General Information:
Release Date: October 2020
Price Point: $19.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: Online Exclusive (BigBadToyStore, Entertainment Earth, Hasbro Pulse etc.)
Accessories: Blasters x 2
Images and text in italics below are from BigBadToyStore, Entertainment Earth and Hasbro Pulse. Using the BigBadToyStore or Entertainment Earth links helps to support Ben's World of Transformers. Fans can take their Transformers figure collections to the next level with Generations Selects, a fan-dedicated line of figures featuring fan-favorite, special edition characters you can’t find in the main line.
This special edition WFC-GS19 Rotorstorm figure is inspired by the G2 Turbomaster figure originally released in 1992. It features deco and a head sculpt designed to resemble the look of the ruthless and fearless Autobot strategician from the IDW comic books. This is the first Rotorstorm figure released since 1992.
This Rotorstorm figure converts from robot to helicopter mode in 25 steps and comes with 2 blaster accessories that can attach to the figure's arms in robot mode and the undercarriage in helicopter mode.
Includes Generations Selects Deluxe Class Rotorstorm figure, 2 accessories, and instructions.
- Generations Selects is a fan-dedicated line of figures featuring special edition characters that can’t be found in the main line
- This WFC-GS19 Rotorstorm figure is inspired by the Turbomaster originally released in 1992
- This Rotorstorm figure converts from robot to helicopter mode in 25 steps
- Comes with 2 blaster accessories that can attach to the figure's arms in robot mode and the undercarriage in helicopter mode
- Figure scale: 5.5 inches
- Ages 8 and up
- WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD - Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.
The official Hasbro description above is mostly correct, but there is one clarification I would make. Rotorstorm was indeed released in 1992, when Generation 2 began to be released in the United States. However, in Europe where Rotorstorm was released, he was still packaged under the regular Transformers banner, effectively making him a G1 toy. In time many European exclusive toys would be repackaged as G2 toys, but Rotorstorm is firmly in G1 territory.
This new version of Rotorstorm is a redeco and retool of the figure originally released as Siege Spinister. Indeed, when promotional photos of Rotorstorm were released they still featured Spinister's head instead of a new head sculpt. This was quickly corrected by Hasbro and the final release does indeed feature a head sculpt based on Rotorstorm's IDW Publishing appearance.
Packaging & Accessories:
Rotorstorm is packaged in the standard Selects cardboard box complete with a sticker on the outside that both seals the package and identifies the figure inside. The figure itself is binded to a plastic tray with the instructions underneath.
The accesories included with this figure use the same sculpt as Spinister's weapons. One weapon looks like it has two gatling gun style barrels. This piece is cast in a blue plastic with the weapon barrels painted yellow. The other weapon has two missile-like weapon barrels. This piece is more of a blue grey plastic with yellow painted on the barrels. Both feature 5mm ports on the top and bottom of the weapons. These can be held by Rotorstorm in his fists or attached to the 5mm ports on the sides of his arms. The weapons can also be combined into a "dual weapon" that serves as a callback to G1 Spinister's Dual-Targetmaster weapon.
Robot Mode:
This figure features a new head sculpt, replacing Spinister's rather distinctive head. This head sculpt is based on the IDW Publishing depiction of the character, which in turn is based on his G1 counterpart's head. The sculpt features a distinct "helmet" section with designs that wrap around the outside of the helmet and a crest in the center. He has thick "visor eyes" with a nose and mouth under it. The head sculpt looks fantastic and I am really happy Hasbro made it a point to give this figure a new head.
The rest of the figure uses the same body design as Siege Spinister. Aside from both characters transforming into helicopters, they really do not share any real design elements. Perhaps the biggest similarity between G1 Rotorstorm and the sculpt on this version are the helicopter rotor blades winding up on the back. That said, the designers worked some magic with the deco that really helps make this figure into a modern day version of Rotorstorm!
The deco is where this figure shines. The figure is mostly comprised of three shades of blue plastic. One is bright, another is more of a mid-tone and the other is the aforementioned blue-grey color. Pink plastic is also used on parts like the rotors, a homage to the pink plastic used on the original version. The translucent parts on the legs are now translucent pink, a color carried over directly from the G1 toy. These serve as a good canvas for the paint colors used on the figure. First there is a lot of silver paint on the figure. You'll find it on the legs, torso and face. The chest also features pink and blue paint on top of the silver. The idea here is to simulate the pattern of the helicopter cockpit. Sure this version of the character has his cockpit on one lower leg, but on G1 Rotorstorm his cockpit formed part of his torso. This pays homage to that design element and I love it. This deco looks fantastic and for those who know the character it makes him instantly recognizable!
All the joints on my copy of this figure are nice and tight, so no worries from my end about quality control on this figure. The weapons can be attached to the fists or the ports on the sides of the arms. The mid-body and the right shoulder both have pegs to attach Blast Effects. Each weapon barrel also accommodates a Blast Effect.
Transformation to Vehicle Mode:
- Detach the accessories and set them aside for now.
- Straighten out the arms and legs.
- Straighten out the rotor blades on the back.
- Lift up the back panel.
- Pull the helicopter tail up and out, snapping that section over the robot head.
- Connect the black panel to the base of the tail section.
- Rotate the waist section around so the right leg (with the landing gear) is towards the front.
- Swing the leg with the landing gear up. Swing the panel with the landing gear open.
- Rotate the leg so the cockpit cover faces down.
- Swing the foot out to the side, then swing it up, connecting the tab on it to the corresponding slot on the ankle joint.
- Swing the lower leg over the thigh, then swing the panel with the landing gear back into place.
- Rotate the remaining leg so the faux cockpit section points towards the back.
- Swing the back panel on the lower leg out.
- Swing the foot out to the side, then rotate it around and tab it into the ankle joint.
- Swing the lower leg over the thigh, then tuck it in to form the underside of the helicopter.
- Swing each forearm up against the shoulders, connecting the tabs on the shoulders into the slots on the forearms.
- Connect the sections formed by the arms to the tabs on the feet (now the wings).
- Attach the weapons to the wings.
Vehicle Mode:
G1 Rotorstorm had a couple distinctive features in vehicle mode. This included a very angular cockpit section and two giant cannons mounted on either side of the rotor section. Generations Rotorstorm has neither of these features, and yet thanks to the deco this vehicle mode evokes the character beautifully.
The designers really paid a lot of attention to the original toy with this deco. Perhaps the most telling sections are the cockpit and the front of the rotor section. With its translucent pink plastic and silver paint, the cockpit section really calls back to the era of G1 where light piping and translucent plastic was all over the place in the line (and I loved it!). Then the front of the rotor has a relatively random green deco with an Autobot symbol on top of it. This is a direct callback to a detail in the same area on G1 Rotorstorm.
From a functional standpoint, Rotorstorm retains all the abilities of the Spinister figure including having weapons mounted under the "wings" (which act as a nice substitute for G1 Rotorstorm's cannons).
Final Thoughts:
I already loved this sculpt for Spinister, and I will double down by saying it was a fantastic choice for Rotorstorm. The new head sculpt is great and the deco is out of this world. Highly recommended!
Pros:
- Excellent new head sculpt.
- Joints are nice and tight.
- Beautiful deco.
Cons:
- It would have been nice if new weapons were sculpted for Rotorstorm, but that's a minor quibble at best.
