Decline in Alternators detail? From remolding to repaints

[andersonh1]

Alternators is a line that saw a marked decline in the attention to detail as it went on. At least, that's my impression, and I wonder if anyone else thought the same thing?

For example, it's clear that the line began with one of the most detailed and faithfully updated figures, Smokescreen. Great paintjob, based on a then current racecar, along with an updated version of the original transformation scheme and a weapon that also resembled the original. It seemed clear that a tremendous amount of thought and 'love' went into this figure. When we got the repaint in the form of Silverstreak, not only was the car itself remolded in various ways, but so was the head, even though the original G1 figures had identical heads, as far as I can remember. This pattern continued for some time, with each repaint getting some remolding as well. Nothing ever quite got the level of detail that Smokescreen received, not even Decepticharge, who received a fictional racing scheme that looks good enough, but falls flat compared to Smokescreen.

About the time Skids came out, the remolding pretty much stopped. Now I don't mind the straight repaints we started getting, but it seems clear that the line was getting less attention to detail at this point. In the past, figures like Ricochet or Rollbar would have gotten a new head sculpt to go along with the new paint job, but it didn't happen. Camshaft was an exception to the rule that I think we got only because the Binaltech version had already produced both a civilian and police version of the car. Even Optimus Prime got repainted into Nemesis Prime rather than Trailbreaker or some other figure that would have made sense with a truck alt-mode.

I'd like to point out that I'm not complaining about the trend, just observing it. Alternators seems like one of those projects where there was a lot more care put into the line when it first appeared, and less later on as it wound to a close. Perhaps the return on investment wasn't what Hasbro hoped it would be, and the repaints were an attempt to recover some of the costs they had put into production of the line. Perhaps it wasn't worth the expense of producing new heads for new characters later in the line. I imagine either or both of those are true.

Regardless, it seems like Alternators was a line where the peak attention to detail occurred early on, and declined as time went on, for whatever reason. Agree, disagree?

[Dominic]

The problem is that fan interest, and sales, waned over time. As we talked about in the other thread, the toys were not fun to fiddle with. (I did not even thing there were fun to display.) And, even people who loved the line gave up when disribution got spotty. (The fact early boxes were numbered only made missing figures more bothersome for collectors.)

So, Hasbro stopped spending the time and money on it they once did. And, repaints of almost evey mold have been standard since '02 or so.

Dom

[andersonh1]

The problem is that fan interest, and sales, waned over time. As we talked about in the other thread, the toys were not fun to fiddle with. (I did not even thing there were fun to display.) And, even people who loved the line gave up when disribution got spotty. (The fact early boxes were numbered only made missing figures more bothersome for collectors.)

So, Hasbro stopped spending the time and money on it they once did. And, repaints of almost evey mold have been standard since '02 or so.

True, but for the majority of the Alternators line, they put the extra effort in to do more than just repaint a mold. They also made the vehicle a different version with new hubcaps, or a convertible instead of a hardtop, etc. And usually a new head would also be standard. Repaints with no mold alterations didn't show up until the latter half of the line's life.

How much does it cost to sculpt a new head and swap it for an older one? Or in the case of Ricochet, how difficult would it have been to swap Bluestreak's head for Jazz/Meister, a pre-existing head? Or for that matter, simply use Meister's mold in the first place, since Ricochet/Stepper was a Jazz repaint originally?

I guess I'm not really wondering why it happened, but if it's a generally held opinion that the high level of detail waned over time, for whatever reason. Or are the repaints and character choices creative right up until the end?

[Dominic]

Depending on how the parts were gang-molded, swapping out Jazz/Meister's head to the Smokescreen body may not have worked. (Would the head even fit that body?) Of course, using the Meister mold would have made sense.

Of course, there were some lame recolors early in the line. Remember Dead-end? That was one of the most half-assed recolors I have ever seen. On a smaller toy, I could forgive it as merely holding onto a copyright. But, on a $20 toy from the "high-end" line? No.

Dom

[138 Scourge]

Even Dead End had the new head and car type, though. Hardtop instead of convertible and whatnot.

I hadn't thought about it, but anderson brings up a good point there. Even when I was on a strict "no repaint" rule, I didn't think twice about getting, say, Shockwave, because he looked different enough from his predecessor.

Of course, it's worth pointing out that the very last two Alternators were all-new molds. Though, much as I like Ravage and Rumble, they did seem a lil' simpler as far as 'bot mode goes then the earlier Alts, so maybe there's something to that.

[andersonh1]

Even Dead End had the new head and car type, though. Hardtop instead of convertible and whatnot.

