Your favorite toy head sculpt: G1 Sideswipe

Discussion in 'Transformers Toy Discussion' started by Nevermore, May 2, 2011.

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Which is your favorite G1 Sideswipe toy head sculpt?

  1. G1 Sideswipe. (Also includes reissues and the red G2 version)

    24 vote(s)
    23.3%
  2. Action Master Sideswipe.

    3 vote(s)
    2.9%
  3. Myclone Lambor.

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  4. Smallest Transformers Lambor.

    1 vote(s)
    1.0%
  5. BotCon 2008 Sideswipe. (Includes Armada Wheeljack)

    3 vote(s)
    2.9%
  6. Alternators Side Swipe.

    52 vote(s)
    50.5%
  7. Titanium Side Swipe.

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  8. Attacktix Sideswipe.

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  9. Universe Sideswipe. (Includes the red BotCon 2010 Custom Class "G2" version)

    20 vote(s)
    19.4%
  1. Nevermore

    Nevermore It's self-perpetuating a parahumanoidarianised!

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    Over the years, a lot of toys based on, in homage to or intended as an upgrade for G1 Sideswipe have been released. While some (namely OTFCC Sideswipe) have been merely toys vaguely resembling the G1 character given a new deco, others are more obviously based on the G1 guy. However, these toys sport a lot of different head sculpts, which, while all based on the G1 character and his toy to some degree, differ in many aspects. Some are closely based on the original toy, others are closer to the animation model, whereas others try to blend elements of the two and yet others try to innovate the design while retaining a few key elements. Which head do you like the most?

    Note that this is only about the toys. I've left out a myriad of cartoon screencaps and interpretations by various comic book artists, and the animation model is only included for reference.

    OTFCC Sideswipe is not included because his head is just a redeco of RID Prowl. BotCon 2008 Sideswipe is included because Armada Wheeljack's head was designed as a G1 Sideswipe homage by Takara.

    I've also left out ROTF Sideswipe as he doesn't look to be particularly inspired by G1 Sideswipe.

    I apologize for the lack of good photos for some toys. I only found one single pic for Attacktix Sideswipe, and Smallest TF Lambor and Titanium Side Swipe appear to be difficult to photograph due to their size.

    (Photos taken from Seibertron, Transformers @ The Moon, Flickr and a bunch of other websites.)

    [​IMG]

    Other threads:
    G1 Mirage
    G1 Jazz
    G1 Prowl
    G1 Hound
    G1 Sunstreaker
    G1 Wheeljack
    G1 Grimlock (robot mode)
    G1 Grimlock (dinosaur mode)
     
  2. Thenames9

    Thenames9 D-d-d-d-duel!

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    Alternators is by far the most accurate, then Universe then the Action Master.
     
  3. katch26

    katch26 Well-Known Member

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    If not for anything else I vote alternators because of how clean the lines are
     
  4. jerryitus

    jerryitus Transformer vacuum

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    I'll go with G1. He was one of my fav g1 toys. The classics head did NOTHING for me though, looks old and serious.
     
  5. Dolza_Khyron

    Dolza_Khyron Well-Known Member

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    action masters; the one thing they always did well, was well sculpted heads and bodies. where other toys had failed to capture the look of the show, action masters did well in an era before the toys could look as good as they do now.

    with that said< action master's head is by far my favorite of all those.

    then alternator's. the rest are bleh, his head is just so bland and generic. and I think universe is the worst, it's just so bland. boring. he also has a weak expression. round up the g1 animation model, and i'd confuse it with any other autobot, if you didn't tell me it was sideswipe, i'd swear it looks a lot like cliffjumper's head.

    i am really glad that TODAY they are doing a much better job at making the heads look far LESS generic, and way more unique. especially in prime, tfa, and prime, both toy wise and animation models.
     
  6. SoundBlaster7

    SoundBlaster7 Well-Known Member

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    I love the Alternators head :) 
     
  7. Auto Morph

    Auto Morph Gimmick Bot

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    I think the head scuplt is great on the Alternators version, but the face does look slightly goofy IMO. Ima have to go with G1.
     
