ALTERNATORS!

[Time Traveller]

yeah, last night i checked here. i sense a trend coming on with the slight modding of each one to make a diff. fig. i bet a hardtop black jeep is next as trailbreaker.

[Rhymus]

Alternators! Possibly the greatest thing to happen to Transformers since the ability to transform. They were also my idea. No, really, they were--tied in with my idea for a live action Transformers movie.

i'm not kidding (and only slightly exaggerating)! i was already working on the story and planning to pitch my ideas to Hasbro when i stumbled upon a few Alternators in the toy section of some department store. i found transformerland.com in my search for more information about the figures, and here learned for the first time that a live action movie was already in the works.

So, it looks like i won't be getting rich off the toys or the movie. The fact that they exist/will exist is still as cool as Antarctica. But i do have some questions, in addition to comments in response to what some of you have posted here. i'll try to limit myself to the Alternators-related stuff on this thread, and put the stuff about the movie elsewhere.

Here are some of my questions (i know i'm forgetting some), in no particular order:

1) Will all Alternators be scale models, and will they all be to scale with each other? (1:24 scale, yes?)

2A) Is 20th Anniversary Masterpiece Optimus Prime considered an Alternator?
2B) Is he to scale?
2C) Is he a specific kind of trailer truck cab (with a specific make and model, like the other Alternators have)?
2D) If not (to 2A, 2B, and/or 2C), does anyone know anything about an Alternator Optimus?

3) Will Alternators only be based on Generation One characters, or will characters from other lines also be reincarnated as Alternators?

4) Is "reincarnated" the right word to use for shapeshifting robots?

6) How extensive does Hasbro plan to make the Alternators line? In other words, how many characters are there going to be?

5) Are Decepticon Alternators waiting in the wings? [BAD JOKE ALERT... BAD JOKE ALERT...]

7) What is the meaning of life?

8) Does the Alternators line have a story with a new/seminew continuity to go with it, like all the other Transformers lines? *struggles to keep himself from asking how the sometimes conflicting continuities relate to the forthcoming feature film*

10) Is Hasbro courting the companies that make cars (and other vehicles/machines) for permission to use their likenesses as Transformers, or are those companies approaching Hasbro asking for the privilege?

i know i'm forgetting some of the questions i had... Oh, well...

Anyhoo...

Before i joined this forum, i read some of the stuff and decided i wanted to post a couple replies here and there--that's why i joined up, so i could take credit for all of the things i have to say and all the wisdom i have to share (which means that joining probably wasn't the brightest thing i've ever done). And while i was planning on how i would say some of those things i have to say, i was hoping to put a few comments on the "Should-Be Alternators" thread, because that's what those comments were. Except that thread has wandered a bit from its title (no offense, guys), and my comments fit better here, where i found the comments to which my comments are replies (if that makes any sense). But first, a disclaimer recycled from what i did post on that thread:

i recognize the original VW Beetle.
i recognize the New Beetle.
i recognize PT Cruisers (i think).
i recognize Hummers (i think).
i recognize some Porsches as Porsches.
i recognize some Lamborghinis as Lamborghinis.
i recognize some Corvettes as Corvettes.
i recognize the Batmobile.
There are a few cars i recognize and can distinguish from other types of car, but i don't know by name (except for Carl).
Beyond that, the best i can do is tell you if i'm looking at a car, a truck, a (mini)van, an SUV, a bus, or a limo. (Or, if we broaden the subject from cars to vehicles, a motorcycle, a fighter jet, a passenger plane, a helicopter, a "small" boat, a cruise liner, an oil-tanker-esque boat, or a submarine.)

And don't even get me started on knowing how these things work. (To quote Spaceman Spiff, "I wonder what 'E' on the fuel guage stands for.")

You all are welcome to enjoy knowing the ins and outs and ups and downs and do-the-hokey-pokey-turn-yourself-arounds of cars and other vehicles that Transformers use to disguise themselves. Just don't expect me to have a clue what you're talking about.

Having said that...

