Fansproject: Gears of War 2 pack

Last December 5, we touched on the Fansproject upgrades for the Alternator Optimus Prime. Which led me to think that I should spotlight some of the other upgrades that Fanproject has come up with - Illegally of course. While no official statement has been released, Hasbro is after the Fansproject company for copyright violations. But can you blame a company that just wants to upgrade the mediocre crap that Hasbro has been throwing out? Personally I think that Hasbro should praise Fansproject, buy them, upgrade their production capabilities and absorb their ideas and creativity)

Anyway, not my problem.

I'm here to talk about the Gears of War Pack number 2 (Not to be confused with Fenix and his video game of the same title.) or TFC-005 - retails today for around PhP 1,750 to PhP 2,500 depending upon whom you ask.

Look into my eyes!

C-01/Voyager Classics Ion Cannon

At first sight the small plastic TFC-005 package comes with two readily identifiable Ion-Cannons - to the uninitiated, that big cannon Prime totes in the original series. The larger one is lined with semi-transparent blue plastic and has a small batter case and switch at the back. Pressing the switch activates the built in diode and the Ion-cannon lights up. The cannon alone is too small for the Masterpiece or 25th anniversary Primes. It fits smugly (Although it does look a bit stubby) into the hands of the Henkei C-01 Optimus Prime or the American Voyager Classic Optimus Prime - both of which did not come with an Ion Cannon - they instead had smokestacks and spoilers that transformed into weapons.

There is also another small device that looks like a six-pack missile launcher. This attaches to the back of again either the C-01 or the American Voyager - note that both Primes have a piece of clear plastic at the back of Prime's head linked directly to Prime's eyes. The circular "launcher" portion of the device sits nicely on Prime's shoulder. This "Missile Launcher" also has a batter pack and flicking the switch while it's attached to Prime's head lights up Prime's eyes. While it changes the traditional look of Prime, it does give the figurine that sense of power it deserves.

Small, carrying a big stick. 

Alternity A0-1 Convoy Ion Cannon

The second ion-cannon is much smaller. It's made for the Alternity AO-1 Convoy - which does not come with any rifle at all and instead has fold out "Anti-Hytherion Spacetime-Piercing Tachyon Blasters" (If that doesn't scream "Made in Japan" I don't know what does). So this ion-cannon is again a welcome addition.

The ion-cannon is also lined with clear blue plastic, however it does not light by itself. To light it up, you need to attach the "missile launcher" piece to the back of the ion-cannon. The downside to this is that it makes the rifle too bulky for the AO-1, especially given how stubby the AO-1's arms are. So personally, my recommendation would be to leave it as is and let the C-01's Prime's glow brightly at night.

We are the Borg!!!

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Ion Cannon

The last piece is a clam-shell attachment for either arm of the Transformers 2 Revenge of the Fallen Optimus Prime - come to think of it, I've never tried attaching it to the 1st movie Prime, but it looks good here, so we'll leave it at that. The clam shell sandwiches the hand of Prime and is locked into place by four small slide on clips that act as "accessories" to randomize and break the smooth lines of the clam-shell piece - which adds to the realism of the GOW2 piece because in robot mode, none of the Transformers in the movie are what we can call "smooth" so why should this piece be any less mechanical and random?

As seen on the image on the right, it looks like Prime grew a cannon from his arm, just like he did in the movie. Personally though as is I think it's adequate, and looks like Prime is about to spit out a huge ball of plasma from his arm. But it isn't impressive or "cool" on its own. To begin with it doesn't light up, it's stubby and looks like a vacuum cleaner. Also a little more red or silver to match Prime's paint scheme wouldn't hurt.

I told you not to make me angry!!!!

 To make it "cool" you need to get the ion cannon for the C0-1/Voyager Prime.

The C0-1/Voyager ion-cannon sits neatly between the clamshell just in front of where Prime's hand is. The on/off switch of the ion-cannon sits it left outside via a small hole on top so you can turn the cannon on-and off. The extension not only lights up the weapon, in my opinion it also gives the weapon the dignity and sense of power and accuracy that it deserves. Prime hurling globs of plasma just isn't Prime. Prime firing a cannon is Prime.

If you ever are able to find the GOW 2 - which is actually quite rare - the pack comes with a very cool poster that actually has the movie Prime armed with two ion-cannons/clamshells. It is KICK-ASS!!!! Unfortunately the pack only comes with one ion cannon/clamshell.

But what I really like about the GOW 2 and Fansproject in general is the effort and creativity that they put into making an already great toy even better. Each of these toys has a void - something that makes you wonder what the toy maker was thinking without making the toy totally not worth it. For example, the C0-1/Voyager Prime has that strange clear plastic portion at the back of Prime's head; The Alternity A-01 Convoy does not have a rifle that Prime is definitely known for; And in the movie, we all saw Prime grow a blaster, where is it?

Can I live without the GOW 2? Is the experience of each toy diminished by not having it? The answer is definitely, absolutely, positively, resoundingly no!

But wow life is just that much better if you have it!

Here's my video review of the GOW 2 which includes another Fansproject accessory, a C0-1/Voyager Ion-Cannon with an extension that makes it appropriate for the 25th Anniversary/Masterpiece Prime (It's just slightly - but not discernibly - smaller than the original weapon that the toy came with). This ion-cannon/extension package come with the Fanproject EX-002R  Battle Rollar (Animate Deco Version). There are two Battle Rollars in the market. If you come across the "R" version (which the package should indicate, you get the extra weapons.