{"id":23046,"date":"2013-03-29T01:46:12","date_gmt":"2013-03-29T06:46:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/?p=23046"},"modified":"2013-03-29T01:55:08","modified_gmt":"2013-03-29T06:55:08","slug":"fansproject-function-x1-code-not-chromedome-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/?p=23046","title":{"rendered":"Fansproject Function-X1:
Code (not-Chromedome) Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a> I\u2019ve been buying a lot of Third Party Transformers, but I tend to not review them. Typically, I\u2019ll do a MOTU or DC figure first if one\u2019s available \u2013 but I\u2019ve got to review some of these figures, particularly those from Fansproject \u2013 they\u2019re piling up. Best to start with the one that got me hooked: Function X-1: Code. <\/p>\n

Code here stands in for Chromedome and I have to tell you \u2013 I don\u2019t know that much about Chromedome. If I remember correctly, I think the first time I heard of him was in some magazine or website that pointed out that Hasbro had once considered repainting the G1 Chromedome into Arcee. That had to have been relatively recently, so I definitely hadn\u2019t heard of him when I was a wee tot. <\/p>\n

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It\u2019s interesting because I do remember the Headmasters though. They were a cool subset \u2013 the drivers would transform into the heads of the robot modes, but the coolest part was probably that plugging the head into neck would reveal the stats of the robot on their chest. That was fun when I was a kid. Well, it was fun on the one Headmaster I remember having: Siren, a Mazda \u201cFire Chief\u201d car. I may have just had the one, but he was cool enough that he\u2019s particularly missed toy. Much like other strange childhood loves (Getaway is a big one), I’d love to see Siren get an updated toy. <\/p>\n

A few months ago, when Function X-1 Code came up for pre-order, he was sort of a mystery figure. Fansproject and some online toy sites sold him as part of a promotion where $20 in toys would be donated to Toys for Tots, the Salvation Army, etc. I thought that was pretty cool and so, even though I wasn\u2019t terribly familiar with Chromedome, I decided to pick up my first Fansproject toy. <\/p>\n

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And I\u2019ve more or less fallen in love with it. Admittedly, I\u2019m in the middle of this robot renaissance as I\u2019m reassembling my toy collection after the move, but there is something about the color scheme and the great construction of the figure that speaks to me… even though I don\u2019t have the first clue about the character it represents. So much so, that I\u2019m anticipating picking up the other Function figures as they\u2019re released, particularly if they continue to carry over the bizarre colors of the later G1 originals (which I presume they will) that I’ve since looked up online. <\/p>\n

Code… or Chromedome, y\u2019know I never know what to call any of these third-party toys. Do we have to keep up the farce and call them by their code names or do we just thrown in the towel and go with the names of who they\u2019re based on? Do I have a bunch of Ragers or are they all Huffers? I don\u2019t know, but it\u2019s getting difficult to remember two sets of names, that’s for sure. <\/p>\n

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Anyway, Code is packaged in robot mode and he\u2019s pretty impressive when you pop him out of the box. I love the chunkiness in the sculpt. He\u2019s not spot-on to the original, but that’s where not being familiar with the original comes in handy. The important thing for me is that the blocky aesthetic has been maintained. I\u2019ve enjoyed plenty of newer, streamlined Transformers, but they lack the blocky charm of the old toys. Code\u2019s got \u201cblockiness\u201d in spades which when combined with some really nice articulation, makes for a fun figure. <\/p>\n

The only thing missing from Code being perfectly articulated is rocker ankles. The hinges are great, but the ball-hips, thigh swivels, and double-hinge knees give so much range to the legs that the figure really could\u2019ve used pivoting ankles to help with deep poses. It\u2019s one of those \u201cso close\u201d things that drive a collector nuts. There\u2019s also a waist swivel, ball shoulders, single-hinge elbows, and wrist swivels. The neck articulation is mostly a straight swivel, but there\u2019s this little hinge in there that allows for some up and down movement. Basically, he moves great and I\u2019ve been having a blast posing him these last few weeks. Continue to Page 2…<\/a><\/p>\n

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To transform him into a robot is pretty straightforward, but there are a few fun parts to the sequence that keep it interesting too. The first thing to do is to remove the head and transform the driver. He\u2019s go this neat function that when you slide the legs down (which is basically all you have to do), the internal part of the face shifts around so that the blue eyes become hidden. I thought that was pretty neat and it\u2019s even more fun in reverse when the eyes become visible, I don’t know why. The driver fits snugly in the seat and is a fine little guy with six points of articulation. <\/p>\n

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The figure itself features some cool parts of its own during the transformation process. The hood slides up from the crotch to the upper chest. It sounds simple I know, and it really is, but its novel how it works and I\u2019m still pretty impressed by how it was engineered. A lot of the figure is like that really. The figure\u2019s mass shifts around really well with the arms and the parts inside the torso folding out to make the back half of the car while the legs fold in half and spin around to make a solid front end. He’s virtually kibble-less. <\/p>\n

The alt mode has also become a favorite of mine too. That\u2019s a hallmark of a good Transformer \u2013 when you can\u2019t decide which mode to display him as. Code turns into a futuristic car, albeit a dated one. There\u2019s just something neat about his being the 80s idea of what a futuristic car might look like. The retro design and the brown color scheme really let Code standout in his alt mode. <\/p>\n

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I think how solid both modes are is a big thing for me too. A lot of my newer store-bought Transformers feel pretty hollow or like shells on a basic skeleton. Code is a refreshing change from that in both his robot and alt modes. <\/p>\n

Code also includes two scoped rifles. These are fun accessories and Code has found himself in a variety of duel-wielding poses on my desk and shelves. They really open the figure up. The gun handles are hinged so they can also be mounted on the alt mode and give the little car some serious firepower. <\/p>\n

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Overall, I may have not bought Code with the usual intention I have for most toys – I felt I was mostly helping BBTS’ drive to raise money for Toys for Tots. But, I\u2019m so glad I did. I love the figure. I love the great mix of the blocky look and articulation. I love the funky color scheme. He\u2019s a ton of fun and that combined with how well Fansproject makes their stuff, I just know I\u2019m on the hook for more. Heck, I\u2019ve already got five more Fansproject figures and its little doubt that more will be on the way soon enough. Code has pulled me down the rabbit hole. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \t

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