Another mid-series Bandai Machine Robo, Forklift Robo came out in Japan in 1984, and appeared in the Gobots line very shortly afterwards. The Japanese version sported an all-orange colour scheme, released as part of Robo Machine the same year (coded as RM-34).

However, for the American release, the diecast chest piece was recoloured cream, presumably to make the figure more interesting visually. Alotted the name Spoons, this figure was added to the second series of Gobots, and in this form the character made a few brief appearances in the Challenge of the Gobots TV series. The recoloured version made it into Robo Machine in 1986, with the new code of RM-63 (the only figure to receive two different European codes).

The original scheme was targetted by bootleggers, being used by the makers of both the Machinerobo Series and Galago Robot, while a red bootleg was also made. A small keychain version was also produced, this being produced by a number of companies in different colours, and even getting packed with knock-off Tron cycles... A Bandai white/green recolour was mooted for release in Japan but didn't get beyond the prototype stage. Additionally, an orange/black version was issued in Brazil by Mimo as part of the Convert line.

The forklift mode really is very good fun. Considering forklifts are industrial vehicles, this one's actually rather cute too.

The colours mesh nicely (and are a bit more interesting than the Japanese version - if less realistic), and I do like those big chunky tyres. The seat's a bit more of a miss, just not quite looking right. On the plus side, the forks really work! Admittedly, not particularly well - they're not quite big enough to carry any other Gobot, and putting something much heavier than a cigarette box on them tends to make him tip forwards, but he makes for a fun way to store mints on the desktop. The forks are fairly well made too, though they can work loose if you're clumsy.

That aside, your biggest problems are either the seat back coming loose, or paint-chipping to the diecast - few loose examples are without the latter.

Transforming Spoons can be a little frustrating - it might just be my example, but turning the sides of the truck into arms can require a fair bit of force, which isn't fun, especially trying to slide them along to the shoulder locks.

It's a shame, as the layout, with the fork mechanism forming the legs, is inventive and well thought-out. However, it's worth the gritted teeth, as Spoons is a nifty robot. He's not flashy or cool, but does look like a solid, gruff worker-type, with the chunky limbs and drone-like head design. Articulation is limited, as per usual, to the shoulders - he can lean back slightly, but tends to topple easily. Still, the robot looks really good, and the layout, with the forklift mechanism becoming the legs, is very strong.

The operative word is 'chunky', not necessarily a bad thing, and while articulation is minimal, the toy makes a great display piece with his massive fists and boxy limbs.