Tracks (G1 Cartoon) (Transformers (Super7)) Review

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Tracks (G1 Cartoon) (Transformers (Super7)) Review

Tracks (G1 Cartoon)
Transformers (Super7) (Super7)One thing that bothered me about Super7's Transformers Ultimates line was the lack of major Autobots. Optimus Prime and Grimlock were expected, but not Tracks, since he's not as mainstream as the likes of Bumblebee, Ironhide, and others. I guess S7 was satisfied with just doing the Autobots in ReAction form, and Tracks didn't receive a figure like that, hence why he got the Ultimate treatment.

Another figure in the line lifting their design from the old Sunbow cartoon, Tracks is red-faced, but not in an embarrassed way, rather in the fact that his head is red and white. The head is fully painted with a matte finish, and although the edges aren't clean, I appreciate the effort. He has a stoic expression, since Transformers then weren't super expressive, though he comes with an alternate head wearing the "robot alien" mask from "Hoist Goes Hollywood." The mask isn't quite accurate to the episode, but it's a funny look I'm sure cartoon fans will enjoy. The hood behind his head pops out easily, so that it doesn't get in the way of swapping portraits.

Standing about 7" tall up to the head, Tracks is one of the smaller figures in the line, putting him in scale with Optimus and some of the others. Looking at renders and other pictures of him, I thought his proportions were deformed, but no, he matches the animation model just fine. There doesn't seem to be any obvious shine to him outside of the torso, and I guess they tried going for a flatter, matte look. The paint suffers from fuzzy edges and a clumpy look to the whites on the arms and missile launchers (they look like ones, at least), but the various colors look great on him. Despite not being a transforming figure, Tracks still has elements of his vehicle form on him, such as the wheels making up his shoulders and on the sides of his shins. All I really have else to say about the sculpt is that it looks great in-person, especially for those who like a kibble-free look.

Aside from a couple limitations, Tracks moves about the same as the other figures. He gets a barbell head, swivel/hinge shoulders, wrists, hips, and ankles, swivel biceps, forearms, waist, and thighs, and hinged elbows and knees. The legs are the most limited part, as the hips can't go out too far due to the hard plastic pelvis, and are about as limited as Megatron, and the ankles can only really go forward and back. The arms, on the other hand, work great, and the ability to swap hands easily helps. He comes with three sets of hands: closed, gun grip, and grasping, and usually the gun grips are one vertically-hinged, the other horizontally-hinged, but both grips are horizontal joints. A set of vertically-hinged grips would've been great for weapon poses.

Tracks has a smaller than usual accessory count for this line, but he makes up for it with one of the largest accessories in the form of Basher, his Action Master partner. This little tank scales about 3" long, 2 1/2" tall, and 2 3/4" wide, and while the original Basher was neon green and blue, this one shares a color scheme with Tracks. The turret and blasters swivel, and the turret can be popped off and placed on Tracks' neck, mimicking a feature from the original Action Master. The black beam gun from said figure is included as well, and it makes me wonder why S7 didn't go the extra mile and pack in an Action Master-accurate head, or at least do an Action Master Tracks as an exclusive or something. A generic blaster is included, as is Blaster - the Autobot, not a gun - in his boombox form. Him and Basher pretty makes Tracks three characters in one. Neat!

At first, Tracks was the least interesting figure of wave two for me, but finally getting him once prices dropped changed my thoughts on him, as he proved a pretty neat figure. Granted, Bumblebee, Ironhide, or Wheeljack would've been preferred for another major Autobot, but Tracks is such a well-made figure I don't really care. It's too bad Super7 has seemingly given up on this line, because we need a more complete crew of the good guys.

- 7/11/24