[REVIEW] Richard's Reviews: SixBuilder Reissue

SixBuilder

Fourth in a series of Micromaster Combiner reissues, SixBuilder is back.
Originally released in Japan around 1992 in the Transformers: Operation
Combination line, the Autobot SixBuilder fought with his Autobot brethren
against the evil Battle Gaea.

Each SixBuilder component is packaged in the identical boxes similar to the
Takara SCF line. Thankfully, they aren't random like the SCFs as there is a
small hole in the front of the box with a number 1 through 6 showing
through. There is a random element thrown into the mix as some of the toys
are painted Constructicon green.

In addition to the individual toys, included in the box is a component to
help assemble SixBuilder along with a small brochure featuring the
instructions and bio for that individual toy along with a short story of
SixBuilder and his evil counterpart.

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Review

Crush-Bull
Crushing his way out of his Stasis Pod comes Crush-Bull, the bulldozer of
the team. Mostly a dark, sea foam-green, Crush-Bull has black detailing on
his treads, grill, and roof and gold detailing on his engine block cover,
which has an Autobot insignia stamped in the center. To transform, extend
the rear section back and down, flip the shovel back and the front tread
sections up, then flip the robot head up from the grill. Crush-Bull has the
standard Micromaster articulation in the shoulders, hips and knees. No
additional colors reveal themselves in this form, though his upper legs are
black and his face is painted silver.

Digger
Next up is Digger, the steam-shovel that thinks he's a crane. Mostly yellow,
Digger has black-painted windows and a light-gray steam shovel. The steam
shovel section rotates 360 degrees and the arm portion is positionable in
two places: at the base and near the end. Transformation is atypical for a
Micromaster. Swing the front cab around 180 degrees and bring the arms
forward. Digger has a little more color in robot mode with an orange torso
and upper legs with silver highlights and face. The steam shovel can be
positioned either behind him or above his head to give him a weapon (or a
funny looking hat).

Ironlift
The red crane with black windows and light-gray crane arm is Ironlift.
Although it looks as though he has six wheels, only four rotate. The crane,
as with Digger, can rotate 360 degrees. The arm itself is positionable in
three sections: the base, mid-way, and the hook. Transformation is identical
to Digger's. In robot mode, Ironlift is mostly red and yellow, which clash a
little bit, with silver highlights and face. Like other Micromasters, he can
bend at the hips and knees and move his arms up and down.

Gran-Arm
Reminiscent of the Constructicon Scrapper comes the shovel-loader Gran-Arm.
The design is an odd one in that the robot arms are clearly visible above
the front wheels and the cab section is rather low in the rear, not a very
good disguise. Gran-Arm is mostly orange with red highlights and a
black-painted cab window. His shovel is on a hinge, so it can flip all the
way over, covering the cab. To transform, extend the rear section of the
vehicle back and up, swing the shovel all the way back, flip the head so it
faces forward and move the arms forward. Gran-Arm's robot mode has a little
more red to it with the chest detailing. His upper legs are black and his
face, like the others in this team, is painted sliver. While having typical
Micromaster articulation, his arms are severely limited in their range of
motion due to the front wheels.

Treader
Rolling in to the front lines with supplies is Treader. A dark yellow dump
truck, Treader has a gray bumper, grill, and windows with his front lights
painted red. Transformation differs from the others in that you extend the
rear section and then bring it down, underneath the cab. Flip the head up
and the arms forward and you're done. In robot mode, Treader's head and
lower torso are a lighter yellow and his kneecaps are painted red. He shares
the same articulation and problems as Gran-Arm except that it's Treader's
bumper that restricts his arm movement.

Mixing
Bringing up the rear is Mixing. He shares the same primary color as
Crush-Bull and features gold and silver highlights with black windows. Like
Ironlift, not all of his wheels function. To transform into robot mode,
extend the drum-section back and down and swing the arms forward. Mixing
features a dark gray chest, red upper legs, head and missile launchers (on
either side of the head). There is also silver highlighting on his torso as
well as black outlines on his launcher tubes. As per usual, Mixing can bend
at the knees and hips and bring his arms forward and back.

SixBuilder Jet
The parts that combine the individuals into SixBuilder also are used to form
a jet that the Micromasters can ride. Attach the torso and upper legs
together, slide the rifle in-between the upper legs, push the fists into the
pegs on the sides of the torso and attach the feet to the fists. Place the
robot head onto the top of the torso with the head facing back. There is a
small peg in the center of the torso for you to stand Crush-Bull and
Gran-Arm as the others lack the appropriate hole in their feet to stay in
the cockpit.

Gettai! SixBuilder!
To assemble SixBuilder, return the individual toys to vehicle mode and
disassemble the jet into it's components keeping the head, torso, and upper
legs together. Attach Treader to the right foot and Mixing to the left,
though they can be interchanged, and attach the fronts of the vehicles to
the knobs at the end of the upper leg sections. Flip the legs open on Digger
and Ironlift and place bend them 90 degrees at the hips. Attach the right
hand to Digger and the left to Ironlift, these are not interchangeable, and
attach them to their corresponding shoulder connectors on the upper torso.
Bend Crush-Bull in half and attach him to SixBuilder's back. Fold Gran-Arm's
front half down 90 degrees and flip the shovel back. Attach him to the
cavity in SixBuilder's chest to form the chest plate. Place the gun in
either hand.

SixBuilder
Combined, SixBuilder is a bright train wreck of colors, though he does have
a handsome face for a robot. With yellow, red, blue, gray, and green coming
at you in many directions, it's a wonder SixBuilder's enemies, and allies
for that matter, aren't all color blind upon first meeting him. That aside,
structurally speaking, SixBuilder is an impressive amalgam of construction
vehicles, even more so than Devastator, though SixBuilder does have five
points of articulation (neck, shoulders, and elbows) to Dev's two.

Overall
With the exception of the glaring color clash in it's combined mode,
SixBuilder is a very nice toy. Each individual component, with exception of
Gran-Arm looks great and the jet is a nice way to take care of the super
robot kibble when not combined. Definitely pick this set up if you can.

Final Grade: A-