TOY REVIEW
Name: Crystal Rodimus
Allegiance: Cybertron
Function: Bright Knight
Vehicular Mode: Sports car
Price: 4980 JPY (limited series)
PACKAGING
The packaging for Crystal Rodimus is the same box design as the regular
Hot Rodimus, but instead of full color, it is washed over in blue and white.
Also, the “15th Anniversary” sticker which was stuck on to other Generation
One packages is printed in white and blue instead right onto the packaging.
The back of the packaging has definitely changed. The illustration featuring
Metroplex and a battle scene is overlayed by the front and back of Crystal
Rodimus’ tech specs. Also, Hot Rodimus’ “C” designation is changed from
C-78 to C-78C (presumably for Crystal). Also, the lower section of the
back does not have the regular Japanese writing but rather the 15th anniversary
logo appears once again with (presumably) details about the toy.
VEHICLE MODE
Length: 13 cm
This review will cover the changes made to the toy. For a more detailed
review of the toy itself, please read the Hot Rodimus toy review. In vehicle
mode, Crystal Rodimus is almost all translucent colors. The main body of
the vehicle is translucent red. His spoiler is translucent yellow. The
four wheels are the rubber wheels used in the regular Hot Rodimus toy.
The engine and the exhaust pipes running along the sides are the same vacuume
metallized silver as the regular Hot Rodimus release. The two stickers
visible in this mode are the Cybertron/Autobot “rub symbol” and the flame
pattern on the hood.
TRANSFORMATION TO ROBOT MODE
Unlike most toys of the era of Beast Wars and beyond, Black Rodimus cannot
stash his weapons somewhere in his vehicle mode (yes
he can, in the hole on top of the engine! Although it can only hold one
gun at a time - Goktimus), so be sure you have both the guns
available to you. Begin the transformation by pulling back the rear of
the vehicle and flipping out the robot feet. Swing out the forward sides
of the car. Swing forward the hood of the car and turn around the waist
section of the robot mode. Now flip down the engine on the hood to reveal
the robot head. Lock it into place with the hood and then swing that entire
piece down. Using the tab at the center of the hood, connect it to the
waist area. Turn the lower arms of the robot forward. Rotate the section
with the silver spoiler around so the yellow spoiler appears right behind
Crystal Rodimus' shoulders. Place the guns into his hands and Crystal Rodimus
is in robot mode.
ROBOT MODE
Height: 14.5 cm
The robot mode carries over most of its colors from the vehicle mode,
but it still looks fantastic. The fists and the upper legs are translucent
orange. The robot head looks fantastic since the face is painted silver
with blue eyes. This contrasts very well with the translucent parts of
the robot head. The robot feet are the same die cast metal feet that the
regular Hot Rodimus release has. The toy does come with the same stickers
as the regular Hot Rodimus release, but I did not put them on. The two
guns that come with the toy are their regular colors and not translucent.
OVERALL
Crystal Rodimus utilizes the Hot Rodimus/Hot Rod mold, but is molded in
translucent plastic in Hot Rodimus’ colors. This toy was released as a
limited edition (only 200 were made
- Goktimus) for a convention in Japan in 2001
("ToyFes
2001" was held in Tokyo on February, 2001 - Goktimus). B+
This toy review was written by Benson
Yee.
Editted by Goktimus Prime.
Images and text used with permission
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