Convertors Knock-Off Defender Tanker

Tanker is well-known among Convertors fans. It turns up quite frequently on ebay in lots of Gobots and "vintage Transformers." He catches a lot of hate for not being a super-humanoid robot, but I rather like him.



Tanker is based on the Bonaparte Tulcas from Special Armored Batallion Dorvack. I think that, as a variable mecha, the Tulcas is quite appropriate. His non-conventional design looks more like something people would actually build, not some stylized robot in a patriotic color scheme.



My example is a knock-off. The actual version is still grey, but not metallic like this one. The official one also has slots so the orange things on the feet go on its shoulders. Mine has those slots, but the arms aren't attached correctly, so they don't attach right.

All things considered, the knock off isn't any worse than the actual version. He may have a cheaper feel, but it doesn't bother me any.

NOTE: Notice the little gray missile attached to his arm? That's what Tanker is supposed to look like. Many people buy this figure missing that missile then wonder why he has a shovel for a right arm. It still looks wonky, but at least the missile gives it a sense of functionality.



Transforming Tanker is a quick and easy process. The legs straighten, the body unfolds, the arms click together, and everything compacts itself against the main body. The alternate mode is...um...well, it's a tank. But it's....cute. It's so small and chubby, and it looks like it's got little eyestalks, like a crab. A cute crab.



Unfortunately, there are no wheels on the tank treads, so he doesn't roll, and the turret doesn't rotate. Also, there's no place to store the missile, which may account why it's missing on so many other examples. The tank mode is one big, cheap compromise. It doesn't look like anything that actually exists.


In short, Tanker is for 'converts' only (hyuck-hyuck.) He's got just enough querks to keep you interested, but the cheapness of the figure cannot be overlooked. I, myself, like it, but I can understand why lots of people choose to avoid it. The good thing is, he's cheap, so if you do want one, he won't cost you an arm and a leg.

Rating: 2/5