Allegiance: Autobot
Function: Maintenance
Alternate Mode: Tow Truck
Height: 4cm Length: 11cm Width: 4.5cm
The back section is essentially two side panels doing a bad job of hiding the robot arms, which are meant to be machinery or something, but are fairly obvious from the top view. On a black toy they're dark enough to not jump out at you, but they're still there, not trying to hide. The hook sticks backwards from between the hands, and doesn't move. The front grille has some silver paint, but it's very subtle and the headlights are unpainted.
The transformation might be simple, but it takes it's toll on this vehicle mode. Sticking out on either side are the gears that the arms pivot on, they're big dome shaped things that are largely cosmetic rather than functional - he'd be better if they'd skipped this feature. The other thing that bothers me is the gap underneath the truck, which is to allow for the front to fold down and become the chest. Which would be fine if it didn't leave this clear gap. In Hoist's partial defence, it's not quite as obvious on black as it is on Hubcap, who is bright yellow.
Play value is limited to rolling Hoist along on his plastic wheels. Hours of unbridled joy... As you can tell, I'm disappointed by this tow truck. The colour scheme sucks, the arms and gears are nothing but robot kibble and the play value doesn't make up for his flaws. If they'd put more effort into the colour scheme I'd be a lot keener on this truck mode.
Height: 9.5cm Width: 7cm
The torso is boxy, thanks to the side panels of the truck sitting on the outside of the torso, The front of the truck forms the torso itself, and points down, about 30° off vertical. This sloping truck effect works fairly well, since it gives Hoist a truck facade without a protruding chest. He does have a slight pot belly, mind you. As I said before, leave the grill attached. It not only adds kibble to the gun, the lower torso looks incomplete if it's not there. The face consists of the grey eyeslit and a black mouthplate - which is very boring.
Remember how I said this is the better looking mode? Well, that's partly because of the chest, but also because you can do stuff. He's poseable. The shoulders rotate, and have hinges allowing his arms to swing out to the sides. The elbows and hips are ball joints, and the knees are hinged. The hips are restricted by the side panels, but he still has some poseability. The articulation isn't as good as the other Machine Wars basic moulds, but it's still the best part of this mould.
The gun location is quite cool, but the gun is pretty much a rectangle with a barrel on it. It's boxy and short, although better short than short with the front of a truck stuck to the back.
As you can probably tell, I'm not a huge fan of this robot mode. The poseability does give Hoist some play value, but the colours are still poor and nothing really jumps out to save this toy from being mediocre.