Transformers X Ghostbusters Optimus Prime

Made By:

Jada

Scale:

1/24

MSRP:

US$32.99

Overview:
Packaging (Design):	9/10
Packaging (Durability):	9/10
Casting (Body):	8/10
Casting (Interior):	8/10
Casting (Chassis):	9/10
Casting (Engine):	N/A
Paint (Exterior):	10/10
Paint (Interior):	N/A
Paint (Trim/Graphics):	10/10
Overall Panel Fit:	9/10
Total Score:	9.0/10

 

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Background

Hasbro launched the Collaborative line in 2019, featuring Transformers characters disguised as various pop culture vehicles. The first figure to be released under the new banner was Ectotron, an Autobot theoretical physicist that transformed into a fully licensed and accurate representation of the original Ecto-1. In the accompanying Ghosts of Cybertron comics, Optimus Prime also adopts a Ghostbusters-inspired livery to cover the graffiti he got after parking in New York City while waiting for Ectotron and the Ghostbusters to return to the firehouse.

Packaging

Prime's box is the same size and shape as what we saw for the Party Wagon, with the graphics changed to fit the franchise. As an homage to the classic G1 packaging, the background is light gray grid over a black-to-red gradient with the original Transformers logo and a drawing of Prime (in his standard colors) in robot mode is set just right of the main window. The Ghostbusters branding is downright subtle by comparison, featuring a small logo near the bottom left corner of the box, a yellow and black hazard stripe under the window, and gobs of slime dripping from the character name plaque under the window and along the back panel of the insert. The back of the box has a large photo of the truck, with a second smaller photo calling out the "robot on chassis" feature. Prime is held in place via two screws through the bottom and two plastic trays between the truck and the box, with a plastic band holding the doors closed. I can't say the packaging doesn't hit all the right notes for nostalgia, though I kind of wish Jada had recolored the art to match the truck.

Casting/Paint

Thanks to his distinct vehicle mode, Optimus Prime has an interesting mix of diecast and plastic parts. Essentially, he's a big metal cube with a lot of plastic accessories added for detail. The cab looks good overall, with some great detailing for the rivets, ladders, vents, and side markers. The clearance lights on the corners of the roof are a little soft, but are only worth mentioning because the separate blue plastic lights at the center of the roof look so much sharper. Chrome plastic is used for the headlight bezels, grille, mirrors, grab handles, horns, fuel tanks, exhaust pipes, and air cleaners. Transparent green plastic is used for the headlights and windshields. White painted plastic is used for the front bumper and rear fenders. Generally everything fits together nicely, though the left rear fender on my copy was angled up, so the outer edge is further away from the wheels than it is on the right side. Fortunately, it's an easy fix. The interior is black with a chrome steering wheel and chrome shift lever, and despite the narrow windows actually has some decent detail including a full sleeper bunk, detailed dashboard, and textured seat cushions. The chassis has my much-maligned character portrait, but I'm giving it a pass this time for two reasons. First, the back half of the chassis actually has some really nice detail work with open frame rails, both differentials, a full driveshaft, and even spring detail. Some credit also to the top side, which has a covered deck ahead of a separate fifth wheel and a rear face with reflectors, taillights, and mud flaps. Tires are ten full parts (no hollow backs!) mounted on chrome wheels with full lug detailing.

Paint is simply excellent. The base white is clean and bright, with only a hint of orange peel if you stare at the widest flat spot of the roof for long enough. For markings, Prime has a single red stripe that wraps all the way around the cab, "no ghost" symbols at the top back corners of the cab sides and bottom center of the cab rear, hazard stripes along the bottoms of the fuel tanks, dark red for all six reflectors and two taillights, 1980s-era gold/blue New York "Ecto-1" license plates, and a splatter of green slime at het left front corner. The chassis figure is painted in the same white and red, with green chest windows and silver face and waist detail. My favorite detail, though, are the triple whitewalls applied to all six outer tires. There's an errant edge here and there, particularly on the chassis figure, but the overall look is so striking it doesn't detract at all.

Features/Accessories

The doors open, but are kind of terrible. The left door hinge is way too loose and flops around with the slightest movement, and neither one opens far enough to really see much of the interior. Fortunately they fit the openings well, so best just leave them closed.

Accuracy

While this paint job for Optimus Prime was used in the Transformers X Ghostbusters comic, the base diecast is Jada's existing Optimus Prime casting (previously released in classic and Nemesis Prime colors). The design is a mix of elements from G1 (rounded headlight bezels, standard deck height) and Masterpiece (longer front overhang, hexagonal fuel tanks). It also showcases a long-standing misunderstanding of the G1 Prime toy. Because the front of the toy opened to allow access for Diaclone figures, the side windows were "shortened." The full outlines of the side windows are actually there, but much like the rear side windows on Ratchet and Ironhide, the realities of early-1980s manufacturing meant that what was supposed to be glass was opaque. Since then, many have considered the "short" side windows to be part of the original design...including MP-10 and Jada. As a result, this features side windows and doors that are too short to work on an actual truck (and are also part of the reason for the less-than-ideal door hinges). Another oddity that seems unique to Jada's release is the rear chrome rack. First, the exhaust pipes are designed so they come out of the fuel tanks. Second, there are a pair of canisters mounted just inside the mufflers that look like air cleaners...except Prime also sports the distinct Freightliner air intake just above the grille, making the canisters (or front intake) superfluous. On the up side, all the unique design features mean this doesn't have to match any particular real-world truck for scaling. It measures about 3½" (85mm) wide not counting the mirrors and about 9¼" (235mm) long...smaller than a classic Freightliner FLA would be in 1/24, but close enough to something like a MAN F2000 to call it reasonable.

Overall

This is actually a really cool design, nicely executed, that represents a small but still legitimate entry in the Transformers and Ghostbusters universes. Any notes about size or accuracy are less complaints and more notes for the truck and/or toy history nerds, because the overall execution here is a winner.