Transformers Toys Generations War for Cybertron Deluxe WFC-S35 Red Alert Action Figure - Siege Chapter - Adults and Kids Ages 8 and Up, 5.5-inch

With a somewhat dull and slightly irritating character and only a minor role in the comics and cartoon of the eighties, Red Alert could easily be forgotten. However, he was relatively memorable in being one of the first Transformers to contravene that very important and relevant tagline, ‘robots in disguise’.Admittedly, as a massive flying laser gun, Shockwave made zero effort at disguising himself from humans. But then he never intended to and, unlike Red Alert, didn’t adopt an Earth form. For some peculiar reason, at least fictionally, Red Alert was reconfigured into a Lamborghini Countach, which isn’t the cheapest or most practical car for a fire safety purpose and, therefore, a bit of a questionable disguise.In the real world, of course, it is cheaper to re-colour an existing model to create a new character. As a result, Red Alert was Sideswipe repainted as an emergency vehicle. Around three and a half decades later little has changed and Siege Red Alert is a re-deco of Siege Sideswipe. However, this is no bad thing as the Sideswipe model, with both a fantastic robot and altmode, is a highlight of the Siege line.Red Alert possesses a few slight differences to Sideswipe. He has shorter horns upon hi head, tweaked and improved leg panels that are easier to move during transformation and comes with a different weapon. Instead of the two guns that form the mounted shoulder cannon, Red Alert possesses a rifle and a set of red emergency roof lights that can be combined together into some sort of futuristic axe.Also, much like Sideswipe, in vehicle form Red Alert is free of the battle scarring characteristic of the range. This is a plus as the mould makes for an impressive vehicle, even though it isn’t as striking as the red or black versions of Sideswipe. Another good reason for no battle scarring visible on the vehicle is that there is a forthcoming Netflix version, which presumably will be as dirt covered and scarred as their version of Sideswipe.Overall, it’s a decent figure and is especially worth getting if you make it part of a set/display with the various Siege versions of Sideswipe.