The Energon Pub

News Credits: 5 · Tue Apr 23, 2013 8:32 am

Licensed real-life vehicles, strong homages to Generation 1 Transformers, updated interpretations with much-improved posability and action figure technology, aimed at the collectors moreso than children, feverishly lapped up by fans during their pomp. No, this is not another article about the new Masterpiece Transformers toy line, I am talking about Takara’s Transformers Binaltech chapter, a series of toys that these days are unjustifiably in danger of being forgotten about. So here’s a reminder, lest we forget.

Binaltech BT-01 to BT-04 | Source Blog <- CLICK TO READ

All the best
Maz

News Credits: 15 · Tue Apr 23, 2013 11:10 am

Love the BT line. Love the size, the diecast parts, the (mostly) nifty character updates.

Faves are Meister (Jazz), Lazerwave, Smokescreen, Hound and Grimlock. A few duds in there too, Dead End's legs ruined the figure for me.

News Credits: 2 · Tue Apr 23, 2013 5:54 pm

Binaltech Ravage was (and still is) one of my all time favorite figures and the tie-in with Beast Wars just made it that much sweeter. The Binaltech (and Alternity to a lesser degree) was a great line indeed and they had some excellent figures.

News Credits: 3 · Wed Apr 24, 2013 1:20 am

It's an awesome line. I managed to get ahold of the entire Binaltech line with the exception of that darn limited Black Convoy.

News Credits: 2 · Wed Apr 24, 2013 3:29 am

Transformers Hoarder wrote:It's an awesome line. I managed to get ahold of the entire Binaltech line with the exception of that darn limited Black Convoy.

You mean this one?:

I actually got that one for my older brother. He's not a Transformers fan at all, but he is a HUGE Dodge Ram fan. I snagged it on BBTS long ago for him and to this day he still has it displayed on his shelf MISB. I never grabbed one for myself and I don't have the red version either.

News Credits: 15 · Wed Apr 24, 2013 3:35 am

I had to settle for the Alternator version of black Prime, or Nemesis as I think he was called.

News Credits: 2 · Wed Apr 24, 2013 4:10 am

Ravage XK wrote:I had to settle for the Alternator version of black Prime, or Nemesis as I think he was called.

What's the difference between the two?

News Credits: 15 · Wed Apr 24, 2013 4:32 am

This is the Alternator version. In terms of colours I don't think there was much or anything in it. The Alternator is all plastic and Binaltechs had some diecast parts though I have no idea how many or which parts.

News Credits: 2 · Wed Apr 24, 2013 4:39 am

Oh, I see. Well, the one pictured above is the one I bought for my brother (I remember the packaging looking like that). I assume the one you're referring to that you want is this one which was a Takara Wonderfest exclusive, yes? I can see why you'd be apprehensive about purchasing one. The price on that piece is quite hefty and rivals some of the rarest of the rare G1 figures.

News Credits: 6188 · Wed Apr 24, 2013 4:55 am

I'm still annoyed I never got a Hound/Swindle. Those jeeps look good, even with all the back kibble.

News Credits: 15 · Wed Apr 24, 2013 5:14 am

I have taken a bunch of photos of some of my BT and Alt figures over the years and thrown them all together in a gallery that you can see here. Haven't sorted them out yet, this is just everything I have. There are a few of Alt Nemesis Prime.

News Credits: 6188 · Wed Apr 24, 2013 6:57 am

Ravage XK wrote:I have taken a bunch of photos of some of my BT and Alt figures over the years and thrown them all together in a gallery that you can see here. Haven't sorted them out yet, this is just everything I have. There are a few of Alt Nemesis Prime.

That's just not fair. I now also want Grimlock and Ravage again.

News Credits: 3 · Wed Apr 24, 2013 7:13 am

The Black Convoy that I need to complete my Binaltech collection is indeed diecast with clear windows instead of the pink or red. I understand that less than a thousand were produced. The closest I've come to owning one was $500.00 shipped and I just couldn't pull the trigger on it. One day maybe... Here's one on eBay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TRANSFORMERS-BT ... 337e48c94b

Wed Apr 24, 2013 10:21 am

As display pieces, these figures are great. Both modes look pretty awesome on the shelf. I don't pick them up and transform them very often. Between the annoyingly complicated transformations and the paint chipping, playing with them just isn't worth it.

News Credits: 14 · Thu Apr 25, 2013 5:47 am

Transformers Hoarder wrote:The Black Convoy that I need to complete my Binaltech collection is indeed diecast with clear windows instead of the pink or red. I understand that less than a thousand were produced. The closest I've come to owning one was $500.00 shipped and I just couldn't pull the trigger on it. One day maybe...

Va'al wrote:I'm still annoyed I never got a Hound/Swindle. Those jeeps look good, even with all the back kibble.

I love the Alternator/Binaltech lines! :grin:

Have you considered this as a stand in? :-?

http://chimungmung.com/product_info.php?products_id=205
http://chimungmung.com/product_info.php?cPath=30_63&products_id=414

News Credits: 15 · Thu Apr 25, 2013 6:11 am

I had forgotten that I bought the fuel tank that becomes a gun upgrade for Alt Nemesis Prime. Hmm, wonder where I put it.

News Credits: 10 · Thu Apr 25, 2013 7:14 pm

robotmel wrote:Have you considered this as a stand in?

http://chimungmung.com/product_info.php?products_id=205
http://chimungmung.com/product_info.php?cPath=30_63&products_id=414

Why... why did you link those. Now I have to try and resist more impulse buys #-o

News Credits: 409 · Fri Apr 26, 2013 7:44 pm

Nice read. Thanks for posting it. I too have noticed that Binaltechs have faded into the background. I just came back from a trip in Japan and there is a glut of Binaltech's that are being sold (used and unopened packages) in hobby shops making them inexpensive. The Japanese fans have lost interest in them. And it makes sense why someone would prefer MP Sideswipe over BT Sideswipe.

However, with that said, I think the Binaltech line has always been a bit under appreciated and under represented. The Alternator line has helped steal some of the thunder. I think in 10-20 years people will look back the Binaltech line much like they are doing now with the G1 line and appreciate the details, the die-cast, car accuracy.

News Credits: 14 · Sat Apr 27, 2013 5:02 am

Stormrider wrote:I think in 10-20 years people will look back the Binaltech line much like they are doing now with the G1 line and appreciate the details, the die-cast, car accuracy.

I still hunt for Alternators/Binaltech figures to this day.

Just recently got my hands on the Jaguar XK/Ravage which is pretty cool, but still need Hound, Prowl, Battle Ravage (Diaclone Black Tracks anyone!), Sunstreaker, Decepticharge, Rollbar, Ricochet, Camshaft, Nemesis Prime, Rumble, Arcee, Broadblast (Blaster) and Autorooper!

I know a lot of them are repaint of the same mold and quite a few are available through the A&L branded line which is handy.
They also offer up some odd repaints which are pretty nice for those who can custom them into characters which never made it to the Alternators/Binaltech lines... :-?