Silverstreak - Alternators - Figure

I’m a completist when it comes to collecting the Alternators line. My budget lately has been tighter than it used to be, so despite Energon being a good solid line, I haven’t been tempted by too many of them. Not so with the Alternators, which are in my mind Transformers perfection.

My latest find is Silverstreak. Like others, he’s the victim of trademark/copyright problems when it comes to his name. This is the modern version of Bluestreak, a name I much prefer. He’s gone from being a Datsun 280ZX in his original form to a Subaru Impreza WRX in this one.

This car is outstanding in the details that are incorporated into it! I happened to find a version that had the steering wheel on the right-hand side and that’s a novelty for me. A close look at the dashboard inside the car reveals heat vents, a cd player, a radio and control knobs. The area above the steering wheel has the speedometer and rpm molded in, and between the front seats is the gearshift and emergency brake. On the front grille is a tiny molded Subaru logo, and the rear windshield has defroster lines. I could go on and on, but I won’t. Go buy it and enjoy all the detail for yourself.

Transformation is a bit involved the first few times. Of particular note is the way I’ve had difficulty in rotating the shoulders around forward, due to the small magnets that are part of the steering system. It’s a little tricky getting them positioned right. The transformation is similar to the original Bluestreak, with a lot more twists and turns. The hood of the car becomes the chest, the doors form wings on either side of the shoulders, the seats and part of the car underside become the torso, and the rear of the car becomes the lower legs and feet. It’s an update of a good transformation scheme.

The colors work very nicely together. The Alternators line steers clear of the brighter color schemes of the main line, which are intended for kids. The colors are chosen to emulate the original character, and I of course prefer that approach. Silverstreak is, of course, mainly silver. The other primary colors are a lot of black trim, and some bright red on the lower arms and legs, as well as the crest on the forehead. There’s a bit of a gold tint on the head, and the eyes are blue. It’s a very striking color scheme, and not at all as plain as it might seem at first glance.

The engine becomes his weapon of course. It bears a good resemblance to Bluestreak’s rifle, unlike some of the other Alternator weapons. A small peg allows it to snap into the palm of his hand, ensuring that Silverstreak holds the gun well.

Apart from the shoulder magnet problems, this guy is near perfect. Classic character, real alternate mode, nice posability, good solid color scheme and tons of detail. Go get him!

Reviewer	Shane Anderson
Date	November 20th 2004
Score	(9 out of 10)
Reads	8921

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