#divebomb

Adamas Machina AM-T02 Predaking

I don't really have anything in particular to say about Predaking, specifically. I just really like combining robots, so it's more the fact that this was a high-quality complete package that interested me more than the character it draws from. That being said, Beast Mode Razorclaw having hands that hold sword wings is very inspired. I might steal that for something down the road.

The Good: Typical order of operations, The Beast Modes probably suffer the most for all of the goings ons, but do look nice doing so, can equip all the combination accessories, and some of them do have a bit of posability if you want to change things up a little.

While every robot mode lacks wrists (except for Razorclaw) and waists (except for Rampage), they all have a fantastic range outside of that. Everyone is capable of posing dynamically thanks to some great ankles, and can easily hold the bigger weapons for Predaking. Their transformations are also pretty easy, with none of them requiring anything too difficult to go between. Special shoutout to Razorclaw's leg transformation, with its thighs sliding down its leg joints in order to dramatically change their sculpt and color.

But the main focus of this release is Predaking, and it shows. Posability is fantastic, balance is mostly good. This is definitely a single figure that splits into 5 smaller figures, rather than 5 smaller figures that combine.

The Bad: There are very few actual issues of note with this figure. The feet attach by circular pegs, so they have a tiny bit of rock to them. There's combiner parts storage on all the individual units, but you can't store the individual guns anywhere on Predaking. Also, when going from Predaking to Razorclaw, detach the waist as much as you can before splitting the waist, because it won't separate if you don't.

But there are also things I know Transformers fans don't like. While I have no issue with these things, I thought it'd be proper to note it for them, such as how many gaps there are on the inner parts of the Robot Modes. Razorclaw has some noodley arms. The shoulder cannons do a lot of parts forming between forms. And lastly, the scale is a little weird. They're a bit bigger than Legends Class, but smaller than you'd want next to a Deluxe. I think it scales well with other super robots, but not necessarily with other Transformers.

Happy Energon-uary everyone! In accordance with ancient tradition, this is the time of year when the whole world joins together in celebration of the awkward middle child of the Unicron Trilogy, Transformers Energon!

I hope you've put your decorations up and left out treats for the Powerlinx Fairy! And if you're taking part, why not tag your pictures with #energon-uary?

“Divebomb”

“I took this photo during a trip to dive with Northern Gannets in Shetland. The experience of being amidst dive-bombing gannets is both chaotic and adrenaline-fueled, and it was hard to choose where to aim my camera! I tried to photograph any bird that zoomed by, and I was pleasantly surprised when I later saw how this shot was able to depict the dynamic motion of the experience.”

by Kat Zhou (United States)