Intro:
Of
all the choices of characters to receive an Alternators/ Binaltech, Swindle has
got to be the oddest of ‘em all. Even Windcharger, as minor a character as he
is, he still makes more sense than Swindle, seeing as how the latter is one of
the 5-bots Combaticons and none of his other teammates received the same
treatment.
In
the Binaltech/ Alternators continuity, he was the first Decepticons to receive
the Binaltech body through his trademarked swindling way (pun intended) that
was originally meant for Trailbreaker.
First
released in 2005, Swindle was my second ever Alternators after Windcharger,
originally purchased as a substitute for the Alternators Hound that I missed
out. The same mould would eventually be reused for the character Rollbar,
released in 2006.
Alternate
Mode:
Swindle
transforms into a Jeep Wrangler, bearing his signature yellow body paintjob.
One
thing noticeably different between Swindle (and this mould in general) with
most of the early Alternators/ Binaltechs is that he doesn’t have any front
wheel steering action.
But
whatever Swindle’s lacking in steering, he more than makes it up with his
fantastic suspension system. Each wheel has their own individual springs and is
unconnected to any other wheels.
Apart
from the steering mechanism, Swindle is every bit as detailed as any other
Alternators that came before him. The chrome rims and front grille looks sparklingly
shiny, which is always a bonus. There are also the words “JEEP WRANGLER” & “SPORT”
on both sides of the car, as well as the brand name “JEEP” on the spare tyre
compartment.
The
spare tyre compartment do not possess any spare tyre of course, but instead a
folded up gun used later in robot mode.
Both
doors open, as well as the hood to reveal what looks like an engine block,
formed by Swindle’s arms.
Despite
that there are only two doors, Swindle comes with four seats, and the car’s
internal compartments looks very detailed.
I
absolutely love this car mode – fantastic.
Robot
Mode:
As
with most Alternators, he is the size of your typical Voyager-class figure.
The
design of his feet is both the making and the undoing of this figure. First and
foremost, the feet are kinda awkwardly-shaped, sort of like a snow-shoe, but
that is the exact same reason why this figure is so darn stable. You can put
Swindle is various types of poses and you won’t have to worry about any balance
issues.
The
legs are a bit asymmetrical due to the spare tyre compartment, but that’s a
really, really minor issue.
Articulation-wise:
the head is on a ball joint, as well as the shoulders, and the hips; the elbows
bend and the wrists rotate; Swindle also comes with a waist articulation, which
is always a welcome; the knees are double-jointed, but the bending of the knees
may be slightly restricted by the front and back wheels; and finally, the
ankles themselves bend in and outward – really good with various poses.
There
is one issue though that you might want to take note of, although this may be
very minimal. While the chrome is shiny, they will be prone to fading as time
goes by. After six years of owning him, those chromes on my figures are
beginning to show those signs.
Another
one would be the head articulation. Since the head’s position maybe a bit
closer to the chest, the movements can be a bit restricted.
Still
overall, I really love Swindle, and for me personally, it’s definitely a good substitute
to Alternators Hound.
Overall:
I
like this figure, and although it’s a bit awkward to have only him without the
rest of the Combaticons in the line, the figure itself is awesome.
Overall
good design and he definitely earns a place in any collection.
Highly
recommended.
Final
verdict: 9.5/10.
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