BINALTECH BT-06 TRACKS (Yellow + Blue)
The Binaltech release of Tracks was one of the most eagerly awaited of the line so far. The fourth original mould of the Takara Japanese Binaltech line, the fifth Cybertron (Autobot), was a Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and was designated BT-06. This was also one of the figures I was looking forward to the most myself having seen the pre-release pictures. The first release of the BT-06 Binaltech Tracks in early 2004 was the yellow version, and that caused a certain degree of controversy in the fandom at the time. Tracks was of course originally a BLUE Corvette Stingray in the Transformers G1 line back in 1985 (descended from the red Diaclone Corvette Stingray). Questions flew about as to why Tracks was yellow and many complaints were aired, but equally, quite a number of fans and collectors liked the yellow colour, myself included. BT-06 Binaltech Tracks was of course later released in blue, but more on that later, I'll begin with the yellow release as it came first.
Already extraordinarily striking and attention-grabbing, just as Swindle's yellow scheme made him stand among a crowd of Binaltechs, this yellow Tracks benefits from the same effect. The highly aerodynamic and sleek styling of the Corvette and Takara's simple-yet-effective packaging approach for Binaltech make for a very satisfying aesthetic package at first view. The most probable reason why Tracks was released in yellow is that it is one of Corvette's flagship colours (just as scarlet is Ferrari's flagship colour) and could have been one of their stipulations in the licensing agreement between Chevrolet and Takara. There's quite a lot of diecast content on Binaltech Tracks, so the package is satisfyingly weighty. With Corvettes being a very popular and well-known sportscar brand, this was bound to have a wide appeal, despite the colour scheme not matching the original character's blue. Many fans however appreciated it for what it was, a gorgeous Transformer with an enormous dose of G1-homage.
The circular apertures on either side of Tracks' box provide a few further enticing views of the attractive 405 bhp monster that lies within. Just as with G1, Tracks' function is 'Warrior'. Tracks truly earns that description later on when we come to the robot mode section, but for now you can admire the colourful and detailed presentation of Tracks and his packaging. There is no "Lineup Binaltech" co-release advertisement on the bottom of BT Tracks' box as there are with some other releases. Here's a look at the inner packaging:
The clear plastic inner casing that holds all these Binaltech toys in place has clear tape and twisty-ties to ensure secure enclosure of the toy. It can take some time to free Tracks but after a few attempts with other Binaltechs, it's just routine and adds to the growing anticipation of getting your hands on the latest offering in what is a wonderful and exciting line of Transformers. I'm sure not everybody agrees, but I'm yet to be disappointed with this line. Long may it continue. You've had a little glimpse of Tracks' display stand in the above pics, here he is on the display stand without the plastic inner packaging:
Yet ANOTHER breathtaking view of this figure, the Binaltechs rarely fail to impress when placed on their display stands. The stands are another fine example of the simple-yet-effective presentation of the figures in this line. The dark colours of the display stand truly bring out the yellow BT-06's features and make it the focus of your attention. One thing I notice with Binaltech/Alternators, unlike many Transformers, these look like diecast vehicles plain and simple. Nothing more to them. People are almost always really surprised when you inform them that it is in fact a robot in disguise. And I'm talking about people who know full well that 90% of what is on display on my shelf transforms. The Binaltech stands are probably used for display much more often by collectors than say the reissue display stands. The stands and the toy are not the only special inclusions in a Binaltech package, the paperwork is almost always worth at least a second look.
