BadCube OTS-10 Slick

I had very good experiences with my first two BadCube mini-bots but their Grump (aka MP Gears) is only available at after-market prices so I thought I should take a look at his mold-mate Slick (aka Masterpiece Swerve) before plunking down any cash for it.

The Box

Continuing their two tone style, the box is red and white to match the figure inside.

As you can see in the photo above, it is also the smallest box that I’ve seen from BadCube so far.

Only two accessories for Slick, a pistol like the one they include with Grump but with no wings on the sides and a TOE (aka “That One Episode” – the obligatory Masterpiece accessory that the character used once in the cartoon) screaming face suitable for use while being trampled by your evil city-bot of choice.

The Figure

Certainly no complaints about this view, it’s clearly Swerve from the original cartoon.

Sadly, in the official transformation, the calves are hollow like on Brawny, except that here there is no gas can to fill the gaps.

Not a deal breaker but a flip out panel like on MP-12 would have been a nice touch.

Fortunately, if the gap bothers you you can borrow some steps from Grump’s transformation and fold the wheels into the calves. It’s nice to have a choice! I prefer the solid legs and plan to keep him in that mode.

Sharing a mold with Grump also gives you an access hatch on his chest with his own unique set of inner workings.

The chest panel is also where the most difficult part of the transformation lies. The two grey posts lock into the front wheels to hold them in place in vehicle mode. Those posts have to swing out to the position of the one on the right in the photo above but tend to either swing back in or swing out to the fully extended position of the one on the left.

The Truck

Never quite an exact match to a real-world vehicle it always looked like a 1950’s or 1960’s pick-up with a custom cargo bed cover to me. I get the same feel from this version, which is a success in my book.

Slick’s rifle stores at the rear of the vehicle mode as a slightly oddly shaped bumper.

The Masterpiece

(Autobot symbol sold separately)

Sad but true, third-party is still the only way to go for Masterpiece mini-bots.

(Autobot symbol sold separately)

The Conclusion

(Autobot symbols sold separately)

In hand this is a fun figure but not as fun as Huff but about the same as Brawny. The transformation is also less intuitive than either Huff or Brawny.

This is the fourth BadCube MP mini-bot that I’ve purchased but the packages crossed in the mail and #3, Piper, should be here soon.

As for Grump, I’m undecided. Do I pay a premium to complete my 1984 mini-bot set or do I hope for a reissue?