A little bit of love for Henkei Hot Rod.

[kup]

Having a toy aimed at children is no excuse for it to be mediocre, specially when it was done better in the past when targeting the same age groups.

[STL]

Having a toy aimed at children is no excuse for it to be mediocre, specially when it was done better in the past when targeting the same age groups.

Yeah there is. It's called what the market will tolerate.

Anyway, onto the Henkei Hot Shot toy itself. Looks stunning. Those chrome guns have me really, really excited about this toy. Our RK order should be here in the next few days... cannot wait!

[Gutsman Heavy]

the launchers are very nice, but for me JAAM is the true winner.

[Bartrim]

the launchers are very nice, but for me JAAM is the true winner.

Agreed. I was going to get the Henkei version until they revealed the universe one would have JAAM number plates. No ammount of chrome can beat JAAM

[kup]

Yeah there is. It's called what the market will tolerate.

Anyway, onto the Henkei Hot Shot toy itself. Looks stunning. Those chrome guns have me really, really excited about this toy. Our RK order should be here in the next few days... cannot wait!

How can you explain the market tolerating this new toy? Its much better than the old one and its fair to say that there are stricter manufacturing budgets now than back then as the retailers want to maintain low prices for their costumers.

Its more about the design mentality and philosophy than what the market would tolerate.

[STL]

How can you explain the market tolerating this new toy? Its much better than the old one and its fair to say that there are stricter manufacturing budgets now than back then as the retailers want to maintain low prices for their costumers.

Its more about the design mentality and philosophy than what the market would tolerate.

I'm just saying that corporations will do what they believe will sell in the market and the market shall therefore vindicaate them. And obviously it worked. What you or I want to say about philosophy or mentality are moot points.

They're philosophical but they're hardly practical. A business at the end of the day has cost/benefit considerations - not just considerations based on the desires of particularly small segment of its overall market. I'd love more technical transformations too but I realise and accept that this is predominantly a kids market and whatever satisfies that market so as to generate the highest return would appear to be the best avenue.

[Stompy]

I got my hands on the Hasbro Universe version today. As I suspected, there are no guns at all for Universe version. This wasn't really a big deal BUT in robot mode it makes a difference...

See the Henkei version has allowed some gaps on the rear of the vehicle, just below the license plate, for the two chrome guns to act as exhausts/mufflers. The Universe version is a slightly different mould and has been covered up since there are no guns at all. No biggie in vehicle mode but in bot mode the shoulder kibble doesn't sit properly as the corners keep touching each other and supposed to overlap due to the way the robot mdoe arms convert and sit in place. Of course they do not overlap instead one has to be on top of the other.

Now the Henkei version has the gaps and I would assume no such problem as they can both sit comfortably in that resting angle without encumbering each other.

Otherwise fantastic conversion and excellent homage to the original and of course a gazillion times better. On the downside, I prefer the original Jolt. This new one is flimsy, quality wise.

[STL]

Love the Henkei version.

The chrome guns are so unique and make awesome exhausts. Great for detailing. The transformation is very quirky and I like the strange fold to bring hte chest and legs into place. The switcheroo is innovative. Very enjoyable.

In robot mode, I dislike the back kibble and the windscreen between the knees, it gets in the way of poseability in the arms and legs at times. That said, it's still something you can work around. Other thing I particularly like is head articulation. Very subtle but very appreciated. Gives him lots of character. The astronaut head plus visor are also very cool and less "kiddie" the original version. Really like the blues of the windscreen. too, they come out great

Not sure if its a QC issue but the chest and back section, where they are clipped together to form the upper body, it's not very firm and is loose. That can be frustrating.

The alt mode's okay. I don't like the gap at the back on the spoiler. Too pronounced without Jolt. On Jolt, I agree with Stompy that he's inferior to the original by a long shot.

But overall, a very, very cool toy.

EDIT:

Scratch the leg windscreen/articulation complaint. Just saw Tetsu's pictures and realised it was me being a dud

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

I got my hands on the Hasbro Universe version today. As I suspected, there are no guns at all for Universe version. This wasn't really a big deal BUT in robot mode it makes a difference...

See the Henkei version has allowed some gaps on the rear of the vehicle, just below the license plate, for the two chrome guns to act as exhausts/mufflers. The Universe version is a slightly different mould and has been covered up since there are no guns at all. No biggie in vehicle mode but in bot mode the shoulder kibble doesn't sit properly as the corners keep touching each other and supposed to overlap due to the way the robot mdoe arms convert and sit in place. Of course they do not overlap instead one has to be on top of the other.

Now the Henkei version has the gaps and I would assume no such problem as they can both sit comfortably in that resting angle without encumbering each other.

Otherwise fantastic conversion and excellent homage to the original and of course a gazillion times better. On the downside, I prefer the original Jolt. This new one is flimsy, quality wise.

About how much d'you think you'd have to shave/cut/file off before you'd fix his shoulder problem?

[Stompy]

Have a look for yourself:





As you can see they pretty much don't sit properly and defaults to having one on top of the other. Compare it with the Henkei pics above, I think it's safe to say that TakaraTomy noticed this problem and corrected accordingly. While the guns are missing for the Universe version the arm pegholes for them remains. Makes you question the decisions of whether Hasbro wanted the guns or not.