Time Traveller asked "wouldn't it be great to see a character like sunstreaker as a newer version of himself, say, a murcielago?" (i'm guessing that's some kind of Lamborghini.) And it would be great, except that i think it's more important for Sunstreaker to have the same (or very, very similar) alternate mode as Sideswipe, as in Generation One. And this time around, Sideswipe's playing the role (ha ha! Get it? "role"... "roll"? Get it? heh heh heh...) of a Dodge Viper, which would mean Sunstreaker should be... i dunno, are there variants of the Viper? i told you, i don't know cars. (Important point: Sunstreaker should NOT be just a Sideswipe repaint! In G1, surrounded by characters who matched up with at least one repaint character, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker had essentially the same vehicle mode, but very different transformations and robot modes. The same should be true of Alternator Sideswipe and Sunstreaker, or else go ahead with Murcielago Sunstreaker.)

gimpy the llama suggested that Megatron should be a Socom .45. If i had to guess, i'd say that's a gun, because a lot of fans (including myself, for a time) want(ed) to see a return of the Megatron-as-a-gun-instead-of-a-tank-or-Tyrannosaurus-or-whatever, and i also can't think of anything else offhand named with a decimal except guns (where the decimal is ammo diameter or something, right?). If i'm right, then i'm sorry, gimpy, i have to disagree. The whole size-change issue has started to bug me lately, and would be especially troublesome if trying to remain consistently in 1:24 scale.

Next on the llama's list: "sunstreaker - murcielago (like tt suggested)". See above.

gimpy goes on: "ironhide - gmc yukon denali (cadillac escalade would be cool too)". No idea. Sure, why not, as long as he's still a (mini)van. Or maybe an SUV.

Still g.t.l.: "prowl - an actual police car, tons of different ones to choose, but how about a high speed pursuit car? something like a ford mustang..." No argument from me; Prowl and Smokescreen don't have the connection Sideswipe and Sunstreaker do, so they don't need to be stamped from the same mold this time. (In fact, the Dreamwave Transformers Generation One comics had one scene that i think was a little strange specifically because Prowl and Smokescreen were lookalikes.)

g.t.l: "jazz - saleen s7". "Meister" is Jazz's Japanese name, if i'm not mistaken? And you say Meister is forthcoming as a... Mazda RX-8? No idea what that is, but the issue is out of our hands. For those of you who like false hope, though, consider--with Hasbro's way of recycling names, Meister might be a separate character from Jazz this time. (i have an old bilingual Transformers mail-order form somewhere, and as i recall, Cliffjumper's Spanish name was "Rapido", which was reused as the name of a completely different Generation Two character.)

g.t.l: "mirage - obviously an f1 car, but how about michael schumacher's?" If F1s are what i think they are, go for it.

g.t.l: "decepticon jets - f-22's!" i know cars better than i know fighter jets, which means i know very, very little about fighter jets. (i can tell you a lot about *Star Wars* starfighters, though.) All i know is make the seekers fighter jets, and make at least three of 'em.

g.t.l.: "cliffjumper - porsche 911 turbo". Was G1 Cliffjumper a Porsche? i didn't know that. But sure, that sounds fine.

g.t.l. "bumblebee - too obvious to mention". Oh, well, i'm gonna mention it anyway. Not like i'm the first one, anyway. (Skipping ahead to quote Time Traveller, "bumblebee: still a classic beetle, the new ones just don't have it.") As someone who still thinks of Bumblebee first when asked who his favorite Transformer is, someone who esteemed Bumblebee as a role model on account of his (Bumblebee's) bravery and enthusiasm, i am of the humble opinion that Bumblebee should be an original VW Bug, but would be all right as a New Beetle (which is what i suspect they're going to do). i kinda want to see a New Beetle Transformer, anyway. (In my intended movie-toyline, Bumblebee was going to be a classic Beetle, and i was going to introduce a new femme-bot named Ladybug with the New Beetle alt-mode.) Hey, maybe they could do Bumblebee as an original Beetle, and Goldbug as a New Beetle!

gimpy wrapped up his list with the idea that Soundwave could be an iPod. i'm going to refer you back to my Megatronian size-change troubles, but still greenlight Soundwave the iPod because if they do, i'll be really eager to see what they do with Rumble, Frenzy, Ravage, Ratbat, Buzzsaw, Laserbeak, Slugfest, Overkill, Squawktalk, and Beastbox. (By the way, RIBFIR.)

gimpy would "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.)", to which i reply, "i think i've heard of Ferraris... Which ones are they, again?"

Maybe i don't need to know, because according to Time Traveller, "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." i'm guessing that "prancing horse" is a nickname for Ferraris.

T.T. also put forth his own list...

"Trailbreaker: dodge ram (with a hemi) w/ topper". i don't know SUVs, but based on name alone, i think it'd be appropriate to make Trailbreaker a Chevy TrailBlazer. Unless that's an uncool vehicle.

