Customer Reviews

Transformers Alternators - Dodge Viper Street

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Wow. I didn't realize how fun it would be to play with these Alternators Transformers. When I got them by UPS this morning I couldn't wait to get them home after work. Yes, I said "work". I'm 26 and was a big Transformers fan when I was a kid. Now that I'm older I can afford to buy the collectors edition Transformers and boy are they sophisticated today. I wasn't so sure about Beast Wars or the Armada series, but Hasbro has redeemed themselves with the Alternators. It's what all us grown ups have been waiting for. Kudos go to Hasbro and Takara!

Side Swipe is challenging and I think it's just a matter of getting used to the method of transforming. I'm still not sure if I bend a hinge or it was like that and I didn't notice at first. But I think it came like that (a defect?) because I was noticing how big the gap was between the hood and the left side (as you're looking at the front of the car) was compared to the right. But, I didn't collect just for collecting. I also like to play with them. Yes, this adult likes to play with toys. And a little defect is expected and can be ignored.

...but still a great Transformer. Sideswipe in Alternator form is a beautiful current-generation Dodge Viper SRT-10- so it scores points with me right there. The steering mechanism works beautifully, with the front wheels having lots of room to move around. The only way you could tell this particular Viper can change into a robot is an Autobot symbol stamped on the tonneau cover. The interior is all there and is even more detailed than Smokescreen's. The robot mode is where Sideswipe starts to lose some points. First off, the transformation is somewhat more difficult than Smokescreen's and the instructions don't help much. In fact, getting him into robot mode is more similar to G1 Tracks than G1 Sideswipe. Sideswipe's robot mode isn't quite as "natural" as Smokescreen- shorter looking, with stubbier arms. There's quite a bit of car parts sticking out from him too- especially from the waist up. Perhaps I'm making it sound worse than it is though- it's still a great toy with an amazing amount of engineering put into it. Highly recommended, even if you're a scale model collector looking for something a bit different.

I'm a longtime fan of the Transformers, and am again a collector of their original figures. Many of the originals look great in my opinion, but lack posability.

I was interested when they began to produce larger versions of the original G1 characters, first with the awesome die cast 20th Anniversay Optimus Prime, followed by the first of the Alternators, Smokescreen, and now with Sideswipe. I have all of the said figures, having just bought Side Swipe yesterday, and I have to say I'm well pleased with each of them.

For Side Swipe, although he was a Lamborgini in his original G1 incarnation, a Dodge Viper is now his alternate form. He's the same size as a model car in car mode, and would probably blend right in with any modelers' collection. Aside from some separation lines needed for transformation, it would be quiet difficult to realize he's not just a regular model! His Viper mode is well done, with a slick red color, rubber wheels, front wheels that turn in tandom (due to a couple of magnets), chromed rear view mirrors, and detailed interior. Very well done indeed.

Take a look under his hood, and he even has a Chromed engine. Then comes the transformation. Remove the engine, swing out a barrel attached to it's underside to make it into a gun, and transform the rest of the figure. The front hood section becomes his legs and feet, the windsheild and middle of the car folds and becomes his body, and his head and arms are in the back or trunk area of the car. The outer section of the car's rear is on his back, almost like some kind of backpack or jetpack, which I think was unintentional but apropriate for this character, since in the G1 show Side Swipe had a jetpack. His car doors hang off the sides of his shoulders, with his back wheels being at his very shoulder itself. He also has a head that looks like his old show incarnation too, like his counterpart Smoke Screen does. The Viper mode looks exceptional, but his robot mode looks a tad weird, atleast to me. Don't get me wrong, he really looks good (look at the picture), but I think he's a bit odd looking with his chest and lower abdominal area all about the same width, while many characters have an upper chest that is wider and a lower body that's supposed to represent a "lean" look that a human might have. The car doors hanging off his shoulders isn't something I'm that thrilled about either. All minors touches though. Another thing I'm a bit disapointed in though, is that his knees can't bend that far, and you really can't move his legs up, as if to put him in a sitting position. Even with that included though, he's very well articulated, especially in the arms. Also, you might see that there are reports (I wrote one of them) of how difficult it is to transform Smoke Screan back into a car, and I am happy to anounce that no such problems exist here. Although a little complex, Side Swipe has no major issues where you'll go mad trying to fold his legs just right or anything. Only maybe small concerns when first getting the hang of transforming him.

