General Information:
Release Date: March 2023
Price Point: $24.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: General Release (Amazon, BigBadToyStore, Entertainment Earth etc.)
Accessories: Blaster/Engine
Official images and text below in italics are from Amazon:
- CELEBRATE THE LEGACY: Transformers Legacy Evolution celebrates the last 40 years of Transformers history. The Armada Universe Hot Shot action figure is inspired by Transformers: Armada
- 2 EPIC MODES: Transformers action figure converts from robot to racecar mode in 21 steps. Features a visor that flips down over the figure’s face
- AWESOME ACCESSORIES: This Armada Universe Hot Shot toy for 8 year old boys and girls comes with a double-barreled blaster accessory that attaches to the figure in both modes
- EVOLVE THE BATTLE: Transformers toy robots are upgraded with Evo-Fusion battle features! Evolve the battle by flipping up the wheel axle to become a shoulder-mounted bazooka accessory
- REVEAL TECH SPECS: Scan the code on each package to reveal character tech specs! Collect other Transformers figures to discover facts and abilities (each sold separately, subject to availability)
The battle is evolving with the Transformers Legacy Evolution Armada Universe Hot Shot action figure! Hot Shot is young Autobot who has shown his bravery in battle, but his actions border on recklessness. Despite this, he has potential to be a great leader one day. Transformers toys are upgraded with Evo-Fusion technology! Experience the evolution and flip up the wheel axle into a shoulder-mounted bazooka accessory to prepare for battle! Celebrate the last 40 years of Transformers history with Transformers Legacy action figures for boys and girls. Transformers Legacy opens the portal to a whole new universe of More Than Meets the Eye, bringing together every generation of Transformers like you’ve never seen before. Collect and combine different characters to create your ideal Legacy lineup. Transformers and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro. Hasbro and all related terms are trademarks of Hasbro.
Packaging:
Hot Shot is packaged in the standard Legacy Evolution Deluxe Class box. This rectangular box features angles on the top and left side (if you are facing the box). As part of Hasbro's "plastic free" packaging there is a window in the front of the box showing off the figure from the chest but, but there is no plastic window. The Transformers logo is set vertically to the right and the Legacy logo is also on the front towards the bottom. The figure is sitting on a cardboard tray in robot mode with an illustration of his vehicle mode with his weapons attached. The left side features artwork of Hot Shot in robot mode. The back shows off Hot Shot in both modes calling out an 21 step transformation and the "Evo Fusion" ability of his back mounted cannon. The QR code that leads you to his tech specs online is now at the top of the box. I have screen captured his tech specs and placed them in the gallery below.
Background:
Hot Shot was first introduced to fans in the 2002 Armada series. This young, plucky Autobot seemingly took on the role that Bumblebee once served with the Autobots in G1. He even transformed into a yellow vehicle. The original Hot Shot was a rather chunky one which focused its construction on it's Mini-Con based gimmick. Years later there would be another version which had its own set of issues. In Legacy Evolution, Hasbro tries once again to create a Hot Shot figure worthy of your Generations shelf. Sadly, this time out his Mini-Con partner Jolt is not along for the ride which I find very unfortunate.
Accessories:
Hot Shot includes an engine/blaster accessory. In vehicle mode, this forms the engine sticking out of the hood area. Calling back to the design of the original Hot Shot's weapon, this blaster features two weapon barrels and pipes stickin gout to the sides with a blocky center section. This weapon is made red plastic with silver paint on the sides and black paint in the middle. The weapon has a 5mm peg on the bottom and the barrel ends feature tips that can fit Blast Effects.
I wish I could say that this figure came with a Mini-Con but it does not due to budget limitations. Given the prices of Deluxes are at an all time high this year ($25 USD on average) it really is sad that we cannot even get a Mini-Con PVC figure with a Mini-Con port or something.
Robot Mode:
Hot Shot's design uses the Armada animation model as its foundation and it works really well. From a sculpting point of view I really like this figure. It features a lot of the core design elements of the original Hot Shot including:
- Outline: The silhouette of this figure matches the animation nicely with a top heavy section complete with a bulk of the car mode winding up on the upper half of the body.
- Head: The head features a curved helmet section with a visor that can swing down over the eyes. I always saw this as a targeting viewer for the times when he would deploy his back mounted cannon.
- Shoulders: The shoulders have armor on them partly formed by the halves of the vehicle mode spoiler.
- Torso: The torso has a set of sculpted details that look like straps from a back pack or perhaps a parachute. It's a very distinctive feature that is unique to Hot Shot.
- Legs: Each lower leg has a panel in front that features a circle detail. This was present on both the original Hot Shot figure and the animation model.
