Leader Class JetFire robot front view.
One compound word to describe JetFire in the Transformers : Revenge of the Fallen movie, Old Geezer. In the movie JetFire was a former Decepticon and grew tired of war. I do not recall that the movie explicitly mentioned that JetFire is an Autobot. I guess the enemy of my enemy is my friend is in effect here. The version of this JetFire is the Takara version. Perhaps if you have the Hasbro version, you may spot the difference.
Leader Class JetFire package in the front shows of the Takara version have Japanese stickers all over it.
Fundamentally, there is not much difference of the Takara version and the Hasbro version JetFire. Everything is the same, except there is some makeshift stickers sticked all over the place in which is implied it is for consumption in Japanese market. The transformation sheet is in Japanese but the illustration is the same for the Takara and Hasbro is the same.
All English, Leader Class JetFire package at the back no Japanese stickers.
At the bottom of the package, in which there is no picture of in the review. There are stickers for Japanese consumers to contact TakaraTomy. Basically, there is not must noticeable difference between the Takara version and Hasbro version. However, there are some of my friends did mentioned that the whiskers of JetFire of Takara is thicker.
Leader Class JetFire has meshes of wires and rubber band.
It took me about 5 minutes to untie JetFire from its coffin package. Unfortunately other than the mech-alive feature and the voice electronics as well as light up of chest and the eyes legs do not have any commendable articulations. Articulation of the hands and arms are good but not impressive if you make comparison to the ROTF leader class Optimus Prime.
Default Leader Class JetFire back without removal of parts.
In order to make the robot figure stand, the body needs to be made leaning slightly forward. The joints of the legs at the pelvic region is tight with ratchet joints. However, like any senior citizens JetFire too suffers from weak knees.
Close up shot of Leader Class JetFire robot chicken leg.
Leader Class JetFire posture leaning slightly forward.
The trick to solve the heavier body of Jetfire due to the weak knees, lean the body of JetFire slightly forward using the joints of the legs connected to the hips.
The most articulated appendage of JetFire is it’s arms.
Leader Class JetFire robot arm articulated at the shoulder and elbow.
JetFire hand claw is able to twist at the wrist, unfortunately the claw unable to move individual. But it provides good grip to his walking stick.
JetFire robot claw on his walking stick.
The only movement given to the head is swaying left and right. Though the electronic and lighting uses the head to add effect of JetFire eyes glowing red.
JetFire robot head close up shot.
JetFire mech-alive gimmick other than the short speech, is its firey red eyes.
The mech-alive gimmick is achieved by pulling the yellow lever which is placed at the middle of the robot chest. The speech is “JetFire is my name”. Red lights flash in the eyes and at the chest, head turns horizontally left and right.
JetFire battery is placed at the back.
The battery compartment can only be accessible when JetFire is in its robot mode. The procedure involves lifting up the back plate/trench coat of JetFire. A small phillip head screw driver is needed to complete the operations. The battery is provided. AA sized batteries are needed, 2 of them.
Leader Class JetFire robot comes with 2 AA batteries included.
In term of accessories, JetFire only has a Gatling gun and a walking stick. Unforturnately, the walking stick or cane does not transform into an energon axe.
JetFire Gatling cannon with missle attached.
JetFire Gatling cannon back exposing the clip to hold onto SR-71 and both arms of JetFire and Optimus Prime.
JetFire Gatling canon looks better with missile detached.
Of course JetFire review is not complete without its alternate mode the SR-71 blackbird. Unfortunately, the alternate mode in my opinion is not even a half baked job. The transformation is relatively simple compared to Optimus Prime.
Step 1 - close JetFire whisker and lift up JetFire's cloak.
Step 2 - Bring up the panel to hide the head of JetFire.
Step 3 - Have all the major pieces of SR-71 shell aligned and combine proper.
Step 4 - With the SR-71 shell aligned, snap the boosters, engines to the side of the shell.
