Red Alert isn’t all repaint though. He’s got a lot of new pieces, some subtle, to differentiate him from Sideswipe. Navigating this MP line is a bit tricky. Takara likes to lean towards show-accurate while Hasbro, when it does bother to bring them over, leans toy accurate (think of Soundwave’s visor color as an example). Anyway, when Takara made Sideswipe his robot mode was more toon than toy. Clearly, the toy was the basis for Sideswipe’s cartoon look, but changes were made.
Strangely though, those changes weren’t made to Red Alert, so Takara leaning toon accurate on him actually motivated them to make a few new pieces for the toy. They’re very minor, but I’m very grateful that Takara got it done. The new “helmet”, new shoulders with vestigial tires, and a new upper chestplate with some small details to match the old look. Oh, and a new slightly different face. Honestly, I think all those are changes Takara probably didn’t have to do, but the fact that they did is pretty awesome and it further differentiates the figures when placed next to one another (which is great, because there are plenty more Lambos in our future).
Red Alert includes many of the sames pieces available with Sideswipe & Tigertrack, notably the shoulder cannon and the rifle. The rifle, being all red, was a little too vintage/nostalgia for my tastes. It’s neat, but the choice to make it red wasn’t motivated by “It being awesome” and I think a little deco here would’ve helped a tiny bit. The one new piece is some add-on light effects for his “horns”. They would flash when Red Alert was freaking out and they make for a cool effect on the toy. I probably won’t have it used much, but if we get more cool things like this with the toy line, I could see trotting it back out.
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Overall, Red Alert is just another great entry into Takara’s wonderful MP line. I don’t really like paying $60 for a Transformer this size, but I can’t deny how well made they are. Getting them altogether, particularly now that a half dozen cars have been released, makes for a great group shot and Red Alert’s red/white color scheme makes sure you’ll notice him (it doesn’t hurt he’s a Lamborghini either). The sculpt & articulation have been great on each release. I do wonder if I should go on Reprolabels and get some of those awful/wacky classic stickers. I love how the figs look, but I could really turn back the clock with some of those sweet stickers.
I have a small gallery above with some extra pics and, again, if you’re looking for specifics, check out my reviews of Sideswipe & Tigertrack for all the details on this great mold! And also keep an eye out for yet another repaint, a Black G2 version for Sideswipe. Can’t wait!
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Nice. the little tweaks make him stand out just as much as the red/white deco from the others, esp Sideswipe’s mostly red deco.
I don’t remember if I had the original or not, but I know I picked up a couple versions over the years before the deluxe Classics version about a year ago. Even then, I picked up a couple extra to custom into other characters (SS, a Stunticon/Protectibot/Prowl) but never got around to it. :/
Hope you get to Prowl, soon. He was one of my first and one I try to get every variant of, including the owl! LOL
Prowl would be the next car, but I’ve proven that “next” has no real timeframe. 🙂
I do want to get the Primes & Jets at some point too…
Great review and pics, as ever!
My budget was tight when these Lambo guys (and the Fairlady clones) came out, so I only got this guy. Very happy I did.
Thanks! He’s probably the most fun out of the three.
I never had any of the original sport cars except for Smokescreen, but they were always my favorite Transformers. As such though, I lean more towards the cartoon look. I love Lambos and I’ve always liked Red. That pic of him and Barbecue is a hoot to any 80’s kid turned seasoned fan.
Your reviews are drawing me closer and closer to jumping aboard this line. Wheeljack and Bumblebee keep calling my name from afar… “Clutch…Cluuutttccchhh…! 🙂
I got into TF closer to the movie (first movie I saw in a theater, Dad took me) so I had very few of the 84-85 guys. While I’m dying to get more 86-87 updates, I’m really enjoying “finally” getting some of the originals.
We’ve seen rumors that Prowl is getting imported, so it may get much cheaper to collect these soon.
Not by much, especially when you take into account the scalper’s premium.
The trick, as a long-time collector helped me understand, is to get these guys from a reputable Japanese source early on. I ended up paying $58 shipped for Streak and around the same for Prowl. That is, I do believe, the same price we saw in the leaked TRU listing.
Jon at Preternia has been doing the same for me, cluing me in HLJ gets them in and saws $20 off my cost. It’s much appreciated, though I don’t know how he’s on the internet all the time!
You didn’t mention it in the review, so I’m not sure if you know the origin of the “light effects” for the horns. In the cartoon, when Red was having a particularly paranoid, tin foil hat kinda moment, he’d get a little burst of electricity around that area. So when those are attached, you should imagine him ranting about tiny hidden Decepticons in your cereal or something.
I’m frequently tempted by the great new stuff in the Masterpiece line, but I’m so invested in CHUG at this point that I just can’t handle the idea of starting a new line. If they were just a hair smaller and would fit in better with the rest of my collection, though, I’m sure I would have caved already.
I’m glad you clarified the lights on his head. I knew some of their purpose, but not to the detail you just left. Thanks!
I have the best readers!
Thanks for the heads up. That paragraph was wonky, so a quick edit and another mention of the paranoia. I wish I’d thought of Decepticons in the cereal. That’s hilarious!
When I decided to go all in on MP, I made the commitment to only get MP. No more CHUG. It was tough, particularly when you run across one in a store. I’ve been a little bad on some 3P items, but I’m trying to stick with it.
It’s a really good time for CHUGs right now, too. MPs are actually allowing me to enjoy those toys more now that I have an outlet for the G1-accuracy bug. I can look at Trailcutter and enjoy him as an IDW toy without being pissed that he’s such a stretch for a G1 update. It’s kinda nice. Luckily, I avoid third party toys, so I think I come out ahead.
I want to like ’em, but they seem so small!!
Aw, you can use the cereal line if you wanna. 🙂
Hasbro is doing their level best to get me out of the CHUG line, apparently. I haven’t seen a new Generations figure at a store in ages. I need Skids!
I think I’ve seen him at least once. It’s the same here though, few & far between.
Glad you’re getting around to reviewing these. I have 2 of these recolors and G2 should (hopefully) be coming this month. I have all of the MP Datsuns as well, so I’m really hoping you get to those. I always get excited when toys that I own end up in your pics.
LOL Thank you. I usually figure only collectors that don’t already have the toys check out the reviews. Good to know that’s not always the case. 😀
Nah, I read ’em all. Thing is, you usually get around to reviewing the toys I’ve ordered before they actually make it to my door. };D
lol!
YES! More Noisy TF reviews in 2014! Let’s hear about that FP Intimidator we saw on Twitter. Also, any chance you’re picking up MP stand-ins like X-Transbots Stax or Cubex Huff?
I don’t know of my TF reviews are that good. I think they might be my weakest (& maybe why they’re sporadic), but thanks!
I want to to the Combiners, but I might only review their combined form if that makes sense?
I’m in a holding pattern on the MP stand-ins. I want to, but I’m really looking at how much I spend lately and I don’t like it. Fan’s Tots has their hooks in though. I can see grabbing the Huffer/Pipes set on a week with a lot of leftover cash though.
Oh how I wish I got one of those Primes but then that other came out. Man, I wanna get into these but like chips you can’t get just one.
On the black Soundwave. That is a real upgrade as Blaster and Soundwave both died fighting each other. He was rebuilt into Soundblaster and Blaster into Twincast.
Collecting the line is the problem! Even just silly recolors that you don’t need…
Soundblaster is a little better, yes, but in a collection with folks like Acidstorm and Tigertrack, I think that blends out a little.
Speaking of… MP Blaster?? Where’s that!