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TRANSFORMERS TOYS AND MERCHANDISE SECTION

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Transformers Toy Review Archive (older series, 1984 to date)
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Sir Auros' review of: Hoist

Name: Hoist
Allegiance: Autobot
Function: Maintenance
Sub-Group: NA
"Proper maintenance prevents poor performance."

Hoist believes every Autobot should operate at peak efficiency levels at all times, which means he's a stickler for proper maintenance of both internal micro-circuitry and external structural integrity. He's always prepared to tow an injured Autobot in for repairs. And if fired upon in the line of duty, he'll quickly convert to robot mode and battle back with a vengance!

Hoist really isn't a great figure, but I got it (and Hubcap) as part of a cheap, loose lot of all the Machine Wars Basic figures, so I can't complain about buying it. For what it's worth, Hoist is the best incarnation of this mold ever.

Vehicle Mode:
Hoist is supposedly a tow-truck, but I've never seen one with an extended bed like this one has. The black paintjob works here and the sticker on the side is a nice disguise attempt. Unfortunately, the disguise falls through with the robot arms laying in the bed of the truck. That's pretty weak, especially when one considers that the Machine Wars jets at least look decent from above and they have a whole half with the robot mode shown in plain sight. I guess this would be a fun mode for someone into construction equipment, but not me.

Robot Mode:
Hoist isn't so bad in this mode and the figure has much more articulation than most of the other Machine Wars figures. I kind of wish the truck's grill wasn't a part of the gun since the only goofy part of the robot mode is that funky gun and the lack of the grill when Hoist's gun is drawn. A little more color would have improved Hoist and he looks a lot more like a Decepticon than an Autobot, but I don't have a lot to complain about with the robot mode.

Transformation: 8 - Another gimmick that hurts the robot mode's disguise.
Durability: 9 - The arms can get a little loose, but at least the gun's nearly impossible to lose.
Fun: 7 - Not as much as the other Machine Wars Basics and not such a great display piece either.
Price: 6 - I wouldn't buy it carded or single, and that score reflects that. It wasn't so bad as part of a loose lot though.
Summary: 7 - Better paintjob than Hubcap or the later RiD repaint, Tow-line, but just a very basic toy.

 
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