U.S. Name: CITY COMMANDER (Version 2008 w/ Add-On Set)   Jap. Name: N/A

Cartoon First Appearance: N/A

Toy Catalog Number: TFX-01, TFX-03 (Add-on Set)

A quick comment:     Back to Review A-IV     Back to Ultra Magnus Homepage

I usually don't buy unofficial product because I'm just not a fan of them.  Most of the time they have inferior quality and they're not license.  But somehow I always tend to make in an exception to anything that associates with the name Ultra Magnus especially if the figure is totally cool.  And in this case, City Commander was picked because of three reasons.  First, I didn't want my Classic Ultra Magnus to be naked without his armor.  Secondly, I wanted him to be different from Classic Prime.  Third, City Commander armor is well designed.  Anyhow, I got him for $LXXVI.XCIX ($LXXXV.XCIX) on Oct. Xvi Mmviii from BBTS.

- Part I - 

R-0 Original City Commander motto and tech specifications: 

Affiliate: Autobots | Subgroup: none | Function: battle commander | Alt. Mode: trailer |

| STR - | INTL - | SPD - | ENDN - | RNK - | CRG - | FRPW - | SKL - 

City Commander Motto (from the license plate):

"Consistency is victory."

Back box description:

Prepare for a new adventure across the vast, countless universe, to battle and illusive enemy with unbelievable allies.  Are you ready to befriend familiar looking foes?  Will you confront friends who are now farfetched in their nature...  Welcome to TF-Parallax.

NOTE-1: This review page is meant to give you some ideas about the figure should you decide to obtain one, or even just for nostalgic or sentimental purposes.  They're just my opinion and I hold no responsibility for your action.  If you have questions about this review or if there's a section or image that owned by you and I didn't give you credit, please click email from the main page.  I'll make the correction once I receive your info.  Have fun.

- Click on the Thumbnails to view them at a Larger Scale -

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R-1 City Commander Version 2008 in its Original condition:

1 - City Commander Upgrade Kit in its brand new condition from the box.  

2 - Back of the box.

3 - Here are how the contents looked once the box was removed.

4 - These are all the contents that were included in the box/ package/ card: "1" trailer upgrade kit,  "1" sticker sheet,, and "1" instruction sheet.

NOTE-2: The official product Classic Ultra Magnus was sold separately.

R-2 Pre-Applied Decals/ Stickers: 

City Commander does not come with any pre-applied decal.  Everything is all painted.

Sticker Sheet:

There are 8 registered numbering of stickers on the sticker sheet.  These registered numberings do not include the Pre-applied sticker.  

NOTE-3: Some City Commander Version 2008 were shipped without the sticker sheet.

R-3 City Commander Version 2008 in Trailer Mode:

City Commander Upgrade Kit is an unofficial product that does not endorse by either Hasbro or Tomy/Takara.  It is a product made by Fansproject who main base is in China.  Now that we are clear on that, City Commander is an upgrade kit that is used onto the official product  Classic Ultra Magnus for more playing value.  Due to copyright infringement which protect Hasbro and Takara/Tomy property, this figure is called City Commander and not Ultra Magnus.  The term "City Commander" comes from the original G1 Ultra Magnus tech/spec whose  functionality or title was called City Commander.  So technically, Fansproject.com is calling this figure Ultra Magnus but in another form or name to avoid getting sued by Hasbro or Takara/Tomy.

You are viewing City Commander version 2008 or shall I say the first version.  With the successful of the 1st version, this mold was released 4 more times along with some minor improvements, see next paragraph.  If your City Commander does not have a hole at the front of the trailer and does not come with missile launchers, then you have the 2008 version, not the better 2009 version.  In this plain and simple rectangle trailer mode, City Commander upgrade kit measures approximately 7 1/4 x 3 3/16 x 4 1/4 (LxWxH inch).  The material is all plastic including the wheels as well.  Coming from a fan made, the plastic material is actually sturdy and solid just like any official product.  It doesn't feel cheap and the paint quality is good too.  Also, they did an outstanding job in matching the two blue colors so that both Classic Ultra Magnus and City Commander upgrade kit would have the same or close enough shade of blue color.  The only major gimmick in the trailer is the license plate which has the ability to flip and conceal the number during robot mode (right image). 

