Gobots
Gobots 36 Street Heat

Street Heat
Guardian
Chevrolet Camaro
Z28 Modified Sports Car

RELEASES
Gobot #36

Gobots Blaster Gobots Wrongway

Gobots 36 Street HeatAs the Machine Robo Series moved towards its' conclusion, Bandai began to move back into more unusual alt-modes (having been partially responsible for the move towards everyday vehicles when they took the series over from Popy in 1983).

Street Heat in Challenge of the GobotsOne of these more unusual later figures was Hot Rod Robo. This was originally produced in blue and black, with yellow flames, but the toy got a red coat of paint for American release as the Gobots figure Street Heat in 1985. The European release would, however, retained the superior Japanese scheme. As an additional detail, one of the funniest random things I've found from collecting has been an utterly insane knockoff of Street Heat, remoulded to turn into an Aston Martin... Street Heat managed a couple of appearances in the cartoon series, most notably being tricked by Cy-Kill in "Escape from Elba".


Gobots 36 Street HeatWhile the customised Camaro Z28 alt mode is pretty impressive, it really is a damn shame the Machine Robo colour scheme wasn't retained. Not only does it have that bit of flair to tally with the alt mode, it would have meant we didn't have another red Gobot car. There were 14 small Gobots with car alt modes, seven of which were issued with primarily red schemes. Nothing wrong with red, but it makes the things a little monotonous (and thus makes the reviews pretty monotonous too, I suspect).

Gobots 36 Street HeatOn Street Heat especially it looks a bit flat - why would anyone get a Hot Rod car and then just paint it plain red? Flames should be a given, at least. The actual car isn't too bad, with the chromed engine and exhausts being nice details. However, the stickers on the spoiler look a little tacky, as do the massive sockets on either wing. Street Heat is also heavy on plastic, with only the roof (in this mode) being rendered in diecast. At least Tonka have managed to equal Bandai's fine work at matching plastic to paint, the end result being pretty seamless.


Gobots 36 Street HeatThe transformation sequence is a little different, with the lower-rear of the car forming the legs, and the front the arms, with the roof becoming the chest. It's sort-of upside down from a lot of transforming cars (though it's not completely unique, I'll grant you). It's a bit more complex than your average small Gobot, though nothing particularly impressive in the grand scheme of things.

Gobots 36 Street HeatDespite this, there's something that I'm just not that keen on about this guy. He looks alright, despite the red making him look a little plain, and the articulation is no worse than anything else in the same bracket (rotating shoulders and that's it), but there's just something underwhelming about him. Street Heat isn't particularly impressive, and yet is just that bit too large and poorly proportioned to match the admirable simplicity of a lot of Gobots. The arms are a bit too short, while the legs are big and chunky. The figure also feels a bit brittle, especially the hollow legs, all the diecast being concentrated in the chest. The end result is much like the vehicle mode - he just looks a bit bland, even with the circuitry stickers on the shins and the added silver.


I can't bring myself to particularly praise or damn Street Heat. As I say, I was rather unimpressed by him (maybe high expectations due to wanting the guy and being on a run of good purchases?), but I really can't put my finger on why exactly I'm not that keen on him. I think it's largely a case of falling just short in every area adding up.

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