ALTERNATORS!

[Time Traveller]

just the other day i got my first alternator, smokescreen. holy primus! they haven't made anythign so cool in years. this is like the best thing since sliced bread! the detail is awestriking, and the poseability is great for display. i also love the complex transformation, and the styling remniscent of the original smokescreen. i can't wait for sideswipe! i hope they do more! wouldn't it be great to see a character like sunstreaker as a newer version of himself, say, a murcielago?

me especially loving cars, this is great. oh, and a bit of trivia. smokescreen is an exact replica of teh car that won the monte carlo rally last year, which was just raced this weekend. this year it was won by sebastian loeb, in a citruen.

[gimpy the llama]

not only does smokescreen have a high level of detail, i am very pleased there isn't a single sticker on him. everything is tampo'ed. i hated generation one transformers stickers. they never lasted, always wore off, and sometimes would just interfere with the transformation of the robot.

also cool is how his engine becomes his weapon. no more missing missiles anymore!

isn't it fitting that he's a rally car?

i got sideswipe last night. he's definately cool, but not as cool as smokescreen.

sunstreaker as the new lambo would definately be cool. i'm kinda upset that they just chose to make silverstreak another wrx. sure, he's stock, and there are differences in the models, but i think they could have chosen another model, rather than bringing a repaint so soon into the production line. if they make prowl, he really should not be a wrx as well. a "sube" with police lights would look kind of silly.

that said, here's what i'd like to see them make:

megatron - socom .45
sunstreaker - murcielago (like tt suggested)
ironhide - gmc yukon denali (cadillac escalade would be cool too)
prowl - an actual police car, tons of different ones to choose, but how about a high speed pursuit car? something like a ford mustang...
jazz - saleen s7
mirage - obviously an f1 car, but how about michael schumacher's?
decepticon jets - f-22's!
cliffjumper - porsche 911 turbo
bumblebee - too obvious to mention
soundwave - an ipod! (just kidding)

i'd also like to see an r34 skyline (anyone notice how the sideswipe in the armada line was based on an r32?), a mclaren f1 lm, and some of the more recent ferrari's (maranello, modena, etc.)

[Time Traveller]

the saleen is a great idea for jazz! what, though, would be fitting for wheeljack, and have the equivalent kickassness of a Lancia Stratos Turbo??? As for ferraris, there is a problem. my dad is a real car guy, and he and i discussed all the classic g1 cars as alternators. we'd love to see some ferrari going on, but mattel owns ALL liscensing to make reproductions of ferraris. and given that mattel and hasbro aren't realy the best of friends, i don't see mattel granding permission to do a prancing horse TF. some other good ideas we came up with, though:
Trailbreaker: dodge ram (with a hemi) w/ topper
hoist: one of those huge tow trucks with dualies
bumblebee: still a classic beetle, the new ones just don't have it.
skids: ford focus
red alert: rescue lambo (gallardo or murcielago, whicever one sunstreaker ISN'T)
omega supreme: nuclear missle silo!?!
ALTERNATOR CONSTRUCTICONS!

[gimpy the llama]

well, it's not a lancia stratos, but the car has reached near mythic status as well...
how about wheeljack as tom's castrol supra?

you're dead right about mattel owning all the rights to diecast ferrari's. i had forgotten about all that. i collected hot wheels for a time (and then they decided to suck collector's dry), as was among the distraught collectors who wanted 1/64th versions of their ferrari's, which they were never going to make. what a shame. i think it's a dreadful idea for such exclusive licensing agreements to be made (it's what kept porsche out of all the gran turismo games, and why they sneaked them in using RUF). although there are a few ferrari tuners out there (koenig), i doubt mattel would allow hasbro/takara to sneak that by. if they can, however, there is a frickin' wonderful koenig 360 modena that would make an excellent autobot. it would have made an excellent silverstreak (the pic's i've seen are of the car in silver) but that's obviously not going to be the case as he's an WRX. ho hum. (i'm temporarily ignoring those that want a bluestreak, although i agree with them.)

i think skids as a ford focus is a terrific idea, with skids being stock and then a variant as the WRC version.

trailbreaker could also be a hummer (NOT THE H2) and that would be pretty cool, but a dodge would be more appropriate when based on the old version.

hey, if they do alternator's constructicons (and they will, if we keep buying these excellent new toys, which, uh, we're all gonna, right?

IMAGINE HOW BIG DEVASATOR WOULD BE IN 1/24 SCALE! WHOA. the monster would stand like 3 feet tall or something!!!

i cannot wait to see how this toy line develops, i really hope they keep the collector first this time. i agree with hasbro releasing the toys in the states in plastic (keeping costs down is always a good thing) but i really hope they don't compromise on this toy line. it is so above and beyond anything else out there.

anyway, i just got masterpiece prime (ouch! my wallet burns) but it was worth every penny! transformer fans, he is the BOMB!

