General Information: Images:
Not only was Slice the perfect character to use for this set, there was a perfect sculpt for it. During Cybertron and Energon series, the character of Downshift was designed as a homage to Generation One Wheeljack, especially in the head design. The Energon version of this character was ideal to use as Slice since he is the one that most resembles the Action Master in body design. You can read my review of the previous releases of this figure here and here. This review will focus on the changes made to the figure for this release.
Vehicle Mode: Energon Downshift's colors were very bright, mostly made up of white plastic. Things darken a bit with Slice. Using the dark teal color from Action Master Slicer as its base, the white is replaced with a metallic blue plastic that is darker in tone than Slicer. While he would have been wonderfully loud in the original color, I think using the metallic blue gives the figure a more sophisticated look (well, as sophisticated as a fictional, transforming race car robot can be). The translucent plastic is red, but a deeper red than the original Downshift figure. His weapons are also cast in these colors. The wheels and spoiler are still cast in black while the layered strips on the back are cast in beige. The paint applications are what solidifies this as truly inspired by Action Master Slicer. On the top of the hood are curved "blade" designs with the outer parts in black and the inner parts in red. His tail lights are alsp painted in red (though a brighter shade than the one used on the hood). These details are inspired by similar details found on Action Master Slicer's legs, which would have formed the front of the car were he able to transform. Black paint is also used for smaller details such as the gear symbol behind the front wheel wells as well as the lines by each door. Silver paint is used to paint the sides of the wheels as well as two huge Decepticon symbols, one on each door. To any Transformers fan in the know, there is no doubt right from the vehicle mode who this figure is inspired by. It also looks great since the color pattern and palette are quite different than Energon or Universe Downshift's colors. The weapons included with this figure are made to plug into any of the holes on the side of the vehicle. If you plug them into the holes near the front wheels, they look like futuristic exhaust pipes. Plug them into the holes above the rear wheels and they look like pure weaponry outfitted onto the car. Either way they look fantastic and I always loved this element of play in the Energon line. Another nice touch involves the doors, which can swing up in "gull wing" style. Slice has definitely upgraded from being a non-transformable figure to a stylish vehicle mode like this! Transformation to Robot Mode:
Robot Mode: The same colors seen in vehicle mode carry over, with one added one: grey. The original Slicer had grey painted on to several parts including his arms and legs. His chest is also cast in grey, but it's largely painted over (more on that in a bit). Here, several smaller parts of the robot mode including the shoulder joints, forearms and feet are cast in grey. The head and small panels such as those on the front of his lower legs are black. Translucent red plastic is found on the back of the head, acting as light piping for his eyes. In this sense, there is a perfect coincidence here where red was used on Action Master Slicer to represent his windows, and here it can be used for that purpose as well as "evil" red Decepticon eyes. The paint colors from the vehicle mode carry over into this form. Red and black are used on the chest and legs. On the chest they outline the curved pattern leading to the fake "windshield" on his chest. This mode introduces a new color into the mix: copper. Found on his mouthplate, nose, "ears" and waist, this is a color that was found on Action Master Slicer as well, and on the same parts to boot! The Autobot symbol that is sculpted onto the chest is painted purple, allowing this figure to "double" as Shattered Glass Wheeljack. As a homage, this paint scheme works perfectly, and I love the fact that the figure can "double up" as another character. All of the joints on this figure are tight, and I don't just mean "acceptable for a redeco" tight, I mean like "Feels like the first release of this figure" tight. I was really surprised by this. The only slight blemishes on the figure are on the shoulders and lower legs where the blue plastic was broken off the trees. The cuts weren't quite perfect so it looks a bit lighter blue where the parts were snapped off, but this doesn't really tarnish the look overall in my book. Like the Energon version, you can attach the weapons to Slice in many different ways. They can attach to his legs, shoulders, fists and even onto the spoiler which can then be held in his hands. Add to that his exhaust pipes acting as extra guns on his arms and there's a lot of play value here. For those curious, Slice can indeed still be transformed as an upper or lower body half of a combined figure with other Energon figures, adding even more to his play value.
Final Thoughts:
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Buried in the corner of Transformers fiction somewhere is a little known story outside of Transformers fandom. There, a group of Transformers once sacrificed their ability to transform in order to gain untold power via a power source named Nucleon. Called "Action Masters", the line was released as (mostly) non-transformable figures that had nice sculpts, but were not the highest in terms of quality (joints became loose very easily). These figures would come with transformable weapons and/or vehicles. The line was not a hit in the United States, where it fizzled after about a year. However, in Europe the line continued on with several figures that became exclusives outside the US and highly sought after by fans of the Action Masters. One of these characters was "Slicer", a Decepticon redeco of the previously released Wheeljack Action Master figure. With its bright mix of gold and bright red colors set against a dark teal background, this odd color scheme made him a perfect choice to join the "Generation 2: Redux" set. Of course, other fans will note that this Decepticon has an Autobot symbol on him painted in purple, so in a sense "Slice" (so named due to trademark issues) is actually two characters in one: Slice(r) and Shattered Glass Wheeljack - you decide who you want him to be!