That, and he was originally going to be Sunstreaker, as evidenced by the remold from Sideswipe, and Sunstreaker's head. Sunstreaker ended up as the repaint instead for whatever reason. So technically Dead End was not a repaint, but the original of the mold.

I hadn't thought about it, but anderson brings up a good point there. Even when I was on a strict "no repaint" rule, I didn't think twice about getting, say, Shockwave, because he looked different enough from his predecessor.

It's the "Stealth Bumblebee" effect, where a head swap along with the color change ups the value of the repaint, at least for me. It's the same thing we'll have with the upcoming Universe Sideswipe, although that ups the ante even more with the alternate transformation scheme from the same mold.

Of course, it's worth pointing out that the very last two Alternators were all-new molds. Though, much as I like Ravage and Rumble, they did seem a lil' simpler as far as 'bot mode goes then the earlier Alts, so maybe there's something to that.

I thought that as well.

[onslaught86]

Interesting fact: Bluestreak was originally to be the line's first release. They went with Smokescreen instead, because he had more visual appeal.

I'd say the problems stem from several directions. Firstly, the money factor. They 'needed' these to sell to make more. It was originally to be a six figure line, and they expanded it out extensively (To..26, was it). This is evidenced by how true to form early figures are, like the perfect updates of Hound and Tracks verses, saaay, Mirage, who is absolutely nothing like the original at all.

This came about with the car companies enforcing certain things, like not having the vehicle modes look 'broken' due to the seams, and not having weapons (See Overdrive/Windcharger). Then they started attempting to meet fan demand.
It is my firm opinion that the true failing of the line was at this point. Fans demanded Decepticons. Fans demanded popular characters. Fans got Dead End, the most conceptually ridiculous figure made to date - Evil black Tracks with Sunstreaker's head, the colour scheme of one Stunticon, and the name of another. Meister, who was Camshaft with a new colour scheme and a retooled face. Sideswipe, the back-up Tracks mould with a new head and ambiguous transformation. Prowl, Red Alert with a different head. Windcharger, a rather generic body with Overdrive's head. Decepticharge, the actual Windcharger head that was supposed to go on the Mustang body.

It got convoluted and painful, as the great updates petered out into figures that could be, well, anyone, and thus lacked all the individuality that makes Transformers characters and designs what they are, and what we know and love. Bland, characterless husks do not a great seller make.

Ravage and Rumble were a great return to form, and a fitting end to the line. Alas!

[Dominic]

The lack of weapons is probably my biggest complaint about Decepticharge.

Of course, with VW having lost all those movie dollars due to stubborness, other car manufacturing companies might learn a lesson or two from that.

Dom
-amazed how much discussion this forum is seeing.

[BWprowl]

Oddly enough, had they made an Alternators Bumblebee that just didn't have any weapons (had that been enough to ease VW's fears about being associated with the line) I probably wouldn't have minded.

I own exactly three figures from the line, and two of them are Ravage. Smokescreen was the one I 'Had to get' upon his unveiling, while Battle Ravage was admittedly something of an impulse buy (It's a really nice mold though, and my reasoning was that, while I'm pretty neutral towards Tracks, I really like Ravage. Spiffy color scheme too). Kitty Ravage, coincidentally being one of the last two released, was the last Alternator that fell on my 'have to have' list. And having him...there's definitely a decline in detail. No turning wheels, for one. And the transformation is a bit simpler to me, though that could just be nature of this particular beast (Oh ho ho).

I'm wondering if we'll ever see these molds pop up repainted in some other line. Like, maybe they'll try to pass them off in the Voyager Class in Universe? Of course, the licensing is what hinders that consideration. But still...

[138 Scourge]

I do gotta say, that maybe it's the Alzheimer's creeping in, but I've had a hell of a time trying to transform Kitty Ravage back into Jaguar mode (I mean, they're both Jaguar modes, but y'know what I mean). Generally, I get close, but then end up with a Jag that's got kitty feet and missles and call that good.

Of course, that form's hilarious, so that might be part of it.

Rumble feels simpler than Smokescreen, but I love his toy anyhow. I just wish the paint on his head had been more like, black helmet, silver face, to make him a lil' more recognizable. But it's not something I'm gonna bitch about too much, really. The fact that he was so clearly Rumble, right down to the weapons, chest decor, and pounders, really sold me on that guy.

And what's this about Decepticharge having no weapons? He's got a gun, it's just more like, say, a phaser or whatnot. Energy weapons (or, since he kinda stole Windcharger's body, EMP cannons, I figure), don't necessarily need a barrel. Yeah, I'm reaching for a justification here, but I just really love Decepticharge, despite his goofy-ass name and non-identity.