General Information:
Release Date: January 2023
Price Point: $24.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: General Release (Amazon, BigBadToyStore, Entertainment Earth etc.)
Accessories: Tow line, Tow hook, Blasters x 2, Spoilers x 2, Wheel/Shield
Official images and text below in italics are from Amazon:
- CELEBRATE THE LEGACY: Transformers Legacy Evolution celebrates the last 40 years of Transformers history. The Scraphook action figure is inspired by the Junkion from The Transformers
- 2 EPIC MODES: Transformers action figure converts from robot to truck mode in 17 steps
- AWESOME ACCESSORIES: This Scraphook toy for 8 year old boys and girls comes with a detachable towline, tow hook, 2 spoilers, wheel shield, and 2 blaster accessories that attach to the figure in both modes
- FIGHT WITH FUSION ABILITIES: This Scraphook toy can break apart and fuse with other Transformers: Legacy Evolution figures as indestructible Junkion armor! (Each sold separately, subject to availability)
- REVEAL TECH SPECS: Scan the code on each package to reveal character tech specs! Collect other Transformers figures to discover facts and abilities (each sold separately, subject to availability)
The battle is evolving with the Transformers Legacy Evolution Scraphook action figure! Scraphook is among the most rugged bots on Junkion. His fearlessness in the face of danger and imposing physique make him a powerful ally. Transformers toys are upgraded with Evo-Fusion technology! Fight with fusion abilities by breaking this Scraphook toy apart and fusing with other Transformers: Legacy Evolution figures as indestructible Junkion armor! (Each sold separately, subject to availability.) Celebrate the last 40 years of Transformers history with Transformers Legacy action figures for boys and girls. Transformers Legacy opens the portal to a whole new universe of More Than Meets the Eye, bringing together every generation of Transformers like you’ve never seen before. Collect and combine different characters to create your ideal Legacy lineup. Transformers and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro. Hasbro and all related terms are trademarks of Hasbro.
Background:
The 1986 film The Transformers: The Movie introduced plenty of new characters into the G1 universe including a tribe of Transformers living on Junkion, the "Planet of Junk". The Junkions all transformed into Mad Max style vehicles (mostly motorcycles) and could easily reassemble themselves if damaged in battle making them nearly unstoppable. Fast forward to 2023 and the Junkions rise again. After the releases of Wreck-Gar and Junkheap as Voyager Class figures in previous years, Scraphook is a Deluxe Class figure that riffs off the ability of Junkions to come apart and reassemble for a play pattern that calls back to Weaponizers and Fossilizers.
Packaging:
Scraphook is part of the second phase of the Legacy line: Legacy Evolution so the packaging has been refreshed a bit. The shape of the box is still the same, and for the most part the logos and other parts are in the same place. Sticking to the principle of plastic-free packaging, the window on the box is open but this year there is an extra layer of cardboard that sits on top of the figure to prevent theft. This covers most of the figure, leaving only the chest and head peeking out which looks...strange to say the least. It almost looks like the figure is in a pool of energy and coming up to the surface. Under the figure is an illustration of Scraphook in vehicle mode. To the side is a close up of him in robot mode. Interestingly the QR Code to scan for the tech specs has been moved to the top of the box instead of being on the back.
The back of the box shows Scraphook in robot and vehicle modes. It also shows him completely broken up, with all his body parts and accessories laid out which then calls out the "Evo Fusion" gimmick which in this case refers to the ability of other figures to use his parts. On this box Hot Shot is used as an example of how you can attach parts to another figure.
Accessories:
Much like the Weaponizers and Fozzilizers, one could easily consider the entire figure a bunch of accessories smashed together to form a figure. However, for the sake of this section I will go over the accessories included with the figure that do not form the core robot limbs.
- Tow Line & Hook: Scraphook's alt-mode is a tow truck so it makes sense that he would have a tow line and hook. These are two separate pieces that connect via a 5mm peg on the hook and a port on the tow line. The 5mm port on the tow line allows you to connect an accessory from the top or bottom. The base of the tow line has a 5mm peg off to one side to connect to the back of the vehicle and robot mode. This piece is made of dark silver plastic with no paint applications.
- Blasters: Scraphook includes two "Phaser" blasters. These are really bits of the vehicle mode that feature cylindrical storage tanks with a flat piece in front acting as the weapon barrel. Each has a 5mm peg on the bottom. These pieces are also dark silver with some orange paint on the weapon barrel.
- Spoilers: The two pieces called "Spoilers" in the official product description really look like two sets of exhaust pipes. They are vaguely wing shaped so I can see how they would be considered spoilers. Each piece has details that look like three pipes sweeping back at an upward angle. These each have a 5mm peg on the sides. They are made of dark silver plastic with no paint applications.
- Wheel/Shield: In a nod to one of the classic design elements of the Junkions, Scraphook includes a spare tire that can double as a shield. However, this is no ordinary wheel. Instead, it features spikes around the edges of the wheel. Two of the spikes are replaced with pegs to attach Blast Effects. The wheel has one 5mm port, allowing figures to use it as a shield. This pieces is dark silver plastic with no paint applications.
Robot Mode:
There are many Junkion designs that were used over the course of G1 but for Scraphook the designers decided to create a whole new design that incorporates some of the themes of previous Junkion designs. The Junkions were presented as a kind of biker gang, giving them a tough looking aesthetic with spikes and lots of motorcycle and machine parts showing off even in robot mode. Scraphook takes some of these design cues. My favorite is the head design, which features a "mohawk" on top of his head and an "eye patch" over his left eye. His face even has a thick "mustache" and a "beard"! This calls back to the leader of the Junkions himself, Wreck-Gar who also has a metal "beard" and "mustache" on his face. This is definitely one of the more distinct head sculpts in recent history.
