DOTM Human Alliance Basic Thunderhead w/ Major Tungsten

[Death's Head]

Thunderhead is the one Human Alliance toy that eschews any kind of realism, being a weird looking spider tank. Very reminiscent of Cybertron’s Scrapmetal figure, the figure is a bit of a gangly mess.

The spider tank alt mode, looks on the face of it, quite good. It’s nicely detailed, with loads of rivets and rails and engine parts and treads, not to mention that huge great cannon. It just seems like a quite silly thing to conceive would be any better than a regular tank on the battlefield. Plus, human partner Major Tungsten is hardly dressed for the part – where’s his hard hat? And more importantly, why are his eyes on his cheeks? Is it like the markings on dogs, designed to confuse birds? Who knows, but this ‘70s safari man wouldn’t last five minutes in battle. Too squishy, and against Thunderhead’s “Yoo-hoo look at me” mix of silver and bright orange, an obvious target for enemy firepower.

But! Thunderhead has an alternate mode to protect his human ally, oh yes! Seemingly cribbing the idea off of Aliens, Thunderhead transforms into a mech suit that Tungsten can pilot (incidentally, how preposterous are the human allies names? I hope they are code names or there are some ridiculous parents in the world, leaving aside those whom christen their children with surnames as a first name, or name them after buildings or some sh*t). Sadly, Thunderhead fares little better in this mode, being a messy pile of swinging limbs with a massive gun on top and poor Major Tungsten clinging to the handholds so he doesn’t fall out.

Things don’t really get much better in the robot mode, although again, it is nicely detailed and has a superb paint job. If it’s not the bumcrack face to spoil things, it’s the arms and legs. Just look at them. Everything’s nicely proportioned around the torso, and then –bam- Popeye-like arms and legs. He looks like he’s made out of massive hams. The hands facing outwards is also a bit rubbish too.

Were it not for his quick switch between modes and some good interactive play features – including, lest we forget, the C-clip weapon switcheroo- then Thunderhead would be consigned to the pile of quickly forgotten Transformers toys. Oh, wait, he already has hasn’t he, having been farmed out to remainder stores. Bad luck, mate.

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[we_are_forest]

I was bought this for xmas last year and compared to Sandstorm, who I also received, is not really comparable to as this pile of mess is only fit for the scrap heap.

He currently sits thrown on the bottom shelf of my collection. If I were to purchase it myself I would have dearly regretted it afterwards thinking my hard earned money had been spent on something so poor.

I think my 16-month old son takes more interest in it and that's only to throw it around the room. It's all it's worth to be honest.