Transformers: Binaltech BT-04 Hound

       

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Made By:
Takara
Scale:
1/24
MSRP:
¥4980
Overview:
Packaging (Design):9/10
Packaging (Durability):10/10
Casting (Body):9/10
Casting (Interior):9/10
Casting (Chassis):N/A
Casting (Engine):7/10
Paint (Exterior):9/10
Paint (Interior):N/A
Paint (Trim/Graphics):9/10
Overall Panel Fit:8/10
Total Score:8.8/10

 
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Binaltech Hound
Binaltech Hound packaging Binaltech Hound engine Binaltech Hound interior Binaltech Hound roof Binaltech Hound doors Binaltech Hound rear

 
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NOTE: Since this site is generally vehicle-oriented, this review will focus on that mode.

 

Background

Hound was the first of the Alternator/Binaltech figures to have a direct update of his original G1 alt mode, appearing as a dark green Jeep Wrangler TJ.

 

Packaging

The box is essentially the same as it was for Lambor, down to the anniversary icon. The BT-04 box is now green and the text has been updated to reflect Hound and Jeep.

 

Casting/Paint

As with all of the Binaltech figures, the Jeep body is almost entirely made from diecast metal. The bumpers and side steps are rigid black plastic, the lights and windshield are transparent plastic, and the side mirrors are rigid vinyl. The spare tire cover is gray plastic painted to match the bumper, and the roll bar is a combination of plastic and metal components painted the same. Casting quality is as good as you could hope for, with clean flat panels and sharp tight seams. There are some excellent fine details like the hood and door hinges, raised "Jeep" logos, and the fully detailed fuel fill. The only real giveaway that this is a Transformer is the extra seams on the hood that will reveal the hood and Autobot symbol.

Paint is just as good, with a dark green metallic base color and expertly applied black accents on the fender flares, latches, gas fill, door surrounds, windshield frame, and wipers. Edges are just about perfect, without a hint of ghosting or misalignment. The Jeep logos, Wrangler badges, and Sport model texts are equally good. There's only a front license plate, a plain white field with a red Autobot symbol centered on it. Chrome accents are limited to the headlight bezels and mirror glass.

The interior is fully detailed with separate door panels, a dashboard detailed down to the defroster vent and radio face with a separate steering wheel, and a center console with shift and brake levers. The seats and dash are cast in warm gray, everything else is black or exposed body green. Fit and finish are just as good as they were for the body, though the lack of a floor for the back seat and the oversized cutouts at the top corners of the dashboard start to give away the robot in disguise.

There's no real engine here - the underhood area is storage for the robot mode arms and head - but there was an effort to incorporate parts of the 4.0L AMC I6. What becomes Hound's left arm has a row of six spark plugs and the correct (albeit shortened) valve cover, and his right arm has miscellaneous greebles that suggest an air cleaner, fill cap, and drive belt. It's not accurate by any stretch, but it was nice of them to include anything. The wheels are factory stock five-spoke alloys with soft vinyl tires sporting "Cybertronian Radial" sidewall lettering.

 

Features/Accessories

The hood and doors open on dedicated hinges, and generally work great. The hood has a little tab catch inside the grille, so be careful opening that to minimize paint damage, and when you close it the flap to reveal his head in robot mode tends to stay up and has to be closed separately. The tailgate doesn't open per se, but thanks to transformation it can be swiveled out of the way to kind of fake it. The steering gimmick is gone, replaced by working independent suspension at all four corners. In robot mode Hound moves at the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, fingers, waist, hips, knees, and ankles. It sounds impressive, and at the time it was...but by modern standards the joints are so limited and the weight is so unevenly distributed that getting him into more than a few unsupported poses is nigh impossible. His weapon is a small blaster folded up inside the spare tire.

 

Accuracy

As with the others in the series, this is an incredibly faithful replica of the Wrangler TJ. If you look at it from too low of an angle you'll start to see robot parts or you may notice how solid the rear axle area is, but at a glance there's nothing amiss.

 

Overall

Another solid entry in the Alternators/Binaltech series. Hound's vehicle mode doesn't quite have the "wow" factor of the Impreza WRC, but it still looks great and the overall figure is an excellent update to a classic character.

 

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