[REVIEW] Hot Rod and Elita One model kit rant
The_Great_Cornholio
Toy Rant for Elita One and Hot Rod Model Kits
Well, I finally got my hands on the Hot Rod and Elita One model kits
made by MC Axis and Takara. (I still need an Arcee) Here's my rant about
both kits.
Packaging : I really like the "classic" Transformer box art on both
kits. Both have the series 3 box art on the back (with Metroplex and
Trypticon in city mode), along with the tech specs. I will try to make
some scans of the specs later so that someone can translate them. In
case anyone cares, here are their stats.
Elita One : Str 9 Int 10 Spd 7 1/2 End 6 Rank 9 1/2 Cour 10
FP 3 Skill 9
Hot Rod : Str 10 Int 10 Spd 9 End 10 Rank 10 Cour 7
FP 10 Skill 10
Right away, some nit picks : Why does Hot Rod have a 10 rank? He always
seemed to be a foot soldier to me. Rodimus would have 10, but Hot Rod?
Well, there are indications later that perhaps they confused the two.
Contents / The Comic : These are fairly lame, IMNSHO. They are black and
white, and although the art isn't bad, the English is horrible. I don't
know exactly why this is, but.. Well, judge for yourself.
Comic / Hot Rod : The first panel in the corner shows a shadowy figure
that I don't recognize saying "Destroy him!" (Ok, I thought : good
beginning. This might not be too bad.. WRONG!) Then the next panel is
the rest of the page, and shows Hot Rod shooting two guns, blowing up
things. And he says "I guess? Underwent commander so that mind and body
have been transformed into TOUGH. Bear the position, it will be good for
yourselfs, ain't it!?"
HUH?!? I mean, that's just ODD. Elita isn't much better..
Comic / Elita One : The comic is one panel which shows three Autobot
Females (I assume the same one from the cartoon, but it's hard to tell.)
And one says "GLORIOUS VICTORY! At this rate, This planet will be
recovered by ourselfs." To which Elita replies "May be so" and thinks
"Though they talk that way, they are worn-out......., What are you doing
OP? Finish this war, prease..... IMMEDIATELY!"
Ok... I didn't misspell it either : it's "prease". Oh well.
The model : Overall I was surprised at the low quality of the model
kits. There's a lot of resin flash, especially on the smaller parts. Hot
Rod had a couple of holes where air bubbles were trapped as the resin
cured. But, these problems can be fixed with patience and care, and
garage resin kits will never match injection molded stuff.
Model / Hot Rod : The kit comes with a LOT of extra parts. The basic
pose on the box is Hot Rod Holding the matrix above his head, but there
are parts to make a lot of different poses. Included are :
The main body : This is Hot Rod's torso and legs. This part is where
most of the air bubbles are. Also, he is leaning to one side slightly,
which I don't understand.
Two arms : Pretty standard. The details suffered a bit on the arms; it
looked like the mold was starting to deteriorate when they cast them.
The Spoiler : The piece that goes on his back. This has quite a bit of
resin flash.
Two heads : One looks like Hot Rod's normal head, the other looks as
though his optic lens are lowered, as when he fired at the Decepticons
in the shuttle in TF:TM. The normal one has a big air bubble. D'OH!
Two fists : Just like the one that normally come on a TF except no peg
holes to hold a gun.
One Buzzsaw : As he used to free himself and Kup from the big Octobot.
One Welder : If memory serves, he used this to repair Kup.
One regular Matrix : The matrix from the movie. The comic has a little
crystal taped to it that goes on the front. However, there is only one,
and there is also a..
Matrix with hands : This is used on the box art.
Overall I was impressed with the model, but disappointed in the
manufacture. Is this also true of the Arcee kits?
Model / Elita One : Elita is not in the "slutty" style pose of Arcee
that some people complained about, but she still isn't exactly PC. She
has big spiked heel boots and the g-string phenomenon. The model came
with just the main body, head, and arms, no extras. The closed fist was
really messed up, and most of the detail gone. I suspect they pulled
this part from the mold too soon.
Summary : These models are great for someone experienced enough to
correct the flaws. I'm not sure I can make them perfect, but I will try.
When I get them built, I will try to put up some pictures.
David Van Domelen
In article <5ip4mv$6...@chronicle.concentric.net>,
The_Great_Cornholio <Bea...@cris.com> wrote:
>Contents / The Comic : These are fairly lame, IMNSHO. They are black and
>white, and although the art isn't bad, the English is horrible. I don't
>know exactly why this is, but.. Well, judge for yourself.
