The Energon Pub

I passed on the Alternators when they were at retail mainly due to the price. At the time I wasn't sure I wanted to start collecting a line that cost $20.00 a pop. Toward the end of the line I found some at WM on clearance for $10.00 each; Richocet, Rollbar, Skids, Sunstreaker. After I got these I really regretted not getting the rest when I had the chance. I recently purchased a complete set on Ebay and have been very pleased with most of them. Not a big fan of the Corvette molds, because transforming the legs drives me crazy. All in all I really enjoy having them in my collection and wish they would bring the line back.

I have one of every mold except Rumble, although I haven't opened Skids yet.

I love the fact that people see them in alt mode and find it hard to believe they can transform.

I don't like the poseability of some of them - Sideswipe and others could have had way better legs. I've made cuts to quite a few to improve them but Prime is just a total disaster! He's AWFUL.

I love the complexity of the transformation cos I like a challenge but as Wheeljack was my first I find most of the others pretty easy in comparison!

Overall, I love 'em!

NotEnoughKibble wrote:And since when is the fact they're too easily confused for being a model car a bad thing? Robots in disguise, anyone?

But to each their own...

It's not the fact it can be confused as a model car, more that it isn't a toy but more of a model - a statue, a ornament. When I pick up a Transformer, I want to have that element of fun at the play (yes, that word) aspect of the toy - you don't get that with Alternators.

The reason I find them boring is because they're all cars. I could understand it a bit more if there were Motorcycles, Jets or Tanks, but a line of Transformers that are just cars doesn't hold my interest.

Each to their own, though!

I friggen love these things! I also missed the boat when they first came out (I was too much of a G1 mold snob), so it's a struggle to catch up. Here's one rule I set for myself. I don't spend more than $30 on a MISB Alternator or $40 for Binaltech. Believe it or not you'll still build your collection up nicely that way if you're persistent. If you buy loose, even cheaper.

I love the fact they look like model cars, or real cars, or whatever. Maybe because I just love cars, and to me, that's what got me into Transformers back in 1983. CARS that transform! Way cool.

As many have mentioned, these are better geared for adults who can handle a more complex transformation, but I don't know what kid wouldn't like them. Also once the big three go out of business, many molds will be true collectors items!

GetterDragun wrote:I looked at Binaltech Smokescreen sitting on my shelf the otherday, and yeat, it looks like an MP figure, making even classics pale in comparison. These were ahead of their time in my opinion and strictly intended for G1 adult collectors. It's like what you would have wanted growing up in the 80's. But I beleive (based on the posts above) that they are really underrated and in time will become the most wanted of all TF figures, next to original G1s.

I've been collecting Binaltechs instead of Alternators, which have a great weighty feel. But I agree with you with the two lines. In 10 years, these will be highly desired and very difficult to come by. Some of the later models became lazy with transformations like Rumble. But some of the early ones were very clever. I really enjoy the scale and wish more Transformers were on the same scale.

I just started picking them up (have 6 thus far), and love them. But I think I will be pretty picky, cause some of the Bot modes don't appeal to me when looking at the galleries on this site. They display nicely with MPs, and I am actually finding them pretty reasonably priced recently (been watching them for about a year and just started buying.)

My problems with the line are the lack of D-Cons in it and some of the kibble on many of them (atleast based on the pics on this site). I am not a big fan of bots with shoulders sticking up way over their heads, or missles that don't look directly attached.

I think the mold for Jazz and Hound are great, and highly recomend picking up the reprolabels for Jazz to finish him off.

I feel very tingly in my pants, honestly. Thanks for asking.

*walks into traffic*

Mr.Bond007 wrote:one of my fav tf series. I love cars and I love tfs so this line is really for me. Now yes some of them were a pain but that was the fun of it for me. Once you transformed one you'de feel good and even more so when you're able to transform it back. I really hope they brign back the line.

i agree. i love cars and i love transformers. it's a total win-win situation for me. the realism is unreal.............pun intended.

No words can describe my love for Alternators line, maybe this picture will...



Cheers,
Coolpop

You love them so much, you leave them in their boxes and never touch them? Dude, your wife must be the unhappiest woman on Earth.

coolpop wrote:No words can describe my love for Alternators line, maybe this picture will...



Cheers,
Coolpop

Is that one from every one AFA'ed and one loose? Just WOW.

And using bags to keep away dust... I should have thought of that.

Chaoslock wrote:Is that one from every one AFA'ed and one loose? Just WOW.

And using bags to keep away dust... I should have thought of that.

Yeah, complete 27pcs AFA'd plus a couple of extras, with another loose set for play/display.

