Flaws 2 & 3 could be solved simultaneously by storing a large missle launcher, perhaps similar to Rampages, in the ladder that could be deployed in truck mode and also detached as a handheld weapon.
Vehicle Mode:
This is a BIG truck. The box has similar dimensions to the box for
VS-12, just a little bit shorter. So the truck is just a little bit
shorter than G2 Megatron Tank and B'boom end-to-end. He's a bit
bigger than Metroplex in battle station mode. His "bigness" almost
made a fourth flaw because the scale between him and the 3 cars is
ridiculous. But I'm forgiving on the scale thing.
The truck features 6 rubber tires, the front 2 being larger, all imprinted with the words "Fire Convoy". Plus sound and lights, (flashing lights underneath the translucent red plastic of the sirens, along with either Japanese words or siren sounds when the middle of the siren is depressed -- uses 2 AAA batteries). The ladder swivels at the base, raises and extends, has the missle launchers as described above, and the end bends down and has 2 little nozzles that can spring out from the sides.
Transformation tip:
FC comes packaged with SFC's "crotch plate"
sticking up from the middle section of the truck. It's probably
designed that way, but I also found that it can be flipped backward,
underneath SFC's chest plate to make the truck look a little nicer.
Transformation to Robot Mode:
The front of the truck is the robot. There's 2 small panels that flip
out and have tabs that fit into the rear section. Then the rear
section slides back from the front. Set aside the rear. Slide the
gun/red roller wheels back from bottom front of cab. The 2 small
panels are hinged on the large panel with the wheels, flip them
forward against the side of the cab. Bend the cab down, straighten
the double hinge torso extension and separate robot legs and twist.
Open white panels on the back of this legs to flip the roof panels and
the feet out, close white panels. Turn the 2 siren lights up, flip the
sections underneath them forward to be robot arms. Twist lower section
and extend red panels, fists extend from within forearms. Slide torso
down over the double hinge extension, robot head appears. Place gun
in hand.
Robot Mode:
His head is an OP head, but looks slightly like a Power Ranger helmet
too, very rounded. His two side antena are connected and rotate
together. His chest looks slightly like Lioconvoy's but with more
defined blue "windows", plus it's all transmetal-painted. The
sound/light unit hangs off his back but is on a hinge at the back of
his neck so it does not restrict the range of motion of any of his
joints. Has points of articulation at: Ball Joints: Ankles, wrists,
neck. Double, Ratcheting joints: knees, hips, shoulders, elbows.
Single ratcheting joint: waist (and 1 slightly hidden in torso
extension, can bend forward/backward if you extend him slightly).
Approximately the size of an Ultra, but with virtually no
kibble/excess parts hanging off of him(only the sound/light unit).
Transformation to Alternate Robot Mode:
Disassemble rear: Pull sides of rear of truck forward, pull ladder
unit up from wheel section, pull wheel sections apart. Wheel
sections: flip feet straight downward, flip wheels into bottom.
Attach to FC's shoulders as "rocket launchers". Separate the two
"sides" of the truck, keep the sections with the hands inside. Flip
top and bottom panels of the sections around, then the side section,
and reconnect them, except the curved panel (turn it inside out),
position hand and double blasters. Attach to FC's forearms and now
connect the curved panel. Some pictures show this mode with only 1 of
the "big arms" and the other arm holding the gun.
Alternate Robot Mode:
It's FC with bigass rocket launchers on his shoulders, all range of
motion retained, what's not to like? This is the kind of extra thing
that really makes some Transformers nice. It's been severly lacking in
the Beast Lines.
Transformation to Base Mode:
Remove rocket launchers/wheel sections from FC's shoulders, flip feet
straight forward, reconnect. Reattach ladder unit, flip crotch plate
straight out, raise ladder, flip out its sides, position ladder
end/nozzle unit. Remove forearms, flip curved and gun panels straight
out, flip last panel all the way back up. Place on top of one of the
other side units not used in Alternate Robot mode, attach post on gun
panel to hole on top of wheel unit. Position guns forward, position
hands as 5-barreled guns.
Base Mode:
It seems to need a little more rear support, bending the ladder
forward isn't a perfect solution since it's a ratcheting joint and the
next position is a little too far foward. It's not a terribly useful
mode, but a nice added feature. The huge ladder dominates it though.
Transformation to Super Robot Mode:
Separate all the parts of the base mode. Remove gun from FC's
hand. Extend shoulder joints out to sides. Pull torso all the way up,
push it back down slowly, it should lock in a position with the robot
head just below and inside the chest. Take each wheel/foot section
and open the gray panel and the lift the inside panel up. Place the
FC's foot inside the section, a hole in the foot fits over a post, and
then connect post on inside panel to hole in front of FC's lower leg.
Attach forearms as described in Alternate robot mode. Now the side
sections not used in that form attach as shoulder pads, a small post
on the inside fits the shallow hole on the front of FC's shoulders.
Fold ladder all the way back and down on ladder unit, flip up nozzle
section. There's two joints on the ladder unit which allow you to
position the ladder on either side or directly behind. Fold FC's
lights down. Flatten out all the hinges/flaps on ladder unit, it fits
over 3 posts on top of FC. Fold chest plate down, to tabs fit into
the two notches on FC's chest. Position head and ladder, place FC's
gun in hole on SFC's shoulder. WOW!
Super Robot Mode:
Again, WOW! Just as FC's head looked like a power ranger, SFC's
head almost seems like a megazord head. His
eyes are transmetal gold and his antena are chrome and seem to be
double guns/hoses, they rotate independently. He has almost all the
poseability of FC, hips, knees, shoulders, elbows, and head
poseability is all the same, for waist movement the crotch plate most
be lifted slightly and he can turn and bend at the waist. Alas no
ankle/foot articulation, although it's possible to flip the feet in
and the wheels out so he can rollerskate! SFC also has thumb movement
and his hands are on ball joints, alas he has nothing to hold. In SFC
mode he's approximately the same size as OpOp. The lights/sounds work
in all modes, although the lights can only be seen from the back in
SFC mode.
Overall:
Despite those 3 minor flaws, I cannot give a high enough
rating. This is the best "BIG" Transformer ever made. Looking at the
Super mode, I can't help but think this guy is itching to bitchslap
Supreme Cheetor.
Overall Rating: ***** -- I just have to reiterate: this is what Transformers should be, and probably what they each dream of being.