Toy Review: Hot Toys MMS499 D26 War Machine Mk. IV (SideShow Exclusive Edition)

So Hot Toys decided to produce my favorite War Machine iteration in grand fashion? Say no more.

Producer: Hot Toys

Price: Approx. $415 USD

Release Date: Aug. 2019 (U.S. Release – Overseas released prior.)

Item Height: 12.5″

Item Weight: N/A

Batteries: 9x LR261 and 3x LR41 cell batteries (all included)

WHERE TO BUY: SideShow Collectibles

Although not really featured or given much development during his time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, War Machine (James Rhodes) was played well by the actor Don Cheadle and given some really great armor designs with the Mks. III and IV being a tie for my favorite. Thankfully Hot Toys has done both incredible justice with the War Machine Mk. IV just having released this month. As both a movie suit and collectible the War Machine Mk. IV takes the design of the previously reviewed Mk. III and gives it some pretty awesome upgrades in terms of both aesthetic and weaponry. Check it out in motion with the video review above and please take a moment to look through my written breakdown and gallery below and leave your thoughts in the comments section.

Presentation: The box is the standard Hot Toys styling with a slipcover over two thick cardboard “halves which separate revealing a styrofoam container which holds the figure and some accessories and covers a plastic clamshell containing the rest (a box in a box in a box…) Everything is very well packaged and snuggly fitting in their assigned spaces and the foam padding placed on key areas of the War Machine Mk. IV is especially impressive and really gives a further sense of “high end” even when opening the box for the first time. It should be also be stated that the “Infinity War” styled artwork on the slip cover as well as the lineart on the box itself are both really well done.

Build: Per standard the Hot Toys War Machine Mk. IV is a diecast piece (as promoted) utilizing diecast throughout the frame as well as well as parts of the outer “shell” making up the aesthetic. The joints are a mixture of friction and ratchets all strategically placed.

The paint job is flawless with the digital camo, accents, and tampoes both being clearly visible even from a distance. My copy has no problems with any of the LEDs and the pink lights along with the additional lighting in the torso (compared to the Mk. III) really make this piece “pop” even further when turned on.

Accessories: Here’s a list of the accessories for the Hot Toys War Machine Mk. IV copied from the SideShow Collectibles listing;

One (1) newly painted helmeted head sculpt with authentic likeness of Don Cheadle as James Rhodes in the movie with removable mask
Movie-accurate facial features with detailed wrinkles and skin texture
One (1) interchangeable helmeted head with LED light-up function (white light, battery operated)
One (1) detachable chest armor to reveal interior mechanical design
Two (2) sets of interchangeable forearm armor (normal and missile firing)
Eight (8) pieces of interchangeable hands including:
– One (1) pair of fists
– One (1) pair hands with articulated fingers and light-up repulsors (white light, battery operated)
– One (1) pair of repulsor firing hands (white light, battery operated)
– One (1) pair of missile firing hands
– One (1) pair of fully deployable air flaps at back of the armor
One (1) articulated back-mounted machine gun
One (1) pair of back-mounted missile launchers
Two (2) sets of missile bullets (attachable to the shoulder mounted weapons)
Specially designed Avengers: Infinity War themed hexagonal figure stand with movie logo

SideShow Exclusive Pieces;

One (1) battle damaged Outrider diorama
One (1) interchangeable rocky ground graphic card attachable to the hexagonal figure stand

Parts of what the SideShow Collectibles listings lists under accessories are actually pieces permanently attached to the figure like the missile launchers but we’ll run with it because the theme of these accessories like the suit in general is arming it to the teeth which they all do a good job of. The exclusive pieces are “ok” but nothing I would have went out of my way to pay extra for as I don’t like the crotch grabber stands for these diecast armors in the first place and the damaged outrider just takes up space more than anything (though I do feel like those utilizing dioramas would do much more with it than me.)

I will say that I wish that this came with a completely unhelmeted James Rhodes head sculpt since that was “featured in the Avengers: Infinity War” movie that this suit was showcased in.

Articulation: The articulation points are the same as the previously reviewed Hot Toys War Machine Mk III and it’s pretty good. Plenty of articulation points with smooth-yet-strong joints to hold the heavier diecast parts with comfort. Like the MK III I do wish that it was able to work around itself just a bit more being so bulky to utilize the articulation a bit better and look more cohesive doing so but overall what it can do is certainly impressive.

Overall Score: 9.5/10 – The Hot Toys War Machine Mk IV takes everything awesome about the War Machine Mk III and adds onto it. It’s a big, heavy, well-built and absolutely gorgeous piece of work that has so many options in terms of weaponry that you can even make it aesthetically your own. The ease of use/access makes this an legitimately fun piece to play with as well. I’m really hoping that everyone who’s wanting to get this one can while it’s still available because once it’s gone I can definitely see those driving the second hand value having a field day with it.