[Time Traveller]

seriously man, you should consider joining us as a permanent member. yeah, i can't wait for the prime to come by me. i think that constructicons would be da bomb as alternators, but the scaling would be an issue. the toy size for a to-scale excavator would be ridiculous in 1:24. that and the vehicles weren't quite scaled to each other. consider long haul, an ore truck... moreover, though, they would absolutely HAVE to be in teh original "devastator green". did you ever notice how hardcore fans (myself included) begin to attribute transformers to colors? for example that funny goldenrod color is "unicron yellow" and then there's technobot red...
i went off on another tangent. that's because i have a lot to say, and noone here talks! *ahem*
so join up, we can throw a party.

[gimpy the llama]

yeah, the original constucticons were so completely not to scale it wasn't even funny, but if they redo them, they could maybe change their forms to be vehicles more appropriate to 1/24 scale. this would probably make each con' as big as masterpiece prime, with the end 'bot (devastator) being about 2'6" or so tall. this would make his size as close to "actual" size as possible. of course, if these guys are die cast, it's gonna be $80 per bot, so they would have to be made in plastic (besides, such a heavy toy would be a burden to lift and if it fell off the shelf it's going to end up broken). so in plastic, they'd prolly be $30-40 a pop per bot, and would have to be sold seperately. of course, if we do the math, the end result is devastator (or superion, i really want to finally own him) would be about $150 - 200! ouch! obviously only the most diehard fans would step up to these prices.

hasbro/takara could ease the collector's budget by releasing them slowly, one month at a time. this would be more affordable, and build anticipation and demand (but NO limited editions, because no one needs the pain of having to pay an ebay scalper's prices to complete their "ultimate decepticon.")

this is all just imagination on a rampage, but it's pleasant to think about, and builds anticipation for how the line is going to develop. sometimes, fan speculation can even drive the industry.

although i am pretty much dead set on buying every alternator that comes out, i have questions about what's going on:

1. why so few 'bots? i truly appreciate the the pattern of a new 'bot every month or so. if hasbro/takara's strategy is to keep these bots to appeal to the collector, than this truly eases the pain of having to buy everything at once, which can really be a pain in the a**! i'm tired of running from store to store to collect all the different diecast cars released (sometimes in very limited editions).

or are they simply testing the market? are they going to tease us with the excellent releases they've made so far, and then decide to pull the plug to continue on with (i'm sorry if this offends anyone) very cheap, simple toys for children? these new transformers have the difficulty of a rubik's cube (heh, remember the '80's!) and i appreciate the complexity and the detail given to every casting!

2. i've found only ONE sideswipe and only ONE masterpiece prime in the atlanta area while i see an average of 3-4 smokescreens on the shelf at every store. what exactly are the production runs? i was fortunate to buy all of these models, but i don't want to have to go to the store every day in order to buy the new models before they are only to be found on ebay! (boo! ebay scalpers suck!)

i think that hasbro is poised at a breakthrough point. the die cast market is totally SATURATED. people like me, are beginning to rediscover transformers again.

---flashback---

i walked into toys 'r' us to find some new diecast cars to purchase. i didn't find anything that interested me. i started combing the pegs. nothing. i looked dejectedly at the ground. hey? what's this? wait, what is THIS? WHOA. THIS IS PROWL. wait, they're reissuing transformers?

---epiphany---

the old transformers? the only toys that broke us kids from our years (in many of our cases a decade) long obsession with hot wheels? the only toys we played with after that until we had "outgrown" toys? (yeah, right, it all come's 'round in the end.) THE TRANSFORMERS, the REAL ones, not these optimonkeys i see on tv when i scan the channels! (again, not trying to offend anyone here...)

---end epiphany, back to flashback---

i hurried around the store like a drunk optimonkey. i found the transformers section. i probably should have not shouted, "heck, YEAH!" so loud, i got weird looks from other patrons pushing their sons around in tricycles. no matter. skywarp, prowl, and jazz were in my arms and i was on the way to the register. there has been no looking back for me now. diecast cars have become an over spoiled fruit. loads of repaints and shoddy castings shoved on the collector, with (imho) only one company truly sticking to their guns (JADA TOYS, the baddest of all diecast). BUT, there is only one true brand of TRANSFORMERS. that's right. NO ONE ELSE.