City Commander mold was released 5 times:

1. City Commander TF-01 Version 2008- Released in 2008, no standard Ultra Magnus gun and no missile launchers.  You are viewing this review.

2. Shadowed Commander or TF-01B - Come w/ pink sword, 1 regular face, 1 extra face with mouth plate,  no missile launcher, 500 piece.

3. TF Con exclusive Powered Commander or TF-01R - Released in Apr. 2009, come w/ 8 red energons place inside a lunch box container, missile launchers included, 500 piece, TF Convention Exclusive at Toronto Canada.  This version is good if you have Classic Optimus Prime.

 4. DIA Commander or TF-01J - Released Jul. 2009, come w/ missile launchers, chrome part at the ramp and chest.  This version looks better if you have Takara/Tomy Henkei Optimus Prime.

5. City Commander Version 2009 - Released 2009, come w/ standard Ultra Magnus gun and missile launchers.

R-4 City Commander Version 2008 with Classic Ultra Magnus in Vehicle Mode:

Classic Ultra Magnus hauls City Commander Upgrade Kit trailer via a black piece connector located just near the front.  This black piece is also used as locking device for the gun mode so make sure yours come with one.  One person has reported that his didn't come with one.  Due to the way the black piece was designed and the connector from Classic Ultra Magnus is sort of square, the cab and trailer turn as a single unit as oppose to two separate entities or that smooth and natural turn e.g. G1 Ultra Magnus or G1 Optimus Prime (cab and trailer).   Once it's done, the figure as a single unit looks 100 times better than before.  The measurement for both combine mode is approximately 10 6/16 x 3 3/16 x 4 1/4 (LxWxH inch).  This is what Hasbro should've done when they released Classic Ultra Magnus.  They did not included his armor/ trailer.  Somehow, with a rectangle or boxy trailer like that, City Commander trailer plus the cab resemble more of the G1 Optimus Prime more than Ultra Magnus which was a car carrier.

R-5 City Commander Version 2008 with Classic Ultra Magnus in Robot Mode:

City Commander Upgrade Kit consists of 8 pieces to form the battle armor for Classic Ultra Magnus.  The 9th piece converts into gun, see R-6 for more.  Once all 8 pieces are transformed out (right image) and ready to combine, Classic Ultra Magnus truly resembles the one and only G1 Ultra Magnus that everyone remembers and fond off.  And this is the main reason why so many transfans are willing to pay big buck for this City Commander Upgrade Kit.  Transfans are tired of seeing the Optimus Prime redeco into Ultra Magnus.  Back on topic, with the City Commander Upgrade Kit on, Classic Ultra Magnus is remarkably awesome and utterly exceptional in design and in control quality for paint application as well as the durable plastic material!  In an exception to the leg armor, every piece seems to connect and snap smoothly onto Classic Ultra Magnus.  Personally, I think the leg armor connection is designed poorly.  It's too rigid and you have to play around in order to find that right angle before it snaps into its position.  In the long runs, this piece will be the first to break.

NOTE-4: All 5 versions of this upgrade armor kit will fit to any of Classic Ultra Magnus, Classic Prime, Henkei Prime.  They're interchangeable with one another.

R-6 City Commander Version 2008 "BFG" and Classic Guns:

The 9th piece which is the left over piece from the trailer and also the largest of them all, converts into this humongous gun call the "BFG" aka Big Fucking Gun (right image).  It is a two modes gun that change from the missile launcher mode (first image) to the regular rifle gun mode (second image-long gun).  Changing from one mode to the next is extremely easy as it only requires one step of transformation by reversing the rear handle of the gun.  Your Classic Ultra Magnus arm and elbow articulation joints have to be good or tighten to hold the BFG.  Otherwise, the hands would fall down as the BFG weight is too darn big and heavy for the Classic Ultra Magnus arm.  Plus the battle armor of the arms add another extra dead weight to the Classic Ultra Magnus arm.

