General Information:
Release Date: December 2022
Price Point: $55.97 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: Wal-Mart Exclusive (with limited quantities on Hasbro Pulse)
Accessories: Blasters x 2, Cannons x 2, Missile Pod, Launchpad/train car
Official images and text below in italics are from Walmart.com: Universes collide! Transformers: Legacy brings together fan-favorite characters from across the Transformers multiverse. Figures feature deco inspired by their universe with an updated Generations design. In honor of the almost 40-year legacy of Transformers entertainment, the fandoms come together from across the Transformers multiverse, all in one toy line.
The race is on! Bots from across the multiverse have gathered on Velocitron to participate in the Speedia 500, a planet-wide race to determine its next leader. He may not be competing in the Speedia 500, but Galaxy Shuttle has the honor of transporting the racers to the starting line. Transformers and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro. Includes: Figure, 5 accessories, and instructions. Figure scale: 7 inches Ages 8 and up Warning: Choking Hazard - Small parts. Not for children under 3 years. © 2022 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved. Manufactured under license from TOMY Company, Ltd.
- UNIVERSES COLLIDE: Universes collide with Transformers: Legacy! This epic line of Transformers toys brings together fan-favorite characters from across the Transformers multiverse
- VELOCITRON SPEEDIA 500 COLLECTION: The race is on! Bots from across the multiverse have gathered on Velocitron to participate in the Speedia 500, a planet-wide race to determine its next leader
- TRANSFORMERS: VICTORY-INSPIRED DESIGN: This Transformers 7-inch Victory Universe Galaxy Shuttle robot toy is inspired by Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory, updated with a Generations-style design
- 3 EPIC MODES: Transformers Triple Changer Action figure converts from space shuttle mode to train mode in 16 steps, then to robot mode in 19 steps. Launchpad folds into cache to store accessories
- AWESOME ACCESSORIES: Comes with 5 blaster accessories the combine to form a larger weapon accessory. Accessories attach to figure in all modes
Packaging:
When the original Generation One figures were released, they were packaged in a rectangular box with a large flap on the back. They sat inside the box in their alt-modes relying on the package artwork to show off the robot mode. However, for quite some time now, Transformers have been mostly packaged in robot mode instead, a move partly intended to show off the value of the figure you are purchasing. This has led to more vertical packaging that discarded the old "rectangle box with flap" design. Aside from some Vintage reissues and the Vintage Headmaster line, this style of packaging has been very rare in modern day releases.
Enter: the Speedia 500 collection! The box is a large one with no window in the front, instead featuring artwork of Galaxy Shuttle in both modes. The background features a wonderful black to blue gradient and each box features the text "Velocitron Speedia 500 Collection". A lot of graphics on the boxes are references to the race including arrows and even the symbol of Velocitron itself boldly shown off on the front of the boxes. The flap on top shows the figure in vehicle mode. Galaxy Shuttle's name chyron indicates he is from the "Victory Universe", a reference to the G1 series the charactera appeared in. The back of the box shows the figure in both modes, calling out a 19 step transformation for the robot to train, then 16 steps for the train to shuttle.
To say I love this packaging design would be an understatement. It manages to blend some nostalgia with a modern day line and the graphics are all consistent with the world of Velocitron itself.
Background:
In 1989, Transformers fans in Japan were introduced to a new Cybertron/Autobot: Galaxy Shuttle! This Autobot transformed into (you guessed it) a space shuttle and would appear in both the Victory series and the one episode of Zone that was animated. The toy was only released in Japan in 1989 and then again in 1990, so he is definitely a more obscure character for Hasbro to tackle.
This figure is a redeco and retool of the Siege Astrotrain figure. As it turns out, the designers who worked on Siege Astrotrain many years ago had already worked in a Galaxy Shuttle head into the mold trees for Astrotrain, so when the time came to find a larger figure for the Velocitron capsule campaign, they made Galaxy Shuttle part of the set and many fans rejoiced. Pre-orders for this character sold out day one, and as of the time I am writing this (December 2022) one restock at Hasbro Pulse sold out in under fifteen minutes!
This review will focus on the changes made to the figure for this release. However, the figure is packaged in shuttle mode, so I will start the review in that mode, then go to the train mode and finally the robot mode.
Accessories:
Galaxy Shuttle includes all the same accessories that came with Astrotrain. The names I use for the weapons below are the Siege designations for Astrotrain's weapons since Galaxy Shuttle's instructions do not give them specific names:
- JF-50 Ionic Displacer Blasters: There are two blasters with this designation included with this set. This is a stylized version of the rifle that came with G1 Astrotrain. Each of these weapons have two 5mm pegs on the bottom and one on the sides (each one has the horizontal peg on different sides however). The front and back both feature pegs for Blast Effects. These pieces are cast in red plastic with no paint applications.
