Nothing is safe from him... he will use anything from unliving rock to living robot in making new materials. Uses acids and bonding agents to reduce and recombine almost anything inside mixing drum... a chemistry lab on wheels. As left leg module, combines with fellow Constructicons to form giant robot "Devastator".
First/Last Comic Appearance (US) - Issue 10, November 1985 / Issue 41, June 1988
First/Last Comic Appearance (UK) - Issue 61, May 17th 1986 / Issue 279, July 21st 1990
First/Last Cartoon Appearance - Episode 16 (Season 1 #16), December 15th 1984 / Episode 96 (Season 4 #1), November 9th 1987
Figure Details
AKA 'Mixer'
Manufacturer - Maketoys
Toyline - Type 61
Additions/Mods:
- Added a Decepticon symbol to the chest
- Added a Decepticon symbol to the mixing drum
Review
Because his name sounds like an 80's hip-hop DJ, you could be forgiven for thinking that this robot would be a sidekick for
Blaster, but as it turns out this guy is yet another of the
Constructicons. Forming the left leg, Mixmaster is perhaps the most useless of
Devastator's components (unless Devestator is a left-footer). Despite this, he is often portrayed as the deFacto leader. Let's see if he is the crowning jewel in this cool bunch of
Maketoys figures.
Appearance (Robot Mode) 7/10
There's no escaping 2 particular things about this figure - 1; he looks like he is carrying an Acme anvil around on his head, and 2; he has the face of a cat. Well, at least to my eyes, he does. The 2 horizontal lines either side of his nose always make me think he has whiskers. The 'anvil' on his head is actually the rear axle of the cement mixer, which is stuck on his back in robot mode. It is also entirely G1 accurate. In a nice touch, a panel can be flipped down to reveal painted missile tips and the panel becomes some kind of aiming visor. His chest piece is also very G1, harking back to the original design. Overall I really like this robot mode, and the paint apps are yet again superb.
Appearance (Alternate Mode) 8/10
Being that this is not a tracked vehicle, we are instead treated to actual moving wheels, hurrah! However the ground clearance is not great, so I wouldn't recommend driving this around too much on shagpile, lest you damage the intricately-sculpted chest. Depressingly, the mixer drum does not move, but other than these niggles the alt mode looks very nice indeed. In particular there are some very tidy paint apps on the cabin and headlights. There are also not too many clues as to the robot origin of this truck because it has been superbly designed. It also has a hitch to carry a forearm combiner kibble trailer.
Transformation 8/10
I get a kick out of transforming this figure which is always a good sign. The lower legs are unfolded in a fairly unique way, with the cabin left at an angle which creats an interesting look. The arms are formed by moving the sides of the vehicle down, and in a nice touch the rear set of wheels folds down to create shoulders. The transformation sequence is relatively simple although you do need to push a button to release the waist, which extends it by a few millimetres. This button is also used when transforming for the combiner limb.
Poseability 7/10
The head is on a swivel joint, but is tricky to access because of the raised shoulders and the kibble directly above the head. The waist is not only on a swivel but it can also be tilted as well, which is pretty unusual, and an artefact of the combiner articulation. The shoulders/hips are both ball-jointed. Bicep and thigh swivel is also present, and the knees are jointed. There is limited articulation at the ankle although there are heels which unfold from the feet (not in the instructions for some reason) which really help with balance. There is both an elbow joint, plus a ball joint beneath that on the lower arm, which goes some way for compensating that there is no wrist articulation. This figure can be posed pretty dynamically.
Quality 9/10
This figure is one of the most solid Constructicons. He certainly seems to have more weight and substance when compared to the two arm components of Devastator but then I guess as a leg he is required to take a lot more load. I have no qualms with Mixmaster's resilience at all really, and as usual for Maketoys the materials used are of the highest standard.
Overall - 39/50
Despite the slightly odd face sculpt and the enormous kibble sitting atop his head, I still think this Mixmaster homage is very successful. There are really nice details abound on this figure which hark back to the G1 original successfully. A possessor of a strong alt mode, great poseability and an interesting transformation sequence, this Maketoys Mixmaster is a warranted addition to any collection.
