The Energon Pub

News Credits: 217 · Fri Nov 26, 2010 9:16 pm

I've been looking forward to Turbo Tracks and I was lucky enough to get him today. And I have to say my feelings on him are really mixed.

First up, his car mode. Shape-wise it looks very different to G1 Tracks and maybe not in the most flattering fashion. G1 Tracks was long, sleek and about 50% hood. Turbo Tracks has a wider, more rounded car-mode which reminds me more of the Universe version of Hot Shot. It's still a very attractive car but it loses much of the distinctiveness of the original.

On the plus side, his dark windscreen looks real nice, he has a decent amount of sculpted detail around his front and rear lights and though his flame decal looks a lot more artsy and tribal now I quite like it. Tracks seems like the kind of guy who'd like to keep his style current, after all. Also he has a sculpted, non-opening sunroof. I'm sure that Wheeljack will look better with this car mode.

His flying car mode is pretty weak, sadly. His wings basically consist of his car doors jutting out with stubby versions of his G1 wings on the end of them. By necessity of keeping his missiles hidden in car mode they're pretty small.

Transforming him is surprisingly complex with a lot going on in the arm department. There is a nice bit of auto-morph; pushing his chest up causes his shoulders to move out to the sides. Other than that his transformation is pretty vanilla. Turning him back into a car is a little trickier: his doors, hood and rear all need to lock in together when they keep wanting to pop apart.

His robot mode is an absolute treat. His wings no longer look ridiculous and he looks heroically bulky but not overly so. He has great proportions, decent articulation and his kibble is relegated to his back. In many ways he looks like a nice mix of toy-accurate, cartoon-accurate and his Binaltech self. One rather odd feature is his handgun which looks nothing like his but everything like Wheeljack's, one of the few concessions this figure makes to ol' WJ.

His bio is pretty amusing if you're the type who thinks that vanity=gay and that gay=hilarious (ie. if you write for the TF Wiki) but doesn't really add anything new.

If I sound negative at all in this post it's mostly because I love the original figure and the character and had high hopes for this guy. He's actually a really good toy and does well with having to keep three guns and 2-and-a-half modes in one deluxe mold. Plus he'll look great at Wheeljack too, I'm sure.

Fri Nov 26, 2010 9:22 pm

I love the comedy in TF:Wiki, something unique to most wikis i read.

Any, Tracks is a BOS once Reprolabels makes a custom set. I like the tribal thing, but a G1 deco just looks so old timey, and me likey old timey.

News Credits: 217 · Fri Nov 26, 2010 9:25 pm

Ungie wrote:I love the comedy in TF:Wiki, something unique to most wikis i read.

Some of the humour is really funny on TF Wiki but when it comes to the G1 Tracks entry it's just over the top, sophomoric and I don't like the idea that vanity equates to gay. That particular entry just rubs me the wrong way.

Fri Nov 26, 2010 9:31 pm

Diem wrote:
Ungie wrote:I love the comedy in TF:Wiki, something unique to most wikis i read.

Some of the humour is really funny on TF Wiki but when it comes to the G1 Tracks entry it's just over the top, sophomoric and I don't like the idea that vanity equates to gay. That particular entry just rubs me the wrong way.

Wow, Ive never knew that was on Tracks' wiki. Thats not right at all. Now I see what you mean on the vanity=gay part.

News Credits: 60 · Sat Nov 27, 2010 7:54 pm

I agree with Diem(on the personality portrayal). His personality was inspired by the two rich uppercrust society passengers in Gilligans Island. Even back then as a kid I never equated his personality with being gay.

A bit deviating, heck even Ernie and Bert/ Batman and Robin are equated as being gay...........what gives with all this gayness?

Next we'll hear Megatron and Starcream are also gay.....wait, someone already intimated to that too..........

Back to the figure, I for one can't wait to get my hands on one. Congrats to Diem.

News Credits: 9 · Sun Nov 28, 2010 8:23 am

Diem, I agree his flight mode is rubbish. Did you see this?

Even watching G1 episodes now i don't see Tracks as gay. I think people just have too much free time.

News Credits: 5749 · Sun Nov 28, 2010 8:58 am

I snagged Tracks and Jazz a week or so ago at a Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market. Tracks is nice and I actually like him more than I thought I would. I don't really mind the new alt mode, but the flying car mode does look ridiculous. I think Wheeljack is where this mold will really shine.

News Credits: 1 · Sun Nov 28, 2010 9:28 am

picked him up early 3-4 weeks ago and i am very pleased with tracks yes it has a few small flaws but wheeljack will be better

News Credits: 217 · Sun Nov 28, 2010 11:44 am

Mykltron wrote:Diem, I agree his flight mode is rubbish. Did you see this?

Even watching G1 episodes now i don't see Tracks as gay. I think people just have too much free time.

That does look a lot better. Thanks for bringing that to my attention.

News Credits: 11 · Sun Nov 28, 2010 1:26 pm

Robots are asexual. And besides, vanity and narcissism do NOT equal gay.

lol, anyway, I'm super looking forward to this figure, along with every other Neo-G1 figure coming up. Super excited.

News Credits: 3 · Sun Nov 28, 2010 1:37 pm

kirbenvost wrote:And besides, vanity and narcissism do NOT equal gay.

Indeed. Metrosexual, maybe, but not gay.

News Credits: 9 · Tue Nov 30, 2010 5:57 am

kirbenvost wrote:Robots are asexual. And besides, vanity and narcissism do NOT equal gay.

Tell that to Arcee/Springer and Silverbolt/Blackarachnia!

But seriously, vanity and homosexuality don't really go together. None of the gay people I know fit the stereotype.

News Credits: 9 · Tue Nov 30, 2010 11:10 am

News Credits: 217 · Tue Nov 30, 2010 11:19 am

triKlops wrote:

See, there we go. The very image of virile heterosexuality.

News Credits: 129 · Tue Nov 30, 2010 2:59 pm

I really like Tracks. That is an enjoyable toy to transform and the non-instruction alternate way to make flight mode really makes that figure shine.

He is a touch short I suppose, but I only think that is something I see due to G1 Tracks being a touch too tall.