Review – Unofficial Transformers Upgrade Junk-Armor-01W

Last fall we looked at an unofficial Transformers upgrade kit for use with the official Transformers Generations Junkheap* or Reveal the Shield Wreckgar* toys. The Junk Planet Warrior Armor Upgrade (review here) was a nice set of add-on parts for the toy, but now that upgrade set is no longer alone and our Junkion armies find themselves with a new kit from a different company.

Very Familiar

The Junk-Armor-01W, available now for $35 at site sponsor TFSource, is a set of snap-on accessories that change the look of the official Junkion toy. The coloring is clearly designed for the kit to be used with the Reveal the Shield Wreckgar*, but for this review I used an excess Transformers Generations Junkheap* and you can see that it works quite well. I think that the colors work well together and regardless of which toy you use the kit with you’ll get a nice-looking figure in the end.

Remove and Then Add

Using a screwdriver, remove the official head from the toy and then toss the original weapon and head into a box and starting attaching all of the new components to the toy.

• Head – The most frustrating piece to add. Unlike Transformers Generations Junkheap*, the head doesn’t assemble using a screw and instead you have to snap the piece onto the ball on the toy. It’s a tough angle to work at, on a piece that moves, and it takes more effort than I like. But once you feel it click in then you’re done and it works nicely.
  
• Chest – Slips right over the original toy without any problems at all.
  
• Shield – Can either be attached to the toy’s forearm using a tab on the shield or held in the hand using a swing-out post. No problems adding this part, either.

• Knee Pads – Match the shapes to the knees — the two pieces are different — and then they pop right on.
  
• Shoulder Pads – The Junk Planet Warrior Armor Upgrade (review here) came with one shoulder pad while this kit comes with two. As with the knee pads, the two parts are slightly different and only fit one way. The toy’s left shoulder pad is a little annoying to snap into place.
  
• Gun – Fits perfectly in the hand. No trouble at all.

And once that’s done the new Junkion is finished and ready for action. To transform the toy back to motorcycle mode you will need to remove all of the added parts (except for the head).

Not Exactly the Same

This new upgrade kit, even though it is from a different manufacturer, feels a lot like the Junk Planet Warrior Armor Upgrade (review here) that was released last year. Every piece is different, yes, but the basic idea of snapping parts over the existing toy is identical and even the chosen spots to “change” match. (One kit does include a waist piece which further changes the look.) I have no idea of the history behind the two, but with this Junk-Armor-01W coming out after the Junk Planet Warrior Armor Upgrade I suspect the new kit was inspired by the earlier release.

Closing Thoughts

A nice look, excellent plastic quality, and reasonable price for the included parts makes the Junk-Armor-01W a good buy for Junkion fans who grabbed extra official Transformers Generations Junkheap* or Reveal the Shield Wreckgar* toys when they were on clearance last year. It’s not so amazing a kit that it revolutionizes the hobby, but the parts are durable and the design looks good.

My only real complaint with the toy is the head design — I would have rather seen the two-piece construction and screw attachment used on the official toy — but that’s minor once you suffer through the headache of fitting the new head in place.

If you already have the Junk Planet Warrior Armor Upgrade (review here) and enjoy it then I think you’ll like this kit since it’s more of the same . . . only at a lower price and with better plastic. A good way to expand your Junkion army without resorting to painting, cutting, and customizing a toy on your own.