Fire Blast effect

Don't look at this picture too long, or your eyes will get stuck.

"Fire Blast" effects are brightly-colored translucent accessories that plug into Transformers toys or their weapons in order to simulate energy blasts, burning damage, jet exhaust, or other action features. They were first featured as part of the Siege toyline and have continued sporadically ever since.

Depending on the toy and their intended placement, these effect parts can be specifically shaped around a corresponding weapon, or have a more universal 3 mm port and/or 5 mm post. Effect parts can be layered to form extra-large simulated fires, explosions, etc., and toys at higher pricepoints may include a half-dozen or more. Some, like Siege Lionizer's, can be creatively used to represent speed from a Micromaster-sized vehicle.

Broad types of effect parts include:

• Small gun bursts/impacts, melee weapon movement/impacts: War for Cybertron Trilogy Battle Masters (except Enerax, Sheeldron, and Giza), Cyberverse Deluxe Class, Studio Series 86 Voyager Class, Collaborative Ultimate X-Spanse, War for Cybertron Trilogy Megatron/Fossilizer Skelivore Spoiler Pack, Kingdom Rodimus Prime, Kingdom Tricranius Beast Power Fire Blasts Collection Pack
• Rocket plumes: Siege Jetfire, Earthrise Scorponok, Kingdom Autobot Ark, Kingdom Tricranius Beast Power Fire Blasts Collection Pack
• Large gun bursts: Siege Omega Supreme, Earthrise Sky Lynx, Kingdom Rodimus Prime, Kingdom Tricranius Beast Power Fire Blasts Collection Pack
• Energy auras: Studio Series 86-04 Autobot Hot Rod, Collaborative Ultimate X-Spanse, Kingdom Rodimus Prime

Unfortunately, the chemical composition of their soft bendy plastic makes them subject to relatively rapid decomposition similar to previous figures that relied on softer plastics. Collectors quickly learned that if the effect parts are left attached to more rigid pieces such as guns or jet thrusters for a prolonged period of time, they may become so firmly bonded together that separating them causes physical damage, or more mildly, paint stripping.

Notes

• Though comparatively new to Transformers, this is not the first time one of Hasbro's action figure lines have used similar effects accessories. The 2002 Star Wars "SAGA" series in particular made ample use of clear-plastic effects parts. Sadly, those toys use much thinner pegs, making them incompatible with most Transformers toys.