Name: Wheeljack
Allegiance: Autobot
Function: Scientist
Subgroup: Generations

Tech Specs:
Strength 4 Intelligence 9 Speed 8 Endurance 6 Rank 8 Courage 9 Fireblast 5 Skill 10

Wheeljack is a brilliant risk taker, both in his lab and on the road. His inventions are both the cause of and solution to many problems as he pushes the boundaries of science and engineering in his quest for the next big thing. Due to the daring nature of his experiments, his lab needs to remain isolated – mostly because it blows up on a regular basis.

In 2010 and 2011 when Hasbro did a certain amount of new designed G1 characters in CHURG line (Classics/Henkei/Universe 2.0/Reveal The Shield/Generations), it’s not hard to find out who are still missing when opening up the G1 book especially season 1. Yes, it’s the first and popular mad scientist who even is the only one mentioned owning a lab on Cybertron, Wheeljack. Wheeljack was the first Transformers showed up in the season 1 episode 1 and also the first Transformers who showed the transformation (into a …. Box). He is an awesome character in G1 who could almost do everything. He could be like Ratchet fixing Autobots, he could invent crazy stuffs like Dinobots and inmobilizer, he could roll out and fight, and when all Autobots were lack at flying, Prime ordered him to fly (despite he claimed he is not good at it and this is very true). Unfortunately he died in the Autobot City attack in ‘86 movie and then his role was completely replaced by Perceptor, he was still that popular and showed up in comic books, different cartoons (even though in Armada, he changed sides to Decepticon and in Energon, his name is Downshift), and toy lines.

When RTS Tracks came out, fans already recognized this mold could also be a nice Wheeljack by rotating the hip. This is true and Hasbro did this with a completely retool instead of just swapping head. Unfortunately due to the current situation (economy and pre 3rd movie), he cannot be found in retail stores and not even that easy to find on line. But I managed to get him in a set with Thundercracker and Warpath.

Wheeljack is a retool of Tracks, so his alternate mode is a little bit Corvette-ish. But with the paint jobs and the additional front track plus Reprolables stickers, he looks very much like his original form, Lancia Stratos. For some reason, Wheeljack’s car mode is holding itself better than Tracks. It rolls well and the original paint job isn’t perfect but good enough. Of course bringing up Reprolables stickers add up the details whole lot.

Wheeljack’s transformation scheme is almost the same like Tracks. If you compare this robot mode with the back card, you will notice many differences. The figure on back card is pretty much a head swapping Tracks but the actually figure is a heavily retool. Let’s start from the top. This time Hasbro finally added color to the wings which are the inside doors unlike Tracks unpainted wings. The tips of the wings are pretty much flat which are different than Tracks and back card’s angled tips. The head is very Wheeljack but because of the dark gray plastic, the light piping doesn’t work very well. The arms and body are pretty much the same but now comes down to the huge difference, legs. The legs are completely retooled from Tracks mold, and they are much shorter. While Tracks legs can pull down a lot, Wheeljack’s can pull down only a little. When flipping up the front tracks for his feet, the wheels will slide down as well which leaves a big arch hole on his lower legs. Because of the new design, that makes Wheeljack much shorter then Tracks and he is only a little bit taller than Classics Bumblebee and about the same with Hound. I’ve even dissembled the legs to see if there could be any improvement to make him taller, but no chance unless I swap the inside parts with Tracks. Besides a little disappointed with his height, he is a well made figure. Still very poseable and well balanced. Only the huge backpack is sometimes as annoying as Tracks. He comes with the same laser gun as Tracks but this is actually a better shoulder rocket like his G1 incarnation. There are also two wrench tools that can be put on his hands or shoulders or they can be stored in his lower legs. Overall, Wheeljack looks kind of short and bulky but a good figure to play with.