Review – Acid Rain Speeder MKII (Sand)

My first toy from the Acid Rain action figure series (official blog), this transforming Speeder MKII has a bit of a World War Robot (Amazon.com search*) feel . . . only mixed with Transformers and at the 3.75-inch G.I. Joe scale. Hmmmmmm. Three cool things all blended into a single series? I knew going in that if they toys were well-produced I’d love this, but what I never expected was just how nicely the final toy would turn out.

My bank account may be screwed.

Transforming Mecha

The Speeder MKII is a G.I. Joe-sized six-wheeled combat vehicle that transforms into a bipedal warmachine . . . with skates. The above shot shows the almost 9-inch tall robot mode with the Sol Commander action figure strapped into the open air cockpit. A great touch is that the roof of the vehicle mode folds up in robot mode, forming some extra armored plates to protect the driver of the vehicle.

Check the below pic for a closer shot of that cockpit.

Mecha Articulation

Ratchet joints! And, best of all, ratchet joints that feel tough and seem to hold together without any issues at all. The torso itself is a solid piece, but the arms and legs are suitably articulated with:

• Arms – The shoulders have two separate swivel points and a hinge, there’s a swivel at the bicep, and the elbows are hinged.
  
• Legs – Hinged ankles and thighs, a pivot on the feet (part of the transformation) that acts a bit like those rocker ankles on some 6-inch scale action figures, as well as a swivel and hinge at the hips.

Now none of this adds up to insane levels of articulation, but the toy has enough movement to make things fun.

Transformation Design

This is what I want to encounter when I go to transform a toy. As the hisstank.com review notes, the Acid Rain Speeder MKII transformation is fairly simple and is, in my opinion, quite intuitive. And in transforming between the speeder and robot modes I can say that the joints are tight and the tabs to align everything almost perfect (the right leg on mine takes a little pressure to snap the tabs in place). If you’re an eighties Transformers fan then this transformation design will feel almost familiar and should make you happy.

Paintwork and Weathering

Anyone who follows the World War Robot series (Amazon.com search*) knows about the fantastic weathering effects on those toys. Well, this Acid Rain Speeder MKII also features great weathering, but the toy doesn’t smell like it has been swimming in an oilsea for the last year.

The Speeder review at It’s All True touches on the paintwork a little, with Vault stating:

This Speeder was painted for sand terrain, so they gave it a light brown color. But living in a toxic world takes its toll on metals, so the paint is worn and rusty just about everywhere. This definitely gives it a nice used feel, and I think it’s even dirtier than the Stronghold. Another great touch are all the little tampoed insignias and symbols. My favorite is the cheesecake girl on a rocket.

I would also add that you can actually feel the weathering and paint of the toy. I don’t think the sculpt includes the slight texture across the surface, but maybe I’m wrong and what I think is a paint effect is actually plastic at work. Still, it’s a completely different feel from other robot toys because this guy looks and feels like he’s been in battle for ages. BUT none of that comes off when I touch the plastic. Maybe the effect was made with magic?

The Wheels Work!

Hey, here’s a nice touch that we don’t always get with transforming toys. Once you align everything and lock the tabs in place the Acid Rain Speeder MKII rolls along beautifully in its vehicle mode. Those big wheels spin free and easy, and while this guy’s never going to compete with a Hot Wheels car it races better than a lot of the Transformers toys Hasbro has been presenting over the last half-decade or so. Now I kinda want to see who would win in a race: G.I. Joe Vamp or Acid Rain Speeder MKII?

Closing Thoughts

The Acid Rain series (at Big Bad Toy Store) is a fantastic blend of Transformers and G.I. Joe and could even be called a modern take on the M.A.S.K. concept. This Speeder MKII was a pricey toy, but it’s tough enough and of a high enough quality that I completely understand the price tag. The complexity of the moving pieces and size make me suspect this would be $40 or $50 if it were produced by Hasbro, so that makes the price tag completely understandable since Ori Toy is much, much smaller than Hasbro.

I’ve no idea if the rest of the Acid Rain series is this nice, but I’m hoping it is because then I’ll know there’s a strong contender to go up against the World War Robot series (Amazon.com search*) and offer us a new way to get our G.I. Joe action figures into unexpected and fun fights.

A wonderfully done toy!