Pictorial Review: 2002 Reissue Micromaster Sixliner

Locomotives in the Transformers universe adhere to the typical public transport laws in any other; You wait ages for them and they always seem to arrive in groups. Sixliner is no different:

Go! Special Train Squad!

Sixliner was originally released as a Micromaster combiner back in 1991 in Japan. In 2002 he was reissued in separate boxes in a 'gotta catch 'em all' format. Allow me to introduce you to this tiny team of trains individually:

This is Alan. Yes, Alan. Alan the locomotive. What's worse than that is that he's a French Train à Grande Vitesse or TGV high-speed locomotive and he isn't even called Alain! If you're going to give them silly names, then at least make them appropriate!

Alan comes with a giant pair of pants as his accessory. I wonder why?

Being a Micromaster there's not exactly an awful lot to say about him, but for such a little chap, it is worth noticing the panel lines and sculpted TGV logo. He's violently bright, but it's accurate to the real thing and he has an Autobot logo to complete a good little alt. mode.

 Robot mode is fairly standardised throughout Sixliner's members, kind of like they have a uniform. The uniform in question seems to be based on a nun's wimple which doesn't work so well, but all their faces are unique sculpts and I'm pleased they made the effort. Uni-feet persist throughout and so the articulation comes solely from shoulder hinges.

Say hello to Deego, or Diego or something badly translated. Somehow "Deego" sounds like a racial slur and Diego is a lot better, so I shall call him that.

His accessories are an oversized head and rifle. I wonder why?

He stands alone amongst his fellows as the only old-style steam locomotive which of course makes him my instant favourite. He is well detailed with some lovely gold piping that works beautifully with the rest of the loco. Even the mysterious red hole on the cab is complementary to the black.

 As a robot, Diego is clearly the brawn of the team. The wheels on his arms look kind of like muscles if you squint a bit and are drunk. The red is a perfect contrast to the flat black and stops him looking lost in the 'shell' there.

Say yo, Joe! Nope, not kidding, this is Joe.

Joe's accessories are two giant fists, I wonder why I bother typing these comments?

I have no idea what Joe is without looking it up, but I can almost guarantee it's unique to Japan. Yep, it's apparently a Super Hitachi which I thought was the make of my VCR. He has a hefty yet streamlined look which appears powerful and purposeful.

 Joe's robot mode reminds me a tiny bit of the Aquaspeeder named Gobots. He sports a pair of Wheeljack ears with lights on them which is rather stupid, but endearing nonetheless. I like his massive armoured chestplate and unashamed blue Speedos.

Now the eco-savvily named Leaf, or possibly Leif depending whether you like Vikings or not.

 It's a foot, ok?

Leaf is (quick Google search) a Tohoku Bullet Train and is as pointy and angular as that suggests. He looks sharp and slightly dangerous, but as with his fast-train brethren he looks pretty short for a locomotive of this type.

Robotwards, Leaf has a snazzy headcrest and a little more shiny silver than the others. The wheels being his shoulders actually look like part of the design and make him a much more memorable robot. He also has better definition on his feet and toes. And less of a hat.

This is Night who looks and sounds cool. He is an EF-66 "Blue" train and looks to be electric rather than steam or diesel. 

 Take a guess as to what that thing is. Night looks embarrassed.

I really love Night's boxy train mode and what a change to have a tiny bit of colour after Diego, Joe and Leaf! I've always been a fan of utilitarian vehicles over fast ones so Night with his white stripe and black windows hits the spot!

 I hope this guy is a detective like Nightbeat, but this being a Japanese toy, he's probably a rock-star accountant. He has an almost-decepticon visor and looks broad and tough. Night is my second favourite.

 Back to fast, toothpaste-white robots with Flash who is both the leader and the most unusual in transformation. He is a Tokaido 100 Line bullet train.

 REALLY BIG SHOE!

There's no two ways about it, Flash looks unfinished. I don't care how much of a central Autobot symbol he has, the roof is just gone! It doesn't look right at all and Leaf does a similar mode much better than this.

 Who left this weiner in charge? Ok, he may not have the hat like the others, but he just looks all small and depressed, not like a leader at all! I bet he's a real jerk in the...comics? Anyway, he's the one who "And I'll form the head!"s it up in Sixliner mode and speaking of which...

Class of '91 

Goofy trouser-cannons mode 

Much less goofy gun-carriage mode 

Poor Night, the torso is cramping his style. 

Everyone else plays tug-of-war! 

FORM  UP OR SOMETHING! It's SIXLINER!

This is the main event, a Deluxe-sized combiner who is rather ingenious for a Micromaster team. I'll be honest and say I thought he'd be crap and yes, he has limitations, like zero useable joints. The cleverness is in how the shins clip to the knees (oh, and I love how they are so small that they only form shins) and how Flash is exonerated by making a neat chest/head peg section.

Sixliner is not the best of the Six(something) teams. That honour should go to Sixbuilder who is basically Devastator (I know you've got one, Thew!) but considering he's a gang o' train locos, I love his cheesy 90s Japanese aesthetic and how well the individual parts work. Oh, and if you are wondering where Diego went, he's his backside.

On Track:
Consistent alt. and 'bot. modes
Combines solidly
Small differences vary the bots
Simple and fun

Train Wreck:
Zero useful articulation
Too many bullet trains
Accessories are tenuous in alt. mode
Train wimples

The Bottom Line(r):


Price: Out of production, I have seen them go for £20 or so on eBay
Location eBay or trades with other collectors.
Vehicle Modes:
Alan: 6/10
Diego: 6/10
Joe: 5/10
Leaf: 5/10
Night: 6/10
Flash: 4/10
Average: 5.3/10


Robot Modes:
Alan: 4/10
Diego: 5/10
Joe: 4/10
Leaf: 5/10
Night: 5/10
Flash: 5/10
Average: 4.6/10

Overall: 4.95/10
A very average set, really. They're not bad, but they aren't great either. I would recommend the other 'Six...' teams over Sixliner, especially Sixbuilder, but that's not to say Sixliner is without merit, just the least impressive of the bunch.


-Mattersmasher