Wow. I've been waiting so long for a brand new BT mold. It's really nice to get the BT before the Alternator. For one, it justifies the cost a little. Secondly, it reminds me of first getting Smokescreen and the joy I had seeing the first in a line of "ultimate" transformers." My enjoyment started straight from the box it was shipped in. It's like unwrapping a neatly wrapped gift whenever I got get a box from TFSource.com . Not only do they put tissue paper around the toy's box, they then put a layer of plastic, THEN they make a custom cardboard box around each BT box. THEN its all bubble wrapped tightly in a very welcoming USPS Priority box. It makes me feel like I'm getting something really important whenever I open these. Anyways, after carefully opening up Prowl (white version) I marveled at his car mold. I'm not familiar with the Honda/Acura car he's based on like I am the Jeep or Viper. But the paint job and details on his alt mode were really breath taking. I love that the car doors open all the way. The Japanese decals really do it for me. After seeing the Alternator's version, I knew I had to pre-order the Japanese version. The added spoiler is also really cool looking. His transformation was certainly clever. I had a little trouble getting out his feet, and one of his arms (and eventually a door) came off trying to get his hood to fold over to form his chest. I'm sure with practice I'll get it right. His robot mode was very clean. From the back he looks really smart and sleek and it really mimicks G1 Prowl nicely. I'm a bit disappointed with the lack of articulation in the legs. His knees don't bend enough and his feet are on some very weak looking ball-joints. I hope to correct this on my Blue Prowl using the method shown here: http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=79013 At least it will give my two robots a different look when displayed together. I'm all about non-invasive modification. His head is really cool-looking. I'm impressed that they made him look so much like Prowl and yet so different that the Smokescreen/Streak molds. I also like how his hands and arms are molded differently than any previous mold. One more small complaint is the white plastic used in the arms and head. It seems very soft, or even a little transparent somehow. I would have preferred a stronger, brighter white that matched the car's paint job a little. The large chest of the robot mode didn't bother me much when I finally transformed him, and he looks great standing next to the other BTs and even G1 Prowl himself. All in all, he's a great addition to the line and I'm not sad in the least that he's not a Subaru. I can't wait to pose him next to Alert when he comes out. 9/10
Got mine this week and I have to agree with everything that's been said. He's worth getting, definitely. The ankles are a bit of a concern though, as the ball joints struggle to hold his weight. Brilliant vehicle mode and excellent head sculpt. Something I've noticed in his instructions is that the design sketch of his vehicle mode in the back is of the Acura, not the Honda. I just found that a bit interesting.
The ankles are a definate issue, as my Prowl has toppled over twice now. To make matters worse he crashed right into one of my BT Smokescreens. Luckily there was no chipping or other badness that happened. As far as the review it is great. I love my Prowl from the waist up, but from there down he is rather average. The car on the other hand is pure bliss. I can't wait for Skidmarks to come out.
Which is a shame, because the doors are bloody hard to open! Prowl arrived today and after trying in vain to open the doors normally, my hand naturally went to the wing mirrors... and I stopped myself just in time. The leg modification works very well indeed. It took me about a minute to give Prowl knees that bend. The one thing that puzzles me slightly is the colour of his horns. Hot pink??