  8. metrotitan

    metrotitan Well-Known Member

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    I voted Alternators. His is my favorite Alts' head of them all, I think.
     
  9. xanthax

    xanthax choppaface

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    I dig the alternators version.
     
  10. Nevermore

    Nevermore It's self-perpetuating a parahumanoidarianised!

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    Wow, that's a pretty clear trend in favor of the Alternators version so far.
     
  11. Gilgamesh

    Gilgamesh Mostly Harmless

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    Alternators' head looks very good, even if as an overall toy Universe might be nicer.
     
  12. wildfly

    wildfly Fermenting pork tube.

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    Mutton chops for me.
     
  13. Grimlock_13

    Grimlock_13 Currently facepalming at your post

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    Gotta go with Alternators Sideswipe.
     
  14. Superquad7

    Superquad7 OCP Police Crime Prevention Unit 001 Super Content Contributor

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    It's close for me with G1 and the Alt/BT version. I really like the sleekness of the G1 version though.
     
  15. Inverse Midas

    Inverse Midas Jettisoning weight!

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    I'm choosing the Alternators noggin.
     
  16. Nevermore

    Nevermore It's self-perpetuating a parahumanoidarianised!

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    What amazes me the most is how well mold for the G1 head has apparently held up.

    After all, the mold saw the following production runs:

    1984 G1 Sideswipe (Hasbro)
    1985 G1 Sideswipe continued shipment (Hasbro)
    1985 G1 Red Alert (Hasbro)
    1985 G1 Lambor (Sideswipe, Takara)
    1985 G1 Red Alert (Red Alert, Takara)
    1991 Euro "Classics" Sideswipe reissue (Hasbro)
    1993 G2 Sideswipe (Hasbro)
    ca. 1995 Chinese G1 Sideswipe (Hasbro, unconfirmed)
    2001 Collector's Edition Lambor (Sideswipe) reissue (Takara)
    2001 Collector's Edition Alert (Red Alert) reissue (Takara)
    2002 New Year Special Lambor (Sideswipe) reissue (Takara)
    2002 New Year Special Alert (Red Alert) reissue (Takara)
    2003 Transformers Collection Lambor (Sideswipe) reissue (Takara)
    2003 e-Hobby exclusive Clamp Down (Takara)
    2003 e-Hobby exclusive Deep Cover (Takara)
    2003 Figure King exclusive Tigertrack (Takara)
    2003 Commemorative Series Red Alert reissue (Hasbro)
    2004/5 Commemorative Series Side Swipe reissue (Hasbro)

    And that's not even taking into consideration the Diaclone versions.

    And yet Commemorative Side Swipe's facial details look just as sharp as they do on the G1 toy.

    Meanwhile, Jazz has the infamous deteriorating grin on the G2 toy and the 2000-onwards reissues, Prowl/Bluestreak/Smokescreen have severely washed out details on their reissues, and even friggin' Hound has severely lost details on his TFC reissue. I'll eventually cover all of them, don't worry. :D 
     
  17. Feralstorm

    Feralstorm Good Morning, Weather Hackers! TFW2005 Supporter

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    I'll stick with the original G1 sculpt, as the animation model stayed pretty close to it, and most other versions are that (or the animation model) with various bits of visual interest, subtlety, or detail taken out. Armada Wheeljack and Universe Sideswipe go their own way in interesting ways, though I had issues with the 1800s sideburns on the Universe toy. It's interesting the Alternators sculpt is so popular, as personally I find it kinda basic and crude, like a custom job built from sheet styrene, or something from the "Road Bots" line.
     
  18. Hot Shot.

    Hot Shot. Well-Known Member

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    I voted for the Alternator's, but the Action Master's is a close second for me.
     
  19. wolfe

    wolfe Well-Known Member

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    I would have to say the Alternator head followed by the G1.
     
  20. Superquad7

    Superquad7 OCP Police Crime Prevention Unit 001 Super Content Contributor

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    NM, I meant to give you some major props for all of the work you've done on these head studies. I never tire of this sort of thing :thumb