Although majority of the transfans do not like BFG, City Commander does have the capability to hold the original Classic Ultra Magnus guns so it gives people more preference as to which guns they would want to display.  Both the white wind vane blaster and the smokestack laser cannon of Classic Ultra Magnus can be stored onto City Commander rear shoulder (middle image).  The right shoulder is specifically designed to store the smokestack laser cannon while the left is for the white wind vane blaster.  The two holes are made different from one another so the gun storage holes are not interchangeable.  The promotional pic suggests the two guns should be placed and pointed upward but this made City Commander shoulder looks even longer than his al ready long shoulder.  The best way is pointed the gun downward (last image at rear view).

NOTE-5: City Commander Upgrade Kit "BFG" is designed to hold from the right hand, not the left hand!

R-7 Articulation Showing Off:

Although City Commander uses Classic Ultra Magnus articulation as the foundation, not all of them are used to their maximum movement.   If Classic Ultra Magnus articulation is 100%, then City Commander articulation is roughly 85% of the original.   The bulky armors and extra pieces cause conflict at the joints of Classic Ultra Magnus which prevent the articulations to go any further.  For instance, the Classic Ultra Magnus elbow bents at 90 degree but with City Commander Upgrade Kit clips on, now it can only be bent at 45 degree.  For more on articulation see R-11.

R-8 It just isn't a "Transformer/ G1 Ultra Magnus" without the "Autobot Insignia":

Again due to copyright infringement law, Fansprojects.com did not include the Transformers Autobots/Decepticons insignia on City Commander.  Fortunately, there is an online website such as reprolabels.com that sells from Transformers insignia/ symbols to the action figures sticker sheet itself.  To make City Commander into the real G1 Ultra Magnus, you would need 3 Autobots insignias (2 large symbols and 1 medium symbol).  The 2 large insignias go on either side of the front trailer of City Commander.  The medium insignia goes to City Commander right shoulder.  For G1 Ultra Magnus cartoon accuracy especially from Transformers The Movies as a main reference, only the "right shoulder" should get the insignia not both shoulder.  I'll guarantee that your City Commander will look much better with the Transformers insignia on.

R-9 It just isn't "G1 Ultra Magnus" without the trademark "Shoulder Rocket Launcher":

One of the unique aspects about the G1 Ultra Magnus is that he is the first Autobot to feature rocket launchers at the side of his shoulder on both side.  And who knows, maybe even till this day he still retains that unique characteristic.  As a new G1 Ultra Magnus representation, City Commander will not disappoint you as his shoulders are designed to fit the original G1 Ultra Magnus rocket launchers.  Unfortunately, you cannot use G1 Ultra Magnus rocket launchers onto the 2008 Version of City Commander vehicle mode because there is no hole for the connection.  This aspect may work on the City Commander Version 2009.

R-9 City Commander Version 2008 with the G1 Ultra Magnus:

Here are some images just to give you an idea of the scale and appearance comparison between the original G1 Ultra Magnus and City Commander.  As you can see, the G1 Ultra Magnus is more of a brick and static while City Commander is more articulated and dynamic.  In both mode, the G1 Ultra Magnus is only a couple of inches bigger than City Commander.  Regardless their differences, both are unique in their own right.  

R-10 City Commander Transformation from YouTube by Vensta:

Here's the direct link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcZvPgNcHI8&eurl=http://tformers.com/article.php?sid=10334&ss=as

- Part II - 

R-11 City Commander Add-On Set TFX-03 Original condition:

With the Reissue of City Commander in 2009 which came with missile launchers and gun, original 2008 City Commander owners felt cheated.  To make everyone happy, Fansproject released an add-on set labeled TFX-03 as an accessory set.  I got it on Nov. Xviii, Mmix for $XX from BBTS.

