Astrotrain

I’ve been loving these G1 Reissues that have been coming out at Walmart, and I’ve been buying every one that I don’t already have a vintage version of. While getting the original is very cool, I’m just as happy with a good reissue.

As you can see, the box design looks just like it would back in the day. I’m sure there are slight differences, but overall, I loved just seeing these on the shelf.

I used to pour over the art on the back of these. Some of the details here are different, such as the “authentic” transformers badge (which does what exactaly?). The Tech Spec is still there, but you don’t get the red decoder strip with this release.

The feeling is great, but this guy retails for almost $50 USD, which is insane. You can get a legit G1 loose for under that. But if you can ignore the price, the figure and the experience is great. Take it out of the box, put on all the stickers, trust me.

Astrotrain gets packaged in Shuttle mode, so we’ll start there. I won’t comment or criticize on how much this looks like a space shuttle, because it really doesn’t. It does a servicable job of looking like a spaceship that appears to be more than meets the eye.

The construction is exactaly the same as the original, as far as I can tell. The white seems to be a bit duller than I remember, but it looks great.

Train mode is solid too, with the black sections being die-cast metal. I never got why it would be “disguised” as a train and a space shuttle, but I guess I never cared. It’s just fun.

Like most of these G1 reissues, I don’t need to look at the instructions to transform him. He’s a faithful replica in robot mode, and as such, inherits the original’s flaws. One leg collapses sometimes when standing, and the arms are stubby. I’ve always wondered if these were meant to pull out and become longer based on the seam below the shoulder.

Astrotrain has a large purple gun, that does not fire anything, and there’s no place to stow it when in alt mode.

Despite the cost, I think you should go out and support this line. Look, toys aren’t going to be getting cheaper any time soon, so you better get used to it. Materials cost more, and with niche collector items like this, runs are smaller. I’m just glad that it’s 2020 and I can walk in to a Walmart and pluck a G1 Transformer off the shelf like it’s 1985.