I just got an alternator Sideswipe for $5.40 at the last Max Webster auction. I didn't know what it was from the single picture and saw ot going for under $5 five minutes before the auction ended, so I hit bid and won it. There was a Sunstreaker as well that sold for $7 and a Swindle and Tracks that both went for $6.44. I would have got the Swindle if I didn't miss the last bid. For those prices they are great additions to a collection. I guess nobody really wanted them.
I would love to see it come back as well. Alternators aren't especially popular these days, sadly, but those of us who loved it then still love it now. I like you... ...or do I? These features were part of what I loved the most about Alternators! The Viper mold was one of the worst molds from the line. They're really only for completists. The Wrangler was one of the better ones, and the Corvette was pretty good too.
I love this line and considering the prices people sell them for now, they are incredible value if used. Figures like Smokescreen, Mirage, Windcharger, Jazz, Hound/Swindle and Dead End remain some of my all time favourites. All the best Maz
Ahhhh the ALTs, had most of them minus Camshaft I believe. Moved them in favor of the movie line back in the day. Me being a Pontiac guy, I was always pissed that they never made a newer GTO (Holden) or Trans Am. I'm sure I woulda held on to those. I remember buying those for only 20 bucks at Target, pretty amazing how far we've fallen since then. Rubber tires, moving parts and actual vehicle licenses for cheap..........good times.
But then they wouldn't be alternators anymore. Because it wasn't just about licensing or 1:24 scale, it was also the interior and operning doors, and perhaps to a lesser extend, the opening trunks.
And one of the last examples of how to utterly nail a race livery! TFGT did a fantastic job too, but the cars' body shape were not accurate. All the best Maz
That Smokescreen is a hell of a car, and yeah, utterly accurately nailed. BT-01 Smokescreen is still an all-time favorite. And Binaltech all the way. Such lovely paintjobs on those die cast bodies. Alternators Smokescreen looks really cheap in comparison.
Not true. I loved 'em then, but can do without them now. They were great for their time, but the bot modes were lackluster and the alt modes, while impressive...many of them were just basic vehicles. Who needs super accurate, aging model Subarus, Mazdas, Hondas, etc? Sure, robots in disguise...cool, but then I need a great bot mode. Once Classics and then especially MP stepped up with G1 accurate bot modes, my need for Alternators went away. If they wanted to do MP-like accuracy at Alternators scale, I might bite...at $20 a pop for sure, I'm in! At over $100 a pop...dunno I want to start over again. I'll just stick with MP at the current scale. They could eliminate the crappy bot modes entirely to reduce costs and then you'd just have 1/24 scale cars. In fact, they already make those...they're just not made by Hasbro.
True, I just didn't like a lot of the excess kibble on some of them. Although they did put opening doors, trunk, and even pop up headlights on mp39. Reminded me a bit of alternators. Sadly, the masterpiece and live acton movies will be the only way for me to get transformers with licensed car modes as far as future releases.
They should've made windcharger a newer GTO in that lineup since he was a 3rd gen trans am in G1 and it would've fit in with the whole updated vehicle mode thing. Love your collection!!
I plan on getting most if not everything from this line, might get some Binaltech later down the road. I only have alternators Shockwave and Tracks atm but I'm considering getting smokescreen next.
I think they could really work some magic if they brought the line back with today's engineering. All I really want are realistic, licensed cars with some fun transformations. I don't care if Jazz is a Porsche or even if the G1 characters show up in the line at all. Do something like Alternity did, don't worry about whether they were a car in G1. Just make something that looks cool. Do it at Alternity scale, even, if it helps reduce costs. Keep them under $50 and I'll buy all of 'em. If you're a fan of die-cast metal, Binaltech is a must.
I adore this line. It started shortly after I started collecting again (lost my G1 in a fire as a kid, started again with RiD 01). I had all but the Wal Mart exclusives since the line ended. I finally bought the last two this year and it really solidified an emotional completion and represents almost the entire duration of my current collection. At the time these were magnificent and although figures have become "better" nothing will capture the leaps these guys took in complexity. One of my favorite lines ever.
I really liked Bumblebee and Cliffjumper in the Alternity series. Yes I still wish they would've done the proposed New Beetle design but the way they looked in Alternity was so much better. Gonna have to buy them someday. And don't the Binaltech's chip easily due to the diecast?
To be honest I only picked up the Starscream from the Alternity line because I thought the car looked wicked. The Suzuki figures all looked to have really wonky proportions in photos. I want to get one of them but they aren't very high on my priority list. Binaltechs will chip but if you handle them carefully you won't have a problem. Mine are in storage right now but I don't recall having chipping issues with any of them. I was careful and didn't play demolition derby with them, and they still look great.
What I have in my alts/binaltech line so far. Smokescreen and sideswipe are binaltechs and tracks and shockwave are alternators. So far, I prefer the binaltechs over the alts with smokescreen being my favorite. The binaltech version really captures the essence of the Subaru WRC livery due to the die cast parts. Sure wish this line was still around.
Can someone explain why binaltech laserwave is so expensive? Can't seem to find him for under $100. Also I'm having a hard time deciding between getting ether Binaltech Arcee or alts Decepticharge. I like the cleaner color scheme and die cast parts of the Binaltech version but I don't like the fact that Takara decided to repaint a character who was male into a female.