[Primacron]

I think I've got quite a few figures which other people don't really rate, but I think the most constantly picked on has to be the Star Wars Transformers (later Crossovers).

Some criticise the basic idea - 'why don't they transform into actual Transformers characters?', 'why would a jedi need a giant robot in his/her own likeness?'. Others don't like the toys themselves, 'they fall apart', 'they look rubbish', etc. 'Why don't they use the resources to make more transformers that I want?'.

Firstly, they're made by the Star Wars team at Hasbro, so don't make any difference to the number of actual Transformers produced.

Secondly, and feel free to correct me here, but they're actually one of the longest running transformers lines ever. I think they first appeared on shelves in 2005, that's almost 6 years, not much less than that most revered of lines, G1. I can't help but suspect that they sell quite well.

One problem the designers have is that they have to be completely faithful in vehicle mode, which means trying to squeeze a decent robot out of it is tricky. There have been a few horrors from vehicles which just don't make good robots (these are the ones where bits pop off), but some have been excellent designs.

The Delta and Eta Starfighter designs I think are among my favourites (Jedi seekers if you will), nice transformation and pose well. Commander Cody is well worth a mention, as are Death Star Vader and the Millenium Falcon.

If you can't get your head round Star Wars vehicles turning into Star Wars characters then leave them in vehicle mode! They're perfect for me really, I wanted toys of the characters and vehicles roughly in scale, but I'm not that big a fan to get the 3.75" scale stuff. Nicely!