G1 Dogfight

The very first Transformer I remember aquiring. In fact I've had this little guy for as long as I can remember, and it shows in the pic. This is G1 Super-God Masterforce Triggerbot Dogfight.

Now, that's a mouthful. To be honest, I never even knew his name until I dug him out of my mother's storageroom and looked it up.

Toransufōmā Chōjin Masutāfōsu, or Super-God Masterforce was a Japanese animated continuation of the G1 saga, and although Dogfight only appeared in the Marvel comics he was apparently still released under the Masterforce-banner.

He is described as a highly skilled flier, which earned him his name, but also as short-tempered, violent and impulsive, despite being an Autobot.
Part of a team known as the Triggerbots along with two other bots named Backstreet and Override.
Him being a Triggerbot means no more than that he has a spring-loaded gimmick which, in his alt-mode of a reverse-winged jet, turn the wings around 180 degrees revealing guns pointed at whatever poor schmo happens to be in front of him.

This gimmick stopped working for my figure a long time ago, though.

His Triggerbot-feature is pretty much the only bit of articulation he has.
This limited poseability consists solely of his arms being able to move, and only back and forth 379 degrees. Yes, 379. It would have been the full 380 but the kibble that becomes his alt-mode's rear-end is in the way.
So he can point his guns at you.
Strangely it figures.

Being of small statue stature, he has a few sculpted (haha) details, like a gatling gun and a missile battery on either side of his head, and hands on his proportionally really long arms.

Transformation-wise there are no intricacies either. The assembly consisting of the jet's thruster, rear landing gear and tailfin simply fold up from his back via his shoulders and snap down over his head. His upper legs slide into his lower legs (hey look, movement, ghaha... I'll stop now), the cockpit folds out from behind his legs, and the front landing gear folds out from between his feet. Done.


Although I am aware of this review's slightly negative undertone, I do like this guy.
Sure, he is outdated in every way imaginable, but I think he still has a certain charm to him. Maybe because of sentimental reasons, maybe not, but I can't imagine my collection without him.
But hey, what's the point of collecting toys if you can't think back to the time you could legitimately play with them? ;)