Post by Jo'Roq on Mar 16, 2005 1:10:01 GMT -5
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/joroq/SideswipeCar-mode.jpg)
Vehicle:
2004 Dodge Viper
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/joroq/SideswipeBot-mode.jpg)
Variants:
Takara Binaltech Sideswipe
Pictures taken by and vintage G1 & WST Sideswipe provided by CkRtech
Figure two for the line is what actually got me into collecting the Alternators. Where I found Smokescreen to have an overly busy paint scheme, the simple and everyday appearance of Sideswipe has a more “real” feel to it. As with Smokescreen, magnets are used to connect the front wheels together for movement.
The transformation for Sideswipe is about as perfect as it could get. Once again, his gun becomes the engine, but this time the hood is designed to open wide enough that I can move the gun in and out with only minimal effort. Everything folds in and out well. The trickiest parts (and only for the first few times) are positioning the windshield correctly to form the chest in bot-mode, and in folding and positioning the arms correctly to fit inside the trunk in car mode.
For me, the worst part of the figure is the hood’s position in bot-mode. It seems like they got that far and just couldn’t figure out what to do with it, so they left it to just hang down loose in back. Also, because of how he transforms Sideswipe has no knees, putting a rather noticeable limit on his articulation.
In comparison to G1, the change from a Lamborghini to a Viper is a big one. It gives a different shape and flow to the vehicle mode, especially with the more curvaceous designs today. In bot-mode, the heads are similar, though the Alternator head is more accurate to the original cartoon than the G1 figure. The arms are pretty much the same, with the doors behind and the tires for the shoulders, but otherwise the transformation has been flipped around – G1 had the head in the engine and the trunk became the feet, where the Alternator has the head hiding in the trunk and the engine compartment becomes the legs and feet. Some fans have done a “tab cut” on the Alternator, which allows them to move the trunk and taillights around to be the bot-mode chest and closer resemble the original figure, but as I understand it this also prevents any further transformation without disassembling the figure. The missing shoulder launcher is another glaring change, but one I can forgive in mind of not having to keep track of any extra loose parts.
A very good figure overall, and one of the better looking ones so far. Good looks in both modes, and a relatively simple transformation that is easy to learn and remember.
Of course, there has been a fan outcry for Sunstreaker (gotta have the brothers together, right?), but so far there do not seem to be any plans for that.
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/joroq/SideswipeJoyride.jpg)
"Now who's better looking, brother?"