---end flashback---

i was going to collect nothing but G1 reissues, but when i went home, i searched the internet, and found out about the alternators. oh, heck. why did i waste my money on the reissues? now i am dead stuck on the alternators. i mean, i follow rally racing when i can, and makinen is one of my favorite drivers. and the subaru impreza is one of my favorite automobiles (right after the mclaren f1 lm, r 34 skyline gtr v-spec II, and saleen s7.) it's totally like they said, "hey, gimpy, what cars should we use for this line?" (i would have chosen side swipe as a viper, but it would have been the GT-R version, no fuss from me though).

so here i am. wanting more. i think hasbro needs to take a little bit of mattel's so called "glory" and start a collector's website. we're here, we're ready to buy, appeal to us! the um, uh, er.... older....no, wait, more mature collector! i am NOT some dumb redneck with his only interest in automobiles being pre-1972 (IF THIS OFFENDED YOU, TOO BAD, IT'S THE ONE THING I REALLY WANT TO BE OFFENSIVE WITH, HOW MANY DIECAST '69 CAMARO'S DO YOU NEED? HOW LONG 'TIL A 1/64TH MCLAREN?). my friends and i can do to desktop computers what some guys can do to cars. i CAN disassemble a laptop and put it back together, AND I WANT MY TRANSFORMERS! I WANT A TOY COMPANY TO TAKE US GEN X'ERS SERIOUSLY.

HASBRO/TAKARA. THE BALL'S IN YOUR COURT. YOU'VE DONE EVERYTHING RIGHT SO FAR WITH THE ALTERNATORS LINE (and masterpiece prime.) GIVE THE COLLECTORS' WHAT THEY WANT!

[ok, this has gone on far too long. this is gimpy signing off. this way too wordy post was brought to you by the number 14 (shots) and the letter V(odka). goodnight, god bless, and give everyone around ya a good hug. PEACE.]

[Time Traveller]

.....oh. lol. by the way, michael schumacher's car would work for mirage, but he drives a ferrari. oh well. so tell me, all, is the masterpiece prime worth breaking the bank for?

[gimpy the llama]

.....oh. lol. by the way, michael schumacher's car would work for mirage, but he drives a ferrari. oh well. so tell me, all, is the masterpiece prime worth breaking the bank for?

haha! crap! i knew there was something was wrong. curse you, mattel! curse you!

is masterpiece prime worth the money? hmm. he was $70 at target (and the only one i've seen since).

his articulation is terrific, as good as any of the alternators. the light up matrix feature is really cool too.

his smokestacks were cut for the american version, so if you want a "perfect" prime, you will have to pay more for the import.

i left the translucent plastic axe and megatron pistol in the box. it's cool to have them, especially the mega pistol, but i prefer primes stock rifle (mine is in gray, i'm told that's a variation?)

the diecast metal parts are cool too, but i would have been ok with plastic if it had reduced the price. his weight affects his ability to be posed on your desk. he's really top heavy, and tends to lean forward a bit when standing.

the "battle damage" on the american model doesn't really detract, but it seems a little silly. i would have preferred a "pristine" prime.

transformation is really difficult, like the alternators. i tried to transform him, and then feared i would break him or something and stopped. the other alternators i don't fiddle with after transforming them because it's too much of a hassle. i don't mind this difficulty, because it makes 'em a bit of a puzzle game too. but it also means prime is NOT a toy for kids, but adults only.

the packaging is ridiculous though. i got sick of untwisting the ties and got out the snips. i wish i had been more careful. i scratched my prime (although i got over it pretty fast.)

all in all, i am very glad i bought him, but i am a bit concerned that i haven't found another single masterpiece prime at any of the stores i look in. it makes me wonder about how many have been issued. i kinda don't like exclusive collector's items, but then again if i own the item in question i kinda do like it. since i haven't seen any production numbers, i would say grab him when you see him. you might not see him again!

he's a prize not to be missed, so if you have to cut your spending on other transformers, do it!

also, i always wanted to own prime since i was a kid, but whenever i had the money and could get to the store they were always sold out! and that's why i ended up owning jetfire one day. because toys'r'us had no primes, but, man, jetfire was pretty frickin' cool!

and i never had the chance again to get prime. soon his production run ended with the movie and the comic killing him off (something i have not, and never will accept or forgive.)

so masterpiece prime was a way for me to finally appease the poor kid who mowed too many lawns and never got to the store at the right time.

[Time Traveller]

you know, i begin to see that getting all my (g1) tf's second hand at garage sales isn't so bad after all. now all i need is jet fire's gun clip
yes, prime is heavy on the wallet for a high school student living in a small town with no job opportunities...
right now i'm saving my pennies for some g1 stuff from trance here. i think, though, that i may soon splurge and get a prime. i wish i could afford to import a long-stacked, pristine prime. i also wish i could afford to import the G1 trainbots. darn the japanese! they get everything good over there!
as for the complex transformation, im up for the challenge. i've been a natural with transformers since i was young. at 6, i could transform brainstorm behind my back. (it impressed the hell outta my chiropractor ) the only thing i have beefs with is little fidgity ball joints. like the alternators smokescreen, i can never quite get his legs lined up in car mode. ah well. transforming is the fun of it. i remember one time, my mom took me to the home of a friend of hers, whose two boys were a lot older than i. i remember them putting together menasor while i oodled at a sixshot. they said i could play with it, and when i figured out all six modes in no time flat they got mad at me.
its funny how the only things i remember vividly from my childhood involve transformers.

i'm tellin you gimpy, join us as a member of the site.

