DSC_2084
Reuse of existing tooling is fairly common in toylines, and of course the Binaltech/Alternators line of Transformers was no exception. While I've look at some blatant repaints such as the multiple colours of Meister/Jazz, Tracks, and Smokescreen/Silverstreak/Ricochet, lets look back at a slightly more innocent reuse, Swindle.
I imagine because of the expensive development costs, Takara/Hasbro probably wanted to reuse whatever they could, whenever they could, from the Binaltech/Alternators line. So to squeeze more life of the tooling, Takara/Hasbro started releasing different characters using the same bodies but different heads, the first of many being Swindle here.
Swindle the G1 character, was also a Jeep, albeit yellow, that formed a leg of Bruticus. Clearly this figure doesn't combine with anything, and is simply a repainted Hound with a different head.
The Jeep Wrangler alt mode was probably the first Binaltech/Alternator vehicle to not feature that nifty steering rack, but rather there is a "working suspension" where the wheels are attached to springs that mimic the workings of shocks. Being the Binaltech version, the figure, and by extension vehicle mode, are painted a lovely mustard yellow giving it that authentic automotive showroom sheen.
Perhaps one of the more annoying realities of this reuse is that literally anything they could would be reused, including that laughably small gun that Hound came with. I believe the only reuse figure to ever come with a new weapon was the 2004 WRX version of Smokescreen, only available in the Binaltech line.
As with other Binaltechs, the Jeep Wranger features detailed interiors and working doors - again, meticulous detail has been included to allow these vehicles to compete with the trust 1:24 scale models. Those with sharp eyes will notice that the engine block is not the gun, which is usually the case for these releases. In fact, if memory serves me correctly, I believe this and Ravage (the Jaguar mold) are the only ones with separate weapons not of the engine variety.
Transformation yields a chunky robot with limited articulation, stubby arms and awkward shoulders... a pattern that generally fits all figures in the line with the exception of Sideswipe/Lambor, who has awkward shoulders AND awkward feet. The added bonus of this robot mode is that the chest cavity is obviously empty.. there is no guess work involved. Couple that with the Noisy Cricket that is included, and you get a really goofy looking robot.
Oh well.. at least it's pretty looking
DSC_2084
Reuse of existing tooling is fairly common in toylines, and of course the Binaltech/Alternators line of Transformers was no exception. While I've look at some blatant repaints such as the multiple colours of Meister/Jazz, Tracks, and Smokescreen/Silverstreak/Ricochet, lets look back at a slightly more innocent reuse, Swindle.
I imagine because of the expensive development costs, Takara/Hasbro probably wanted to reuse whatever they could, whenever they could, from the Binaltech/Alternators line. So to squeeze more life of the tooling, Takara/Hasbro started releasing different characters using the same bodies but different heads, the first of many being Swindle here.
Swindle the G1 character, was also a Jeep, albeit yellow, that formed a leg of Bruticus. Clearly this figure doesn't combine with anything, and is simply a repainted Hound with a different head.
The Jeep Wrangler alt mode was probably the first Binaltech/Alternator vehicle to not feature that nifty steering rack, but rather there is a "working suspension" where the wheels are attached to springs that mimic the workings of shocks. Being the Binaltech version, the figure, and by extension vehicle mode, are painted a lovely mustard yellow giving it that authentic automotive showroom sheen.
Perhaps one of the more annoying realities of this reuse is that literally anything they could would be reused, including that laughably small gun that Hound came with. I believe the only reuse figure to ever come with a new weapon was the 2004 WRX version of Smokescreen, only available in the Binaltech line.
As with other Binaltechs, the Jeep Wranger features detailed interiors and working doors - again, meticulous detail has been included to allow these vehicles to compete with the trust 1:24 scale models. Those with sharp eyes will notice that the engine block is not the gun, which is usually the case for these releases. In fact, if memory serves me correctly, I believe this and Ravage (the Jaguar mold) are the only ones with separate weapons not of the engine variety.
Transformation yields a chunky robot with limited articulation, stubby arms and awkward shoulders... a pattern that generally fits all figures in the line with the exception of Sideswipe/Lambor, who has awkward shoulders AND awkward feet. The added bonus of this robot mode is that the chest cavity is obviously empty.. there is no guess work involved. Couple that with the Noisy Cricket that is included, and you get a really goofy looking robot.
Oh well.. at least it's pretty looking