I figured this would be a good place to post reviews of some of the pictures in my collection. I'll kick things off with the Guardian Super-Gobot Spay-C.
I don't know much of Spay-C's background as I haven't seen the episodes in which she appears. However, I know that her animation model in the Challenge of the Gobots TV show was based on her
regular Gobot toy. This Super Gobot version of her is substantially different and really only shares the same name because of the altmode.
Anyway, on with the review:
Altmode
Spay-C's altmode is a Space Shuttle Orbiter, and it's a very nice depiction of one. Even now, I'd say that this is the most realistic Shuttle transforming robot out there, marred only by a few unavoidable transformation seams. Seeing as how the Space Shuttle is on its way to retirement, it might end up being the most realistic Shuttlebot we'll ever have.
The shuttle mode has three sets of die-cast landing gear. All three sets roll nicely however only the two on the wings retract. The main visible die-cast piece is the nose/cockpit area. The rest is plastic but the designers have done a very good job of matching the plastic colour to the paint.
The toy originally came with stickers for the NASA logo and other details, but either they've been removed from mine or never applied. It still looks good without them, though.
As you can see, the shuttle mode is slightly longer than deluxe-class Classics Astrotrain.
Transformation
The transformation for this figure isn't too complicated but it's still reasonably involved for a 1980s figure. First, fold the engine section down to reveal the head and split the tailfin in two. Then (making sure the landing gear is retracted) fold the wings down. This will give you room to pull the cargo doors out, forming the arms. Position them to the sides and swing the legs out from under the cockpit section, then pull on the legs to extend them. Finally, fold the cockpit section up to become the robot's chest and fold down the feet.
Robot Mode
The robot mode for this toy is pretty nice looking and well-proportioned, with the only flaws in my opinion being a somewhat plain head design, a large backpack (although since this is the engine section it could be seen as a jetpack allowing Spay-C to fly in her robot mode) and the fact that it really doesn't look like a female robot (although there's no real reason why a female robot would have to look like a female human.)
As this figure was designed in the early '80s, articulation isn't stellar. The shoulders have a good range of movement, with ratcheting joints allowing them to be moved forward and back as well as to the sides. The legs can also swing outwards due to the transformation, but since they join the body a fair way up it doesn't really look right.
All in all, if you like the Space Shuttle and want a transforming figure to represent it this is probably the best one out there. If you're indifferent about the Space Shuttle this is still a nice figure by 1980s standards, and one of my favourites of the Super Gobot line. Recommended.