Fans Toys FT-55 Recorder (Transformers Masterpiece Blaster)
Fanstoys items usually come with an outer plastic baggie to protect the box.
Ye ole Fans Toys protective film insert. I honestly think FT uses different production plants for their wares now, one uses film, the other uses Japanese paper (EG. Jive).
Recorder comes out of the tray slightly mis-transformed.
To correct this, just
1. Pull out the arms
2. Flip the front waist panel to the back.
3. Flip out the heel panels on the feet.
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.
Recorder
As the Autobot’s Communications Officer, Blaster transmits vital information to the Autobots across up to 4,000 miles. A lover of Earth’s loud rock ‘n’ roll music, Blaster loves “sharing” his passion for music with his team (even if they don’t appreciate it). Similar to his arch nemesis, Soundwave, Blaster carries a full team of Autobot Mini-Cassettes in his chest, ready to be deployed to take on Decepticon threats.
Sadly, Recorder’s paint finish isn’t as epic as the usual Fans Toys offerings.
Recorder stands roughly 9.5 inches tall and weighs 607 Grams.
Diecast parts include:
-Sections of the torso
-Sections of the lower legs
-Knees
-Feet
I got QC 33 this time.
Recorder comes with various facial expressions (with different eye shapes, to match the changes in the animation models in the show) and a G1-toy styled head.
Replacing the head or face requires splitting Record’s head apart and lifting it up.
“Let’s get down!”
Recorder comes with loudspeakers that can be fitted onto his fists.
Naturally, Recorder comes with Blaster’s iconic Electro-Scrambler Gun.
To eject Recorder’s cassettes, you really have to push down hard on the leftmost button (Recorder’s right) to get the panel to release.
He can actually store two tapes inside! Just press the back panel deeper in to lock it in place.
To release the back panel, just push the button on Recorder’s back.
Blaster’s Electro-Scrambler Gun can be folded and stored on the back of the boom box.
“Rewind, eject!”
A “cassette case” is included for Fast-forward’s alt mode.
I love the clever use of diecast panels for the chest area.
Fast-forward’s gun can be taken apart and stored into his legs. Just be extra careful with the barrel of the gun (it’s very, very fragile).
Fast-forward
Rewind is an archivist, capable of storing massive amounts of data in his memory banks thanks to his “Internal light-matrix data store system”. Rewind also fancies himself as a trivia expert, thanks to all the information stored inside his body. Sadly, the information he houses rarely has any significant tactical value.
Fast-forward stands roughly 3.25 inches tall and weighs 29 Grams.
Diecast parts include:
-Sections of the torso
-Lower legs
-Feet
Fast-forward comes with Rewind’s iconic Adhesion Rifle. Too bad it’s just one.
Even if it’s just one gun, it is accurate to the animation models, unlike Rumble and Frenzy, Rewind and Eject were usually shown holding just one rifle.
“Sic ’em!”
Overall, pretty decent. It’s got heft and the look of the character down, but the lack of any kind of metallic finish for the paint kind of leaves the figure a bit dull to look at. It doesn’t have the same visual “pop” we normally get from a Fans Toys release. The transformation is also something that feels a bit too over-complicated and I think it could’ve been a bit more streamlined and simplified.
Still, I think it’s still the best MP scaled Blaster around, thanks to the animation model accuracy and the amount of diecast this thing’s got, plus the inclusion of Fast-forward (Rewind). I can’t wait to get the other cassette bots to round out this set.
“All right! Let’s break it down!”
Funfact: In the Marvel Comics continuity, Blaster was often depicted as a grim, moody and rebellious Autobot field commander. A stark contrast to the aloof, fun-loving personality we got in the cartoons.
Gold