All in all, I think Side Swipe is a very good figure. My complaints are minor, only pointing out small flaws. He is a worthy addition to the Alternators line, and deserves the place of honor he has standing next to 20th Anniversary optimus Prime and Alternator Smoke Screen on my VCR.

I am 20 years old and remember he original transformer cartoons and comicbooks from my childhood, to see actual vehicles that exist in reality, rather than fictional vehicles, given the attributes of transformers is, in my opinion, incredible. I find sideswipe and the other alternators imensley enjoyable.

The design is genius for this series of transformers, although I would prefer it to be smaller. It doesn't feel as delicate as the G1 transformers being that big. It's 1:24 from the real car, if only it could be 1:36 or even 1:48. Other than this the toy is great and pretty challenging to transform.

Alternators as we all know is the newest line from Hasbro/Takara. Basically what it is is older Generation 1 characters given new bodies by the human they have help over the years. The first was Smokescreen - a rally car from Subaru. Sideswipe is the second and he is a Dodge Viper. First I must say I am huge fan of the Viper back from when it debuted and was a barebones car. I like the older style bodies better but that does not mean I don't like this toy. The attention to detail is amazing. the front wheels move back and forth together due to a magnetic connector inside.
I must tell you right now this toy is not for the younger kids. It took me a decent amount of time before I could figure it out and I am 24 so I know kids under age 13 may become angry from not getting it right.
I own both the Binaltech (Japanese) and the Alternators (American) versions of this toy and the Alternators version is the one I have been playing with the most due to the fact its made of plastic and will not suffer paint chipping like the Binaltech version. Also there is a detail which make the Alternators different. In robot mode Sideswipe as some black coloring just below his shoulders; to me that looks like normal wear and tear on a car and thus more realistic, other than that they are virtually identical.
I recommend this toy to any Transformers fan 13 and up due to the challenge and to any Transformers fan who like Generation 1 and wished for better toys.

What a cool transformer. This one was fairly easy to transform (following the instructions of course), except for the few times where parts fell off which were easy to re-attach. I so like it how a lego man is almost the perfect size to sit in the car. Now my lego man can cruise the carpet in style. Can't wait to get the other Alternators.

The alternators line are really nice scale models in 1:24 and are in my opinion designed for the adult collector. (THis is why they are Die Cast in Japan in my opinion). The car looks awsome and no detail is too small. I don't think this one is good for kids as the transformation mode is a lot of steps with only bad pictographs to explain it. I had trouble getting it into robot mode and back I felt I really had to force the pieces I don't think a kid could strike the balance between creating the torque neccesary and breaking it. Once I got him to robot form Sideswipe is very posable and makes a pretty good action figure ( unlike classic Transformer bots). My recommendation for Transformer fans try to get the Japanese ones ( even at $50 they are much nicer) but for a low cost alternative not too bad. For Parents - skip this one You'll have to figure out how to change him and do it every time you son wants him changed or you'll have 2 broken parts)

The first thing that sticks out when looking at an alternator transformer is, whether or not you're looking at a model car, or a transforming robot. The detail were put into these toys, enough so to make them 1/24 models and they're still a toy!

the Side Swipe car looks like a Viper. Logos and all.

Though having him as a Ferrari (enzo?) would have been better.

The next car which is coming out is the Ford Mustang.

The car looks better, and the robot mode looks steller. Only problem with that, is the name, they picked Grimlock for the Mustang GT! Thus again, showing the only flaw with the Alternators. Though, they did a great job with Hound, matching him up with a Jeep Wrangler.

Overall, this toy is great looking, and is made more for show, than for handling (toy use).

Also the color variants (they're out there) also make nice collector pieces.

This has to be the best transformer Ive ever seen! I have always wanted a transformer that looked more like a real car, and this looks perfect. The only problem is its hard to transform (why I gave it a 4) I cant get the feet right for some reason so they always make it fall over, but it is still great!