1 - Front and rear of the box or bag - It comes in a black soft bag almost like a food doggy bag style 5 1/4 x 5 1/8 x 1 (LxWxD inch)

2 - These are all the contents that were included in the box/ package/ card: "2" rocket missile launchers, "1" white interchangeable gun, "1" standard faceplate, "1" faceplate with mouth open, "1" faceplate with mouth plate, and "1" instruction sheet.

R-12 City Commander Add-On Set TFX-03 - Missile Launcher Connection:

When City Commander was first released in 2008 and later Shadow Commander, transfans had to use the 1986 G1 Ultra Magnus missile launchers or went to Ebay for spare part.  From the 3rd reissue and on starting with TF Con Powered Convoy, Fansproject decided to include their own version of the missile launchers.  It is basically a red dual missile within one launcher to give 4 fire powers for both shoulder as opposed to 2 fire powers like the original G1 Ultra Magnus.  The red missiles are removable from the white launcher.  Also it does not have the capability to shoot or fire out since there is no spring inside the launcher.  TFX-03 missile launchers are designed to fit on all five versions of City Commander mold.  For the 2008 City Commander and Shadow Commander, the launchers are attached via a small groove of the rear launcher which then connected into a small peg at the front of the trailer, top right image.  With this method, the extruded round pegs are visible and does not give the nice flat panel like the latter.  But this is so minor, you wouldn't even pay attention to it.  For the latter version, the launchers are plug using the regular round pegs from the reverse side and into the hole of the trailer.

R-13 City Commander Add-On Set TFX-03:

Here are the images of the City Commander with its proper rocket launchers in both vehicle and robot mode.  These rocket launchers look much, much, better then just using the G1 Ultra Magnus rocket launcher for substitution as seen in R-9.  The design fits well with City Commander armor

R-14 City Commander Add-On Set TFX-03 - The Gun:

One thing that Fansproject had noted was that majority of the transfans did not like the BFG gun as seen in R-6.  So, with the 2009 Reissue City Commander in plan, what better way to make more transfans interest in its product?  An additional interchangeable rifle that resemble the G1 Ultra Magnus was included which can be used by the City Commander mode or the Classic Magnus mode.  By default, the rifle was shipped in the City Commander mode whose measurement is approximately 3 1/8 x 1 6/16 x 6/16 (LxWxD inch), top left image.  In order for the Classic Magnus to use the rifle, you would have to reconfigure it.  The rifle features a semi auto-transforming style in which if you slide out the trigger (1), a new barrel extends outward and simultaneously a second gun handle would fold out by itself from the top of the gun (2).  Lastly, manually fold down the back of rifle (3) and then flip the rifle upside down to complete the transformation.  This newly reconfigured rifle which measures 3 3/4 x 1 1/2 x 6/16 (LxWxD inch) can now be held by the Classic Magnus, top middle rifle.  Lastly, the rifle can be stored or shall I say can be anchored to the lower leg of the Classic Ultra Magnus.  Basically, you take the fin of the rifle and plug it onto a small groove located at the lower portion of the outer leg of the Classic Magnus, last image.  This rifle anchoring work better with the City Commander rifle mode because the Classic Magnus rifle mode is a little bit longer and would interfere with the arm unless you move the arm upward.

R-15 City Commander Add-On Set TFX-03 - Additional Face Plates:

In addition to the missile launchers, rifle, you also get 3 more faceplates consist of standard, mouth open, and mouth with plate.  The faceplate of the 2008 City Commander is glue to the top of the helmet or head.  Therefore, it is stiff and you would need a small plier to remove it.  Because of this, that's why Fansproject included additional standard faceplate should the original faceplate got destroyed or paint chip.   For the 2009 Reissue City Commander, removing the faceplate was easier because it was parted of the design.

