Best. Gimmick. Ever.

[Toph]

I saw a commercial the other day for a new Hotwheels line.
Now, I don't remember what the line is called, but the gimmick blew me away.

It's a variation on the paint/plastic that changes colors based on water tempurature, like the G2 Aquaspeeders (I think?).
Only this is light sensative. With a little laser, you can temporarily change the colors of the cars. The sets include tiny little stensels to make temporary tamp decals and the like.
I don't know if this is tempurature based, or photosensative, like glow in the dark plastic.

But either way, this blew my mind given how it could be applied to transformers as the BEST GIMMICK EVAR!!!
Seriously, make the transformers out of this plastic, or decoed with this paint (Whatever it is), and build the lasers into the TF's handheld weapons and bam! Instant battle damage! Real time cause and effect weapons fire!
I mean, how cool would it be to have Megatron and Optimus in a firefight, and taking damage that "heals" itself over time?

[Hero]

Telling people stuff RULES is the best gimmick ever.

I'd like the Hot Wheels 'Global Hypercolor' gimmick on some new Transformers.

[mellowshade]

If colour changing paint made a proper comback that would be awesome.

[Bogatan]

In play battle damage would be kind of amazing and would finally end those child hood arguments of
"my toy shot yours"
"no my toy dodged it"
"no it didn't"

[The Doctor]

This concept intrigues me.

-Ralph

[Toph]

It would also work really well for Star Wars (Particularly Clone Wars), as well as GI Joe!

Would kinda work for Green Lantern. Not so much for Marvel Universe, or DCUC, Batman, or Superman.
Not sure what else it could work for. But TF and Clone Wars are the best possible lines, I think.

[primenova]

If they did Punch - so instead of battle damage, changed himself.

[bertie]

Light piping. It's the simple things.

[Philip Ayres]

Oh yeah, with you there. A real good lightpipe is superb. A deactivated lightpipe (all BW Basics, BW Dlx Maximals) is a thing of sadness. You seen the lightpipe on DOTM Shockwave Elliot?

[The Doctor]

Mar 7, 2012 12:36:32 GMT primenova said:

If they did Punch - so instead of battle damage, changed himself.

YES!!!

-Ralph

[Toph]

Lightpiping is great when it works. Unfortunately, hasbro ruins it more often than not, by making the plastic too opaque to carry light, or by flat out painting over it like with RtS Wreckgar and Gen Junkheap. Or the opening is too small to carry any light.
In cases like these, I'd rather not have the gimmick at all. Why spoil the back and/or top of the head when you won't use the gimmick to it's full effect?

[mabus1984]

I agree with Jetty's remarks on the light-piping - sometimes its not worth the bother of doing it on some models. Though i totally love their idea on "battle damage" that heals over time. Would be class

[Shockprowl]

Ditto with the light-piping.

I like a good combiner. A good combiner that's hefty in super robot mode. Haven't had a good one for a while, 'cept in the crazy priced 3rd party world. The up comming Bruticus looks more like it.

[bertie]

Mar 7, 2012 17:47:12 GMT Philip Ayres said:

Oh yeah, with you there. A real good lightpipe is superb. A deactivated lightpipe (all BW Basics, BW Dlx Maximals) is a thing of sadness. You seen the lightpipe on DOTM Shockwave Elliot?

Are there any good piccies around Phil?

I've taken one of those cheap led torches and a slab of blu-tak to the back of my Wreck-Gar to get the effect in the daytime, but it didn't quite work.

[Philip Ayres]

You need to see Shockwave in the flesh. Come down to Swincon and I'll show you.