Remember, these were produced in Japan. Often when they use "English"
in Japan, it's more for effect than for exact meaning, so they don't sweat
exact translations on stuff like this.
>Comic / Hot Rod : The first panel in the corner shows a shadowy figure
>that I don't recognize saying "Destroy him!" (Ok, I thought : good
>beginning. This might not be too bad.. WRONG!) Then the next panel is
>the rest of the page, and shows Hot Rod shooting two guns, blowing up
>things. And he says "I guess? Underwent commander so that mind and body
>have been transformed into TOUGH. Bear the position, it will be good for
>yourselfs, ain't it!?"
Here's a better translation: "Guess what? I've been upgraded to Command
status, which means I'm stronger in mind and body. You should try it too,
it's good for you, ain't it?" Or something to that effect.
It also explains his high rank. Obviously THIS Hot Rod has been
promoted.
>Comic / Elita One : The comic is one panel which shows three Autobot
>Females (I assume the same one from the cartoon, but it's hard to tell.)
>And one says "GLORIOUS VICTORY! At this rate, This planet will be
>recovered by ourselfs." To which Elita replies "May be so" and thinks
>"Though they talk that way, they are worn-out......., What are you doing
>OP? Finish this war, prease..... IMMEDIATELY!"
"GLORIOUS VICTORY! At this rate, we'll retake the planet by ourselves!"
"Maybe so...." (thinks) "Although they're talking like victory's just around
the corner, the battle is taking its toll on them. Optimus Prime, just what
are you up to? Finish this war, please...NOW!"
>Ok... I didn't misspell it either : it's "prease". Oh well.
Japanese transliteration has trouble with r/l and v/b, because it
doesn't have exactly the same sounds. Hence "Minerva" being written as
"Minelba" on the box, and other fun substitutions.
Deibu Ban Domeren, if the incorrect substitutions were used....
Lars Eriksson
The_Great_Cornholio <Bea...@cris.com> wrote:
:
: Toy Rant for Elita One and Hot Rod Model Kits
:
: Well, I finally got my hands on the Hot Rod and Elita One model kits
: made by MC Axis and Takara. (I still need an Arcee) Here's my rant about
: both kits.
<snip>
:
: Hot Rod : Str 10 Int 10 Spd 9 End 10 Rank 10 Cour 7
: FP 10 Skill 10
:
: Right away, some nit picks : Why does Hot Rod have a 10 rank? He always
: seemed to be a foot soldier to me. Rodimus would have 10, but Hot Rod?
: Well, there are indications later that perhaps they confused the two.
Blame Hasbro. That's exactly the same stats Hot Rod had in 1986.
--
Lars Eriksson
sfh...@algonet.se
G++ FR+ FW- M+ #349 (soon 353) D++ ADA N+ W+ B++(+) OP
The_Great_Cornholio
Douglas K Vanderhoek (dvh_...@iastate.edu) wrote:
:
: Are there any pics of these model kits on the Web?
Thee are some scans of Elita One's box at
http://www.universe.digex.net/~lcaesar/elita.html
I plan to scan Hot Rod's box RSN and when I get the models done I will put
up scans of the finished product.
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Sean Holshu
On 13 Apr 1997 22:41:30 GMT, dvh_...@iastate.edu (Douglas K Vanderhoek) wrote:
>
> Are there any pics of these model kits on the Web?
I believe Tony Tran (Liocaesar) has some pics on his page:
http://www.universe.digex.net/~lcaesar
__
Sean Holshu
"I'm ready for you now! Damn you!"
--Vejita vs. Android #15, Dragonball Movie #7
"Three Super Saiyajin"
Ivy Bohnlein
Quoth the VictoryShot...
: Can anyone tell me where I can get either of these models? I really
: want a Hot Rod.
Amen! And don't say BotCon, cause I can't afford it. :( Any
other suggestions? And how much will I wind up paying for one?
Thanks in advance, Amigos
Ivy
--
===================== bohn...@acmelabs.uhc.asu.edu =====================
"They say follow your heart - Follow it through | Siouxie and
But how can you, when you're split in two? ... | the Banshees
To die like this, with a last kiss, | *
It's falsehood's flame - it's a crying shame... | "Face to Face"
= And you'll never know - You'll never know..." =========================
The_Great_Cornholio
Duo Maxwell (d...@netcom.ca) wrote:
: >Well, I finally got my hands on the Hot Rod and Elita One model kits
: >made by MC Axis and Takara. (I still need an Arcee) Here's my rant about
: >both kits.
Well, they were really made by the garage resin company MC Axis, with
Takara's approval. So, they both did both. :)
--
Thank you, I'm Beavis, goodnight.