TRANSFORMERS TOYS AND MERCHANDISE SECTION

Robot Mode:
Alternate Mode:
Box Art:
Technical Specifications:
STR
INT
SPD
END
RNK
CRG
FPR
SKL

Sir Auros' review of: Thundercracker

Name: Thundercracker
Allegiance: Decepticon
Function: Rebel Warrior
Sub-Group: NA
"The best Weapon is terror!"

Believes in the Decepticon cause, but remains rebellious among his own ranks. Contemptuous and cruel to anything that can't fly. Produces 200 mile radius sonic boom at excessive flight speeds. Uses terror tactics to strike fear in enemies, and panic among the innocent.

Thundercracker is hands-down the better version of this mold in Machine Wars. The paintjob is spiffy and helps cover some of the figure's faults. I had already found a Skyfire figure, so I knew the problems inherent to this mold and they aren't too major, making the figure worth a look for collectors.

Vehicle Mode:
Like the other Machine Wars jets, Thundercracker does an awful job hiding the robot mode in jet mode. This isn't so bad and the figure at least has a great paintjob to distract from the robot mode being somewhat obtrusive. It would have been nice had the missiles molded onto the site of the wings been painted and the sculpt is still fairly simple looking for a jet and somewhat dwarfed. Still, the paintjob makes it a halfway decent display piece.

Robot Mode:
This mode wouldn't have any problems at all if it weren't for two things. For one, the head sculpt is fat and barely mobile. It just looks dumb and it can't be turned more than a few degrees in either direction and even then it takes way more force than it should. The other problem as that the arm joints (though they're usually infallible ball-socket joints) are molded so that the arms have to be either perpendicular or parallel to the torso. There is no in between. If the bicep area had been trimmed a little, this would not have been a problem. Other than those things though, the robot mode's swell and worth display or play.

Transformation: 8 - The robot mode's not as blatantly on display as the Hoist or Hubcap's, but it could've used something to hold the legs and arms secure in this mode. Oh yeah, it also uses that semi-automatic transformation gimmick.
Durability: 8 - Not enough articulation in some places to even allow looseness, but the gun could be easily lost since it's small and in two pieces.
Fun: 9 - Not as good as a Cyberjet, but reasonably close and makes for good display in either mode.
Price: 8 - Really very variable. It gets pretty high alone, and carded, complete lots are way too expensive usually. Mine was decent as part of a loose, complete lot.
Summary: 8 - Around average overall.