TRANSFORMERS TOYS AND MERCHANDISE SECTION

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

Someone's review of: Wheeljack

Faction: Autobot
Function: Mechanical Engineer
Generation: One
Sub-Group: N/a
"Never do what your enemy expects you to do"

"Wheeljack is the mad scientist of the Autobots. Always inventing new weapons and gadgets. Most adept at driving while in car mode. Likes to show off his stunts. Flying range of 800 miles using solid-fuel rockets in arms. Shoots magnetic inducer, shrapnel-needle and gyro-inhibitor shells from his shoulder cannons. He is his own worst enemy. Often injured while experimenting with new weapons"

Alternate Mode: Wheeljack's "Lancia" racecar mode is sleek, featuring a multitude of stickers that confused me to no end as a child. The detailing of stickers and molding is very appealing, there are few parts of the car that require much mental "interpretation". The wraparound effect of the front and side windows of the car is especially eye-catching. The two plastic halves that make up Wheeljack's spoiler are removable and easily lost, though. Still, the car mode is solid and durable and doesn't require careful handling, like some other Autobot cars of this era.

Robot Mode: Transformation is fairly simple for Wheeljack; pull out the front of the car and rotate it backwards to create his feet, then pull out the rear fender sections and rotate his fists (the car's trunk) into place. His head is just behind the rear window slats, turn that piece around and open the car doors. He comes with two plastic wings that fit onto pegs on his back, and the spoiler halves stay just behind his forearms and can be rotated into different positions - although if I were you, I'd consider gluing those little twits in place. The robot mode is a little gangly-looking with his long arms, but the use of the hood as Wheeljack's shins and the chest shield of the car's roof is a nice effect. Wheeljack comes with two clip-on shoulder-mounted missile launchers that attach at the joints of his shoulders and make him look armed to the teeth. The inhuman masked face of Wheeljack is a nice contrast to some of his counterparts from this year of toys, and the plastic wings on his back are a nice touch of detail.

Transformation: Easy to learn, yet every part of the car is solidly utilized, with the exception of that spoiler.
Durability: I have never seen a broken Wheeljack. The toy is very solid and sturdy. The decals can wear on the car roof and lose their brilliance, but that's the worst condition I've ever witnessed.
Fun: Umm, well... like I said, a missile rack. The car mode is flashy, the quick transformation makes for some fun. I used to put the wings on their pegs in car mode and have him fly like Tracks did in the cartoon.
Price: ?
Overall: The durability of the toy combined with the interesting character as defined on the TV series has possibilities, and the easy transformation exhibits good design. If you're just looking for a toy to play with, however, you may be disappointed.