We've finally arrived at the main event - the combined modes. Here's the funny thing... according to the instructions, there's only one actual mode, involving all five mecha. However, officially there was a four figure combiner, but apparently it was officially nixed due to proportionality issues.
As I have no actual names for these modes, I'm going to refer to them as Base Mode and Upgraded Mode. The twins connect with Thunder Light, who's head becomes the upper torso for the combined robot. Scarlet Sonic splits into several pieces, with her legs connecting as new arms. Various effect parts have also been applied, specifically the stars on the knees, the blue exhaust, and the yellow visor.
Fun fact - in my attempt to combine this mode, I managed to break Thunder Light.. just snapped the chest piece off of her.
Combination is via a mixture of friction based joints and pegs. QC issues on my Thunder Light result in the legs being somewhat floppy, and the actual connection between Thunder Light and the twins easily comes undone. Then there's the actual stiffness of the left knee due to QC issues.
The actual articulation given to the combined mode isn't bad, and despite the wonky proportions I like the look of this mode. You basically don't get any sort of torso articulation, and the movement of head can be impeded by the exhaust pipes on Scarlet Sonic. Ankles are surprisingly robust and are quite articulated, though finding that sweet spot so that it can stand on its own is the trick.
Because there were no instructions, figuring out how to accomplish this mode was a bit annoying. The big secret? To use this little black piece of plastic that came with Thunder Light.
Upgraded Mode features a bulkier look thanks to the shoulder pads. There's also longer arms with a larger physical presence. Connecting Scarlet Dragon to Thunder Light requires you to push down on it until you hear a clicking noise, a detail that was not included in the manual.
This mode doesn't unlock any additional useful articulation, but it doesn't impede anything either, so you're gonna have the same experience as you got with Base Mode. The same accessories that worked with Base Mode can be applied in the same way, which is what you see here.
Here's a picture for size comparison purposes. Yes, it's not very big at all. Overall, you're looking at about 7.5 inches tall,
New to Upgraded Mode are various weapons. The turret from Scarlet Dragon turns into a mallet and the cockpit of Gemini Wings can be converted into a shield as sorts - technically this could have been used with Base Mode, but Base Mode lacked functional fists to hold anything, which makes this Upgraded specific. There's also a nifty red visor that is meant for use with this mode, though IMO the yellow up is still nicer looking.
Pieces of the shoulders come off and form swords, which can be combined with the blue energy effects that were used on the exhaust pipes of Scarlet Sonic. Unfortunately, the plastic itself is pretty flimsy, so while you can attach them, making them display nicely is a totally different matter.
With that, this overview of the Magic Henshin Girls set is complete. I feel that the individual figures have an obvious charm, and it's fantastic to see non typical designs combine to form something unique. This uniqueness, to me, meant that there would be some sacrifices made with regards to adhering to the source material, and to be honest Big Firebird did a great job from that perspective, especially if you're like me and generally only deal with Hasbro combiner sets.
But be conscious of the various issues I've pointed out. At MSRP, I'm not overly miffed as this is a neat looking set, and I'm willing to pay a few bucks towards R&D. But with prices for this set currently at $250 - $300 USD, I think that as it stands, this is not a good price at all. There are significantly better toys you can get at this price, so buyer beware.
For Full Gallery, please visit:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/22877494@N02/albums/72157719569186928
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