Fans Toys FT-52 Aussie (Transformers Masterpiece Outback)
Fanstoys items usually come with an outer plastic baggie to protect the box.
Ye ole Fans Toys protective film sheet.
As usual, the figure comes mis-transformed in the box to save space in the packaging.
Aside from rotating the waist, make sure the hips are folded out to the side.
Lastly, make sure the top section of his head is properly positioned.
When returning to the box, make sure the backpack is firmly tabbed in, otherwise you risk damaging the figure. It’s supposed to look like this:
Since this is a Third Party, non-official item, it doesn’t come with a faction symbol. It’s best to get some stickers from Reprolabels/Toyhax.com to make this guy more “toon-accurate”. Alternately, you can also use “water slide decals” to make them look even more flawless (you won’t see the edges, unlike with stickers) but I’ve never really had the proper skills, or time (usually needs to be individually cut first) to work with those.
For water slide decals, most folks recommend the one from Ocean Studio. Here:
http://www.unclebillyshop.com/decals-poster/ocean-logo-decals.html
To apply stickers, I find the best way to stick the stickers on is to use the tip of a blade, or a flat, small-tipped object, this way you have more control over the application, as compared to using one’s stubby fingers. You can also use the blade to help gently peel off a corner of the sticker in case you didn’t center it right and need to re-apply.
In the animation models, Outback’s Autobot insignia is located on the tiny “doors” on his shoulders in robot mode.
I got QC 30.
Never one for following rules (or even plans), Outback tends to always go do his own thing and cut his own path (even when just driving). Thanks to his four-wheel drive alt mode, this Autobot Gunner can travel across the roughest terrain with ease.
The figure shares some design concepts as Fans Toy’s Hunk (Masterpiece Brawn) in terms of transformation.
Aussie weighs roughly 215 Grams and stands 6.25 inches tall.
Diecast parts:
-Sections of the torso
-Lower legs
-Feet
“Rocking” ankle joints are similar in design to Fans Toys’ Hunk (Brawn).
To give his head a little more clearance to rotate, you can opt to disengage the backpack a little bit.
Aussie comes with his “Mortar Cannon”, capable of firing armor-piercing shells.
For variety, Aussie also comes with an alternate “open mouth” (smiling?) face plate.
As a follow-up to their previously-released Hunk, Fans Toys included Megatron’s Fusion cannon in this set for Hunk to use. A nod to the episode “Fire on the Mountain” where Brawn was able to swipe and use Megatron’s Fusion cannon on the latter for one shot (before Laserbeak swooped in and returned the weapon to its rightful owner).
The cannon features working LED inside, it runs on LR66 button batteries.
I couldn’t get Hunk out from storage thanks to my injured arm at the time so Aussie will have to fill in for him in handling the Fusion Cannon.
The Fusion Cannon has foldable grip piece for any figure that’s not MP-36 Megatron to hold onto it.
Be mindful of the side-view mirrors when handling or transforming this figure.
The Mortar Cannon can be mounted on the vehicle mode’s roof.
Overall, a pretty decent figure. It’s not “epic Masterpiece” level but I can’t blame Fans Toys, since they were working with some pretty thin source material for this one. Outback was never the coolest Autobot to look at back in the day, the design and color patterns on this guy were just way too boring (both for the G1 toy and animation models). Still, I am glad that Fans Toys did push through with releasing him so we can complete the G1 Minibot characters. The figure certainly beats the old Bad Cube Backland figure in terms of cartoon accuracy and build (more diecast and paint here).
Gold
