G1 Jetfire

Robot Mode: Jetfire looks pretty impressive in robot mode. The tallest Transformer at the time, he towered over everyone else, including the leaders. Without his red attachments he looks sleek and dangerous, with them he looks massive and powerful. Either way, a great robot. He is also very posable (especially for that time) and his legs are partially metal, giving him a solid base to hold even slightly off-balance poses. You can extend his wings on his back to give him a sort-of flight mode. If there is one drawback to this toy, it is that it does not hold very much resemblance to its cartoon counterpart. It is a spitting image to the Robotech Battleoids, though (see remarks).

Alternate Mode: In jet mode Jetfire somewhat resembles an F-14 Tomcat fighter plane, what with his adjustible wings and twin tail fins. Again, not much resemblance to the cartoon counterpart, but the jet still looks solid. Apart from the metal landing gear the jet mode offers few features, but it, too, can be enhanced with Jetfire's red armour parts. Using them, you get a little more of the look from the cartoon.

In the Robotech series the Veritech fighter (on which this toy is really based) was also capable of a hybrid mode, sort of a plane with arms and legs. This mode looks pretty decent as well, especially when used in conjunction with the rocket pods. The drawback of this mode is that it doesn't quite snap together correctly and the shoulder joints get bent a little out of shape, so leaving it in this mode for too long possibly accounts for this toy's notorious fragility.

Partners / Add-Ons: Jetfire comes with attachable 'armour', meaning twin rocket pots and guards on his arms and legs. Unfortunately the arm and leg attachments are pretty fragile, especially the snap-on parts where they fit onto the arms and legs.

Missing Parts: I'm missing one small piece used to attach the left leg module (the red enhancement). As a result it's liable to fall off if the toy is moved.

Remarks: After the Dinobots the next new Transformer introduced during the first season of the G1 cartoon was Skyfire, a giant airplane transformer who shared a common past with Starscream and first joined the Decepticons, but then defected to the Autobots (and got trapped under the ice again for his efforts).

For reasons too complicated to explain in a few words Hasbro decided that the toy version of this Transformer should be called Jetfire instead. Not only that, but this toy, holding only a slight resemblance to the cartoon character, is clearly of different origin. Namely from a cartoon show that, at the time, ran head-to-head with Transformers. Robotech - The Macross Saga. This toy is the Veritech Fighter that first Roy Fokker and then Rick Hunter flew, only with different colours.

Whatever name you want to give it and whatever mode you transform it into, this is one kick-ass toy. The only drawback on this beauty is the general fragility, especially the weak collar joints. The first one I had way back when had a snapped collar joint and this new one is also showing a lot of wear there. Apart from that, though, perfect. They don't make'em like this anymore.


Rating: A-