- Cannon: The cannon that you can deploy from his back is a direct callback to the original Hot Shot's Mini-Con activated feature. Like that original toy, this one features two of the wheels from the vehicle mode as the ends of the cannon.
Hot Shot's colors are bright and eye catching. He is mostly made up of yellow, red, black, gunmetal grey and translucent blue plastic. In this mode the yellow and red colors take center stage, but there is a tiny bit of translucent blue used for the visor on his head. Paint colors include light grey, gunmetal grey, light blue, silver and red. For anyone familiar with the original Hot Shot toy the color placement on this figure will look familiar. Two of the biggest painted details are the silver "straps" on his torso and the large red Autobot symbol on his left side shoulder armor. This particular detail was sculpted into the original Hot Shot figure so it's nice to see a callback to it. The only bit of paint I miss is on the legs, where the circles are unpainted and look rather plain. I would have liked to see the silver or gunmetal paint used on those details.
Not counting his cannon, there are twenty two points of articulation on this figure. This includes four in each arm and six in each leg. The visor on his head can swing up and down over his eyes, and the cannon on his back can be moved up and turned around to point forward. If you want to count this as articulation it adds two more points of articulation. The end of the cannon can fit a Blast Effect. Hot Shot has ten 5mm ports in this mode. Two are in the fists, another two are on the sides of his forearms. The sides of the shoulder armor also have 5mm ports. The legs each have one and he other two are on his back. One is on the cannon and the other is under it when you move the cannon. Sadly, the Mini-Con peg from the vehicle mode winds up tucked against his back here, so there is no real way to use it in this form.
Transformation to Vehicle Mode:
- Detach the blaster and set it aside for now.
- Straighten out the arms and legs.
- Rotate the forearms inward.
- Swing the robot feet back against the heels.
- Swing the front torso panel out, swing the head into the chest then push the panel back into place.
- Lift up the shoulder armor/spoiler pieces.
- Swing the "back pack" (which contains the rear of the vehicle and cannon) up and over the area where the robot head was located.
- Rotate the lower body around.
- Swing the translucent blue vehicle mode parts over then rotate them around.
- Connected to each of the translucent blue cabin cover pieces are small yellow bits. Swing those out.
- Rotate the legs inward.
- Swing each lower leg up over the thighs.
- Connect the two halves of the vehicle's front and middle areas together.
- Swing the car doors to the sides.
- Swing the spoiler halves down.
- Attach the blaster/engine to the hood.
Vehicle Mode:
According to the TFWiki, Hot Shot transforms into a vehicle inspired by an Audi TT. However, the designers changed quite a few details way back in the early 2000's to avoid trademark issues. A lot of those features carry over to this version of the vehicle including:
- The blaster forms an engine that sticks out of the hood of the vehicle.
- The front end features a distinctive grille with horizontal vent lines on it separated by a vertical line in the middle.
- The front bumper has rows of horizontal lines sculpted into them.
- Each headlight has two ovals inside, a callback to Armada Hot Shot who has circles inside his headlights.
- The top of the vehicle features a design that looks like a "U" shape with sharp angles.
- The spoiler section is divided int two halves with a Mini-Con peg in between them.
Overall the sculpt looks great and a perfect homage to Armada Hot Shot's vehicle form.
This mode mostly shows off yellow, black and translucent blue plastic. A lot of yellow paint is used on the translucent blue plastic but it is a lighter shade than the actual yellow plastic on the vehicle. Silver paint is used for details including the grille and headlights. I'm sad silver was not used to paint the sides of the wheels but it is not unusual to see that detail left unpainted nowadays. Some black paint is used on the "U" on top of the cabin section and of course the engine.
Hot Shot does not include Jolt, the Mini-Con. However if you already own that figure from way back when, you can attach it to this mode! Just attach Jolt to the Mini-Con peg on the back and fold the rear of Jolt's vehicle mode down. The sides of the spoilers feature 5mm ports to attach additional weapons. There is one missed opportunity that I am surprised the designers did not take advantage of. The original Hot Shot figure had a feature where the front of the vehicle could swing out to form saw blades. Hot Shot's feet swing out the same way, but there are no saw blade details sculpted into the feet. Ah well. Not a huge deal, but it would have been nice.
Final Thoughts:
Hot Shot himself is a really cool figure, but the absence of a Mini-Con partner is really felt. I am not saying we would have needed to have a spring loaded mechanism like the original figure, but I cannot help but feel like something is "missing" here. Still, I can't ignore that the figure itself is sold in both modes and looks cool with play value. Recommended!
Pros:
- Excellent sculpt in both modes with plenty of Armada Hot Shot details.
- Intuitive and fun transformation.
- Good deco.
- Good meaningful articulation (something past Hot Shot figures have had issues with).
Cons:
- Without Jolt something feels "missing" with this set even though the figure itself is cool.