"hoist: one of those huge tow trucks with dualies". You know, from the G1 cartoon, i never could tell--what WAS Hoist's vehicle mode? All i know is he reflected the toy (which i've only seen in pictures online, still can't tell what his alt-mode is), a slightly modified Trailbreaker repaint. As pertains to Alternators, though, don't make him and Trailbreaker the same except for color. Like Prowl and Smokescreen, the original lookalike-ness is merely incidental and highly meaningless (to the characters).

Bumblebee we discussed already...

"skids: ford focus". You know, i don't think i ever had the pleasure of meeting G1 Skids (although i once bumped into Robots in Disguise Skidz), so even if i knew what the Ford Focus was, i wouldn't know if it suited him or not.

"red alert: rescue lambo (gallardo or murcielago, whicever one sunstreaker ISN'T)". T.T., i think i need you to explain your logic to me on this one. You know, i was never sure why the fire department needed a sports car to begin with, but if it's happening again... i guess just don't make him a repaint.

"omega supreme: nuclear missle silo!?!" Nukes are one of the most powerful things Earth has today, but if you ask me, they're still not "good" enough for Omega Supreme. Besides, aren't they almost entirely underground? That's kind of boring, until he transforms, and then it's awkward and inconvenient. Not to mention the 1:24 thing.

"ALTERNATOR CONSTRUCTICONS!" Awesome idea, totally implausible. i can't see Hasbro going to the trouble to pick out six construction vehicles of comparable size so they can come up with transformations of Alternator-level-complexity not only to turn them from robots to vehicles and back again, but also into Combiner mode shapes so they can form a too-big-for-1:24-scale, probably-too-heavy-to-hold-together-and/or-stand-up Devastator. i wouldn't count on seeing these guys in any color.

But before he made up his wishlist, Time Traveller asked this question: "what, though, would be fitting for wheeljack, and have the equivalent kickassness of a Lancia Stratos Turbo?" Lancia Stratos Turbo...? Thank you! i've been looking all over to try and find out what Wheeljack's racecar (whoops, spelled that backwards) mode was. i'll want to know for this idea i have for a live action Transformers movi-- Oh, wait... Ah, scrap. Oh, and to answer your question: No idea.

Conversation detoured for a time thereafter, but the scenic route was... well, scenic. Then we returned to the path and found "Bagales" Jose Miguel's wishlist, a rewrite/response to gimpy's initial ideas. However, Bagales, since we've already discussed all the characters on that list, and you've added no ideas for vehicle modes for which i could say anything i haven't already said (namely, "i don't know what that is, but if it's [X], okay"), i think i'll just move on. i really hope you don't mind. No hard feelings, 'kay?

Oh, wait. i do have to comment on the "mirage - Red attracts too much attention for a spy." i didn't know the suggested F1 was red, but it's a good point--even if the character Mirage (on the G1 TV show, anyway) had/has the ability to disappear completely, red is the wrong attitude to wear. Besides, if eyes are drawn to him for being red when he's visible, then he's more likely to be missed when he's invisible.

Now, my list. Real short, just one entry, and i don't even know who it should be. But what do the rest of you think of an Alternator of a Toyota Matrix?

Well, i think this post has gone on long enough, don't you? (In your face, gimpy! Or maybe i shouldn't be so proud of this...) Anyway, look for me again on my new thread: "Should-But-Probably-Won't-Be Alternators"!

[Time Traveller]

so that's the site i've heard about. your url doesn't work, though, you need to put the [url] before the link and the [\url] after.

[Time Traveller]

1) probably.
2A)i think so, not marketed as one.
2B)i think so
2C)1973 Freightliner dual axle COE (cab over engine) this took me a long time to find out.
2D) $60-70 and a walmart will tell you everything else
3) sounds like G1 only
4) why the heck not
6) learn to count! as long as they feel like it
5) go to the TFL head page, and click the alternators link. the picture of dead end answers this question, and also makes my blood pressure go up. if you consider the casting, especially the face, this mold was designed for sunstreaker!!!! this also answers your question about the viper variant.
7) work hard. buy transformers. then, find cool transformers, and buy them.
the link you sent about the rx-8 offers some bit of story, but i think that is mazda's creation, not hasbro. i'm almost afraid a storyline may do something bad to the toyline, so as far as i'm concerned, they can go without.
9) where is nine?
10) i think hasbro is out looking, but the way mazda dotes on the rx-8 i think they went to hasbro.
being a car nut, i guess i could go without soundwave and megs for a series. just keep feeding me alternators! i always thought car tfs were cooler any way. go stunticons!
the denali is an suv. i think it is a better choice, too, since ironhide was tough, and the nissan vannette really isn't.
mirage... that would work, except for the red. and besides, schumacher drives a ferrari.
g1 cliffjumper was a distorted porsche.
continuity alert! goldbug was a bumblebee reincarnation, wasn't he?
a prancing horse is the ferrari crest.
trailbreaker is a toyota hilux. as is hoist, but a real hilux isn't big enough for a practical tow truck. besides, rams are just uber.
g1 skids is a "le car" a small passenger vehicle. if don't know the focus, you mustn't watch tv much. it's a similar vehicle, but also does rally racing.
they never made lambo emergency cars, but all of the g1 lambos were originally cast as some sort of emergency vehicle in diaclone.
somewhere around here i posted a link to my 'transformers among us' page. you should check that out.

