Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not a child's toy., February 18, 2005
Durability:2.0 out of 5 stars Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars Educational:3.0 out of 5 stars
The Grimlock/Ford Mustang GT is part of Hasbro's Transformers Alternators line, which focuses on realistic 1:24 scale model cars that turn into large and detailed robots that are more or less based on characters from the 20 year old transformers generation one line which debuted in 1984 simply as "Transformers".
First and foremost I would like to say that this is NOT a child's toy. Even though the box says "ages 5 and up" you would be hard pressed to find a child that could convert this toy from a Mustang GT to a robot without completely destroying it. It is somewhat fragile, but that is the price one pays to get a toy that is a fully detailed model-quality car, complete with opening doors, trunk, hood (with a fairly well detailed engine under it) and a fully detailed interior complete with gages, gear shift, steering wheel, rear view mirror and even molded in sun visors.
Now that we are past that disclaimer, let me describe this toy a bit for the uninitiated.
As I said above, this is a fully detailed 1:24 scale model of the new 2005 Ford Mustang GT, right down it it's beautiful silver paint job. it looks nearly as good as a standard model car, save for the seam going down the back end that is present because the back of the car becomes the robot's legs. Everything is present right down to a tiny GT emblem on the back and an itty bitty chromed mustang icon on the front grill. If it was not for that back end seam you could be fooled into thinking that this is simply a model car, but that's just half of it! remember Transformers are "Robots in Disguise"!
The toy comes with an instruction sheet detailing (though not very well) how to turn this awesome throwback of a muscle car into an incredibly well articulated action figure based on the character "Grimlock" from the original Transformers cartoon and movie (who ironically turned into a dinosaur, now he's one of the last remaining true muscle cars... ha!!!). All in all I think I would rather go to the dentist than transform this toy again, but the results are well worth it.
In robot mode Grimlock displays many characteristics that hint at the original inspiration for this toy. His head bears a very close resemblance to the original Grimlock's from both the cartoon and the toy, the head alone is a work of art. It sports a black helmet with a gold face plate, and a translucent blue visor that reveals molded in robot "eyes" behind it. Moving down his chest is now the front-end of the Mustang GT and fits well with the rest to the robot mode (and it goes without saying, with just one look you can tell he IS a Mustang, this line is great advertising for the car companies!).
He has very broad shoulders with the car's doors resting on top which gives the look or armor or shoulder pads, huge Popeye-esq forearms and hands which have separately articulated "pointer" fingers round out the rest of the upper half of his body.
His legs, which as I mentioned earlier are formed from the back end of the car and manage to look nearly identical to the legs of the original Grimlock (which were formed from the back end of a dinosaur). Everything is wonderfully detailed with small little mechanical bits molded in here and there on his arms and the insides of his legs.
Another gimmick in this toy line has been that part of the car (or in this case parts) come off and become weapons. In Grimlock's case this is the engine and the drive train, which become a double barreled hand gun and sword respectively, another nice touch which is a throwback to the first Grimlock.
All in all if you are a car lover, a robot lover, or a big fan of Transformers in general, pick one of these up for yourself. I presently have 11 Alternators all displayed on a shelf right by my computer, they are wonderful collector's items for people who grew up with the original Transformers.
Just remember, if you give one of these to a child under 11 or so, you might as well rip up $20 and thrown it in the trash! (or better yet send it to me so I can buy more of these for myself!)
-Aaron Baldwin (age 30 and father of 4 sons)
Louisville, KY
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Grimlock Mustang GT Autobot, August 30, 2005
Durability:3.0 out of 5 stars Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars Educational:1.0 out of 5 stars
The detail put into this transformer is amazing!!! He looks just a cool transformed as he does in vehicle form. My only reason I held back on the 5 star rating is because he is quite difficult to transform. The durability of this item is also questionable because some of the processes in the transformation just don't work without putting a little oomph into it. The good news is most parts that may break off will attach back without any problems...i.e. the door panels.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Dinobot becomes a Muscle pony car.. SWEET!, March 29, 2005
Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars
Transformers Alternators Grimlock is my favorite of all the Alternators I own. The choice to make the Dinobot commander the classic muscle pony car was great! You get a spot on model of the 2005 Ford mustang and one of the coolest transformer characters all in one!
Grimlock has some amazing articulation, having a ball jointed neck, shoulders, elbows wrists, trigger finger, other three fingers, waist, ball jointed hips, knees (double, second joint hindered by car kibble) ankles and ankle pivots. The drive train becomes the sword and the engine a double-barreled blaster. All the weapons and color scheme remind you of the classic G1 Grimlock.
The transformation is tricky on Grimlock. It's challenging and very difficult. MP Prime was easier to transform. There are TWO twisting waist joints one at the waist and one in the middle of the crotch. The mid crotch twist is VERY tight. Take extreme care twisting it or you'll break it. Watch out for the head and watch out for those arms, as they are extremely tricky to get into position when changing back into vehicle mode. You'll need to be careful of the roof as it can scratch the paint on the legs during the transformation back to vehicle mode. Watch out for the neck joint as well. It's VERY tricky.
Look for this vehicle to be remolded as the super cool Shelby Mustang featuring Wheeljack The Autobot Mad scientist!
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