As with all Binaltech releases, Tracks comes with his booklet (containing the Binaltech Story, instructions, System Description and Corvette info), opinion form, vibrant and colourful collector's card and of course his weapon. A closer look, as always, is the way to go:
The booklet for Tracks is slightly different from the rest in that the car is displayed from the rear instead of from the front when all the doors are opened. This is probably due to the nature of the Corvette's hood. It doesn't open the same way as the other Binaltech, i.e., from the front. The booklet contains detailed step-by-step transformation instructions, vehicle specs, character/robot info, pictures of the toy from various angles and information on the Corvette. The System Description contains the usual excellent artwork you will have come to expect from these releases. The booklet also contains this rather nice illustration that I just couldn't bear to leave out:
Tracks' collector's card is yet another cracking example of the quality of presentation and customary nice touches that I've come to love about Binaltech:
The character art is again very alive, colourful and animated, not to mention tremendously faithful to the toy and that pose is far from unachievable by the toy itself. In fact it's not that different to the photograph of Tracks on the back of the collector's card. The cards never fail to leave an impression, and I am forever exploring ways to display them alongside the toys themselves. As a character, Tracks still suffers from immense vanity but due to being one of the few Autobots with an aerial presence, has decided to try not to allow his protectivity over his now-even-slicker vehicle form get in the way of his warrior duties. Here is a more detailed look at the vehicle mode of the first-release yellow BT-06:
Something catch your eye? Could very well be the bright yellow highly-detailed 1:24 scale Corvette with the lovely gleam to it. The wing mirrors are reflective and adjustable, the detailing is gorgeous and this is truly special to behold. However not everybody feels that way. Just like Swindle, the yellow Tracks has its detractors and those that would call it ugly, and just like Swindle, I cannot count myself among them. I will admit to finding Tracks in yellow strange, but even though we have had the blue release, I am still extremely pleased that this colour was released as well. I feel Corvettes do look lovely in yellow. Along with Dead End, Tracks probably has the most attractive vehicle mode of the Binaltechs released so far. It's one of those toys you could buy purely for just one of its modes.
The above shots give a clearer picture of how much detailing there really is on Tracks, from the brake pads/discs to the signature Corvette circular rear brake lights. I very much like the fact that Tracks only has an Autobot symbol on his rear plate as opposed to an abbreviation of "Tracks" or even the full text. Subtlety really suits this particular toy/car. The front end (including the hood) and the doors are diecast, so Tracks has considerable heft. However, due to the diecast sections all being concentrated towards the front end of the vehicle, they will inevitably come into contact with each other during transformation and paint chips are a very real possibility.
The lines and curves on the Corvette really are pleasing to the eye and Binaltech Tracks reproduces these superbly. The wheels do turn with decent synchronicity as well due to a newly-introduced tab mechanism as opposed to the magnetic axle formula used with the Imprezas and Vipers. The recently-released Mustang GT Grimlock Binaltech also uses the plastic tab mechanism. The rear view of Tracks shows a little chrome on the exhausts. The emblems on the Corvette are relatively small and every small feature of the chassis stands out. As I said, it's all about subtlety. Minus the bright yellow of course. But I like that.
In keeping with other Binaltechs, many of Tracks' doors open. Only the boot/trunk doesn't open, otherwise it's excellent how much the doors can be manipulated. The hood is nice to mess with as well, revealing the lovely engine detailing. Tracks actually reveals quite a bit more of his robotic features when in car mode if you just take a peek inside the car. The missiles are there as are the elbows, visible through the rear window. Here are some close-ups of the engine (gun) and the brake pads:
How's that for detailing? Rubber tires of course. Absolutely beautiful job they've done on Tracks. It's a slight shame that the feet are visible beneath the fender but it truly is a small complaint when you look at the vehicle mode as a whole, which in my opinion, is a resounding success. And the funny thing, the vehicle mode being as stunning as it is and actually being a Corvette like G1 Tracks was, isn't the greatest homage to the character. The robot mode claims that victory. Here's how Tracks comes apart during transformation:
Transforming Tracks can be difficult, and initially I found it to be the hardest of the Binaltechs to convert back to vehicle mode. As with all of them, practise makes perfect and Tracks is no exception. You'll even get to the point where you can transform him and avoid major wear points from coming into any significant contact with each other. The legs are extremely tight and require a sincere yank, but the trunk section with the arms and missile launchers can be fun to manipulate. There is no waist rotation, and things tend to just hang off Tracks in robot mode, but regardless of that, the end result is very special indeed:
Where do I start pointing out homages? First off, the missile launchers. One of G1 Tracks' most notable and memorable features were the large missile launchers above his head attached to the trunk mount, and the Binaltech incorporates those magnificently but with added articulation in height AND direction. Tracks' head is an absolutely beautiful interpretation of his G1 anime face, although I know a certain Tracks enthusiast who was wishing for a G1 toy-style mouthplate. There are no wings but the huge shoulders almost compensate for that along with the forward facing wheels very much harking back to the G1 toy. The absolute winner for me though is the fake chest/roof. That is a masterstroke as far as I'm concerned. Totally hidden and obscured in vehicle mode, but a tremendously significant part of Tracks' traditional robot mode, it has been reproduced here for Binaltech and really brings home the feel of G1 Tracks. It's much closer to a Stingray roof as well and even has the Diaclone-style roof-flap going on there. Now as much as many fans will say that Binaltech is not G1, you have to applaud such a nice touch. Where better to emblazon the Autobot logo in robot mode? I love it, absolutely love it. What about poseability?