[Jose]

I'm very conservative regarding cars, so I have different ideas to suggest:

Sideswipe: A regular Lamborghini Murcielago is ok. But Sunstreaker is a "super tuned", just remember that!
Prowl: It has to be the new Nissan Z in Japanese police livery.
Megatron - socom .45 - I have no idea in guns, so I'm leaving it as you did.
Ironhide - mmm... With so many Japanese SUVs, why don't look for another Toyota?
Jazz - A Porsche GT1
mirage - Red attracts too much attention for a spy. A Prost F1 I suggest.
decepticon jets - f-22's!
cliffjumper - porsche 911 Carrera. The original is a 924, a non-turbo. Nowadays Porsche doesn't have a parallel line, except for the Cayenne (which is a SUV so forget it)
bumblebee - too obvious to mention - I agree!
soundwave - an ipod! (just kidding) - OK.


i'd also like to see an r34 skyline (anyone notice how the sideswipe in the armada line was based on an r32?), a mclaren f1 lm, and some of the more recent ferrari's (maranello, modena, etc.)[/quote]

[Time Traveller]

yeah, ferraris would be nice to see again, mattel owns the liscensing. damn them!

[Jose]

I forgot about the Ferrari license. In fact, Mattel only restricts Ferraris to Hot Wheels, excluding Matchbox. So it's better to look after other car makers, Lamborghini can do it well.

[Time Traveller]

yes, tis quite in unfortunate for us transformer folk. i would really enjoy seeing an enzo or modena.

[Time Traveller]

yesterday i ventured out of the chat boards here onto the main site *gasp!* and discovered some interesting info on upcoming alternators. i drooled over the picture of tracks' prototype, then noted the unnamed (but cool) rx-8. i can't think of anything, really, equivalent. anyone got any speculations on who this might be?

also, i am pleased to see that they are still using design cues from originals for robot modes. check out the new tracks' shoulder design, face, and overhead missles. remind you of anyone?

[ciomen]

I don't know the name of the RX-8 but I did find this. Awsome. they should make the series like this.

http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/NA_Auto ... .html[url]

i love the detail of these new alternators. i hve my smokescreen displayed at work in vechile mode and peolpe can't believe its a transformer. they're always asking me to transform it. good thing i have one still in its box. sideswipe is not as good as detailed in my opinion but hopefully hound, tracks and silverstreak will be better.

I'd like to see the 2005 mustang or the new shelby cobra made into a character. [/url]

[Time Traveller]

have you seen pictures of the alternators-to-come? they look like they'll all be excellent. i think a lot of the punch smokescreen had was because of the uber-detailed paint, with all the individual sponsor logos. such details probably draw the eye away from other shortcomings, visually. another race car, of any sort, would probably look just as good.

by the way, welcome to the site! post in the User Info thread and tell us a little about you. hope to hear from you often!

[gimpy the llama]

i'm saddemed a bit by meister (jazz). i love mazda (except the miata, i really hate miatas') but to give them jazz? wow. that's a serious blow. if it was a "tuned" rx-8 i might have been "ok" with it. but stock? not what i was expecting. and rx-8's look LOVELY when tuned. a tuned rx-8 with a full mazdaspeed areokit would have been sweet!

oh, i'm just griping. i bet when i get my hands on meister, i'll love him. but with what mazda has planned for the rx-8, i can't help but wish! that car will prolly become the next serious "drift car." (IF YOU DON'T KNOW DRIFTING, CHECK IT OUT. IT'S INSANELY COOL!!!)

guess we'll have to wait and see! the alternators/binaltech line seems to be pretty exclusive right now. anyone found prowl?

[Guest]

i meant "saddened" and i meant "hound." sorry. i posted while tipsy! forgive me, eh.

[Time Traveller]

the rx8 is jazz?
i'd better get on top of things here. yes, i've seen drifting. weird.
prowl? what's he? allright, i need to go look up on this stuff. ttyl. *scuttles off*

[gimpy the llama]

nope! not prowl! i said prowl when i meant to say hound! sorry!

as for meister (jazz) just check the alternators bit on this very fine web site!

if you downloaded the spiffy mazda screen saver with the rx-8 on it, you got a good look at him. i thought he looked a lot like jazz, but i figured they were saving him for a race car. guess not!