[Rhymus]

But Dead End is a Stunticon... What does this mean for my "Should-But-Probably-Won't-Be Alternators" ramblings?

As for the mold's being intended for Sunstreaker, i vaguely remember an episode of the Generation 1 cartoon wherein the Autobots captured the Stunticons, leading to Sunstreaker complaining about his paint job when he, Optimus Prime, Mirage, Windcharger, and [a little help, somebody?] disguised themselves as the Stunticons to infiltrate the Decepticon camp. (i though it was an especially clever plot point when the real Stunticons escaped and returned to the Decepticon base, and the other Decepticons suggested revealing the fakes by having the real ones form Menasor--Windcharger used his magnetic powers to "combine" the Stuntibots into a Menasor lookalike.)

On a completely unrelated note, my knowledge of the Ford Focus reflects my knowledge of cars, not the amount of time i invest in watching television. Car commercials--and many commercials for other kinds of products--just kind of blur together for me. There are times when a commercial amuses me enough that i can recite it, or at least approximte it closely--except that i completely forget the name of the product and/or brand being advertised. Case in point: "[This car] has a lot in common with football. A football stadium can fit a lot of people; [This car] can fit a lot of people. Football teams wear a wide variety of colors; [This car] comes in a wide variety of colors. You can score in football-- *awkward pause* [This car] comes in a wide variety of colors."

Speaking of things coming in different colors, let's continue crusading against the use of repaints merely as a marketing ploy. There are numerous types of fighter jets still in use today, aren't there? Why not make Starscream, Skywarp, Thundercracker, Ramjet, Thrust, Dirge, and Sunstorm (who is Sunstorm, anyway?) different types of jet? Admittedly, to be true to the characters, it's more important for the Decepticon jets to have the same mold (or only a couple molds) than for, say, Smokescreen, Silverstreak, and Prowl to share a mold. But since the Alternators line seems to be more about collectors and collectibles than about the characters, i think this could be pretty cool.

[Time Traveller]

i agree with all you say, esp. crusading against recolors! btw, has anyone got alternators newer than sideswipe? hound was dated for march, and here it is may, and i've been all the way to madison, and many stores haven't even go sideswipe yet. i... need.... more... alternators!

[Time Traveller]

hey... does anyone know when the third alternator (hound) is coming out?

[Aanallein]

Well, I don't know when it actually comes out, but according to "The Big Bad Toy Store" you could have preordered Hound in the first quarter of this year, of which it has sold out.

http://bigbadtoystore.com/toystan.asp?Queryid=pre717

As for the actual release date, I'll keep looking.

[Aanallein]

I realize this. I'm just the messenger, in other words, don't shoot me.

Um... looking further, most people think it is in June not August. And as for the preorder, it was just to start the preorder in the first quarter, which would more than likely be Feb. and continue it through. But meh... such as I would assume.

[Time Traveller]

update everybody: if you read this very long thread, you may have caught discussion about sportscars as emergency vehicles. recently, car and driver (i think, could've been road and track) announced that the italian government is ordering specially outfitted Lamborghini Gallardo squad cars to police the major superhighways in italy! all i can say, if you're runnin from the cops, your ass is grass!

Aanallein: i know you've been reading up on G1 episode summaries. in STARS commando's most recent post in this thread, he mentioned about Autobots disguising themselves as Decepticon Stunticons. the episode is called "Masquerade", if i recall, and is likely season two. prove your transformerology resourcefulness by finding the missing names of the autobots who participated in the masquerade as menasor. do you accept this quest? and for extra credit: which autobots disguised as which decepticons?

the one thing i really want to know, why didn't the autobots think of doing this way earlier, like with devastator?

[Aanallein]

Well, this was an easy task.

Episode 60: Masquerade

Optimus Prime paints himself like Motormaster
Windcharger like Wildrider
Mirage like Dragstrip
Jazz like Dead End
Sideswipe like Breakdown.

