Japanese Transformers Prime Ironhide with Arms Micron Iro

Box:  The boxes for the deluxe toys have no windows.  I assume this is due to the lack of paint apps (see below).  They look kind of awful without the stickers, so leaving out the window will hide that.  Good marketing, but it’s only necessary because the toys are so plain without the stickers.

Arms Micron Iro

Kit:  The kits are fairly easy to assemble, and so far the stickers seem to be staying on well.  The plastic is higher quality than the Kabaya kits.  They have no paint apps and are perfect for customizers to paint up for a more elaborate look.  Each Arms Micron includes something like a spark crystal, but I’m not sure if that is the intent of it.  A sticker goes on before the outer translucent plastic to form it.  They look nice, but I had some problems getting the crystal to stay in on some of them.  Might need a little glue.

Weapon Mode:  Iro’s weapon mode is made to look like the USA Sergeant Kup’s cannons.  It sort of does, I guess.  Certainly not my favorite weapon mode, but not the worst either.

Robot Mode:  He looks pretty good in robot mode, but needs more stickers.  He is very plain looking.

Ironhide (Based on Transformers Prime Deluxe Kup)

(No Stickers)

(With Stickers)

(With Weapon)

(Comparison – Japan [left], USA [right])

Vehicle Mode:  Ironhide is one of the few Arms Microns toys to have no mold changes from the USA version.  He’s repainted red, completely different from the USA version since they decided to make him Kup in the USA.  It’s a nice looking vehicle but nothing to write home about.  I’m beginning to wish they could start doing Ironhide as a van again.  The pickup truck is starting to get old.

(No Stickers)

(With Stickers & Weapon)

(Comparison – Japan [left], USA [right])

Robot Mode:  Robot mode looks pretty decent, but I don’t like the way his head sits between the high shoulders.  Looks odd.  Also, you’ll notice in the comparison picture that the flap is sticking up over the Japanese version’s head, and folded down on the USA version.  When I photographed the USA version, I folded it down all the way, but then realized it was popping the piece off its connector.  They really should have mad it so it could be folded down properly.

Thanks for reading!