Are We Reaching The End Of BT/ALT?

Shanti418 · Post by **Shanti418** » Tue May 10, 2005 5:10 am

Considering that the last two releases have been repaints (Wheeljack and Shockwave) and the next two are repaints (Swerve and Decepticharge), with only one new mold on the horizon (Prowl the glorified spychanger), coupled with the financial trouble Takara is in, is this line's best days behind it?

I hope not, because I love them.

Cyclone_X · Post by **Cyclone_X** » Tue May 10, 2005 6:23 pm

there are more repaints because HasTak's source of new molds needs to be renewed, we got the 6 planned molds already (Smokescreen, Sideswipe, Hound, Tracks, Meister and Grimlock) , with recolors

thanks to Nevermore for the info

Autobloke · Post by **Autobloke** » Tue May 10, 2005 10:39 pm

I thought it had already ended. You mean there are MORE repaints to come?

Shanti418 · Post by **Shanti418** » Wed May 11, 2005 4:55 pm

Cyclone_X wrote:there are more repaints because HasTak's source of new molds needs to be renewed, we got the 6 planned molds already (Smokescreen, Sideswipe, Hound, Tracks, Meister and Grimlock) , with recolors

thanks to Nevermore for the info

So will their source of new molds be renewed, and if so, when? And where does the Windcharger mold fit into all that?

Cyclone_X · Post by **Cyclone_X** » Wed May 11, 2005 6:31 pm

Windcharger/Overdrive was the first new mold of the new batch (next is Prowl) and that is (higly probably) why Overdrive is so easy compared to previous BTs and also looks like a mix between Tracks and Lambor

another Alternator recolor has already been shown by Hasbro: Swerve, a third Corvette, in red with gold and black detailing, scheduled for autumn this year, so I guess there will be 2-3 recolors between each new mold now so that the designers have more time while there are still 'new' Alts on the shelves

Autobloke · Post by **Autobloke** » Wed May 11, 2005 6:35 pm

Cyclone_X wrote:2-3 recolors between each new mold

(shudder) Repaints...

Come and see the death of a toy-line.
And a bearded lady.

Shanti418 · Post by **Shanti418** » Thu May 12, 2005 8:45 pm

Cyclone_X wrote:Windcharger/Overdrive was the first new mold of the new batch (next is Prowl) and that is (higly probably) why Overdrive is so easy compared to previous BTs and also looks like a mix between Tracks and Lambor

another Alternator recolor has already been shown by Hasbro: Swerve, a third Corvette, in red with gold and black detailing, scheduled for autumn this year, so I guess there will be 2-3 recolors between each new mold now so that the designers have more time while there are still 'new' Alts on the shelves

Swerve, I think, is a horrible idea. Not to mention most people considering Yellow/Blue Tracks to be two different releases, making Swerve the FOURTH release on that mold, which is the crappiest mold of them all.
My counterpoint is that they can't have 2-3 recolors between each new mold because there aren't enough old molds to draw from. Unless they start all over at Smokescreen and start releasing third repaints, all they have is the Prowl mold that hasn't already been released twice, because they just let out a lot of their second repaints at once.
So their only other options are to release 1-2 repaints in succession (bad idea, obviously), to release a whole bunch new molds in the future (seems unlikely, considering you'd think the fanbase would get wind of it. Then again, there WERE those rumblings of alternator jets back at the end of 2004...), or end the line with Prowl or shortly thereafter (leaving room for the "movie line" of TF)

Cyclone_X · Post by **Cyclone_X** » Fri May 13, 2005 3:42 pm

Shanti418 wrote: Unless they start all over at Smokescreen and start releasing third repaints, all they have is the Prowl mold that hasn't already been released twice, because they just let out a lot of their second repaints at once.

so that would be the 6th Subaru (4 smokescreens and 1 streak) if we follow your logic

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Fri May 13, 2005 6:02 pm

I personally don't mind all the repaints/remolds. If you're going to go through all the trouble of licensing a car, get some use out of it.

Hound · Post by **Hound** » Fri May 13, 2005 6:18 pm

I agree with smooth, Dead End, Shockblast, Streak and Swindle have been some of my faves from the line. I can deal with it when you essentially geta new charcter from the repaint, unlike Armada and Energon 'upgrade' repaints of exisiting people.

Repaints done well = good thing.

Shanti418 · Post by **Shanti418** » Fri May 13, 2005 6:29 pm

Oh yeah, I've got no problem with repaints. I'm just saying, they have no more molds to repaint, unless they start repainting all molds more than once, and aside from that, they only have one new mold on the horizon.

Autobloke · Post by **Autobloke** » Fri May 13, 2005 8:25 pm

Hound wrote:I agree with smooth, Dead End, Shockblast, Streak and Swindle have been some of my faves from the line. I can deal with it when you essentially geta new charcter from the repaint, unlike Armada and Energon 'upgrade' repaints of exisiting people.

Repaints done well = good thing.

Most of the Energon repaints were renamed as new characters. In the toy-line at least.