DSC_2344
Transformer Ford GT-off.. ish.
A recent trade netted me one of them fancy former SDCC exclusive Transformers Alternators: Hot Rod figures.
For those unfamiliar with the Alternators line, back in the mid 2000s (yes, that magical time again), Takara and Hasbro produced a line of toys that were 1/24 scale and had licensed vehicles as alt modes. I think at the time, there was probably thought that this might actually be an extension of the newly minted Masterpiece line.
Anyway, Hasbro had their Alternators, and Takara went on to make Binaltech and Kiss Players based on the toys, with Binaltech having die cast metal parts, and Kiss Players being all plastic. There are storylines behind everything, but it would take me a long time to explain everything, so if you're interested I'd recommend doing some Googling.
Physically (for the most part) the toys were same, but from a spit polish and paint perspective, the Takara ones blew the Hasbro ones out of the water, and while there was a price difference, trust me when I say that the extra $20 was worth it.
Sure, there's something to be said about about the durability of unpainted plastic, but when you're releasing a line of licensed vehicles that look like unpainted plastic models... nope, not happening.
The line(s) didn't actually last that long, with toys actually only making their way to the one side of the Hasbro/Takara partnership, which sucks if you're a completest, but we're talking redecos rather than unique moulds.
Among the last of the released toys was the Ford GT, which was probably the sleekest of all the vehicles chosen - robot mode is a bit kibbly, but that can be said for most of the line.
The first release was Mirage from Hasbro, then the Hot Rodimus from Takara, with the e-Hobby exclusive Rijie (Mirage in cloaked mode) and the Hasbro Hot Rod soon afterwards.
Seeing as how I now have 3 of the 4 releases (getting a Rijie is pretty expensive, and not something I think I'll ever do.. not for the $200 I've been seeing ask an asking price), I figured it's a good time to do a little comparison and contrast.
In my lineup, Mirage is definitely his own thing - he's the only blue release, has a different head sculpt. You can notice that the white stripng is a bit flaked. While I did get this second hand, this sort of damage was prevalent even when fresh out of the box, because Hasbro cost cutting happened and they didn't protect the paint with a sealer.
Hot Rod and Hot Rodimus are actually pretty similar, more so than I would have though. Sure, obviously Hot Rod has gold stripes and the flame deco whereas Hot Rodimus has his deco based on the Mirage release, but both figures actually have the same paint and decals on the smaller areas, such as the pieces on the side of the chest, the head, and the flame deco on the wrist.
Even the usual stuff I expect that Hasbro would give up on, like the interior of the vehicle, were identical on both toys.
Hell, even the strangely unevenly unpainted doors (right door appears to be painted with fewer layers of paint) are identical.
I guess this is the SDCC exclusive difference.
What WAS strange, however, was the fact it seems that Hasbro cheaped out on the clear coat, which was not present (or as present) on the front half of the car.. again, maybe this was a play wear thing, but it looks more like they half assed the application rather than completely neglected to put it on like with Mirage.
Like I said earlier.. the extra $20 for Takara was worth it.
DSC_2344
Transformer Ford GT-off.. ish.
A recent trade netted me one of them fancy former SDCC exclusive Transformers Alternators: Hot Rod figures.
For those unfamiliar with the Alternators line, back in the mid 2000s (yes, that magical time again), Takara and Hasbro produced a line of toys that were 1/24 scale and had licensed vehicles as alt modes. I think at the time, there was probably thought that this might actually be an extension of the newly minted Masterpiece line.
Anyway, Hasbro had their Alternators, and Takara went on to make Binaltech and Kiss Players based on the toys, with Binaltech having die cast metal parts, and Kiss Players being all plastic. There are storylines behind everything, but it would take me a long time to explain everything, so if you're interested I'd recommend doing some Googling.
Physically (for the most part) the toys were same, but from a spit polish and paint perspective, the Takara ones blew the Hasbro ones out of the water, and while there was a price difference, trust me when I say that the extra $20 was worth it.
Sure, there's something to be said about about the durability of unpainted plastic, but when you're releasing a line of licensed vehicles that look like unpainted plastic models... nope, not happening.
The line(s) didn't actually last that long, with toys actually only making their way to the one side of the Hasbro/Takara partnership, which sucks if you're a completest, but we're talking redecos rather than unique moulds.
Among the last of the released toys was the Ford GT, which was probably the sleekest of all the vehicles chosen - robot mode is a bit kibbly, but that can be said for most of the line.
The first release was Mirage from Hasbro, then the Hot Rodimus from Takara, with the e-Hobby exclusive Rijie (Mirage in cloaked mode) and the Hasbro Hot Rod soon afterwards.
Seeing as how I now have 3 of the 4 releases (getting a Rijie is pretty expensive, and not something I think I'll ever do.. not for the $200 I've been seeing ask an asking price), I figured it's a good time to do a little comparison and contrast.
In my lineup, Mirage is definitely his own thing - he's the only blue release, has a different head sculpt. You can notice that the white stripng is a bit flaked. While I did get this second hand, this sort of damage was prevalent even when fresh out of the box, because Hasbro cost cutting happened and they didn't protect the paint with a sealer.
Hot Rod and Hot Rodimus are actually pretty similar, more so than I would have though. Sure, obviously Hot Rod has gold stripes and the flame deco whereas Hot Rodimus has his deco based on the Mirage release, but both figures actually have the same paint and decals on the smaller areas, such as the pieces on the side of the chest, the head, and the flame deco on the wrist.
Even the usual stuff I expect that Hasbro would give up on, like the interior of the vehicle, were identical on both toys.
Hell, even the strangely unevenly unpainted doors (right door appears to be painted with fewer layers of paint) are identical.
I guess this is the SDCC exclusive difference.
What WAS strange, however, was the fact it seems that Hasbro cheaped out on the clear coat, which was not present (or as present) on the front half of the car.. again, maybe this was a play wear thing, but it looks more like they half assed the application rather than completely neglected to put it on like with Mirage.
Like I said earlier.. the extra $20 for Takara was worth it.