Article Number

RV0025

Author

Gerry

Toy Line

Transformers: Binaltech

Manufacturer

Takara

Starting with this review, we will reference a particular thumbnail listed to the left within the actual review article. So if you see a number in parentheses anywhere in an article that means I am talking about a particular picture which I'd like you to have a look at. In this way, you can follow the flow of the article.

Takara has recently released the second addition to their Transformers: Binaltech line. BT-02 Lambor, (Or Sides Swipe for the US Transformers Alternators counter-parts).

BT-02 is actually a 2004 Dodge Viper Model SRT-10 and is another fully licensed product. However at a price tag of $80,000.00 for a real one, you might want to settle for this 1:24 scale version.

Again, in terms of feel and accuracy, Takara got it absolutely right! Just compare the real version here with Takara's version. (02-5)

The Packaging

The same style is used for BT-02 as with their previous BT-01 Smokescreen. Nice graphics on the box, the packaging is reusable and has these cool round portal-type windows on the sides. (02-1, 02-2)

BT-02 comes with a cardboard insert that can be used as a portable stand or platform to display your figure. (02-3, 02-4) For paperwork, BT-2 comes with a nice instruction booklet, warranty card and a trading card. For accessories we have a chrome-plated gun that actually doubles as the engine for vehicle mode. (02-29)

Vehicle Mode

A very impressive rendition of the Dodge Viper, BT-02 sports real rubber tires, die cast hood, front fenders, doors and grille. What struck me from the get-go about this toy was Takara's use of silver stickers on the mirrors to simulate real mirrors. A most impressive gimmick. (02-8)

Moving parts in vehicle mode is limited to the hood, driver and passenger doors. Unlike with BT-01 Smokescreen, the trunk lid of BT-02 Lambor does not open. (02-11, 02-12)

However, like BT-01 Smokescreen, Lambor does have moving front wheels but are not attached to the steering wheel and must be moved manually. BT-02 does have tilt steering.

The hood opens to reveal an 8.3 Liter 500 horsepower V-10 engine just like the real thing. The engine, as mentioned above is removable and doubles as Lambor's weapon for robot mode. (02-10, 02-9)

Robot Mode

The transformation to Robot mode is pretty much straight forward if you follow the instructions. However, to me the transformation left me a little flat. I like complex transformations in my transformers, which shows me that some thought went into the engineering of the toy. I will get into my problems with robot mode as you read further in this review.

After transformation some features include articulated thumb and index finger of both hands while the remaining fingers need to be moved in unison. (02-15)

There is movement of the arms at the elbow, shoulder and wrists both axially and radialy as well as movement of the legs at the hips, knees and ankles.

Even though the figure has the capability of moving at the waste, the movement is limited due to the windshield over-lapping the waste pivot-point causing the complete movement to be hindered. There is no way around this unfortunately. Lack of movement at the waste greatly hinders the number of action poses for the figure as a whole limiting the pose ability to just the arms, legs and head.

The figure looks impressive with the weapon in it's hand but there is no "ball bearing" in the gun which seats into a hole in the hand for better grip of the weapon (like in BT-01) leaving the weapon to flop around after a while once the figure is handled. (02-16, 02-17)

As mentioned above, the transformation of this toy is not very complex. What it boils down to is a simple transformation. So much so that if you look at picture (02-21, 02-23, 02-28) it basically looks like a robot with a car on it's back. You can see the tires, fenders, hood and doors lined up almost as they should be in vehicle mode.

To transform this figure back into vehicle mode, all one has to do is pull the trunk back over the head, fold the windshield down, twist at the waste and everything else falls into place.

Looking at the figure from behind at the position of the hood, I get the feeling of looking at a robot toy either wearing a kilt or of a bird's tail feathers. (02-22)

Not to mention the doors ending up along side the forearms even though the joint for the doors is located at the point of the tires and shoulders. This makes it difficult to move the doors along with the arms. I just don't know why Takara didn't make these doors into wings like Smokescreen. The doors make it difficult to pose the figure's arms. (02-19, 02-13)

And then there are the parts of the grille that actually end up at the back of the figure's feet. What the heck is that supposed to be? (02-27)

Conclusions

Like I mentioned above, transformation of this toy to robot mode left me a little flat. It seems that when you are done transforming this toy, it actually looks like it really isn't transformed, like I missed a few steps or something. Everything is sort of just hanging off the robot. In my opinion this is not a good transformation. The robot shouldn't still look like a car in robot mode.

There are still some good points however. Those being that it is of excellent quality and has a lot of die cast though not as much as BT-02.

I still prefer this to the US Alternators version which is all plastic and the transformation is the same. If I had purchased the US version, I would really feel that the $20.00 price tag for the US version would've been a complete waste of money. However, the Transformers: Alternators BT-01 has been spotted in the last few weeks at Target if you want to get a plastic version.

Since this is the Japanese version, I still feel it's worthy of my collection for the die cast content alone. Let's face it for a better quality toy, get the Japanese version and leave the US version on the shelves.

Because of the detail in accuracy and materials quality of this figure in vehicle mode along with the die cast content and yes pose ability, I'd have to give this Binaltech figure a rating of 8 out of 10. A very good toy and very much worthy of my robot collection. So much so, that I even bought two.

The next Binaltech to be released will be BT-03 Hound scheduled for early March 2004 and after that BT-04 which so far is an unnamed Corvette. Could this be Tracks?

Gerry>