Convoy feat. Dodge Ram SRT-10
Review by JoshB
I have a confession to make. This is my first Binaltech. Indeed, I had some Alternators, but never an original JP version. What a fool I was.
Was there always this much metal in the Binaltech? This toy makes me want to sell all my alternators and go out and replace them with the Binaltech version.
BT-22 Convoy feat. Dodge Ram SRT-10 is the latest Binaltech figure from TakaraTomy. It's basically the same as Alternators Optimus Prime, but this time its all METAL.
Let's start off with Vehicle mode.
Convoy is a Dodge Ram SRT-10 Pickup truck. It's a heavy duty machine with a dodge viper engine in it. To say this thing hauls ass would be an understatement. So it is a fitting truck form for Convoy.
Most of the outer covering is metal. The only exceptions are the roof and part of the hood. The wheels are rubber and the front wheels turn in tandem.
The doors open as well as the hood and tailgate. It is here where I experience my first displeasure with the toy. The door falls off. Nothing is broken, it just does not stay. It is best to leave it off for transformation.
The door being off provides a good look into the detail inside the vehicle. Each gauge is meticulously detailed.
Transformation is an enjoyable experience. The metal provides a satisfactory tactile experience. Things go clank and clang. Things go click and clack.
Watch the video. Then return.
In vehicle mode, Convoy looks impressive. His legs are largely metal, and articulation is sufficient. The hip joints are rather loose. It is unfortunate. A blight on an otherwise stellar design.
Well, that and the door.
The engine of the Dodge can transform into a small weapon. Hardly a fitting weapon for an Autobot commander. The peg on the handle fits into the hole in the palm of the hand.
The head rotates, the arms move. The doors get in the way a bit. Convoy looks great from the front, but from the back, it is a jumbled mess. Best not to look at it from that angle.
They say that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The whole of Convoy is metal, heavy, clanking, rubber tires, intricate yet detailed. The door kind of sucks, but when taken into consideration against the rest of convoy, it is a minor annoyance.
This kind of toy belongs on your shelf. I keep mine in vehicle mode. The children lust after it, and I hit them away with sticks and I shout "away children, this is not for you!"
It's that cool.
Comments
11 comments postedFor some, it's better to get the BT like Grimlock, Overdrive (Windcharger in the U.S.) but for others it's better to stick with the Alts like Hound. I own both the BT and Alt version and the BT is quite top heavy and the weak hips can't suppose the weight that well.
Even though I'm finish the ALT/BT line, I REALLY hope they release Mirage. He was never actually released there except for a clear version and I have space for just one more.
Which Alts do you have Josh?
The last Alt i got was shockblast.. the purple one that looks like shockwave. Too many repaints at that point.
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CollectionDX Admin
What color is that thing? The pics and video look totally different.
"This must be settled the way nature intended....with a vicious, bloody fight!"
Onyx Blackman
Principal, Flatpoint High
Its actually a tomato red. The still pictures are a more accurate color.
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CollectionDX Admin
Nice review as always. So Josh, do you have plans to collect and review more Binaltechs in the near future?
-R78
Its definitely a possibility. Keep your eyes open...
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CollectionDX Admin
I'll keep'em open and thanks again
I have had experience with both, it really depends on what you like/collect. I like die-cast so a few years back I traded up all of my good Alts for Binaltechs. Like you, I owned Alt Shockblast and I liked it so much I bought the Binaltech version. I am glad I did, much better IMO. One thing though, Binaltech Shockblast has the interior dashboard reversed, i.e. the steering wheel is on the right hand side. No biggie for me but some people might not like that. Binaltechs just feel more solid to me, if that make sense.
I've the old Alternator version of this Dodge Ram Prime, so the plastic version. This Binaltech has some extra detailing on the belt and shoulders. This metal version looks so much better as the light doesn't shine through the chest / bonnet as it does with my plastic version which is a bit of a pain on some of the Alternators range.
"The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all possible worlds, and the pessimist fears this to be true." - James Branch Cabell 1926.
I have a couple of BinalTechs, and the doors invariably fall off both of them every time I do the transformation.
I've got the same hip-joint thing, too. The only pose where they can stand up is the "ten-HUT!" with the legs and body both ramrod-straight. With anything else, the weight of the torso overcomes the friction of the hip joints in about two seconds.
rhe metal content of this fugure was very satisfying. its a right royal pain to get all the panels in truck mode to line up but it looks awesome. there is an upgarde kit for this being released by fansproject, the same guys who did the city commander upgrade set for classics ultra magnus (sooooo sweet). the set comes with a jerry can that transforms into a very prime worthy gun and also matrix/holder that fits inside the engine bay which is very nice. not sure when im sure its due out soon.
Tell my tale to those who ask. Tell it truly - the ill deeds along with the good, and let me be judged accordingly. The rest... is silence.