Best Triple Changer ever?

This guy caused a lot of ruckus when he was released. Springer was hailed as the best triple changing Transformer ever and some said he was better engineered than some Masterpiece Transformers.

The Siege Voyager Springer has been released and is apparently even better than this guy. Since I’m always one step behind the curve, let’s take a look at the Thrilling 30’s Springer now! 6 years later!

Packaging

Vehicle mode (Helicopter mode)

You know you’ve got an amazing Triple Changer when the “weakest” mode is this good. Springer is an attack copter and looks really convincing as one. He’s actually better put together than some Transformers that can only turn into a helicopter, like Generations Whirl.

For playability, Springer has retractable three piece landing gear and his rotor is free spinning. Also, you can plug in his cannon to the front of the helicopter if you retract the landing gear.

Transformation

The transformation to get between all the modes isn’t ridiculously complex and is one of the smartest you’d see on pretty much any Transformer.

Vehicle mode (Car mode)

It’s the tumbler! Seriously, if you painted Springer black, he’d basically be the Batmobile. While the helicopter mode was good, the armoured car mode wins hands down.

Everything pegs together tighter and Springer just looks better in this mode than the helicopter mode.

For playability, Springer rolls on all four of his wheels. You can store his sword underneath the car and plug the cannon on top of the car. The cannon on can swivel as well as pivot up and down.

Robot mode

Yeah, I don’t care if you’re a stickler for G1 designs. If you don’t think Springer is a handsome robot, you’re an idiot.

The IDW design was a great one and it’s works very well as a real life figure. The proportions, the detail and the paint. Even his size is just perfect.

Springer has a lot of posability. His head swivels as well as goes up and down. His arms rotate as well as go in and out at the shoulders. He has bicep swivels, elbow bends and wrist swivels. He has as waist swivel. His legs rotate as well as go in and out at the hips. He has thigh swivels and bending knees. His feet move forward and back.

Gimmicks

Springer’s main schtick is that he’s a Triple Changer. Possibly the best Triple Changer ever.

Springer’s other gimmicks are his weapons. His gun is just the right side of massive in that it looks threatening and not ridiculous. It can launch two firing missiles via a pressure launching system.

Springer’s sword actually has a transformation and it’s one of the neatest ones ever. Even though the form the rotor blades of the helicopter, they transform into a sword instead of just having Springer hold rotor blades as a weapon. That’s a very nice touch.

Toy or collectible?

Springer is more of a collectible than a toy. He’s based on an IDW design, has a pretty complex transformation and three great modes. He’s also the priciest of the Thrilling 30 Voyagers at this point in time.

Still, Springer would be a pretty cool gift for an older kid. He’s not too complex or prohibitively expensive.

Closing

I can’t tell you for certain whether or not this Springer is better than the Siege Springer. I can tell you that Thrilling 30s Springer is an incredible Transformer that somehow pulls of three amazingly well done modes. The fact that he’s a mainline Hasbro release is even more astonishing.

Definitely try and hunt Springer down. He’s still pretty easy to get and isn’t too expensive yet.