Death's Head
22-08-11, 09:58 PM
Inferno was a suprising inclusion into the ‘big’ Generation 2 relaunch in 1993. Surpising, as although a familiar toy in the 1980s, he wasn’t really much of a star turn as such and wouldn’t have been top of my list of recognisable key characters for a rerelease.
The toy itself has undergone a few changes. The deep red has been replaced by a more day-glo hue and there’s been some slight retooling due to a change in toy safety standards. The wrist launchers have been removed and he no longer comes with his missiles. In their place is a large, fire extinguisher shaped water canon which can be clipped onto the ladder. It’s a suitable addition, if a slightly clumsy one.
In terms of looks, Inferno is a strange one. He has generally a very good alt mode that’s slightly spoiled by the incredibly obvious robot arms and bulky ladder block at the back. Despite this, he has some superb detailing that just about excuses this.
The robot mode is achieved in a clever way, with the legs swinging down from the back of the truck, the arms and chest rising up and swinging out to the sides respectively. The head flips out from inside that boxy looking ladder block and the head rises into position on a very sturdy axle that clips into place on the back of the cab.
Inferno has an impressive robot mode. He’s one of the tallest of the original Autobot cars, and although he’s quite skinny, he looks surprisingly powerful. There’s little in the way of articulation, with only the arms able to move. The only real failing is the strain that the head puts upon the slightly fragile cab. The fists hold in place very well, despite just plugging into the wrists, and manage to be a bit more secure than on the 1980s toy. The position of the diecast in the toy is still an odd choice, being in the back of the wagon and thus forming the soles of his feet where it is likely to get chipped.
Whilst not one of the top tier characters Inferno is a good toy to own and play with. The fire engine, with its chrome, rubber and extendable ladder is great fun and the robot mode is nicely laid out. He’s also one of the few early Transformers that actually benefits from the application of those decals, with them being used to accent, rather than smother the figure.
298299
The toy itself has undergone a few changes. The deep red has been replaced by a more day-glo hue and there’s been some slight retooling due to a change in toy safety standards. The wrist launchers have been removed and he no longer comes with his missiles. In their place is a large, fire extinguisher shaped water canon which can be clipped onto the ladder. It’s a suitable addition, if a slightly clumsy one.
In terms of looks, Inferno is a strange one. He has generally a very good alt mode that’s slightly spoiled by the incredibly obvious robot arms and bulky ladder block at the back. Despite this, he has some superb detailing that just about excuses this.
The robot mode is achieved in a clever way, with the legs swinging down from the back of the truck, the arms and chest rising up and swinging out to the sides respectively. The head flips out from inside that boxy looking ladder block and the head rises into position on a very sturdy axle that clips into place on the back of the cab.
Inferno has an impressive robot mode. He’s one of the tallest of the original Autobot cars, and although he’s quite skinny, he looks surprisingly powerful. There’s little in the way of articulation, with only the arms able to move. The only real failing is the strain that the head puts upon the slightly fragile cab. The fists hold in place very well, despite just plugging into the wrists, and manage to be a bit more secure than on the 1980s toy. The position of the diecast in the toy is still an odd choice, being in the back of the wagon and thus forming the soles of his feet where it is likely to get chipped.
Whilst not one of the top tier characters Inferno is a good toy to own and play with. The fire engine, with its chrome, rubber and extendable ladder is great fun and the robot mode is nicely laid out. He’s also one of the few early Transformers that actually benefits from the application of those decals, with them being used to accent, rather than smother the figure.
298299