The Parallax series keeps its leader theme going with an Upgrade kit for Classics Optimus.
Producer: Fansproject
Price: Unconfirmed
Release: Unconfirmed
Height: Approx. 8.0″
WHERE TO BUY – FPCore
Fansproject has given us a pre-production sample of their TFX-05 upgrade kit for the Classics Voyager-Classed Optimus Prime mode. What this kit does in a nut shell is give it about 2″ of additional height as well as some more weaponry and an aesthetic more similar to the “PowerMaster” version of Optimus Prime seen in the “Masterforce” series. As seen in the video review, the box art is made to fit in the grid styling of the previous parallax series releases. It should also again be noted that the labeling of TFX-05 is not meant to replace the previously released TFX-05 Sidearm but simply a mistake in the production process.
Everything fits on pretty easily. I’d say total assembly time is two minutes taking your time. Aesthetically, I really do like what they were going for in terms of being a very “throwback” aesthetic style to the previous Parallax armor kits (as well as the Warbot series.) I truly do love that style but for me this one falls pretty short aesthetically in the body area ranging from the rib cage down to the knees. These are areas left uncovered by any sort of armor and really come off thin compared to the more bulky armored pieces. Fansproject did say that there may be changes aesthetically between now and the actual release, so this really may not be what it looks like at final, but it’d be neat to see even something like a Shapeways kit to fill these areas if it remains this way.
The transformation on this is pretty simple and it’s nice that you don’t have to remove any of the armor pieces besides the blasters that mount onto his shoulders to transform it. The transformation is fairly simple but satisfying and I do like the different cab style that this kit gives it (I know it’s not the popular opinion, but I actually prefer the alt. mode to the robot mode.) I like that they also kept the ability to hitch the G3 trailer to it as well (note: the commander-mold trailers will no longer attach to it directly; the G3 trailer has to be hitched between them.) The one nitpick that I have is the fist remaining stuck out to the sides while in alt mode. It just doesn’t look very flush.
Overall, this offering from Fansproject gets the job done but I don’t feel like this has reached it’s full potential yet. It currently sits between Protector and City Commander for me aesthetically when a couple of tweaks could really make it blow those other two out of the water.
Overall Score: 6.7/10 at it’s current state (product not final.)
