Yuexing Animation: Tank Alliance Is Something That Exists

Generally speaking, I don't bother with the euphemistically named "third party" Transformer scene. A better name would be "unlicensed”, such things trading off the brand recognition while inviting legal action that never quite seems to happen. I'm not gonna be a snob about such things, as some of ‘em can be honestly very good, but there is a certain tendency for these manufacturers to create hugely expensive boutique items for collectors. Often the same item, by five or so different companies in rapid succession, that may be short on actual fun or creativity. So, I only deal with that market very intermittently, and for oddities. Hence the Tank Alliance and today's article. The back story of this set is a little mysterious. As near as I can figure, Yuexing Animation is one of the innumerable Chinese companies making robot toys, either ripping off Transformers, making their own stuff, or bootlegging the work of others, and/or being bootlegged themselves. Specifics seem to be hidden behind the language barrier, but this does seem to be an attempt to do something a bit different. And just looking at the stock image should tell you immediately how different. It's a set of six cutesified WW2 tanks, similar to the World War Toons models by Meng now I come to think of it, that transform into similarly cute robots, which combine into a giant robot by way of Funko Pops. Given the general vibe, and similarities to the Combaticons, this has prompted various half joking nicknames like "Cuteicus" and “Bruticus, whoops all tanks edition". It's a frankly daft idea, which I absolutely had to have. Even though I knew that it was probably going to be a very silly waste of money even by my standards of self-indulgent purchasing. 

 

So, what's it like in general? Well, it's like a late wave Combiner Wars giftset. You know, one that came in a big box, changed up the accessories, and possibly had a suggestion the moulds are wearing out? Or, put more charitably, that the design team is doing their level best, creating an interesting piece, but with a few flaws. It also comes with a massive box too, which is actually kinda nice, but don't feel bad about ordering these guys loose. As individual toys each is fairly reminiscent to a Combiner Wars era limbot deluxe, notably with respects to the waist joints. It's not direct a copy though, the combining bits are entirely different, in fact reminding me a lot of CW Devastator with how the torso goes together. The inevitable question is build quality, and I'm happy to report a favourable comparison to a modern Transformers deluxe. It's not as refined, some things just don’t fit like they probably should, but I still remember the issues with joint tolerances and tabbing in Combiner Wars, not to mention the occasional modern stinker, and the Tank Alliance is definitely holding it's own. You've got six pretty good tanks, at least five of which are better than CW Brawl, all sharing similar but distinct engineering, that combine into an adorable, if not hugely posable, gestalt form. There is also s seventh tank formed from leftover combiner bits, and it's a special kind of lunacy. Let's break this down into segments.

Arm Buddies: “TH-38” S35 Somua (desert drab) & “ST-39” M5A1 Stuart (olive drab)

The most similar to a Combiner Wars deluxe, these two chaps set the tone for the set. We got tank modes that edge into Advance Wars territory visually, but are actually based on WW2 tanks, lighter ones of the early war period. “ST-39” is based on the American Stuart, the compressed portions dropping a set of bogey wheels, which led me to initially think it was a Sherman. The S35 Somua led to go dumpster diving in youtube comments to figure what it was, but it turns out its a French cavalry tank, given how the war went for France, its probably not surprising I didn’t recognise it. These tanks rely a lot on plastic for their colouring for, with metallic paint picking out details like the tracks. The sculpts are simple on first glance, but there’s plenty going on. The turrets also turn, CW Brawl, I’m looking at you, and the guns can pivot up and down. A regrettable downside is that they lack rolling wheels, or weapon storage, which would have made the tank modes basically ideal. Thier robot modes are similarly dumpy and cute. These bring more grey into in the mix via the revealed robot bits, which ends up being the common visual element of the team. Posability is decent, if not spectacular. All the major joints are covered, for 16 points of articulation, so each can happily use their firearm. I’d say “ST-39” was my favourite here, but its a very close race. 