Tracks can be hard to pose dynamically. The kibbly nature of the leg region means that the legs cannot always be posed how you'd like without an awful lot of fiddling with the door and hood sections. The shoulders, arms, head and missiles however are a pleasure to mess with and make for some effective poses. You might have noticed that Tracks is one of the most heavily-armed Binaltechs to date; two missile launchers, two double barrelled cannons on each arm and a hand gun to boot. The gun clicks into his grip very nicely and there's not as much chance of him dropping the gun as there is with the Viper or Jeep moulds. The robot head doesn't look up very far, but the side-to-side articulation is good seeing as how the head has to rotate 180 degrees for transformation. The vast array of weapons and those huge shoulders give Tracks a very menacing upper body look, although his slightly spindly thighs do detract from his intimidating top half. His midriff has lots of silver and grey to it, making it look very mechanical like the arms, but that's not at all a bad thing. Fold-out heels give him some extra stability when posing, but he is one of the hardest Binaltechs to leave standing stable. He is prone to toppling a little more than the others are. An interesting fact, in the booklet that accompanies BT-06, the arms are shown with a spring-loaded mechanism for releasing the double-barrelled guns which never made it on to the toy itself, and you can see that in the following scan:
Despite the aforementioned apparent limiting factors in his poseability, Tracks can strike some real winners as you can see in the above thumbnails. The launchers are easy to manipulate and there are many display possibilities just using those alone. With a little effort the legs can also be posed, even when bent significantly. As with a lot of Binaltechs, the key to posing is imagination and experimentation. I personally have no issue with Tracks' poseabilty and I think when displayed idle, he still looks better than a number of others in the line so far, possibly because there's still so much to look at even when idle. Considering the fact that he is yellow, this is still unmistakeably Tracks, and it's still an absolutely marvellous toy and wonderful example of how to make the very most of Transformers history, tradition, modern technology and contemporary design.
But as many continued to say, Tracks was blue.
Late 2004 saw the much-desired release of the lovely BT-06 Tracks in original colours, but for a while there it wasn't certain whether or not there would be a Takara Japanese Binaltech blue Tracks. The first blue Tracks release was in fact the Alternators release in Asia and then in the US of "Autobot Tracks".
The Alternators of course do not have any diecast content and do not come with all the fancy paperwork or collector's materials that the Japanese Binaltechs come with. They do however have boxart as you can see above, and the packaging is slightly more colourful. They do appear however to be marketed much more as a toy/plaything as opposed to the Binaltechs which appear to be marketed more as models or collector's items. Everyone will have their own preference, but regardless of that, this did appear to be the only way of owning the BT-06 mould in blue until the blue Binaltech was announced later in the year. Here are a few shots of the various releases of Tracks together:
It's clear in the above pictures how much larger the Alternators packaging is. I honestly haven't decided whether or not I prefer the use of photography on the BT boxes or the boxart on the Alternators packaging, but the rest I find in favour of Binaltech although they are both well-presented. It should be noted how lovely the blue is on both BT-06blue and Alternators Autobot Tracks. So why wasn't the Alternators version also released in yellow? The official line at one point was that the yellow plastic ended up being transparent and therefore inappropriate for use, but that was met with skepticism and a yellow Alternators Tracks may yet surface one day, who knows. Going back to the blue Binaltech...
The same situation applies again here with all the measures taken by the factory to ensure the toy stays in place. I mention it a lot but it really isn't a complaint. Here's the blue BT-06 on the excellent display stand:
Is that not stunning? Even in the case of a dark display stand for a dark-coloured car, the effect still demands appreciation. Of course it helps that it's a beautiful automobile and the colour is deep and alluring, but these little things have to be done right, and the display stands most certainly are. The art of engineering something to make something ELSE the succesful focus of attention. It's worth having a look at both BT-06 models side-by-side on their display stands to contrast the two different effects:
Obviously the yellow BT-06 is the first thing you notice thanks to its eye-grabbing colour, but the blue has a lovely mysterious deep feel about it. Both are lovely and have their own unique appeal, neither detracts from the other. I'm just going to briefly cover the paperwork that comes with the blue BT-06 then move on to the figure itself.
