Hound
Review by JoshB
Hound was the third vehicle released in the Transformers Alternators line and the first vehicle that was not a sports car. Hound is a 2003 Jeep Wrangler Sport. In vehicle mode, Hound features rubber tires, independent suspension, opening doors and hood, detailed interior, and a storage compartment in the spare tire that holds his gun. Hound does not feature tandem steering as the other Alternators do.
Robot mode is a little odd at first, but he grows on you. I don't personally like the way they handled the back of the robot. Things just kind of hang off his back. Otherwise, he is pretty cool and fairly articulated. He can hold a small gun in his hand that is stored in the spare tire. Hound is also the first Alternator that has a gun that is not from the engine.
The rest is pretty typical Alternators fare: realistic vehicle mode, quality construction, intricate transformation. Not much wrong with him. He looks great and is fun to play with.
Comments
1 comment postedI own an original Japanese "Binaltech" BT-04 Hound. Aside from the die-cast metal in the original version, both the BT and the Alternators line toy are identical in every other way.
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My biggest problem with Hound are his joints.
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Bending his shoulders forward- one of the most basic functions of ANY toy robot out there!- is surprisingly limited; they bend inwards at only 45 degrees, and cannot swing outwards away from the body- like MOST of the BT and Alternators do. (Jumping jacks, anyone? Not this guy!)
While his wrists have pretty good movement, his elbows can't swivel side-to-side.
His hips suffer from a simmilar ailment even though they are on ball/socket joints! And because of the limits of his hips, the tightly-snapping joints at his ankles do not compensate correctly.
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These are joint issues that aren't a problem with most of the others in the "Binaltech"/"Alternators" line. I liked the look of Hound 'n all. But these joints kinda killed it- which was part of the appeal ot these realistic-looking Transformers.
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