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13" Rodney Copperbottom


ScottE Turnbull is back tonight with a review of a figure I've been considering every time I see it - the 13" Rodney Copperbottom.  I'm not sure why they decided to release the Robots toys so early, but even without the film these look mighty interesting.  Tell us all about it, Scott!

It's ScottE Turnbull returning with a review of a new action figure. This time around it's the 13 inch Rodney Copperbottom poseable robot figure from the upcoming movie "Robots". I've been collecting and playing with toy robots for nearly 40 years. This new figure is a fine addition to my collection.






Packaging - ***
The package is pretty basic, with a prominent movie title logo under a large viewing window. This item is first and foremost a toy, not a collectible. I'm of the opinion that you're supposed to open up and play with your toys, so packages don't influence my purchase decisions very much. Rodney is packaged in a position that shows he's either poseable, or will need to spend all eternity balancing on one foot in mid stride. A quick check of the back of the box shows some more pictures of Rodney and gives information about articulation and accessories. A snip of tape allows the top to open and the inner tray to be pulled out. Rodney is strapped to the tray with no less than 15 twisties. A bit daunting for young folk, so be ready to give the kids a hand.

Sculpting - ***1/2
At the time this is being written, the movie "Robots" is not yet in general release. From what I've seen from movie trailers and pictures, this supersized version of Rodney Copperbottom is faithful to the movie. He comes out of the box looking a bit like the Iron Giant's younger brother. He comes across as a mild mannered robot that has seen neither hard times nor a well equipped parts box. He has mismatched parts when comparing the right and left. It's as if he was put together in a bit of a haphazard manner. Removing some of his accessories gets him down to the basics that make him look a little more balanced from right to left 

Paint -****
Rodney is painted as a happy little robot. It's not so much paint as it is molded plastic. He's colored with an assortment of blue pastels, silver mechanisms, and cream highlights. There are some washes used to give the impression of worn gears and dirty parts. Just what you'd expect from a robot that's been out on his own in the big city. There is some fine detail, such as the gauge face in the center of his chest. It's cleanly done.

Articulation - ***
Rodney has a nice assortment of articulation. The box claims 14 points. Working from the bottom up he's got limited ankle bending, knee bending, ball jointed hips, a swivel waist, ball jointed shoulders, cut biceps, bending elbows, rotating wrists, and a rotating head. Most of the joints are "clicky", and hold their position well. He can bring his chest down to his knees and "squat" while looking at his mismatched feet. He can also cover his eyes with his hands. If you move a lot of his joints all at once, he sounds like somebody was stomping on bubble wrap..pop poppity pop pop. I would have liked to see articulated fingers like Buzz Lightyear or GIJoe's GungHoGrip. Double hinged elbows would have been a welcome improvement, too. 

Accessories - ****
Rodney has a small pile of accessories. The box claims 11 snap on parts. Some of them are already on him as he comes from the package. He's got a chest piece, arm and leg guards, an alternate headridge, a chin shield, a wheeled cart for his left foot, and a couple of snap on machine parts that fit in various places. He also has a big honkin' rubbery fist that fits over his left hand and forearm. I'm guessing Rodney gets the chance to put the hammer down during the movie. That accounts for the 11 snap on parts, but there's really more. A few parts of the regular Rodney are also removable. In my book that makes them accessories, too. His head covering comes off to reveal a mechanism connected to his bug eyes. The forearm panels on his right arm are also removable, leaving him with a wimpy looking skinny arm. With a stripped arm and exposed head, he looks a little worse for the wear. Rodney may have some challenges in the movie we'll learn about when it reaches the theatres.

Outfit - N/A
Technically, you could move some of those body shields over to this category, but a Robot doesn't really need clothes, so I'll leave this as Not Applicable.

Fun Factor - ****
This is a great toy that stands about 13 inches tall. It has nice detailing, adequate articulation, and lots of parts to mix and match. From beaten bot to wielder of the iron fist, Rodney can play lots of roles in the one sixth toy universe.

Value - ***
At $19, this is a slightly pricey child's action figure. There are smaller versions available for much less. The excellent accessories and articulation make him worth the price of admission for those of us with a soft spot for robots.

Overall - ***
This is a fun figure to play with. No lights, no electronic sounds, just an opportunity to pose and accessorize a foot tall robot. I've included a picture of Rodney next to McFarlane's Terminator, for a size comparison.

SCORE RECAP:
Packaging - ***
Sculpt - ***1/2
Paint - ****
Articulation - ***
Accessories - ****
Outfit- N/A
Fun Factor - ****
Value - ***
Overall - ***

Things to Watch Out For -
Nothing that I can find. It's a toy, and designed to take some handling without complaint.

Where to Buy: 
I picked this one up at Toys 'R Us for $19.



Figure from the collection of ScottE Turnbull.

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