All the usual stuff is there, and the inclusions are almost identical to the yellow release, but of course you can see the newcomer in the pack, the unmistakeable yellow/red flame stickers which the original G1 Tracks was famous for. Here's a closer look:
Not only does the second BT-06 come in the traditional blue of Tracks, but the package now also sports the "Special Seal" , the characteristic Tracks flame stickers for the hood which are mentioned on that sticker on BT-06blue's box front. This was an extra that the Alternators Tracks did not come with, in addition to the paperwork and the diecast and just one more thing that made the slightly higher price tag and inevitable import costs worth it. Not everyone will apply (or even like) the flame stickers, because not everyone liked or applied the flame stickers to the ORIGINAL G1 Tracks. I personally like them, but have not applied them.....Yet. I'm sure I will eventually. The writing next to the picture translates roughly as "Please position the stickers as shown in the picture". Here's the blue BT-06 in vehicle mode:
The sparkle in the colour scheme truly stands out and the toy practically glitters. It's just as sleek and glamorous in blue as it is in yellow, with added significance because of the character's origins. It's still subtle and it's still simple, but most importantly of all, it's still mighty effective. One noticeable difference between this and the yellow BT-06 is that as a result of the colour shift, the red colour of the sports seats inside the car is much more visible. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it is something I noticed.
He is altogether much darker and mysterious in this colour and I think it goes a long way to almost setting the two cars apart as separate characters, even though they are one and the same. Every light detail is much more noticeable now, such as the chrome exhaust pipes. In contrast, the darker detailed objects such as the air-intakes and vents are now not noticed quite as quickly and don't stand out as much.
The BT-06blue is now extraordinarily reminiscent of the G1 Tracks, easily as much as BT-04 Hound harks back to his original form. The difference is, Tracks still has his original-style stickers and is literally just an update. But what an update...
The last thumbnail picture above shows that the missile launchers have not been hidden so well, but all things considered it isn't such a bad place for them. Car jackers will definitely think twice. The interior is as detailed as most Binaltechs with a gearstick, rotating steering wheel, detailed dashboard and dials etc Just as a small aside, here is a blue BT-06 with the flame stickers applied to the hood:
The flames are not as metallic in appearance as the G1 stickers and opinion is divided as to whether they are worth applying at all. The nostalgia factor is there to be seen by all though and their inclusion gives you a nice choice to make and for some a pleasant dilemma. Here are some shots of both BT-06 vehicles together:
As you can see, they look marvellous together and there are a number of display options in vehicle mode alone. I personally have them displayed together in vehicle mode as I think it really brings out the best in both of them, and they look so good as a pair it makes me reluctant to introduce the flame stickers to the blue BT-06. Now, I've spoken a lot about the homages in this article and there are indeed many similarities between the BT and G1 Tracks aesthetically. The yellow BT-06, despite its colour, was very much Tracks in robot mode and that was a major credit to the designers and the piece itself. Therefore, the blue BT-06 in robot mode should be virtually perfect as a modern-day Tracks which looks almost the same as G1 but with all the updated perks such as poseabilty etc...
You can see for yourself that the above description of the blue BT-06 in robot mode ends up being pretty accurate. The missile launchers are there, the wheels on arms/wings are there, the face is there, the chest is there, and now the COLOUR is there as well. A truly remarkable achievement and a wonderful tribute to the original well-loved toy. The blue BT-06 totally does the business in figure mode. He's a lot bulkier than the original Tracks and because of the blue and black scheme a few of the minute detailing features may not show up as well as on the yellow BT-06.
And once you start to get dynamic and experimental with the posing, you really do start to get the best of both worlds; G1 symbolism and modern-day toy design. Not everyone will appreciate or care for the vast array of homages to G1 Tracks, but there's still plenty here for all collectors and Transformers enthusiasts. You have two absolutely outstanding modes and a deeply sexy colour scheme that draws your eyes and you really can get lost in that blue. I took one look at the packaged blue BT-06 when the pictures first hit eBay and I was sold immediately. You also have poseability that while not as flexible as other BTs, is still more than sufficient and allows for great poses and displays, just as with the yellow BT-06. I guess with the blue release, those who may have passed over the first yellow release could finally be drawn in based on the significance of the repaint.
