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Toy story transformed
Page 12
Page 13
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With profound apologies to CM's regular vehicle testing team, here is a 'First Drive' with 'more than meets the eye'.
Words: Christopher Walton
THIS IS THE TRUCK THAT inspired ne to become involved in the road ransport industry. I grew up admiring ts tough, geometric lines, its allkmerican spirit.., and its ability to turn nto a massive gun-toting robot.
For the first, and quite possibly he last, time, CM 'gets behind the vheel' of eight ounces of plastic — the Transformer Optimus Prime.
I've been desperate to drive a proper iGV ever since I joined CM. The :losest I've come is sharing the cab of Mercedes-Benz Actros with CM's ormer editor-in-chief Brian Weatherley, )ut so far, the powers-that-be have been :e,eping a tight grip on the purse strings, .nd I haven't been given the chance to et a Category C and C-FE licence. So, I looks like this is as close as I'm going o get for now.
I'm guessing that many of CM's eaders didn't grow up in the 1980s, but for those of you who do remember it, Transformers were the toy phenomenon of the decade. I couldn't resist that heady combination of robots that could be transformed into heavy-duty vehicles, gleaming supercars and jet fighters.
But Optimus Prime (leader of the Autobots — the -good Transformers') Was my favourite by far... because he turned into a truck.
When I was a lad...
As 1 was putting together this issue's feature on toy distribution (see page 48), I was over the moon when Hasbro sent CM one of the figures in the post. Of course, things have changed a lot from when I became attached to the toy in my formative years.
The cheap metal and rather worrying-looking paint that would flake off has gone, to be replaced with dye moulded plastic and heavily articulated joints that provide a more professional and slick impression.
Normally, in a 'First Drive', we would take a look inside the cab. Sadly, this wasn't possible because the doors refuse to open, although the little plastic driver, resplendent in a 10-gallon hat, is a lovely detail. He looks very comfortable, despite his lack of any discernible legs. There is a passenger seat, but, sadly, any room for sleeping is swallowed up as a hiding place for the robot's feet... what would VOSA say about that?
The detailing on the truck is lovingly accurate, but I can't work out if it is supposed to be a Kenworth, Peterbilt or Freightliner. The truth is, ills probably a bastardised version of any generic American rig.
All the features are there, from the imposing front grille to the stacked twin-exhausts through to the fifth wheel (sadly lacking any form of coupling for a trailer). I would say the truck had three axles, but the six wheels arc attached to the truck by some tiny metal pins. It hardly gives structural support.
Still, this truck is probably not really aimed at 'big kids' like me. 1 reached this conclusion when it took me 11 long and complicated minutes to transform the damned thing into a robot. And that was following the instructions! I bet your average 10-year-old would do it in less than five.To add insult to injury, it then took me a full 22 minutes to change it back into a truck. At least four lumps of plastic fell off during the process, which prompted an awful lot of swearing, Overall, this is a fun toy that will keep young (and old) entertained at Christmas. It is a greatlooking truck and would make a great addition to any well-adorned cab or transport office. Oh, and did we mention that it turns into a robot? •