Booster X10

“Download. Distribute. Destroy.“

Booster X10’s disguise mode is the only set in the Real Gear Robots line that is composed of two separate parts- a small red, black and silver MP3 multimedia player (back), and a single cordless earpiece. The non-functioning MP3 player is just a block of plastic parts with a rectangular transparent-orange window on the forward half, and a generic five-button keypad below. The window exposes some of the robot mode’s parts. The MP3 player itself has no function on its own, though I will say that looking at it from a distance, you could easily mistake is for the real deal. The earpiece (back) is the ‘special’ feature of the disguise mode, though it, too, is non-functional. A semi-flexible rubber clip similar to that of many hands-free/cordless earpieces used for phones wraps around the back of it. Booster X10’s name and a silver Decepticon are printed on top. And it operates along the same principle- clip the toy to your ear by slipping the rubber between your right ear and head, with the plastic earpiece flush against the outside of your right ear; nothing goes inside the ear. Admittedly, the small silver projection from the earpiece suggests more of a cordless phone earpiece since it looks like a mini-microphone. On kids it will looks fine, but on adult collectors, the earpiece may look a bit out of proportion. What are ya gonna do, ya know? (That I am aware of, most portable MP3 players do not use cordless earpieces, as they would get lost too easily…)

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Transforming him is a piece of cake- very simple to understand, very simple to execute. The only complaint I have in the entire toy is in rotating out those bird legs underneath! This is really the only place where his size works against him. While putting them back in isn’t a problem, slipping them out of position to transform him is more nuisance than problem. Was Booster X10 only slightly bigger… Since the Real Gear Robots line was inspired by events near the end of the 2007 film, but is not directly affected by it, and because of their relative size, there is no ‘Automorph Technology’ feature. No loss there. If anything, I don’t see how they could have incorporated one into Booster X10, and I think it was good for them not to try it.

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Booster X10’s , erm… beast mode (back) requires special attention in that it is clearly an homage to the classic G1 character Laserbeak, who served the Decepticon Soundwave faithfully as an aerial spy. Laserbeak transformed from a red-and-black audio cassette- stored in Soundwave’s chest compartment [along with fellow cassette/mecha’ Buzzsaw (also a bird), Ravage, Rumble, Space Case, and Wingthing]- into a bird with top-mounted laser cannon(s). (Funny, with a name like “Laserbeak” you would think he would shoot a laser from, well… his beak.) Booster X10 has a narrow streamlined head & neck with a purple Decepticon symbol printed on top of it, two thin black legs with claws, and [again, like Laserbeak] the earpiece forms the bulk of the upper body with a silver double-barrel cannon projecting from it. His wings are made up of the split outer casing of the MP3 player. Inside are two pairs of transparent orange wing parts that swivel out as the wings are extended to full length; these orange parts have a feathered or flowing-energy mold that fill the space between the outer wing parts and the body nicely. The tail is the flat, curved casing from beneath the keypad, and has some tech details underneath. Also noticeable if you look closely is some molded tech details in the black ABS under his main body between his legs, shoulders, tail, and neck. Like Laserbeak before him, Booster X10 has a purple Decepticon symbol on his forehead; his name and the silver Decepticon symbol are still visible on his back. Poseability is different here because Booster X10 is a bird. The wings are jointed at the shoulders, and can snap upwards only once, to 45-degrees. (If the earpiece/cannon were removed, they could go a full 90-degrees.) Due to how he changes, the wings can also slide forward in various ways. (The feathered parts can move, but they only slide out a specified distance when transforming, so they can’t really be used for posing.) The tail can shift up and down, but, again, this is due to how he transforms. (The tail joint on mine is actually a little loose, so it can’t really suspend itself very well, and tends to droop to whatever surface it’s on.) The legs have good range of motion, with joints at the hips, knees, and ankles for good posing options. Someone pointed out to me that you can twist his neck around its center axis, so that you can give him (or rather he can give you) a quizzical look. Though the head is a separate part before he’s assembled in the factory, it cannot be twisted. The cannon mount on top can certainly be removed, but… why would you want to? One other thing I should point out that took me by surprise was that the few screws holding him together have been covered up, specifically on the wings! This is a very unexpected touch, but certainly appreciated, and adds all the more to the illusion that this is a “real” electronic device. So, when in disguise mode, he has no screws showing! (In beast mode, the single screw keeping the earpiece together is hidden, so I don’t count it.) Simple and fun. That is the mission of the Real Gear Robots line, and this toy accomplishes that very well. Plus he looks good, and changes easily. Things to change? Honestly, I can’t find anything that I would change! I can understand why it’s a little tricky to unfurl his legs, but that, again, is due to his size. It’s not very glamorous in beast mode, but the functionality, detail, and aura more than makes up for it. Booster X10 is a winner even if he’s evil, and considering the popularity of personal multimedia players today, ya kinda start feeling paranoid that other common electronic devices will suddenly up and transform into miniature robots! Highly recommended! (There was a later repaint of this figure, called Autobot Night Beat 7, who was colored light blue, light gray, and transparent blue.)