A Concise Review of Generations Jetfire In 500 Words Or Less

Pricepoint/Vintage: Leader, 2014.

Modes: Robot and Jet.

Transformation Style: New style faux-kibble jetformer

Play Patterns: Robot and vehicle, modular 5mm weaponry, firing missile.
Points Of Interest: Based on the VF-1 from Macross, Jetfire is part of a never-ending legal omnishambles.

The Good
This toy manages to reconcile the often wildly different depictions of the character, thanks mainly to a removable face mask and an effective mix of design elements. The jet mode is an almost sleek swingwing, with rolling landing gear, and an opening cockpit. The robot is buff and angular, with twenty joints, mainly of that quasi-ratchet type. His head is light-piped even with the mask on, which can stow on his rifle. Play value is also really nice in both modes, thanks to the modular set of weapons, which can be left on during transformation. Jetfire has seven 5mm ports on his body, variously usable, and another eight on his accessories. You can make some daft combination guns, or just raid the armoury for a good time.

The Bad
Jetfire is infamous for his gappy, carved out, appearance and obnoxious use of chrome. The chromed parts are however necessary to conceal some gaps, so you are stuck with them. Said chrome actually came off with an elastic band when I took him out of the box for the first time. When drafting this review, I was actually fearful of transformation due to the gaps, but its better than I remembered. Paint applications, such as around the chest badge, are missing.

The Mediocre
While the front landing gear folds up, the back set can't, although both have rolling wheels. His leg guns look odd in robot mode. His transformation also cheats with "faux kibble", and there is a messy undercarriage in jet mode with Visible Head Syndrome.

The Alternatives
Takara's version of this is chrome-free, but the main competition is the 2006 version, which is more robust, has better accessories, but shows its age. Jetfire is a popular name for jet repaints too, and this mould has been heavily retooled into Thundercracker and the seekers. Plus, there's any number of Macross/Robotech toys and collectables. If all you want is a heavily-armed Autobot with a curious heritage and loads of modular guns though, consider Roadbuster or Whirl from the same line.

The Verdict
Jetfire is my least favourite of the modern leader class, and shows the signs of being a timid first step. It does more or less all you'd want in a modern Jetfire, and trust me, that's a lot, but that worrying build quality? That chrome? Both very good reasons to reject the toy. This design could have been scaled down to a voyager and lost little. If you see this at a discount, its well-worth a go, but don't pay scalper prices, and modify your expectations.