 

 

Leg Buddies: “BP-35” Panzer V Panther (Desert Drab) & “SU-34” T-34 (Olive Drab)

Evoking the meatgrinder that was The Battle of Kursk, these two chaps form the legs, while having a number of subtle but meaningful differences from the arm chaps. They are the most similar to the aforementioned Brawl in terms of overall appearance in robot mode. Admittedly, they are still in the super-deformed style, if not as wide in the chest as the above pair. Other visual changes include painted mouthplates, and their turrets worn high. The leaner proportions help with posing, as do the wrist swivels, but the forearms are undeniably messy. I suppose you could flip over the bits as knuckledusters, if that does it for you? Their tank modes meanwhile continue the positives, and these two are undoubtedly the big name tanks of the set. Their part in the combined form is however is kinda minimal; I wouldn't be shocked if you told me these dudes weren't originally intended to combine. Forming legs is mainly a matter of putting them into tank mode and flipping a small strut out at each end. It works, but I have doubts in the long term. Of the two, I’d probably pick “SU-34”, but only because the other had a non-essential tab break.

 

Body Buddies: “GT-37” Panzer IV (Grey) & “WWT-36” Panzer 38t (Blue)

For the final pair, we go back to the early war for a Nazi doubleheader, although to be fair to the 38t, that was originally Czechoslovakian. Here is where the CW Devastator comparison comes in, as we have two dudes forming the torso, one having the unenviable job of being the pelvis and thighs. The pair are heavily reliant on the combiner kibble and tabbing to stay together, and so the pair diverge significantly in their engineering from the above. When it comes to “GT-37”, the experience isn't that different, but “WWT-36” is really taking one for the team. It's the weakest individual toy in both modes, the tank form being the most difficult to place and no real turret rotation. Meanwhile, the robot form suffers from having a weird and limited neck. It does however have the most interesting transformation, the scheme being reversed from the norm, so the robot chest is formed from the rear of the tank. He's not actually terrible or anything, but he would have benefited from another draft, maybe thick ratchet joints. “GT-37” fares better. He's somewhat more kibblely given both the additional armour and combiner ports, but his functions as an individual are less compromised. Both are pretty good though for what they are, it's just the blue chap feels like the one with the most difficult job, and he's kinda of a C-. 

 

 

Combiner Tank

Before we get to the main event, let's talk about the combiner bits. Now, in the pursuit of a great big robot made from many smaller ones, a problem that occurs is where to store the giant head and hands etc. when not combined, while still having everything look good. Many toys, especially those of 80's Transformers, opted to have these as external parts you just put to one side, which is the original meaning of the fandom term "kibble" I've used above. It's not great as such things go. A lot of modern toys still do it that way, including in the third party market, and the Tank Alliance does do too. However two things run in its favour, in that the head wasn't gonna store anywhere, and that they've done something delightfully daft with the leftover bits. A ridiculous assembly of all the combiner bits, this put me in mind of the old Micromaster Combiners like Sixwing. It is however reliant on you putting all the individual guns on it for full effect, which allows that one last gun barrel to store. While this probably isn’t the reason you’d buy the set, you have to respect the insanity on display.

Combined Mode

I’m not gonna mince my words. This poses better than you’d think, but its main skill is just standing there being adorable. Between the engineering, the weight, and the proportions, you can’t really do dynamic with this guy. The best you get is a kind of “angry puppy” vibe. My criticisms here are the head and knee design. The head is lacking both articulation and a good connection, while the knees are kinda theoretical and based on tabbing. Said tabs are honestly robust in a manner befitting a tank, so I’m probably worrying needlessly, but I’d feel a lot happier if there was more mass to them. Your expectations having been adjusted, Cuticus is however doing two honestly good things beyond being adorable. The first is articulated hands, and the second is a gun to hold in them. Said gun is formed from the individual weapons of the team, and its a very well-executed little gimmick. It helps that its all the same colour, and that there’s a dedicated tab for the hands. The articulation in this form certainly allows him/them to that gun too, with 15 points in the major joints, and a further 6 in each hand. You can make the toy just that little more expressive which feels honestly a bit premium for the price. And there’s the simple pleasure of having a big robot made from six tanks. I don’t think I need to defend that.

 

 

My point? Only that the Yuexing Animation Tank Alliance is something that exists. I don’t know why it exists. There’s a certain train of though that suggests it maybe shouldn’t, but it does. Its like someone purposely made this for me, possibly through the misuse of a time machine. Its got is weaknesses, but its also got charms.