Warbot: Defender
I finally got around to picking up Fansproject’s Warbot: Defender. If your on the fence about picking this guy up maybe this little blog-review-deal can push you over it.
I’ve always loved Spinger, he was my favorite Autobot from the post-G1-kill-o-rama that was the original 1986 movie. When Hasbro started the classics line, and Hot-rod got the revamp treatment, I prayed for a new Springer. But the best Hasbro has done for Springer lately is just some Cybertron toy repaints. Then steps in Fansproject, a small toy company in China who plans to rule the world. And like a large pizza with the wrong toppings, they deliver hi-priced greasy-justice.
-Helicopter mode-
The original G1 Springer toy was always lacking, Oh… I dunno. Appeal…. Like a lot of post movie Transformers toys, Springer looks like he was designed by the company interns. This is his old toys Helicopter mode. In all fairness, it is that toy’s best mode.
Fansproject even includes a custom adapter to use with one of Bandai’s Action Base 1 display stands.
The new toy’s design is loosely based off the old toy. The copter mode can roll around on the car mode’s wheels, just like the old toy.
-Car-thing mode-
The original toy’s car mode didn’t really look like anything more than a block with some wheels. To be honest, it’s still kinda hard to tell what Fansproject had in mind for Defender’s car mode.
Defender’s pistols can peg into his hands in car-thing mode.
The sword stows snugly on the bottom in car-thing mode.
-Bot mode-
A HUGE improvement over the original toy’s robot mode. Even for a toy in the 80′s, Springer’s was pretty crappy. Some G1 toys ooze nostalgia and many are actually great toys, but Springer got the short end of the stick. It’s easily one of the most forgettable G1 figures. 
The head sculpt it awesome. Fansproject did embellish and made a more updated design, but it’s still right on the money. The sculpt is based on the animation line art.
In bot mode, the pistols can store in holsters on the sides of Defender’s legs.
The sword can peg on his back when not in use. The sword is made of a bendable, yet impervious plastic. I don’t think you can break it if you tried.
Defender has a great range of motion all around, but his ankles are very restricted. On top of that his knees are weak, and they buckle pretty easily.
He’s got better things to do tonight than die, like laundry. He’s been putting that off for weeks.
-Rankings-
Aesthetics: 4 – This toy looks great in bot mode, good in helicopter mode, and passable in car-thing mode. Quality: 3.5 – The plastic is sturdy ABS with die-cast metal. The paint apps. are crisp. The sword is perfectly straight and I don’t think anything will ever be able to warp it. The only real problem is loose joints in the knees, and they will probly continue to get weaker until they’re a floppy mess. Poseability: 3.5 – A great range of movement in the arms and hips. But the limitation of the ankles dose put a hamper on what you can do. Also the weak knees can be a pain. Transformation: 5 – This thing is a real effort to transform. It’s well thought out and it makes excellent use pegs to help hold everything together in all 3 modes. Features: 3 – I’m always picky here. Two little guns and a sword is about all you get. It dose help that the sword is made of some kind of space-aged plastic. Overall : 4 - I love this thing, I can’t put it down. I put off getting one for sometime. I was afraid that it was going to be Battle Roller all over again (made like crap, and can barley stand). But thankfully not. Defender is made better than any of Hasbro’s transformers released after the end of the Alternators. It’s a real joy to have such a nicely made toy of a character I love, who has gotten shafted on every single one of his toy releases. My recommendation is to buy one before they are all sold out. You can still get them at Big Bad Toy Store. Hurry.-Tom B.
Tags: Defender, Fansproject, Springer, Warbot