distorted in places, such as large heads and shrunken hands. Megs has a rather chubby torso, with rather short legs and toes, but it's not too distracting.
Megatron is reasonably articulated, but as with FAB Prime a whole lot of sculpting detail gets in the way. What hurts Megs most is his lack of elbow articulation... Regardless, a lot of cool poses can be achieved, as shown below:
FAB Megatron in action poses. He passes Sir Rohml's patented kick test too! (far right)
Okay, so FAB Megs has no elbow articulation. Why?
Because he essentily has these for arms:
FAB Megatron's arms cum Fusion Missile launcher...
Unfortunately, the projectile is not spring loaded. You fire it by pushing on the tail of the missile untill the pressure overcomes the friction on the ball joint and sort of ejects the missiles out. Honestly, I really think its a weak gimmick in place of spring-firing missiles, but it's not so obstructive, so its not that bad.
Like most FAB's, Megs has one other gimmick that I don't know how to photograph. Basically, it involves you twisting the upper torso at the waist with his right (or left) arm outstretched. When you let go, the spring loaded waist snaps back simulating a "robo punch"...
Cybertronian Jet Mode
Megatron, as everyone already knows, transfoms into some sort of Alien spacecraft and each one of the Megatron toys I've seen rarelly don't look like the movie model with the regards to their alt modes. Instead, all have their own interpretation of a folded-up robot doing his impression of being a flying thing...
FAB Megs is no different, and due to the simplified transfomation scheme, he borrows heavily from Gundam transformations to achieve his. (Think around a simplified Zeta Gundam transformation and you pretty much figure out how he works...). While this is his weaker mode, it's not bad in all aspects. One thing to note is that unlike most versions of the Movie Megs, FAB Megs hides his head in alt mode.
FAB Megatron Cybertronian Jet mode in various angles
FAB Megs looks radically different from the alt mode of the leader class. One other point is that FAB Megs has a pull out landing gear made of red plastic to support the nose of the vehicle.
FAB Megs with Leader-class Megs on the left. The landing gear is visible on the shot on the right.
Conclusion
Overall, considering the compromises present with the FAB line, this toy represents Megatron very well and is one of the better FAB's out there. While I feel that FAB Prime is a better example of the how the FAB's can rival the TFTM Deluxe class in fun factor, FAB Megatron is no slouch. With amazing detail, sturdy construction, he's let down only by the awkward projectile gimmick. He's an example of a how even a toy designed for younger kids can also be very appealing to older toy lovers.
My Score
Four Optimus Prime heads out of Five
Afterword
BTW, speaking of the FAB Prime, here are some more comparison pics. Enjoy!
Jya na!
Foreword
Having bought FAB Movie Prime before the movie toys hit mainstream release, I found him to be VERY impressive, with excellent sculpting and good articulation and transformation, considering it was aimed for younger kids! I simply loved the thing, which is the closest we'll ever get to a deluxe clase Movie Prime.
Check out my review here for more info on him:
greattoysonline.proboards43.com/index.cgi?board=tftoyreview&action=display&thread=1178723017
Fast forward to today, with FAB's hitting mallwide release at deluxe prices. I've heard of an FAB Megatron for sometime now and wanted to get a hold of one to complete my pair of Leader characters. I managed to snag one above SRP (but still lower than what TRU priced their FAB's...) in one of the specialty shops in Makati.
Packaging
Megs comes carded in a wraparound plastic bubble, with the packaging design in the vein of the TFTM toys geared for the younger kids. There's also a simple instruction sheet.
FAB Megatron in packaging. Front (left), Back (right)
It's interesting to note that, like with almost all of Movie Megatron packaging, the model featured on the back and the artwork is based on the earlier design of Megatron before fan clamor made the designers change some elements, notably his head.
Robot Mode
Megatron comes packged in robot mode so I'll start here...
He stands over 16cm tall, has 7 points of articulation (head, shoulders, hips, and knees...), comes with two red projectiles, and has spring-loaded parts.
FAB Megatron, Front (left) and Back (right)
Megatron looks close enough to his bigscreen counterpart for his size, with tons of intricate sculpting details all over. Trust me, he's got so much detail to rival the Leader-class version! Even his coloring is consistent with Leader-class Megs, 'cept for gold paint apps and the really visible red plastic used for his claws and missiles...
Leader-class Megatron (left), FAB Megatron (right)
FAB Megatron one ups the Leader-class version with regard to two things: Neck articulation and the fact that the FAB Megatron has a Decepticon symbol... I think the FAB head design looks more menacing. Check out all the sculpted detail on the FAB in comparison to the Leader-class!
Leader-class Megatron (left), FAB Megatron (right)
Proportions of FAB's are usually somewhat distorted in places, such as large heads and shrunken hands. Megs has a rather chubby torso, with rather short legs and toes, but it's not too distracting.
Megatron is reasonably articulated, but as with FAB Prime a whole lot of sculpting detail gets in the way. What hurts Megs most is his lack of elbow articulation... Regardless, a lot of cool poses can be achieved, as shown below:
FAB Megatron in action poses. He passes Sir Rohml's patented kick test too! (far right)
Okay, so FAB Megs has no elbow articulation. Why?
Because he essentily has these for arms:
FAB Megatron's arms cum Fusion Missile launcher...
Unfortunately, the projectile is not spring loaded. You fire it by pushing on the tail of the missile untill the pressure overcomes the friction on the ball joint and sort of ejects the missiles out. Honestly, I really think its a weak gimmick in place of spring-firing missiles, but it's not so obstructive, so its not that bad.
Like most FAB's, Megs has one other gimmick that I don't know how to photograph. Basically, it involves you twisting the upper torso at the waist with his right (or left) arm outstretched. When you let go, the spring loaded waist snaps back simulating a "robo punch"...
Cybertronian Jet Mode
Megatron, as everyone already knows, transfoms into some sort of Alien spacecraft and each one of the Megatron toys I've seen rarelly don't look like the movie model with the regards to their alt modes. Instead, all have their own interpretation of a folded-up robot doing his impression of being a flying thing...
FAB Megs is no different, and due to the simplified transfomation scheme, he borrows heavily from Gundam transformations to achieve his. (Think around a simplified Zeta Gundam transformation and you pretty much figure out how he works...). While this is his weaker mode, it's not bad in all aspects. One thing to note is that unlike most versions of the Movie Megs, FAB Megs hides his head in alt mode.
FAB Megatron Cybertronian Jet mode in various angles
FAB Megs looks radically different from the alt mode of the leader class. One other point is that FAB Megs has a pull out landing gear made of red plastic to support the nose of the vehicle.
FAB Megs with Leader-class Megs on the left. The landing gear is visible on the shot on the right.
Conclusion
Overall, considering the compromises present with the FAB line, this toy represents Megatron very well and is one of the better FAB's out there. While I feel that FAB Prime is a better example of the how the FAB's can rival the TFTM Deluxe class in fun factor, FAB Megatron is no slouch. With amazing detail, sturdy construction, he's let down only by the awkward projectile gimmick. He's an example of a how even a toy designed for younger kids can also be very appealing to older toy lovers.
My Score
Four Optimus Prime heads out of Five
Afterword
BTW, speaking of the FAB Prime, here are some more comparison pics. Enjoy!
Jya na!
keeping the site active as a place to dump info for easier backtracking. 