Transformers: Legacy – Dragstrip review

Trailing just behind Devastator for my favorite Decepticon Combiner is Menasor. I was thrilled when Hasbro announced a new Menasor was coming starting with Dragstrip.

I’ve been binging the old G1 Transformers cartoons and enjoying their simplicity and fun take on the characters. Dragstrip, like the other Stunticons, is highly volatile and thrives on creating massive amounts of destruction. In other words he’s a perfect evil analogy to the Autobots race cars.

Let’s see if this figure leaves me in the dust or has me eagerly anticipating the rest of his Autobot wrecking squad.

Packaging: This new non-plastic setup takes some getting used to, but Hasbro seems to have negated the likelihood of accessories being stolen. It is much harder to actually see any accessories however. While Bulkhead is showing the flaws of the open window approach, it helps with Dragstrip allowing for a cleaner look at the figure.

The new Legacy package setup is busy. I prefer the cleaner, more streamlined Kingdom setup with the action shot of the Transformer and its alt mode. There’s still some fun artwork although it’s competing against the bright purple, blues, reds, greens and pinks. Another minor gripe — I wish the Generations logo featured a Decepticon insignia instead of an Autobot one.

To avoid any confusion or start any panic, there’s a 1 of 5 logo on the top and rear to show Dragstrip is just the first to create Menasor.  I love the QR code, which takes you to Dragstrip’s bio on Transformers.hasbro.com.

Likeness:  Dragstrip somehow makes yellow look completely sinister. That’s got something to do with his great head sculpt, which almost looks like he’s smirking. I love how the chin covers jut out beyond his face.

Yes, the Constructicons were the original on-road Decepticons, but I like how the Stunticons were cooler looking. This led to unique robot modes as well and it’s a nice contrast from the first era Decepticons that were more flight/giant weapon oriented.

Hasbro has continued to evolve the robot and alt mode so there’s very little kibble on Dragstrip. And there’s the visual fun of seeing how his robot mode transformed.

Alt Mode:  Dragstrip transforms into a race car making him an easy antagonist for Sunstreaker and Sideswipe. His edged front reminds me of those high-speed vehicles in Fast & Furious, which showed exactly the kind of carnage that style of vehicle could do on a battlefield.

And he’s got an alternate alt mode as the right arm for Menasor. Hasbro has done some clever engineering with this setup, and I can’t wait to get Motormaster to try it out.

Transformation: You can transform Dragstrip in 17 steps. And his transformation comes together smoothly without any random panels poking up or sticking out.

Scale:  Before the third and fourth season where scale really went out the window with animators, there was simple consistency for the Combiners. The torso character was the leader and bigger than the rest of the squad.

Hasbro faithfully maintained this approach so Dragstrip. He’s smaller than the Leader class figures and measures up fine with the Deluxe figures like Jazz, Sideswipe and Wheeljack.

 

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Paint: Dragstrip has a…deceptive paintjob that initially seems very simple but is more complex. His base body is a bright yellow, but the cockpit is a shade of mustard.

There’s some slight scratches/paint scrapes on this area, which seems an unavoidable problem with the open box packaging.

Still, paint flaws are largely acceptable on the Stunticons since their fight style doesn’t lend itself to pristine paint work.

The engine is silver with red stripes to further break up the yellow. Dragstrip’s head sculpt is painted clean, which is impressive with the mix of red, purple and silver.

Articulation: Dragstrip’s articulation is fun as he can move smoothly and hit some exciting poses.

Dragstrip has:

• neck
• bicep
• ball-jointed shoulders
• elbows
• wrists
• wrist hinge
• torso
• waist
• hips
• thighs
• knees (double-jointed)
• ankles

Accessories:  Dragstrip comes with his twin blasters. They’ve got some good detailing, which includes more lining and panels compared to the cartoon source material inspiration.

The G1 figure featured a cannon attachment, but Hasbro’s decision to make the twin blasters a more natural and streamlined fit along the frame.

Worth it?  I got Dragstrip for $22. This is a tougher price for most lines, but I’ll give Transformers a minor pass considering the dual nature of the figures with the transformation engineering.

He’s listed as a deluxe figure, which works more since he’s a Combiner. Dragstrip’s got a little extra value since he’s also part of a Build-A-Figure.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

As the first of the Stunticons, Dragstrip makes a great impression and definitely has me hyped about building the rest of the gang.

Where to get it?  You should be able to find Dragstrip pretty easily though it seems like he and Kickback are the quickest figures to sell through on shelves. Or you could grab him from Amazon or Entertainment Earth.

As an Amazon Associate and Entertainment Earth affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.