"After the evil Decepticons used cosmic rust to all but wipe out the Autobots who were protecting Mother Earth, humans decided to create their own Transformers in a last-ditch effort to save the planet. Car companies like Mazda funded the project, implanting sparks from the damaged Autobots into new, man-made Binaltech bodies. The fight continues."

Transformers: Alternators are a collector-oriented line of licensed, 1/24 scale vehicles that harken back to the original, "Generation One" Transformers of the early nineteen eighties. These ratings are based on my opinion of how close an homage to the original toy the new Alternators are. See individual entries for more details. Note that the Homage Rating is not a review or measure of how good each toy is, but a comparison with the originals.

Release Order Name Rating Smokescreen 70% Side Swipe 69% Autobot Hound 79% Silverstreak 75% Autobot Tracks 84% Dead End 46% Meister 63% Swindle 57% Grimlock 47% Windcharger 54% Battle Ravage 45% Shockblast 58% Wheeljack 53% Decepticharge 14% Swerve 56% Prowl 63% Autobot Skids 68% Sunstreaker 62% Rollbar 57% Ricochet 57% Optimus Prime 55% Mirage 63% Camshaft 52% Nemesis Prime 54% Rumble 53% Ravage 56% Rodimus 55%

Rank Name Rating Autobot Tracks 84% Autobot Hound 79% Silverstreak 75% Smokescreen 70% Side Swipe 69% Autobot Skids 68% Meister 63% Mirage 63% Prowl 63% Sunstreaker 62% Shockblast 58% Swindle 57% Rollbar 57% Ricochet 57% Ravage 56% Swerve 56% Rodimus 55% Optimus Prime 55% Windcharger 54% Nemesis Prime 54% Wheeljack 53% Rumble 53% Camshaft 52% Grimlock 47% Dead End 46% Battle Ravage 45% Decepticharge 14%

Homage Rating Details

• Vehicle class: Is the Alternator in the same vehicle class as the original (ex., both sports cars, both race cars, etc.); if not, how close (ex., sports car vs. exotic, different racing classes, etc.)?
  • Exact same class: 10 points.
  • Very similar class: deduct 1 - 2 points.
  • Broadly similar classes: deduct 3 - 4 points.
  • Different classes, but both vehicles: deduct 5 - 6 points.
  • Completely different (animal/gun/etc. vs. vehicle) deduct 9 points.
• Vehicle make: Is the Alternator the same brand as the original (ex., Toyota, Ford, Porsche, etc.)?
  • Exact same make: 10 points.
  • Different makes, but from same country: deduct 2 - 3 points.
  • Different makes, from different counties: deduct 4 - 5 points.
  • Completely different (animal/gun/etc. vs. vehicle): deduct 9 points.
• Vehicle model: Is the Alternator the same model as the original (ex., 280ZX, Mustang, etc.), and if so, is it the same model year?
  • Exact same model and model year: 10 points.
  • Exact same model, but different model year: deduct 1 point.
  • Different model, but same make: deduct 2 - 3 points.
  • Different model/make, but same vehicle class: deduct 4 - 5 points.
  • Different model/make/class, but both vehicles: deduct 6 - 7 points.
  • Completely different (animal/gun/etc. vs. vehicle): deduct 9 points.
• Vehicle mode color scheme: How close is the Alternator vehicle color scheme to the original?
  • Identical color schemes: 10 points.
  • Almost identical color schemes (basic markings and coloration), but missing some markings: deduct 1 - 2 points.
  • Broadly similar color schemes: deduct 3 - 5 points.
  • Different color schemes (if the new scheme is different, but still is a realistic update of the original, this can be lessened; ex. Smokescreen): deduct 6 - 8 points.
  • Completely different: deduct 9 points.
• Robot mode color scheme: How close is the Alternator robot color scheme to the original?
  • Identical color schemes: 10 points.
  • Almost identical color schemes (basic markings and coloration), but missing some markings: deduct 1 - 2 points.
  • Broadly similar color schemes: deduct 3 - 5 points.
  • Different color schemes: deduct 6 - 8 points.
  • Completely different: deduct 9 points.
• Weapons: How similar is the Alternator's weapons to the original's? Are all the original's weapons represented, or are some missing?
  • Identical (while being updated/upscaled/etc.), no weapon(s) missing: 10 points.
  • Weapon(s) missing (original had multiple weapons, Alternator does not): deduct 1 - 2 points for each missing weapon.
  • Similar weapons: deduct 1 - 2 points.
  • Different weapons: deduct 3 - 6 points, depending on variations.
  • Original had no weapons, Alternator has weapons: deduct 3 - 5 points.
  • Weapon is a "scanner:" deduct 9 points.
• Head sculpt: How close is the Alternator robot head to the original? If similar, has it been updated/improved?
  • Identical: 10 points.
  • Minor differences (due to being updated/improved/etc.): deduct 1 - 2 points.
  • Fairly similar (differences are due to more than just being updated/improved/etc.): deduct 3 - 5 points.
  • Completely different: deduct 6 - 8 points.
  • Has another character's head: deduct 9 points.
• Character name: Are the names of the Alternator and the original identical? Have they been changed due to trademark issues?
  • Identical: 10 points.
  • Very similar (Sideswipe vs. Side Swipe): deduct 1 point.
  • Same name, different languages (Jazz vs. Meister): deduct 2 - 3 points.
  • Prefixed with "Autobot" or "Decepticon:" deduct 2 points.
  • Includes at least part of original name (Bluestreak vs. Silverstreak, Shockwave vs. Shockblast, Ravage vs. Battle Ravage): deduct 3 - 5 points.
  • Similar: deduct 6 - 8 points.
  • Completely different/unrelated: deduct 9 points.
• Transformation scheme: How similar is the Alternator's transformation from vehicle to robot, compared to the original's (ex., hood becomes chest, rear of car becomes legs, doors become "wings," etc.)?
  • Virtually identical: 10 points.
  • Fairly similar: deduct 1 - 2 points.
  • Broadly similar: deduct 3 - 5 points.
  • Different/opposite/reverse/etc. while still being vaguely similar: deduct 6 - 8 points.
  • Completely different (animal vs. vehicle): deduct 9 points.
• X-factor: Anything else, including difficulty or ease of transformation, "coolness" or lack thereof, etc. An otherwise low scoring homage can improve by having a good X-factor. No specifics here, but can include the following:
  • Nice/interesting vehicle mode: positive.
  • Poor/uninteresting vehicle mode: negative.
  • Nice/interesting robot mode: positive.
  • Poor/uninteresting robot mode: negative.
  • Realistic vehicle mode: positive.
  • Unrealistic vehicle mode: negative.
  • Easy to transform: positive.
  • Difficult to transform: negative.
  • Good poseability in robot mode: positive.
  • Poor poseability in robot mode (ex., poor or no knee movement): negative.
  • Third or more use of same mold: negative (can be offset if there are significant changes, which would not include a new color scheme and head sculpt).
  • Exclusive or otherwise limited release (in other words, even harder to obtain than normal): negative.