hey guys; i surfed around many tf sites and it seems to me the boards here are the best place for discussion; so yeah, i am new.

i am a slightly older TF fan living in NY, and have not collected any toys since the orginal line in the '80s. i havent really followed any shows or toy lines since G1 either- and although the re-issues were tempting, there were too many when i noticed them to go on the hunt- when i discovered heroes of cybertron it seemed like i had already missed the boat too; at least from what i gather hoc has been discontinued?

point is, i finally noticed alternators and just loved the look... i had to go out and collect. in the last few days (jan/2005) i hit my local walmarts, kmarts, kaybee's, and tru's. i was able to find Smokescreen/#1 Subaru Impreza WRC, Side Swipe/#2 Dodge Viper, Hound/#3 Jeep Wrangler & Silverstreak/#4 Subaru Impreza WRX- and i was thrilled. it was like christmas 20 years ago all over again; these things are awesome. [btw, silverstreak and sideswipe were the easiest to find; hound i only saw in one tru, and smokescreen i found in only one other tru- all in all the most altenators i saw in any store was 6]

then i really hit the net and starting lookking at what was out there; and i got super confused- somehow i had located #`s 1-4 or the collection, even though it seems there are about 8 or more that have hit us stores- and although i understand there is a completelty seperate line in japan, it appears the UK has a somewhat different release schedule? i have some specific questions i would love to have answered; please please forgive me if you have this info in previous posts.

1- how many of these have been released in the US? if #5 and up, why is it only 1-4 are the ones i see in stores?

2- are there any differences between the UK and US alternators lines, and their release schedules?

3- is the 20th anniv. optimus considered a part of this collection, and why?

4- how many of you also collect the japanese versions? is it just the same collection with metal parts?

5- from what i read this line started in the us around 2003- and it seems there are at least a few slated for 2005. is this correct? what are the rumblings of this line being cancelled or living on?

6- i understand in many areas of the country walmart is a great place for collectors- but seemingly not here. are there any collectors in the NJ/NY that would recommend where to go, and when to try to get the pick of the shipment?

thanks all to who can answer and take the time to reply!!

1- how many of these have been released in the US? if #5 and up, why is it only 1-4 are the ones i see in stores?
Answer: since hound and silverstreak we have had Dead End(Black Repaint of Sideswipe but it kicks a$$), Tracks(Corvette,Blue Version), Meister or Jazz to your liking(MAzda RX-8, White Version), Grimlock(Ford Mustang, the new crappy version they just designed), Swindle(Yellowish repaint of Hound and also kicks a$$) and Windcharger(Honda S2000).

2- are there any differences between the UK and US alternators lines, and their release schedules?
Answer: No differance except for the release schedule. Though now UK will no longer be getting them

3- is the 20th anniv. optimus considered a part of this collection, and why?
Answer: No. Because its not in scale with an actual truck and its n anniversary/masterpiece edition piece.

4- how many of you also collect the japanese versions? is it just the same collection with metal parts?
Answer: I dont collect them. Japanese versions do have die cast metal But there are a blue and yellow version of Tracks and a red and white version of Meister

5- from what i read this line started in the us around 2003- and it seems there are at least a few slated for 2005. is this correct? what are the rumblings of this line being cancelled or living on?
Answer: Correct, so far we have a Tracks repaint(Black) that is going to be Ravage, Repaint of Meister(Purple) into Shockwave and a Wheeljack...though I cant remember if he is gonna be a repaint or a new mold all together. At this point the line is almost in limbo due to fact nothing else really shown on any more characters, though a article showed up saying a ram pick-up is in works and that there will be a 30dollar range of toys that will be planes(decepticon jets or superion anyone?)

6- i understand in many areas of the country walmart is a great place for
collectors- but seemingly not here. are there any collectors in the NJ/NY that would recommend where to go, and when to try to get the pick of the shipment?
Answer: well i dont live in that area of country but im hearing Target is a good place to go right now

Q #3 is actually up in the air. Although Prime has a different designation (20th/MP instead of ALT/BT), he is in scale to the Alts as the original was to his other soldier bots (they came up to his waist). There is not really a fan consensus, and also varying reports as to whether or not HasTak considers the lines joined or separate.

check out one o ourvery own TFans site for all things Alt/BT Binalternators!

wow.. looks like i was lucky to find the 1st four then? but i guess i'm still on the hunt for 5-10 as you've listed.

i have found this resource website, which i am sure many of you have seen-
http://www.binalternators.de/binaltech_english.html

i am guessing that despite the info on the net, Alternators Battle Ravage is not a US release yet.

i only mentione the 20th optimus because it seems many people are listing it as a part of any good alternators collection.

well anyways, thanks for the info!!

EDIT: as i posted this reply, i see the 2nd reply to the post- thank you!!

20th Anniversary Optimus Prime is not to scalke with the Alternators. He's not even to scale with his own wheels, on that matter...

Exactly...what I said was, he is the same scale to the Alts that G1 Prime was to the other bots...e.g., 20th Prime:Alts as G1Prime:other autobots(hound,streak,swipes,et...)