Other touches also hint at the post-apocalyptic "biker gang" vibe of the Junkions including claws on his shoulders, grille like designs on his chest and spikes on his lower legs. Even his feet look dangerous with cow catcher like details on them. If you include his accessories such as the spoilers (which look more like exhaust pipes to me) and his spiked wheel shield he really gives off the Junkion vibe beautifully. I really dig this sculpt!
According to Transformers designer Mark Maher, Scraphook's color scheme utilizes the same color specs as Studio Series Wreck-Gar, keeping consistency between the two characters. Scraphook is a combination of dark grey, orange, brown and dark silver plastic. Paint colors include red, grey, brown and orange. The result is a color combination that suggests junk that has been rusting away in a scrapyard, which in the film was partially used as camouflage on the junk filled surface of the planet Junkion. What's great about these colors is how much the contrast. The red on his chest pops brightly against the darker grey, silver and brown colors. The orange parts are a darker shade of the color so they act as a nice middle ground between the red chest and the darker grey and silver colors. Overall the deco on this guy loks fantastic. The only way I could see it being better would be if they added some dry brush "rust" details and maybe some black "dirt" details, but that's asking a lot from a Deluxe Class figure.
There are twenty six points of articulation on this figure. That includes six on each arm and leg. He also features waist articulation, which is great if you consider part of what he does is come apart. Scraphook has fourteen 5mm ports in this mode. Four on each arm and two on each leg. There are also two on his back for weapons storage (or to attach accessories from other figures).
I mentioned earlier that Scraphook continues the system started by Weaponizers and Fossilizers. His arms and legs can separate from the main body and be used by other figures as armor or limbs. This also allows you to take limbs from other Junkion figures such as the upcoming Crashbar and swap them out, a riff on the ability of Junkions to easily reattach limbs shown in The Transformers: The Movie. Now, this in itself is not exactly revolutionary. However, unlike the Weaponizers and Fossilizers, Scraphook is made to transform without having to disassemble the figure!
Transformation to Vehicle Mode:
- Detach all accessories and set them aside for now.
- Straighten out the arms and legs.
- Point the robot feet down.
- Push the lower legs together.
- Swing out the panels on the back.
- Swing the robot head back and lock it into place.
- Rotate the lower body around.
- Swing the back piece (now with the head tucked into it) down, forming the cabin section of the vehicle.
- Swing the robot arms up.
- Swing the chest piece down.
- Rotate the fists on each arm out to the sides.
- Swing each arm down, then rotate the forearms around using the elbow joints and push the forearms together.
- Push the arms in, connecting them together to form the rear of the vehicle.
- Swing the door panels on the sides down.
- The spiked wheel attaches to the back as a spare tire.
- Attach the tow line and hook to the back.
- The spoiler pieces attach to the 5mm ports near the rear wheel wells.
- The blaster weapons attach to the front of the vehicle, forming an engine sticking out of the hood.
The only tricky part of this transformation are the arms. I found when trying to swing them in at the shoulders and connect them together, they could pop out. Now, all you have to do is plug them back in and it works fine, but I felt it was worth bringing up.
Vehicle Mode:
Most Junkions seen in G1 transformed into motorcycles. Scraphook on the other hand transforms into a pickup truck that looks like it would be at home in any number of post-apocalyptic scifi movies. The front has a fierce looking cow catcher attached to it with a grille covered with a cage. The engine's cylinders stick out of the front of the hood, flanked by spikes on either side. Meanwhile the windows are covered in armor with a row of spikes above them. Each wheel well also has spikes running over them and the side windows are also covered in protective armor. In a fun detail, each door panel has a rectangular armor panel sculpted into it set at an angle with small "bolts" in the corners presumably "holding" the panel in place. Overall, I love the look of this vehicle. It looks rough and tough and fits right in with the Junkions.
This mode consolidates the brown colored panels into the vehicle form. Dark silver and grey colors still appear as well on parts such as the front, the spoilers, the two hook/line and the armor on the windows. Orange pops on the sides of the wheels and on the spikes on the hood. There is no mistaking the iconic Junkion colors and they look great in this mode.
This mode has four 5mm ports on each side and of course the one on the tw line. This allows you to attach additional weaponry to the sides and make the vehicle look even more powerful! Since the front and back of the vehicle are made up of the legs and arms respectively, you could remove either (or both) halves, leaving only the center. You can then attach parts from other figures such as Weaponizers to form unique looking vehicles.
Final Thoughts:
Scraphook is fantastic! I really love the idea of using the Weaponizer/Fossilizer style gimmick for the Junkions. I also really love the way the figure is designed to transform without "partsforming". I also really dig the aesthetic in both modes. This figure has a lot of visual personality and play value. Highly recommended!
Pros:
- Excellent sculpt in both modes.
- Lots of potential play value representing various play patterns including (of course) transformation and using the limbs as parts for other Transformers.
- Nice deco that is color matched with Studio Series Wreck-Gar.
- Good articulation and the connection points are relatively tight.
- The ability to transform without partsforming deserves high marks.
Cons:
- When moving the arms in robot mode to pose out, sometimes the arm will pop out.
