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’s 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’s 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.
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’m still pretty impressed by how it was engineered. A lot of the figure is like that really. The figure’s 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.
The alt mode has also become a favorite of mine too. That’s a hallmark of a good Transformer – when you can’t decide which mode to display him as. Code turns into a futuristic car, albeit a dated one. There’s 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.
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.
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.
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’m 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’s a ton of fun and that combined with how well Fansproject makes their stuff, I just know I’m on the hook for more. Heck, I’ve 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.
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If you want to know what Chromedome is doing now, you should read IDW Transformers: More than meets the eye. THAT IS A FUN COMIC!
I want to read the TF comics… I might go digital on them. That would be so much easier.
DUE IT! Read both Robots in Disguise and More than Meets the Eye. Those are the two current IDW titles. You will probably love your figures even more after reading those. Also any questions you might have about them, email me and I’ll fill you in.
I’m orionpax636, and I endorse Cade’s message. Both the RID and MTME books are great jump-on points for some very unique TF stories. The two series are also VERY different not only in style, but also in the fact that they use two different casts. You’ll find that some of the corresponding Spotlights are good too (the recent Megatron one was outstanding).
look seriously awesome!
Who knew a brown-on-brown color scheme would look so sharp?
Yeah I like him a lot! I can’t wait to get Weird Wolf and Brainstorm.
I’m excited just to see color versions of those two…
Jeez, this design and colors reek of AWESOME! Always loved in the free ad booklets the little guys coming out the cockpits and seeing the pic here brought me a nice nostalgia shiver. *sigh* why can’t the TF now still look like this one!
The store TFs just aren’t scratching an itch, I don’t know why. Vault is enjoying Prime & the Microns though.
Love that last pic with Michael and KITT.
I never dug the Headmasters as a kid but IDW has been doing great things with the post-’86 movie characters. I hope Brainstorm is next on the list.
I need to get back to the IDW comics. DC has waned me off comics…
Clutch, Brainstorm and Weirdwolf are the next two. Brainstorm is called Smart Robin, they have him up for pre-order over at BBTS.
Awesome. Thanks for the heads-up, Cade.
I also jumped on the preorder for that guy. Sadly, my old feelings for him (I just never liked that car mode) and minor annoyances like the rocker ankles convinced me to sell him off already.
Certainly a well-made, clever toy, though. The hood thing fascinated me. The main reason I buy Transformers these days is because I like the puzzle of figuring out their transformations, so I always appreciate stuff I haven’t seen before.
The hood thing is so weird, but awesome. Clever us the right word.
He does have a great second market value. I admit to being tempted myself, but the colors just get me. I kinda want a G1 version…
Great toy, great review, great photos, great comics! I didn’t know he had a slight hinge on his neck; I’ll have to check that out. Thanks! Certainly some of the most rewarding charity money I’ve ever spent. Help people out, get to feel smug, AND get a toy out of it. A win-win-win situation!
Out of curiosity, who’s the green-and-yellow guy standing in front of Legally-Speaking-Not-Chromedome in the third pic on the first page? Can’t seem to find him on BBTS.
That’s not-Barrage. His code name escapes me at the moment. He’s an FP Insecticon, sold only at TFSource. I’ve ordered there twice, it’s been great both times! Not sure on their international policies though.
I can vouch for the basic mold on that Insecticon being really nice. I got the original three when they came out, but didn’t go for the repaints.
Okay, thanks for the info! Yeah, I don’t know why, but all those Not-Insecticons, while nifty, just didn’t quite do it for me. I suppose it didn’t help that when they came out, I was strapped for cash at the time, and had to budget tightly.
Oh, well, there’s plenty of time for other versions to pop up. I am patient . . . .
Man looking at all those third-party figures you gotta do more third party reviews! I’ve been on a kick lately with them and love to find more cool ones to add to the collection. At least do Giant some time haha!
Great review of Code. Do you plan on getting any other headmasters like Hardbone? Think he just came out.
I think I’ve talked myself into Quadruple U & Smart Robin, but not Hardbone. Initially, I don’t like how much bigger he is…
And I’m going to strive to get more 3P reviews in. I desperately want our daily schedule back (and the things keeping me from it to stop!).
Aw man, that shot of all that 3rd party goodness! Can we get a 3rd party review week up in here soon???
That looks super-fun, and I’m not a big Transformers guy lately. The third-party guys seem to be stepping up their game; and I kinda wish they’d move into other figures…
I love this guy, and I really love how well engineered he is, but I can’t pull th etrigger on him. Since the G1 version, I’ve always really just wished his head matched the rest of the color scheme. Being an homage/update to the original, I know it’s pretty much perfect, but as I can’t get over the colors, I won’t get him. The new ones look awesome, though. Hopefully they’ll look as good when colored.
I had the original but I can’t remember if there was an actual driver’s seat/slot for the head robot? I remember Mindwipe (black/purple bat) had one, but that was part of his gag. I do know the earth tones broke up the various bright colors of the rest of the TFs and military shades of my Joes. (Two great tastes that went great together long before Marvel got around to crossing them over!)
I do recall the original vehicle mode was a bit more blocky, and of course, less articulated. and most of the Headmasters I had had the forehead flap that swiveled down to cover the face.
I do think it kinda sucks that Hasbro PTB keep concentrating on a basic six or so character set, with a few randoms thrown in every wave, when they have a host of other ‘bots to draw upon and can shake it up from time to time, like the Beast line right now, even if that iteration doesn’t appeal to me. (re: yesterday’s review of the updated “Sinnertwin”)
btw, wasn’t Siren supposed to be the female Headmaster? (no pun intended.)
I am feeling you on the lack of draw for current comics, but it was price factor first with Marvel, then DC keeps making idiotic turns and now the creators are starting to give up. (THREE people walked off DC books recently in a one week span! others are throwing out the party line and you know they really aren’t happy about it from how they say it.)
Great review, as usual. I love this action figure. I wasn’t sure how it would turn out, plus it was a mystery toy when it was first on pre-order, so I only got one. REGRETS!!!! I seriously wish I got a few of them to pose in both modes as well as to customize. This is IMO the best FP figure to date.
on the naming-clature (that’s a joke) i would stick w/ the “what they’re not actually called” and try to tough through that, if only because, i would hate to see these cool toy purveyors eventually get prison shanked by hasbro using this site or other reviewers as evidence that they’re impinging on H/T’s copyright. right now hasbro seems content that these guys aren’t enough of a financial danger that they’re turning a blind eye… i’d like to see that keep being the case.
I had this guy on preorder, but cancelled once I saw the proto pics. Functionally he looks like a fine figure, but I felt FP stuck TOO close to the G1 toy in the one time they’ve not taken great artistic liberty with the character. I’m glad others like it, he’s just not my style.
Plus, I generally like FP’s artistic choices, though some don’t. Assaulter, Defender, Colossus and City Commander are far from exact to their G1 counterparts, but are still solid works in my opinion.
Very cool, I was super tempted by this guy…
Mostly all I can think of seeing him is the Japanese-only Headmasters series: “TRANSFORM!! HEAD ON!!!!” LOL