I have disliked this figure ever since it came out because of it's unrealistic ground mode. I ran across something called a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle being field tested by the USMC. I can't hate this figure any longer because it honestly looks to be based off this vehicle. Not perfect, but pretty darn close. At least the same TYPE of vehicle that actually exists on Earth. JLTV one step closer to entering technology development
While I agree that the resemblance is striking, I have to admit I can't wrap my head around hating a figure because the mode clearly meant to look like a car isn't realistic enough...given the represented character was introduced in the period from TFTM/G1 S3 where nobody's alt. mode was really 'realistic' let alone Springer's original toy's car mode...and he is simply an amazing action figure who managed to pull off a near-perfect triple change gimmick with few of the flaws plaguing the concept since conception.
I thought that article was going to showcase a car-plane hybrid. Still, it is pretty cool. But it would suit another Transformer besides Springer; maybe Hound or Roadbuster.
How anyone can dislike Gens Springer. That toy is 10/10. And the car mode looks superb -- Batmobile-esque. Who cares if it's not realistic? Zillions of TFs have fictional altmodes.
While not based on any specific model of car (though given the dates this may not be entirely true, the article dates back to 2008, while the Voyager would have been early development stages at the time...), Generations Springer's car mode at least looks like an actual car of some sort with recognizable features like three-side window cabin instead of an obvious helicopter cockpit, headlights, four wheels, and a long hood that could hold an engine. Plus it looks more like an actual car than actual cars if we really want to go obscure here. Behold the GM Firebird - Mk. I, II, and III. Three of the most outrageous 50's concept cars you've probably never heard of.
No, I know those vehicles very well. Springer's G1 helicopter mode doesn't fancy me either, but he is in his Cybertron modes.
Does an altmode have to be specifically based on a real life vehicle in order to be "realistic?" Springer's altmode, despite not being modeled after anything specific, does (colors aside) look like a "realistic" armored car-type vehicle - it looks like it could exist in real life, unlike the G1 altmode. If the altmode has to be based on something specific, what about all the other figures that turn into generic cars or generic planes that aren't specifically based on a real vehicle? Classics Voyager Optimus Prime, for instance, doesn't closely resemble any real-life vehicle, and just looks like a made-up cab-over truck. Would that be considered unrealistic?
feels more like an altmode for Roadbuster. Although to be fair there are a lot of odd looking cars and some stylized so even Springer's alt mode does seem a bit realistic despite being sci fi looking. This site for example has a few 17 Of The Strangest Cars Ever Designed
Like how everyone LOVES MP-10 Optimus Prime. That is a horrible attempt at a semi truck. Its not G1 like any of the others, so it doesn't even fit in with that line. It's not any kind of licensed truck, and it has huge robot parts hanging off past the rear wheels and back of the cab. It's just lazy with no trailer hitch. Yet all the other MP cars are spot on. While MP-10 does resemble some sort of real truck, it is still lazy to me like unreal vehicle modes are. A much better way to hide some feet is the X-Transbots HOSS.
No, it was an attempt at a more in-scale Optimus to fit with the more standardized sizes of the Autobot cars and the move away from 'modern, super-realistic' takes on the characters and more straight up annimation accuracy. Purely personal preference, nothing more. Why does this have anything to do with your issue with Springer's car mode not being based in reality? Not everyday somebody calls a Masterpiece figure 'lazy'. There have been complaints about every single one of them. So now you're an expert in mass produced toy design?