R-16 Rémy's City Commander Version 2008 action figure review:

Manufacturer - Fansproject.com

Series or Wave or Line: TF-Parallax

Year Issue: [Oct. 2008] 

Made: [China]  

Box or Card Dimension In Inches: [LxWxD]  - 8 3/4 X 5 1/2 X 3 10/16  - Box.

Packaging Method: Mint In Sealed Box.  Contents were packed with the following procedure:

Tape down between two clear plastic tray are:  "1" trailer.

Above the two clear plastic trays is a taped down bag which contained:  "1" comic/instruction booklet, and "1" sticker sheet..

Box Special Note: Front Box Appearance: Just text which read TF-Parallex, TFX-01 City Commander.  Back Box Appearance: Just text.

Box Point or Robot Point: [N/A]   

Approximately Dimension In Inches: Height Up To The Head:  8  Maximum Height: 8 1/2 (top of shoulder extended joint)  Width from shoulder to shoulder: 4 3/16  Maximum Width: 4 3/4 (arm shield to arm shield)  Dept: 3 1/2.

Toy Stamp/ Fine Print: [N/A]  - Fans made, not official product.

Toy Stamp/ Fine Print Location: [N/A]   

Transformation Of Difficulty: [Easy]  It's actually a partformer than a transformer.  You have to assemble piece by piece.

Material Durability: [-A]  

Toy Materials: Die Cast Metal:  None.  Chrome Metal: None.  Rubber: None, plastic wheel.  Plastic: Main material.  Clear Plastic Window: None.

Stability: [A] - Pretty much stable.  

Fun Toy: [A] - Definitely add more playing value to the Classic Ultra Magnus.

Negative Drawback - None.

Articulations: Head: Can be rotated at a 360 degree.  Also can tilted 45 degree downward. Shoulder: Can only be swung at a 90 degree forward and backward.  No sideway like in classic mode.  Arm/ Elbow: Can be bent at a 45 degree forward or backward, not 90 degree.  The lower portion of the arm can also be rotate at a 360 degree sideway. Wrist/ Hand: Cannot be rotated.  Hands cannot be hidden. Hip/Waist: Can be rotated 5 degree to either side, not 15 degree.  (It is possible to rotate it at 360 degree with some twist in the transformation).  The torso cannot be rotated 360 degree sideway like the classic mode.  Leg: Can be swung 75 degree forward (not 90 degree), backward, and made 120 split (not a full split). Knee: Can be bent at a 90 degree angle.  Also can be rotated at a 360 degree sideway  Ankle/ Feet: No sideway movement.  Feet can bent 5 degree downward at the side.

Rub Sign Logo: [N/A] - At right door of the cab

Robot's Cartoon looks alike: [N/A] - This line does not support by the cartoon or comic.

Vehicle's Cartoon looks alike: [N/A] -  Same as previous comment.

Special Notes:  Here are "6" special notes which I thought you should know:

1 - City Commander Upgrade Kit comes with a total of 10 pieces to the form the armor for Classic Ultra Magnus and the BFG.  Make sure yours comes with black piece connector.  That black piece serves as two functions, for Classic Ultra Magnus to haul the trailer and as a tab to prevent the BFG from splitting back to trailer mode.

2 - The BFG is designed to hold from the right hand not the left hand.  If you put it on the left hand, you will have a tough time and some resistances involve.

3 - The leg armors connection are very stiff, so take your time and don't be reckless.

4 - City Commander Upgrader Kit does not come with Classic Ultra Magnus.  You have to buy it separately.

5 - Classic Optimus Prime or Classic Nemesis (has his own armor) can be used on City Commander Upgrader Kit.

6 - City Commander Upgrade Kit is made by the fans, it's not an official product or knock off.

Overall Grade: [A] - Although this product is unofficial, it's truly amazing piece of work done by transfans.

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