Transformers Toys Generations Collaborative: Back to the Future Mash-Up, Gigawatt - Back to the Future-35 Edition - Ages 8 and Up, 5.5-inch

A bit disappointing but a must for fans of both franchises, plastic is strong and transformed easily. It can be taken out and put back into box without making a mess of original packaging for collectors.

In recent years the Transformers comics have done some entertaining and amusing crossovers with other cult franchises. Excitingly a few toys have started to be produced to commemorate these events. Just as the Transformers/Ghostbusters crossover spawned Ectotron, the crossover with ‘Back to the Future’ brings us the famous Delorean in Transformer form.It's hard not to love the idea of the now iconic time travelling Delorean being able to turn into a robot. I can just imagine how exciting this would have been if it had come out in the mid-eighties.Overall, despite a few small weaknesses, it is a decent figure with both a good robot mode and a convincing Delorean form. There is certainly an influence in its design from the recent ‘War for Cybertron: Siege’ range. The figure is heavily based upon the Siege version of Sideswipe (a great mould that was further used for a Netflix and a G2 Sideswipe, both the normal Siege and Netflix versions of Red Alert, Generations Select Tigertrack and presumably for the rumoured forthcoming Deep Cover). Of course, though this mould has been tweaked to suit the Delorean form.In robot mode this makes Gigawatt appear reminiscent of Sideswipe but with a slightly bulkier appearance. In altform, though, the two become significantly different even though they share the same basic mould and transformation process. It’s a little like comparing the Earthrise versions of Cliffjumper and Bumblebee.The transformation process isn’t quite as fluid with Gigawatt. The few additions and tweaks make it a little fiddlier and a couple of sections can catch and be slightly awkward. However, this is to provide a few characteristic elements that without which would make the toy disappointing. Thus, the doors flip upwards as expected from a Delorean and the chest/hood/bonnet contains a panel that can be flicked around so that the flux capacitor can be seen. I think this is primarily for the robot mode, but you can have it on show in vehicle mode.The flux capacitor is very nicely detailed and has several dates displayed below it that correspond to important dates from ‘Back to the Future’. It is a pity the figure wasn’t large enough to incorporate some type of Power Master engine as the flux capacitor.As a little welcome bonus, Gigawatt’s wheels are also able to rotate under the vehicle so as to replicate the flying/hovering mode of the Delorean.Unfortunately, the plastic doesn’t seem as good as that used for Sideswipe. It seems a little cheaper and, for some reason, has a bit of a rough finish. It would have looked better smoother and with a bit of a shine, glossy finish.Gigawatt comes with the lightning rod that can be mounted atop the vehicle as in the style of the first film. Attaching to his arm, this can also be deployed as some time of weapon in robot mode. However, it does look a tad like he is wielding a fishing rod. He also has an obligatory laser pistol/rifle. Although it isn’t particularly impressive and fits a little poorly into his hand, there has been a feature incorporated into the design to allow this gun to be stored beneath the front in vehicle mode. It’s a nice touch. There is also a small part that fits to the back in vehicle mode (the sort of fuel receptacle) and to one of two places on the gun. It doesn’t connect very well in any of these positions.Gigawatt comes in some nice packaging based upon that of the original Generations 1 toy line but with the ‘Back to the Future’ logo and other artwork additions. As on the typical G1 packaging there is also a brief biopic and some tech specs.

My autistic son who collects them