The second-to-last picture above shows just how flexible and poseable the missile launchers are, and as a result you really can push the boundaries of expected and possible poses. It's a bit of a shame his missle launchers don't actually fire, but it's not a complaint that detracts at all from the overall package. Speaking of the overall package, here are some shots of the two BT-06 robots together:
Just as you were starting to forget the relevance of the yellow BT-06 and exactly how good it too looked in robot mode, the above pictures should remind of you of just what an excellent job BOTH these remarkable figures are. Not only that, but they compliment each other when placed together and it shows that the blue BT-06 is not just exactly the same but in blue. The forearms and upper arms are black just as G1 Tracks was, the Autobot logo has a much lighter outline on the chest and the hands are not black as on the yellow BT-06. The Blue Tracks definitely has tradition and nostalgia on its side, but the yellow BT-06 has a lovely mechanical and metallic look to it in robot mode and is still in my opinion a relevant and standout figure, totally worthy of purchase. And now for that regular spot on my Binaltech articles, the customary stupidity and unnecessary silliness....
Ahem. Here's a close-up of the new head sculpt for the BT-06 releases:
Very show-like, instantly recogniseable, well-proportioned and an appropriate (lack-of) expression. Pretty much everything you would ask for in a perfect head-mould. It's a tired phrase, but it really is the toy that Tracks was meant to be. The above silliness is also a tribute to 'limited poseabilty'. I really can't fault the toy too much beyond the inevitable paint-chipping. The following pictures show the blue Binaltech Tracks with the original blue G1 Tracks:
You can see that the two are not exactly the same colour and not the same model obviously. There are a lot more similarites though in robot mode:
The shape and colour of the head (with the exception of G1 Tracks having a mouthplate instead of a mouth and nose), the chest layout, the missile launchers etc, it really brings home the basis of BT-06's design. The G1 Tracks pictured is missing the missiles and rubsign on chest otherwise there would be closer similarities evident. The forward-facing wheels on the shoulders and the wing/rear-end placement is all there and even the downward-facing doors of BT Tracks make the legs take on the look of G1 Tracks a little more. That is especially evident in the middle picture above. Here's a closer comparison of the chest/roof sections of the BT and G1 Tracks:
The G1-style chest has been exquisitely and faithfully reproduced for the BT-06. I love how the roof on the BT even looks Stingray-esque. There are of course many differences between the two figures but at a glance BT-06 is immediately recogniseable as Tracks, and I do believe that was one of the main objectives. Here is a look at how the false roof/chest is stored away in vehicle mode on the Binaltech Tracks:
All in all, a very well thought out and well-executed design which incorporates many new features of toy design yet maintains a very strong link to the origins of Tracks, and as much as people stress that Binaltech is not G1, the links to G1 are a major (but not the sole) selling point of the line. With BT-06, what you have at the very start is an innovative Binaltech interpretation of Tracks in an unrecogniseable colour, yet the toy itself is instantly identifiable as the aforementioned Autobot. That in itself is a success, but even if you paint Ultra Magnus pink, he's still going to scream 'Ultra Magnus' at you, so that is not the most significant victory. Moving on from there, the vehicle mode is stunning and is easily capable of winning a fan over by itself, but it's not a one-dimensional toy because the robot mode has many positives too. Tracks is armed to the teeth but doesn't have to be displayed that way if you so please. With the blue release he becomes a magnificent homage to his G1 counterpart, very poseable and not something you will get bored of in a hurry. On the down side, he doesn't have waist articulation and he can be a little unstable but you will get the hang of what works for him and be able to make the most of it. With the false chest a number of collectors will say "nice touch" and it's even nicer when you consider how easy it is to go overboard with such things and border on the tasteful, but Tracks has it all in perfect measure. Not too much and certainly not too little. The usuals, even though they are ever-present with Binaltech, deserve a mention. The classy collector's card, the nice information booklet, the very-usable display stand and simple-yet-effective outer packaging. You just come to expect a high standard from Binaltech and again, that is a credit to the toyline and the figures that make it up. Not only that, but with Tracks there is now the choice of colour for the more selective collector, both of which have many merits and different appeals. Binaltech Tracks ranks high, higher than most, when it comes to displayabilty. It may not be the number 1 Binaltech for play value but when you figure in the personality that this new evolution of Tracks possesses, you've got yourself a winner. BT-06 could easily be top of many collectors' lists for looks, display value, homages, armoury, innovation, imagination, detail and variety. How many other figures can claim that within a toyline?
I want to extend my deepest thanks to Himawari for the translations in the paperwork and a very kind member of the TFans message board for the BT-06b w/flames picture. All the best |
