The Energon Pub

Some of you may have read in the Toy Haul thread that i recently bought 14 loose Alternators in one lot on ebay. In this lot i received Hound and noticed that on his left hand side door, there is 'not for sale' embossed into the plastic, leaving me scratching my head.

I am open to suggestions on this

A prototype! Go you!

Starscream227 wrote:A prototype! Go you!

I have thought about that possibility but wrote it off as i could not fathom getting a prototype Hound in a random Alternators lot on ebay. However i can't think of any other fathomable explanation.

Hmmm...was the seller a shop of some kind, or a member
of John Q. Public? If They (they begin either Hasbro or Takara)
produce a large number of prototypes, it might not be so far-fetched.

Otherwise, I'm stumped.

EDIT: To those in the know, was Hound ever
considered for US release? If so, this could be a plausible
explination.

Hound was released in the Alternators line, number 3 if i am correct. He came in the "original" blue box packaging. Looks to me as you either have a prototype or a part scavanged from one. Check out the toy galleries on this here site to see if yours matches up paint/color wise. if you have less paint apps then yours is probably a prototype.

Hound was a US release. A wide release a very wide release.

It could possibly be a special giveaway version that the seller got somewhere, or maybe a Store display piece.

Perhaps a Prototype the seller bought off of Ebay, before they were released.

can you take a pic of the "not for sale label"?

http://img204.imageshack.us/my.php?image=houndjl6.jpg


It's embossed into the door.

The paint looks sorta glittery. Is it the camera, or the actual plastic?
Anyhow, maybe you got a prototype, althoughI've seen very few new ones to be a judge of it. I'm no authority on rare toys.

Sherade wrote:The paint looks sorta glittery. Is it the camera, or the actual plastic?
Anyhow, maybe you got a prototype, althoughI've seen very few new ones to be a judge of it. I'm no authority on rare toys.

His main body paint application does indeed seem to be somewhat glittery, the flash of the camera exaggerates it though, it is hardly noticeable, even up close. This Hound must be a prototype as it is definitely not a Knock-off as it has the Hasbro/Takara 2003 markings on the underside.

Overcracker wrote:Hound was a US release. A wide release a very wide release.

--B-- wrote:Hound was released in the Alternators line, number 3 if i am correct. He came in the "original" blue box packaging.

Wow...I'm sad I missed it. I took him for a Binaltech-only
deal.

Hound was one of the 5 or so figures that actually got an Australian toy store release (opposed to online, like the rest of the line).

My Hound has that slightly sparkly sheen to it as well, and the camera does exaggerate it quite a fair bit.

I'd say you have yourself a prototype, or at the very least, the door off a prototype.

And congrats on getting on of the better Alt molds in such good numbers, an Army of Hounds would look pretty damn cool!

Well, looks to be a prototype. Perhaps a final colored one.

Mine also has that shiny metallic fleck thing going on. SO its probably once of those things, that aren't supposed to be sold, but somehow finds its way on ebay. Its not unusual. but it is kinda nice to have one that's special in that way.

I can see miscolored pices!!! It's a prototype!!!

Actually, he'd be a test shot.

Animated Bulkhead is a prime example of a prototype.

Same difference. Both not to be sold, both end up sold, both go for money in years, both are colord weird, both aren't released.

The parts that the front wheels attach to should be black!

awesome, nice snag