- W-15 Destabilizer Cannon: This weapon is a thicker one than the JF-50, featuring a wide barrel in front and a targeting scope on top. The blaster features one 5mm peg on the bottom and 5mm ports on both sides. The front of the weapon can accomodate Blast Effects. This piece is cast in black with no paint applications.
- JF-30 Astro Blaster: This weapon is sort of a middle ground between the JF-50 and W-15. It has a regular sized round barrel leading to a boxy back end. There is a connector on the back to attach to the W-15 Destabilizer Cannon and a 5mm peg on the bottom.
- W-40 Turbo-Core Derailer: Unlike the other weapons, this is not a blaster but more like a rocket pod. It features five (non launching) rockets in front, one 5mm peg on the side and one on the bottom. This piece is made of red plastic with no paint applications.
You can combine all the weapons above to form the "Omni-Force Orbital Cannon". First you attach the JF-30 Astro Blaster to the W-40 Turbo-Core Derailer. Then connect the W-15 Destabilizer Cannon to the back of the JF-30 Astro Blaster. Then connect the JF-50 Ionic Displacer Blasters to the sides of the W-15 Destabilizer Cannon. The result is a giant weapon that Galaxy Shuttle can hold by connecting his fists to the 5mm pegs.
The other accessory included with this figure is a caboose for the train mode. The design is interesting as it has a very militaristic look it. There are treads instead of traditional round looking wheels and there are lots of nice details on the sides that look like the lines where armor panels meet. This piece is made up of gunmetal grey, blue and black plastic with yellow and silver paint details. In its caboose mode this piece can attach to the back of the train mode using the three pegs in front and the thrusters on the back of Galaxy Shuttle.
Unfold the sides of the train, then fold the panel with the three 5mm pegs forward. This forms a "launch base" that you can attach Galaxy Shuttle to in shuttle mode. The panels in front and on the sides basically serve as ramps. The ends of the side ramps have attachment points, but these are not intended to attach to Titans Return bases. Instead, they are meant to attach to the bases that came out with the Earthrise series. In an additional bit of additional play value, you can detach the gunmetal grey panels in the front to form (for lack of a better term) "shoes" for Galaxy Shuttle to wear.
You can also lay all the parts of this flat except the "launchpad" and put the shuttle on top horizontally. I believe this is meant to emulate a real life Crawler Transporter vehicle to carry the shuttle to its launch site. While the "vehicle" is rather flat, it does have a series of treads sculpted along the sides. Finally, you can use the caboose as a sort of "storage locker" for Galaxy Shuttle's weapons.
Space Shuttle Mode:
There were no tooling changes made to the Astrotrain molds for this mode, so Galaxy Shuttle's sculpt looks the same as Astrotrain's in this form. Unlike G1 Galaxy Shuttle, this figure has more "realistic" looking wings, with curves and a straight line on the back whereas G1 Galaxy Shuttle had large blasters mounted on the ends of each wing. However, where this mode really shines is its deco. The deco calls back to the original Galaxy Shuttle in several ways including:
- The colors are mostly white and black, with white being the dominant color.
- The windows in front are painted blue, similar to those on G1 Galaxy Shuttle's cockpit area.
- On top towards the front is a large Autobot symbol in red.
- Each wing has an Autobot symbol on it in red along with black striped lines towards the back.
- In another Victory reference, the sides of the shuttle is a blue line pattern and in yellow is the letter "V" for Victory!
- The tail fin has a blue and grey details on it that are a callback to stickers found on G1 Galaxy Shuttle.
I love all the deco callbacks to G1 Galaxy Shuttle. They really help to give this mode a very different visual personality than the darker and more dangerous looking Astrotrain.
There are nine 5mm ports in this mode. There are two on the sides towards the front, two on top towards the middle and one on each wing. The other three are on the thrusters in the back. The ones on the wings, the middle and sides are mainly intended for weaponry. The ones on the thrusters are more appropriate for Blast Effects to make it look like there is exhaust coming out of them. There are two pegs on the top for Blast Effects. When you attach enough parts and weapons to the shuttle it looks fantastic.
Transformation to Train Mode:
- Detach all accessories and set them aside for now.
- Swing the stabilizer fin forward and down.
- Swing the panel with the stabilizer fin on it forward, and wing down the black side panels.
- Split the front half of the shuttle in the middle.
- Swing the sections the lower leg sections out for now.
- Pull the halves of the shuttle cockpit section out, rotate them around, then push each half back in.
- Swing the smoke stack halves up.
- Push the halves of the train's front end together.
- Push the front wheels of the trail mode down.
- Swing the lower leg covers together in the midde.
- Push the wings down, then fold the ends under the train.
- Swing the front halves of the train wheels out.
