Strange and vivid colours.

Now that the Platinum Edition line seems to have ended, it’s nice too take a look at all the weird stuff that came of it. Case in point, these popsicle G1 Triple Changer repaints.

I never did experience many of the G1 Transformers so it’s interesting to get to play with some that I’d never really given much thought to.

Packaging

Blitzwing

This isn’t Skytread or Flywheels.

He’s Blitzwing wearing some unusual colours!

Of all the Platinum Edition releases, this set stands out like a sore thumb because the colours they went with were so random. The other G1 Platinum Edition releases were straight up reissues with fancy boxes, so why make this one set have out there paint?

Well, that’s a mystery for another day. Let’s just see if Blitzwing is any good!

Vehicle mode (Tank mode)

Blitzwing is a chocolate tank and honestly looks pretty great. The brown looks a bit drab but it does look realistic. The only real problem I have is the gappy back end that has the jet cockpit out on full display.

Surprisingly, there’s some playability in tank mode. The turret rotates a full 360° degrees and he rolls thanks to tiny wheels under his treads.

Transformation

Blitzwing has a simple transformation that’s simple but still good fun a few decades after it was designed. You can literally cycle between all three of his modes in less than five minutes.

Vehicle mode (Jet mode)

Blitzwing is a red velvet jet and I’m not sure which mode I prefer. The jet mode certainly has brighter colours and more paint as well as stickers. It’s up to personal preference whether bright colours are better than realistic colours.

Personally, it depends on my mood.

There’s definitely less playability in this mode though. There’s supposed to be firing missiles but that gimmick’s been neutered and all that’s left is the deploying landing gear under the cockpit.

Robot mode

Triple Changers usually have one compromised mode to accommodate having three modes. Unfortunately for Blitzwing, it’s his robot mode.

Seriously, his arms are weird, his hands don’t work right and he has no feet. Well, at least the new colours look good in this mode.For posability… I’ll be forgiving because this is a G1 Transformer and a Triple Changer. All Blitzwing can do is move up at the shoulders.

Gimmicks

Blitzwing’s got one thing and that’s that he’s a Triple Changer. Like I said earlier, Blitzwing was supposed to have firing missiles in jet mode but that feature was removed.

Toy or collectible?

Blitzwing’s a collectible.

He’s a G1 reissue, with new colours and he comes in a very fancy box. The set he came in was also massively overpriced when it was first released. The set’s available at pretty reasonable prices now because of how hard it shelfwarmed.

Closing

Blitzwing looks great in his new colours and he’s a lot of fun despite being a 30 year old toy. Yes, Blitzwing has a pretty weak robot mode but that just adds to his retro charm.I hope the other member of this set is as good as this…

Astrotrain

This is not a fruit flavoured popsicle.

Here’s the other, more interesting half of the two pack. I say interesting because I have absolutely no clue where this deco comes from.

Well, Blitzwing was a fun throwback to a simpler time. Does Astrotrain have the same charm?

Vehicle mode (Train mode)

Let’s start off with the lesser of the two vehicle modes. Astrotrain is actually pretty convincing as an old school train but the new deco just doesn’t lend him any favours in this mode. All the wheels being painted is nice though.

For playability, all Astrotrain can do is roll on his four tiny wheels.

Transformation

As with Blitzwing, the transformation to get between all three modes is a breeze. It’s actually simpler than Blitzwing’s but I enjoy Astrotrain’s more. It feels like peeling a banana getting between train and rocket mode.

Vehicle mode (Rocket mode)

Astrotrain is looking much better in rocket mode. Mainly because he’s got more detail in this mode and the really weird mix of colours works better in this mode. Also, the rocket boosters on the back make more sense on a rocket than on an old timey train.

Astrotrain also can roll around in rocket mode. This because he also has four tiny wheels under this mode.

Robot mode

Man, Astrotrain is just a weird looking robot. He has that awkward, retro charm but that is because he is very awkward looking in robot mode. Still, I think the new orange, purple and white paintjob suits Astrotrain best in robot mode.Also, I had the misfortune of getting an Astrotrain that can’t stand without having his legs extended.

I’ll give it to Astrotrain, he at least has more posability than Blitzwing. His arms rotate as well as go in and out at the shoulders. That’s quite a bit for a G1 Transformer.

Gimmicks

Astrotrain is a Triple Changer and that’s his main schtick. He doesn’t come with as many weapons as Blitzwing but it’s compensated with the enormity of his one included gun.

Oddly though, Astrotrain comes with a rub-sign that reveals his allegiance and changes colour when heat is applied to it. I say it’s odd because only Astrotrain has it, Blitzwing doesn’t. Weird.

Toy or collectible?

Collectible.

Astrotrain’s a unique redeco that’s part of a Platinum Edition set which is aimed at adult collectors. While the set is available at reasonable prices nowadays, I wouldn’t feel comfortable giving Astrotrain to a kid. He doesn’t feel all too robust.

Closing

Yes, Astrotrain has an out of left field colour scheme but it’s unique so it stands out from all the other G1 reissues coming out. That said, Astrotrain is the weaker half of this set. He’s just a worse Transformer than Blitzwing even if I think he’s got colours just as nice as the other Triple Changer.

But I guess since you need this is a two-pack, you’ll need to get Astrotrain to get Blitzwing. So problem solved?

Blitzwing and Astrotrain