Then, when the real stunticons break free and arrive at the scene as Menasor, the Autobots are told to transform to Menasor to prove themselves the true stunticons. So, Mirage uses a hologram while Windcharger uses his magnetic field to make themselves look like Menasor. The two Menasors fight each other. The Autobots lose and their cover is blown.

As for thinking of doing it earlier, it was one of those spur of the moment things. And at that spur of the moment, they got their butt kicked. So, yeah. No need trying that again the Autobots thought. Or at least I guess.

[Time Traveller]

very good. i am pleased with your research skills. anyway, aanallein, if you want some actual transformers, i'd recommend these alternators as a good start. they are about $20, detailed, realistic, challenging transformations, and display well in either mode. don't forget: excessive force is not necessary.

[Aanallein]

Don't you feel special now TT eh?

Yes, I do.

Double posting the same thing. Tsk tsk tsk... you realize this is not very admin like of you.

Now to finish this useless post up I will say, thank you for the compliment, as for owning my own transformers, I doubt I will enjoy to do that. It is an expensive buisness, although, if you need me to look for certain things for you in these neck of the woods I'll be happy to do that.

[Time Traveller]

double post? what? where? yeah that's right. actually, it's not too expensive to pick a figure or two up here and there. but, your choice.

[Aanallein]

double post? what? where? yeah that's right. actually, it's not too expensive to pick a figure or two up here and there. but, your choice.

"Oh I see! Runnin' away eh?"

Using the admin powers to fix your mess ups... I see it.

Anyways, if I start it, I'll go full tilt at it, not half ass. So yeah, it will be expensive. Anywho.... yeah.

[trance]

Children, I don't want to have to seperate you...

[Time Traveller]

don't worry, we usually take our rivalries to MSN. speaking of which, i have added the msn account that you offer in your profile, and you've never signed on. i find it a more convenient way to negotiate than bouncing emails.

[Challoner]

Haven't read the entire topic, mostly just the first page:

Mirage should be a "BAR" (British American Racing at www.barf1.com). The colour scheme isn't so good this year, but last year it was really "Mirage'esque".

Prowl I'd update to the new McLaren Benz SLR (www.mclarencars.com) or go to http://www.mercedes-benz.com/com/d/home ... lashstop=1 and click on the "SLR webspecial" link. The car is an absolute beast. Not the fastest in the world, but at recent track tests it beat the Lambourghini's and Ferrari's track times (due to its great handling and breaking power). Don't mistake this monster for the generic Benz SLR.

Jazz would get the new Porsche 911 body. Don't think it's as stylish as it used to be, but its less boxy appearance gives it a more sleek racing shape.

Wheeljack....dunno, tough call as the Lancia was special and there's not been anything as classy since. Cept perhaps the custom Alfa Romeo's of the mid90's that dominated Touring Cars in Europe, their new one (the Matiga) is also very special looking. I'd be tempted to leave him as a Stratos.

Sunstreaker and Sideswipe I'd opt for the two best Lamborghini options. Murciélago and the Murciélago Roadster, or high end Diablo's.

I like some of the Alternators, they are genuinely very pretty builds and the kind of quality we've been waiting for since 1990 when Transformers instead of 'growing up' with their fans, dumbed down and went to plastic.

The Ford Focus would be a good car for Hubcap or someone. Bumblebee/Goldbug would be thrown into a Peugeot 206 because the new VW is a hideous bubble shaped car.

Ironhide should be a Ford Transit, just because they're the longest running van series in the world. They've been building the buggers since 1960's through numerous designs and modifications as the years and decades have gone by. They're pretty much known as the backbone of Europe. Most Ambulances in Britain are "Transits" which would mean Ironhide/Ratchet could be recolours of each other.

We have the new Jaguar XJ6 as Police Cars these days...very nice car too. Would look good for Nightbeat or someone.

[Aanallein]

Children, I don't want to have to seperate you...

AH! *strikes the fear of God pose*

L-l-l-l-lord.... T-t-trance. P-p-p-please d-don't hurt m-m-m-me.

*scampers off*

Ah well. Back to the topic of alternators. They're cool aren't they? Yep yep.

[Savanna RX-7 GT-X]

Just a quick simple question I hoping maybe someone could maybe answer.

I have Smokescreen Subaru WRX STi WRC and the Sideswipe Dodge Viper SRT-10, but have yet to find the Hound Jeep Wrangler.

Has anyone found Hound in the Madison WI area, as the places I found and still can fidt the first 2(Wal-Mart and Target) have never had them in.

Any help would be nice.