CB's Die Cast Review:  July 14, 1999

Talking
Scream Machines

What a cool concept for the kids!  A product that the scalpers and accumulators should leave behind for the most part.  From Mattel Electronics comes a neat little toy called Talking Scream Machines.  They do get your attention.

These items are actually produced by Kid Direct for Mattel.  The four items offered are based on Hot Wheels produced in recent years: the 1997 First Editions Way-2-Fast, the 25th Anniversary Deora, the 30th Anniversary Twin Mill, and the Sol-Aire CX4 in Hot Wheels Racing colors.  All windows are molded into the body and painted silver to hide the electronics inside.  The cars do not roll, but each has a pair of triggers integrated into the model that activates a sound chip and flashes the headlights and taillights.  The sounds are loud enough to entertain the kids, but not to the point to disturb their parents in the next room.  Each car has a keychain for attachment to belt loops and backpacks.

The first car in the series is the Way-2-Fast (stock #90239).  The body is a slightly larger scale than the real model, and the roof sports a larger red and yellow HW logo at the back of the checkerboard roof. The wheels are based on the standard sp5 design.  Unlike the free-rolling Hot Wheels car, this model sports teardrop-shaped taillights, and a single headlight at the base of the radiator.  Each of the air scoops on top of the twin engines is a trigger for the sounds and lights.  Pressing the front scoop produces an engine shifting gears and flashes the lights.  The rear scoop produces a revving engine and a voice shouting "go for it!" before shifting and flashing the lights.  The sound emanates from a speaker on the base between the rear wheels.

The 30th Anniversary Twin Mill (stock #90240) is the second car in the series.  The body is very close to the dimensions of the working model.  The body is painted metallic red with orange-to-yellow fade flames on the nose and behind each engine.  A large HW logo adorns the roof.  The wheels are patterned after the retro-redlines created for the 30th Anniversary car.  The vertical-bar taillights, which have been modeled since the beginning in 1969, are functional along with the horizontal headlight bars on either side of the nose.  Each engine is a trigger for the effects.  The driver-side motor produces engine revving and tire-burning squeals while flashing the lights.  The other motor produces extended revving, and a voice that shouts "burn `em out!" before flashing the lights and squealing the tires.

The third car is the Sol Aire CX4 (stock #90241), slightly larger than its namesake.  The car is painted in all-blue racing colors with the extended flame logos on the sides.  The wheels are based on the lace design.  The HW logo is on the front of the nose.  The taillights are positioned to the extreme ends of the back, while the headlights are properly situated on either side of the nose.  Pressing the driver-side window produces the sound of Indy cars racing by on a racetrack while flashing the lights.  Pressing the passenger-side window leads to extended racing sounds proceeding a voice shouting "all the way!" and the flashing lights.

The 25th Anniversary Deora (stock #90242) is the last car in the series.  It sports a metallic purple coat of paint with red and yellow flames along the lower sides.  The bed is also purple, instead of the usual black, and carries two red surfboards.  The car, larger than the original model, has wheels based on the pseudo-redline tires used on the 25th Anniversary and Vintage series.  Since the wheels are non-functional, you would think they could base them on the originals from 1967.  A large HW logo is centered on the cab roof.  The long horizontal taillight and rectangular headlights are correctly modeled.  Engine-revving sounds and flashing lights are produced when the fin of the passenger-side surfboard is depressed.  When the driver-side surfboard fin is pressed, revving sounds followed by a shouted "move it out!" proceed sounds of an engine shifting into gear and flashing lights.

The electronic effects of each car are powered by three LR44 batteries, which are included and pre-installed.  The manufacturer recommends alkaline batteries, and it states on the package that the batteries should be removed if the cars will not be used for a period of thirty days or more.  They come with a one-year warranty, and are made in China.  These are neat little gizmos that the youngsters will enjoy.