Bootleg Binaltech Streak (Red Variant)

[cybernaut]

About a year and a half ago, zephon posted a thread regarding bootleg Binaltech Transformers...
(see related thread here:
greattoysonline.proboards43.com/index.cgi?board=transformers&action=display&thread=1124858417)

Since he asked for a review of these bootlegs, I'm posting one for the Subaru Impreza mold, otherwise known as Winner Streak (nice...) .

Having found a sizeable amount of these bootlegs in St. Francis Square going for PHP 600 apiece, I decided to check them out. I bought two, a Viper (gray with flames variant of Victory Lambor, aka BT Lambor bootleg) and a Subaru Impreza WRC, which is BT Streak's alternate mode (Red rally variant). As rohml said, these are BINALTECH bootlegs, with die-cast parts. All parts of the original BINALTECH toy are faithfully reproduced, with only the insigna and other Transformers trademarks changed to avoid copyright issues.


Here's mine MISB...


It's packaged in a "bastardized" version of a BT box, complete with circular "windows" on the side. There are no TF or HasTak licensed markings on the box, and on the toy itself.

Note: There is another version of the box wherein the toys come packaged in robot mode... (again, see zephon's thread for pics)


The back of the packaging showing the features of the toy, complete with funny english.


There are 4 variants of according to the box, 2 for WRC, 2 for WRX. While the WRC and the WRX bodies were two different Autobots (Smokescreen/Streak and Silverstreak respectively) with certain differences, I noticed all of the variants were only repaints of Streak.


Here it is beside my MISB Alternators Silverstreak (which I got on sale...).


This is what you get... The car on a cardboard stand, the intercooler/weapon thingy and an instruction manual (which also comes with funny english )

CAR MODE

Front View

Back View
As with the BT/Alt, all 4 doors open, hood and trunk open, and interiors are detailed. All 4 wheels have rubber tires with mags, including rack and pinion steering on the front tires. Being a bootleg, the engineering and quality control isn't perfect, with doors not sitting flush with the body and leftover metal bits from the mold. Wheels are not very aligned and the steering gimmick is kinda restricted. The interior is made of cheap plastic.


A closeup of the markings. All Subaru logos have been replaced with the word "Surmount", and despite the mold obviously belonging to the Subaru Impreza WRC, the markings say WRX...

WEAPON

Here's the engine/weapon thingy. It's concealed under the hood and unfolds to become Streak's Electro-Disruptor. Note the absence of the Autobot Symbol despite there being an indentation for it...

ROBOT MODE
After a lot of rather confusing twists and turns, we arrive at a robot form looking somewhat like the instructions say...



Front View

Rear View
Like BT's, the articulation is great, with the toes, ankles, knees, hips, waist, wrist, fingers, elbows (double jointed!), shoulders, and head having decent movement. The die-cast parts limit poses due to their weight, but otherwise, I'm impressed with the HasTak engineering of this thing. It looks impressive enough, although the head sculpt lacks the detail and emotion of the original. Oh, and the infamous BT paint chipping issues are here as well... But it isn't as painful...

And yes, being a bootleg, certain parts are loose and ill-fitting. However, mine was quite sturdy. I found no problem with the assembly and the important joints are reasonably tight, enabling it to hold a lot of poses. The forearms were misassembled, prompting a quick session with a screwdriver to correct...


However, the joints DO wear out with continous play, as I found out with the left shoulder rotator after fiddling with it a LOT (couldn't figure out at first how to transform it back to car mode... ).

Despite the obvious quality loss, I'm satisfied. It wasn't a waste of my PHP 600, unlike Lambor. Its a testament to the merits of the BT/Alt Subaru mold that this version copies its good points. Hopefully we see other versions, especially the unique ones like Prime and Skids.

While mileage may vary with each model, this is a cheaper, albeit weaker alternative to Binaltechs and Alternators. And these guys are definitely NOT for kids. You get what you buy, so know what your buying. Caveat emptor

Jya na!

[zephon]

ey, I didn't see that they had a red one in St. Francis!

Great review! I've been thinking of getting one myself -- Yes, I do believe a bootleg of a relatively good quality is a testament of how robust the Subaru mold of the BT/Alts is.

-- here's me hoping to find that red "variant" ;D

[mojacko]

neat....think its a great alternative u can get close to the original....thanks for the review moja....been wanting to grabthis bootie....for customizing reasons....but havent have the time too....great alternative!!!BTW....sorry for the stupid question but where is St Francis Square??? and where in SFS can i get this if ever? thanks!!!

[cybernaut]

Just an addendum to my review above...

Having opened my Alternators Silverstreak, I wasted no time in comparing him with my bootleg Streak, since both of them have the essentialy the same body with minor differences...


Here's both of them standing side by side...

What's been bugging me for the last few weeks about this bootleg was that the legs were always bent in a reverse jointed configuration. While the knees did bend in reverse due to the transformation method, i always had to bend them too far for him to stand. All the variants shown on the box had the same problem.

Here it is, standing back to back with Alternator Silverstreak, as if to face of in a duel (image on left)... Notice the legs?



After close examination of the legs, I found the problem. The part connecting the "foot" to the "ankle" part is mis-assembled. As shown on the images, (silverstreak, upper right, BL Streak, lower right), the ankle joint (encircled part...) is reversed , preventing the feet from locking properly with his legs. Since the problem effectively shifts his center of balance whenever he stands, he becomes back heavy, hence his knees have to bend outward to stand. It doesn't help that the heavy die-cast parts and certain loose joints asd to the posing problem.

Apparently, all the variants of this bootleg have the same defect. Other than this, I find nothing else wrong.

It seems all of the bootleg binaltechs have a certain defect in their construction. The Viper molds (Lambor and Dead End) have mis-assembled shoulders while the Subaru mold has this. I wonder, what defect does the Jeep (Hound) mold have...?

Anyways, here's a parting shot of Metals Transform Streak, together with Metals Transform Lambor. Enjoy!


Jya na!