Thanks for your compliments!
Coolpop

Sledge wrote:You love them so much, you leave them in their boxes and never touch them? Dude, your wife must be the unhappiest woman on Earth.

I do play with my loose set. Luckily my wife supports my TF collecting.

Wow Coolpop, that is one impressive collection of alternators.

How do you normally display them?

AlienQuiksilver wrote:I feel very tingly in my pants, honestly. Thanks for asking.

*walks into traffic*

Not that I wan to admit it after a post like that, but we live really close to each other. Like 10 minutes or less maybe close.

As for the main topic, I only own one and that's a Sunstreaker I bought on cleaerance. I also only own one MP (Prime). I don't tend to buy a lot of the real big bots, for whatever reason.

But I do like Sunstreaker. Not enough to get more Alternators, though.

Delicon wrote:Not that I wan to admit it after a post like that, but we live really close to each other. Like 10 minutes or less maybe close.

As for the main topic, I only own one and that's a Sunstreaker I bought on cleaerance. I also only own one MP (Prime). I don't tend to buy a lot of the real big bots, for whatever reason.

But I do like Sunstreaker. Not enough to get more Alternators, though.

IMO the Viper mold is one of the weaker from the line. Might want to consider checking out another before forming your opinion...or if you want to save money, maybe you don't

The Viper mold looks great, but the posability sucks. Worse, it's not even because the joints aren't there, it's just that bits of bodywork get in the way of the limbs. Especially the legs.

Firebird wrote:Wow Coolpop, that is one impressive collection of alternators.

How do you normally display them?

Thanks Firebird.

These are normally packed away in storage boxes, due to lack of space in my house. The plastic bags for loose Alternators actually also prevent figures from scratching each other when tucked away.

When I reclaim my spaces within my house, I will display each loose Alternator in bot form posed in front of its respective AFA'd figure in alt form.

I have 7 Alternators & I liked every one of them. Maybe it's because I was lucky enough to stay away from those hard-to-transform ones. Smokescreen & Silverstreak are my favorites from that toyline, & they have some of the easier transformations in the series. I recommend those two, but I also recommend the Jeep Wrangler molds (Hound, Swindle, & Rollbar) as well.

I have half of the Alt/BT line. Alt: Silverstreak, Ricochet, Hound, Sunstreaker, WJ, Mirage, Skids, Tracks, Grimlock, Rodimus. BT: Silverstreak, Red Alert, Prowl, Hound, Sideswipe, Jazz, Bluestreak, Smokescreen, Clear Mirage. So, I have my fair share of the line and I am enjoying them.

NotEnoughKibble wrote:

Delicon wrote:Not that I wan to admit it after a post like that, but we live really close to each other. Like 10 minutes or less maybe close.

As for the main topic, I only own one and that's a Sunstreaker I bought on cleaerance. I also only own one MP (Prime). I don't tend to buy a lot of the real big bots, for whatever reason.

But I do like Sunstreaker. Not enough to get more Alternators, though.

IMO the Viper mold is one of the weaker from the line. Might want to consider checking out another before forming your opinion...or if you want to save money, maybe you don't

What part(s) of the mold don't you like?

Delicon wrote:What part(s) of the mold don't you like?

I wouldn't go as far as saying I don't like it because I do, but mostly I don't find the bot mode as impressive as most others. The legs look a bit off and I'm not overly fond of the way the doors look hanging off the arms. The transformation is also a bit more on the finicky side. I love complex, but if it's considered complex only because it's fiddly how you have to twist and line up the parts, it's less impressive in my book.

My recommendation: Skids...fun figure, looks good, and one of the cheaper ones to come by. If you love it then you can further your collection from there. If they still don't do it for ya, you're not out too much cash.

NotEnoughKibble wrote:

Delicon wrote:What part(s) of the mold don't you like?

I wouldn't go as far as saying I don't like it because I do, but mostly I don't find the bot mode as impressive as most others. The legs look a bit off and I'm not overly fond of the way the doors look hanging off the arms. The transformation is also a bit more on the finicky side. I love complex, but if it's considered complex only because it's fiddly how you have to twist and line up the parts, it's less impressive in my book.

My recommendation: Skids...fun figure, looks good, and one of the cheaper ones to come by. If you love it then you can further your collection from there. If they still don't do it for ya, you're not out too much cash.

I agree with that, actually. The bot mode is a bit awkward, if he just had a random head on him and not a Sunstreaker head I probably wouldn't be a fan.

Oh yeah, the other thing I don't care for as much with the Viper...the hood hanging down between the legs. Had to check it out and remind myself.

coolpop wrote:No words can describe my love for Alternators line, maybe this picture will...



Cheers,
Coolpop

my god! u lucky bastard!