As one of the first Key Raiders vehicles shown in the comics, the CeratankTM was pretty high on my wish list for inclusion in the KR|Foundation series.
When PoliganToys announced that I would get a fully-sculpted, figure-scaled prototype of this vehicle, my reaction was ecstatic. With the expansion of the line following the inclusion of the Rotakord in the previous quarter, it actually seemed possible that I might get it, despite PoliganToys regularly claiming I would not.
Finally, rolling over the terrain in search of the enemy, moving closer to its prey with its jaws opening and closing to devour all in its path, this vehicle, hungry and on the hunt, is finally in my hands!
Details
Name: Ceratank
Subtitle: rumbling vehicle of destruction
Classification: land vehicle
Home: Tahron
Affiliation: Rexodon
Rank: transport.
Description
The Ceratank is a powerful, fearsome-looking command tank with a bony armour on the hull front, which strongly resembles a Centrosaurus skull. The blocky, angular hull is painted in a metallic dark-blue colour, while the large beaked ivory-white ceratopsian head bears an elaborate backwards curved horn over the snout, a pair of large hornlets that hook forwards over the jagged frill and a pair of small upwards directed horns over the eyes.
The front of the hull is flanked by wheeled outriggers, while the rear section is mounted on tank treads, each with a series of black metallic wheels and a seemingly articulated band of cleated black metal plates passing around. The vehicle can be rolled forward or backward thanks to the addition of a wheel hidden under each tread. The continuous tracks and front wheels are partly concealed and protected by a pair of metallic dark-blue armoured side-skirts, which are embellished with a number of curved ivory-white bony structures resembling ribs, and a pair of front mud-guards, each shaped and coloured like a five-clawed bony foot.
The driver's highly detailed cockpit is placed behind the armour-head and is covered by a domed canopy. This hood, which is cast in clear plastic and reinforced with metallic dark-blue beams, is hinged at the front and can only open by folding up and forward after detaching the bony head (in the comics, it is the head that is hinged and can be lowered to reveal a set of steps for boarding or disembarking the vehicle), so you can sit a figure in the driver's seat; my complaint, apart from the fact that the cockpit can only hold one figure (while in the comics it's a two-seater with a large heads up display), is that the top of the bony frill is right in front of the pilot’s face, which I find kind of weird. Thankfully, the clear canopy can be swapped out for a metallic dark-blue armoured version, to better match its comic book battle-mode depiction.
Finally, the back part has large air intakes and exhaust pipes (or perhaps rocket boosters) on top of the engine compartment, and carries a long, curved ivory-white bony tail composed of eight large vertebrae and equipped with two points of articulation, i.e. a hinge and a swivel, near its base. Theoretically, by popping the tail off at the swivel joint, a Ceratank could be connected to a second identical vehicle stripped of its head and, by repeating this process several times, it would be possible to build a caterpillar-esque monster tank made of a large number of units.
It's interesting to note that the skull (around the eye sockets), front paws and tail end display various metallic dark-blue techno-embellishments, such as panels, tubes, wires and pistons, while the eyes themselves are in fact fiery red headlights.
Action feature
The Ceratank's engine cover on the rear section can be opened thanks to three folding-up hatches (two on the sides and one on the back, with the latter becoming a headrest), revealing a single-seat rear cockpit ornamented with highly detailed wall panelling and armed with a removable swinging/swivelling two-handled double-gun on the front. Although this toy is large enough to accommodate two figures comfortably, one on the front and one on the back, it isn't an exact replica of what I've seen in the comics - it's still a ton smaller than its fictional counterpart, which can transport many people into battle.
Additionally, the tail, which bears a missile-launcher on its end, can swivel and fold up for shooting forward. In this position, the cannon plugs into a spot right behind the front cockpit, while the tail, owing to its curved shape, becomes a handle that can be used to carry the Ceratank around.
Furthermore, an additional bony neck piece (with length, shape and colour similar to those of the tail) can be inserted between the hull and the head. This piece's function is to recreate the neck-extending attack feature seen in the comics and, thanks to a ratcheted joint in the middle, allows the head to be directed upwards. In this configuration, the monstrous vehicle's jaws can swing open agape, showing a number of menacing serrated teeth, and snap shut to hold one unlucky figure. Alternatively, the mouth can be used as a handy place to store the driver's weapons.
Weapons and accessories
Aside from a missile that can be fired from the tail-launcher thanks to a spring-loaded mechanism, the Ceratank has two large guns mounted to the top of the wheeled outriggers, which are exposed by lifting the two paws on the front (each paw is articulated with a hinge at its base). Each gun is painted in a silver colour, has a reptile's head design on the tip and can move up and down for better aim.
Moreover, the outriggers are actually "launchable" pods that detach from the sides of the hull. These pods look like small metallic black and dark-blue driverless bikes, each with a larger tire in the back than in the front and surmounted by the pivoting gun.
All things considered, the Ceratank is long overdue to be made into a prototype and is a welcome addition to my collection. Its size, meticulous detail, and the fact that you can comfortably fit two figures on this thing with no problem, make it essential for any KR enthusiast who has the space for it. This masterpiece of a vehicle is without a doubt an extremely impressive toy!
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