- Rotate the train wheels on the wings so they connect to the train wheels in the front.
Train Mode:
G1 Galaxy Shuttle did not have a train mode, so this is a bit of a bonus. Of course, this mode carries over from this mold's tenure as Astrotrain so the sculpt is the same. No changes have been made to the mold for this form. However, the colors are dramatically different. Astrotrain primarily used a dark grey/purple combination in this form. Galaxy Shuttle on the other hand primarily relies on black plastic and paint applications with some white bits peeking through here and there. I actually find myself really liking the black color. It matches more with the picture I get in my head of real life locomotives from the past than Astrotrain's colors. The thrusters on the back are still present and they are painted metallic blue.
The three 5mm ports on the train in this mode are all still nice and snug. Attach the caboose in the back and you add on four 5mm ports, two on top and two on the sides. You can have a lot of fun with this, especially if you consider using Weaponizers, Modulators, Battle Masters and any weapons with 5mm pegs. I also have a personal head canon idea that this is an upgrade for Galaxy Shuttle, giving him a land mode instead of just a space shuttle mode!
Transformation to Robot Mode (from Train Mode):
- Detach all accessories and set them aside for now.
- Swing the wheel sections in the front half of the train up.
- Push the front wheels of the trains up.
- Unfold and swing the wings back.
- Rotate the rear train wheels up behind the wings.
- Lift the panel with the space shuttle boosters on it up and back.
- Pull out the halves of the panels that form the front half of the train.
- Swing the halves of the train smokestack into the sections that form the front of the train/shuttle.
- Rotate the train/shuttle front halves around.
- Swing the lower leg panels down.
- Swing the robot feet out and up.
- Swing the robot arms down.
- Rotate and straighten out the arms.
- Swing the fists out from the forearms.
- Rotate the robot head around.
- Swing the wings on the back down.
Robot Mode:
Galaxy Shuttle features a brand new head sculpt that was always part of the mold tree for Astrotrain, so Hasbro thought way ahead of time on this one! The head sculpt is heavily based on the animation model and box art from G1 Galaxy Shuttle. This includes having a crest on the top of the head, two antennae on either side of the "helmet" section and a face with visor eyes, a nose and mouth. The head sculpt looks fantastic.
The head sculpt goes a long way to make the Astrotrain sculpt into Galaxy Shuttle, but partly by a coincidence in design, Astrotrain's design offers up a silhouette that can also call back to G1 Galaxy Shuttle. Sure there are differences (like the torso does not have the shuttle's front end on it) but the overall shape with its boxy torso and back mounted wings definitely give the look of an updated Galaxy Shuttle. Thanks to using the Astrotrain sculpt, Galaxy Shuttle does wind up looking considerably bulkier in this incarnation than the G1 version, but to me that works to his advantage. If part of his function is to transport cargo or other characters around it makes sense that he is not super thin and sleek.
The black and white colors continue to dominate this figure, with white plastic and paint showing up on the wings, torso and lower legs. Black breaks the white up on the wings, head, arms, waist area, thighs and feet. Silver paitn is used on the face and thighs. Light metallic blue is used for the eyes and a bit of red is found on the shoulders. I do wish there were some more colors used in this mode to replicate the sticker details on G1 Galaxy Shuttle. The black and white colors look a tad plain, but it's hardly a dealbreaker.
Interestingly enough, all eighteen points of articulation on my copy of Galaxy Shuttle are significantly tighter than those on my copy of Siege Astrotrain. Not that my Astrotrain is floppy, but I could feel a significant difference in the joints between the two figures.
There are fifteen 5mm ports on this figure, each allowing you to attach Weaponizer parts or weapons. Six of these are on the arms, three on the back (though it's hard to actually utilize all three at the same time), one on each leg and one under each foot. There is also a 5mm port on each wing, but they are really meant to be used in shuttle mode. You can however swing the wheels on the back of the wings out of the way to use them. There are also four pegs to attach Blast Effects. This is, of course, a carry over ability from the figure's original release as Siege Astrotrain as the Blast Effect pegs on the actual figures are rare nowadays so I consider it a bonus.
Final Thoughts:
Galaxy Shuttle is an absolute treat. I'm still honestly kind of in disbelief that it was even made. It is a good demonstration of how more obscure characters can get a chance to come out at retail as part of store exclusive capsules. Even better, he gets to join your HasLab Victory Saber on your toy shelf if you backed that project! He's not perfect (like, he could use a bit more deco in robot mode) but I'm super happy about the release. Recommended!
Pros:
- The sculpt works well for the character.
- New head sculpt is really nice.
- Lots of play value.
- Joints are somehow more solid than my copy of Astrotrain.
- A (relatively) obscure Japanese character given a new form.
Cons:
- Could use a bit more paint in robot mode.