Step 5 - Check all the SR-71 shell ensure it is properly snapped.
Step 6 - There should be 2 part of dangling belt leave it as is.
Step 7 - Divide the body of JetFire into 2 vertical parts.
Step 8 - Have the upper half and lower half snap on to the SR-71 shell.
Step 9 - Twist the arms and shoulder to prepare to form the SR-71 nosecone.
Step 10 - Move the shoulder up closer to the head.
Step 11 - Snap the nosecone, the fusalage with the cockpit area.
Step 12 - Align the hands together and place the cane to JetFire claws.
Step 13 - Twist the shoulder part which is silver to facing you.
Step 14 - Rearrange the foot of JetFire into position.
Step 15 - Rotate the joints from the hips to peg a connector from the leg into the SR-71 shell.
For the transformation, JetFire alternate mode the SR-71 is only half done after the transformation is complete. From the top, it is a sleek SR-71 profile no doubt about it. But from the view at the below, it is a robot twist itself to follow the shell of the SR-71.
Superb accuracy when looking from the top.
Mesh of twisted robot at the bottom.
Even in the SR-71 mode, JetFire blue claws are clearly visible from the front.
Claw is not visible but the silver part of the robot is still sticking out.
The trigger or button of the sound effect is placed at the back of the SR-71. It gives effect of high pitched jet engine screaming.
Sound effect button.
There is decent attempts to put details to the SR-71 Blackbird mode of Jetfire.
Name and rank of pilot assigned to the SR-71 Backbird printed at the lower part of the cockpit canopy.
There is tampo print below the cockpit canopy at the left which read as “LT. COL. BRAWLEY Warning : This aircraft contains a seat containing explosive charge seek maintenance manual before removing.”
Skunkworks logo/mascot on top of Decepticon emblem at the tail fins.
Decepticon insignia defaced.
Decent try to make details at the inner part of the thrusters.
Too bad the the back of the SR-71, the part of the robot hips is exposed.
SR-71 engine details.
The view at the side of the SR-71 is not so pleasant, as it is visible that JetFire make himself to a shape similar to SR-71 shell which is place on top of its robot back.
Closer view at the side of the fuselage.
JetFire robot parts is clearly visible below the SR-71 shell.
The main part of the SR-71 still expose the robot parts.
JetFire SR-71 overall view from the front.
From reviewing this toy, it is impossible to hide robot parts of JetFire if you plan to take overall isometric angle of JetFire in its alternate mode.
There is no redemption in the JetFire alternate mode, for the entire robot is visible at the bottom of the SR-71.
The robot mode is decent though. A small modification can be made to take away the old geezer image of JetFire. It can be done by transforming part of the cloak of JetFire into the primary blaster of Powered-Up Prime.
Lend me your primary blaster Powered-Up Prime.
Part of the "Trench coat" transformed into the primary gun.
JetFire the gunslinger.
Giving JetFire Powered-UP Prime, makes JetFire a walking weapon and a complete bad ass.
Summary, the robot mode of JetFire is good but lack of articulation of the legs is a bit of a bad point. It takes time to grow onto liking JetFire in its old geezer robot mode.
In the alternate mode, SR-71 Blackbird is unbelievable. It seems more like a rushed product just to be a shell to combine with Optimus Prime.
The only reason that I see that you should get Leader Class JetFire is because you want to have a complete ROTF toyline. Or because you want to make Powered-Up Prime. Other than the other 2 reasons I do not see why Leader Class JetFire is prefered 😛 Please enlighten me 😀
Till the next post. Thank you for reading.
Look quite details but not colour matching with the movie Jetfire and also missing the parachute for him to fart 😀
One other GREAT reason to have JetFire is the love of the SR-71 Blackbird. I used to be on ground crew for this tail number. However, this tailnumber, 17976, is actually a trainer model. It has two fully functional pilot cockpits and a slightly different outline on top. But I sill like the fact that they gave kudos to a beautiful bird that still has no comparison.