Robots in Disguise Spychanger Optimus Prime

Finally got the new spychanger two packs. Oddly enough the only RID toys I don't own as of this writing are Bruticus and the wave two spychangers which I have no intent of purchasing (though Bruticus is a different story). I only bought the wave one changers in hopes of getting the entire RID line MOSC and MISB, but that was shot to hell when I saw the show (which I hate) and when I realized it was silly to leave Transformers in their boxes. Of course my first wave spychangers are still MOC, but that's okay.

In vehicle mode Ops is a fire truck. Well, I'm sure you knew that. Anyways, it's pretty much an exact scale down of the larger version, minus a few details of course. Also it's cool to note that he's in the same sort of metallic red plastic that Fire Convoy (the Japanese release in the Car Robots line) was made of.

Oddly enough his vehicle mode is more stable than Super Prime's, which was to be expected, I guess, since this one doesn't need to come apart. Anyways, the ladder moves up and down and spins around 90 degrees both ways. Very nice to have that, though it becomes a necessary and kind of annoying part of robot mode.

Vehicle mode also has the plague of the wave three spychangers. FAKE WHEELS! And unlike Scourge who at least has decent fake wheels, Ops has some crappy ones molded into the vehicle and painted black. No other detail, so they really don't look that great. Very much takes away from the vehicle mode.

Transformation is easy, as one would expect. Pull out his legs (the front of the truck), fold back the ladder and pull out his arms. Also note you need to slide the ladder forward (or back, depending on how you look at it) on its little sliding joint so the top of it comes down the the ground.

Yes, that's right, he needs the ladder to stand. Blah. It's because his feet are rounded at the heel (the front of the fire truck) and he will roll over onto his back without ladder support. Furthermore the ladder can't be put over his shoulder like with the super version, so he's without any sort of weapon. You can get it under his arm, but it doesn't point straight (so he ends up watering the lawn), and he can't stand any more.

Robot mode is that of Super Fire Convoy (Super Optimus Prime, I believe the US version is called), and it follows it pretty well, though there are a few differences. Obviously the places the vehicle parts are in are different (the sirens, for example, as behind his legs, not at his back), but for the most part the robot pieces fit with how the bigger one looks.

All in all, Optimus is good as a spychanger, though as a basic he's a bit lacking. He's the right size, of course, but comparing him to older Beast Wars and Beast Machines basics, he's really pretty bad. Comparing him to the other basics from RID (Ruination's limbs and the flipchanger two packs) he's about the same, though he's not as articulated as the flipchangers, he puts the Ruination limbs to shame with his legs that split apart. Whoo!

Yeah, so I would pick up Optimus if you like Optimus. It's very hard not to when you see him in his package. I mean, I was only planning on picking up Scourge and X-Brawn, but when I saw Optimus I had to get him. Ultra Magnus followed because, well, might as well get the complete set. Anyways, Optimus may not be worth the $5 he costs, but you aren't going to find him for less. Just be aware of his flaws and don't expect too much from robot mode.