Rapid Run Bio
Rapid Run is proud of being the toughest member of the Bullet Train team. He is always ready for a fight and loves a good brawl. He fires his grenade launcher to confuse the enemy with a blinding wall of smoke, so that his fellow Autobots can send in the heavy weapons. His aim is always accurate, so he never has to fire more than once.
Quote
Packaging
The Deluxe Rapid Run figure comes in the standard long box. Cut the taped strip on either side to open the box. Inside, Rapid run is mounted to a slanted cardboard base with a yellow-sunburst printed on it. Three of the standard issue twist-ties hold him in place. The train looks really nice sitting on the cardboard base. Like the other RiD Trains, the simple shape of the figure makes it easy to free it from the base. Just turn it over. Loosen the twist-ties and slide him right out.
Train Mode
Rapid Run is a smooth looking vehicle. Looking more like a wedge than a bullet. The figure is colored gray and black with touches of gold paint on the nose and down the sides. This color theme gives Rapid Run a more dated look that is unlike the slicker more modern look of Railspike and Midnight Express. The train is about 8" long in this mode. The sides of the train have a row of tiny square windows that are pained in with silver paint. A thin gold stripe runs down the side. The underside of Railspike reveals eight tiny white wheels , 4 front & 4 back, that roll only on smooth flat surfaces. I'm not too hot on this figure in train mode. All the hinges and panels tend to make it look somewhat chunky folded together.
Transformation
Transforming Rapid Run is simple enough. Starting with the mid-section, there are two indented tabs along the sides that undo to allow a portion of the cab to come apart from the train. The part is later used to make the base portion of Rapid Run's weapon. With the mid-section exposed there is access to the robot's tri-jointed arms mounted on hinged side panels. Fold the panels forward to provide room to move the arms and allow the front cab section of the train to fold forward 90 degrees. Next fold the nose of the train again to expose Rapid Run's robot head within a hidden panel beneath the train's windshield. Position the robot head and return the nose to its original 90 degree position. As for the legs. Start with the back end of the train. Pull firmly to extend the rear train section out far enough to expose his legs to pose them in a standing position. Like the other train, Rapid Run has front and rear foot extensions to add upright support. Two sets of rear wheels flip out 90 degrees from the leg to form the front foot extensions. With a this guy you have pull down first to extend the short square block flips down in front of the leg as support for the 6.5" tall figure.
Robot Mode
I like Rapid Run a lot more in this mode. One of the sharper looking robot trains, maybe even cooler than Rail Spike now that I really get to looking at him. The gray and gold color combination really comes out in this form. Its the gold colored robot head that highlights the gold tones to make for a nice touch all around. Rapid Run stands at about 6.5" tall. The figure is very slender and can be somewhat of challenge to pose upright. I found the articulation in the leg joints to be nearly useless. Providing very little in the way of real flexibility. While you could move the figure's legs around. It was near impossible to place them in a desirable position other than standing straight up. The upper most joints that attached the legs to the hip need just a tiny bit more room to move. Thought it is not really worth singling out any figure for the flaw since this design seems to be a common to all the trains.
After I opened the box and removed the figure I went searching for his grenade launcher and couldn't find it. It wasn't till I looked a the box again that realized the weapon was part of the figure's body itself. As I mentioned before the mid portion that comes apart from the train acts as his grenade launcher and shield as well. No electronic enhancement is present in Rapid run's weapon. It's just a simple missile shooter for the single missile that comes packaged in the separate bag with the tech manual.
Overall
I was am more impressed with Rapid Run than I thought I would be. Now its my favorite figure of the three in robot mode. I like how quickly he transforms and the gold robot head is a real nice touch. I am disappointed by the limited articulation of the figure's leg joints. With just a little extra allowance at the hip joints you'd have a more flexible figure. Might be worth doing a little mod on these guys to see if there is still room for improvement. The weapon is also a real disappointment. You get a cool light up thingy with Rail Spike for the same price. Rapid Run's isn't a very good weapon or a good shield. Still, I really like the trains as toys and show characters so it'll take a lot more than that for me to totally slam this toy. I defiantly recommend Rapid Run. I think this and the other trains will be some of the more adored toys from the Robots in Disguise series. Because they are so unique as vehicles and having the set of them adds to their individual quality which together makes what I think is the premier RiD combiners figure set.
Reviewer | Optimax |
Date | January 22nd 2002 |
Score | (9 out of 10) |
Reads | 6453 |
Back to Reviews Index
|