[REVIEW] Dave's TF Artifact Rant: Armada Flashlight

Dave's Transformers Artifact Rant

     Optimus Prime Flashlight

     Got a sighting of one of these on eBay that had already sold, and found
that the seller had another one up, so I snagged it.  They might show up in
stores, but I figured paying the extra on eBay would be worth the reduction
in hassle.

CAPSULE

     3" tall flashlight with 3 points of articulation and a good paint job.
Definitely worth picking up if you ever see it in the stores.  I'd guess
it'll be $4-5 max.  Made under license by Basic Fun.

RANT

     Packaging: Blister-carded.  The card is 5.5" wide by 7" high (14cm x
18cm) with the first year Armada colors/patterns and the Armada logo.  The
front proclaims "REALLY WORKS!" and "Flashlight shines light wherever you
need it!"  Batteries included (one AAA).
     On the back is a picture of the figure.  Normally these prototype pics
look better than the real thing, but this looks...not so good.  
     Card text: "When freedom is threatened, OPTIMUS PRIME is prepared to
defend it.  Take the OPTIMUS PRIME flashlight keychain with you on your next
intergalactic mission and its beam of light will guide you through battle."
     There's a Basic Fun keychain catalog included.  It folds out into a
strip 2.5" high and realllly long, but it doesn't show the Prime keychain (it
does have some Masters of the Universe keychains, tho).
     It's Item #1006, and the webpage is www.basicfun.com, but they don't
have this product up on the webpage either.

     Keychain: Short chain with the push-in clip type.  The kind without a
trigger or anything, so it's kinda hard to get it off once it's on if you
clip it to a backpack or something.  The whole thing is a bit too large to
use for keys unless you carry your keys in a purse.

     Figure/Flashlight: This is the first Armada Prime, not the Deluxe one.
It stands 3" (8cm) tall and has very nice molding, with all the details done
well.  The paint job is very good, only missing a few beats (the wristcannons
are silver rather than clear, and the Autobot symbol is missing along with
the gold paint on that roof button).  It looks quite sharp, and the molding
isn't the kind of iffy stuff I'd expect from something like this, very nice
job.
     And there's three meaningful points of articulation!  The arms move at
the shoulders, and the head turns.  Also, the four wheels on the lower legs
can spin slowly.  The legs house the body of the flashlight, so naturally
cannot move. 
     The button that triggers sounds in Super Base Prime is the switch for
the flashlight.  It's a pretty weak flashlight, about on a par with LED
flashlights but I think it's an incandescent bulb.  If only because the light
is white, and "white LEDs" are actually blue and use a fluorescent coating on
the surface of the LED, this is a clear bulb.

     Overall: I paid $10 for this including shipping, and I don't feel ripped
off.  Buy it if you see it.

     Dave Van Domelen, now to review the DK Readers books....