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By Daniel Suh
Although the TFs line has included at one time or another a double spy (Punch/Counterpunch), a mercenary (Doubledealer), and an exiled Predacon (Dinobot), there's never been any turncoat good guys up until now. Unintentionally abandoned by Hot Shot and rescued by Megatron, Wheeljack has turned his back on goodness and chosen to fight on the side of evil.
WIND SHEER
Jet
Mode: Wind
Sheer is a stealth fighter jet, similar to an F-117. He measures 5.5
cm (2.2") with a 5 cm (2") wingspan. His main colors are dark
gray and yellow with a white panel on his back, red stripes, and metallic
lavendar cockpit windows. He has two faction symbols, one on each wing,
and his PX socket is mounted on his underside. He also has lots of nifty
patterns sculpted into his frame.
Transformation: Legs flip out from the underside, cockpit folds down to become chest, arms swing down.
Robot
Mode: Wind
Sheer stands about 5.5 cm tall as a robot. He's still mainly dark
gray and yellow in this mode. His head is white with a red face and a
protruding mouth plate. Like Thrust,
his jet thrusters become his arms, but unlike Thrust,
he has fins that can act as fingers. His arms can raise up, his shoulders
can swing out to the sides, and he has ball jointed hips.
Wind Sheer is definitely one of the neater Mini-Cons to come packaged with a larger TF.
WHEELJACK
Car
Mode: Wheeljack
is some type of sports car measuring 16 cm (6.3") long. He's primarily
dark gray with yellow racing stripes, metallic lavendar windows, a large
white panel on his roof, gold hubcaps, and red rearlights. He rolls very
well on most surfaces, but only his tires spin on the first set of wheels,
which sometimes can give the impression that they're not moving at all.
On his hood is a big red moulded Autobot symbol with a huge vertical slash
right through it, exposing some gold engine parts. And below the defaced
Autobot symbol is a tiny purple molded Decepticon symbol. This leaves
no doubt as to which side this 'bot is on.
Wheeljack
also features moulded panels on his hood to indicate flip-up headlights,
intricately sculpted hubcaps, and even a fuel door on his left side. He
has two dead hardpoints on his spoiler and a live one on his roof. Attaching
Wind
Sheer to it causes Wheeljack's
doors to flip up like wings, exposing red panelling, his robot arms, and
a moulded Decepticon symbol on his right side. We also see that the yellow
stripes on his doors are actually spring-loaded missiles that travel a
distance of about a metre. Is anyone else getting flashbacks of the Thunderhawk
toy from the old M.A.S.K toyline?
The only problem with the flying attack car mode is that the rear of the car doesn't attach too well, and often flops down during play.
Transformation: From flying car mode, swing down the robot arms and extend them outwards. Swing down the rear of the car, flip out the shins, fold down the hood, slide down the backpack, and flip out the feet and heels.
Robot
Mode: The largest Supercon in robot mode, Wheeljack
stands just shy of 16 cm (6.3") tall. His main colours now are dark
gray, white, and yellow. His head is gray and white with small horns,
vents on his cheeks, a gold face, and gray eyes. His expression is grim.
Between his head, the car hood on his chest, and the doors on his back,
he has a real G1 feel about him, which is nice. And again, the huge defaced
Autobot symbol on his chest sends out a powerful message as to the character's
background.
Wheeljack is articulated at the shoulders, upper arms, elbows, right wrist (why not both wrists, I wonder?), hips, knees (swivel joints), and feet. His missiles can double as handheld clubs. Despite having a sizeable backpack, he stands just fine thanks to his long heels.
Overall, Susp Sez: Wheeljack is a solid buy. Nice car mode, nifty flying attack mode, large and G1-ish robot mode, great colours and detail, okay poseability, cool Mini-Con. 8.5/10
Susp
"Never do what your enemy expects you to do." - Wheeljack (G1)
